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Meg Sleeper and SSyrocco Revelie first in 100, Kathy Brunjes second on Theatric


Meg Sleeper Syrocco Revelie edges out Kathy Brunjes on Theatric for the 100 mile win.

Saturday March 6 2010

10 PM Update

1. Meg Sleeper 5:34:55
2. Kathy Brunjes 5:34:56
3. Cici Butler Stasink 5:56:08
4. Valerie Kanavy 6:02:30
5. Mustafa Tehrani 6:02:32
For some reason there was nobody listed in 6th...I believe because a rider they had numbered was pulled. I'm not numbering the rest though since this makes them one off. If your rider is missing... maybe they were 6th?
Deborah Reich 6:07:10
Nicki Meuten 6:25:07
Michele Roush 6:30:49
Alisija Zabavska-Granger 6:48:50
Steve Rojek 7:11:41
Hernan Barbosa 7:11:41
Cecilia Strahle Engquist 8:03:35
Megan Savory Davis 8:03:37
Charlotte Bryd 8:05:45
Cheryl Vanduessen 8:42:10
Dominique Freeman 8:42:12
Kordula Voigts 8:49:35
Anna Wucher 8:49:36
Kyoko Fukumori 9:10:50

Still on trail: Juliette Fusiarska-Cannon
Julianne Philip

100 mile pulls:
Wendy Mancini
Moises Birnbaum
Mary Farris
Kim Orr
Christine Pedersen
Ruth Sturley
Jan Worthington
Susanne Hedgecock
Cia Reis
Eone Willemse
Olivia Matthael
Darolyn Butler
Samantha Sandlwer
Antonio Ferro
Jennifer Poling

75 mile results almost final (Saturday)

Pulls: Here's the sad part, all three pulled at the finish. :-(((
Emily Matthews (after finishing 1st :-(
Daryl Downs (yes, I know I said he was second. Sorry, pulled at finish line)
Beverly Brock (pulled at finish)

1st. Melody Blittersdorf (with 12 fresh stitches in hand!)
2nd Norma House
3rd Robert Gielen
4th Lynn Hartmann
5th Foster Olson
6th Berit Stonebrink
7th Josie McGhee
8th Mauricio Gaten
9th Angie Mikkelson

Two riders are still on trail. Apparently they missed a turn and did a section twice. They've been out there a long time but technically still have time to finish. Management is working on getting them in. They are from California I believe, riding Grace & Jan's horses.
Kassandra Dimagio
Deanna Guinasso

FITS 55 & 25 results

Just kidding. They're pretty impossible to get your hands on I've found. I did see Tom Hagis getting a BC award at a rather impromptu awards presentation. I got there as they were closing down.

What i know:
Pulled at finish line:
Carol Dennie
Alisa Waxman

1st: Tom Hagis. I've requested that they send me a copy of their results so I can post them. It's not that I didn't want to. I apologize to all of those in the 25 and 55 but I'm no Nancy Gooch and how she knows who is finishing and who's going on, keeps up with different holds and a million tiny slips of paper for FEI I do not know. Add to that the re-checks and card keeping and all you can do is wait for a computer print out.


6:45 PM Update

Meg Sleeper on SSyrocco Revelie edged out Kathy Brunjes on Theatric by a neck to win the Fun in the Sun 100 miler. After doing the next to last 12.5 miles in 53 minutes (including recovery time) the two went out together and did the last 12 miles in an hour flat (by my watch). They cantered in side by side at the finish. Both vetted through well.

In third place Cici Butler
Fourth: Mustafa

LOTS OF PULLS. I'm waiting until Nancy has finished her supper before I dare ask for any more info. Will upload video of the finish as soon as I run out to see Josie in. She's due any minute. Almost dark, temps dropping fast.

Connie Caudill on Havva Nahh was the only rider to finish all three days (50's) on the same horse! Congrats to Connie.

The winner of the 75, Emily Mathews was pulled at the completion exam. Winner was Melody Blittersdorf.
2nd Daryl Downs
3rd Norma House
4. Bob Geilen
I know I saw Foster Oleson complete. Haven't heard of any of the others pulled but have seen them coming in.

