4/11/2010 Tryon Hounds Spring  Articles

Tryon Hounds Spring Hunter Pace & Trail Ride

Held Sunday, April 11, 2010

Reported by: Linda Farris & Louise Hughston

The Tryon Hounds never disappoint with calling in perfect weather, great organization, and ensuring a lot of fun among riders and horses.

What a wonderful way to get out and enjoy a beautiful sun shiny day with not a cloud in the sky and everything blooming as spring came enthusiastically upon us. Sunday, April 11th, could be claimed to be one of the loveliest Spring days of 2010. Tryon Hounds gratefully accepted this day for their Annual Spring Hunter Pace Event. How fortunate all were to be given permission to stage the event at the foothills newest equestrian community, The Meadows of Campbell Creek. Located at Gowensville off Tugaloo Road where the green fields of The Meadows seemed to stretch to the foot of Hogback Mountain – a spectacular view. The Tryon Hounds and event participants were indeed appreciative to Madelon Wallace, Developer, and to all the surrounding landowners for giving them the privilege to ride the trails for this event. .

Louise Houston and Nelson Minnick were at the helm and did a great job directing their many volunteers.

Entries were taken by secretaries Anne Pierce and Jen Hicks, who instructed riders to the start. Timer, Joey Cabaniss was his usual cheerful self and yes, he “left the light on", as the Timer. Anita Williamson was also on hand at the start to advise riders of the course layout, the one and only slick spot, and the Red Arrows and Pink Ribbons.

The course began at The Meadows, trailing into Norm and Janet Peterson’s gravel bridge crossing, then back into The Meadows over optional jumps, furnished by Keith and Erin Gambrell, leading to the inviting trail through the woods, opening up to the farms of Bob and Chickee Brown and Mark and Kate Maxwell. The course crossed Tugaloo Road to Campbell Road leading to the properties of Grace Bishop, The Culbertson Family and on to Mary Walls and Peny Dean. Then the trail dropped down to the “tomato fields” of Tom and Helen Henderson where a good gallop was had. At the end of the field was The Check Point, manned by Skip Leck and Ed Richardson who offered water and apple juice to quench the palette and offer riders an extra bit of energy to better enjoy the lovely return ride.

After a brief check, riders crossed Campbell Road again to Lovers Lane, taking optional jumps. Lovers Lane led to Pleasant Hill Road. A turn to the left took riders up hill over Susie Merck’s forest, coming out by Roger and Mary Walters’ Red Horse Inn. This led to a breathtaking view coursing the edge of Jim and Noreen Cochran’s farm. It was then down hill and back to re-cross Tugaloo Road where John Hicks and Anne McIver patrolled traffic.

The riders passed the historic Stone House on the way to the finish. There at the Finish Line were Joey Cabiness and Anita Williamson to record each rider’s times.

A round of applause goes out to the trail markers and maintenance crews: Mike Axelrod, Kerry Holmberg, Louise Hughston, Kim Ketchum, Anne McIver, Dean McKinney, Jordan Hicks, Nelson Minnick, Richard Pierce and Ed Richardson. Riders were very complimentary about the hard work that went into making the trails and terrain perfect, plus building bridges, constructing brand new jump coops and natural log jumps. Even Helen Keller could have navigated that course!

It was then time to enjoy a delicious barbecue, beans, slaw, cookies and a variety of beverages served up to the riders by Heidi Mendez and her helpers: Yo & Jack Casey, Jen Hicks, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Wes Sweet and Jordan Hicks. Brain's BBQ catered the event. Plus Chilled Carrots for the horses.

Parking was handled by Nelson Minnick & Wes Moore as they directed the trailers to line up side by side in the large, grassy field.

Trail Clean up and general tear down was handled by John Hicks, Louise Hughston, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Anne McIver, Dean McKinney, Heidi Mendez and Nelson Minnick.

John Hicks, Anne McIver and Wes Sweet acted as road crew, and “Boss” Hughston was seen filling in everywhere as needed, while Lydia Kellett handled Public Relations.

Now, The RESULTS:

There were a total of 161 riders. 88 riders in the Field Hunter Division divided into 42 teams and 73 Trail Riders in 33 teams.

The Optimum time for the Field Hunter Division was one hour, ten minutes, three seconds. The Calculated Optimum Time for Trail Rider Division was one hour, 47 minutes, 49 seconds.

Two teams tied for the Blue ribbons for the Field Hunter Division with each just 28 seconds off the preset optimum time! They were a foursome of Tryon Hounds Juniors: Anita and Sara Crouse of Marion, Katelyn Jones of Mill Spring and Casey Morris with a time of one hour, nine minutes, 35 seconds, and single rider Sharon Carden of Elizabethton, TN, with a time of one hour, ten minutes, 31 seconds. Third place went to Baiba Bourbeau of Tryon and Beatrice Lamb of Inman with a time of one hour, 11 minutes, 26 seconds. Fourth Place was awarded to Kathryn Godsey, and Buck and Linda Matthews, all of Tryon, with a time of one hour, 11 minutes, 32 seconds. Fifth place went to Kathy and Ric Rondell of Tryon who were only one minute, 31 seconds over the optimum. Sixth place went to Sandra Bailey of Spartanburg with a time of one hour, seven minutes, 37 seconds. Honorable Mention goes to Liz Crawley of Inman and Sue Smolka of Hickory with a time of one hour, 12 minutes, 51 seconds.

