LAURINBURG — The St. Andrews Western Team started out their competition season with a victory as they hosted the IHSA Western Horse Shows last weekend. St. Andrews is the defending Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Champions. The Knights compete in Zone 4.5 Region 3.

In their first competition of the regular season, St. Andrews was the champion team on both days of competition. NC State was the Reserve Champion while Liberty University took third, Virginia Tech placed fourth, Appalachian State and Martin Community College tired for fifth place and Campbell University rounded out the field in sixth place.

“My students have been really preparing hard and it showed this past weekend,” said team coach Carla Wennberg.

Mark Mowbray, a senior at St. Andrews, was the High Point Rider for the competition. Mowbray also took first place in Open competition and first place in Reining.

Jordan Belanger took first place in Intermediate 1, while Maggie Martin, in her second year of riding, took first in Intermediate 2 on the first day of competition. Teammate Janelle Petruska took first place in Intermediate 2 on the second day.

Dillon Vaughn, in his third year of riding with St. Andrews, won first place in Novice, while brother Jarret Vaughn took first place in Advanced.

Other Knights riding in the compepetion were: Steven Dennis took second in Beginner Horsemanship; Paola Sierra-Danielsen took second place in Intermediate 1; Katelyn Daggett took third place in Intermediate 2; Keelyn Green finished in fourth place in Intermediate 2; Connor Smith placed second in Advanced; and Gina Ulveie, a new rider from Norway, took first place in Open.

“I feel so lucky to have the support and commitment of such great student-athletes,” said Wennberg.

The St. Andrews Western Team will be back in the saddle this weekend as they travel to Camden, S.C. for the Carolina Starz C Show.

For more information about the Equestrian Program at St. Andrews, visit the universities website www.sa.edu or find them on Facebook, St. Andrews Equestrian Program.

Courtesy photo The St. Andrews Western Team started out their competition season with a victory as they hosted the IHSA Western Horse Shows last weekend.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Western-Team-Photo-4302_resize.jpgCourtesy photo The St. Andrews Western Team started out their competition season with a victory as they hosted the IHSA Western Horse Shows last weekend.

Staff report