Teams Ready For Competition At Bridgewater

FOREST, Va. --- A great deal of parity amongst the Old Dominion Athletic Conference schools will be showcased on Wednesday, April 2 at the 2014 ODAC Equestrian Championship.  The event will take place at the Bridgewater College Equestrian Center, with BC serving as host.

Several teams welcome back all-conference riders from a year ago.  Sweet Briar College's Olivia Smith headlines the returnees after recording the third best average (82.250 avg.) at the 2013 championship.  Bridgewater College's Taylor Rose and Washington and Lee's Claire Stevenson also earned All-ODAC honors last year and will look to continue and improve upon their performances this week.

Last season, Hollins racked up 250.0 points following the first Equitation Over Fences on Course A, finishing 8.75 judges points clear of Washington and Lee University to earn HU seven points towards the team standings.  Blair St. Ledger-Olson led the way with an 86.5 average from the two judges, followed by 86.0 from ODAC Rider of the Year Sarah Brown.  Lindsley Fletcher rounded out HU's scoring with a 77.5 average.

Brown turned out the highest-rated performance of the day in the second round of Equitation Over Fences on Course B, receiving an 89.0 average.  Fletcher posted an 83.0 rating, while St. Ledger-Olson scored 80.75 to account for 252.75 judges points and seven more tallies towards the standings for HU.  LC's Canard tied Fletcher's 83.0 mark for second-best in the round.

Randolph College's Meaghan Hynes and W&L's Molly Rountree received 86.0 averages from the judges to top the Equitation Over Flats competition.  This round, in which only two competitors earn points for each squad, again went to Hollins as St. Ledger-Olson (84.5) and Brown (82.0) combined for 166.5 judges points and seven more team tallies towards the teams standings to complete a perfect 21-point effort.

Last year's full team rankings as well as the 2013 All-ODAC Riding Team is listed below.

Below is information on the 2014 championship. For more information on all ODAC sports, visit any of the participating schools' websites or go to the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.

Old Dominion Athletic Conference
2014 Equestrian Championship
Hosted by Bridgewater College at the BC Equestrian Center
Wednesday, April 2

Judges:

Rick Echkardt, Leesburg, Va
Ellen Shevella, Charlottesville, Va.

Competition Manager:
Beth Boteler

Scorekeeper:
Emily Guyer

Course Designer:
Jerry Schurink

Announcer:
TBA

Schooling Times:
Bridgewater College: 8:30 am - 9:00 am
Washington and Lee University: 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Lynchburg College: 9:30 am - 10:00 am
Hollins University: 10:00 am - 10:30 am
Randolph College: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Sweet Briar College: 11:00am - 11:30 am

Event Schedule:            
11:45am:  Coaches Meeting – Draw for order
12:30pm:  Start of competition   

Order of Classes:
Class 1 – ODAC Equitation over Fences
Presentation of Awards for Class 1

Class 2 – ODAC Equitation over Fences
Presentation of Awards for Class 2

Class 3 – ODAC Equitation on the Flat
Presentation of Awards for Class 3

Awards Presentation:
ODAC Team Championship
ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
ODAC Rookie of the Year
ODAC Rider of the Year