What a beautiful day for the Green Creek Hounds Spring Hunter Pace on John Watson Road! The day started off a little on the cool side, but warmed up so riders could shed the heavy outerwear. As riders were coming in off the trails, many were asked how the trails were. The response was unanimous that the trails were wonderful! Trails had wound through wooded areas and along open fields often giving some spectacular views. The view from the hilltop at the half way point was definitely found to be photo worthy!

Kem Ketcham was in charge of the tables, chairs, and tents. DJ Jeffries was in charge of the set up. Registration was at the tree line in the shade with Shelley Alexander, Jana Hinley, Ginny Howard, Donna Monagle, and Jean Wright keeping everyone on the straight and narrow with the required paperwork and assigning rider and team numbers. Next to the registration tent was the come hither tent with the T-shirts, sweatshirts, and ball caps. The new blue long sleeve T-shirt was very pretty! Thanks to Kathy Nebel and Joan McIntyre for showing these items and more than happy to take ones money! Decorations were lovingly put up by Stephanie Schulte.

It took a team of outstanding gentlemen to park all of the rigs in the pasture. Christiaan Barendsen, Chris Hendricks, Marc James, Paul Nordan, and Chris Monagle were on hand to insure drivers parked the rigs with plenty of room in between to allow mounts to graze.

The trails were beautifully planned and prepped by Christie Fowler and Janet Cummings. The ribbons were hung on the trees with care and the arrow signs pointed riders in the right direction thanks to Deborah Bundy.

The landowner hosts are Jennifer and Roger Smith. Riders are very fortunate to have such a wonderful area to ride. Marion Connor was the Chairman and Harold Pfeiffer handled the ATV like a pro!

A lunch of freshly grilled hotdogs was set up under another tent or two next to the registration and clothing tables. Ann Fratcher, Wes Moore, and Jim Sumrell did a wonderful job preparing and serving the hotdogs with chili and condiments, along with homemade coleslaw, potato salad and pasta salad. All the accoutrements were available for such a wonderful lunch. Choices of chips were made available and in the coolers were a variety of sodas and plenty of water.

The trail was 8.5 miles. Most of the trails were wide enough to ride two and three abreast. Although the paces have ridden some of these trails before, there were new sections added and other changes making for a wonderful new feel. There were no creek crossings this time as the weather had probably dried them up a tad.

These trails took riders and their mounts through the woods, out into beautiful fields, and up the hills to welcome a panoramic view of the surrounding area. This was one of the grand photo ops available. Right near this picture-taking venue was the checkpoint. Here waiting were, Paul and Seuss Frazer, or Ann and Jim Troppman with icy cold water or apple juice for the riders. After the three-minute wait time, riders were sent on their way to continue their ride. There were plenty of jumps available for one’s enjoyment.

Joey Cabaniss was the timer extraordinaire for this Hunter Place. He’ll always leave the light on for you! Carol Parker was his sidekick for the day!

There turnout was very nice considering there were several other equine events happening the same day. There were 94 riders in 49 teams.

Now, let’s get to those results:

The Optimum Time for the Field Hunter division was one hour, 30 minutes, 11 seconds. There were a total of 41 riders in 20 teams.

First place in the Field Hunter division were the trio from Tennessee: Angela and Caleigh Reichardt from Jonesborough and Rachel Turner from Elizabethton with a time just 14 seconds off the Optimum time with their time being one hour, 29 minutes, 57 seconds! Second place honors are awarded to Hannah Bowers and Brittany Whitmire from Brevard with a time of one hour, 29 minutes, four seconds. The third place yellow ribbon was awarded to the trio of Amanda Aiello from Ellenboro and Nicola Deines and Pam Hilsman from Landrum with a time of one hour, 24 minutes, 26 seconds.

Fourth place was awarded to solo rider, Karl Alexander with a time of one hour, 23 minutes, 46 seconds. The fifth place pink is awarded to the team quintet of Jeff and Sam Hines from Woodruff, Danielle Lamb from Morganton, Sydney Miles from Simpsonville, and Jane Polk from Fountain Inn with a time of one hour, 38 minutes, 47 seconds. Rounding out the placements for the field Hunter division is the duo of Janine and Tom Stenson from Columbus with a time of one hour, 21 minutes, 27 seconds.

