What a beautiful day for a Hunter Pace! The weather was picture perfect with a nice breeze and a sunny blue sky. Mother Nature was very kind this weekend! Without the landowners, this Hunter Pace would not have been possible. Many thanks go to Junior Arrowood, Carlson/Henderson, Jana Johnson, Melissa and Raymond Johnson, Wylie Properties, Terry Webb. There were some new trails available this go around to the riders’ pleasure.

There were many workers at Windridge on Sunday, Oct. 1 who were behind the scenes. Before the Pace, there was Jeff Davis, Paul Downes from Ireland, Allen Carlton, Amber Henderson, and David Henderson. Sunday’s volunteers were Allen Carlton, Janine Conner, Jeff Davis, Paul Downes, and Karen Park. The most favorite volunteer was the Master Grillsman, David Henderson! A feast was prepared for riders and visitors. Mr. Henderson was fast at work grilling chicken as the green beans, baked apples, and sweet potato soufflé were being prepared. Sweet tea, lemonade and iced water were the drinks of choice. The aroma filled the start-finish line and had riders drooling as the left for the trails! The parking areas were self-serve, as such. There was plenty of room for rigs to negotiate and not be crowded.

The trail was 10.3 miles and took riders past the new Dressage Arena and out onto the Cross Country Course. Riders had the occasion to take the jumps and have their pictures taken as they did. There were several water crossings which didn’t seem to hinder any rides. The trail was well marked with pink ribbons on the riders’ right side.

The turnout was wonderful on this beautiful day. There were 69 riders in 33 teams.

Now, let’s get to those results:

There was a total of 29 riders in 16 teams in the Field Hunter Division. The Optimum Time for the Field Hunters was one hour, 31 minutes, 25 seconds.

First Place Honors in the Field Hunter division went to Amy Christensen from Landrum with a time of one hour, 30 minutes, 45 seconds. Not far behind to claim the Second Place Ribbon was Shannon Jackson, from Ellenboro with the time of one hour, 30 minutes, 30 seconds. Beth Goldizen from Roebuck picked up the Third Place Yellow Ribbon with the time of one hour, 28 minutes, 40 seconds.

Holly Bacola from Chesnee claimed Fourth Place with a time of one hour, 34 minutes, 52 seconds. Fifth Place was awarded to the trio of Amanda Aiello from Ellenboro, Nicola Dienes and Pam Hilsman from Landrum with a time of one hour, 18 minutes, 27 seconds. Rounding out the placements in the Field Hunter Division was another trio, Debbie Croft from Anderson, Marcia Headrick and Rich Neel from Townville with a time of one hour, 14 minutes, 32 minutes.

Other Field Hunters out enjoying the great trails were Sara Borkosky, Kristen Brown, Sara Carson, Anita Crouse, Anna Dalton, Stephanie Easler, Anna Fratcher, Christine Goen, Susan Haslam, Desiree Hill, Danielle Lamb, Meghan Linder, Emily Mitchell, Connie Moore, Stephanie O’Neill, KC Scott, Jennifer R. Smith, and Janine and Tom Stenson.

In the Trail Rider Division there were 40 riders in 17 teams. The Calculated Optimum Time was two hours, 30 minutes, six seconds.

Here are those results:

First Place Honors were awarded to the trio from Greenville, Tenn., Darlene Bullock, Nikki Hynes, and DeAnna Norton with a time of two hours, 30 minutes, 36 seconds. They were a mere 30 seconds off the Calculated Optimum Time! Second Place Honors went to a team of eight riders, Lisa Alford from Mooresville, Kathleen Knutson, Mitzi Mayhew, Nicole Mills, Debora Pearl, Kim Randall, Jenna Stutts, and Nancy Wiggins with a time of two hours, 27 minutes, 40 seconds. The Third Place Yellow Ribbon was awarded to Jennifer Smith with a time of two hours, 36 minutes, 35 seconds.

Fourth Place Honors were awarded to Ronnie Mann from Columbus with a time of two hours, 40 minutes. Fifth Place winners were the quartet of Susanna Birch, Andrea Davis, Lacy Westle and Diane Wilson from Asheville with a time of two hours, 40 minutes, ten seconds. They were ten seconds out of Fifth Place! Rounding out the placements in the Trial Rider Division in Sixth Place was the duo of Lynn Fitch from Taylors and Debbie Knebel from Greer with a time of two hours, 41 minutes, 15 seconds.

Other Trail Riders out to enjoy the day were Gail Bolt, Elizabeth and Grace Caldwell, Caroline Coates, Julie Frederick, Ann and Tony Hubbuch, Elaine and Michaela Hughes, Susie Justus, Debra Kennerly, Lin Martin, Annette Spencer, David and Donna Taylor, Josie Thompson, Lisa Trojan, Stacie Wadsworth, and Carolina and Robin Wilson.

Included in the Hunter Place was a Poker Ride. The winner with a straight flush, nine thru king of diamonds was team #33, Caroline Coates, Elizabeth & Grace Caldwell!

Up next for the 2017-2018 Hunter Pace Series was the Tryon Hounds Fall Hunter Pace and Trail Ride held on Sunday, Oct. 15, followed by the Green Creek Hounds Halloween Ride on Oct. 22, 2017. To save some time and crowds at the registration tables, download the registration forms from the Western Carolina Hunter Pace website for the specific event and slap a return address label on it including your emergency contact and email to insure you can be contacted.

