Randolph Set to Host Annual Riding Event

FOREST, Va. --- The ODAC Equestrian Championships return to the Randolph College Riding Center for the first time since 2012 as Randolph opens its doors to the conference's six competing programs.  The event, which covers three rounds of competition, is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

Four-rider teams from Bridgewater College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Sweet Briar College, and Washington and Lee University join the contingent from Randolph for this season's event.  All six schools competed in Zone 4 Region 2 during the IHSA season, with BC earning champion status and Randolph as the reserve champion amongst 13 programs.

Scoring for the ODAC Championships differs from that of the IHSA shows, where riders are split into two or three separate sections for competition.  For the ODAC event, each team will feature four riders and will use their own horses.  In IHSA shows, competing riders must use horses provided by the host.  Each ODAC rider will compete in two jumping rounds and earn a score taken from the average of two judges. The low average for each team will be dropped and a point total assigned to each teams combined score in rank order.  The final round, which features competition in the flat, only features two riders per school.

Last season, Sweet Briar ran the table in winning the program's third overall title.  The Vixens earned a full seven points in each class of competition towards 21 overall, posting team scores for 242.25 and 245.75 in the jumping competitions and 165.5 on the flat.  Washington and Lee finished as the reserve champion with 14 total points, while Bridgewater claimed third with nine points.

Several riders return to the ODAC Championship ring with 13 competitors slated for a repeat appearance.  Six captured All-ODAC honors, including ODAC Rider and Rookie of the Year, Makayla Benjamin, from Sweet Briar. She posted an 84.500 combined average in the two jumping classes.  W&L features Laura Lemon (82.625) and Jane Chiavelli (79.875), in addition to 2014 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Caleigh Wells (73.250 last year).  Bridgewater will have Zellie Wothers (79.875) back in the saddle, while Christina Antonucci (79.375) returns for Lynchburg. The host WildCats' contingent includes Meaghan Hynes (80.250), who finished third in intermediate equitation on the flat at the 2014 IHSA National Championship.

Listed below are last year's full team rankings as well as the 2015 All-ODAC Riding Team.  Also below is information regarding this season's championships.