CGMCG dominates national cav competition
The 13 members of the CGMCG who participated in the competition display their National Cavalry Competition trophies and ribbons Oct. 6 at Fort Riley.
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2011
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Story by: Mollie Miller
1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard made history last month as they netted more than a dozen first place ribbons during the 2011 National Cavalry Competition in El Reno, Okla.
"They dominated the competition," said 1st Sgt. John Wear, CGMCG's senior noncommissioned officer. "We are very happy. The team was very successful this year."
The National Cavalry Competition, which was from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, is an annual event meant to promote horsemanship and provide riders an opportunity to compete and improve their skills. Sponsored by the U.S. Cavalry Association, the competition features events that allow civilian and military riders a venue where they can showcase a variety of skills, including field jumping and mounted pistol shooting.
Thirteen Fort Riley troopers participated in this year's event billed as the "largest gathering of active-duty mounted cavalry Soldiers since 1948."
"There were probably between 60 and 70 active duty guys there," he said. "Every one of the Army's mounted units was represented except for one."
Although the CGMCG team has been participating in the cavalry competition for the past 10 years, the troopers and horses had not performed as well as they wanted to recently and were looking forward to bringing a rainbow of ribbons back to Fort Riley this year. In total, the team brought home 14 blue first-place ribbons, five red second-place ribbons and six yellow third-place ribbons.
Wear said the team's secret to success during this year's competition was identifying riders who had been to previous competitions and using their knowledge to structure competition-centric training time.
"We spent about 60 hours conducting competition-specific training in the weeks leading up to the official event," Spc. David Williams said. "That training made all the difference this year."
The training apparently worked very well for Williams. The young trooper, who rode 10-year-old Quarter Horse Saber during the event, earned several first and second place ribbons and was named the National Cavalry Competition Grand Champion.
"I figured we would do OK, but I didn't think we would do this well," Williams said. "I never saw (Saber) perform with such heart before – nothing could stop him this year."
Wear said there are only great things coming for his team in the coming year as they prepare to defend their titles during the 2012 National Cavalry Competition, which will be conducted in their own Fort Riley arenas. Although the dates for next year's competition are not yet set, Wear said the event, which will be conducted during the same week as Fall Apple Day Festival, is certain to be one for the record books.
"We are going to have more rookies next year, but we are still going to do great things," he said.
RESULTS
Staff Sgt. Michael Steede
3rd Place Saber, Level 2
3rd Place Pistol, Level 2
Staff Sgt. Kristine McGinley
2nd Place Horsemanship, Level 3
3rd Place Pistol, Level 3
Sgt. Tommy Evans
1st Place Authenticity
Sgt. Eric Williams
1st Place Jumping, Level 2
Sgt. Jeremy Rekward
1st Place Maj. Howze
Spc. Shauneece Alexander
3rd Place Horsemanship, Level 1
1st Place Maj. Howze
Spc. Steven Saracco
Overall 2nd Place, Level 3
1st Place Jumping, Level 3
3rd Place Horsemanship, Level 3
Spc. Jesse Perry
Overall 1st Place, Level 2
1st Place Pistol, Level 2
Spc. Coe Coker
1st Place Jumping, Level 1
1st Place Maj. Howze
Spc. Dontrell Welch
1st Place Saber, Level 1
3rd Place Jumping, Level 1
1st Place Maj. Howze
Spc. Kasey Caruthers
1st Place Horsemanship, Level 1
1st Place Combat Horsemanship
Spc. David Williams
National Cavalry Competition Grand Champion
Overall 1st Place, Level 2
2nd Place Bolte Cup
2nd Place Pistol, Level 3
2nd Place Jumping, Level 3