Gareth Bensoff Wins Sportsmanship Award at New England Championships

Endicott Open rider Gareth Benshoff was awarded the Adult Sportsmanship Award at the New England Equitation Championships held in Springfield, MA.  To even enter this show you must qualify at other shows, so those who are riding are the elite equestrians in New England.

The Award is given to a rider "who best exemplifies the definition of sportsmanship" The person receiving the award are selected by vote of organizers and fellow riders.

Gareth says she was waiting to walk her jump course when she heard her name announced.  The entered the ring and gave an impromptu speech in which she thanked her parents, the horses she has ridden, and the people who let her ride their horses when she didn't have one to ride of her own.  She also thanked her trainer, Kristen Bumpus.

Gareth feels that riding on the Endicott Equestrian team has added another aspect to the sport that she didn't have before.

The New England Equitation Championships defines sportsmanship as "conduct and attitude considered befitting a participant in sports, especially fair play, courtesy, putting the horse's welfare first and having a striving spirit in victory or defeat".

Coach Brightman would concur that Gareth has these attributes, and is very proud of Gareth's achievement.