The brilliant fall foliage provided a colorful backdrop for the AERC National Championships, hosted by the Old Dominion Endurance Rides, Inc., in Fort Valley, Va. Thirty-eight competitors started the 100-mile championship ride on Oct. 20, and 68 set out on the 50-mile course on Oct. 22. Riders competed within their weight divisions, rather than for an overall first-to-finish.
A real duel developed in the race for the 100-mile lightweight championship. Between the 30-mile mark and the 81st mile, John Crandell on Heraldic and Stagg Newman on Jayel Super went head-to-head. But in the end, Crandell came in first.
According to Newman, the AERC President, “I wanted to test Super and myself, the only team to win the Old Dominion [Va.] three times, against John Crandell and Heraldic, the only team to win the Old Dominion and Old Dominion Trophy for best condition and the Tevis and Haggin Cup [best condition] in the same year,” he said.
“I noted that Stagg’s horse wasn’t as willing to continue the entire way up the mountains as strongly as my horse,” said Crandell, who finished in 13:37–20 minutes ahead of Newman.
“We had a great competition between friends,” stated Newman, “and the best horse and rider team won. This is what the AERC Championship is all about. My heartfelt congratulations to John and Heraldic.” The lightweight championship had 17 competitors and eight completed.
A True Test
Seven featherweights contended for the championship title. Sandra Conner, of Conowingo, Md., riding Elegant Pride, a purebred Arabian gelding owned by Lana Wright, claimed the title. Conner’s course time was 16:05.
Almost 3 hours later, Natalie Muzzio claimed second place on her Morgan cross, Ranger. Out of the seven featherweights, Conner and Muzzio were the only riders to complete. Muzzio stated, “This was a true test of an endurance horse and rider’s capabilities because of the challenging terrain.”
Eight competitors started in the middle-weight division and four completed. Jeremy Olson, of Zwingele, Iowa, whose father gained fame by winning the two-day 150-mile ROC and Best Condition in 1990, was challenged closely by Tom Hutchinson, of Bethel, Maine, riding Prymtym.
Both Prymtym and Olson’s horse, Berjo Smokey, are purebred Arabians. Hutchinson left the last vet check 1 minute after Olson, with 9 miles to go. But, as the old clich� goes, “It isn’t over ’til it’s over.” Olson’s course time was 14:37. Hutchinson backed off the pace and completed 26 minutes later. His horse was regrettably pulled at the finish when he didn’t trot out sound.
According to Kathy Brunjes, Tom’s wife, who was eliminated earlier in the ride, “Tom slowed down about 3 miles from the finish. Prymtym slipped on the loose gravel on a downhill section of that stretch of road, and lost his hind end out from under him. Tom said that he slowed down to conserve Prym, because the slip was significant enough for him to be concerned that Prym might have pulled a muscle.
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“Although he kept at a slow and steady trot, after the finish line Prym indeed trotted out stiff in the left hind and no amount of work in the 60 minutes we had to complete could help. In fact, the tightness in that left hind exacerbated to the point that at our last attempt to complete, Prym was extremely sore and ‘hiking’ on that left hind. It was very disappointing for Tom and for our whole crew, as Tom and Jeremy Olsen had ridden together all day and both had ridden smart rides.”
This opened the door for Darolyn Butler, of Humble, Texas, to earn the reserve middleweight champion title. Butler rode DJB Mercy Merci, an Arabian. Her course time was 15:28.
The heavyweight division had four entries and three of those completed. Despite Skip Kemerer’s moaning and groaning throughout the ride, he was first to finish, in 18:26. Kemerer was riding his Thoroughbred mare, Ice Joy.
“She likes it!” exclaimed Kemerer, when asked how his mare does so well in endurance. “She knows when she’s competing and when we’re just out for a trail ride. She takes care of herself–and me. I trust her instincts and she seems to trust me.”
Reserve heavyweight was Mary Farris, who completed on Mo Jo a mere 6 minutes later. It is also noteworthy to mention that Mary Coleman, who completed 29 minutes behind Kemerer, was riding a Morgan, Hawks Neopolitan, who has done extremely well in this sport despite his bulk.
