Equestrians ride to win in OHSET

While some kids were spending their spring break watching movies and sleeping in, the Sisters High School Equestrian team was riding to win at the second Central District meet in Redmond. The Sisters team again won the overall team competition for medium-sized teams.

There were 15 teams and 132 riders competing at the event over three days.

Coach Yvette Chandler said, "We've won first place in the medium division in our first two meets. That's amazing! Even better, we placed second out of all 15 teams competing, including beating two of the three large-division schools. The girls are working well as a team, they're improving, and most importantly they are having fun. Coach Teddy Georges and I are having fun, too."

Each competitor is limited to five individual events per meet, and includes English and Western performance events (patterns which are scored by a judge), and timed events (fastest time wins). The Sisters team displays amazing diversity, with many athletes competing in both types of events.

Team Sports Ambassador, senior Olivia Chandler, placed first in hunt seat over fences (jumping), first in keyhole race, third in saddle seat equitation, and tied for first in dressage with her sister, Ellie Chandler. Sophomore Cammi Benson earned the highest individual points of all competitors at the meet, placing first in Western horsemanship, reining, working rancher, and English equitation, and second in showmanship.

Sophomore Ellie Chandler, in addition to tying for first place in dressage, also won second in hunt seat over fences, and sixth in hunt seat equitation. Senior McKenzie King placed first in break-away roping, sixth in pole-bending, ninth in dressage, and 10th in barrel racing. Senior Autumn Saunders placed third in dressage, and 10th in hunt seat equitation. Senior Emily Corrigan placed eighth in dressage, and ninth in reining. The team celebrated as news came in during the meet of Corrigan's acceptance to Harvard.

The Sisters equestrian team also had outstanding performances in the team events.

The cattle-penning team of Ellie Chandler, McKenzie King, and Tessa Georges took fourth place.

Ellie Chandler and McKenzie King won fifth place in working pairs; a complex routine performed to music.

The team Canadian flags race of Olivia Chandler, Ellie Chandler, McKenzie King, and Chawndra Craig won sixth place.

Olivia Chandler and McKenzie King took sixth place, while Rylee Hurtley and Tessa Georges took 10th in the team bi-rangle race.

The in-hand obstacle relay consisting of Ellie Chandler, McKenzie King, Autumn Saunders, and Madison King placed ninth.

Emma Nicklous also earned several participation points for her competition in five individual and two team events.

The third and final meet for the Central district will be on April 18-20 at the Redmond Fairgrounds. Athletes qualifying for the State finals will compete on May 15-18, also in Redmond.