What a spectacular Sunday for the Green Creek Hounds Hunter Pace and Trail Ride! The morning started off just a little cool but warmed up very nicely. The sun was shining and mystery filled the air with the Halloweeners popping up everywhere. There were witches, astronauts, indians, heavy metal singers, and many more! Robin Hood even made an appearance. The Green Creek Hounds always have a wonderful Halloween Hunter Pace and Trail Ride and this year they didn’t disappoint.

Many thanks to the private landowners. They are very gracious to allow passage onto their property on Oct. 22, and what beautiful property it is!

Marion Connor was the Chairman for this event.

The signage for this Hunter Pace was top notch. White signs with green lettering were seen from all points leading to the property. Thanks go to Janet Cummings for setting the signs. Drivers were met at the gate to the property and parked by the illustrious team of Christiaan Barendon, Ken Feagin, Chris Hendrix, and Ian McDonald. The parking area was packed from early on. One could tell that the attendance was high just looking at the rigs in the field.

Riders were greeted at the registration table by Robin Julian, Holly Mitchell, Ginny Sullivan, and Lenore Threlkeld. These ladies make sure that all paperwork and releases are signed. They checked the Coggins, and gave riders their numbers. Kathy Nebel was right next to registration showing off the Green Creek Hounds merchandise. There were some very nice koozies available in addition to the shirts and other merchandise.

The Starter for the day was the beloved Joey Cabaniss. Folks, the timer job isn’t as easy as it looks. There is more going on at that tent than people realize. He has to be very aware of who’s coming and going. Carol Parker was there to assist. She was in charge of pointing out the color ribbons to follow. This time out it was white with green polka dots, not the orange! Joey makes sure that riders know where to start and finish and then sends riders out with his usual humor.

Riders were met at the check point by Skip Leck, Betsy McCray, and Ann and Jim Troppman. Here the horses rest for the mandatory three minutes. Riders were offered a cool beverage or a nice Port. Riders can dismount and stretch their legs at the Check Point if they so desire. After the mandatory time of rest has been met, riders are on their way again.

Let’s get to that food! Grill Master Jim Sumrell was hard at work over the grill. The hotdogs were perfect. There were a few veggie burgers as well. The chili and beans were outstanding. Ann Fratcher outdid herself with the food! Not only did she make the chili, she made the pasta salad, cole slaw, and potato salad. Well done, Ann, well done! There were plenty of soft drinks and water available as well. Carrots were on hand for the four-legged palates.

The course designer was Christie Fowler. Good job!

Joan MacIntyre was the costume judge this year. She definitely had her job cut out for her. After much deliberation, the winners were:

First Place winners were DJ Jeffries and Catherine Mooneyham as Chief Sitting Bull and General Custer, while Second Place Honors went to Harold Pfeiffer who was dressed as a Game of Thrones character, The Night King.

The attendance was extraordinary! There was a grand total of 130 riders in 62 teams. The trail was 8.5 miles long.

Now, let’s get to those results:

There was a total of 56 riders in 26 teams in the Field Hunter Division. The Optimum Time set by Christie Fowler and Erin O’Dwyer was one hour, 19 minutes, 54 seconds.

First Place Honors went to Susan Haslam from Asheville with a time of one hour, 18 minutes, 37 seconds. Second Place Honors go to the team of Mary Livesay from Tryon and J. Rutledge from Ellenboro with the time of one hour, 23 minutes, 18 seconds. The Third Place Yellow Ribbon was awarded to Mike Bass and Shannon Jackson from Ellenboro with a time of one hour, 15 minutes, 39 seconds.

Amy Christensen nabbed the Fourth Place Ribbon with a time of one hour, 15 minutes, 33 seconds, a mere six seconds out of Third Place. The duo of Anita Crouse from Marion and Danielle Lamb from Morganton placed Fifth with a time of one hour, 10 minutes, 44 seconds. Rounding out the placements in the Field Hunter Division for Sixth Place was the trio of Amanda Aiello from Ellenboro, Nicola Deines from Landrum, and Linda Plummer from Clover with the time of one hour, ten minutes, 19 seconds.

