United States Eventing Association

University of Alabama Earns First Collegiate Victory at Chattahoochee Hills

Crimson Tide rolled through Chattahoochee Hill’s Spring H.T. last weekend as the four-member University of Alabama scored their first intercollegiate win at their final team challenge before the USEA Intercollegiate Championships next month.

The University of Alabama eventers looked pretty in pink as they accepted their first-place ribbons. Emblazoned in vibrant colors, the team traded in their traditional crimson and white for pink to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. “We did the ‘Power of Pink’ to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. Lots of other teams at Alabama – like women’s rowing and gymnastics – do a Power of Pink event once a year, and we figured it would be great to join in!” said team member Meagan Majchszak.

It was hard to miss the Alabama riders this weekend! Photo by Kathy Custer Majchszak.

The winning team included Majchzak, Angela Lenning, Caitlin Cobb and Sarah Wietbrock on a total team score of 102. Wietbrock and her own Kickstart My Heart, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare (Research x Bad Intentions) finished the weekend on their dressage score (40.30) for seventh place in the Novice Rider division. Cobb and Gacela de la Noche, a 12-year-old Canadian Warmblood (Adriatic King x Elkwood Lexius) owned by the rider and Sue Bell Cobb competed in the Preliminary Rider division. Unfortunately, Cobb popped out of the tack on cross-country, but she and “Cela” are both no worse for wear.

Meagan Majchzak and Imperial's Neptune. Photo by Kathy Custer Majchszak.

Meagan Majchszak and her own Imperial’s Catch earned seventh place in the Training Rider division. The 8-year-old Thoroughbred’s (Imperialism x Fiery Catch) finishing score of 39.10 also gave them individual second place of all the collegiate riders.

Angela Lenning and Alphanumeric. Photo by Kathy Custer Majchszak.

Angela Lenning and her own Alphanumeric, a 9-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred (Alphabet Soup x Ministress), finished a fantastic weekend as the top individual collegiate pair. She and “Alfie” earned a personal best in the dressage phase (34.8) and added nothing two it over the jumping phases for a second-place ribbon in the Preliminary Rider division.

“Alfie has not yet been off the track for two and a half years, so having our first finish on our much-improved dressage score last weekend was fantastic and coming in second in the Preliminary Rider division as well as winning the individual gold was just icing on the cake for us!” Lenning said.

The University of Alabama taking their victory lap. Photo by Kathy Custer Majchszak.

A first-place team finish was especially sweet for the Crimson Tide, as team victory has eluded them so far. “Winning the team challenge means more than the blue ribbon to our team. We have been so close to winning several times now and it just hasn’t been in the cards for us. We know we can be better than what we have previously earned on the scoreboard,” Lenning, who is the team’s president, said.  “Our team can really bring our A-Game and be very competitive if we are handed the right cards on the right day. We have been so frustrated and disappointed knowing we were a point away from first as we were at March Poplar in 2016 so winning the Challenge last weekend really confirmed to us that we are good enough.”

They hope to continue this successful roll right onto the USEA Intercollegiate Championships next month at the Virginia Horse Trials. “It’s hard to imagine Alabama as an underdog, but with our extremely limited resources, that’s exactly what we are and to win last weekend just fueled the fire for Championships in Virginia,” she affirmed.

Photo via The Eventing Team at UGA's Facebook page. 

The University of Georgia (UGA)/University of Alabama(UA) scramble team was just behind in second place, earning a team score of 109.6 Their team was made up of Lilley Cushman and Allisa Huestis’ Herchel, Karolina Sabonaityte and Julie F. Whitlock-Mckee’s CSH Cyd Charisse, Olivia Perkins and her own Frankly My Dear riding for UGA and Stephanie White with Le Revolution riding for UA.

Third place went to the University of Georgia Black Team. Johannah Crumpton, Madisen Riebock, Clara Lenhard and Jamie Yale earned a cumulative score of 149.9. The University of the South picked up fourth place, and Florida State University finished in fifth.

Team Results:

1. University of Alabama
2. University of Georgia/University of Alabama
3. University of Georgia
4. University of the South
5. Florida State University

Click here for a breakdown of collegiate scores. 

Click here for all horse trials scores. 

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.

Click here to see all Intercollegiate Team Challenges scheduled in 2017. Don’t see yours? Email Kate Lokey, [email protected] to have your challenge added to the schedule.