Great Lakes Distance Riding Association Awards

2023 Awards–Final Standings, Horse Mileage and Personal Mileage Awards

2022 Standings, Horse Mileage and Personal Mileage Awards

2022 Final Standings
2022 Horse Mileage Awards
2022 Personal Mileage Awards

Earned Awards

The awards are received by the recipients at the banquet. Some of the personal and equine mileage awards include:

• 200 Miles – Certificate for personal and equine mileage
• 500 Miles – Patch for personal and equine mileage
• 1,000 Miles – Buckle for personal mileage
• 2,000 Miles – Picture frame for equine mileage
• 3,000 Miles – Sweatshirt
• 4,000 Miles – Clock
• 5,000 Miles – Shirt
• 6,000 Miles – Embroidered item (person pays for embroidered item, awards person paid $40 in the past.)

Additional awards are given at 1,000 mile intervals. 

Legend Cup: The Great Lakes Distance Riding Association Legend Cup is a traveling award presented to the horse completing the overall highest mileage of the year in sanctioned GLDRA events. The mileage can be for competitive, limited distance, endurance or a combination of all.

The purpose of this award is to recognize the effort it takes to properly condition the horse as well as prepare and execute a season long strategy resulting in attaining the highest number of miles completed during a season.

In 2011 John and Roseanna Clark sponsored the Legend Cup in honor of their horse Matuks Legend+/. Legend holds the GLDRA all time high mileage mark with 8,330 miles completed in his career.

Rookie of the Year: This Award was started by the Scrub Oaks Ride in 1985 in memory of Lecia Strunk, who rode and competed valiantly in the face of Type 1 Diabetes. It was awarded to a first-year rider who, in the opinion of the judges and according to scores, was the high point Rookie of the Year. Char Richards and Debbie Bosma initially donated this traveling award to GLDRA when they no longer put on the Scrub Oaks Ride. 

This award continues today, but rather than a traveling award, the recipient receives a plaque and a useful prize (usually a cooler or sheet, etc.) from whomever decides to donate the award in that particular year. This award is determined by the points committee and is based on total mileage ridden and the points accumulated. The following criteria must be met to be eligible for this award:

• The rider must not have ridden more than three official distance events in their lifetime (in or out of the state of Michigan) prior to nominating for the award in
  the current ride year. This does not include novice or intro rides which are not considered official competitions.
• The rider must declare their intent to compete for this award by contacting the ride secretary/points keeper during the competition year. A simple phone call or message is all that is necessary. It follows that the rider must be a member of GLDRA in good standing.
• The rider may ride any equine but must complete a minimum of four rides of at least 25 miles in order to qualify for the ROTY award. The rides may be Limited Distance, Endurance or Competitive Trail rides or any combination of them.
• Rides must be GLDRA rides to qualify.

The recipient will not be presented with the Rookie Award until the Yearly Membership and Awards Meeting following the conclusion of the ride season.

“Lecia’s love of the sport and perseverance in the face of adversity continue to be an inspiration to all distance riders.”

Arabian Horse Association High Point Competitive Purebred Arabian

This year-end award is sponsored by the Arabian Horse Association for AHA-recognized Competitive Trail Ride Organizations. It is awarded to the high-point Arabian and Half-Arabian. The owner must be a current AHA Competition Cardholder for points to accumulate. The horse must be a registered Arabian, Half-Arabian or Anglo-Arabian. Bonus points per mile are awarded for participating in AHA Regional and /or National Championship Competitive Rides. Awards are presented at the annual GLDRA Award Banquet.

Shelley Dake has been in charge of obtaining this award. After year end placings have been published Shelley contacts the GLDRA members who have Arabs and Half Arabs with the highest year end points to see if they are a AHA Competition Card holder. Once she has established who will be the recipient of this award she downloads the AHA Recognized Competitive Trail Ride Organization’s Year End High Point Arabian & Half-Arabian Awards form from their website, fills out the form and fax the information to them at 303-696-4599 any additional contact can be made by call AHA in Colorado at 303-696-4500.

