Another $30K Grand Prix, Another Win for Tracy

Tonight was the Grand Prix IV competition at Pin Oak. I love these horse jumping competitions and more than that, love watching Tracy Fenney win and win and win. She had 3 horses in competition as her is wont, and qualified for the jump off round with all three. Once again, riding MTM Centano, Tracy took 1st place. On MTM Timon, she took second place, and MTM Genau, a young 7 year old mount, won 4th place. Tracy is the winningest jumper in the state of TX.

The course was designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of  Portugal who is the gentleman on the left in the above photo.

The program for the two week event and the roster for tonight's event.

The Bayou City Pipes and Drums, founded in 2004, entertained us before the competition.

The Catelena Cowgirls from Bryan, TX, on their beautiful Paint horses paraded in with flags as the National Anthem was sung.

Tracy Fenney on her winning mount, MTM Centano. This is the jump-off round. Tracy's winnings tonight were $18,000.

$30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix

The Grand Prix course - a sweet Border Collie was my next seat neighbor

The field had 19 competitors. A few were riding more than one horse. After the first run through, only 4 made it to the jump-off round.

Tracy Fenney, a perennial winner, rode 3 different horses in the first round and qualified with 2 of them for the jump-off. Here she is riding MTM Centano winning first place. She also took third and seventh places. Tracy's share of the $30,000 Grand Prix was $14,100!

A Vision in Purple

After Aedin's softball game, Dylin came home with me to have a sleepover. After lunch, while Taylor was working on a sewing project, Dylin and I went to Target. Here she's modeling her new outfit this morning before going home.

The Collegians Compete at GSWEC

Bio of Lia Chaffee, representing Texas A&M University, the winner

Collegiate Jumping competition...8 schools - 8 competitors
The first round all 8 competed...and the difficult part was they weren't on their own horses. They only had 4 minutes to get acquainted with their mounts. The field was then narrowed to four, and then two to determine a winner.

Lia's scores for Rounds 1 and 2. She won with a score of 82 in the jump off. We never did figure out how the scoring was determined.

Taylor joined Dylin and me in the afternoon and went with us to the horse competition. She then stayed for dinner.

Brought to you by the letter S - Soccer and Softball...

Dylin, with hair flying, is the one in the neon shoes. Terry's the Coach and even though he tells the girls that the score doesn't matter, I can let you know that they played the most aggressive team and they won = )

Keep your eye on #8 with the neon shoes  turn up the volume = )

Dylin and I arrived at Aedin's game in the second inning. The score was tied 5-5. Was a hard fought game but the Angry Birds won. Aedin was all suited up to bat, but the game was over before she got another at bat.

Gone Fishin'

Friday, Terry and Erika followed us up northeast of here to a small town in the Angelina Forest called Broaddus where we spent Friday and Saturday nights in these small cabin rooms. Friday, we explored the area, ate dinner in the 'camp's' restaurant, played, and sat around a fire eagerly anticipating Saturday's fishing expedition.

Erika, the batter target 

Aedin's pitching practice

Olsin wanted to start the day with a hearty breakfast, while Dylin stood next to the truck pulling the pontoon on which we would fish

Aedin successfully skewers the minnow on the hook. Dylin, Colin and Olsin fish away.

Gavin and Olsin examining all the minnows. Erika and Terry fishing.

Sneed's trying his best to catch something...anything. The center photo - well, it's something none of us guessed. It's a ball of fire ants floating to their next destination. Gees, you'd think they'd drown, but the top ones keep going to the bottom and the bottom ones to the top. Oh, and that's the fish counter to the right. Yep, nada, zilch, but we had fun.

A humongous flock of coots flushed out of the forest and over the lake.

After almost 5 hours on the lake, we had lunch, and then continued fishing from the dock.

Voila! Success! Terry caught a nice-sized catfish, as did Dylin, and Olsin reeled in a little 'un. Sure made us all a lot happier that the entire trip wasn't void of any catches.

Olsin, waiting for dinner, zonked out and didn't wake up until morning

Beautiful sunset Saturday night

We're on our way home = )
P.S. No one else who went out on the lake on Saturday caught anything either.

Nathan and Vanessa

Marque is so popular. Actually, this wedding was on the calendar a lot earlier than the one last week; and was just as much fun. Had the pleasure once again of the groom's parents, mom's sister, and a friend joining our table as soon as the dinner plates were taken away. We enjoyed listening as they regaled us with family stories. The groom's father's brother and his wife were also at the table from the beginning of the evening.

A very original "Save theDate"

Marque arriving at the venue, House Plantation

The program was quite entertaining

Nathan and Vanessa ~ The Flying B sporting their rings