The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chelsea riders capture district championship
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: June 26, 2008
Chelsea's Junior Equestrian team captured a state District 4, Division B championship last month at the Ingham County Fairgrounds in Mason. The title was the Bulldogs' third in program history.
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"Our team is strong because the students have a great attitude and their parents are extremely helpful and are wonderful to work with," said Chelsea coach Lucy Heimerdinger.
Chelsea's 13-member championship squad is comprised of riders in sixth- through eighth-grades.
Bulldogs on this year's team include eighth-graders Tonya Heimerdinger, Sheri Robbins, Katie Wollpert and Regan White, seventh-graders Hannah Linteau, Anyssa Marsh, Hayley Murphy, Georgia Paulsen and Micayla Zynda and sixth-graders Weston Barnes, Annika Corazzol, Nikki Liedel and Madison Rabbitt.
The team started their ride toward the championship in March. For the second straight year, the Chelsea Community Fair Board allowed the squad to practice at the Chelsea Fairgrounds. The Bulldogs took advantage of the practice space, honing their skills in showmanship, equitation, bareback, saddle seat pattern, reining pattern, trail, cloverleaf barrel racing, flag racing, dash racing and two-person relay.
A key to Chelsea's success this season was its overall dedication.
"The members not only practiced with the team two nights a week, they also practiced at home," Heimerdinger said.
The squad is always looking for new riders. Any Chelsea sixth-, seventh- or eighth-grader with their own horse, or the ability to lease or borrow a horse, is eligible to participate.
"They also need to be willing to work as a team and have a lot of fun," Heimerdinger said.
Those interested in joining Chelsea's Junior Equestrian team can contact Heimerdinger at lheimer@bf.umich.edu. Or potential riders can check out the team's Web site at eteamz.active.com/CHSequest.
Another option for riders and their horses is to enter the Chelsea Community Fair. The fair's Web site is www.chelseafair.org.
The community can meet Chelsea's championship squad at the Chelsea Community Fair Aug. 19 through 23.
"They will be showing their horses most days at the fair," Heimerdinger said. "This team earned the right to be champions. They are a fantastic group of students."
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