ALFRED, NY — The Alfred University English equestrian team won the AU Invitational, held Saturday, Feb. 27, at the AU Equestrian Center. For the second straight weekend, the Saxons took first of nine teams competing, with four AU riders qualifying to compete at the regional championships.

Senior Natalie Grow (Hyde Park, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes), second in intermediate equitation over fences; sophomore Amelia Keyes (Webster, NY), first in novice equitation over fences; junior Katie LeSuer (Edinboro, PA/Cambridge Springs), second in novice equitation on the flat; and senior Erin Toone (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South), first in advanced walk-trot-canter, each qualified to compete in their respective events at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone II, Region I championships April 2 in Ithaca.

Keyes, who also took first in novice equitation on the flat, was named Champion High Point Rider for Saturday’s show, while freshman Amelia Maslen (Chardon, OH/Andrews Osborne Academy) took first in novice equitation on the flat and over fences and was named Reserve High Point Rider.

Also earning first-place ribbons for AU was junior Erika Raye (Sussex, NJ/High Point Regional) in novice equitation on the flat. Other top riders for AU were: senior Maire Cosgrove (White Haven, PA/Bishop Hoban), second in open equitation on the flat; senior Barbara Koziol (Syracuse, PA/Bishop Ludden), second in open equitation over fences and on the flat; and freshman Christina Watts (Barryville, NY/Eldred), second in walk-trot.