Hunt Seat Team finishes third at UGA competition

Nov. 25, 2002

Athens, Georgia – The USC Equestrian Team had a frustrating competition at the University of Georgia IHSA meet held Saturday, September 23. The Hunter Seat Team finished third and the Western Team tied for fifth. With the October Berry competition being cancelled, the Lady Gamecocks had not been to a meet with both teams since their home meet on September 23.

Freshman Laura Pipken and senior Jessica Keels were the only two Gamecocks to win a class. Pipken won a section of Novice Flat and Keels won a section of Intermediate. She also was second in a section of Novice Flat. Overall, Keels had the most successful weekend of the team. Other second place finishes were made by Tara Brothers, Michelle Jenkins, and Cindy Davis.

“We had a combination of things that hurt our performance on Saturday,” Coach Duncan said. “We were a little rusty at times in hunt seat and we did not have the greatest draws. The biggest thing against us was that as a whole, neither judge seemed to like our style of riding. Because the judging is subjective, we were at the mercy of the judges.”

Auburn University won Hunt Seat followed by Georgia and then USC. Georgia won the western portion of the competition. Auburn and Wallace State were tied for second and Berry was fourth.

The Equestrian Team’s next competition will be a tournament at Fresno State on January 18th.

HUNT SEAT Open Flat: Section 1- 2. Tara Brothers 6. Sarah Tomasi

Intermediate Flat: 4. Molly Harrison

Open Fences: 6. Sarah Tomasi

Intermediate Fences: 3. Chelsea Koornick 5. Brooke Spitzer

Novice Flat: Section 1- 3. Ashley Williams 6. Lauren Brown Section 2- 2. Jessica Keels Section 3- 1. Laura Pipken 4. Lisa Wilson

Novice Fences: Section 1- 4. Lisa Boykin Section 2- 4. Lindsey Wilson

Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter: Section 1- 3. Lindsey Weathers 6. Kyra Hufford

Walk/ Trot: 2. Michelle Jenkins

WESTERN Reining: 4. Courtney Borton

Open: 4. Kerrie Reeves 5. Courtney Borton

Advanced II: 2. Cindy Davis