The morning began sunny and cool, making it the perfect start for the final competition of the Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series held at Scotsgrove Farm, Inman, S.C. on Saturday, June 3.

The folks at Scotsgrove Farm had obviously been working diligently to ensure an excellent ride and a good time for all competitors. As always Bob and Leslie Scott, owners of Scotsgrove Farm, and their faithful workers, were well organized and available for assistance to everyone!

The ride began in the riding arena adjacent to the barn and connected to trails that were well manicured, easily identified and well marked. Whether riding through shady woods or along wide, mowed corridors, the trails were a totally enjoyable experience. Riders experienced a variety of woodland trails rode beside a lake filled with water lilies, and enjoyed open fields. The footing was excellent and often the trails were wide enough to ride two or three abreast. The occasional optional jumps were inviting and offered an interesting element to the entire ride. The half-way point was located under large shade trees giving horse and rider an opportunity to feel refreshed.

Laurie Ridgeway, Scott Tate, Katie Tighe and Leslie spent three weeks pruning the trails and opening a new loop of trail in the woods near the golf course. Leslie did the mowing of the trails and marking of the course, with signs by Gwen Phifer- Cook and Katie helping on the day! Scott and Sherry Tate directed the parking, with help from Laurie. Andrea Gentry, Gwen and Leslie took shifts on the registration table.

Timing was done by Samantha Fouse, Lindsey Massey, and Donia Davis. The halfway point, located under large shade trees giving horse and rider an opportunity to feel refreshed, was manned by Jackie Smith, AK McMillan, Ashlan Benjamson, and Heather Driver. 

The trail left the ring to climb Golightly Hill, and went out to Grand Canyon Road, down the farm road and out at the bridge on Grand Canyon. Having crossed the bridge, it went along the bottom of the kudzu field, through mature woods on Hunting Lodge trail to the powerline, and across the dam at the water lily pond. For the morning riders, there were white, pink and yellow lilies to admire – they start to close about noon and by 2 p.m. there is little color to be seen!

Onto the old Huntsman’s Trail toward the golf course, and the newly created trail to the back of the old orchard, and trails through the “orchards.” It was a bit of a maze! Riding three sides of the beagle training pen brought riders to the halfway point at the opening of the pine nursery. Trails through the pines led back to a short stretch on Grand Canyon, then circumnavigating Little Orchard pasture, the great views of the Blue Ridge as they also circumnavigated the Overlook pasture and went down Rainy Day Trail to the powerline, leading to the descent of the kudzu field and re-crossing of the bridge.  Another maze, on the home farm, and back to the ring and the finish line. 

Lunch was catered by Beth Straitiff and her mother Judy Long. Fresh and homemade lunch consisted of egg salad or chicken salad on croissant, fresh veggies with Ranch dressing, bagged chips, assorted cookies and brownies, iced sweet and unsweet tea and water.  Benches under the shade of the old pecan tree were convenient for sitting to eat and relaxing while watching riders start or complete the course.

Ample parking was available and convenient to the starting/finish point and lunch area.

In the Field Hunter division the optimum time was one hour 39 minutes and had nine teams with 14 riders in the competition.

First place was awarded to  Christina Goen of Lyman and Emily Mitchell of Greer with a time of one hour, 41 minutes and seven seconds. The second place ribbons were given to Angela and Caleigh Reichardt from Jonesborough, Tenn. with a time of one hour, 43 minutes and 17 seconds. A yellow third place ribbon was earned by Caroline Coates of Travelers Rest, with a time of one hour, 43 minutes and 54 seconds.

Fourth place went to Marcia Headrick and Richard Neel, from Townville, S.C. with a time of one hour, 29 minutes and ten seconds. Fifth place honors were earned by Eden Isbell of Gastonia with a time of one hour, 25 minutes and 29 seconds. Kay Mott, of Greer, took sixth place with a time of two hours, 17 minutes and 40 seconds.

