Regular Season Ends for Albion Dressage Team (February 22-23, 2014)

The final two shows for Region D of the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) were rolled into one weekend at Lake Erie College on February 22 and 23. At the end of the weekend when the (metaphorical) dust settled, the Albion College team landed in third place in the regional standings. And three Albion riders could win a wild card chance to compete at IDA Nationals, too.

The first day of competition resulted in some solid scores and placings for the Britons. Kayleigh Harvey (Ada/Forest Hills Eastern) won second place with her 65.75% ride in the lower training division. Emma Stapley (Rockford/Rockford) was also second with a 66.179%. Team captain Paige Gustafson’s (Dexter/Dexter) 68.103% ride scored her a fourth place in the first level division. Team A ended day one with a fourth place overall.

Sunday brought more high scores, including an impressive 74.6% from Stapley who captured first place and the high point rider award for the show. Sophomore Ann Armstrong (Janesville, WI/George Parker) won first place in the lower training level class with a 68.33%. Third place in that class was awarded to Harvey for her 65.5%. The Albion Team A won eighth place overall, while Team B captured third place.

Gustafson, Stapley and Harvey end the regular season as reserve champions in their levels. This gives them the chance to possibly win a wild card ticket to compete as individuals at IDA Nationals in April. However they will have to wait to find out until all of the other regions are done competing, and then all of the reserve riders’ average scores are the deciding factor.

According to Gustafson, the team captain, it would be nice to go to Nationals but it has still been a great year either way. “I am very proud of how my team performed this semester. Everyone gave it their all and that is all that I could have asked for. We’re looking forward to a great season again next year.”