AHA Arab

AHA Half-Arab

• Hall of Fame (Horse & Person): The Hall of Fame Award was started by Ted and Holly Palmer-Chaff in 1984. They donated a silver trophy bowl that is engraved with the winners, who were nominated and voted on by the general membership at the annual meeting. The nominees were to be the ones that have made an outstanding contribution to distance riding during either a long period of time or an outstanding achievement in one year. This is to be a traveling trophy brought back annually and given to the next winners. A committee met in 1992 and recommended these guidelines be put into effect in 1993. Nominations are to be written and publicized at the annual meeting. This could be done with handouts or posters. The candidates should be informed in advance. Statement of Intent:
  • The purpose of the Great Lakes Distance Riding Association Hall of Fame is to honor persons and/or horses selected to this position for their outstanding achievements accomplished in this sport.

  Criteria:

  Individuals voting for these nominees should not take the above statement lightly. Time and consideration need to be given to the performances of those nominated to the Hall of Fame. The votes cast for those nominated should not be spur-of-the-moment decision or voted for because of sentimental reasons, nor be a popularity contest. This committee has adopted the following guidelines, which may apply to human or animals.

  • 1. Should have accomplished some MAJOR goals in the sport.
  • 2. Should have returned something to the sport (time, competition, etc.)
  • 3. Consistently shows top performance.
  • 4. Accumulated a fair amount of mileage in competition.
  • 5. Must be a member of GLDRA in the years nominated.

  All nominations must be printed in the December/Winter Newsletter before voting takes place at
  the annual meeting.

  • • Year	Person	Horse	Owner
      1984	Will Koster	Brandy	Kathy Walton
      1985	Diane Dykstra	Cedric	Pat Sager
      1986	Pat Sager	Dang It All Minty	Vickie Herrick
      1986		Ka-Barrz	Judy Schlink
      1987	Joe Yogus	Magic Carima	Joe Yogus
      1988	Roger & Rhoda Ritter	Rugged Lacy’s B	Jan Mills-Kennedy
      1989	Richard Stonehouse	Shorty	Bruce Birr
      1990	Jo Beth Bridleman	Mar Rocca	Pat Sager
      1991	Marcia Koster	Mire Star	Robin Dilg
      1992	Ruth Yogus	Spruce Sarta	Craig & Debbie Olson
      1993	Betty Dykstra	T.F. Starfire	Marcia Koster
      1994	Sue Herrick	Count Qamira	Julie Roe
      1995	Jim Yell	Tyson	Ray Sugzda
      1995		One Tuff Joker	Jonathan Bosma
      1996	Ray Sugzda	Takis Rama	Shelley Dake
      1997	Rae Birr	Bay Champagne	Jean Miller
      1998	Julie Roe	Tis-A-Prince	Jim Harris
      1999	Cindy Osborne	Chester	Katy Byrne
      1999	Wayne Gastfield
      2000	Jeanie Miller	Matuk’s Legend+/	Roseanne Clark
      2001	Gene Dake	It’s A Story	Don Caldwell
      2002	Shelley Dake	Jo Ve Conbrio+	Lisa Germann
      2003	Jan Kennedy	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2004	Ted Klopfenstein	Maggie (War Lucinda)	Jeanie Miller
      2005	No Nomination	Miss	Birr Family
      2006	Bruce Birr	Honey	Diane Meinders
      2007	Charles Phillips	J Dalmaar Sherri+/	Charles Phillips
      2008	Karen Graham	Synerator (Bud)	Barb Kurti
      2008	Karen Bahrman
      2008	Lisa Germann
      2009	Myra Fleming	Gallant Dancer	Linda Hamrick
      2010	No Nominations	MA Mara Leah	Kari & Dale Hanes
      2011	No Nominations	No Nominations
      2012	No Nominations	Count Cha-Ska	Shelley Dake
      2013	Kathy Macki	RC Radar	Birr Family
      2014	No Nominations	Shatto’s Sir Lance Lot	Becke Grams
      2015	No Nominations	No Nominations
      2016	No Nominations	Over Brooks Image+//	Lisa Germann
      2017	No Nominations	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick
      2018
      2019	Donnie Hamrick	No Horse Nominated
      2020	?
      2021	No Nominations
      2022	?

      Half-Arabian
      This is sponsored by the Half Arabian Association of Michigan and is presented at the GLDRA
      Annual Awards Banquet. This is for the top Half Arabian (horse/rider combination) competing in
      Michigan rides. It is open to all registered half/Arabians. Registration with HAAM in advance of
      the season is required along with a copy of the registration papers for the horse.