Other Field Hunters out to enjoy the trails were Kinsley Allaire, Reagan Burrell, Melissa Champion, Debbie Croft, Erin Desrosses, Ann Fratcher, Tim Giles, Catherine Gillet, Christina Goen, Susan Halderman, Marcia Headrick, Amanda McDonald, Emily Mitchell, Holly Mitchell, Catherine Moonyham, Marianne Moore, Rich Neel, Stephanie O’Neill, Erin and Reine Pagliano, Diane Roemer, Emma Skelton, Brandon Spencer, Penny Sullivan, Jenny Taylors, Rebecca Tolson, and Anita Williamson.

There were 53 riders in 29 teams in the Trail Rider Division. The Calculated Optimum time was one hour, 58 minutes, 44 seconds.

The first place blue ribbon was awarded to Lisa Kotalik from Tryon with a time of one hour, 58 minutes, 45 seconds. That is just a mere one second off of the Calculated Optimum Time! Congratulations! Doug and Nicole Cobb from Reidville were close behind bringing home the second place red ribbons with a time of one hour, 58 minutes, 49 seconds! There was a tie for the third place yellow ribbon! The team of Jeanne Ahrenholz and Claire Moore from Landrum had a time of one hour, 58 minutes, 19 seconds, while the team of Annette Spencer from Columbus and Stacie Wadsworth from Tryon had a time of one hour, 58 minutes, nine seconds, both teams being merely 25 seconds off the optimum.

Fifth place honors were awarded to Missy Bright from Campobello and Jan Smith from Columbus with a time of one hour, 57 minutes, 59 seconds. The sixth place green ribbon was awarded to Cindy James from Mountville with a time of one hour, 57 minutes, 40 seconds. An honorable mention goes to Arlene Lulavage from Columbus with a time of one hour, 57 minutes, 11 seconds. An honorable mention is given when a time is less than 30 seconds out of sixth place.

Other Trail Riders out enjoying the picture perfect day were Tara Boyce, Becky Brown, Darleen Bullock, Janet Cummings, Katie Cummings, Michelle Drum, Stephanie Easler, Lynn Fitch, Susannah Francis, Cindy Hansuit, Susan Haslam, Peggy Horton, Kristen Hughes, Nikki Hynes, Barbara Ketchum, Debbie Knebel, Lori Kunkel, Anne Lane-Maunder, Martha Love, Pattie Lovelace, Lin Martin, Andrew Maunder, Kitty McCammon, Cynthia Milligan, Connie Moore, Paula Moore, DeAnna Norton, Erin O’Dwyer, Anne and Richard Pierce, Sally Rock, Susette Schellin, Cathy Seager, Jennifer Smith, Janet Solovey, Paula Stathokis, Virginia Thompson, Bobby Turner, TJ Vore, Barbara West, Carrie Wilsey, and Jennifer Wilson.

Up next for the 2016-2017 Hunter Pace Series is the Tryon Hounds Spring Hunter Pace and Trail Ride on April 2, 2017 at Long Shadows Farm. The rain date will be on Sunday, April 9.

Check in often at www.wchpace.org for upcoming events, changes, and classifieds. You can also view your photos taken by photographer Lou Smith.

See you on those beautiful trails!

Reported by Missy Bright

 

Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series
Series Standings at March 24, 2017

After 11 of the 15 scheduled events of the 2016-17 Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series, ties split while others resettle or continue as placements continue shifting, leaving the current standings as follows:

Total # Riders: 651
Field Hunters: 244

Angela Reichardt has taken the lead with 51 series points. Caleigh Reichardt is close behind and in second place with 48 series points earned to date. Rachel Turner has moved up into third place with 46 points earned to date.

Marcia Headrick is currently in fourth with 45 series points to date. Debbie Croft is in fifth place with 38 points at this writing. Amanda Aiello has moved up and into sixth place with 35 series points to date.

