Washoe Lake
















Latest NASTR News:

2017 Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Virginia City 100 Ride!

See the link above for information about this year's ride (be sure to hit F5 to refresh your browser).

NASTR 30/50/75 Ride

Thanks to Carolyn Meier and her band of volunteers for putting on this ride!

75 Miler: 31 started, 27 finished (three lames and a metabolic pull). Ann Marie Barnett won the ride in 8:46 on CA Zanes Dragonflyte. BC went to MM Woodrow ridden by Montgomery, Mark in 9:00.

Both Ann Marie and Mark had an interesting descent down the SOBs when the huge band of mustangs that were on the mountain that day decided they wanted to join them.


Photos: Ann Marie and Becky Batson

50 Miler: 13 started, 12 finished (RO pull). Both the win and BC went to Dusty Starshine Zarif ridden by Pat Chappell in 6:47.

30 Miler: 7 started, 6 finished (DQ pull). Kathleen Davis won the ride on My Blue Balou in 4:47, while BC went to Blackie, ridden by Tom Sherwood.

The 75 mile ride was the 2nd qualifier for the NASTR Triple Crown. If you haven't already done so, don't forget to nominate yourself when you turn in your Virginia City 100 entry.

NV Derby Ride

NV Derby at the beginning of the month was a great success - despite the trail sabotage by Mother Nature. I was expecting "some erosion", but wasn't expecting great chunks of Jumbo Grade to be gone. Nevertheless, the trail was a good mix of challenge (understatement at times) and places to move out. There were some mud-sucking bogs in a couple of sections, and some miserable rocks (hey, this is NV - we have a reputation to live up to), and ride manager Beth Kauffmann opted to change the trail a little on Day 2 to work around these.

At the end of the day, you knew you'd been to a real ride, with real terrain.

The weather was about perfect - cool enough for the horses on Day 1, warming up on Day 2 when the breeze dropped. There were quite few people sporting pink faces from the sunshine. We even had some first-time Oregon riders drive 450 miles to sample our NV trails - glad you were able to join us and hope you're able to take part in the Triple Crown!

Day 1:

(Results) ("new and improved" - i.e. technical difficulties resolved and these results should now be correct)

50 Miles: We had 74 starters and 64 finishers in the ride. The ride was won by Mark Montgomery on his mustang Woody, while BC went to Andrew Gerhard on his new horse Rex.

Limited Distance: We had 19 starters and 19 finishers (good job guys!). First over the line was Tom Johnson, who also claimed BC on TM Knight Run (Dice).

A couple of people got a bit battered this day from various mishaps - heal up fast Ericka Bjorum-Nelson and Sheryl Scott (who had a blast despite her incident - "you know you had a good weekend when you come home with a black eye").

Day 2:

(Results) (also "new and improved")

50 Miles: We had 18 starters and 17 finishers in the ride. The ride was won by Sanoma Blakeley from Oregon on RA Ares Bay, while BC went to Natalie Stabenow-Drost on her two-day horse LC Andes.

Limited Distance: We had 15 starters and 13 finishers in this distance. First to finish was - once again - Tom Johnson - and - once again - he picked up BC, this time riding Secret Star GYA (Murphy). Congratulations to him on sweeping the LD on both days.

Natalie Stabenow-Drost and LC Andes (who completed both days!)
won Best Condition in the 50 on Day 2

Junior News:

Pam Anderson and Connie Creech spent a fun day with junior sisters Riley (11 yrs) and Ansley (8 yrs) McHenry. It was Ansley's first 50 (riding Pam's horse Takima), while it was Riley's new mare Jewel's first 50. Pam reports the Jewel is "not a push button horse and is a little bit of a challenge." Both girls (and adult mentors!) finished with all smiles.

Pam: "Tough girls, they never complained the whole time. It was not an easy ride with trail challenges along the way".

"We are a team and we all work together with all the horse chores and getting things ready. Lots of fun and no drama. Am very proud of my juniors!"

Sunday found the girls hanging out in the vetting area - as Riley put it "We've come over to learn".

Riley (left) and Ansley (right) with their swag:

Left to Right: Ansley, Connie, Riley, and Pam (Photo: Gore/Baylor):

Kenny Creech "Fun-Raiser"

Both Red Rock Rumble ride and the NEDA/NASTR Joint “Fun-Raiser” were a great success in raising money to go towards assisting Kenny Creech’s rehabilitation from his long term illness and his transition back home. To date, $7,745 has been raised.

Trail Tracks - GPS

Cortney Bloomer is working on putting together a database of trails used to advocate for public lands and access. She plans to make this available to club members. Please send her any trail “tracks” you have GPSed in .KMZ format of any trails.

Ride Managers

This year's NASTR ride managers are:

  • Nevada Derby - Beth Kauffmann
  • NASTR ride - Carolyn Meier
  • Virginia City 100 - Crysta Turnage
  • Red Rock Rumble - Tami Rougeau

Many thanks to Carolyn Meier for stepping in as ride manager at the last moment to ensure that the NASTR ride (and Triple Crown) would not be cancelled. At this time, due to areas being underwater, it's unclear where exactly the NASTR ride will be held - but it will happen!

Please support them and come out and volunteer.

2015 AERC Pard'ners Award

NASTR is so proud of our long time member Gina Hall and her fabulous Fire Mt. Destiny, (sired by AERC Hall of fame stallion, Sierra Fadwah) for their outstanding partnership through many years of endurance riding. This will be their 15th year of competition with over 7000 miles, 2100 miles of those completed in one day 100 mile rides. They both represent the epitome of the AERC Pard'ners Award. Thank you to Beth Kauffmann, Kim Mileo and Pam Anderson for presenting the award and surprising Gina at the AERC National Awards Banquet. Congratulations Gina and Destiny, Pard'ners for life!

Photo: Gina and Destiny during the 2007 Virginia City 100 (photo Rene Baylor)

(Pard'ners Award: "Rider and horse perform together as a mutually bonded team. Rider and horse engender a spirit of friendship, enthusiasm and championship that makes those around them glad to have attended the ride. However competitive they may be, good sportsmanship remains their first priority. Horse and rider take care of each other. Together horse and rider personify the prevailing and abiding goal of AERC: "To finish is to win." This award was established in honor of the late Mae Schlegel and her horse Pard. The recipient receives a keepsake plaque and the names of the "pard'ners" are engraved onto a perpetual trophy." )