Results of the Tryon Hounds Fall Hunter Pace and Trail Ride, Oct. 15

Published 6:46 pm Monday, October 23, 2017

What a beautiful day for the Tyron Hounds Fall Hunter Pace and Trail Ride! Sometimes when Mother Nature causes a Hunter Pace to use a rain date, the attendance may not be quite as large as it could have been. But not on this Oct. 15 ride! If the number of trailer rigs was any indication of the number there, it was huge! The days started off foggy, but was clear by ride time.

It takes a village to put on a good Hunter Pace. The Tryon Hounds group delivered! Drivers were met at the gate to the smiling faces of Tom Eizember, Dean McKinney and Don West. The left side of the field was well filled up so drivers were sent to the right side, close to the food! The registration tent was located just above the parking area. Riders were met with the smiling faces of Joleen Eizember, Anne Pierce and Ivy Sumrell. These ladies made sure that all the forms were filled out, Coggins papers were shown, and numbers were given to teams. Joey Cabaniss was the timer of the day. He was located at the start/finish line up the hill from registration. Joey is great about giving directions and ribbon colors to follow. He’ll always send riders out with a joke and let them know the light will be left on!

Newlyweds Kristin and Jeremy Ahlum returning from their tour of the trails at the Tryon Hounds Fall Hunter Pace held Sunday, Oct. 15. (Photo by Lou Smith)

The trails were lovingly prepared and marked by Mike Axelrod, Louise Hughston, Dean McKinney and Nelson Minnick. Beth Blackwell, Huntsman with the Tyron Hounds, set the time for the Field Hunters. Riders were met at the Check Point by Skip Leak and Richard Pierce. This short stop allows a quick rest for the mounts while the riders enjoy a cool water and/or Stirrup Cup of Port, a Hunt tradition.

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One part of a Hunter Pace is the food! The Tryon Hounds pulled out the stops! Grill master Jim Sumrell was hard at work at the grill with hamburgers and hotdogs. In addition to the meats, there were chips, potato salad, and all the condiments. Cookies were available for the sweet tooth. Several coolers were filled with ice and a smorgasbord of soft drinks and bottles of water. Wes Moore oversaw the table setup and movement. There were plenty of chairs and several tables set up for riders to park themselves to grab a meal before or after their rides. Paula Statakis oversaw the lunch setup. Louise Hughston and Cam Bearden, who Louise said was very instrumental in getting the cart around the grocery store, were on hand at the lunch area as well. Candy Clapp wore two hats helping in the food area as well as taking charge of selling the Tyron Hounds merchandise, which included the Tyron Hounds 2018 calendars with photos taken by Don West. The photos are gorgeous.

Field Hunters Anita Crouse and Danielle Lamb coming into the finish at the Tryon Hounds Fall Hunter Pace. (Photo by Lou Smith)

What goes up must go down, as the saying goes. A very big thank you goes to Bonnie Lingerfelt who made sure all the ribbons and signs were taken down.

The most important part of a Hunter Pace is the property where riders are allowed passage. Without the property owners’ consent and blessings, there would be no Hunter Pace and Trail Ride. The next time you see any of the following people, please thank them. Thanks go to Norene Cothran for the use of her beautiful field and the magnificent views, Penny Dean, The Meadows, The Red Horse Inn, and Michelle Summers.

A special additive to this Hunter Pace and Trail Ride was the Judging of the Best Turned Out for Hunt group. The winner was Erin O’Dwyer’s group. They are Erin O’Dwyer, Rebecca Hedges, Lucy Hooper, Amanda McDonald and Neil Parnes. They did look rather spiffy!

The turnout was wonderful. There was a grand total of 112 riders in 55 teams.

First Place Trail Riders Elizabeth Gregory and Emily Northey pose for the photographer after the Tryon Hounds Fall Hunter Pace. (Photo by Lou Smith)

Now, let’s get to those results:

There was one team, the duo of Tim Giles from Gaffney and Brandon Spencer in the WINGS Division. Their speed demon time was 51 minutes, nine seconds. Congratulations, gentlemen!

There were 40 riders in 22 teams in the Field Hunter Division. The Optimum Time was one hour, 16 minutes, which was set by Huntsman Beth Blackwell with the Tryon Hounds.

First Place Honors are awarded to the trio of Debbie Croft from Anderson and Marcia Headrick and Rich Neel from Townville with a time of one hour, 16 minutes, 37 seconds. They were a mere 37 seconds off the optimum time. The Second Place Red Ribbon went to Linda Plummer from Clover with a time of one hour, 16 minutes, 51 seconds. Lisa Clements from Chesnee nabbed the Third Place Yellow with a time of one hour, 19 minutes, 57 seconds.