Nicola Deines is currently in seventh with 33 points at this time. Emily Mitchell is in eighth with 32 series points accumulated. Christina Goen is currently in ninth place with 30 points earned. Melissa Champion, Amy Christensen and Richard Neel are tied for tenth place honors at this time with an accumulation of 29 series points each.

Diane Hicks is just out of the placements at this time with 26 series points. Rebecca Tolson has earned 25 series points to date. Brittany Whitmire has 24 points earned at this time. Tim Giles has earned a total of 23 points at this writing. Tracey Rouse has earned 20 points to date. Kelly Hart and Sylvia Riddle have 19 series points apiece. Aileen Wawrzaszek has 18 series points at this time. Hannah Bowers has earned 17 points to date. Jamie Fritsch has 16 series points at this writing.

Carla Fullam, Erin and Reine Pagliano and Brandon Spencer have each earned 15 points. Heidi Trull has accumulated 14 series points to date. Stephanie Easler and Danielle Lamb have each earned 13 series points at this time. Pam Hilsman and Donna Schwind have each earned 12 points to date.

Holly Bacola, Kathy Bethka, Dana Cain, Leah Edwards, Ann Fratcher, Amy Orsini, and Lyn Owen are tied with 11 points apiece to date.

Heather Bounds, Tracy Estes, Kathy Hodge, Shauna Moore, Allen Wawrzaszek and Sanders Wyatt have each earned ten series points at this writing.

Frances Brown, Pam Burrows, Anna Dalton, Kate Dilworth, Lorie Fleenor, Nina Hopper, Sam Johnson, Megan McCoy, Brenda McNenny, Jane Patten Polk, Monique Ravesloot, Levi Roper, and Shelle Russell each have an accumulation of nine series points to date.

Eight series points have been earned to date by Karen Brockway, Amy Gantt, Nancy Mason, Peter Shanahan(2^nd Ride), and Theresa Tyree.

Ann Brumback, Carolyn and Tom Cadier, Lauren Leistner, Ted Owen, Linda Plummer, Elise Rogers, Janine and Tom Stenson, Jenny Taylor, and Lisa West have each earned seven points at this writing.

Karl Alexander, Samantha Cason, Caprice Fullam, Desiree Hill, Nancy Klouda, Stephanie O’Neill, Katherine Stancliff, Scott Tate, and Autumn and Stephanie Wanicka have six series points to date.

Roberta Axelrod, Bryan Baire, Susan Haldeman, Jeff and Sam Hines, Kelsey Hooper, Sydney Miles, Barbara Mobley, Jaime Robertson, Samantha Roubaud, Alan Taylor, and Linda Tesar have each earned five points at this writing.

Irene Backer, Mike Bass, Regan Burrell, Rachel Childers, Julie Cook-Walker, Samuel Crain, Cindy Davis, Richie Fleming, Elizabeth Greene, Shannon Jackson, Barbara Ketcham, Kim LaScala, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Heidi Mendez, Gena Meredith, Holly Mitchell, Catherine Mooneyham, Sara Riggins, Casidie Rose, Susan and Terry Russell, Peter Shanahan, Emma Skelton, TJ Vore, and Lisa Woodson have earned four points apiece to date.

Michael Axelrod, Martha Hall, Amanda McDonald, Anne McIver, Diane Roemer, and Tom Trull, have each earned three series points at this time.

