IEA Team & Riders Compete in Regionals, Named Overall Champions

This competition consisted of five high school and three middle school teams, as well as numerous individual competitors traveling from all over the region.

Throughout the day Chatham Hall riders competed in both team-designated classes and as individuals. Riders qualified for Regionals by earning 18 points in individual classes during the regular IEA season. The first place winner in individual classes will move on to Zone Finals, along with the overall team Champion. 

 

To start the day, Sophie Croker Poole '23 rode for the team in the walk trot canter and earned a first place result, giving the School seven points to start the competition out strong. Up next, Hannah Summerlin '21 competed in the individual walk trot canter and earned second place honors in a competitive class, just missing a place at Zone Finals. In the Novice Division, Caroline Hall '21 rode for the team on the flat and placed fifth, while Vance Luster '23 rode over fences and came in third.

In individual competition, both Hall and Julia Brown '21 qualified during regular season on the flat and placed fifth and sixth respectively, while Luster qualified over fences, and after a strong performance in an additional test, she ended up taking home the win and a place at Zone Finals. 

 

Moving the jumps to 2 feet, we started the Intermediate Division with a win for Zoey Horn '22 on the flat and a win for Kensington Nelson '22 over fences for the team. This added an additional 14 points to our morning total and bumped Chatham Hall to first place. Both of these riders also qualified as individuals, with Horn earning a third and eighth over fences out of a very competitive division of 11 riders. Nelson took home the win on the flat aboard Chatham Hall's Tully, and was called back to test over fences after a strong ride in the first round. With a beautiful test, Nelson took home the win in individual intermediate fences as well and will be moving on to Zone Finals in both flat and fences.

Rounding out the day in the Open Division, Annabele Whitehead '22 rode as an individual on the flat and over fences. With a strong flat ride, she took home the win, and continued on to earn second in over fences. Whitehead also rode for the team and earned first on the flat. Over fences, she had a very tough draw but put in a strong and tactful ride for a well-deserved second place. Whitehead's determination in over fences kept Chatham Hall at the top of the leader board and helped the team secure overall Champions at the end of the day.

The team will be competing at Zone Finals in Spotsylvania, Va. on March 28. The three individual qualifiers will be riding in individual competition at Zone Finals on March 27. Follow along as the team heads to Zone Finals on Instagram @Chatham_Hall_Riding and on Twitter @RideChathamHall.