As with most intercollegiate competition the coaches meet to discuss logistics etc. for the event prior to the start of competition. This meeting ran until about 7:15 on Friday evening after which the coaches returned to the barn to meet up with the riders and check on the horses. They found Rob tending to Ozzie who had ripped open his right bottom eyelid. Fortunately with SAPC’s Veterinarian Dr. Kellam in attendance the injury was quickly sutured. The SCAD staff even allowed Ozzie to stay in the main barn which was described by Coach McElveen as the horse Taj Mahal with luxury horse suites.
This is the first year that ANRC has offered two divisions. The Novice division competes at 2’6” and the National division at 3’. All competitors are allotted schooling time for the three phases giving the riders and coaches the opportunity to plan their strategies for each of the three ridden phases. The competition starts with a theory test. In the novice division Jennifer Callahan won this phase with a score of 96%. In the National division senior Audrey Hayden scored 97.1% to earn third place and senior Rob Jacobs placed 7th with a score of 93.1%.
Long time friend of the St. Andrews equestrian program and frequent clinician for hunter seat riders Scot Evans made a surprise visit to the competition. “I was talking to Scot on the phone Friday and asking about his plans for the weekend,” said Coach McElveen. “He said, I thought I’d spend the weekend in Savannah! What a wonderful surprise! He was so helpful with the riders. Rob has ridden with Scot for four years and Katie, Kim, Audrey and Jenn the last two years. Scot was able to give Coach Duda some great advice and gave all our competitors a great pep talk.”
The dressage sportif phase is ridden in a large arena with dressage letters, a trot fence and a canter fence. Junior Kim Graves riding her own horse for the National team had an absolutely stunning ride which would have probably been in the top placings in the division had she not made a walk transition in the wrong place in the ring and lost her counter canter lead. For the Novice division Alexandra Fullerton had a challenging ride on Glenn “who was in the grumpiest mood I have ever seen” said Coach McElveen. “Alexandra had to be conservative and tactful so as not to make him angry.”
The hunter trials equitation phase started early Sunday morning followed by the hunter seat equitation medal course in the afternoon. Kim Graves earned the highest St. Andrews score in the hunter trials equitation putting her in the top five for that phase, she also earned a top ten placing in the medal phase. “Stage fright” was an unexpected problem for Rob who has represented St. Andrews many times in competition. While Rob and Katie each had some issues in the hunter trials phase, they came back strong in the Medal phase and this competition is a great primer for IHSA Nationals the first week of May where Rob will compete as part of the St. Andrews hunter seat team and ride for the prestigious Cacchione Cup and Katie will compete in the Individual Open Fences.”
Many of the rider’s families came to the competition including Alie’s parents, Katie’s parents and brother, Rob’s parents, Audrey Bolte’s Mom and Audrey Hayden’s Mom who was excited to let Coach McElveen know that she was willing to serve as the IHSA Awards Coordinator in 2012 when St. Andrews hosts IHSA Nationals. “I am so grateful for the support of the parents, staff, and Scot.” said Coach McElveen. “I also want to thank Karen Gruninger who is here as our Chef d’Equip. She has worked 12 – 14 hour days and done a fantastic job. She was the backbone of the team, planning horse feedings around competitive ride times, getting all the barn management done on time and knowing the rules of the competition to make sure everyone was in compliance. She was fabulous.”
Coach McElveen must have done a pretty good job too as she was awarded the United States Hunter Jumper Association Affiliate ANRC Instructor of the Year Award. This award recognizes an outstanding riding instructor who is dedicated to teaching the Forward Riding System, a dedicated teacher who has spent time “in the ring” encouraging love and growth of forward riding to entry level riders, primarily at unrecognized competition level. Not expecting to receive an award Coach McElveen was caught with a plate of food in her hand at the awards luncheon. Ever resourceful she used the silver tray that she was awarded to carry the food back to her table.
Calculating the final results can be a complicated process which led to some mix-ups at the end of the competition when errors occurred with the calculation. However, even this challenge did not diminish the wonderful competition. The St. Andrews novice team of Jen Callahan, Alie McGraw and Alexandra Fullerton placed 4th in their division, the Nationals team Rob Jacobs, Kim Graves and Katie Hansen placed 6th along with Nationals individual riders Audrey Hayden and Audrey Bolte.
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