    • Year	Event	Horse	Owner
      1992	Competitive	Chocolet Delight	Rosanne Garvison
      1992	Endurance	Mira Star	Robin Dilg
      1993	Competitive	MA Lu-Jacque	Will Koster
      1993	Endurance	Pecan	Myra Fleming
      1994	Competitive	GRShadow	Angel Williams
      1994	Endurance	Niota	Nick Mamula
      1995	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      1995	Endurance	None Nominated
      1996	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      1996	Endurance	Zak	Guy Worthington
      1997	Competitive	Santee s Rain Dance	Jeff Phillips
      1997	Endurance	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      1998	Competitive	Santee s Rain Dance	Jeff Philips
      1998	Endurance	Zak	Guy Worthington
      1999	Competitive	Santee s Rain Dance	Jeff Phillips
      1999	Endurance	Win Mystic Najha	Gene Williams
      2000	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2000	Endurance	RWS Celebration	Char Richards
      2001	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2001	Endurance	RWS Celebration	Char Richards
      2002	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2002	Endurance	Gallant Dancer	Linda Hamrick
      2003	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2003	Endurance	Gallant Dancer	Linda Hamrick
      2004	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2004	Endurance	Santee’s Raindance	Jeff Phillips
      2005	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2005	Endurance	Gallant Dancer	Linda Hamrick
      2006	Competitive	Just Jimmy	Julie Roe
      2006	Endurance	Gallant Dancer	Linda Hamrick
      2007	Competitive	Over Brooks Image+/	Lisa Germann
      2007	Endurance	Gallant Dancer	Linda Hamrick
      2008	Competitive	Over Brooks Image+/	Lisa Germann
      2008	Endurance	Shatto’s Sir Lance Lot	Becke Grams
      2009	Competitive	Brittany Rolsthedice	Lisa Germann
      2009	Endurance	Bear’s Northern Light	Becke Grams
      2010	Competitive	Coosa Valley Indiana Jones	Amy Scharmen
      2010	Endurance	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick
      2011	Competitive	MI Lucky Charm	Max Bernsdorf
      2011	Endurance	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick
      2012	Competitive	Justkiddingaround	Tim Germann
      2012	Endurance	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick
      2013	Competitive
      2013	Endurance
      2014	Competitive
      2014	Endurance
      2015	Competitive	Quincy QT	Jeanne Aslakson
      2015	Endurance	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick
      2016	Competitive	LW Constant Sohn	Diane Maxey
      2016	Endurance	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick
      2017	Competitive
      2017	Endurance
      2018	Competitive	Brittany Rolsthedice	Lisa Germann
      2018	Endurance	RTM First In Line	Linda Hamrick

       

      Volunteer of the Year Award: Volunteers play a very important role in the success of our rides. This award recognizes the person who donates their time at the rides.
      Sportsmanship Award: This award is to emphasize good sportsmanship, that is, asking for the trail when passing, welcoming news members to our sport, giving them help, and answering their questions, etc. When making nominations a particular act of sportsmanship should be noted.
      Pit Crew of the Year Award: This award recognizes the dedicated individuals that support the endurance horse and rider. They devote many long and grueling hours and are instrumental to the care and well-being of the horse and rider.
      Ride Management of the Year:
      Merry Legs Award: Junior riders are in charge of voting for the Merry Legs Award. This award is given to the most deserving horse carrying a junior rider that year. This award is donated by Linda and Donnie Hamrick.

      GLDRA Lifetime Mileage Program Awards

      To be eligible for the horse/rider mileage awards the horse/rider must be entered in the respective mileage awards program. Horse and rider must be signed up as individuals (not teams). A one time fee of $30.00 is collected to enter the mileage programs.
      Personal Mileage Award Program
      Horse Mileage Award Program
      Download link to the Rider/Horse Mileage Form

      GLDRA Sponsored UMECRA Award

      Charles Phillips Versatility Award
      This award is given out at the UMECRA banquet and is sponsored by GLDRA in memory of Charles Phillips. The versatility horse award is open to horse and rider teams with the highest number of combined points in all categories. Each horse and rider team must complete a minimum of two events in each category (Competitive Riding, Limited Distance & Endurance). Nominations for the Versatility Award must be submitted to the Points Keeper before the beginning of the last scheduled ride of the season.
      Download: Versatility Award Nomination Form
      Download: Retired Awards With Past Recipients