The Sequim Equestrian Team got its season off to a strong start in late January.
Sequim’s eight-member team earned nine first places and 20 top-three placings at their first district meet, held Jan. 26-29 in Elma.
Paige Reed placed first in daubing, figure eight and pole bending, and teammate Libby Swanberg placed first in both keyhole and breakaway roping.
Reed and Swanberg teamed up to take first in both working pairs and two-man birangle.
The Sequim team swept the top three places in team sorting with Swanberg and Celbie Karjalainen in first, Sydney Hutton and Katelynn Sharpe, and Reed and Kennady Gilbertson in third.
The team includes member Rylie Smith, with coaches Katie Salmon-Newton and Bettina Hoesel and assistant Keri Tucker.
The team is back in action Feb. 23-26 for its second district meet, and again April 6-9 for the third district meet, with both in Elma.
The state meet is scheduled for May 19-21 in Moses Lake.
• District meet results (Sequim only), Jan. 26-29
Performance events, drill teams
Dressage — 3. Sydney Hutton, 11. Katelynn Sharpe, 13. Celbie Karjalainen
In-Hand Trail — 7. Hutton-Karjalainen-Sharpe-Lily Meyer
Reigning — 3. Libby Swanberg, 6. Karjalainen, 7. Sharpe
Saddleseat Equitation — 4. Karjalainen, 5. Sharpe
Showmanship — 6. (tie) Karjalainen and Sharpe
Stockseat Equitation — 6. Hutton, 11. Sharpe
Team Versatility — 8. Karjalainen-Meyer-Swanberg-Kennady Gilbertson
Trail — 9. Karjalainen, 10. Hutton
Working Pairs — 1. Swanberg-Paige Reed, 2. Karjalainen-Sharpe
Working Rancher — 3. Swanberg
Drill Freestyle Fours — 1. Hutton-Reed-Sharpe-Swanberg
Timed events, drill teams
Barrels — 2. Reed, 6. Hutton, 20. Meyer, 23. Gilbertson
Figure Eight — 1. Reed, 2. Swanberg, 4. Hutton, 7. Gilbertson, 21. Meyer
Individual Flags — 3. Swanberg, 7. Reed, 10. Meyer, 11. Gilbertson
Keyhole — 1. Swanberg, 3. Gilbertson, 9. Meyer
Pole Bending — 1. Reed, 21. Meyer
Team Canadian Flags — 2. Gilbertson-Hutton-Reed-Swanberg
Two-Man Birangle — 1. Reed-Swanberg, 4. Gilbertson-Hutton, 10. Meyer-Sharpe
Cattle events
Breakaway Roping — 1. Swanberg
Daubing — 1. Reed, 4. Hutton
Team Sorting — 1. Karjalainen-Swanberg, 2. Hutton-Sharpe, 3. Gilbertson-Reed.
Sequim Equestrian Team member Paige Reed competes in the Team Canadian Flags event at the first district meet in Elma in late January.
