Equestrian sports: Sequim squad takes district’s small team title

By Michael Dashiell • April 12, 2023 1:30 am
Photo courtesy of Katie Salmon-Newton Sequim Equestrian Team buckle winners include, from left: Libby Swanberg, timed events reserve champion; Sydney Hutton, versatility events champion; and, Paige Reed, timed events champion. The trio will join teammates at the state meet, set for May 19-21 in Moses Lake.
Photo courtesy of Katie Salmon-Newton Sequim Equestrian Team buckle winners include, from left: Libby Swanberg, timed events reserve champion; Sydney Hutton, versatility events champion; and, Paige Reed, timed events champion. The trio will join teammates at the state meet, set for May 19-21 in Moses Lake.

Talk about peaking at the right time. Sequim Equestrian Team members racked up a slew of honors — including District 4 Small Teams Champion — at their final district meet, held it the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds Elma April 6-9.

Sequim riders also swept the small team district buckles honors, with Sydney Hutton winning the versatility events champion honor, Paige Reed taking the timed events title and Libby Swanberg earning timed events reserve champion.

In all, the Sequim squad earned 24 state qualifying marks after three district meets in various individual and team events, and head to the state prep equestrian finals that are set for May 19-21 in Moses Lake.

District meet No. 3, Sequim results

(Note: * — Gold medal, state qualifier; ** — Silver, state qualifier; *** — Bronze medal, state qualifier; # – State qualifier; ## — State alternate; ### — State second alternate)

Performance events, drill teams

Dressage — 6. Sydney Hutton##, 7. Katelynn Sharpe, 11. Celbie Karjalainen

Huntseat equitation — 8. Sharpe

In-Hand Obstacle Relay — 5. Hutton-Karjalainen-Sharpe-Paige Reed

In-Hand Trail — 9. Kennady Gilbertson

Reigning — 1. Libby Swanberg*

Saddleseat Equitation — 2. Sharpe***

Showmanship — 8. Karjalainen, 10. Sharpe

Stockseat Equitation — 6. Sharpe##

Team Versatility — 3. Gilbertson-Karjalainen-Sharpe-Swanberg

Trail — 8. Hutton###, 10. Karjalainen

Working Pairs — 1. Reed-Swanberg*, 3. Karjalainen-Sharpe***

Working Rancher — 5. Swanberg***

Drill Freestyle Fours — 2. Gilbertson-Hutton-Reed-Swanberg*

Timed events, drill teams

Barrels — 1. Reed*, 2. Gilbertson#, 7. Hutton###, 13. Karjalainen

Figure Eight — 1. Reed*, 3. Swanberg**, 4. Gilbertson***, 8. Hutton###, 23. Lilly Meyer

Individual Flags — 1. Reed***, 6. Swanberg**, 11. Gilbertson, 13. Meyer

Keyhole — 1. Swanberg*, 2. Gilbertson***, 3. Reed**, 4. Sharpe, 12. Meyer

Pole Bending — 8. Reed***

Team Canadian Flags — NP. Gilbertson-Hutton-Reed-Swanberg#

Two-Man Birangle — 1. Gilbertson-Hutton**, 2. Reed-Swanberg*

Cattle events

Breakaway Roping — 1. Swanberg*

Daubing — 4. Reed**, 8. Sharpe

Team Sorting — 9. Karjalainen-Swanberg**, 11. Gilbertson-Reed***, 16. Hutton-Sharpe.