10/11/2009 Tryon Hounds Fall  Articles

Tryon Hounds Annual Fall Hunter Pace

Held on Sunday, October 11, 2009

Reported by: Boots Plyler & Jan Smith

Hopefully the on and off rain prior to Sunday did not deter anyone from coming out to enjoy the Tryon Hounds Annual Fall Hunter Pace. They would have missed a beautiful ride with glorious weather. This hunter pace began at the Tryon Hounds Clubhouse where there was ample safe parking and all the other amenities of a permanent structure – a nice place to put out food, tables and real flush toilets. The sign up tent was ably handled by the Tryon Hounds crew and the starting box was manned by the always-witty Joey Cabaniss in the morning and Series Coordinator, Jan Smith for the afternoon.

The trail began behind the kennels where it wended through the woods and over a nicely made wooden covered bridge that was wide, solid and a perfect introduction for a young or inexperienced horse. The trail continued through the woods with occasional grassy fields and passed by a few farms with curious horses, cattle and one exceedingly cute donkey. There were four water crossings on the trail that were a bit muddy on the approaches, but the terrain around them was not very steep and the fords were shallow with good footing.

Apple juice as well as water was distributed to thirsty riders at the halfway point by smiling volunteers. After a short rest, the ride continued to the highlight of the day – “The View.” The trail went closely by the home of a loudly barking dog that some kind person had marked with a “Beware of Dog” sign. It then began to climb steeply toward the summit of a small mountain that displays one of the most beautiful views in this area. It is a 190-degree panorama of the valley with a ring of mountains behind it. Even the horses stood in awe of the wonders around them (or maybe they were just tired from the climb). The trail left “The View” down a gravel road and through a steep field to the bottom of the same road and eventually ended by coming back through to the Clubhouse. Everyone was then treated to a hotdog lunch with all the trimmings from the wonderful Tryon Hounds members.

The Hunt Wings Award, once again went to CeeCee Wilmanns with a ride time of one hour, 21 minutes, 18 seconds. Also riding for the Wings Award were Amy Gantt and Lisa Tyler who were just three minutes, 56 seconds longer.

There were 73 Field Hunters in 37 teams aiming for the optimum time of one hour, 43 minutes. 68 Trail Riders, in 30 teams rode for the calculated optimum time of two hours, 11 minutes, one second.

The winners of the Field Hunter Division were the team of Gail Patton of Seneca, and Debbie Thrasher of Anderson, with a ride time a mere three seconds over the optimum at one hour, 43 minutes and three seconds! Second place was a tie between Duane and Harlene Harm of Tryon, and the team of Sinclair Berdan of Fairview, and April McCormack of Gerton - although one team was over and one under the optimum, both teams were exactly one minute, 36 seconds off. Anna Row and Kris Yon from Pendleton earned fourth place with a ride time of one hour, 45 minutes and 37 seconds. Thomas Pluemper of Pelzer came in fifth, only two minutes 48 seconds over the optimum. In sixth place were the Pony Club team of Darbie Barr from Salem, Jeannie Sandahl of Landrum, and Anne and Kelsey Spicer of Campobello, turning in a time of one hour, 46 minutes, 14 seconds. Rounding out the division with Honorable Mentions were the teams of Amy Gantt and Lisa Tyler of Seneca, only three minutes, 35 seconds off optimum on their second ride, and Jeanne Clark of Telford, TN and Linda Latimer of Gray, TN, who’s time was three minutes, 37 seconds off optimum.

Also enjoying the ride that day were Bobby, Susan & Tanner Alexander, Michael and Roberta Axelrod, Kathy Bethka, Becky Bockoven, Bill & Terry Boger, Sharon Carden, Maude Carr, Ginny Chibbaro, Debra Cobb, Liz Crawley, Chrystal Crispin, Stephanie Culbertson, Towles Darby, Nancy Finkell, Kay Fleenor, Suess Fraser, Anna Harlan, Rodney Hawk, Margaret Henneke, Trip Hoffman, Jordan & Megan Johnson, Katelyn Jones, Barbara Ketcham, Bonnie Lingerfelt, Joe and Kate Manno, Anne McIver, Dean & Roberta McKinney, Kasey & Pam Minnick, Hailey Moore, Lisa Moore, Amanda Morfinos, Casey Morris, Harold Phifer, Jackie Ranck, Doug Russell, Sue Smolka, Sally Sturdevant, Eileen Taylor, Jay Thomas, Bobby Turner, Stan Von Hofe, T.J. Vore, Stephanie Wanicka and Lisa Williams.

The winners of the Trail Rider Division were Jane Eden and Mary Hager both from Columbus, with a ride time of two hours, 11 minutes, 18 seconds . Carol Greata and Kelly Rappuchi, both from Campobello, took the red ribbons with a time just one minute, 40 seconds off the optimum. The team of Debra Kennely and Jennifer Smith from Simpsonville, earned third with a ride time of two hours, eight minutes, 16 seconds. Chris Britton and Peggy McMakin, both of Tryon, came in fourth place only three minutes, 41 seconds over optimum. The foursome of Emma Nance, Kristen Pearce, Laura Slaughter and Jennifer Spratt, all of Rutherfordton, won fifth place after a ride time of two hours, five minutes, 37 seconds. Deanna Baldwin from Mills River, Lacey Hein of Hendersonville, and Kailly Holden took the green ribbons with a ride time of two hours, 19 minutes, two seconds. Honorable Mentions went to the team of Virginia Sullivan and Rachel O'Brien of Landrum, and to Teresa Johnson, Pickens.

Additional Trail Riders out to enjoy the beautiful weather and trails were: Kelli Bennett, Marcia Bowen, Kelly Cannon, Ashley Chesson, Cathy Code, Ruth Ann DeHollander, Jan Ellis, Robin Fishburne, Erin Gambrel, Kathy Gleason, Lil Gregory, Susan Haslam, Sarah Hendricks, Elaine & Hugh Hobbs, Sheree Holmes, Laura Huffman, Sandra Hyder, Jeanne Johnson, Lydia Kellett, Jill Kelly, James Kennedy, Christy Ledbetter, Holly Lewis, Patti Lovelace, Carol McCall, Carolanna & Wendy McCarter, Ali Merritt, Fran Nagle, Lindsey Newsom, Rachel O’Brien, Morgan Palmer, Boots & Erin Plyler, Pam Quick, Anna & Harold Russell, Mindy Spiegal, Amanda Stickly, Emily Stone, Virginia Sullivan, Ivey Summrell, Mary Tolles, Terri Vick, Momo Weatherby, Cathy Weaver, Maegan Wharton, Glenda Wolf, Whitney Wright, and Erica & Linda Yopp.

The next event is the always fun Green Creek Hounds Fall Halloween Ride on October 25th, so get your costumes ready or just come along for the ride and enjoy the ghouls and goblins.

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events. Come ride with us at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) on November 8th. Join us when the Clemson Intercollegiate Eventing Team will host their event on November 22nd. Prepare for the holidays and finish the calendar year’s paces at the Biltmore Equestrian Center’s Hunter Pace on December 6th.

Events will pick up again in January and continue straight thru May after only a short break for the holidays, so be sure to check the schedule and come play with us!!

Always remember to check the website www.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 “Photos” on the website to view the pictures. You can place an order online.

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