The Rockbridge Hunt Spring Hunter Pace was a great success. The weather was beautiful and more than ninety horses and riders completed the course. We weren't quite prepared for such success and unfortunately ran out of drinks at the checkpoint and food at the luncheon. Most of the entrants did get some food but there wasn't much choice toward the end. There was also a long delay between when the early riders finished the course and when the ribbons were awarded. Various possible solutions to these problems are being considered. We'll also try to have some chocolate next time!

An evaluation form was available and in spite of the problems the comments were almost uniformly positive. Everyone raved about the course and Fred Burks deserves all the credit. He's already planning for the next pace and he's organizing a crew to paint the coops. There's no way we'll ever see a prettier day than the one we had; it was gorgeous. If Fred could have any input on the weather, he would!

We'd like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the other volunteers: David Bolen, Barbara Burks, Katharine Conner, DD Hinty, Lee & Laura Jarvis, Lauren Keating, Ed Snider (one of the new landowner members), Rick Robinson, Bruce and Louise Golian, and Marai Wise. We couldn't do it without you.

Being the last pace in the Adjacent Hunts Series definitely helped attract entries, as did the new location. Riders loved the course (more than one said it was the best hunter pace course they'd ever ridden) and we can expect many returning participants at this location. It also gives us some definite ideas about how to develop some of our other fixtures into good hunter pace courses. For example, Broadview has suitable trails but not enough jumps. It's impossible to predict the weather or the turnout for these events and Rockbridge was very, very lucky. Planning for future hunter paces will focus on ways to minimize expenses and the losses that occur with bad weather.

By the way, the winners of the series were champion: Mary T. O'Brien and Jane A. Walsh (from Glenmore) and reserve: Hugh B. Sproul and Nancy Palmer also from Glenmore.