ridecamp@endurance.net: FORT VALLEY 150

FORT VALLEY 150

lahayward (haywardl@shentel.net)
Tue, 28 Oct 1997 09:16:51 -0500

Eight riders started out of Hickory Lane in Fort Valley on a very COLD and
cloudy Friday morning. The first day ended with Debbie Gordon on her
gorgeous mare finishing true to Debbie Gordon style over 1 hour ahead of
everyone else at about 2:45pm. Five of us in the next group(myself, Rob
from Nova Scotia, Lynn Gilbert, Nancy Smart, Susan Ashenfeld(sp?)) finished
between 3:45 and 4:30pm and Judy VanMeter and Joanna Blackmore finished
shortly after. About the time we all finished down came the traditional
Ft. Valley rain.

We all started out pretty soggy the next morning(everyone sound and looking
good!) and thankfully the rain had ended sometime in the early morning.
Saturday was a beautiful day although we didn't get to see much of the
views due to the fog. I did get a couple of pictures up on Kennedy peak
while my horse grabbed a little snack. We all had a little trouble that day
with trail vandalism but it all worked out fine in the end. A group of us
had gotten together at that point(100's, 50's and 150's) and we had a great
time telling dirty jokes as we climbed over Veach Gap to Milford Gap.
Again we finished a little earlier but still most of us together with
Debbie increasing her lead a little.

Sun morning we were all ready a raring to go again(yeah right! -- ) and we
started out with a much smaller crowd. And of course Ft. Valley couldn't
let us get our trailers out without the tractor!!! It started raining soon
after we left and poured all day long!!!! Despite the miserable weather we
all finished the ride real close together with Judy and Joanna bringing up
the rear.

I belive this was a historical Old Dominion ride -- The 150 started 8
horses and finished 8 horses!!!!!!! Way to go everyone!!!!!!! We made
history!

Results as close as I can remember in my soggy haze:

1st -- Debbie Gordon
2nd - Rob from Nova Scotia(sorry Rob I couldn't remember your last name!)
3rd - Lori Hayward - BC
4th - Lynn Gilbert
5th - Nancy Smart
6th - Susan Ashenfeld
??? - Judy VanMeter and Joanna Blackmore

I belive 6 out of 8 of us also were OD Triple crown winners as
well(completed all 3 highest mileage OD rides this year).

Ride management was great as always and the vets were great too! Also I
couldn't have done it without my great pit crew Susan Luthy(and nobody
better try and steal her either!!) and my farrier Roger Robinson(I did 150
miles on the rocks with 5 week old RESET shoes and not one came loose -- I
can probably use them for razors though). Tabriz is doing great and Mon.
morning looked like she could go another day but I'm sure she was glad to
be home in a nice dry stall!!!

Can't wait for next year!!

Lori Hayward
LIV2RYD in VA

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