It’s time to announce the winner of Eventing Nation’s “my favorite AECs moment” sponsored by our friends at SmartPak. As you will remember, we asked readers to submit their best memories from this year at the AECs. Congratulations to Amanda Smith of Woodstock, GA for winning! As is fitting, Amanda was a fence judge this year and she was kind enough to write about her experience. Amanda will receive the Harwich eventing bridle from SmartPak.
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From Amanda:
I am reflecting on what could possibly be my favorite moment of the AECs weekend. It’s hard to pick just one...I got to see plenty of wonderful moments in the grand scheme of things, despite being out on the XC course for 11 hours, at the second to last fence on course.
It could be the moments as kids (and adults alike) galloped by telling their ponies how much they were loved, and what good boys/girls they were. It could be the awesome volunteer coordinators, organizers and “hospitality ladies” who provided us everything we could have needed (some shade would have been awesome… but Rich Temple did arrange for a breeze). Is there a better moment than hearing the whirr of the golf cart as the hospitality ladies approached with goodies to eat and drink? Could be the really nice people who stopped to chat while they walked their courses and thanked me for volunteering. Right up there with my favorite AEC moment has got to be spying EN’s own John–in all his radiant glory and aviator shades–as he filmed some BN rides towards the end of the course where I was stationed (jump 16… I’m even in John’s BN XC video).
But really, the best moment was my very first moment on the grounds of Bouckaert Farm. I love going to Chatt Hills… its just a beautiful property, the facilities are top-notch, and I’m so proud that such a gem is practically in my back yard. The excitement of being there for AEC’s grew as I drive down there from my home north of Atlanta. So when I made that swing through the trailer parking and caught my first glimpse of the cross country course, with the fog still lingering and the sun just breaking through, and of all things Here Comes the Sun came on the radio… I knew it was going to be a really great day.
I couldn’t snap a picture of that exact moment since I was driving, but the attached picture I took with my phone shortly after I was stationed at my fence. Foggy, peaceful and lovely.
