Claire Fialcowitz ’14

By Angela Bravo and Rob DiMuro

On Saturday, November 2, the Chaminade Equestrian team competed in the first Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL) Show of the season and came away with outstanding results. Senior captain Claire Fialcowitz, on her horse Unser Ritter, scored enough points to become show champion of the Varsity Equitation Division, beating out 32 riders for the top position. When Fialcowitz wasn’t jumping, she entered the Dressage Arena and took second place in Second Level Test 2, and fourth place in the Second Level Test 1. Fialcowitz continued on to the difficult IEL Medal Class, and received a third place ribbon out of 26 riders, which qualifies her for the medal final next year.  With a score of 55 points, Fialcowitz was also the overall high point winner.

Taylor Cusumano ’14, on her horse Never Say Never, beat 25 riders to take the second place position in the JV Working Hunter Class.

Jillian Podmore ’15 snagged a fifth place ribbon in the Novice Equitation class.

Caroline Kananen ’19, and her horse Huckleberry Finn, earned first place out of 27 riders in the Novice Working Hunter class, and third place in the Handy Hunter class. Caroline snagged the Reserve Champion spot in the Novice Hunter Division and was pinned with a fifth place ribbon in the Novice Equitation class.

Michaela Stone ’18

Charlotte Foote’18, on her horse Bob, beat out 36 riders to win second place in the Freshman Jumpers class.

Michaela Stone ’18 and her horse Scarlet, in their first IEL show, placed fifth in a Freshman Equitation class of 21 riders.

Also, earning team points were Valerie Van Dellen ’14, placing sixth out of 32 in the Varsity Equitation Flat Class; Claire Kenny ’17, in eighth and 10th in the Freshman Hunter division and ninth in the Freshman Equitation; Audrey Montgomery ’15, came in ninth in the JV Jumpers and 10th in the JV Equitation Flat, and Thomas Beazley ’18, placed 12th in JV Dressage.