Bridgewater Captures ODAC Equestrian Championship

Sweet Briar Places Second, Randolph Third at Hollins

SALEM, Va. --- Bridgewater College won its second ODAC Equestrian Championship in the last three years on Friday afternoon, adding the 2009 crown to the title it won in 2007.  Sweet Briar College finished as the reserve champion while Randolph College placed third.  Hollins University placed fourth while championship host Washington and Lee University was fifth.  Lynchburg rounded out the competition in sixth place.

Bridgewater's Patti Ann Thornton was named the ODAC Rider of Year for the second straight year.  She posted an event high average of 86.25 on Equitation Over Fences.  Teammate Kailey Williams was tabbed as the ODAC Rookie Rider of the Year following a 77.875 average on Equitation Over Fences, and BC head coach, Sarah Irvine, was selected as the ODAC Coach of the Year.

Randolph senior Ashley Lovegrove claimed her second straight ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete award.  The Moneta-native boasts a 3.818 grade point average while majoring in political science with a minor in economics.  An All-ODAC rider in 2008, Lovegrove has been the high-point rider at four invitationals this season including the IHSA Regionals.  She qualified for the IHSA national meet in that event where she will compete for the national individual title.

Posted below are the point standings and 2009 All-ODAC members.

Final Standings (points awarded as 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for places1-60
Full Event Scorecard
1. Bridgewater - 16 pts.
2. Sweet Briar - 14 pts.
3. Randolph - 13 pts.
4. Hollins - 10 pts.
5. Washington and Lee - 9 pts.
6. Lynchburg - 4 pts.

Equitation Over Fences - Class 1
1. Bridgewater - 237.5 pts.
2. Sweet Briar - 236.75 pts.
3. Hollins - 225.5 pts.
4. Washington and Lee - 209.0 pts.
5. Randolph - 189.75 pts.
6. Lynchburg - 183.75 pts.

Equitation Over Fences - Class 2
1. Sweet Briar - 246.0 pts.
2. Bridgewater - 245.25 pts.
3. Randolph - 238.25 pts.
4. Hollins - 236.0 pts.
5. Lynchburg - 206.5 pts.
6. Washington and Lee - 194.25 pts.

Equitation on Flats
1. Randolph - 160.0 pts.
2. Washington and Lee - 158.0 pts.
3. Bridgewater - 157.5 pts.
4. Hollins - 153 pts.
5. Sweet Briar - 146.5 pts.
6. Lynchburg - 140.5 pts.

2009 All-ODAC Equestrian Team
Gillian Baird, Randolph
Sarah Fishback, Sweet Briar
Katie Furches, Hollins
Chelsea Hames, Bridgewater
Allison Lemon, Washington and Lee
Tamara Morse, Washington and Lee
Meredith Newman, Sweet Briar
Alison Sims, Sweet Briar
Patti Ann Thornton, Bridgewater
Kailey Williams, Bridgewater

Rider of the Year: Patti Ann Thornton, Bridgewater
Coach of the Year: Sarah Irvine, Bridgewater
Rookie of the Year: Kailey Williams, Bridgewater
ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete: Ashley Lovegrove, Randolph