Also out to enjoy the open meadows, wooded trails and inviting jumps were Darbie Barr, Kathy Bethka, Bill and Terry Boger, Debra Buchanan, Ilena Budde, Deborah Bundy, Therisa Couch, Candace Crawford, Stephanie Culbertson, Charlotte Enderle, Charlie and Dolores Erthal, Ken Feagin, Nancy Finkell, Susannah Francis, Carla Fullam, Erin Gambrel, Kathy Gleason, Sheila Grymes, Martha Hall, Duane and Harlene Harm, Judy Heinrich, Jan Hicks, Betty Hill, Daphne Hoffen, Natalie Holliday, Tom and Vicky Jackson, Cindy and Karen Kaufman, Resa Kearse, Kelley Kruse, Art Lazarus, Cailyn Lee, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Biddie Lowry, Cindy Lubin, Stephanie Lusk, Brian and Carolyn MacCormack, Barbara Madill, Joe and Kate Manno, Sophie Maxwell, Dean and Roberta McKinney, Kasey and Pamela Minnick, Pepper Oliver, Dama and Samantha Parker, Michele Parris, Gail Patton, Ron Piccari, Chandler Plachy, Thomas Pluemper, Angela Posani, Nancy Reynolds, Kalee Rizk, Pinckney Sandlin, Anne and Kelsey Spicer, Mindy Spiegal, Lisa Spriggs, Eileen Taylor, Debbie Thrasher, Bobby Turner, CeeCee Wilmanns, Rebecca Worth, Sherry Wyatt and Kris Yon.

Taking home first place in the Trail Rider Division was Susie Justice of Hendersonville and Marcia Stacey of Gaffney with a time of one hour, 49 minutes, two seconds. Second place went to Deanna Baldwin of Mills River and Lacey Hein of Hendersonville with a time of one hour, 49 minutes, 12 seconds. Third Place was awarded to Linda Farris of York, Bill Rucker of Gramling and Linda Salinas of Gastonia with a time of one hour, 49 minutes, 22 seconds. Fourth place went to Victoria Bailey of Woodruff, Kelly Cannon of Moore, Khrystynne Hunsinger visiting from CA, and Amanda Stickley of Spartanburg with a time of one hour, 45 minutes, 51 seconds. Fifth place went to James Kennedy and Mary Tolles of Mill Spring with a time of one hour, 50 minutes, 18 seconds. Sixth place was awarded to Andrew Clarke of Tigerville with a time of one hour, 44 minutes, 49 seconds.

Also out to soak up the sun and the panoramic views of Glassy Mountain and HogBack Mountains was Amanda Aiello, Jerry Alexander, William Anderson, Holly and Michael Bacola, Becky Bockoven, Chris Britton, Brian Butler, Rachel Butterworth-Tice, Brenda Cox-Sinclair, Ruth Ann DeHollander, Sean Eastman, Susan Fiala, Susan Haslam, Tara and Rick Herrero, Joanna Holzinger, Peggy Horton, Freda Jessen, Teresa Johnson, Debra Kennerly, Lisa Kotallik, Janet LeCroy, Holly Lewis, Patti Lovelace, Debra Lusk, Virginia Maclure, Peggy McMakin, Ali Merritt, Connie Moore, Emma Nance, Holly Nelson, Lindsey Newsom, Rachel O'Brien, Donna and Leah Odom, Katie Ostrom, Morgan Palmer, Neil Parnes, Harold Pfieiffer, Ashley Phillips, Nancy Pickett, Joe Picone, Boots and Sarah Plyler, Mattie Roberts, Russ and Sally Rock, Stephanie Schulte, Sarah Silver, Jeanne Smith, Jennifer Smith, Jennifer Spratt, George Stathakis, Virginia Sullivan, Anna ter Kuile, Jason Thorp, Haleigh Wilson and Maxine Winesett.

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events so mark your calendars and plan to join us at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Benefit on May 2nd. The Benefit Hunter Pace & Trail Ride for Steps to HOPE will be held on May 16th and the River Valley Pony Club will round out the competitive Series on May 30th. But don’t forget the Year End Awards Gathering scheduled for June 20th to benefit HALTER to be held on Biltmore’s West Range for one last fun event before we take a summer break.

Remember to check the website at www.WCHPace.org for all upcoming events, news, articles, photos, placements and contact information.

Thank you to Lou Smith for being at the events to capture the riders and their mounts as they fly over jumps, canter through the fields and ride the trails. Hit “Photos” on the website to view your and your friends’ pictures. If you like, you can even place an order online.

For information on the Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series please e-mail Series Coordinator, Jan Smith at jan@wchpace.org or call her at 828-894-8760.