Last but not least, the one and only junior rider, Joni Buttram on Cash Pony, an Arabian-cross gelding, completed the course in 18:33. Buttram, 12, is from Hillsboro, Ala. As she led her horse up the now infamous Indian Grave Trail, she was heard to say, “I know why they named it Indian Grave Trail. Indians would die trying to get to the top!”
A Chaotic 50-Mile Start
The 5 a.m. start of the 50-mile championship was tough on at least three riders who were tossed to the ground in the excitement. Rebecca Supinger’s horse slipped and went down on the hard-packed gravel road and then bolted. Her loose horse galloped off and spooked 72-year-old Irving McNaughton’s horse and also the one junior competitor, Josie Whelan, which in turn pitched both riders off.
McNaughton was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with concern that his hip was fractured, however, it was only bruised. Whelan, 12, and her sponsor, Meg Sleeper, set out in search of Southern Rock, Whelan’s horse. Whelan’s chin and lower lip had road burn but she was more focused on finding her horse than worrying about her scrapes and scratches.
As with any endurance rides, most riders don’t think twice about stopping to help injured riders or helping catch loose horses. The three renegade horses were caught by riders and tied securely to trees to await their owners. Whelan and Supinger were reunited with their horses and they continued on course. But unfortunately, Supinger’s horse, Electrik, banged up from the fall, consequently was eliminated at the first check.
Then, to make matters worse for young Whelan and Sleeper, who had completed the 100-mile championship fourth in the lightweight division, they got lost before the first vet check. It was estimated that they went 8 extra miles by the time they made it to the 23-mile checkpoint.
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The checkpoints had a cut-off time for riders to arrive, and as the day wore on, it was a concern that they would be unable to make it to the checks in time. However, they persevered. And at the last check, 1 mile to the finish line, even the veterinarians were helping cool Whelan’s horse so she might make that cut-off time.
As the two headed out on the last mile, Sleeper’s horse forged ahead strongly, but they ended up completing the course in 10:12, with 2 seconds separating them. Whelan earned the junior championship title and Sleeper claimed the Turtle Award, given to the last finisher.
All 16 riders who started the featherweight division completed. Ruth Ann Everett, Hickory, N.C., rode Pretty Boy, an Arabian gelding, around the course in 5:44. Amy Cieri rode NS Love Potion, in for the reserve championship just 2 minutes later.
In the lightweight division, Roxi Rivkind of Council Bluffs, Iowa, rode FCF Kenya to earn the championship in 5:42. Adri Dinkelman and Lucius earned the reserve a mere minute and 7 seconds later.
Lori Shifflett, of Shenandoah, Va., rode Dazed And Amazed to win the middleweight championship in 6:19. She was followed across the finish line 4 minutes later by Susan LaBrush on Imperial Kammuun.
Michael Bailey took the heavyweight championship title in 5:46 on K-Zar Emmanuel. K-Zar, as the gelding is called, earned the Best Condition Award and High Vet Score.
“I think this course is one of the toughest I have ridden,” Bailey said. “It’s not as tough as the Old Dominion 50, but tough. The long, long, long climbs make it a psychological challenge for both the horse and rider. And the rocks didn’t help the pace any.”
Karen Freer completed the course in 5:53 on Geeze Louise, a half-Arabian, to earn the reserve heavyweight championship.
Ride management was pleased with the turnout and how the races went. There were many volunteers on hand to make sure problems didn’t arise and to be able to fix them when they did. Ham radio operators passed ride information back to base camp and to the various vet checks. A group of experienced dirt bike riders pre-rode the courses, starting out at 4 a.m. both mornings, to make sure all the markers were still up. Drag riders followed behind the last riders in each event, making sure competitors got around that course correctly, and to offer assistance if necessary.
“As AERC President,” stated Newman, “I am delighted with the results of our national championship this year. We brought together the finest horse-and-rider teams to compete on a truly championship caliber, American style, mountainous endurance course. Ride Manager Bob Walsh and the Old Dominion Endurance Ride Organization did a championship job as well. My congratulations to all participants.”
Genie Stewart-Spears
