Despite being down a team member and two horses and battling snow on the trip there, the Sequim Equestrian Team posted a slew of top finishes at the team’s second district meet of the season, held Feb. 24-26 in Elma.

Paige Reed picked up three individual event wins in timed events (barrels, figure eight, keyhole) while teammate Libby Swanberg took first in three individual events as well (breakaway roping, reigning, working rancher). Swanberg also placed second in both figure eight and individual flags.

Reed and Swanberg teamed up to place first in both working pairs and two-man birangle, while both of Sequim’s drill freestyle fours and team Canadian flags teams — featuring Reed, Swanberg, Kennady Gilbertson and Sydney Hutton — took first place.

Katelynn Sharpe earned a pair of top-five finishes, taking fourth in saddleseat equitation and fifth in showmanship, while teammate Celbie Karjalainen was fourth in reining and fifth in trail. The pair, both of whom had horses unavailable for the meet, teamed up to take third in working pairs.

“They were both very flexible and showed a variety of horses to compete in their events,” coach Katie Salmon-Newton said. “We are proud of them for stepping up and making the best out of a difficult situation.”

The team is back in action April 6-9 for the third district meet, back in Elma. The state meet is scheduled for May 19-21 in Moses Lake.

“All of our girls are sitting in good positions to make it to state in at least one event, but most of them in many events,” Salmon-Newton said.

“They are talented and are putting in lots of practice time to be great competitors.”

District meet results (Sequim only), Feb. 24-26

Performance events, drill teams

Dressage — 5. Sydney Hutton, 9. Katelynn Sharpe

Huntseat equitation — 7. Sharpe

In-Hand Trail — 7. Kennady Gilbertson

Reigning — 1. Libby Swanberg, 4. Celbie Karjalainen

Saddleseat Equitation — 4. Sharpe

Showmanship — 5. Sharpe, 7. Karjalainen

Stockseat Equitation — 3. Hutton, 8. Sharpe

Team Versatility — 7. Gilbertson-Karjalainen-Sharpe-Swanberg

Trail — 4. Hutton, 5. Karjalainen

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

Working Rancher — 1. Swanberg

Drill Freestyle Fours — 1. Gilbertson-Hutton-Reed-Swanberg

Timed events, drill teams

Barrels — 1. Reed, 3. Gilbertson, 6. Hutton, 18. Karjalainen

Figure Eight — 1. Reed, 2. Swanberg, 3. Gilbertson, 8. Hutton, 13. Karjalainen

Individual Flags — 2. Swanberg, 5. Reed, 10. Gilbertson

Keyhole — 1. Reed, 3. Swanberg, NT Gilbertson

Pole Bending — 6. Reed

Team Canadian Flags — 1. Gilbertson-Hutton-Reed-Swanberg

Two-Man Birangle — 1. Reed-Swanberg, 2. Gilbertson-Hutton, 11. Karjalainen-Sharpe

Cattle events

Breakaway Roping — 1. Swanberg

Daubing — 4. Reed, 8. Sharpe, 10. Hutton

Team Sorting — 7. Gilbertson-Reed, 9. Karjalainen-Swanberg, NT Hutton-Sharpe.

Submitted photo / Paige Reed, left, and Katelynn Sharpe await their turn in the daubing event at a district meet in Elma in late February. Reed placed fourth and Sharpe took eighth.