Local riders win trail riding awards

E. Steele | Mar 24, 2011

Photo:  Mandy Steele riding Zena Warrior Princess and Elaine Steele riding Chanticleer Shadow, during a competition.

The annual awards banquet for the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association was held in Belleville on February 19. Once again the people from our area were well recognized with awards for riding in these long distance riding events.

Elaine Steele on her 13-year-old Arabian Gelding, Chanticleer Shadow, received many trophies and awards for the following: Champion Overall; Champion Endurance; 4th place in Competitive Trail Riding; High Point Arabian; Best conditioned Horse; Highest Mileage Horse

Elaine Steele riding Chanticleer Shadow was recently recognized by Endurance Canada, as being the 6th place endurance rider in Canada, and received a certificate to show this.

Chanticleer Shadow also received an award for accumulating 2000 miles in competition, while Elaine received an award for accumulating 4500 miles in competition.

Elaine and Rick Steele both received awards for accumulating 1000 worker credits for volunteering in OCTRA events. Rick was also recognized for his contributions to OCTRA for managing two events in the 2010 ride season.

Elaine Steele’s second horse, Zena Warrior Princess, a part Arabian Pinto, who was ridden primarily by her daughter Mandy Steele, was Reserve Champion in the Competitive Trail Riding events for the 2010 ride season. This was Mandy’s first year competing in long distance riding.

Dagmar Downes, riding her 17-year-old Morab Gelding, Obi-Wan Gunnobi (Gunner) received the following awards: High Point Part Morgan; and 6th place in Endurance. Dagmar also received an award for accumulating 3000 miles in competition.

Dagmar Downes’ second horse Princess Leah, also a Morab, placed 9th in the Competitive Trail Riding events.

Everyone is looking forward to another exciting season of competitions, which will include the Provincial Championship Endurance Race being held in the Sharbot Lake area on the Labour Day Weekend.