When you are competing in an event, it is sometimes hard to step back and look at the bigger picture. You get so focused on what you’re doing that you can miss the amazing community around you. Last weekend I attended Camelot Equestrian Park’s final event of the year as a tag-along. I had intended to ride, but the fates conspired against me so I ended up as support crew for my BFF’s first Event as an Adult Amateur. It was an amazing time even though she racked up a score that put her in to the century club – 139.4 [The Story Here]
That weekend, I was able to sit back and watch the machine of the Event hum along. I was able to watch families, friends and a community support each other and part take in the simple joy of a beautiful weekend. Even though the event was a small unrated affair in Northern CA, it saw entries who hauled in from as far away as Klammath Falls, Ore – for those of you not on the West Coast, that’s a five hour trip!
Christine Traynham on Cooper
Christine Traynham took home the blue-ribbon in the Eventing Nation sponsored Intro division aboard her Morgan/TB cross Cooper. Eventing is a family affair for the Traynhams that began about two years ago. Daughters Megan and Judy both event, though with admittedly different perspectives. Judy enjoys the Intro and BN levels, but prefers schooling over showing at the events. Megan has aspirations to make it to the 4* level. The Traynham family trains with Susan Garmier who was also in attendance and finished third in the Novice division, also sponsored by Eventing Nation.
Though she enjoys the cross country phase the most, Christine said she had a break through at the show. She had that moment that we all reach for in dressage – that moment of perfect focus where it feels like you are the only person there as you work through the test. Despite being the most challenging phase for her, Christine’s stadium round also went well. She intended to ride very precisely, even if it meant time faults. Ultimately she went double clear and clinched the win in a very competitive division. Christine plans to move up after meeting her goal of winning in the Intro division.
Megan Traynham on Luka
Christine’s daughter Megan also competed at Camelot. Megan had a horse-change at the last moment and was a bit concerned about some of the elements on cross-country in the Beginner Novice section, but ultimately had solid performances in all three phases, including a very nice cross-country run to finish third in the Beginner Novice division on her Morgan, Luka. You can expect to see the Traynhams at recognized events on the west coast next year.
Kate Thompson finishing second at her first ever event!
Camelot is a popular choice for Juniors and for a first-time out. Kate Thompson of Davis, California had an outstanding showing for her very first event, finishing second in Beginner Novice. Kate rides with Alana Courville of Sunfire Eventing and was especially pleased with her jumping rounds. She commented that her dressage could have been better, but with a score of 36, I suspect she’s just being modest! I’m sure she’s looking forward to her next trip out. Kate plans to attend Juniors Over Jumps at Eventful Acres, September 28th and 29th.
Taking the top honors in the Beginner Novice section was Breanna Mestas on her super cute pony Potiquimi Illusion. She had a very nicely ridden dressage test and carried her score of 32.5 through to the finish. Sunday was an especially big day for Breanna as it was also her birthday – or maybe Saturday was. You see, Breanna was born in Singapore, which is on the other side of the international date line. Apparently it is a tradition of Breanna’s to pick the day she prefers each year. Either way, there is nothing quite like bringing home the blue and leading the victory gallop in front of friends and family on an already special weekend.
Breanna was one of many riders at Camelot representing Bear Valley Event Team and Flyway Pony Club out of Oregon. Kate Kennel, Bobbi Wheelock, Taylor Spencer, Katelyn Hunter Cheyenne Richert, Annika Warrington and Donna Huntsman were all in attendance as well as friends and family of the Team and Pony Club. You can expect to see many of the faces from Bear Valley Event Team and Flyway Pony Club at Juniors Over Jumps in two short weeks.
Other top finishers from the group included Kate Kennel with a fourth in her OTTB Digitizer’s first outing at Novice, and Katelyn Hunter’s two rides Ex Mountain Cop and North Pole’s Rasta finishing fourth in Beginner Novice and second in Novice respectively. Cheyenne Reichert placed second in Training on her OTTB War of Attrition.
Anna McEwen was another rider at the show with more than one mount for the weekend. Anna rides two very visible and very different horses – a palomino Appendix Quarter Horse mare named Tinkerbelle’s Pixie Dust and Mighty Mouse, a Clydesdale gelding. Even though some unfortunate rails for crowd favorite “Max” dropped them from the top spot out of the ribbons in the Beginner Novice section, Anna and “Twinkie” were victorious in the Training section, finishing in first place on their dressage score.
As this was the final event of Camelot’s 2013 series, high stakes were on the line. The biggest smile of the weekend easily had to be that of Jessie Koenig. Winning the Novice division was certainly sweet success, but the win ultimately sealed the deal for Jessie’s win of the series high-point award — a brand new Devocoux saddle. She will be presented with the saddle in October at Camelot’s Ride and Dine event.
Congratulations to all of the weekend’s winners and finishers. Here’s to your continued success and the enjoyment of eventing.
Go Team DF. Go Community. Go Eventing.