Fourth Place Honors was awarded to the duo of Amanda Aiello from Ellenboro and Nicola Deines from Landrum with a time of one hour, 20 minutes, one second. Fifth Place went to Anita Crouse from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. and Danielle Lamb from Morganton with the time of one hour, 20 minutes, 23 seconds. They were almost in reach of Fourth Place.

Rounding out the placements in the Field Hunter Division was Amy Christensen from Landrum with the time of one hour, 23 minutes, six seconds putting her in Sixth.

Other Field Hunters enjoying this great venue were Holly Bacola, Melissa Champion, Mary Cullens, Carla Fulham, Christina Goen, Beth Goldizen, Martha Hall, Susan Haslam, Rebeca Hedges, Diane Hicks, Lucy Hooper, Dawn Kennedy, Amanda McDonald, Sydney Miles, Emily Mitchell, Kay Mott, Erin O’Dwyer, Lyn and Ted Owen, Neil Parnes, Jane Polk, Richard Putnam, Susan and Terry Russell, Peter Shanahan, Rebecca Tolson, Julie Cook-Walker, and Faith and Stephanie Wanicka.

In the Trail Rider Division, there were 70 riders in 32 teams! The Calculated Optimum Time was two hours, eight minutes, 53 seconds.

Here are those results:

First Place Honors are given to two teams! There was a tie! Elizabeth Gregory and Emily Northey from Greenville finished with a time of two hours, nine minutes, 41 seconds, a difference from the Calculated Optimum Time of only 48 seconds. Llyn Josef from Columbus and Molly Watson from Landrum finished with a time of two hours, eight minutes, five seconds and were also only 48 seconds off the Calculated Optimum time. The Third Place Yellow Ribbons were awarded to Cynthia Milligan and Sandy Roberts from Columbus with a time of two hours, nine minutes, five seconds.

Peggy Horton from Tryon and Emily Wampler from Landrum claimed Fourth Place with a time of two hours, seven minutes, 31 seconds. The duo from Tryon, Tara Boyce and Kathleen Nebel were in Fifth Place with a time of two hours, 10 minutes, 59 seconds. Rounding out the placements in the Trail Rider Division were Cheyenne and Kathy Davis from Old Fort and Skylar Hill from Marion with a time of two hours, six minutes, 22 seconds.

Other Trail Riders enjoying the beautiful weather were Jeremy and Kristen Ahlum, Julie Alexander, Karen Benson, Cam Brandon, Tammy Bruning, Darleen Bullock, Kelly Cannon, Debbie Craycraft, Natalie Crombie, Janet Cummings, Amanda Fisher, Lynn Fitch, Suess Fraser, Julie Frederick, Sherry Garnes, Rita Garrison, Laura Hendley, John Hicks, Natalie Hyatt, Brandy Johnston, Cathy Kirkland, Nancy Klonda, Debbie Knebel, Beth and Craig Looper, Arlene Lulavage, Ronnie Mann, Lin Martin, Reiss McKinney, Reed McNutt, Gena Meredith, Karen Merrill, Meaghan Morris, Barbara Okloson, Beverly Ozman, Reuben Parton, Nancy Patterson, Ditte Phillips, Boots Plyler, Janna Ritacco, Jennifer Smith, Teresa Snyder, Carol and CR Stanley, Suzanne Stettler, Emily Thomas, Lisa Trojan, Melissa Van Doren, Roanne Welsh, Diane Wilson, Jennifer Wilson, Glenda Wolf, Jess Wright and Sherry Wyatt.

Up next for the 2017-2018 Hunter Pace Series is the Green Creek Hounds Halloween Ride on Oct. 22, 2017. Wear your prettiest or spookiest costume and be judged for a prize! On deck will be the FENCE Fall Hunter Pace and Trail Ride on Nov. 5. 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 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. 20, 2017

After three 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: 200
Field Hunters: 66

Marcia Headrick & Rich Neel have taken an early lead with 21 Series points at this time.

Debbie Croft has 16 points for Second Place at this writing.

Amanda Aiello and Nicola Deines have earned 14 points to date to put them in Third Place at this time.

Amy Christensen is in Fourth with 13 Series points.

Kristen Brown, Beth Goldizen, Jennifer R Smith and Rebecca Tolson have each earned 11 points for Fifth Place.

Lisa Clements and Diane Hicks are currently tied in Sixth with 10 Series points apiece.