Other Field Hunters out taking in the great weather were Bertie and Mike Axelrod, Irene Backer, Lisa Baugh, Jarred Beasley, Karen Brockway, Pam Burrows, Lisa Clements, Caroline Coates, Lydia Cox, Debbie Croft, Anna Dalton, Ann Fratcher, Caprice and Carla Fullam, Jennifer Gruhn, Marcia Headrick, Molly Hunt, Donald Jeffers, Carol Land, Elizabeth Love, Sadie Mann, Nancy Mason, Karen Merrill, Catherine Mooneyham, Rich Neel, Cheryl and Stagg Newman, Stephanie O’Neill, Harold Pfeiffer, Monique Ravesloot, Maddie and Elise Rogers, Trinnity Ross, Bailey Sheehan-Watson, Daniel Short, Sara Sinno, Emma Skelton, Teresa Snyder, Rebecca Tolson, Tom Trull, TJ Vore, Jari Walther, Faith and Stephanie Wanicka.

In the Trail Rider Division there were 74 riders in 36 teams. The Calculated Optimum Time was two hours, ten minutes, 41 seconds.

Here are the results:

Valaria Devine from Tryon brought home the First Place Blue Ribbon with a time of two hours, ten minutes, ten seconds. So very close to the Calculated Optimum Time! In second place there were two teams that tied! Ciara DeNardo from Sylva and Connie Moore from Waynesville had a time of two hours, 12 minutes, seven seconds. Chloe Bosshard from Hendersonville and Paula Moore from Landrum had a time of two hours, nine minutes, 15 seconds. Both teams had a time difference from the Optimum of one minute, 26 seconds.

Fourth Place Honors were awarded to Sharon Capps from Rutherfordton and Sandra Hyder from Landrum with a time of two hours, 12 minutes, 19 seconds. Fifth Place was awarded to another duo, Suess Fraser from Tryon and Gena Meredith from Landrum with the time of two hours, 12 minutes, 52 seconds. Rounding out the placements in the Trail Rider Division for Sixth Place was the quartet from Asheville, Susannah Birch, Grace Karegeannes, Lacy Westle, and Diane Wilson. Their time was two hours, 13 minutes, 55 seconds.

Other Trail Riders out on the Green Creek Hounds Trails were Kristin Ahlum, Kori Albright, Brittany and Zane Annis, Gail Bolt, Marcia Bowen, Tara Boyce, Darleen Bullock, Kathy Davis, Kat Dooley, Michelle Drum, Lynn Fitch, Erin Fletcher, Julie Frederick, Rita Garrison, Susan Haldeman, Lucy Hooper, Nikki Hynes, Patricia Iacomini, Kinsey Jameson, Ginny Jennings, Ann Jordan, Debra Kennerly, Nancy Klouda, Debbie Knebel, Lydia Kolbas, Lori Kunkel, Lara LaPointe, Arlene Lulavage, Geraldine Mark, Lin Martin, Kristen McAuster, Amanda McDonald, Marianne Moore, DeAnna Norton, Rachel O’Brien, Erin O’Dwyer, Barbara Okloson, Neil Parnes, Elizabeth Peacock, Sally Rock, Diane Roemer, Forrest Samuels, Johnna Sharp, Hyland Sheffron, Jennifer Smith, Kayla Stacy, Paula Stathokis, Shelby Stewart, Kristi Suber, Lisa Trojan, Heidi Trull, Bobby Turner, Melissa VanDoren, Joseph Vasquez, Tracie Williams, Jennifer Wilson, Glenda Wolf, Sherry Wyatt, and Kriss Wynne.

