Enduring weather that ranged from cold and rainy to 100-degree temperatures, the 4-H members from the Vashon Rock Riders club performed brilliantly at the King County Fair in mid-August.

Novices Dixon Politte and Indigo Kimmel enjoyed their first fair experience and came home with several ribbons. Politte earned fifth place in Bareback and third place in both Trail and Huntseat Equitation.

Junior Stephanie Provost earned a first and second place in her Dressage competition, fifth in Showmanship and third in Huntseat Equitation.

Roehre Cunningham, another junior, took second in Dressage, third in Showmanship and first in Huntseat, Stockseat and Bareback and Trail. Cunningham also competed in the fair’s Western Games section, where he took second in Keyhole, Pole Bending, Figure 8, Flag Race and Barrel Racing. He won the Sportsmanship Award and was the overall Junior high point winner.

Intermediate Emalia Hinden-Stephenson won first place in Low Jumps, while Emily Kruly earned second place in the 2’3”-2’6” Equitation Over Fences category, as well as third in Dressage, which qualified her to compete at the state level in Puyallup.

Seniors also represented the Island well. Anna Wilson earned first place in the 2’6”-2’9” Equitation Over Fences class, eighth in Showmanship, and fifth in both of her Dressage classes. Like Cunningham, she stayed for the fun of Western Games, where she received a 10th in Figure 8.

Another senior, Taylor Shride, earned third place in 2’3”-2’6” Equitation Over Fences, Showmanship and Dressage. Both Shride and Wilson earned spots on the state team. 

Senior Lizzy Corliss achieved the difficult goal of earning a bronze medal in Stockseat Equitation and also was ranked first countywide in Equine Judging. She will head up the King County team at the state competition in Puyallup on Sept. 11, and will be joined by intermediate Olivia Sudduth, who also made the team.

—Bunny Hatcher is the Vashon Rock Riders club leader.