2008 Championships

2008 ANRC National Collegiate Championship Horse Show

SEWANEE, TN – With spectacular horses and riders set against the backdrop of beautiful spring weather in Sewanee, Tennessee on April 19-20, 2008 the 31^st annual ANRC National Collegiate Championship Horse Show was held at the Sewanee:  The University of the South campus.  Thirty-three horses and college riders competed in this four phase hunter seat equitation competition.  Out of the nine colleges that were represented over the weekend eight of the colleges carried a team of three riders that were vying for the Betty Belser Memorial Trophy and the team championship.   The colleges represented were:  Sewanee:  The University of the South (TN); St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College (NC); University of Virginia (VA); Goucher College (MD); Sweet Briar College (VA); Centenary College (NJ); Christopher Newport University (VA) and Savannah College of Art and Design (GA). Samantha Erwin from Murray State University (KY) competed as an individual of her school.  The judges for the riding phases of the competition were Sue Starling of Fairfield, Florida and Alice Coke-Corkern of Nashville, Tennessee.

The first phase, the Written Phase, took place on Sewanee’s campus in Gailor Hall Auditorium. The test was a combination of true/false, multiple choice and matching questions that covered Forward Riding Theory and the medical topic of this year, Infectious Diseases and First Aid.  The scores this year were extremely impressive as twenty-seven of the riders scored a 90 or above.  Whitney Roper from the University of Virginia took first place in the individual competition with a score of 100.1.  The team from Sweet Briar College beat the University of Virginia by 1.17 points to win the team competition in the Written Phase.

Whitney Roper continued her winning ways on Saturday as she and her horse, Bishonen, scored the highest in the Dressage Sportif phase.  Grace Stuntz from the University of Virginia placed second in this phase on her own Saving Grace.  Just behind Whitney and Grace was Alison Sims from Sweet Briar College.  The University of Virginia won the team Dressage Sportif competition with Sweet Briar College in second place.  Savannah College of Art and Design was close behind Sweet Briar in third place.  Each horse and rider rode a test that incorporated flat work and a trot jump and a canter jump.  Other movements that made up this test included lengthening at the walk, trot and canter, counter canter and a turn on the haunches.

On Sunday morning, the Hunter Trials Phase took place in a green pasture that is part of the Sewanee Equestrian Center.  The horses and riders did not have any difficulty in negotiating the changing terrain and the natural obstacles on course.  Paul Frederick from Savannah College of Art and Design riding his college-owned horse Art and Design posted scores of 96 and 95 to win the individual first place honors.  Sarah Fishback from Sweet Briar College placed second and Julie Fink from Goucher College was third in the individual Hunter Trials competition.  Savannah College of Art and Design won the team competition with Goucher College in second place.

The final riding phase, Hunter Seat Equitation over fences, took place Sunday afternoon over a course designed by David Q. Wright of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  All thirty-three riders tackled this challenging course well and demonstrated their ability to answer the questions that were asked.  Whitney Roper posted scores of 97 and 95 to win her third phase of the competition and secure the overall individual championship.  Paul Frederick finished second in this phase and in the overall individual competition as well.  Meredith Gallagher from Savannah College of Art and Design placed third in the Hunter Seat Equitation phase and third overall individually.  Savannah College of Art and Design won the team competition in this final phase just ahead of second placed University of Virginia.

Savannah College of Art and Design won the Betty Belser Memorial Trophy, team bags from Hoof & Woof, and custom coolers along with their team championship ribbon.  The University of Virginia finished .12 behind first place Savannah.  Sweet Briar College; Centenary College; Goucher College; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College; Sewanee and Christopher Newport University finished third through eighth place in the team competition.  All the competitors received and “Excellence in Equitation” pin from the USHJA.  Paul Frederick was chosen as this year’s recipient of the USHJA affiliate 2008 ANRC Collegiate Amateur Rider Award. Paul epitomized excellence in horsemanship and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

The top eight finishers in each phase received a one year subscription to Sidelines magazine in addition to prizes from Hoof & Woof and ribbons.

2005 Intercollegiate Championship Results

ANRC National Intercollegiate Riding Championship

Hosted by Sewanee: The University of the South