Date: Fri 01-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: BILLB

Illustration: I

Location: B-6

Quick Words:

NBLA

Full Text:

One hundred and three teams of riders on horseback cantered across fields

bordered by trees ablaze with fall foliage at the Newtown Bridle Lanes

Association-sponsored Frost On The Pumpkin Hunter Pace last Sunday.

A hunter pace is a simulated fox hunt but without the hounds and the fox.

Instead riders chase the clock, covering an eight-to-ten mile course at

various gaits in an attempt to finish closest to a pre-set time.

Although the sun shown brightly on this day, the terrain still suffered the

effects of last weekend's torrential rains. That meant lots of mud and a

slower pace than usual. This year's course had fewer jumps, and the ones that

were there often were passed by, due in part to the muddy conditions.

The pace was smaller than last year, largely because it was no longer a part

of the Associated Bridle Trails Pace Series, which concludes this Saturday in

Greenwich. "We wanted to be more courteous and sensitive to the needs of the

landowners who allow us to ride over their property," said Chrys Emery,

president of the NBLA.

The NBLA's trail system is linked due to a number of agreements and easements

with friendly landowners.

Last year's 121 teams of two or three riders each overburdened the parking and

trail system, according to Emery. Also, some litter wasn't picked up promptly.

This year the NBLA made a donation to the Cub Scouts who scoured the fields to

pick up litter after the pace. The Newtown Pony Club was also given a donation

to provide decorations.

The course was set up this year by members of the Newtown Bridle Lands Trust -

Jim Allwein, Gus Palmieri, and Bob Holmes, with assistance from Myles Brown

and David McCauley. Palmieri designed the course.

The layout, said Emery, covered some new land, including fields on Hattertown

Road and a new section of property owned by Eleanor Mayer.

Once again the Second Company Governor's Horse Guard provided volunteers for

road crossing attendants.

The Hunt Division was won by Jim Dominick and his daughter, Heather, both of

Wilton. Jim rode his Tennessee Walker, Sue, and Heather her Morgan, Woody.

Christina Kennedy Bockelman of Newtown, who has been participating in the pace

since its inception but has never won, was part of the winning Pleasure

Division team that included Sally Love and Mary Ehbrecht. Ehbrecht rode her

27-year-old Morgan, Fiddler's Maestro.

Newtowners Leslie Hudson-Tolles and daughter, Lindsay, won the Junior

Division. The Western division went to a pair of Oxford residents, Lisa

Castaldi, 16, and Kathy Wadyka, 15. Lisa rode her Appaloosa named Concho, and

Kathy rode her Quarter Horse named Follow My Lead.

HUNT DIVISION (1:24:00)

1, Jim and Heather Dominick; 2, Alice and Allison Cuomo; 3, Rezan Graf-Liz

Anderson; 4, Michelle Arnhold-Mango; 5, Sarah Benjamin-Caroline Benjamin; 6,

Kindra Johnson-Heide Mizak; 7, Susan Judge-John Judge-Jody Axt; 8, Nancy

Ziegler-Jessica D'Urso; 9, Ryan Petronelli-Krista Karlalis; 10, Lydia

Beck-Sandy Arcano.

PLEASURE DIVISION (1:42:37)

1, Sally Love-Mary Ehbrecht-Christina Kennedy; 2, Linda Pressmar-Peter

Hermance; 3, David McCauley-Lisa Peterson; 4, Ed Abrams-Lori Abrams; 5,

Carolyn Byxbee-Shawna Lee Kawslinek; 6, Chrys Emery-Patti Donohue; 7, Dianne

Hoberecht-Jane Smith Vaniz; 8, Bill Carlson-Debbie Carlson; 9, Jody

Boles-Maureen Murphy; 10, Allison Arter-Nancy Anschutz.

JUNIOR DIVISION (1:38:37)

1, Lindsay Hudson Tolles-Leslie Hudson Tolles; 2, Gary MacMillan-Jennifer

Clark; 3, Holly Hansen-Jeannie Layton; 4, Jess Cumming-Jaime Stanley-Kate

Maher; 5, Wendy Coren-Dustin Coren-Casey Coren; 6, Maureen Lynch-Emma

Lynch-Caitlin O'Hare; 7, Allen and Liz Braverman; 8, Fiona Tustian-Parker

Noren-Elizabeth Rueckert; 9, Rosie Forte-Miranda Forte-Amanda Tustian; 10,

Barbara and Amanda Braverman.

WESTERN DIVISION (1:34:37)

1, Kathy Wadyka-Lisa Castaldi; 2, Rosemary Plavnicky-Christine Plavnicky-Paul

Perrone; 3, Laura Dorr-Julie Logan; 4, Carol Bussey-Kevin McDonald; 5, Robban

Sica-Thomas Mayta; 6, John Shephard-Bruce Lustman.

STABLE AWARD: Lion Hill Farm (ten teams entered)

PEANUT AWARD: Logan Allison, age 7

JACK BENNY AWARD: Charlie Bockelman, 73

TORTOISE AWARD: The Rondiero Family