Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County. Horse sweat and dust. Tension and anticipation. The creak of leather saddles, pats on a shiny neck, groaning of the metal gate as it opens and closes to let riders on their horses in and out of the arena.

The start of the 4th Annual Gilpin Gymkhana Buckle Series was a blend of sight, smel,l and sound sensory impacts as local equestrians put their horses and ponies to the test against time. The first of the series was last Saturday, June 6, with the competition beginning at 10 a.m.

Four events are timed: the Barrels, the Figure 8 Barrels, Pole Bending, and Flags. The first six places are awarded ribbons. A buckle will be awarded to the rider with the highest overall points in each of the five eligible age groups at the series finals in September. Championship buckles are highly prized by western riding competitors.

Age groups include PeeWee, 4-8; Junior, 9-13; Intermediate, 14-17; Senior Novice, 18 and over; and Senior Advanced, 18 and over. The entry fee is $5 per race; $3 for a practice run and the fun run is free.

Last weekend the keyhole and the fun run were rained out as a thunderstorm moved over the Gilpin Fairgrounds arena in the early afternoon. Riders who were being led placed but did not earn points.

At the end of the day Senior Advanced rider Denise Loos took first place in all of her events.

Individual rider statistics:

Poles, Pee Wee, ages 4-8

1. Brylee DeRay, Sedona, 38.483, 0 points

2. Allayah Boogard, Kenai, 41.501, 6 points

3. Abilene Adleman, Joey, 53.932. 5 points

4. Kylie Harrington, Abra Cadabra, 67.167, 0 points

5. Payton Kutscher, Abby, 86.767, 4 points

Poles, Junior, 9-13

1. Allison Hardt-Zeman, Joey, 41.024, 6 points

2. Rylee Kuscher, Doc, 42.816, 5 points

3. Ainsley Norman, Kenai, 44.855, 4 points

4. Rowan Nasty, Velvet, 47.038, 3 points

5. Mary Jeanne Jarril, Mary, 48.923, 2 points

6. Haley Stundon, Esperanza, 48.990, 1 point

7. Abygail Norman, Deno, 51.243

Poles, Intermediate, 14-17

1. Sarie Lund, Apache, 33.057, 6 points

2. Jordan Hansen, Spirit, 36.481, 5 points

3. Gillian Nasty, Brie, 46.690, 4 points

Poles, Senior Novice, 18 and up

1. Heidi LaCosse, Shadow, 35.161, 6 points

2. Stuart Schultz, Zip, 37.04, 5 points

3. Lisa Holdren,  Boomerang, 47.378, 4 points

Poles, Senior Advanced, 18 and up

1. Denis Loos, Junior, 29.132, 6 points

2. Jeff  Fruth, Peppy, 29.616, 5 points

3. Nancy Mulholland, Flip, 32.723, 4 points

Figure 8 Barrels, Pee Wee, 4-8

1. Allayah Boogard, Kenai, 24.263, 6 points

2. Brylee DeRay, Sedona, 24.665, 0 points

3. Julia Allen, Dandy, 25.897, 5 points

4. Kylie Harrington, Abra Cadabra, 60.190, 0 points

Figure 8 Barrels, Junior, 9-13

1. Rowan Nasty, Velvet, 16.547, 6 points

2. Rylee Kutscher, Doc, 17.525, 5 points

3. Haley Stundon, Esperanza, 19.694, 4 points

4. Allison Hardt-Zeman, Joey, 19.874, 3 points

5. Abbygail Norman, Deno, 20.286, 2 points

6. Mary Jeanne Jarril, Mary, 21.554, 1 point

7. Ainsley Norman, Kenai, 27.945, 0 points

Figure 8 Barrels, Intermediate, 14-17

1. Jordan Hansen, Spirit, 14.244, 6 points

2. Sarie Lund, Apache, 14.526, 5 points

3. Gillian Nasty, Brie, 15.743, 4 points

Figure 8 Barrels, Senior Novice, 18 and up

1. Heidi LaCosse, Shadow, 14.991, 6 points

2. Stuart Schultz, Zip, 15.027, 5 points

3. Lisa Holdren, Boomerang, 17.892, 4 points

Figure 8 Barrels, Senior Advanced, 18 and up

1. Denise Loos, Junior, 9.844

2. Nancy Mulholland, Flip, 11.030

3. Jeff Fruth, Peppy, 18.709

Cloverleaf Barrels, Pee Wee, 4-8

1. Allayah Boogard, Kenai, 33.465, 6 points

2. Julia Allen, Dandy, 33.509, 5 points

3. Brylee DeRay, Sedona, 34.225, 0 points

4. Abilene Adleman, Joey, 35.128. 4 points

5. Payton Kutscher, Abby, 43.225, 3 points

Cloverleaf Barrels, Junior, 9-13

1. Rowan Nasty, Velvet, 26.262, 6 points

2. Rylee Kutscher, Doc, 29.617, 5 points

3. Allison Hardt-Zeman, Joey, 30.540, 4 points

4. Ainsley Norman, Kenai, 31.090, 3 points

5. Haley Studon, Esaperanza, 33.041, 33.066, 2 points

Cloverleaf Barrels, Intermediate, 14-17

1. Jordan Hansen, Spirit, 20.997, 6 points

2. Sarie Lund, Apache, 28.832, 5 points

3. Gillian Nasty, Brie, 29.999, 4 points

Cloverleaf Barrels, Senior Novice, 18 and up

1. Heidi LaCosse, Shadow, 25.524, 6 points

2. Lisa Holdren, Boomerang, 27.991, 5 points

3. May Jarril, Runky, 30.283, 4 points

Cloverleaf Barrels, Advanced Senior, 18 and up

1. Denise Loos, Junior, 17.886, 6 points

2. Nancy Mulholland, Flip, 18.512, 5 points

3. Jeff Fruth, Peppy, 20.435, 4 points

Flags, Pee Wee, 4-8

1. Abilene Adleman, Joey, 20.916, 6 points

2. Brylee DeRay, Sedona, 28.80, 5 points

3. Payton Kutscher, Abby, 46.180, 4 points

Flags, Junior, 9-13

1. Rowan Nasty, Velvet, 18.992, 6 points

2. Mary Jeanne Jarril, Mary, 22.334, 5 ponts

3. Rylee Kutscher, Doc, 22.417, 4 points

4. Allison Hardt-Zeman, 22.871, 3 points

5. Haley Stundon, Esaperanza, 26.469, 2 points

6. Abbygail Norman, Deno, 26.97, 1 point

Flags, Intermediate, 14-17

1. Sarie Lund, Apache, 17.071, 6 points

2. Gillian Nasty, Brie, 18.572, 5 points

3. Jordan Hansen, Spirit, 38.388, 4 points

Flags, Senior Novice, 18 and up

1. Stuart Schultz, Zip, 18.779, 6 points

2. Lisa Holdren, Boomerang, 36.414. 5 points

3. Heidi LaCosse, Shadow, 5.441, 4 points

Flags, Senior Advanced, 18 and up

1. Denise Loos, Junior, 13.104, 6 points

2. Jeff Fruth, Peppy, 13.167, 5 points

The Keyhole Race was called because of rain.