BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Lees-McRae College equestrian team completed its first season as a club team this semester. In the past two months, the Bobcats competed at Averett, Emory & Henry, and UNC Greensboro for their competition shows.
At Averett on February 16, Lees-McRae took home five top-five finishes. Venus De Mello earned third place in the Limit Division Flat and second place in Limit Division Fences. Annika Bell placed fifth in the Flat and fifth in the Fences. Kate Giordano recorded fourth place in the Novice Division Flat.
At Emory & Henry, De Mello led the Bobcats with a first-place finish in Limit Fences and also earned fifth in Limit Fences. Dimello rounded out the weekend with a second and fourth place in Limit Flat. Bell registered fourth and sixth place finishes in the Limit Flat and sixth in Limit Division Fences. Giordano placed second and fourth on the weekend in the Novice Flat. Kimberly Plumb tallied two third-place finishes in the Novice Flat. Sam Soto collected two fourth-place finishes in the Introductory Flat.
In their final competition of the season, De Mello placed fourth in the Flat and third in Fences in the Limit Division at UNC Greensboro. Bell followed with a sixth place in the Limit and fourth in the Fences. Giordano concluded her season with a second-place in the Novice Flat and Plumb followed with fourth. Soto ended Spring 2025 with a third-place finish in the Introductory Flat.
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