Competition Kicks Off at The USEA Inaugural Intercollegiate Championship
The Inaugural USEA Intercollegiate Team Championship officially kicked off Thursday morning with the first student riders performing their dressage tests at the Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington, Va. Thirty-seven collegiate riders from ten schools form the ten teams each vying for a chance to claim the championship title.
Sarah Pyne and Call Me Commander. USEA/Shelby Allen Photo.
The first collegiate rider down the centerline was Sarah Pyne on Call Me Commander riding for Clemson University in the Junior Young Rider CCI* division. She returned again later with her second ride, Quintessential, scoring a 44.3 to take the lead. Clemson had a third rider in the one-star, Alex Peterson and Willie Wiggins had a lovely test which put them in third going into cross-country.
Amelia Bayer riding for Bridgewater College. USEA/Kate Boggan Photo.
University of Virginia (UVA), Bridgewater College and University of Kentucky (UK) also had riders begin competition on Thursday. Riding for Kentucky, Michaela Yowaiski and Darla Doll scored a 51.70 in the Intermediate before going on to pull two rails in the show jumping to end the day in 23rd place. Alex Reed (UVA) rode in the Junior Young Rider Preliminary division where she landed in third place on a 30.5. Amelia Bayer had two horses to represent Bridgewater College, Road to Redemption (33.0) and Handsome Devil (36.60), who sit in fifth and ninth place respectively.
The remainder of the collegiate competitiors in the horse trials divisions will take on dressage and show jumping today, while the CCI* and Preliminary riders will head out on the cross-country course.
“History is being made here with the first ever intercollegiate eventing championship. I can’t wait to look back 20 years from now and think how this is the day it all started,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “The college riders that are here this weekend are the future of the sport, and the USEA is proud to partner with the Virginia Horse Center to make this possible for intercollegiate eventing and for the sport as a whole.”
Find a list of all the teams, here.
Ride times are available on the Virginia Horse Trials website, www.vahorsetrials.com.
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About the USEA Intercollegiate Program
In 2014, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the Intercollegiate Eventing Program as an official program of the USEA. Originally proposed with input from the Intercollegiate Eventing League, the program was established to provide a framework on which Eventing teams and individual competition could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. Click here to see if your school is an University Affiliate.
Don’t forget if you have not yet renewed your membership with the USEA – Collegiate members get a $25 discount! Log onto your Online Services Account to renew, and a $25 refund will be issued after the USEA has received proof of enrollment.
To account for differences in level difficulty, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. Only the best three individual scores will count towards the team score, so teams of four will have one “drop” score.
The coefficient system that will be applied at the Championship is as follows:
Beginner Novice: 1.1
Novice: 1
Training: 0.9
Preliminary: 0.85
Intermediate: 0.75
CCI*: 0.75
The team with the lowest score at the end of three phases will be named the 2016 Intercollegiate Champion. Team ribbons and prizes will be awarded through fourth place.
The Spirit Award will be given to the college or university that shows the most school spirit and best decorations in the “College Town” stabling complex. Students will be able to show their school pride by decorating both an approximately 12‘x12’ designated space in the East Concourse as well as in their stable area.
About the Virginia Horse Trials
The Virginia Horse Trials has been a premier Eventing destination for over 25 years. Situated on 600 acres, the Virginia Horse Center is a first-class venue. Brian and Penny Ross founded the Virginia Horse Trials in 1989, and organized the Event through its 25th Anniversary in 2014. Andy Bowles took over the organization of the Virginia Horse Trials in 2015 and looks forward to maintaining it as a destination for east coast eventers in the years to come.
Media Contact:
Leslie Threlkeld
678-378-0244
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