Up next for 2017-2018 Hunter Place Series is the FENCE Fall Hunter Pace and Trail Ride on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, followed by the River Valley Pony Club Hunter Pace and Trail Ride on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017. Rounding out the year will be the Windridge Fall Hunter Place and Trail Ride on Dec. 3, 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 ensure you can be contacted.

Check www.wchpace.org for upcoming events, changes, and to view your photos taken by Photographers Lou Smith and Jan 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!

-Submitted by Jan Smith

Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series Standings at Oct. 30, 2017

After four 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: 279

Field Hunters: 100

Marcia Headrick and Rich Neel are holding their lead with 23 Series points at this time.

Amy Christensen has moved into Second with 19 Series points.

Amanda Aiello, Debbie Croft and Nicola Deines have 18 points each for a tie in Third Place.

Shannon Jackson has moved up into Fourth with 15 points to date.

Susan Haslam and Rebecca Tolson have each earned 13 points for Fifth Place.

Lisa Clements, Anita Crouse, Danielle Lamb, and Linda Plummer are currently tied in Sixth with 12 Series points apiece.

Kristen Brown, Beth Goldizen, and Jennifer R Smith are in Seventh with 11 points at this time.

Diane Hicks has earned ten points currently putting her in Eighth place.

Christina Goen and Emily Mitchell are fittingly in Ninth Place with nine points each.

Holly Bacola, Mary Livesay and J Rutlege have each earned eight points to put them into Tenth Place at this writing.

Mike Bass has earned seven Series points to date.

Karen Brockway and Nancy Mason have six points at this time.

Pam Hilsman has five points earned.

Candice Carr, Carla Fullam, Tim Giles, Stephanie O’Neill, Janine and Tom Stenson, T.J. Vore, and Faith and Stephanie Wanicka have a current accumulation of four Series points apiece.

Anna Dalton and Ann Fratcher have three points each.

Two points earned at this time by: Mike and Roberta Axelrod, Irene Backer, Lisa Baugh, Jared Beasley, Sara Borkosky, Pam Burrows, Samantha Cason, Melissa Champion, Caroline Coates, Julie Cook-Walker, Lydia Cox, Mary Cullens, Leslie Davies, Stephanie Easler, Caprice Fullam, Jennifer Gruhn, Martha Hall, Kelly Hart, Rebecca Hedges, Desiree Hill, Lucy Hooper, Molly Hunt, Donald S Jefferis, Dawn Kennedy, Carol Land, Meghan Linder, Elizabeth Love, Sadie Mann, Amanda McDonald, Karen Merrill, Sydney Miles, Catherine Mooneyham, Connie Moore, Kay Mott, Cheryl and Stagg Newman, Erin O’Dwyer, , Lyn and Ted Owen, Neil Parnes, Harold Pfeiffer, Jane Patten Polk, Richard Putnam, Monique Ravesloot, Sylvia Riaale, Diane Roemer, Elise and Maddie Rogers, Trinity Ross, K.C. Scott, Peter Shanahan, Bailey Sheehan-Watson, Daniel Short, Sara Sinno, Emma Skelton, Teresa Snyder, Brandon Spencer, Tom Trull, Jari Walther, and Lisa and Shane Woodson.

Catherine Gillet has earned one Series point to date.

Trail Riders: 179

Darleen Bullock, Nikki Hynes and DeAnna Norton have extended their lead with 21 Series points at this writing.

Ronnie Mann is in Second Place with a current count of 13 points.

Jennifer Smith is in Third Place with 12 Series points.

Bobby Turner and Diane Wilson are currently tied in Fourth with 11 Series Points each.

Lynn Fitch, Debbie Knebel, and Arlene Lulavage are sharing Fifth Place honors at this time with ten points apiece.

Susannah Birch, Val DeVine, Linda and Wayne Farris, Elizabeth Gregory, Llyn Josef, Emily Northey, Molly Watson and Lacy Westle have each earned nine points to date for a tie in Sixth Place.

