With a crystal clear, cloudless sky and a three-quarter moon visible over the pine tree tops, riders and horses — many of whom were dressed in creative Halloween costumes — came out to the Green Creek Hounds Halloween Hunter Pace & Trail Ride, which took place Sunday, Oct. 28.

The starting point was handled by well-known starter Joey Cabaniss, who outlined the course, expected conditions and trail markers.

The two divisions, Field Hunter and Trail Rider, followed a 8.7 mile trail, while a shorter trail of 4.9 miles was available for younger riders and inexperienced horses.

The Field Hunter Optimum Time was 1:50:35, with 68 riders in 37 teams vying for the placements.

The blue ribbons were awarded to Jessica Ames, of Asheville, and Ashley Oliver, of Fairview, with a time of one hour, 50 minutes, 42 seconds; just seven seconds off the optimum.

Christina Goen, of Lyman, and Emily Mitchell, of Greer, took the second-place red ribbons with a time of one hour, 49 minutes, 59 seconds. Third-place honors went to Erin O’Dwyer, of Tryon, and Hyland Sheffron, of Columbus, who were only one minute, nine seconds over optimum.

The white ribbons are awarded to Maria Oglesby, of Clemson, and Jennifer Pagano, of Six Mile, after a ride time of one hour, 49 minutes and two seconds. Fifth place was Amy Christensen and Beth Kelley, both of Landrum, who were just one second further off from the optimum with a time of one hour, 49 minutes, one second. 

Katie Martin, of Black Mountain, took the green ribbon with a time of one hour, 52 minutes, 29 seconds, still less than two minutes off the optimum. The trio of Tom Eizenberger, Lucy Hooper and Taylor Reed, who were less than 30 seconds from sixth place, took honorable mention honors.

In the Trail Rider Division there were a total of 60 riders in 31 teams aiming to hit the calculated optimum time of two hours, 19 minutes and four seconds.

A trio of angels from Hendersonville — normally known as Dawn Harrison and Carrie and Olive Wilsey — flew into first place with a time of two hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds. Leslie Shealy, of Spartanburg, took second-place honors with a time just 45 seconds over optimum.

A quartet of redneck hunters — Nancy Anderson, of Pauline, Lauren McRae, of Weddington, and Olynda Stretcher and Bobby Turner, of Spartanburg — took the yellow ribbons with a ride time of two hours, 21 minutes, 43 seconds.

Fourth-place honors went to Laura Hendley, of Greer, and Rich Putnam, of Tryon, with a time of two hours, 16 minutes, 19 seconds. Diane Wilson, of Asheville, earned a pretty pink ribbon after turning in a ride time just three minutes, 21 seconds under the optimum.

Sixth-place honors went to Kathy Bucks, of Belton, Kaileigh Pickron, of Anderson, and Emily Wilson, of Williamston, after a ride time of two hours, 23 minutes, 26 seconds. Only four minutes, 24 seconds off the calculated optimum, Cindy James, of Mountville, took honorable mention.

Next up on the 2018-19 WCHPace Series schedule will be the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center Fall Hunter Pace, set for this Sunday, followed by the River Valley Pony Club’s Fall event on Sunday, Nov. 25. The series will wrap up the calendar year with Windridge Farm’s Winter Hunter Pace on Sunday, Dec. 9, before taking a break for the holidays. 

Those interested in reading additional results or learning more about the WCHPace Series may visit WCHPace.org.

– Submitted by Lynn Fitch and Jan Smith