Shannon Lilley has been generously keeping us posted on all things Area VI this weekend. Area VI has a wonderful team of riders, horses, parents, grooms, and supporters. Dayna Lynd-Pugh is Area VI’s coach and Laura Powell is serving as Area VI’s chef on scene while Shannon recovers from her back injury at home in California. As always, thanks for writing this Shannon and thank you for reading.
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From Shannon:
Hello EN readers yet again!
Saturday was a good day from a course designer’s and show organizer’s perspective, meaning no rider or horse got hurt and many came through the finish with just slight mishaps. Area VI had a bittersweet day. Our Young Rider team is still in first but our Junior team had a bit of a rough day.
I asked one of our kids to help recount the day and Jordyn Horwitz aboard Nicodemus in the one star had this to say:
On Saturday the Area VI Young Riders were decked out in navy and yellow and prepared to go to battle against the NAJYRC cross country course! The day began with the first horse out of the box at 8am in the 2star division! Sarah Braun kicked off Area VI’s day with a double clean round aboard Perfect Intentions. To follow was her teammate Teresa Harcourt riding Bonza Twist of Fate. Only to gain 10 time penalties and clean jumping! Next came Lizzie Snow riding Coal Creek (the overnight leaders), only gaining 4.4 time penalties toher amazing dressage score of 50.7, bumping them back into 3rd place! Immediately after, came the second scratch rider Kendyl Tracey riding Ever So Lucky crossing the finish with a double clean round, moving them into first place! Over all, an amazing day for the 2star team maintaining their first place against the other teams!!
By 9:52 the first Area VI one-star team member Erin Murphy aboard Myster E had left the start box! Only gaining two bobbles and sometime, Erin crossed the finish flags safely! Following her came Nicodemus! Coming home only gaining a 20, and a handful of time, a successful day for Nico. Finally galloping off were, Gigi Herron and Beacon Hill, adding just a 20 to her lovely dressage score of 49.8. Saturday was a thrilling and educational day for the Area VI young riders and their scratch teammates. Going into show jumping we look for sound horses and all poles in cups!
I have to say, I have been thoroughly impressed by all of the Juniors this year as they did not have a very good day out on the cross country but have maintained a very positive attitude and look forward to what future years will bring. They all feel it was a tremendous learning experience and look forward to the future. That sort of attitude makes for great competitors and ultimately great riders, which will only enhance the future of our sport.
Area VI has to thank Emily Sandler, Laura Powell, Dayna Lynd-Pugh and all the parents for making Saturday go smoothly. Laura has been standing in for me as Chef as I could not make the trip this year due to my back. She has done an amazing job with all of the logistics and with putting up with my idiosynchratic self. Dayna Lynd-Pugh, our coach, did an amazing job coaching these kids. It is a very tough job especially when you only see the kids a couple times before the event. Last but not least, Emily Sandler, out vet, does an incredible job with all of our horses and makes sure she sees to it that they always complete. Tomorrow is a new day and so far all the horses look good.
The jog will be bright and early at 7am. Good luck to all Areas but I hope Area VI brings it home!
Go Area VI and Go NAJYRC!!!
