GENESEO, NY — A record number of members were on hand last Saturday for the Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club Annual Meeting at the Historic Aircraft Group clubhouse in Geneseo.

Live auction, silent auction, and raffle prizes filled every available space with an array of enticements as part of the club’s ongoing fundraising efforts that allow it to offer numerous educational and competitive opportunities for local riders, as well as those who travel from farther afield to take advantage of all the Valley has to offer.

This last year saw the addition of a second recognized horse trials, which essentially reclaimed the June weekend that was the original date of the club’s event before it moved to the end of August.

An Introductory division was added to the two jumping derbies and proved to be of great interest to competitors, adding significantly to entries.

The water jump in the derby and stadium jumping field at Hideaway Farm was completely redone after suffering damage from the previous year’s heavy rains. The club also acquired two new storage containers for equipment, freeing up 10 stalls at Hideaway Farm that had been being used for that purpose.

The Board of Directors voted to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Ruth Fanton. This is not an annual award, but rather an honor bestowed only when the Board feels there is someone who is particularly deserving of this special recognition.

As a youngster, Ruth started her career on the back of her Dad’s old farm horse…no saddle and only a fistful of mane. This was followed by a family pony…and you all know where that leads!

In her early years, Ruth rode western and competed in rodeos, then started teaching local 4-H riders. After switching to English, she ended up teaching in the mid-50s at the newly formed Mendon Pony Club as one of its first instructors.

As the GVRDC started a new cycle, Ruth competed in local events with her son David. In her spare time, she laid drag scent lines for the Hopper Hills Hunt in Mendon.

One of the original members of the Western New York Dressage Association (WNYDA), Ruth and her homebred partner Little Once competed in dressage throughout the northeast circuit. She also became a licensed Technical Delegate in dressage with what is now the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF), officiating at nationally recognized competitions for over a dozen years.

Ruth won the U.S. Dressage Federation Centurion Award for an actively competing horse and rider whose combined ages equal 100 years or greater — only the sixth horse and rider combo to achieve this distinction.

After retiring Little Once to the farm, Ruth and her husband, Jim, adopted a “mini” from Lollypop Farm and trained her to drive. Cocoa became one of Lollypop Farm’s most beloved and famous alums!

Presently, Ruth competes in local driving shows with George, from Ted Jenney’s string of well known mini’s and small ponies.

Ruth has given a lifetime of support to many area equestrian organizations and she is still going strong!!

Other special awards

Honorary Lifetime Membership: Ann Parks

Outstanding Contribution: Dawn Foster

Special Recognition: Leslie Brown (Education Chair) and Donna Hecht (Twilight Dressage Chair)

Sonny Memorial Versatility Award for a member who competes in both driving and riding: Carrie Wehle

Joseph C. O'Dea Memorial for a non-riding/driving member who makes significant contributions: Stirlin Harris

Volunteers of the Year: Jim & Farley Wagner, who organize both the Firecracker and Pumpkin Derbies and chair the cookie sale fundraiser

Harold Bixby Award for overall service to the club went to landowners Hank and Laura Minor, Beth and Stirlin Harris, Doug and Judy Hart and family, and Eric and Celeste Grace

Year-end awards

Introductory Horse: Sierra, owned and ridden by Beth Harrison

Beginner Novice Horse: 1. Anna Clader’s Das Sagenhafte, ridden by Anne Eilinger; 2. Lookover Erin, owned and ridden by Carol Kozlowski; 3. Oslo, owned and ridden by Beth Harrison

Senior Beginner Novice Rider: Dave Phillips on his Spot Not

Novice Horse: 1. Not the Brightest Star, owned and ridden by Jesse Evans; 2. Judy Delvecchio’s El Niño, ridden by Anne Eilinger; 3. Brunello, owned and ridden by Nancy Reale

Open Novice: 1. Celtic Rose, owned and ridden by Pam Tooker; 2. Zimmerman, owned and ridden by Diane Carroll-Yacoby; 3. Timber, owned and ridden by Sharon Presutti

Junior Training Rider: 1. Jessie Evans on her Twizzler II; 2. Hannah Zollweg on her Here Comes the Judge; 3. Mackenzie Williams on her Bob Dew

Senior Training Rider: 1. Vivienne Vergo on her The Coppersmith; 2. Barbara Hymans on her Honey Locust Rembrandt

Open Training: 1. Good Earth Bit O’ Honey, owned and ridden by Carol Kozlowski; 2. Triton, owned and ridden by Heidi Vahue

Small Pony Pleasure Driving: 1. Jessica Jenney’s George, whip Ruth Fanton; 2. Peanut, owned and driven by Carrie Wehle

Small Pony Performance Driving: Peanut; 2. George

Multiple Horse Pleasure Driving and Performance Driving: War Dance of Fire and War Fralight, owned and driven by Elmar Frangenberg

Volunteer Teams: 1. Dames in Denim: Linda Walnes, Dawn Foster, Kathy Lasher, Kim Ciulla and Mary Dickinson; 2. Three Mares and a Filly: Anne Eilinger, Lydia Eilinger, Diane Carroll- Yacoby and Vivienne Vergo

Tagged as: Geneseo-Groveland