Two completion points apiece at this time for: Annie Ager, Korie Albright, Kinsley Allaire. Susan Anway, Maggie Arnold, Camille Bailey, Carrie Baris, Isabella Barker, Morgan Baudean, Dalton Bell, Arielle Berrios, Virginia Borthwick, Chelsea Brooks, Sydney Broussard, Jennifer Brown, Morgan Brown, Sandi Burgdof, Kathe Burklow, Rachel Butterworth-Tice, Zoe Carlin, Bryton Champion, Trevor Chavez, Cindy Clifton, Steph Culbertson, Callie Deines, Erin Desrosiers, Val DeVine, Becky Deyton, Mia Dube, Kaitlynn Dunegan, Trisha Dunn, Annette Eaton, John Erickson, Rachel Garcia, Katharine Geisler, Whitney Gillen, Catherine Gillet, Beth Goldizen, Kendrick Govan, Elizabeth Gregory, Paula Hammond, Betty Hill, Mary Hodgkin, Rebecca Horne, Anne and Rachel Howard, Renee Hudson, Sandra Hunter, Kristen Jarrett, Donald Jerfferis, Kris Johnson, Lilly Johnson, Alana Kaible, Cindy Kaufman, Carol Land, Carson Langston, Elyssa LaRock, Anna and Mary LaVigne, Keri Lewis, Carson Longstone, Christian Lopez, Natalie Luttrell, Caroline MacKey, Carson Manley, Saddie Mann, Jenna Marshman, Tiffany Mattos, Hanna Maupin, Sarah Maurer, Dean McKinney, Tess McNally, Andy Miles, Gabby Miller, Rachel Miller, Nelson Minnick, Bayliss Mitchell, Paula Moore, Anna and Madeline Mostrom, Carrie Nicholson, Taryn Page, Jennifer Perkins, Chandra Phelps, Katie Pierce, Jules Porter, Fern Powell, Asher Quinn, Crosby Reed, Brian Reischman, Suzanne Rogers, Lindsay Sloas, Monica Smyth, Lisa Spriggs, Kayla Stacy, Kirsten and Tom Stanley, Penny Sullivan, Michelle Summer, Clare Summers, Tiffany Swiney, Eileen Taylor, Ettele Toole, Victoria Ullique, Else Voorhees, Erin Walker, Julie Wallace, Regina Weeks, Karen Williams, Anita Williamson, Jenna Wilson, Jillian Wodridge, Shane Woodson and Amy Wooten.

Last, but certainly not least, with one series point each at this time we have Maggie Coombs, Alison Harp, Marianne Moore, and JoAnn Trull.

Trail Riders: 407

Missy Bright has taken the lead with 51 points at this time. Bobby Turner is close behind in Second with 50 series points to date. Jan Smith is in Third with 47 series points at this writing.

Nikki Hynes is in Fourth with 36 points at this time. Doug and Nicole Cobb are tied with DeAnna Norton for honors at this time, each having earned 34 series points to date. Valerie Quinn is in sixth with 33 series points at this writing. Michelle Drum retains seventh place with 31 points earned to date.

Lynn Fitch has eighth with an accumulation of 30 points at this writing. Susan Haslam and Debbie Knebel are tied in ninth place with 28 points earned apiece. Arlene Lulavage is in tenth with 27 series points earned to date.

Kristen Hughes, Karen Merrill, Jennifer Smith, and Teresa Snyder are currently tied with 24 series points each at this time. Darleen Bullock has earned 23 points to date. Jennifer Wilson is moving up in the standings with 22 series points at this time. Lisa Kotalik, Sarah Lawing and Katlyn Lowder are tied with 21 points earned. Lin Martin, Sharon Maxwell and Connie Moore have each earned 20 series points to date.

Natalie Hyatt, Lori Kunkel, and Sydney Swenson have an accumulation of 17 series Points apiece. Erin Fletcher and Forrest Samuels have each earned 15 points to date. Carrie Wilsey has earned 14 series points at this writing. Joanna Cromartie, Cordelia Gaupo, Cindy James, and Emma Lane each have 13 series points at this time. Susannah Francis and Evie Good have a current accumulation of 12 points apiece.

Kristen Brown, Jackie Burke, Elizabeth Dicey, Tom Eizembor, Cindy Hansult, Saylor Hardin, John Pierce, Jennifer R Smith, and Diane Wilson have each earned 11 series points at this writing. Joleen Eizembor, Jennifer Gruhn, Bette Sumrell Mann, and Arden Pierce have ten points accumulated.

Charla Draper, Madlyn Fox, Jessica Herndon, Barbara Ketcham, and Jeanine Pierce have a current count of nine points apiece.

Alexis Botchie, Destiney Edwards, Katheryn Eilders, Joy Griffin, Kathryn Gruhn, Nancy Hasselbring, Llyn Josef, Paula Moore, Antje Richter, Donna Searby, Kim Sigmonl, and Sherry Wyatt have a current accumulation of eight series Points each.

