North American Endurance Team Challenge

Sunday September 25 2011

A few photos from yesterday's 100-mile NAETC near Greenville, California.

The leaders coming into the first vet check up on the mountain.

Cheryl Dell's horse Reason to Believe took a tumble on the first loop. No ill effects - they ended up finishing 5th.

Trotting out for the vet at the first vet check.

71-year-old Jan Worthington and her cool horse Leon (Golden Lightning). They finished 11th.

Texan Darolyn Butler leaving the first vet check.

Romanian rider Radu Ciubuc leaving the first vet check.

Ron Brown leaving the first vet check.

Some of the leaders coming into the second vet check.

Christoph Schork on Stars Aflame (last month's AERC National 100-mile champions) and Doug Swingley (former 4-time Iditarod winner) on Pal of Mine in the lead coming into Vet Check 3.

The riders hot on the heels of Christoph and Doug.

One of the favorites, Lindsay Graham and Monk. They finished around 5th place... but got pulled at the finish for lameness. Bummer!

Ceci Butler-Stasiuk... she's unraveling her sponge to sponge her horse at the coming water trough and at the same time he's spooking from a line on the road!

Ceci - always happy riding! She wouldn't be doing anything else.

Doug Swingley, still leading on Pal of Mine into the 3rd Vet Check. They ultimately finished 4th.

Jeremy Reynolds trotting out A Kutt Above at Vet Check 3... the eventual winners.

The front runners charging into Vet Check 4.

Lindsay Graham and Monk at Vet Check 4.

Lindsay and Monk trotting out at Vet Check 4.

Lisa Green and her horse trotting out at Vet Check 4.

Jeremy and A Kutt Above, in a heart pounding sprint for the finish, just a couple lengths ahead of Meg Sleeper on Syrocco Reveille.

NAETC Vet In Day

Friday September 23 2011

I'm in Greenville, California for the North American Endurance Team Challenge. Should be a good 100-mile ride tomorrow - some of the country's (and Canada's) top rides and horses.

Here are a few shots from this morning's Vet In:

Up top that's Mountain team's Doug Swingley with Pal of Mine.


Caroline from Sweden, riding Doug Swingley's horse National Security. She's thrilled to be here!


Central's Jan Worthington and Golden Lightning, my sentimental favorites! They're the only horse and rider team I know who have been struck by lightning! (see the story link). They are hoping modestly for a Top Ten finish, but they are quite capable of more than that.


Central's Cici Butler Stasiuk and her husband Jason and DJB Cytron Kon JMS. I love Cici! She's always smiling and up and joyful, full of life, even when she doesn't win, but especially when she wins!

 
Radu Ciubuc, riding for Romania


Mountain team's Sue Hedgecock and Aireagle


Pacific South Team... I think this is Nicole Smith and Ravenwood Shahbar


Pacific South Team.. another team member

Many more coming, plus live updates on the ride on Endurance.net at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2011NAETC/.

AERC National Championship - 50 Miler

Sunday September 13 2009

The 50 was quite a ride too - smoking hot fast pace from the front runners. The first phase of 13 miles had a good climb, but that didn't slow the front runners down. The second phase of 24 miles was even faster - much of it downhill on logging roads that the leaders cantered most of the way on. Three of the front runners were pulled at this second vet check back in camp.

April Cyrek on her stallion DB Air Alamahn, and Kenneth Keele on his gelding Ravenwood Shabar raced together the last 13 miles, every step of the way. And it was a galloping finish, with April crossing the line a head in front.

But she'd pushed her horse too hard this day - he had an hour to recover to the pulse criteria of 64 and he didn't. That made Ken and Ravenwood Shabar the winners. The ride time was just at 4 hours for the 50 miles (!) - and this was not an easy flat course. Whew!

Kassandra DiMaggio did a great job of putting on this National Championship ride (which included FEI divisions); the community of Greenville, many sponsors, and over a hundred volunteers helped out. ALL of the proceeds from the ride go to charities, including Greenville community services and the Veterans Guest House.

Here are a few pictures... many more photos, and (soon to come) stories at www.endurance.net/international/USA/2009AERCChampionship.

And now I'm off to Virginia City, NV, to cover next weekend's Virginia City 100! (A ride I got to do in 2004.)

AERC National Championship - 100 Miler

Friday September 11 2009

It was quite a ride - not an easy one (lots of climbing and descending on the first loop), hot, and quite a bit of strategy. The pace was fast up front, and 3 different leaders got pulled during the day. 62 started at 5 AM, with Lindsay Graham and Monk finishing at 7 PM, and Gail Hought and Ted Goppert finishing at 4:55 AM! 41 finished altogether.

Getting ready today for the 50-mile Championship on Saturday.

Very busy weekend!


Lots more photos are/will be at

www.endurance.net/international/USA/2009AERCChampionship