Other riders in the Field Hunter division out to enjoy the trails and scattered jumps included Melissa Champion, Debbie Croft, Tim Giles, Brandon Spenser, and Rebecca Tolson.

The Trail Rider division had a calculated optimum time of two hours, 17 minutes and ten seconds and consisted of 20 teams with 39 riders. The results in the Trail Division are as follows:

The first three placements were all less than 40 seconds off the calculated optimum!  Jeremy Ahlum and Kristin Hiller, of Simpsonville, won the Trail Division with a time of two hours, 17 minutes and 36 seconds. Second place red ribbons were awarded to Lynn Fitch, of Taylors and Debbie Knebel, of Greer with a time of two hours, 17 minutes and 43 seconds. Only a mere 34 seconds over optimum, Lin Martin, of Campobello took third place with a time of two hours, 17 minutes and 44 seconds.   

Fourth place went to Katelyn Bearden and Jennifer Wilson, both from Mill Spring, with a time two hours, 18 minutes, 16 seconds. Fifth place went to Karen Merrill and Teresa Snyder, of York with a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 49 seconds. The green, sixth place ribbons were awarded to Patricia Iacomini, of Mill Spring, and Ginny Jennings and Lynn Ronzello, both from Tryon, with a time of two hours, 20 minutes and five seconds. 

An honorable mention to Kathy Garrett, of Fountain Inn, and Natalie Schembra, of Landrum, with a time of two hours, 13 minutes, 59 seconds. (Honorable mention is given when a team, or teams, are 30 seconds or less off sixth place.)

Other riders who came out to enjoy day and Trail Rider division included:

Lisa Alford, Baiba Bourbeau, Bob and Terri Davenport Jill Davis, Delia Driver, Katheryn Eilders, Andre Gentry, Lauren Gohs, Kayla Gonzalez, Kimberly Hannu, Susan Haslam, Nikki Hynes, Jen Keilman, Kathy Knutson, Beatrice Lamb, Arlene Lulavage, Connie Moore, Kailyn Moss, DeAnna Norton, Kim Randall, Ella Grace Skipper, Yasmin Straitiff, Bobby Turner, and Nancy Wiggin.

Scotsgrove was the last competition of the series, but join us as we will close the Western Carolina Hunter Pace and Trail Ride Series for the season with our Year End Gathering and Awards scheduled for Sunday, June 25, at Croft State Park, in Spartanburg. Come play with us!

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.  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, e-mail Series Coordinator Jan Smith.

– by Lynn Fitch and

Leslie Scott

Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series final series standings at June 10

After 15 scheduled events of the 2016-17 Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series, all the ties have settled as we list the final placements leaving the standings as follows:

Total # Riders: 741

Field Hunters: 266

Angela Reichardt has finished the series as Grand Champion with a total of 70 series points!

Caleigh Reichardt was just four points behind for Reserve Champion 66 points earned.

Marcia Headrick made a last event leap frog into first place with 59 Series points.

Rachel Turner finished in second place with 56 points earned.

Debbie Croft earned 55 Series points to set her into third place for the series.

Emily Mitchell has moved up into fourth place with 52 series points.

Christina Goen has finished the series in fifth place with 50 points earned.

Melissa Champion and Richard Neel have tied for sixth place honors with 43 points each.

Rebecca Tolson finished the season in seventh with 43 points.

Amanda Aiello came in eighth with 40 series points accumulated.

Nicola Deines has ninth place honors with an accumulation of 38 series points.

Diane Hicks and Brittany Whitmire are tied tenth place with 34 series points.

Amy Christensen finished the series just out of the ribbons with 31 series points.

Tim Giles earned 27 points this season.

Hannah Bowers earned a total of 25 points.

Jamie Fritsch has 23 series points.

Tracey Rouse has earned 20 points.

Kelly Hart, Sylvia Riddle and Brandon Spencer have 19 series points apiece.

Aileen Wawrzaszek has 18 series points this season.

Stephanie Easler, Ann Fratcher, Carla Fullam, Erin and Reine Pagliano have each earned 15 points.

