WESTERN CLASSIC 2009 HIGHLIGHTS
Congratulations Super Heroes of the Classic!
1D winner Lauren Pai on Badger Poco Scamp
with an average run time of 53.606.
Her fastest run time was 17.659.
For winner photos and results, be sure to
visit our 2009 Winners Circle.
The 2009 Sharon Camarillo Classic proved to be one of the most exciting showdowns in our events history! In the final run, beginning with slowest to fastest times from the previous two go rounds, a fraction of a second separated two superior California competitors and their great horses. The exciting finale was a fitting close for our Super Heroes Theme.
Stacy Freitas, with a mere 9 hundredths of a second lead over Lauren Pai, made her final run determined to take the 1D championship. As she entered the arena, there was no doubt this Classic Super Hero had a win on her mind. Lauren had just raised the bar with her second fastest run of the weekend, placing Stacy and her great horse Lenas Sweet Jalapena in a do or die position to maintain the average lead. It was a battle to the finish.
was head-to-head with Lauren and finished
3rd in the 1D Average.
Though successful competition is based on preparation and opportunity, every competitor knows fate and luck also contribute to a winning scenario. A smoking 1st barrel, followed by a scalding fast approach into the 2nd barrel, set Stacy up for what could very possibly be the fastest run of the competition. Enter fate or luck, for no apparent reason except pure athletic try, Stacy’s horse got so low on the back side of the 2nd barrel that it caused the 8 year old gelding to spin out, dropping Stacey’s inside foot to the ground. The crowd gasped with disappointment for Stacy, as it was obvious the stall would significantly affect the out come of her average time. Stacy’s never quit attitude carried the team into and around the 3rd barrel and allowed the dynamic duo to finish the clock just 3 tenths of a second behind Lauren's time, securing Stacy 3rd in the 1D Average and for Lauren, an 18 year veteran of the event and 3rd in the 2008 1D, a well deserved Classic victory.
Congratulations to Cheryl Gomes for her consistent performance on her great 15 year old stallion Quincy Zan, finishing 1 tenth of a second behind Lauren to secure 2nd place in the 1D average. Congratulations to Lita Scott, Shella Dewhurst, Kasey Trotter, Angie Quintana and Gypsy Holman for their consistent performances to finish out the 1st Division.
Director, for excellent
competition and great
ground conditions.
Other Divisional Champions included 2D Western Horseman’s Rayanne Currin, 3D Kristin Holt and 4D Lauren Gilbert. The Sharon Camarillo Classic average is a culmination of three runs and consistent and efficient performance is rewarded with eight equal prizes in each division and equal payoffs in the go-rounds. Court’s saddles were awarded to the Divisional winners.
The In Pursuit of Excellence Award, in the memory of Sharon’s horse, Seven, was won by Gypsy Holman for her fast time in round 3 of 17.606. The Kalyn Brooks Memorial Rambo Blanket Award presented in memory of our Miracle Barrel Racer, Kalyn Brooks, was won by 4D Champion, Lauren Gilbert. The Junior Horse Award was presented for outstanding performance by a 5-year old or younger horse in memory of Donna Irvin’s horse, Vaquero. Congratulations to David Lawson for the victory. Ironically, David is a graduate of Black Hawk College in Kewanee, where he trained under Camarillo Co-Instructor Donna Irvin, and knew Vaquero. David began the Classic weekend with winning the Junior Horse Gist Buckle on his mind, and win he did. Congratulations to David and his 4 year-old, Pay Czech.
Bill Adams, Tom Hull, Cheryl Price, Jim Price, Jenny Hull, Cyndy Smith,
Gina Johnson, Sharon, Debbie Wood, Erica Tomiyama, Vicki Tomiyama,
Wade Camarillo, Bob Meffan, Zoe Meffan, Don Pederson and Stan Deupree.
Photographs by ProSportsPix.