April 22, 2006

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Auburn equestrian team concluded the 2006 Varsity Equestrian Championships Saturday with 30 total points as the Tigers claimed their first equestrian national championship in school history.

"Winning the national championship is obviously huge," said head coach Greg Williams. "To win the national championship, you have to be a complete team. We were the only team to send riders to the entire championship round. It didn't come down to today for us to win the title. We had it won last night.

"It was really awesome and it was a lot of fun to be here. The other coaches were very congratulatory on the way our team performed. Our girls deserved it."

Auburn finished second in the Western and Hunt Seat divisions, but claimed the overall title by nine points. Oklahoma State and South Carolina finished tied for second with 21 points followed by Georgia (16), Texas A&M (13) and New Mexico State (9).

Oklahoma State finished first in the Western division, edging Auburn 851-847. Texas A&M finished third ahead of Georgia, New Mexico State and Kansas State.

South Carolina defeated Auburn, 906-853, in the Hunt Seat division. Georgia finished third followed by New Mexico State, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Auburn winners in the Western division were Kimberly Tidwell and Whitney Kimble, who posted scores of 142.5 and 140.5, respectively.

Maggie White (148) and Kelly Gottfried (156) claimed victories over their South Carolina opponents in the Hunt Seat division.