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.”
Emma Stapley with her high point rider ribbon.
Gustafson and Grobbel Dominate First Level (February 15, 2014)
The Albion College dressage team started the day off with a bang at their one-day competition held at the University of Findlay on February 15.
The two Albion first level riders dominated their class. Team captain Paige Gustafson (Dexter/Dexter) scored her personal best at an IDA competition, finishing in first place with a 71.6%. Fellow teammate and junior Megan Grobbel (Berlin/Armada) followed her in second place with a score of 69.3%.
Other respectable scores earned by Briton riders include Emma Stapley (Rockford/Rockford), who finished with a 66.4% in her upper training level class. New to the dressage team (and current hunt seat team member), sophomore Ann Armstrong (Janesville, WI/George Parker) competed in lower training level and scored a solid 64.8%.
By the end of the day and amongst stiff competition, the Albion A team finished in sixth place and the B team finished in fifth place.
Top Three Finish for Albion IDA Team (November 23, 2013)
Newcomers to Region D, the University of Findlay hosted their first Intercollegiate Dressage Association show on November 23. Albion College made the drive down to Findlay, Ohio, although they only took one team of four riders rather than the usual two teams.
Team captain Paige Gustafson (Dexter/Dexter) rode to a first place finish at first level with a 66.5%. Upper training level ended with Emma Stapley (Rockford/Rockford) in second place with a score of 66.6%. Junior Kayleigh Harvey (Ada/Forest Hills Eastern) won fifth place in her lower training level class with a 64.8%. Introductory level rider Lindsay Ciastko (Hammond, IN/La Lumiere) rounded out the team. The Albion team A ended up with a third place overall finish.
Dressage Team Steps Out at First Show (October 12-13, 2013)
The Intercollegiate Dressage Association has officially begun, and Region D kicked it off with a two-day double header show hosted by Michigan State University. Albion College dressage riders made up two teams out of the total nine that were there to compete for points, which will ultimately pave the way to IDA Nationals at the end of the year. A few Albion College school horses also made the trip to help provide enough mounts for all the competitors.
On Saturday, a number of the Albion riders placed within the top three at their respective levels. First-year Grace Tsangaris (Ann Arbor/Washtenaw Technical Middle College) swept her upper training level class with a 68.93% and won first place. Freshman Elizabeth Neustadt (Bloomfield Hills/International Academy) was awarded second place for her ride at introductory level. Sophomore Emma Stapley (Rockford/Rockford) took third place in upper training level. And team captain Paige Gustafson (Dexter/Dexter) put in a strong performance at first level to earn third place, too. By the end of the first day, Albion’s team A had won fourth place overall, and team B was awarded sixth place.
The second day of competition continued with more notable highlights from the Briton riders. Gustafson pulled off another third place finish at first level, as did Neustadt at introductory level. Junior Kayleigh Harvey (Ada/Forest Hills Eastern) got an impressive 67.61% to win first place in lower training level. As the show wrapped up, Albion’s team A was awarded sixth place and team B won eighth place.
“We had a great weekend,” says Gustafson, “and we all worked like a great team to take care of our horses.”
Team captain Paige Gustafson aboard "Albion College Bronson."
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