Senior Kayleigh McDonnell was high point rider at Wellesley, earning blue ribbons for intermediate fences and intermediate flat. (PHOTO BY Tom Eng Photography)

McDonnell earns high point rider honors with two first place ribbons 

MEDWAY, Mass. (March 11, 2015) – The Stonehill College equestrian team turned in a first place team finish at the Wellesley College Show in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4 competition hosted by Rising Star Equestrian Center in Medway, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

Stonehill compiled 38 points for its winning total with Boston University taking second with 33 points and Mount Ida College and Tufts University tying for third with 32 points each. The Skyhawks remain second in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4 standings with 284 points, but close the gap with regional leaders Tufts to just six points (290 points) and 21 points ahead of third place Boston University (263).

Senior Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vermont/Rutland) earned high point rider honros at the show with her two blue ribbon performances for intermediate equitation over fences and intermediate equitation on the flat. She led a group of seven Stonehill riders to earn first place finishes, while 11 posted top three finishes.

Senior Justine Mitchell (Sunderland, Massachusetts/Frontier Regional) and sophomores Nina Fultz (Littleton, Massachusetts/Littleton) and Ashley Eng (New Milford, Connecticut/Nonnewaug) all pointed out and qualified for the Regional Championships next month with their first place shows on Sunday. Mitchell and Fultz earned blue ribbons for their class in walk trot canter, while Eng placed first for walk trot.

Juniors Molly Machain (Andover, Massachusetts/Andover) and Dara D'Agostino (Canton, Massachusetts/Canton) rounded out Stonehill's blue ribbon winners at the show. Machian earned her first place ribbon for novice fences, while D'Agostino was first for novice flat.

Senior Cassandra Otis (Downingtown, Pennsylvania/Bishop Shanahan) placed second in open fences, while classmate Danielle Franchi (Islip, New York/Islip) was second for open flat to go with a sixth place show for open fences. Freshmen Baylee Kimbar (Worcester, Massachusetts/West Boylston) and Caitlin Maloney (Chepachet, Rhode Island/LaSalle Academy) each also collected third place ribbons for novice fences and intermediate fences, respectively. Kimbar was also fifth in novice flat.

Stonehill is back in action on Sunday, March 22, when it competes at Worcester State University's Show at Maplewood Farm in Berlin, Connecticut, at 9 a.m.

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