Chill, Rain Don’t Dampen Enthusiasm For St. Jude Event At Coyote Run Arena Nets Over $4000 For Childrens' Research Hospital Friday, October 28, was one of those days that really lets you know winter is on the way to west Tennessee. It was gray, chilly, and wet. But it didn’t stop regional equine competitors from turning out in good numbers for the first-ever “Stampede for St. Jude” at Coyote Run Arena in Mason, Tennessee. “We had a pretty good turnout, event though the weather was a little bad for us. I’d say we had two or three hundred,” said Coyote Run co-owner Larry Bass on Saturday afternoon. “But we’ll probably double or triple that today, the weather’s so good.” Bass and co-owner Aubrey Lemmon opened Coyote Run Arena two years ago, after spending a year constructing the facility. Bass said they met while trailriding some fifteen years ago, and began “...horse trading, buying and selling, then we bought the land together, and then we built this arena.” The weather had improved dramatically, and 270 x 275-foot arena was halfway surrounded with a double row of multi-horse trailers and pickup trucks, even during a mid-afternoon lull in events. And double up they did; after tallying up all the numbers, it was estimated 700 people attended the two-day event. The “Stampede” was the first of what Bass said promises to be an annual event, and he gave credit for its success to the main organizer, St. Jude research trainer Jill Riggs and a whole host of folks who volunteered their time and energy to make it all work. This was the first event Riggs has organized to benefit St. Jude, and she said it gave her “...an opportunity to help the children, to help with fund raising, besides just working (at the hospital).” Bass credited her with “...pretty much coordinating everything...making sure everybody’s where they’re supposed to be and doing what they’re supposed to do...She’s done an excellent job.” But both Riggs and Bass put the focus on the volunteers, some of whom worked “...twelve to fourteen hours (on Friday).” Many of the workers at the event were St. Jude employees, including gate keepers who “...sat out in the rain and cold on Friday night to collect fees and handle parking. A group of girls from Victoria Montesi’s V-V Horse Camp in Arlington, Tennessee, stayed busy resetting barrels, helping out in the arena, and managing the pony rides. All the gate fees went to the childrens’ research hospital, as did proceeds from a bake sale, a silent auction, and numerous contributions that were made during the event. “A lot of people just came in wrote a check,” said Bass. Vendors also chipped in a percentage of their sales to benefit the hospital. He also acknowledged the numerous corporate sponsors who helped make the event possible. Cowboy Poet Woody Woodruff traveled from Centerville, Tennessee, to regale the crowd with folksy yarns and poems between barrel classes, and the Brush Arbor bluegrass band provided musical entertainment before Saturday night’s bull riding began. Although money may still have been coming in immediately after the “Stampede,” Riggs said that $4075 was raised for St. Jude as of Monday, October 31. Friday’s classes drew 96 total entries, and winners were: Youth: 1D-John Osborne, Megan Wilkes, Brianna Donnell, Molly Alexander. 2D-Morgan West, Jillian Yerger, Megan Wilkes, Emily McGroom. 3D-Tori Swindle, Bryan Vinson, Amber Martin, Michael McAltin. Open: 1D-Rowdy Childress, Suzanne Dement, Travis Childress, Brianna Donnell. 2D-Karena Carter, Alli Pilgrim, Kim Childress, Emily McGroom. 3D-Nicole Lyon, Jesse Freyaldenhoven, Jonathan Wilcox, Bryan Vinson. Saturday’s competition pulled in 257 total entries, and the winners were: Buckaroo: 1D-Alli Pilgrim. 2D-Colton Childress. 3D-Erika VanDerWaal. Pony: Brianna Donnell Youth: 1D-Kayla Quinley, Eryke Wade, Amber Jo Heathcott, Brianna Donnell. 2D-Colton Childress, Brianna Donnell, Elliott Stovall, Nicole Lyon. 3D-Ashley Brooks. Torey Swindel, Clint Childress, Kayla Quinley. Adult: 1D-Travis Childress, Heather Evans, Norris Griffin, Brittany Lessenberry. 2D-Tonia VanDerWaal, Shannon Turner, Travis Childress, Pam Farris. 3D-Jonathan Wilcox, Tonia VanDerWaal, Cindy Kirkland, Amanda Channel. Open: 1D-Amber Jo Heathcott, Waye McGroom, Clint Grace, Jessica Moore, Travis Childress, Amber Jo Heathcox. 2D-Lacey Scott, Brittany Lessenberry, Heather Jackett, Melinda Townsend, Shannon Turner, Megan Tyrrell. 3D-Diana Waring, Lindsey Akins, Jamie Barker, Jillian Yerger, Karena Carter, Jana Gist. 4D-Holly Rice, Cindy Kirkland, Jesse Freyaldenhoven, Megan Wilkes, Nicole Lyon, Rodney Martin. Upcoming events at Coyote Run Arena include the Coyote Classic Series III on November 11, and an ABA Bull Riding event with$500 added money on Novem ber 17. The facility is located at 4393 Gainesville Road in Mason, Tennessee. You can find them on the web at www.coyoterunarena.net.