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Second was previous OD champ Debi Gordon and her new mare, Saizahra, in 16:23.
They finished just seconds ahead of Kevin Baird (sorry, missed horse's name),
followed by Carlos Crespo of Florida in 4th and Lori Hayward, 5th. Then came
Winkie Mackay-Smith (13th Old Dominion buckle -- all top ten!) on her Russian
Arabian, Mandela, Matthew Mackay-Smith (11th OD buckle--all TT) on his Al-Marah
bred "Rugby" and rookie champ Adrienne Hewitt on her Warmblood/Arab cross, Fair
Chance.
Five riders hit the finish line together a short time later. Henry's laser timer
caught Tevis-bound Nancy Smart and FR Zara Zara in 9th, first-time 100 Sue
Ashenfelter and Isaac Newton in 10th, Bobbie Lieberman and Fine Print in 11th,
Judy Van Meter and the venerable Diamond Rifazar to complete their 7th Old
Dominion 100 and 4,000th mile (!) in 12th, and Floridian Dee Meyers in 13th,
thrilled to be in her first O.D.
Soon along came Cathy Lochary on her nifty Morgan mare, Beechtree Starlight
(first 100 for both), Betty Baird and her homebred Fury, Dana Reeder, Debra
Gilbert and G.M. Chagall, Stephanie Muncie and Stoneybrook Lyric (another
firstie) and finally, the coveted Turtle Award was won by Rosie Rollins and her
bay mare. (Note: I may not have this last group in exact order and I don't have
all of the horse's names. Official results should be forthcoming.)
All of the completers (out of a starting field of 30) finished within an
approximate 3-hour window between midnight and 3 a.m. All but two of the
starters were local folks.
June in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia often brings temps and humidity in the
90s. But this year has brought unseasonably cool conditions. Although the
weather started heating up the week before the ride, hitting the 90s for a
couple of days, a cloud cover and intermittent breeze helped out on ride day.
The temperature may have brushed up against 80, but only briefly. The humidity,
however, was deceptively high, and it stayed muggy well into the night. As
usual, the ride rewarded those who rode conservatively and with sponges dipping
at every opportunity.
Accepting his award, John Crandell, who has now been first to finish four times
on the Old Dominion, said that riding cavalry gives the rider the opportunity to
be sensitive to his horse in a way that having a crew might not. He said you can
have a crew swarming over your horse at checks, but that really, "The only thing
you have to do is to be sensitive to your horse through the whole ride and never
lose your focus. Ride every stride, every step, every rock." On the Old
Dominion, that takes incredible focus -- because between the rocks (nearly
everywhere) and the climbs (seven significant ones, including the infamous
Sherman's Gap 87 miles into the ride), one mistake or distraction can cost
dearly.
Carlos Crespo, one of several candidates for the North American championships
riding here, won the High Vet Score award. (The veterinary panel elected not to
award an AERC Best Condition prize this year, as they felt that no horse met the
standard. Head vet Lani Newcomb said the decision in no way belittled or
diminished the efforts of the horses and riders who scrambled and prevailed over
a very difficult course.)
The Gold team award, sponsored by Running Bear Farm, went to the "Dream-Makers"
-- Matthew and Winkie Mackay-Smith, Adrienne Hewitt and Bobbie Lieberman. In the
tradition of team champs, the winners were required to take a victory gallop
around the pavillion (all were sound!) (well, sound enough to kick up their
heels!)
Roger Rittenhouse of Equine Performance sponsored the Rookie Horse and Rider
Award. The High Vet Score award perpetual trophy and "keeper trophy", donated by
Keith and Mary Margaret Byergo, was taken home to Florida by an ebullient Carlos
Crespo. They made him promised he'd come back next next to defend it.
John and Jennifer Alexander donated the Cavalry Award (for best condition among
Cavalry riders), and Doug and Jane Lietzke donated the First-to Finish Solo
Award.
Joanne Sowa donated beautiful embroidered Old Dominion golf shirts to everyone
who STARTED the ride as a way of acknowledging riders for taking on the
challenge.
Each competitor shared a story in accepting his or her buckle. Carlos said that
in picking out a horse capable of meeting the Old Dominion challenge, he looked
for a horse with "big feet, a big butt and a big heart!" Big feet to negotiate
all the rocks, a big butt to propel him up all those climbs, and a big heart to
make it all the way home.
The Old Dominion has a little bit (and sometimes a lot) of everything. There are
moments of near-terror -- negotiating the stair-step boulders of Jack's Notch
(on Hayburn Gap -- a part of the trail not used very year). There are pleasant
surprises -- stretches of trail, formerly rock-strewn, now smooth and
speedy,thanks to OD members working for months with a bulldozer to clear out the
boulders. A long stetch of road near the beginning and end of the ride was
replaced by Fox Hollow trail, a wonderful grassy trail. Sherman's Gap, with its
light-laden horses and glow-sticks lighting the way up and up and up, is just as
eerie and ethereal as ever, with giant uprooted trees from recent storms adding
a new visual element (DIMR now has a new sub-syndrome: DID -- Distance-Induced
Delirium!)
There was heartbreak, too, as Julie Bullock, DVM, and Tashi Ashara were pulled
at Bear Wallow after running with the leaders much of the day. Solo rider Stagg
Newman kept the "monkey on your back" prize after calling it quits at Bear
Wallow (82 miles). Bob Walsh and Aries had to hang up their tack at Hickory
Lane. Steve Rojek (thrown shoe) was also among those who made it back to base
camp earlier than planned. Perhaps the biggest disappointment, though, was
Brenda Baird smashing her knee into a tree and breaking her patella. She rode on
for a while, then was persuaded to withdraw when her riding companions noted her
white sheet-like appearance. After a brief hospital visit, she returned on
crutches in time for the awards ceremony. She vowed she'd be back in time for
the Tevis.
Ride manager Jeanne Lichtenberg (and her crew of 150-some volunteers) received a
standing ovation for a FANTASTIC job of managing the ride. As the night riders
returned home, they heard Jeanne's comforting voice in the darkness guiding them
through a tricky gate onto the road.
The third "jewel" in the Old Dominion Triple Crown will be held this October
24-25-26 -- the Fort Valley rides. Special prizes await those who complete all
three rides, starting with the No Frills ride in April. In addition, every entry
on an OD ride gets an automatic entry for a prize custom-handmade saddle.
If you'd like to get a taste of the Old Dominion trails, come ride the one-day
50, two-day 100 or go for all three days. Much of the trails are open year-round
for training rides, so contact any board member for info. Call Mary Ann Wates at
540/933-6614 or Pete Wilson at 540/636-3067 if you'd like to come ride in the
valley. We'd love to show you the views!
Bobbie Lieberman and Fine Print ("Whew! When we didn't stop at Hickory Lane this
year, I realized we still had a ways to go. You didn't have to worry so much
about me throwing a shoe -- see how careful I was? And you didn't have to worry
about me not drinking very often along the way -- I drank at vet checks, didn't
I? Next time, just relax and enjoy the trip -- I know what I'm doing!")
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