Christina Goen and Emily Mitchell are in Seventh with nine points at this time.

Holly Bacola, Shannon Jackson and Linda Plummer are currently tied fittingly in Eighth Place with eight points each.

Anita Crouse and Danielle Lamb have each earned seven points to put them into Ninth Place.

Pam Hilsman is currently in Tenth with five points earned.

Karen Brockway, Candice Carr, Tim Giles, Susan Haslam, Nancy Mason, Janine & Tom Stenson are just out of placement honors with four Series points apiece.

Two points earned at this time by: Sara Borkosky, Samantha Cason, Melissa Champion, Julie Cook-Walker, Mary Cullens, Anna Dalton, Leslie Davies, Stephanie Easler, Ann Fratcher, Carla Fullam, Martha Hall, Kelly Hart, Rebecca Hedges, Desiree Hill, Lucy Hooper, Dawn Kennedy, Meghan Linder, Amanda McDonald, Sydney Miles, Connie Moore, Kay Mott, Erin O’Dwyer, Stephanie O’Neill, Lyn & Ted Owen, Neil Parnes, Jane Patten Polk, Richard Putnam, Sylvia Riaale, Diane Roemer, K.C. Scott, Peter Shanahan, Brandon Spencer, T.J. Vore, Faith & Stephanie Wanicka, and Lisa & Shane Woodson.

Catherine Gillet has earned one Series point to date.

Trail Riders: 134

Darleen Bullock, Nikki Hynes and DeAnna Norton have a good early lead with 19 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 10 Series points.

Linda & Wayne Farris, Elizabeth Gregory, Llyn Josef, Emily Northey, Bobby Turner and Molly Watson are currently tied in Fourth with nine Series Points each.

Lisa Alford, Lynn Fitch, Debbie Knebel, Kathy Knutson, Arlene Lulavage, Mitzi Mayhew, Nicole Mills, Debora Pearl, Kim Randall, Jenna Stutts and Nancy Wiggins are sharing Fifth Place honors at this time with eight points apiece.

Cynthia Milligan, Sandy Rhodes, and Diane Wilson have each earned seven points to date to put them into Sixth Place.

Peggy Horton and Emily Wampler have jumped into Seventh Place with six points apiece.

Susannah Birch, Tara Boyce, Andrea Davis, Susie Justus Hill, Lisa Kotallik, Lin Martin, Kathleen Nebel and Lacy Westle have five Series points to date to put them into a tie for Eighth Place.

Cheyenne & Kathy Davis, Jill Davis, Julie Frederick, Skylar Hill, Natalie Hyatt, Annette Spencer, Lisa Trojan, Stacie Wadsworth, and Sherry Wyatt are currently tied in Ninth Place with four points apiece.

Missy Bright, Maddie Brown, Kimberly Hannu, Samantha Seay, and Jan Smith are currently in Tenth Place with three Series points each.

Two Series points each have been earned by: Jeremy & Kristin Ahlum, Jordan Anderson, Karen Benson, Alexis Botchie, Baiba Bourbeau, Cam Brandon, Tammi Bruning, Pam Burrows, Elizabeth & Grace Caldwell, Kelly Cannon, Caroline Coates, Debbie Craycraft, natalie Crombie, Benay Daniel, Michelle Drum, Katheryn Eilders, Amanda Fisher, Suess Fraser, Sherry Garnes, Rita Garrison, Andrea Gentry, Kayla Gonzalez, Laura Hendley, Elaine & Michaela Hughes, Brandy Johnston, Jen & Kate Keilman, Cathy Kirkland, Nancy Klouda, Beatrice Lamb, Rhonda Lewis, Reiss McKinney, Reed McNutt, Gena Meredith, Karen Merrill, Meaghan Morris, Jessica Nelson, Anna Oglesby, Barb Oklesen, Beverly Ozmon, Reuben Parton, Nancy Patterson, Ditte Phillips, Boots Plyler, Valerie Quinn, Janna Ritacco, Jaime Robertson, Leslie Scott, Teresa Snyder, Suzanne Stettler, Yasmin Straitiff, Sydney Swenson, David & Donna Taylor, Emily Thomas, Josie Thompson, Melissa VanDoren, Susan Wallahora, Roanne Welsh, Laurie Whitaker, Carolina & Robin Wilson, Jennifer Wilson, Jillian Wodridge, Glenda Wolf, Jess Wright, and Mary-Ladd Yatts-Yonkman.

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

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events. 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, 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, Jan@WCHPace.org or call 828-894-8760.

Reported by Jan Smith