Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Claim Western Regional Championship at Stanford
3/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
March 26, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs equestrian team continues to be recognized as one of the best in the region. The Dogs claimed their fourth straight regional title in Western riding and the English squad finished as the reserve champion, or second place, to Stanford at the 2006 IHSA Regional Championship show in Palo Alto, Calif.
Fresno State's depth and talent paced the way for the Western squad, which has qualified for the Zone Championships in Sacramento in two weeks. Seven Bulldog earned first place finishes, led by Heidi Smith, who won the Western High Point Regional Championship.
"We had a lot of young ladies perform well and qualify for the Zone championships," said head coach Becky Malmo. "All in all it was a fantastic show. We are very pleased with the numbers if rider we will be taking to the next step to qualify for the national championships."
The Dogs competed in two shows, a Stanford Invitational and the 2006 IHSA Regional Championships. That show was originally scheduled to he held in Fresno.
The individuals who place first or second at the Zone Championships will quality for the naitional champioship show. Each member of the first place team will also go on to represent the Zone at Nationals. The zone includes all IHSA equestrian teams from: California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah. Fresno State is the defending Zone champion.
Stanford Invitational IHSA Show
Fresno State Reserve Team Champion
Open English Equitation
Amy Simmons, 4th (qualified for Regional Championships)
Intermediate English Equitation
Noelle Dukes, 3rd
Novice English Equitation
Erin Saunders, 2nd
Advanced Walk/trot/canter
Sarah Dowlearn, 2nd
Walk/trot English Equitation
Marybeth Brown, 2nd
Open Equitation over fences
Morgan McDonald, 2nd (qualified for Regional Championships); Larah Connel, 5th
Novice Equitation over fences
Becky LeGris, 1st
2006 ISHA Regional English Championship Team Standing
1. Stanford, 2. Fresno State (Reserve Champion)
2006 ISHA Regional Western Championship Team Standing
1. Fresno State, 2. Stanford
Western reining
Elise Kolp, 2nd; Heidi Smith, 3rd
Open Western Horsemanship
Heidi Smith, 1st (qualified for Regional Championships); Kristin Marchesi, 2nd
Novice Western Horsemanship
Jessica Miller, 1st (qualified for Regional Championships)
Intermediate Western Horsemanship
Rebecca Flood, 2nd
Walk/Jog Western Horsemanship
Jennifer Detrinidad, 3rd
High Point Western Rider:
Heidi Smith, Fresno State
Open Equitation Over Fences
Morgan McDonald, 2nd (qualified for Regional Championships)
Open English Equitation
Amy Simmons, 3rd
Intermediate English Equitation
Becky LeGris, 1st (qualified for Zone Championships)
Advanced Walk/trot/canter
Erin Saunders, 2nd (qualified for the Zone championships)
Open Western Horsemanship
Heidi Smith, 1st (qualified for the Zone shampionships)
Novice Western Horsemanship
Jessica Miller, 1st (qualified for the Zone championships)
Intermediate Western Horsemanship
Brenda Donat, 1st (qualified for the Zone championships); Erin Buffington, 2nd (qualified for the Zone championships); Stacey McCalmont, 3rd
Walk/jog Western Horsemanship
Heather Billings, 1st (qualified for the Zone championships)
