ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: [endurance] Jr. riders

Re: [endurance] Jr. riders

Truman Prevatt (prevatt@mail.lds.loral.com)
Tue, 21 Nov 1995 13:52:24 -0400

>The subject of Jr. riders can be a touchy subject for a lot of people. I
>think (my opionion only) a lot of people just don't take Jr.'s
>seriously. The kids are our future, and we really need to give them a
>chance, just like someone gave us a chance. Are we worried about being
>slowed down? More than likely, a Jr. will want to go much faster than we
>were planning on going anyway. Are we worried about complaints? Have
>you ridden with 1/2 of the people out there? Jr. riders know nothing
>about complaining. I believe with a little knowledge, people can have a
>very good Jr./sponser relationship going down the trail. I know a lot
>of my rides have been made a lot richer by seeing the trail through the
>eyes of a child.

We are getting a lot of junior riders in FL now and boy are they fun to
watch. Last Feb at the FOF, Mischell Anderson, a 14 years old, tried her
first 100. She started out with Karen Jones. I was leaving the 30 mile
check when they came in. Karen's horse was having some problems and Karen
had to pull. I volunteered to take Mischell - but Claude Brewer just
pulled in and he picked up sponsorship so I wouldn't stand around for 30
mintues. Claude's horse was tired at 50 so he decided to rest him a little
longer and someone else picked up Mischell. I was on my way out of the 65
mile check when I heard Karen yelling so I turned around. Mischell's
sponsor had to pull and the next riders were way behind so I went back and
waited for Mischell. The poor kid was almost in tears that I had to wait -
no problem. We went out, caught up with another rider and all three of us
did the last 25 miles together. Mischell kept worring about slowing us
down, about being "bad luck", etc. We all finished fine and I was very
happy to help someone accomplish their goals.

Only later at the awards cermemony did I tease her about running most of
her sponsors into the ground. Buy then she was on cloud nine from
finishing her first 100.

>
>SAMM C. BARTEE someone who sponsers, and stays young!
>AUBURN AL
>THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA!!!

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The race is not always to the swift, but to those that keep running.

Truman and Mystic "The Horse from HELL" Storm

prevatt@lds.loral.com - Sarasota, Florida
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