Angie


4:30 PM update

This is getting exciting! I'll have to give up reporting on the top 10 now that they're spread out and I'm going with the leaders. I'll catch you up on the others later,

At the 4th gate (75 miles)

Meg Sleeper 3:15
Kathy Brunjes 3:16
Mustafa 3:22
Valarie Kanavy 3:22
Dorota Raciborska Toro (had to be re-checked don't know how that came out. Timer is absolutely inundated with 25's, 50's 75's some doing BC, lots of tiny slips. I don't dare even poke her with a long stick.

Kim Orr, riding AHA's horse of the year Spectacular Gold was with Kathy but vetted out lameness.

Valarie was in the pulse box when the front runner 25's left like bats out of hell at a gallop down the driveway next to the crewing area, turned and ran along the road out back. Val's horse's pulse spiked and she lost a lot of time. I'm just guessing she had to be extra careful before representing because she couldn't risk a 2 strikes you're out pulse over. (the stupidest of all the stupid rules in my humble opinion)

Gate 5

The front runners have come in..Meg Sleeper on Syrocco Revelie and Kathy Brunjes on Theatric did the next 12 miles in 53 minutes. (that's including the time it took them to pulse down). They have a 30 minute hold, leave out at 4:38 and have 12.5 miles to go. As of 4:30 or so no other 100's had arrived to pulse in. I'm going to get on out to the finish to film them.

In the 75, Winston made it through his re-check and Josie is out there working on a completion. They're taking it easy. There were more re-checks today than I have ever seen in my life. One timer said they may as well have called it an exit exam.

In the 50, the horse I previously listed as the "winner" was DQ'd for being judged not fit to continue. The rider was fairly new to the sport. Jim Baldwin took a very long time working on the education end discussing horse health and our commitment to it. I will get a corrected list of the 50's as soon as possible.

Angie


3:45 PM Update

3rd gate 75's 57 miles

Emily Mathews 2:13
Bob Geilan 2:15
Daryl Downs 3:00
Melody Blittersdorf 3:00
Norma House 3:02
Lynn Hartman 3:22
Berit Stonebrink 3:22
Foster Oleson 3:26
Beverly Brock (not sure about the time)
Josie McGhee (Winston's card was held, must represent)

Top 4 of the 50 are in. Have not received completions yet. Finishing order:

1st Carol Dennie 2:44 I think that's a ride time of 5:44
Alisa Waxman 2:46
Tom Hagis 2:46
Mary Yenter 2:54

100's third check: 57 miles.

Two more pulls: Moises Birnbaum
Cia Reis

1st: Meg Sleeper 12:48
Valarie Kanavy 12:56
Kim Orr 12:58
Mustafa Tehrani 12:58
Doroto Raciborska Toro 12:59
Kathy Brunjes 12:59
Suzanne Hedgecock 1:12
Nicki Meuten 1:20
Cici Butler Stasiuk 1:20
Deborah Reich 1:25
Alisija Zabavska-granger 1:25
Antonio Ferro 1:29
Michelle Roush 1:30
Wendy Mancini 1:34
Steve Rojek 1:57
Hernan Barbosa 1:57
Cecelia Engquist 2:13
Megan Savory Davis 2:14
Dominique Freemen 2:21
Cheryl Vandeusen 2:22


1:10 PM Update
Correction:

Valarie Kanavy was left off my list on the 100's out times. She left the 2nd check in 5th place at 10:27. She just left the 57 mile check in 2nd a little after 1:00. Horses are looking good. All the front runners left at a hand gallop and the horses had ears up and looked fresh. I took video. Will get it up as soon as possible.

Angie


12:47 PM Update

at 36 miles after 2 50 min. holds:

Emily Mathews 11:30
Robert Gielen 11:34
Melody Blittersdorf 11:57 (Melody got 12 stitches in her hand last night!)
Daryl Downs 11:58
Lynn Hartmen and Norma House 12:00
Josie McGhee & Beverly Brock: 12:10
Foster Oleson right after them but not sure on exact time.

I left the away check and headed back to camp at that point. Off to get the 100's at the 57 mile check.

