On the equestrian trail, the horse leads the way.

Summertime is here and it is time to get away from the Hot town, Summer in the City. Leesburg already has a triple crown of races. (The Rotary Resolution 10K every first of January, the Leesburg 10K & 20K in the middle of August, and the Freeze Your Gizzard 5K in November). Following this traditional bucolic bundle of races, the A Day at the Races Cross Country 5K adds a brand new idea. In Morven Park, the cares and the cars are virtually all gone. With hundreds of acres of wooded bliss, a cross country race is in order. The new idea was to have a one horse power lead vehicle, rider included.

Clear skies and cooler temperatures made for a great start. Runners roared down the first freshly mowed path. The only "road" signs were little red flags in the grass. There were no lights or stop signs and no reason to yield. Soon the runners rushed off into the woods.

"The sun beaming down between the leaves
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
And the bir-ir-ir-irds dartin' in and out of the trees"

The course was well manicured for cross country but soon additional challenges appeared. This course was made for horses to train and there were many hurdles and jumps to attack or timidly scurry around. As the course wound back and forth and circled around there were more than a dozen chances to take a flying leap.

Not surprisingly, many of the front runners were youngsters. Older racers are well aware that it can be real easy to turn an ankle. Younger runners are still immortal.

David Atkiss of Centreville, VA (in photo) enjoyed a smooth ride and won handily in 17:23. Patrick Derocco of Waterford, VA was second, keeping him honest in 17:39. Centreville's Jim Farrow was the last runner to finish in less than eighteen minutes.

For the women, it was still mostly youngsters, including the winner, thirteen-year-old Leslie Lyford of Leesburg, breaking the tape in 21:45. Peggy Muhn (55) brought her stuff all the way from Wheatridge, CO in a fancy 22:05.

Leesburg's own Colleen Clement was third in 22:25. The fourth woman, Elizabeth Jones of Midland, VA, was running her 25th race of the year, halfway to her goal as a member of the 50 Plus Club (fifty races run in a year). Sixty-year-old Cathy Van Brocklin of Gaithersburg, MD made the trip to Morven Park, missing 12th place by one second.

After the 5K was done and the results were being posted, it was time for a mile run for the even younger set. Again, a horse led the way. James Moreland stood in the line with the munchkins. He had arrived about fifteen minutes late for the 5K race thanks to three-lane-blockage repaving Interstate 270 back in the big city. Thanks to the ChampionChip technology, his net time was fast enough to get an attractive memento medallion that was given to the top two runners in five-year age groups. The one mile fun run was not timed. Believe me, the 5K was a fun run too. Most of the runners in both events ran hard but everyone also had a fun time.

Awards

FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                   Ag City                      Gun T Net T Pace  
===== ===== ====================== == ========================= ===== ===== ===== 
    1   217 Leslie Lyford          13 Leesburg VA               21:45 21:43  7:00 
MALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                   Ag City                      Gun T Net T Pace  
===== ===== ====================== == ========================= ===== ===== ===== 
    1   305 David Atkiss           24 Centreville VA            17:23 17:22  5:36 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19
    1   177 Grace Shomaker         13 McLean VA                 28:25 28:22  9:08 
    2   232 Christina Bendo        15 Leesburg VA               38:20 38:06 12:16 
MALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19
    1   190 Kyle Gutierrez         17 Woodbridge VA             18:07 18:06  5:50 
    2   178 John Papavizas         16 Arlington VA              18:41 18:39  6:01 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   266 Molly Darr             20 Lovettsville VA           25:15 25:10  8:06 
    2   248 Rebecca Layman         22 Leesburg VA               28:02 27:54  8:59 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   206 Patrick Derocco        23 Waterford VA              17:39 17:35  5:40 
    2   258 Kyle Anderberg         20 Purcellville VA           21:33 21:28  6:55 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   250 Colleen Clement        25 Leesburg VA               22:25 22:21  7:12 
    2   184 Jolenda Wilson         29 Leesburg VA               24:17 24:14  7:48 
MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   304 Jim Farrow             25 Centreville VA            17:51 17:50  5:45 
    2   173 Berkley Almeida        27 Alexandria VA             21:50 21:46  7:01 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   112 Elizabeth Jones        30 Midland VA                22:36 22:35  7:17 
    2   205 Gina Cassella          34 Waterford VA              23:30 23:26  7:33 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   280 Brian Szabos           33 Chantilly VA              20:35 20:33  6:37 
    2   242 John Lightcap          31 Falls Church VA           21:22 21:19  6:52 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   277 Melissa Frye           36 Leesburg VA               26:50 26:40  8:35 
    2   117 Melanie Adams          36 Frederick MD              27:56 27:49  8:58 
MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   120 Rob Schlegel           39 Clifton VA                21:57 21:56  7:04 
    2   261 Michael Perez          35 Burke VA                  23:56 23:53  7:41 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   183 Marykirk Cunningham    41 Leesburg VA               24:17 24:15  7:49 
    2   234 Deborah Buonassisi     41 Springfield VA            26:53 26:43  8:36 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   115 Michael Marsh          42 Leesburg VA               20:49 20:49  6:42 
    2   276 Courtney Campbell      42 Berryville VA             22:16 22:14  7:10 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   111 Sandra Powers          46 Arlington VA              27:23 27:20  8:48 
    2   255 Susan Modolo           46 Leesburg VA               33:03 32:48 10:34 
MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   241 Dirk Armstrong         47 Leesburg VA               20:39 20:36  6:38 
    2   198 Jeffrey Ewing          45 Leesburg VA               21:35 21:34  6:57 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   202 Kathy Lutman           52 Lovettsville VA           28:07 27:53  8:59 
    2   118 Susie Barry            52 Herndon VA                31:29 31:09 10:02 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   253 David Landau           52 Washington DC             20:34 20:31  6:37 
    2   100 James Moreland         54 Gaithersburg MD           36:42 21:16  6:51 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1   267 Peggy Muhn             55 Wheatridge CO             22:05 22:03  7:06 
    2   270 Laurel Clement         58 Haymarket VA              28:46 28:36  9:13 
MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   222 Catherine Van Brocklin 60 Gaithersburg MD           27:02 26:59  8:42 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   306 Talkington Doyle       60 Haymarket VA              25:28 25:23  8:11 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1   311 Raeford McKinney       65 Ashburn VA                35:58 35:51 11:33 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99

The Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation presented A Day at the Races on the grounds of the beautiful 1200 acre estate at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. A full morning of activities included the ChampionChip-timed 5K cross-country race using the equestrian trails and a few "obstacles," a Family Fun Mile, a "Road Apple Rally," Carriage House Museum tours, and more! Proceeds benefit the programs offered by Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation.

Full Race Day Results
Race Report
Photo Gallery 2007
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