The Hollins University riding team has clinched first place in Zone 4, Region 2 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Hollins will now compete against the winning teams from Region 1 and Region 3 at Randolph College on April 13 to determine the two teams that will represent Zone 4 at the National Championship IHSA Horse Show in Los Angeles in May.

In addition, Katie Furches '10 is the region’s high point rider and has thus qualified to compete in California for the Cacchione Cup, the equestrian equivalent to college football’s Heisman Trophy. The cup is awarded to the National Champion Rider each year, and Hollins boasts three previous winners: Heide Bossow (twice), Charlotte Sprague, and Parris Cozart.

During competition at the IHSA Individual Regionals at Sweet Briar College on February 29, Katie and three other Hollins riders qualified for the Individual Zone Finals, which along with team competition will take place at Randolph College on April 13. The top two ribbon winners in each class from Individual Zone Finals will move on to individual competition at the IHSA Nationals in Los Angeles.

The Individual Zone Finals Qualifiers are:

Katie Furches '10 – Open Equitation on the Flat
Mandy Lynch '08 – Intermediate Equitation on the Flat and Intermediate Over Fences
Abby Gonzalez '10 – Novice Equitation Over Fences
Stephanie Ostericher '08 – Walk Trot Equitation

Here are the final point standings in Zone 4, Region 2 for 2008:

Hollins University - 295
Bridgewater College - 280
Randolph College - 254
James Madison University - 226
University of Virginia - 221
Sweet Briar College - 203
Washington & Lee University - 195
Lynchburg College - 171

Hollins won the Region 2 championship thanks to solid performances at five IHSA horse shows in February. Here are the results:

Randolph College IHSA Horse Show
February 8, 2008
Finish: Third Place

Katie Furches '10 -1st Open Flat, 3rd Open Fences
Brynn Hoffman '09 - 4th Intermediate Fences
Stacy Zimmerman '08 - 4th Intermediate Flat
Karoline LeFebre '11 - 3rd Novice Flat
Emily Mendelssohn '09 - 3rd Novice Flat
Elizabeth Archibald '11 - 3rd Advanced Walk Trot Canter
Angela Wentz '11 - 4th Walk Trot

Sweet Briar College IHSA Horse Show
February 10, 2008
Finish: Reserve Champion

Katie Furches '10 - 2nd Open Flat
Julia Parker '10 - 2nd Open Fences
Stacy Zimmerman '08 - 1st Intermediate Flat
Emily Mendelssohn '09 - 4th Novice Flat
Karoline LeFebre '11 - 1st Novice Fences, 3rd Novice Flat   Reserve Champion High Point Rider
Abby Gonzalez '10 - 2nd Novice Fences
Elizabeth Archibald '11 - 4th Advanced Walk Trot Canter

Bridgewater College IHSA Horse Show
February 16, 2008
Finish: Tied for Champion (with Bridgewater College)

Katie Furches '10 - 3rd Open Fences, 2nd Open Flat
Brynn Hoffman '09 - 2nd Intermediate Fences
Abby Gonzalez '10 - 1st Novice Fences
Karoline LeFebre '11 - 4th Novice Fences, 3rd Novice Flat
Emily Mendelssohn '09 - 1st Novice Flat
Keely Comstock '08 - 3rd Advanced Walk Trot Canter
Emilie Waickwicz '11 - 1st Advanced Walk Trot Canter
Angela Wentz '11 - 4th Walk Trot

Hollins University IHSA Horse Show
February 23, 2008
Finish: Champion

Katie Furches '10 – 3^rd Open Flat
Mandy Lynch '08 – 1^st Open Fences, 1^st Open Flat (Champion High Point Rider)
Stacy Zimmerman '08 – 1^st Intermediate Fences
Brynn Hoffman '09 – 1^st Intermediate Fences
Karoline LeFebre '11 – 2^nd Novice Fences, 3^rd Novice Flat
Emily Mendelssohn '09 – 1^st Novice Flat
Emilie Waickwicz '11 – 2^nd Advanced Walk Trot Canter
Angela Wentz '11 – 1^st Walk Trot

University of Virginia IHSA Horse Show
February 24, 2008
Finish: Reserve Champion

Katie Furches '10 – 1^st Open Fences, 3^rd Open Flat (Reserve Champion High Point Rider)
Stacy Zimmerman '08 – 3^rd Intermediate Fences
Emilie Waikwicz '11 – 1^st Advanced Walk Trot Canter
Angela Wentz '11 – 1^st Walk Trot