It's still very cool with a breeze. I just lost a $100 "Easy Up" when a rogue gust flipped it over my trailer and bent the frame. (It was anchored to the trailer. :-(

Angie


12:30 PM Update

Just back from the away vet check. Tried like crazy but couldn't get an electrical outlet out there.

First casualty of the day was Jan Worthington whose horse bucke her off in the 100 pretty early on. Josie said when they came by her she was soaked from crossing all the deep water, shivering and would really like to have her saddle back but not necessarily the horse. When I left at 12:05 he still hadn't been seen.

If you want to figure speeds, the 100's have been 36 miles at this point and started at 6:00 then had a 50 min. hold. The 75s started at 6:30 and had been 21 miles.

Other pulls:
Mar Farris
Willemse Eone
Darolyn Butler
Samantha Sandler
Jennifer Poling
Christine Pederson (I think she was with the Danish team and really needed this one to get to the WEC. :-(

In the 50: Darlene Krell

at the 36 mile mark these wer the out times of the 100's:

Meg Sleeper
Dorota Raciborska Toro
Mustafa Tehrani all at 10:26
Kim Orr

Kathy Brunjes 10:34
Cia Reis 10:37
Suzanne Hedgecock 10:39
Wendy mancini 10:42
Nikki Meuten 10:44
Cici Butler-Stasink 10:49
Deborah Reich
Antonio Ferro all 10:49
Moises Birnbaum 10:50
Steve Rojek 10:51
Hernan Barbosa 10:51
Michele Roush 10:52
Domiique Freeman 10:58 (riding Jayel Super...that's one I know)
Megan Savory-Davis 11:09
Cheryl Vanduessen 11:09
Charlotte Bryd 11:23
Juliette Fusiarska-Cannon 11:23

Something wrong,I've got Cheryl Vanduessen again at 11:24?
Julianne Philip 11:34
Evette Vinton 11:44
Ruth Sturley 11:44
Kyoko Fukumori 11:45
Anna Wuchero 11:51
Olivia Matthaei
Kordula Voigts all 11:51

in the 75:
Turns out only 14 started.

Emily Mathews 9:18
Robert Gielen 9:21
Norma House 9:27
Daryl Downs
Josie McGhee
Melody Blittersdorf all 9:27

Lynn Hartman 9:29
Beverly Brock 9:33
Berit Stonebrink 9:34
Foster Olsen 9:35
Mauricio Gatan 9:35
Angie Mikkelson 9:37
Deanna Guinasso 10:00
Kassandra Dimaggio 10:00



The start of the 100. Pretty dark but if you like 100's it'll give you chills and make you wish you were there. :-)

The start of the 75 Saturday. It's cold, in the 30's. 15 starters.

7 AM Update

38 100 milers started at in the dark at 6 AM with a heavy frost. No problems, everybody still on their horse. No rumors of problems. There's a fine layer of ice on all the water buckets that were set out over night and heavy frost on the windshield. So much for Central FLA weather! Some are worried it will warm up considerably later but I'm pretty sure everyone has a good stash of cold water for cooling if it does.

15 75 milers started at 6:30 with a beautiful Florida sunrise on the horizon. Very calm start. When they said "The trail is open" Nobody headed that way and Daryl Downs, sitting relaxed on his horse said, "Who wants it?"

Looks like a perfect day for an endurance ride. Videos of the start will be up soon.

Angie


Friday March 5 2010


Darolyn Butler wins 50 on Nevada

Kyle Gibbon and Hernan Barbosa win 75 miler

Notes for Saturday mornings rides:

The 100 has 43 entries at last count. Riders seem to be juggling mounts and switching distances right up to the last minute but they felt there were at *least* 43.

The trail will consist of 6 phases. Distances are 21, 15, 21, 18, 12, & 12.5 They will leave camp, go out 21 miles to an away check. Then they'll do a 15 mile loop back into that vet check, then 21 miles back to the main camp. All holds are 50 min. for a total of 3:50 total.