Check the website at www.wchpace.org for upcoming events, changes, and to view your photos taken by photographer Lou Smith. With the weather being so unpredictable here of late, rain dates are in place in case of a postponement. See you on the trails next time!

Reported by Missy Bright

 

Series Standings at Oct. 7, 2017

After two of the possible 17 scheduled events of the 2017-18 Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series, there are ties all down the line, leaving the current standings as follows:

Total # Riders: 121

Field Hunters: 43

Marcia Headrick & Rich Neel have taken an early lead with 12 Series points at this time.

Kristen Brown & Jennifer R Smith have 11 points for Second Place at this writing.

Amy Christensen, Beth Goldizen & Rebecca Tolson have each earned 9 points for Third Place at this time.

Amanda Aiello, Nicola Deines, Diane Hicks and Shannon Jackson are currently tied in Fourth with eight Series points.

Debbie Croft, Christina Goen and Emily Mitchell are in Fifth with seven points at this time.

Holly Bacola is close behind in Sixth, fittingly with six Series points.

Pam Hilsman is currently in Seventh with five points earned.

Karen Brockway, Candice Carr, Nancy Mason, Janine & Tom Stenson currently share Eighth Place honors with four Series points apiece.

Lisa Clements has earned three Series points to date for Ninth Place.

Two points and Tenth Place at this time for: Sara Borkosky, Samantha Cason, Anita Crouse, Anna Dalton, Stephanie Easler, Ann Fratcher, Tim Giles, Kelly Hart, Susan Haslam, Desiree Hill, Danielle Lamb, Meghan Linder, Connie Moore, Stephanie O’Neill, Sylvia Riaale, Diane Roemer, K.C. Scott, T.J. Vore, and Lisa & Shane Woodson.

Catherine Gillet is currently in Tenth Place with one Series point.

Trail Riders: 78

Darleen Bullock, Nikki Hynes and DeAnna Norton have a good early lead with 17 Series points at this writing.

Ronnie Mann is in Second Place with a current count of 11 points.

Linda & Wayne Farris, Jennifer A Smith and Bobby Turner are currently tied in Third Place with nine Series Points each.

Lisa Alford, Kathy Knutson, Mitzi Mayhew, Nicole Mills, Debora Pearl, Kim Randall, Jenna Stutts and Nancy Wiggins are sharing Fourth Place honors at this time with eight points apiece.

Lynn Fitch, Debbie Knebel & Arlene Lulavage are currently tied in Fifth Place with six Series points apiece.

Susannah Birch, Andrea Davis, Susie Justus Hill, Lisa Kotallik, Lacy Westle and Diane Wilson have each earned five Series points to date to put them into a tie for Sixth Place.

Jill Davis, Lin Martin, Annette Spencer and Stacie Wadsworth are currently tied in Seventh Place with four points apiece.

Maddie Brown, Kimberly Hannu and Samantha Seay are currently in Eighth Place with three Series points each.

In Ninth Place with two Series points each: Jordan Anderson, Alexis Botchie, Baiba Bourbeau, Missy Bright, Pam Burrows, Elizabeth & Grace Caldwell, Caroline Coates, Benay Daniel, Michelle Drum, Katheryn Eilders, Julie Frederick, Andrea Gentry, Kayla Gonzalez, Elaine & Michaela Hughes, Natalie Hyatt, Jen & Kate Keilman, Beatrice Lamb, Rhonda Lewis, Jessica Nelson, Anna Oglesby, Valerie Quinn, Jaime Robertson, Leslie Scott, Jan Smith, Yasmin Straitiff, Sydney Swenson, David & Donna Taylor, Josie Thompson, Lisa Trojan, Susan Wallahora, Laurie Whitaker, Carolina & Robin Wilson, Jillian Wodridge, Sherry Wyatt and Mary-Ladd Yatts-Yonkman.

Tenth Place and one point apiece has been earned to date by Gail Bolt, Bob & Terri Davenport, Ann & Tony Hubbuch and Debra Kennerly.

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events. Mark your calendars and ride with us at the Green Creek Hounds Halloween Hunter Pace on Sunday, Oct. 22. The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) plans their annual fall Hunter Pace for Sunday, Nov. 5, and the weekend before Thanksgiving is the River Valley Pony Club’s Fall Hunter Pace on Sunday, Nov. 19. Then we’ll finish out the calendar year with the Windridge Farm Winter Hunter Pace on Sunday, Dec. 3, before taking a break for the Christmas Holidays.

Events will pick back up on Jan. 6 with the S.C. Upstate Equine Council at Clemson and continue straight through May after a short break for the holidays, so be sure to check the schedule and come play with us!

Always remember to check WCHPace.org for all upcoming events, news, articles, photos, placements and contact information.

Thank you to our photographer, Lou Smith, for being at every event to capture the riders and their mounts as they fly over jumps, canter through the fields and enjoy the beautiful area trails.

For information on the Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series e-mail Series Coordinator Jan Smith at WCHPace@Windstream.net or Jan@WCHPace.org, or call her at 828-894-8760.

Reported by Jan Smith