Julie Cook-Walker and Heidi Trull have accumulated 14 series points each this season.

Kinsley Allaire, Holly Bacola, Anna Dalton, Danielle Lamb, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Gena Meredith, Lyn Owen and Peter Shanahan have each earned 13 series points.

Heather Bounds, Martha Hall, Pam Hilsman, Kathy Hodge, Anne McIver and Donna Schwind have each earned 12 points.

Kathy Bethka, Dana Cain, Leah Edwards, Carol Land, Amy Orsini, Jane Patten Polk and Asher Quinn are tied with 11 points apiece.

Tracy Estes, Shauna Moore, Linda Plummer, Allen Wawrzaszek and Sanders Wyatt have each earned ten series points this series.

Roberta Axelrod, Frances Brown, Pam Burrows, Kate Dilworth, Lorie Fleenor, Nina Hopper, Sam Johnson, Megan McCoy, Brenda McNenny, Stephanie Poole, Sarah Quinn, Monique Ravesloot, Elise Rogers, Levi Roper, Shelle Russell, Janine and Tom Stenson each have an accumulation of nine series points.

Eight series points have been earned by Karen Brockway, Regan Burrell, Amy Gantt, Nancy Mason, Holly Mitchell, Kay Mott, Peter Shanahan(2nd Ride), Katharine Stancliff, Theresa Tyree, and Stephanie Wanicka.

Michael Axelrod, Bryan Blaire, Ann Brumback, Carolyn and Tom Cadier, Caroline Coates, Lauren Leistner, Amanda McDonald, Sydney Miles, Ted Owen, Diane Roemer, Jenny Taylor, and Lisa West have each earned seven points this season.

Karl Alexander, Samantha Cason, Caprice Fullam, Desiree Hill, Barbara Ketcham, Nancy Klouda, Stephanie O’Neill, Fern Powell, Scott Tate, TJ Vore, and Autumn Wanicka have six series points apiece.

Susan Haldeman, Jeff and Sam Hines, Kelsey Hooper, Eden Isbell, Barbara Mobley, Jaime Robertson, Samantha Roubaud, Alan Taylor, Linda Tesar and Tom Trull have each earned five points this series.

Irene Backer, Mike Bass, Bryton Champion, Rachel Childers, Samuel Crain, Cindy Davis, Richie Fleming, Elizabeth Greene, Shannon Jackson, Kim LaScala, Dean McKinney, Heidi Mendez, Catherine Mooneyham, Carrie Nicholson, Erin O’Dwyer, Sara Riggins, Casidie Rose, Susan and Terry Russell, Emma Skelton, Else Voorhees, and Lisa Woodson have earned four points apiece.

Marianne Moore has earned three series points this series.

Two completion points apiece for: Annie Ager, Korie Albright, Susan Anway, Maggie Arnold, Camille Bailey, Carrie Baris, Isabella Barker, Morgan Baudean, Jared Beasley, Dalton Bell, Arielle Berrios, Virginia Borthwick, Chelsea Brooks, Sydney Broussard, Jennifer Brown, Morgan Brown, Sandi Burgdof, Kathe Burklow, Rachel Butterworth-Tice, Zoe Carlin, Trevor Chavez, Cindy Clifton, Cindy Colon, Carrie Craine, Stephanie Culbertson, Callie Deines, Erin Desrosiers, Val DeVine, Becky Deyton, Mia Dube, Kaitlynn Dunegan, Trisha Dunn, Annette Eaton, John Erickson, Rachel Garcia, Hilary Garrison, Katharine Geisler, Whitney Gillen, Catherine Gillet, Alex Goins, 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, Carson Langston, Elyssa LaRock, Anna and Mary LaVigne, Keri Lewis, Carson Longstone, Christian Lopez, Martha Love, Natalie Luttrell, Caroline MacKey, Carson Manley, Sadie Mann, Jenna Marshman, Tiffany Mattos, Hanna Maupin, Sarah Maurer, Tess McNally, Reed and Roanne McNutt, Andy Miles, Gabby Miller, Rachel Miller, Nelson Minnick, Bayliss Mitchell, Paula Moore, Anna and Madeline Mostrom, Hugo and Jules Nicholson, Taryn Page, Jennifer Perkins, Chandra Phelps, Katie Pierce, Jules Porter, Crosby Reed, Brian Reischman, Maddie Rogers, Suzanne Rogers, Cathy Rotruck, Lindsay Sloas, Monica Smyth, Calli and Kristi Sowers, Melanie Spence, Lisa Spriggs, Kayla Stacy, Kirsten and Tom Stanley, Kristi Suber, Penny Sullivan, Michelle Summer, Clare Summers, Tiffany Swiney, Eileen Taylor, Ettele Toole, Victoria Ullique, Erin Walker, Faith Wanicka, 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, we have Maggie Coombs, Alison Harp, and JoAnn Trull.

