 Best Dressed! Jeff Cleaves, Laura DeMaio, Eric Roy and Cheryl Cleaves 2009 CT Renegades Banquet Wow! What an outstanding end to a great season. Atmosphere, great food and service, happy cowgirls and cowboys of all ages, elegant Victorian ladies and gentlemen, music, dancing, big screen slide show, awards, recognitions and good humored “roasts” all added up to a terrific evening. The Old Well Tavern banquet room’s décor of wood and tiffany style lights were enhanced with saddles, wagon wheels, holsters, hides and other western items. Each table had programs containing names of sponsors and countless individuals who make our matches happen and a small cone with a balloon. It was mighty tempting-but all pistols had to be checked outside. Bonnie turned in her long guns shortly after she got Kenny to do a quick step! Appetizers and beverages were served at 5:30 pm. Everyone got caught up and admired each other’s outfits. At 6:30, the staff served a fabulous buffet of prime rib, fish, mixed vegetables, salad, pasta, potatoes and bread. The guests ate and watched the slide show on the large screen, while DJs Kurt and Ali Forsyth kept the music low enough for good conversation. After dinner, the awards began with Karin Page, a shooter in New Hampshire and administrator of the AQHA Region Six Mounted Shooter Award Program, presenting the Connecticut riders their prizes. Pat Aresco was third, Ali Forsyth was second and Roger Dinsmore was first. Her charming children, Liberty and Lexington assisted. Roger Dinsmore received a plaque naming him the second CT Renegade inducted into the Hall of Fame. Roger started the CT Renegades in 2005 and continues to be its president and the sinew that holds it together and the spark that keeps it growing. He runs clinics and gives lessons to help new folks get into the sport. Hall of Famers get their picture on the banquet cake. His was a typical sight-Roger racing down the rundown of a rifle stage riding Booger. Then buckles were awarded to the club’s winners of the Regionals and State Championships. At the Regional, Pat Aresco won Ladies 2, Roger Dinsmore won Men’s 3, and Cindy Karp won Ladies 3 in full classes. The Overall buckle went to Bruce Tolhurst. Ali Forsyth won the buckle for Top Cowgirl. At the State Championships, Heather Hicks earned the Ladies 1 buckle, and Pat Aresco earned the Ladies 2 buckle by winning in full classes. Ali won Top Cowgirl again. Special Dedication plaques were presented to: Carolyn Rogers for all her time spent scheduling, transporting and supervising the balloon runners and chuck wagon for all home matches Carolyn Stearns for announcing at all home matches and helping with the benefit Jen Seymour for providing a site for our matches and helping with stalls, camping and inevitable problems. In addition, Cindy Karp was awarded a plaque for Sharpshooter. She had the best percentage of hits for the season. Gus Carlson was awarded the Silver Spurs Award for helping everyone with whatever they need done-trailer towing, belt buckling, Range Master, stage set-up and more. Special thanks went to Judy Carpenter and Jo-An Boehm for their commitment to scoring at every home and some away matches in all kinds of weather! They received and Associate membership to CMSA. Roger shared his personal gratitude with his four right hand gals, Lisa, Joan, Judy and Jo-An with a colorful bouquet of flowers. The Best Dressed guests at the banquet, Cheryl Cleaves and Eric Roy received top honors and a $40 certificate toward a CT Renegades match. Runners up were Jeff Cleaves and Laura DeMaio. The banquet committee came up with a new award to honor a special equine. The “Eternal Sorrel Bar” award will be given to an equine that has made outstanding contributions to the sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting. It is named for the first recipient, better known as Turbo. Turbo’s family received a plaque including his picture. |