Jeanne Ahrenholz, Irene Backer, Hannah Bauchat, Kathy Davis, Catherine Gillet, Mary LaVigne, Patti Lovelace, Claire Moore, Barb Oklesen, Annette Spencer, Mary Stoehr, Melissa Van Doren, and Stacie Wadsworth have each earned seven points to date.

Tara Boyce, Mimi Delaney, Stephanie Easler, Elizabeth Galloway, Susie Justus Hill, Debra Kennerly, Rene McDaniel, Susan Melvin, Rebecca Murphy, Karyn Owen, Ann Ramsey, Janna Ritacco, Susette Schellin, Cathy Seager, Joyce Smartt, Jan Solovey, Debbi Stanfield, Kate Walkonen, Lisa West, and Kris Yon have each earned six series points.

Colleen Hargroves, Laura Hendley, Kelsey Hudson, Delene Huggins, Claire Kennedy, Amy Mims, Lyn and Ted Owen, Susan Smolka, and Lindsey Weicker have each earned five series points to date.

Four points apiece have been earned to date by: Beverly Baines, Allison Baskins, Karen Benson, Tammy Bodack, Zoe Carlin, Janet Cummings, Tom Erickson, Kyle and Olivia Farmer, Kelley Featheringill, Kay Fleenor, Rebecca France, Tracy Godfrey, Carolyne Groves, Dawn Harrison, Anne Howard, Renee Hudson, Tracey Hudson, Elaine and Michaela Hughes, Patricia Iacomini, Ginny Jennings, Jessica Johnson, Brenda Jozner, Jill Kelly, Susan Knickerbocker, Keri and Nancy Kruger, Christy Ledbetter, Martha Love, Ali Merritt, Cynthia Milligan, Rachel O’Brien, Jessica Owen, Beverly Ozmon, Dakota Poniatowski, Ashley Reeves, Mary Jane Rice, Christine and Megan Salyer, Josie Smith, Lauren Smith, Janine and Tom Stenson, Ron Syrko, Emily Thomas, Virginia Thompson, Wendy Tomlinson, Lisa Trojan, Theresa Tyree, Judi Vogt, Molly Watson, Aimee Williams, Olivia Wilsey, Maxine Winesett, and Kris Wynne.

Barbara Claussen, Natalie Crombie, Cheyenne Davis, Ann and Tony Hubbuch, Sara and Teresa Lyter, Anne and Richard Pierce, and Carol and C.R. Stanley each have a current accumulation of three series points.