Trail Riders: 475

Bobby Turner has captured the Championship with 60 series points!

Nikki Hynes finished the series as Reserve Champion with 54 points.

Missy Bright is right behind her for first place honors with 53 series points.

DeAnna Norton receives second place with 52 series points earned.

Lynn Fitch finished in third with 50 series points.

Jan Smith took fourth place with 49 points this season.

Debbie Knebel ended the series in fifth place with 48 points.

Doug and Nicole Cobb, Karen Merrill and Teresa Snyder are tied for sixth place with 38 points earned apiece.

Jennifer Wilson has 37 series points to claim seventh place honors.

Lin Martin earned 36 points this series to put her in eighth place.

Michelle Drum is in ninth place with a count of 35 series points.

Susan Haslam and Jennifer A Smith are tied in tenth place with 34 points earned.

Valerie Quinn is just out of the ribbons with 33 series points this series.

Darleen Bullock and Kristen Hughes have each earned 32 points.

Arlene Lulavage has 31 series points earned.

Carrie Wilsey has earned 27 points this season.

Lisa Kotalik has earned 25 points.

Connie Moore has 24 Series points.

Susannah Francis has 23 points earned this series.

Ginny Jennings, Lori Kunkel, Sarah Lawing and Katie Lowder are tied with 21 points earned each.

Sharon Maxwell has earned 20 series points this series.

Natalie Hyatt and Sydney Swenson have an accumulation of 19 series points apiece. 

Jeanne Ahrenholz and Lynn Ronzello have each earned 17 points to date.

Erin Fletcher, Cindy James, Cynthia Milligan, and Forrest Samuels have each earned 15 points.

Kristen Brown, Joanna Cromartie, Cordelia Gaupo, Cindy Hansult, Saylor Hardin, Emma Lane, Paula Moore, Barb Oklesen, John Pierce, and Jennifer R Smith each have 13 series points this series.

Tom Eizembor, Evie Good, and Sherry Wyatt each have an accumulation of 12 points.

Jeremy Ahlum, Jackie Burke, Elizabeth Dicey, Joleen Eizembor, Jessica Herndon, Kristin Hiller, Jeanine Pierce, Sandy Rhodes, Melissa Van Doren, and Diane Wilson have each earned 11 series points.

David Ahrenholz, Tara Boyce, Katheryn Eilders, Jennifer Gruhn, Patricia Iacomini, Nancy Kruger, Bette Sumrell Mann, Kay Mott, Arden Pierce, Antje Richter, and Lisa Trojan have ten points accumulated apiece.

Janet Cummings, Charla Draper, Madlyn Fox, Laura Hendley, Barbara Ketcham, Annette Spencer, and Stacie Wadsworth have a count of nine points apiece.

Alexis Botchie, Destiney Edwards, Julie Frederick, Joy Griffin, Kathryn Gruhn, Nancy Hasselbring, Llyn Josef, Donna Searby, Kim Sigmonl, Lisa West, Aimee Williams, Olivia Wilsey and Katelyn Wilson each have an accumulation of eight series points.

