Morrisville State western team tops competition in 2010 season opener

The Morrisville State College western equestrian team posted 35 points in the morning and 32 in the afternoon to top the competition for high point team honors in the first two shows of the season Saturday at the riding arena in Morrisville.



Catherine Howland (Rutlandtown, VT) earned blue ribbons in the reining and open western horsemanship classes to earn high point rider honors for both shows.



Other first place finishers for the morning show included Lisa Ballard (Rome, NY) in the advanced western horsemanship class, Tawnee Collins (Evans Mills, NY), Erin Grant (Holland Patent, NY) and Jeremy McDermott (Middleburgh, NY) in novice horsemanship, Christine Towne (Rutland, VT) and Amy Amento (Hamend, CT) in intermediate western horsemanship, and David Benninghoven (Gilroy, CA) in intermediate I horsemanship.



Kelly Hunter (Red Hook, NY) and Wyatt Carbaugh (Green Castle, PA) claimed top honors in the beginner class.



In the afternoon show, Collins, Elizabeth Scott (Chittenango, NY) and Kirby Dygert (Elma, NY) were top finishers in the novice western horsemanship class, while Paige Jerrett (Parish, NY), Breann Schwarting (Earlville, NY) and Erin Seymour (Gainesville, NY) took the blue ribbon in the intermediate class.



After just two shows, Kristina Janacek (Gales Ferry, CT), Collins, Lindsey Seewaldt (North Java, NY) and Towne each qualified for the 2011 Zone 2, Region 3 Championship show held later in the season.



Morrisville State returns to the riding arenas December 4.