Photos by Nancy Brannon
On Saturday evening (June 8, 20190 at the Germantown Charity Horse Show, following the skilled jumping test of the Germantown Grand Prix and the horde of stick horse racers turned loose in the Sonny Foster Arena, the pace and excitement ramped up in the Carriage Barrel Races.
First in the arena, Natalie Hanisco, driving the Mini Tinker Toy, set a fast pace of 52.857 seconds.
Then Claudia Mangum, DVM drove the ever-elegant Rollingwood’s Cookie Thief, but couldn’t beat Tinker Toy’s time. She finished in 57.318 seconds.
Third to go wearing their Princess dresses, were Allie Rudisill driving Molly, with Kayla Benson navigating. They were “loaded for bear” and rounded the barrels in a blazing time of 49.961 – the fastest so far.
Giving it her best shot, Dr. Ruth Wilburn turned on the speed with Madoc Look At Me, but finished in a time of 58.449, behind the rest so far.
Entering next was “speed demon” and last year’s winner, Maria Roberts driving Rollingwoods Off The Raydar. She was set for speed, but, perhaps, a bit too aggressive driving upset her horse around the second set of barrels near the in-gate, where she lost some seconds. She quickly recovered her horse’s composure to complete the course in 53.307 seconds, four seconds slower than Molly and putting her in fourth place with four more to go.
The only horse in the race, KT Barnabus, driven by Laura Lawson, had a slower pace and finished in 67.607 seconds.
Not to be outdone by the Junior drivers, Joanna Wilburn and Rollingwood’s Berry Last One turned on the speed to run the barrels in 46.984 seconds. Sensing victory she raised her whip in salute to the crowd, but there were still a few drivers to go.
Next on course were Reita Parham and Down’s Delight. The Gypsy Vanner was cool and collected, but could produce some speed when Reita asked. He was flexible to stay close enough to the barrels, saving precious seconds, and crossed the finish in 56.801 seconds – good enough for sixth place.
In the final analysis, two Rollingwood’s ponies captured first and second: Berry Last One was first and Back In Black, Alex Clark driving, was second.
There were nine entries in the Carriage Barrel Racing
Horse winner: KT Barnabus, Laura Lawson driving
Pony placings:
1: Rollingwoods Berry Last One, Joanna Wilburn
2: Rollingwoods Back In Black, Alex Clark
3: Molly, Allie Rudisill
4: Tinker Toy, Natalie Hanisco
5: Rollingwoods Off The Raydar, Maria Roberts
6: Down’s Delight, Reita Parham
7: Rollingwoods Cookie Thief, Claudia Mangum, DVM
8: Madoc Look At Me, Ruth Wilburn
On Saturday evening (June 8, 20190 at the Germantown Charity Horse Show, following the skilled jumping test of the Germantown Grand Prix and the horde of stick horse racers turned loose in the Sonny Foster Arena, the pace and excitement ramped up in the Carriage Barrel Races.
First in the arena, Natalie Hanisco, driving the Mini Tinker Toy, set a fast pace of 52.857 seconds.
Then Claudia Mangum, DVM drove the ever-elegant Rollingwood’s Cookie Thief, but couldn’t beat Tinker Toy’s time. She finished in 57.318 seconds.
Third to go wearing their Princess dresses, were Allie Rudisill driving Molly, with Kayla Benson navigating. They were “loaded for bear” and rounded the barrels in a blazing time of 49.961 – the fastest so far.
Giving it her best shot, Dr. Ruth Wilburn turned on the speed with Madoc Look At Me, but finished in a time of 58.449, behind the rest so far.
Entering next was “speed demon” and last year’s winner, Maria Roberts driving Rollingwoods Off The Raydar. She was set for speed, but, perhaps, a bit too aggressive driving upset her horse around the second set of barrels near the in-gate, where she lost some seconds. She quickly recovered her horse’s composure to complete the course in 53.307 seconds, four seconds slower than Molly and putting her in fourth place with four more to go.
The only horse in the race, KT Barnabus, driven by Laura Lawson, had a slower pace and finished in 67.607 seconds.
Not to be outdone by the Junior drivers, Joanna Wilburn and Rollingwood’s Berry Last One turned on the speed to run the barrels in 46.984 seconds. Sensing victory she raised her whip in salute to the crowd, but there were still a few drivers to go.
Next on course were Reita Parham and Down’s Delight. The Gypsy Vanner was cool and collected, but could produce some speed when Reita asked. He was flexible to stay close enough to the barrels, saving precious seconds, and crossed the finish in 56.801 seconds – good enough for sixth place.
In the final analysis, two Rollingwood’s ponies captured first and second: Berry Last One was first and Back In Black, Alex Clark driving, was second.
There were nine entries in the Carriage Barrel Racing
Horse winner: KT Barnabus, Laura Lawson driving
Pony placings:
1: Rollingwoods Berry Last One, Joanna Wilburn
2: Rollingwoods Back In Black, Alex Clark
3: Molly, Allie Rudisill
4: Tinker Toy, Natalie Hanisco
5: Rollingwoods Off The Raydar, Maria Roberts
6: Down’s Delight, Reita Parham
7: Rollingwoods Cookie Thief, Claudia Mangum, DVM
8: Madoc Look At Me, Ruth Wilburn