Pretty flat here so hopefully I'll have internet connection out there, so far Verizon has worked great. The rest of the phases each come back to camp. They will be starting at 6:00 AM Which Val pointed out will be pretty dark, but commented that by the time they go the 2.5 miles down the shoulder at 6:11 "You can kinda sorta see". I was busy trying to do the mental math to figure what the mph are for doing 2.5 miles in 11 min!

The 75's start at 6:30 running the first 3 phases the same as the 100's. Their last count on entries was 18. Their phases are: 21, 15, 21, 18. All holds are 50 min. with a total of 2:30 in holds.

55's start at 7:30 AM They will do the same three the 100's & 75's do for phases of 21, 15, 21. 2 holds of 50 min. for a total of 1:40

25's will start at noon since the other three distances go 57 miles before they come back to camp and the vets need to be back here for the 25's.

The office here is an EXTREMELY busy place. I can't begin to imagine sorting through all the different distances & days let along adding on the FEI hoops to jump through, so it's just not possible for me to drop by and ask for a list of entries. Thank goodness for Susan Kasemayer, Nancy Gooch and Nina Barnett who don't seem to mind me peeking over their shoulders and know people by their faces as well as their numbers. Spelling will probably be completely phoenetic, and if the name is spoken with an accent I'll probably add that to my spelling. I find out horses names when I can but none of the sheets *during* the ride have had them.

The trail boss has offered to take me out on trail on a 4 wheeler tomorrow so maybe I'll get a bit of video or photos out there. I've been hopping rides on the John Deere Mule or the 4 wheeler whenever possible rather than hobble around carrying two cameras & a clipboard on crutches, but have to admit, riding on Val's luggage rack with my crutches sticking out to the side ready to catch a tree or gate scared me a little. What made me think Valarie Kanavy would ever drive slow??? Check the photo of us. Does she look like she's planning to dump me or is that my imagination?

Josie is riding Stagg Newman's horse, "Winston" in the 75 tomorrow so I have to do the mom thing and be at the check early in case the horse comes in without her or something. Otherwise I might be tempted to sleep late on you guys and wait for it to warm up a little. It's COLD (30's) out there!

I'll download the rest of my photos & video tonight and then tomorrow we'll do it all again. :)

Having all the fun a one legged person can have,
Angie McGhee


Friday Update 5:45 PM

Exciting last 18 miles in the 75 miler. Haim Levy of Columbia left out with a 20 minute lead over Arnie Willemse of South Africa and a 23 minute lead over Kyle Gibbon and Hernon Barbosa. However, Levy got off trail at some point and was passed by all three. He apparently did not speak English and his crew was trying to get him back on course by cell phone.

Kyle galloped in in the lead with Harnon right behind. Both horses are owned by Steve Rojek.Kyle & Harnon work for Steve and are their regular riders.I'm sure quite a few long time ridecampers remember when Kyle just showed up on the list several years ago as a motivated kid who loved to ride. It's great to see him growing up and now riding with Steve and really excelling at this sport.


Friday Update 3:20 PM
Lots of pulls. Not sure why, super cool weather and riders aren't going especially hard. My guess is my arch enemy: sand. Some of the trails were closed and had to be re-routed onto the shoulder of roads due to the forest service plowing them up for a control burn. If they'd waited one more week the horses would have saved them a lot of trouble by doing it for them but sense when does the government make sense?

I don't think I've mentioned it here but I did a good job of trying to break my ankle as I left home last night so I am on crutches and a bit incapacitated. Caught a ride out to the finish line though and videod the first 7 finishers of the 50. Tying is getting awfully popular these days.

50 miler Friday:
1st Darolyn Butler
2nd Megan Davis (on Shammy)
2nd Gail King
2nd Windy Berjarano (on a Morab)
5th Frank Murphy
6th Gene Limlaw

Another pull in the 50: Jesse Jarrett

The forms I'm given have no place for the horse's name and I'm pushing my luck begging for the timers papers to get this much. I did ask each rider the name of their horse, age, sex and lifetime mileage on video. I'll upload those as soon as possible.

75 milers have one 18 mile loop to go.

