Randolph sophomore Caroline Houston headlined the local contingent of riders competing at the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championship on Thursday, taking home a fifth-place finish in her event. Two other area riders also competed.
Houston was fifth, out of 16 riders, in the Novice Fences competition during Day 1 of the championships, held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Her Randolph teammate, sophomore Kirby Tidmore, finished outside the top 10 in the Novice Flat category but picked up an honorable mention award as one of the top 16 riders in the nation in the event.
Senior Christina Antonucci wrapped up her career at Lynchburg College by competing in both the Open Fences and Open Flat categories.
She rode to a 10th-place finish in fences and was an honorable mention in the other event after finishing outside the top 10.
“I ended up being in the ribbons, which really was my goal,” Antonucci said of her fences ride in an LC news release. “Obviously I would have loved to do a little better, but I think I had a strong enough ride where I'm happy with it.”
Antonucci’s appearance Thursday marked her third career trip to the nationals.
Two other area riders will compete Friday.
Randolph junior Abby Carpenter will compete in the Walk-Trot, and Sweet Briar senior Makayla Benjamin will compete in the Cacchione Cup, which pits 24 of the nation’s best overall riders against each other and consists of rides over fences and on the flat.