Area Sports

The 2009 equestrian season is well under way, and Sequim riders are off to a good start.

The high school squad picked up 24 top-five finishes, including four event titles and eight runner-up placings, at the first state equestrian event March 6-8 at the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds in Elma.

"I can't be more happy - they had a really good meet," coach Terri Winters said. "(It was) a really good way to start off."

Connor Ackley took first in Reining and Cody Chase won In-Hand Trail. Ackley teamed with exchange student Lucas Martins for a win in Steer Sorting while Sequim's Birangle team of Tori Cantelow and Jessica Holmberg took first as well.

Team finishes are below:

• Individual events (performance)

Showmanship - 2. Cody Chase, 9. Shannon Robbins

In-Hand-Trail - 1. Chase, 4. Tori Cantelow

Trail - 2. Robbins

Working Rancher - 2. Robbins, 3. Connor Ackley, 7. Lucas Martins

Cart Driving - 3. Chase

Stock Seat - 8. Robbins

Reining - 1. Ackley, 10. Martins

• Individual events (timed)

Keyhole - 9. Ashley Priddy, 10. Clara Duncan

Figure Eight - 8. Brooke Stromberg

Flags - 2. Stromberg, 3. Mishel Arthur, 4. Cantelow, 5. Duncan, 7. Priddy

Polebending - 2. Duncan, 6. Jessica Holmberg, 10. Lucas Martins

Barrels - 3. Holmberg, 5. Stromberg

Steer Daubing - 5. Martins, 7. Holmberg, 8. Ackley, 9. Duncan

• Team events

Steer Sorting - 1. Ackley/Martins, 4. Holmberg/Cantelow

Birangle - 1. Holmberg/Cantelow, 3. Duncan/Arthur, 8. Ackley/Martins

In-Hand Obstacle Relay - 2. Chase/Robbins/Martins/Cantelow

Canadian Flags - 2. Duncan/Robbins/Martins/Ackley

Drill Team - 2. Cantelow/Robbins/Holmberg/Priddy/Stromberg/Ackley/Duncan/Arthur

Working Pairs - 4. Robbins/Cantelow