With two series points each: Lisa Anderson, Emoll Annettodges, Addison Arends, Melissa Baines, Bryan Baire, Becky Barnes, Margo Barrett, Jennifer Bayne, Ellen Bell, Melanie Bell, Laura Bierly, Jodie Blaisure, Brandon Blankenship, Cassidy Bock, Gail Bolt, Brian Boyd, Joy Boyer, Randell Bradburn, Nellie Brennecke, Ann Bridges, Alaina and M.C. Brooks, Becky Brown, Morgan Brown, Stephanie Brown, Susie Brown, Reagan Burrell, Jackie Burt, Elizabeth and Marc Caldwell, Delia Callahan, Melissa Cameron, Candice Carr, Tevis Cazedessus, Katherine Christensen, Caroline Coates, Cathleen Coggins, Shannon Collett, Erika Conklin, Tonette Corn, Missy Covington, Lydia Cox, Carrie Crawford, Sandra Cribbs, Heather Cross, Katie Cummings, Elaine Czarnecki, Sandy Dantone, Bob and Terri Davenport, Jennifer Dawdney, Mike Dechant, Cory Delehanty, Becky Deyton, Joanne Diimani, Gabrielle DiLemme, Sarah Dippy, Debbie Doscha, Della Driver, Cindy Easer, Chris Farrell, Michael Field, Joni Fielding, Amanda Fisher, Henry Fleming, Crystal Fogleman, Julie Frederick, Avery and Kimberly Freeman, Erin Gambrell, Sherry Garnes, Amy Gee, Sara Gibbens, Deana Gilliam, Debbie and Mike Godfrey, Beth Greene, Betsy Greenwood, Kristi Guimaraes, Michael Guire, Susan Haldeman, Tammy Hannah, Kimberly Hannu, Madison Harris, Robin Harward, Gena Haskell, Lynn Hatcock, Madeleine Hepting, Tara Herrero, Gwen Hill, Carol Anne Hodges, Peggy Horton, Sherrill Howard, Calisa Hughes, Jamie Hutchins, Sandra Hyder, Janet Isaac, Susan Jackson, Marilu Jason, Lilly and Patti Johnson, Sherrie Johnson, Charlotte Jones, Megan Jornigan, Linda Klimeiker, Susan Kocher, Cathie and Deb Kornacki, Mackenzie Kothe, Kelly Kuykendall, Sue Lampton, Linda Latimer, Kendall LeDuc, Ellen Lewis, Keri Lewis, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Britney Link, Meg Littleton, Madison Lovelace, Brent Lowery, Donna Lowney, Jennifer Martell, Andrew Maunder, Annie Lane Maunder, Rebecca McCall, Kitty McCammon, Hannah and Sarah McClintock, Connie McConnell, Soline McGee, Anna-Kelly McGonigle, Deanna Mcilwain, Heidi Mendez, Courtney Meyer, Larrie Jo Miller, Elizabeth Minewiser, Marianne Moore, Donna Morris, Kay Mott, Gretchen Mullinax, Mariah Narup, Allison Neely, Carol Neely, Erin O’Dwyer, Kaitlyn Owen, Shirley Palmer, Michele Parrish, Gail Patton, Ditte Phillips, Jamie Pierce, Katie Pierce, Madeline Pipitone, Boyce Pitts, Traci Pless, Linda Plummer, Eva Pool, Stephanie Poole, Judith Possinger, Brooke and Shana Proffit, Laurel Pyatt, Anna Rahing, Lacey Ramey, Ali Ranson, Monique Ravesloot, Allison Rhyne, Sally Rock, Kim Sabatini, Wendy Schonfeld, Leslie B Scott, Ruth Shaw, Kayce Shelton, Daniel Short, Cindy Smith, Jennifer D Smith, Paula Stathakis, Shelby Stewart, Andrea Stoll, Brooke Storms, Kristi Suber, Ivey Sumrell, Scott Tate, Pamela Temby, Donna Thomas, Debbie Thrasher, Leonore Threlkill, Katie Tighe, Terri Tilghman, Willow Tomlinson, Heidi Trull, TJ Vore, Treva Walters, Felicity Waugh, Sherry Webb, Ginny Weber, Barbara West, Lilia White, Frederike Wilday, Kathryn Wilkie, Michelle Williams, Debra Witt, Patricia Woods, D’Lee Worden, Sam Worley, and A.K.Zimmerman.

Last, but certainly not least, one attendance point apiece has been earned by Jennifer Bannister, Cindy Boyle, Clarence Chambers, Benay Daniel, Jill Davis, Kat Dooley, Shawn Fetzer, Suess Fraser, Charles Gregory, Makenna Holden, Mary Holtschaw, Crystal Hooper, Larry Huff, Dru Kennedy, Michelle Klopp, Lisa Maloney, Anne Schmid, Mary Schultz-Rathbun, Alexandra Spencer, Yasmin Straitiff, Josie Thompson, Bonnie Whisnant, Emma Whitaker, and Caroline and Wade Young.

Next up on the Western Carolina Hunter Pace and Trail Ride Series will be the beautiful Tryon Hounds Hunter Pace on Sunday, April 2. After a break for Easter, the River Valley Pony Club is scheduled for Sunday, April 23, followed by the Biltmore Spring Hunter Pace on Sunday, May 14 and then the final competition of the season with Scotsgrove Farm on Saturday, May 27.

After these last four events, we will close the series for the season with our Year End Gathering and Awards in late June, so be sure to check the schedule and come play with us!

Always remember to check the website 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. Hit “Store” on the website to view the pictures and scroll thru the list on the left to find the album you want to check next. If you like, you can place an order online.

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

Submitted by Jan Smith