THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 2007
Congratulations to the entire OCTRA organization for hosting
the first ever Ontario Provincial Championships. This three day bonanza
highlighted all three long distance disciplines of Endurance, Competitive Trail, and Ride & Tie, attracting
riders from Ontario, the Maritimes, the USA as far away as Texas, and even a
rider from Venezuela.
Fantastic hosts Aurel and Ginny St. Dennis and Walter and
Faye Jensen provided their lovely properties as excellent veterinary check
points. These and other owners not only allowed the event to utilize their
land, but went ‘above and beyond’ by helping to ‘bushwack’, mow and groom
portions of the trail. This helped out the heroic Mike Cottenden, slashing
trail through the wilderness, assisted by chainsaw wielding Dave Webb, ‘trail
master elite’ Rick Burnside and the always intrepid Joe Mezenburg.
Behind the scenes Cathy Mezenburg managed a mountain of
paperwork with amazing cool efficiency and thanks are owing to hard working Kay
Melvin who enlisted over 60 workers. These unsung heroes were Joe Mezenburg and
his crew keeping the water troughs filled; veterinarians Dr. Stan Alkemade, Dr.
Arthur King, and Dr. Kathy Kivi, supported by Recorders, Timers, and P/R
Technicians; Dave Minns who did a mammoth task organizing timers and scoring
the rides; Fred Buchanan, Annie St. Dennis and Marg Murray driving food and
drink to the volunteers. Many thanks to a wonderfully generous Nancy Beacon who
personally had ‘Port-a-facilities’ installed at each of the vet checks; the
entire Hendricks family; Wendy MacCoubrey for taking on the whole shebang; Mike
and Sue Downing for taking the Ride & Tie in hand; Esau Lewin for calmly keeping
supplies coming and communications open; Cathy and Keith Thorne, who came from
Alberta as FEI officials but stayed to help out for three days, new workers
Wayne, Nigel and Doug who did superb jobs, and old friends Marie Shaw, Ron and
Julie Phair, and Cindy and Marty Filmore who came a long way to help out, plus
all the many others who donated their time and efforts to make this event such
a success. Special thanks are also due our hosts at base camp, Ron and Gillian Lubinski
of Y Not Farms Equestrian Center.
Day One at 5.30 am, just as the sun was
rising, nineteen horses and riders cantered off on the first leg of the 100
mile (160 km) Provincial Endurance Championship. This event was also sanctioned
by the FEI as a CEI *** Endurance ride, by AERC and AHA (Region 18), and by
OCTRA as an Open event. An impressive number of friends and family turned out
to ‘slave’ as Pit Crews along the route during the day, ensuring all horses and
riders were well taken care of.
Leaving at 9am and enjoying the best of the day, were a
large number of competitors in the 50 mile (80km) Provincial Championship and
Open Endurance Ride. Some of these riders were also entered in the 3 day 155
miles (248km) Pioneer Endurance ride. The 50 mile Endurance Championship Gold
Medal and Day One of the Pioneer Ride was won by Dessia Miller riding Parker
AES. Silver Medal was earned by Pat St. Jean and Phaud and Bronze by Tom
Paleczny and Raemes Magiciann.
First place winner of the 100 mile Open Ride was Kathy
Brunjes from the USA on Theatric in an excellent time of 10 hours 34 minutes.
In Second place was Meg Sleeper also of the USA riding Shyrocco Troilus in 10
hours 45 minutes. Finishing only seconds later also in 10 hours 45 minutes, in
Third place and the Provincial Gold Medal winner, was Ruth Sturley on RFB
Supersport. The Silver Medal went to Jim Rawski and JC Quick Quint in 11 hours
6 minutes and Bronze was won by Wendy MacCoubrey with Mariah finishing in 12
hours 18 minutes.
Day Two An inspiring sight was watching the great
group of riders and runners taking on the 20
mile (32km) Provincial Championship and Open Ride & Tie event and 10 mile
(16km) Open Ride & Tie event. Again joining them on the challenging
terrain were competitors starting 55 miles (88km) in Day Two of the 3 day 155
mile Pioneer Endurance Ride.
Running the 20 Mile Ride & Tie event in 2 hours 58
minutes to win Gold (almost an hour faster than the next team) were world class
competitors Eric Schmidt and Steven Bond riding Pepo Farasi. The father and son
team of Mark Phillips and Jason Phillips and their horse Montana Joe made a gutsy
run to earn Silver in 3 hours 57 minutes. They were pursued by a determined Mike
Downing and Susan Raymond riding El Marees to finish third.
In the 10 mile Ride & Tie event, the team of Emma Webb
and Cadence MacKinnon riding the seasoned Traverston Cob finished in First Place in 1 hour 37 minutes. Exhibiting true grit in a well earned Second Place was the
amazing Grandmother and Grand Daughter duo of Sheila and Kelly Buchanan riding
Linderlea Andante.
Day Three Displayed a mammoth job of organizing
with multi-events including a 50 mile (80km)
Competitive Trail Ride Provincial Championship and Open Event, a 30 Mile (48km) Open Competitive Trail Ride, a 25
Mile (40km) Novice CTR, 25 mile Mileage Ride, plus the final 50 miles
(80km) of Day Three of the 3 Day 155 mile Pioneer Endurance Ride.
Winning Gold in the 50 mile CTR as Champion and Heavyweight
Division winner was Bob Coleman and EAI Shahtahna. Silver Medal, Reserve
Champion and 2nd Place Heavyweight was won by Julia Curry on Sha’ara
Bint Norabi, and the Bronze Medal and First Place Lightweight Division was
earned by Roxanne Mollohan riding CG Anniversary Edition.
Champion in the 30 mile CTR and winner of the Lightweight
Division was Suzanne Kakacs riding Account’s Paid. Reserve Champion, Top
Junior, and winner of the Heavyweight Division, was Justine Blocksdorf on
Breyorr. Middleweight Champion was Laura Rye with Touch O Steele. The 25 mile
Novice CTR was won by Natalie Catlos, also a junior, riding a talented pony
Lightning. Second place Novice was Shannon Gray on Sully. Seventeen horses and
riders also enjoyed the more relaxing 25 mile Mileage Ride.
The 3 Day 155 miles (248km) Pioneer Endurance Ride was a
thrilling event for everyone with the overall winner being a deserving Dessia
Miller riding Parker AES. She placed 1st on Day One in a time of
5.18, also placed 1st on Day Two in a time of 6.47 and was only
seconds behind the leader for 2nd place on Day Three in only 4 hours
50 minutes, completing the 155 miles in a total of 16 hours 55 minutes. Second Place went to Tom Paleczny on a tough Raemes Magiciann, placing 3rd on Day
One in 5.31, 2nd on day Two in 6.47 and 8th on Day Three
in 5.28 for a total completion time of 17 hours 46 minutes. In Third Place was Michelle Bignell riding HAF Allieena who rode conservatively to 12th place
on Day One in 8.06, 5th on Day Two in 8.26 and held onto 5th
on Day Three in an excellent time of 4.58, for a total ride time of 21 hours 30
minutes.