Lisa Alford, Chloe Bosshard, Ciara DeNardo, Kathy Knutson, Mitzi Mayhew, Nicole Mills, Connie Moore, Paula Moore, Debora Pearl, Kim Randall, Jenna Stutts and Nancy Wiggins are in Seventh Place with eight points apiece.

Tara Boyce, Suess Fraxer, Lin Martin, Gena Meredith, Cynthia Milligan, and Sandy Rhodes have each earned seven Series points to put them in Eighth Place at this time.

Sharon Capps, Kathy Davis, Julie Frederick, Peggy Horton, Sandra Hyder, Lisa Trojan, Emily Wampler, and Sherry Wyatt have six points each at this time to show them tied for Ninth Place.

Andrea Davis, Susie Justus Hill, Lisa Kotallik, and Kathleen Nebel have five Series points to date Tenth Place.

Kristin Ahlum, Missy Bright, Cheyenne Davis, Jill Davis, Michelle Drum, Rita Garrison, Skylar Hill, Natalie Hyatt, Grace Karegeannes, Nancy Klouda, Barb Oklesen, Jan Smith Annette Spencer, Melissa VanDoren, Stacie Wadsworth, Jennifer Wilson, and Glenda Wolf have each earned four points apiece at this writing.

Gail Bolt, Maddie Brown, Kimberly Hannu, Debra Kennerly, and Samantha Seay each have a current count of three Series points.

Two Series points each have been earned by: Jeremy Ahlum, Korie Albright, Jordan Anderson, Brittany and Zane Annis, Karen Benson, Alexis Botchie, Baiba Bourbeau, Marcia Bowen, Cam Brandon, Tammi Bruning, Pam Burrows, Elizabeth and Grace Caldwell, Kelly Cannon, Caroline Coates, Debbie Craycraft, Natalie Crombie, Benay Daniel, Kat Dooley, Katheryn Eilders, Amanda Fisher, Erin Fletcher, Sherry Garnes, Andrea Gentry, Kayla Gonzalez, Susan Haldeman, Laura Hendley, Lucy Hooper, Elaine and Michaela Hughes, Patricia Iacomini, Kinsey Jamerson, Ginny Jennings, Brandy Johnston, Ann Jordan, Jen and Kate Keilman, Cathy Kirkland, Lydia Kolbas, Lori Kunkel, Beatrice Lamb, Yara LaPointe, Rhonda Lewis, Geraldine u/d Mark, Kristen McAuster, Amanda McDonald, Reiss McKinney, Reed McNutt, Karen Merrill, Marianne Moore, Meaghan Morris, Jessica Nelson, Rachel O’Brien, Erin O’Dwyer, Anna Oglesby, Beverly Ozmon, Neil Parnes, Reuben Parton, Nancy Patterson, Elizabeth Peacock, Ditte Phillips, Boots Plyler, Valerie Quinn, Janna Ritacco, Jaime Robertson, Sally Rock, Diane Roemer, Forrest Samuels, Leslie Scott, Johnna Sharp, Hyland Sheffron, Teresa Snyder, Kayla Stacy, Paula Stathakis, Suzanne Stettler, Shelby Stewart, Yasmin Straitiff, Kristi Suber, Sydney Swenson, David and Donna Taylor, Emily Thomas, Josie Thompson, Heidi Trull, Joseph Vasquez, Susan Wallahora, Roanne Welsh, Laurie Whitaker, Tracie Williams, Carolina and Robin Wilson, Maxine Winesett, Jillian Wodridge, Jess Wright, Kris Wynne, and Mary-Ladd Yatts-Yonkman.

One point apiece has been earned to date by Julie Alexander, Janet Cummings,Bob and Terri Davenport, John Hicks, Ann and Tony Hubbuch, Beth and Craig Looper, and C.R. and Carol Stanley.

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events. Mark your calendars and ride with us at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) annual fall Hunter Pace on Sunday, Nov. 5 and on the weekend before Thanksgiving at 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, 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