Prison Break, Barrels and More

Posted by Editor

August 3, 2009

by Katherine O. Rizzo with photos by Linda Davis

Brian Gesuero of Federalsburg rides Casino around the barrels at the Laurel Saddle Friends Show on June 13 in Laurel, Deleware.

A rider starts the Great Escape Equestrian Challenge at Lorton Prison, now called Laurel Hill.

The Great Escape
On June 20, the Great Escape Equestrian Challenge was held at Lorton Prison, now called Laurel Hill in Fairfax County, Virginia. The actual prison closed in the early 1990s and the land was given back to the county in 2002. It now holds a golf course, the Lorton Arts Foundation, a water treatment plant, some schools and a 170 acre equestrian park along with other parks and resource areas. The equestrian park is where the Great Escape trail race was run, which offered Open, Amateur and Novice divisions with a few Marylanders topping the placings.

Ray Parker placed third in the Open division.

Virginian Melissa Grzymkowski won the Open division with Marylanders taking the second- and third-place spots. Jacquie Cowan finished second aboard Jaquie’s Frosty Gatsby and Ray Parker of Cross Trail Stables placed third.

Kimberly Hicks begins the first obstacle, called the Strip Search, which involved un-tacking and re-tacking the horse.

Marylanders earned the top two spots in the Amateur division. Topping the list was Dawn Wright riding Dawns Lunar Eclipse. In second was Kimberly Hicks aboard Infinities Approvin It.

A Virginian—Stephanie Ochoa—also won the Novice division, riding Thirstys Classic. Marylander Jeremey Henley rode Sugar Bear to 10th.

Stephanie Ochoa and Katerina Pecinovsky check their maps during the race. Ochoa won the Novice division and Pecinovsky placed second.

Jeremey Henley coaxes Sugar Bear through obstacle 3, called Meet Your Cell Mates.

Barrel Racing Standings
Below are the current top 10 standings for the J Bar W Ranch Barrel Racing series (Union Bridge) as of July 18.

Amy Albright – 55 points*
Ann Colson – 38
Mandy Huffer – 37
Kristi Buffington – 36
Julie Stovall – 34
Sammi Bazan – 29
Jami Cornell – 28
Paige Reynolds – 26
Ashley Phillips – 24
Katie Gossert – 24

* Amy Albright broke the J Bar W Ranch record for the fastest time on July 18.

Fun With Caroline’s 4-H
The Caroline County 4-H Fun Show was held on June 14 in Denton. Here are just a few photos from that fun day.

Tracy Snyder during the Egg & Spoon race

Brittney Wiley tries to pop a balloon with a water gun while cantering Dusty.

Loren Wilkinson and Bucky during the Doll Parton race

Amber Bennet jumps Buck Eighty in the Beginner Cross-rails class.

Western Competitions

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