Irene Backer, Hannah Bauchat, Alaina and M.C. Brooks, Tevis Cazedessus, Kathy Davis, Catherine Gillet, Mary LaVigne, Patti Lovelace, Claire Moore, and Mary Stoehr have each earned seven series points.

Karen Benson, Caroline Coates, Mimi Delaney, Stephanie Easler, Elizabeth Galloway, Susie Justus Hill, Elaine and Michaela Hughes, Jessica Johnson, Debra Kennerly, Rene McDaniel, Susan Melvin, Rebecca Murphy, Karyn Owen, Ann Ramsey, Mary Jane Rice, Janna Ritacco, Christine and Megan Salyer, Susette Schellin, Cathy Seager, Joyce Smartt, Lauren Smith, Jan Solovey, Debbi Stanfield, Ivey Sumrell, Wendy Tomlinson, Kate Walkonen, and Kris Yon have each earned six series points.

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

Four points apiece have been earned this series by: Beverly Baines, Allison Baskins, Tammy Bodack, Elizabeth Caldwell,  Zoe Carlin, Lydia Cox, Della Driver, Tom Erickson, Kyle and Olivia Farmer, Kelley Featheringill, Joni Fielding, Kay Fleenor, Rebecca France, Tracy Godfrey, Carolyne Groves, Kimberly Hannu, Dawn Harrison, Peggy Horton, Anne Howard, Renee Hudson, Tracey Hudson, Suzie Jacobson, Brenda Jozner, Jill Kelly, Susan Knickerbocker, Christy Ledbetter, Martha Love, Donna Lowney, Ali Merritt, Rachel O’Brien, Erin O’Dwyer, Jessica Owen, Beverly Ozmon, Katie Pierce, Dakota Poniatowski, Ashley Reeves, Sylvia Riddle, Sally Rock, Josie Smith, Paula Stathakis, Janine and Tom Stenson, Ron Syrko, Emily Thomas, Virginia Thompson, Lenore Threlkeld, Willow Tomlinson, Heidi Trull, Theresa Tyree, Judi Vogt, Molly Watson, Maxine Winesett, and Kris Wynne.

Rebecca Barnes, Barbara Claussen, Bob and Terri Davenport, Cheyenne Davis, Jill Davis, Gwen Hill, Elaine and Hugh Hobbs, Mary Holtschaw, Ann and Tony Hubbuch, Sara and Teresa Lyter, Anne and Richard Pierce, Natalie Schembra, Carol and C.R. Stanley, and Yasmin Straitiff each have an accumulation of three series points.