Leaders in the 75:
1st Haim Levy (from Columbia) left out at 2:16
2nd Arnie Willems 2:36
3 Hernan Barbosa on Soho 2:39
4 Kyle Gibbon on Trident 2:39

Pauline Beach of Great Britain was leading the 75 but was pulled


Update 1 PM

Well this is one busy place we've pulled into. There's a 75, 50 and 25 today. 25's finishing as we speak.

14 countries have riders competing as they work to fulfill all their qualifications for the WEG, or perhaps spend a little quality time with the horse they plan to lease. With only 5 horses being able to represent the USA a lot of VERY good horses are out there to consider leasing.

The weather is perfect for speed, cool with a breeze, really chilly enough to grab that blanket fast when you bring them in. Not much need for cooling at all.

In the 75 today they had 13 starters. The 50 had 18 and 29 in the 25.

At the 38 mile mark Cici Butler was in the lead but was pulled.
Haim Levy was leaving first at 4:45 making for 4:25 for the first 38 miles, a perfectly reasonable pace.
Pauline Beach of Great Britain was one minute back
Jeremy Reynolds leaft at 10:52 (horse was re-checked before being OK'd to go on) Arnie Williams 12:00

Pulls: Lucy Snook
Ceci Butler
Chikako Nishiyama (Japanese? rider on Steve Rojek's horse)
Alesija Granger
Steve Rojek (rider option)

Cici Butler was leading the 75 but horse was pulled for lameness.

50 miler:
running first thru fifth:

1. Wendy Bejaranl
2. Darolyn Butler
3 Gail King
4. Megan Davis
5. Jenny Eilers

The winner of the 25 was Karen Stauffer of Orlando on a leggy dun "Heinz 57" who looked like he hadn't been out of the barn. Nice horse (I have a photo for you...he has the mohawk)

The only pull in the 50 so far is Kim Denardis



Top 5 25 Friday:

Caren Stauffer
Wes Maillard
Ken Cota
Alisa Waxman
Debbie Wilson

Thursday March 4 2010

Office hasn't got me a copy of yesterday's results yet but it was a fast one. Two of Val's horses finished the 75 1st and 2nd in 6 hours and change. One is "My Wild Irish Gold" that Josie rode last year, gorgeous Anglo but is only 7 years old so can't be in the WEG. The 2nd horse was "Carson".

50 miler: Thursday March 4

1. Christine Pederson
2. Wendy Bejarano
3. Emil Mathews
4. Kathryn Downs
5th tie: Teresa Johnston
Don Meuten
7th tie: Connie Caudill
Cassandra Roberts
Shelly Scott-Jones
10 Robert Gielen
11 Lisa Winburn
12 Anita Sinnott
13 Michele Hancock
14 Lucie Hancock
15 Ruth Sturley
16tie Michele Mattingly
Cecilia Butler Stasiu
18 Louis Bower
19 Yvette Vinton
20 Saly Jellison
21 Cheryl Perry
22 Steve Perry

Pull: Candy Barbo
Anna Wucher
Tom Hagis
Angie Mikkelson

75 miler: Thursday March 4

Here are the finishers for Thursday's 75 mile ride. All except 5th place, Debbie Buick were FEI so for FEI results just move everyone behind her up one. "Think" the number of starters was approximately 18. So many rides, so many distances going on that if you don't take approximate results you guys won't hear about it till Monday.

1. Christine Pedersen on My Wild Irish Rose 6:14:01
2. Dorota Raciborska Toro Carson's Gold 6:14:03
3. Emily Matthews on Spiced Tee 6:14:22 - (Yes, they did race in)
4. Debbie Buick on Pats Protocol 9:00:57
5. Lindsay Bean on Tektonic
6. Eva DePaulis Ckpport Farlow 9:05:20
7. Charlotte Bryd on DJB Setareh Banoo 9:05:21
8. Mauricio Gatan GDE Sweete Legacy 9:43:15
9. Olivia Matthaei DJB Tessarah 9:43:18
10. Mel Hare JAL Bas Kalid 10:30:10
11. Juliette Fusiarska-Cannon Willy Brown
12. Chikako Mishiyama on Torpedo Maasterpiece