Swanton Pacific 100 Starting Info

["Michael K. Maul" <mmaul@flash.net>]

There were two more entries that dropped out of the start -
Suzy Kelly - drove all the way here from Orange, CA - and 
then when her horse didn't feel right - decided not to ride.
Jim Sours was also a late drop from the entries.  This leaves 
69 horses as starters compared to 1998s 38 entries.

There are 25 horses in the IAHA Arabian division and 3 in the 
Half-Arab division.  Zane Grey is one of these three and can
certainly be considered a favorite.  With $10K as the total
awards money - and a 25% gelding incentive - there are some 
worthwhile incentives.  Red - the 1999 Haggin Cup winner -
is one of the 25 purebred IAHA Arabian entries and may be one 
of the horses to watch.

Last years winning ride time was 12:15 with the last top ten horse 
in with 15:11 riding time.  Wendy Meredini/Fire Mt Flikka 
and Sharon Westergard/Taam were a first place tie last year.
Others in the top ten last year included Larry Bowers, Ona
Lawrence, and Shirley Delsart. None of these riders are here
this year but we have a very good group including Heather
Bergantz, Kathy Thompson, Jazon Wonders, Tony Benedetti,
Dennis Summers, Hal Hall, Judith Ogust, Judy Reens, and David 
Jenkins.

The weather is a littler warmer than I remember from last 
year.  It's cloudy tonight and warm.  The weather is of course 
nice - what else is it in the summer in California near the 
ocean. The redwoods are a little taller than a year ago
and a little shorter than they will be next year.  Somehow
the redwoods seem to be a defining part of this area - they
seem to have always been here.  As I guess Barb and Lud have
been too - this is their 49th anniversary.

The criteria was reduced as Barb expected - 60/48 at the first
VC with 64/48 at the others compared to last years 68/48. 

Barb described the trail in detail - including something
called the "slab"  - a wide flat rock that doesn't have a 
defined trail crossing it.  She says you just have to find
your own best way across it - but she reassured the group
that there hasn't been anyone lost on it yet...

There are 4 R&T teams - two local with some combination of
the McCrary family that were also here last year.  A third
returning team in the two vets from Virginia and one new
man/woman team from Utah.  The R&T teams get 24 1/2 hours to
complete but didn't need it last year.  The times last
year ranged from 20:31 to 21:39 with three of the 4 completing.
There are no fast teams this year so finishing times are
likely to be similar.

More when the ride starts...

Mike



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