With two series points each: Nicole Aguilar, Korie Albright, Lisa Alford, Lisa Anderson, Emoll Annettodges, Brittany and Zane Annis, Addison Arends, Michael Atkins, Melissa Baines, Bryan Baire, Margo Barrett, Jennifer Bayne, Ellen Bell, Melanie Bell, Katelyn Beorden, Alyson Biddix, Laura Bierly, Jodie Blaisure, Brandon Blankenship, Cassidy Bock, Gail Bolt, Baiba Bourbeau, Emily Bowman, Brian Boyd, Joy Boyer, Randell Bradburn, Nellie Brennecke, Ann Bridges, Becky Brown, Morgan Brown, Stephanie Brown, Susie Brown, Adam Burnsed, Jeanie Burrell, Reagan Burrell, Jackie Burt, Marc Caldwell, Delia Callahan, Melissa Cameron, Candice Carr, Katherine Christensen, Lainie Coeby, Cathleen Coggins, Shannon Collett, Erika Conklin, Tonette Corn, Missy Covington, Carrie Crawford, Sandra Cribbs, Heather Cross, Marcia Cuit, Katie Cummings, Elaine Czarnecki, Melissa Dalton, Sandy Dantone, Jennifer Dawdney, Mike Dechant, Cory Delehanty, Val DeVine, Becky Deyton, Joanne Diimani, Gabrielle DiLemme, Sarah Dippy, Debbie Doscha, Cindy Easler, Chris Farrell, Michael Field, Amanda Fisher, Henry Fleming, Crystal Fogleman, Paige Forrest, Avery and Kimberly Freeman, Sherry Garnes, Amy Gee, Andrea Gentry, Sara Gibbens, Deana Gilliam, Debbie and Mike Godfrey, Lauren Gohs, Kayla Gonzalez, Beth Greene, Betsy Greenwood, James Gregory, Kristi Guimaraes, Michael Guire, Susan Haldeman, Martha Hall, Tammy Hannah, Madison Harris, Robin Harward, Gena Haskell, Lynn Hathcock, Madeleine Hepting, Tara Herrero, Carol Anne Hodges, Sherrill Howard, Calisa Hughes,  Russell Hunsinger, Jamie Hutchins, Sandra Hyder, Janet Isaac, Susan Jackson, Marilu Jason, Lilly and Patti Johnson, Sherrie Johnson, Charlotte Jones, Megan Jornigan,  Jen Kelman, Linda Klimeiker, Kathy Knutson, Susan Kocher, Cathie and Deb Kornacki, Mackenzie Kothe, Keri Kruger, Kelly Kuykendall, Katie Labbe, Janet Ladd, Beatrice Lamb, Sue Lampton, Linda Latimer, Kendall LeDuc, Ellen Lewis, Keri Lewis, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Britney Link, Makenzie Little, Meg Littleton, Madison Lovelace, Brent Lowery, Jennifer Martell, Andrew Maunder, Annie Lane Maunder, Rebecca McCall, Kitty McCammon, Hannah and Sarah McClintock, Connie McConnell, Soline McGee, Anna-Kelly McGonigle, Deanna Mcilwain, Anne McIver, Heidi Mendez, Courtney Meyer, Larrie Jo Miller, Elizabeth Minewiser, Marianne Moore, Donna Morris, Meaghan Morris, Kaitlyn Moss, Gretchen Mullinax, Casey Murphy, Mariah Narup, Kathleen Nebel, Allison Neely, Carol Neely, Kaitlyn Owen, Shirley Palmer, Michele Parrish, Gail Patton, Ditte Phillips, Jamie Pierce, Madeline Pipitone, Boyce Pitts, Traci Pless, Linda Plummer, Eva Pool, Stephanie Poole, Judith Possinger, Kathy Powell, Brooke and Shana Proffit, Laurel Pyatt, Anna Rahing, Lacey Ramey, Kim Randall, Ali Ranson, Monique Ravesloot, Allison Rhyne, Dewie and Melissa Roof, Kim Sabatini, Wendy Schonfeld, Leslie B Scott, Emilie Settakeel, Cole Shanholtz, Ruth Shaw, Kayce Shelton, Daniel Short, Cindy Smith, Jennifer D Smith, Kayla Stacy, Shelby Stewart, Andrea Stoll, Brooke Storms, Kristi Suber, Scott Tate, Dana Taylor, Pamela Temby, Donna Thomas, Debbie Thrasher, Leslie Threlkeld, Leonore Threlkill, Katie Tighe, Terri Tilghman, Deborah Tucker, TJ Vore, Heidi and Leah Walczak, Treva Walters, Brittany Ward, Felicity Waugh, Sherry Webb, Ginny Weber, Barbara and Eric West, Lilia White, Nancy Wiggin, Frederike Wilday, Kathryn Wilkie, Michelle Williams, Debra Witt, Patricia Woods, D’Lee Worden, Sam Worley, Jess Wright 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, Kat Dooley, Shawn Fetzer, Suess Fraser, Charles Gregory, Kelly Hart, Makenna Holden, Crystal Hooper, Larry Huff, Dru Kennedy, Michelle Klopp, Lisa Maloney, Jeff Phillips, Ron Piccari, Anne Schmid, Mary Schultz-Rathbun, Ella Grace Skipper, Alexandra Spencer, Josie Thompson, Melissa Van Doren, Gloria Verrecchio, Bonnie Whisnant, Emma Whitaker, and Caroline and Wade Young.

– reported by Jan Smith