Thatcher School - El Archivero Yearbook (Ojai, CA)

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EL ARCHIVERO 75 Back Row: Zellerbach 1Mgr.J, Bonehakker, Callaway, Van Horne, Lieurance, Rhodes, Front Raw: R. Walden, W. Boyd, Ford, Pleasants LCapit.J, Heard, DuBois, Mr. Kahle, Mr. Huyler. GYMKHANA HE 1958-1959 Gymkhana Season opened with the Santa Paula and Fillmore Horse Shows in September. Bill Boyd, Lloyd DuBois, Dick Walden, John Lewis, John Heard and Harry Andrews attended these two contests from Thacher, and each boy placed in at least one event. The main attraction of the pre-intramural season, however, was the California State H0rsemen's Association Championship Show in Paso Robles on October 2-5. Thacher's Relay and Ring Spearing Teams, both of which were composed of Freeman Ford, John Case, John Heard, John Lewis, Dick Walden, and Mr. Huyler, received first place honors, thus bringing back to School two State Championships. Leo Acquistapace, the final member of the Thacher team, won the Reserve State Championship in the Western Horsemastership division. Mr. Huyler, Heard, and Lewis also took other ribbons individually. Again in the same month Thacher horsemen participated in the Ven- tura Saddle Club Horse Show, where Bill Boyd placed first in three events and second in another. At the beginning of the Winter Term, a few changes were made in the regulations for the School's intramural gymkhanas. The Bending and Fig- ure-8 races are now scheduled simultaneously, and the traditional six-abreast race has been abandonedg now only one boy may be performing either of

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74 EL ARCHIVERO Ojai Valley School. In the thirdf game the squad met victory in a close de- cision over Cate. The next two games, however, portrayed Thacher in a losing role as the team dropped games to OVS, 3-0, and to Cate, 2-0. In the iinal encounter the fourth team downed Midland with a score of two goals to one. Fourth team line-up: Forwards: Parker, Bonner, Porter, R. Greene, Wfood, Gardner, Halfbacksg Kulli, H. Chickering, Taylor, Kristoiferson, Smith, T. Waldeng Fullback: Baum, Stewart, Lambertg Goal Guards: Lieu- rance, Forster, Subs: Meehl, Pinkham, Keesling, Work.

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76 EL ARCHIVERO these events at a time. Similar revisions in the rules for the Stake, Sack, and Orange races made them run more efficiently. At School, gymkhana season got under way with the Hrst match be- tween the two intramural teams. The Orange Team, captained by Freeman Ford, charged off to a strong lead early in the season, andl although there were several close contests in which Gymkhana Captain Michael Pleasant's Green Team made a good showing, the Orange Squad emerged on top at the season's end with 415 points to the Green Team's 273. Bill Boyd on Reynita and Dick Walden on Rocket were tied in a deadlock race for high point man with 65 points apiece. Close behind the two top men came Ford who compiled 63 points on his white steed, Spider. John Heard, the number four man on the gymkhana ladder, raced Colorado for the season's fastest time in the Bending Race in 10.35 seconds and won the Saddling Race with a time of 37.9. The best performance in the Orange Race was completed by Bob Gallaway in only 40:8 seconds on Star, who is being retired this year after many faithful seasons. Skip Porter atop Keela pounded out the best Tilting time this year in 19.4 seconds with a score of 9 out of 9 rings. Bill Boyd and Reynita racked up three best times in the Stake, Sack, and Figure 8 races in 13.6, 13.35, and 11.9 seconds, respectively. David Van Horne tied Bill Boyd's Stake Race time of 13.6 and placed first almost consistently in the Trail Horse Class. Redbones and Topo helped carry Reserve State Champion Leo Acquistapace to victory in the Seat and Hands Class, which he won three times during our School shows. , The climax of the season came on March 7, the date of the Eleventh Annual Thacher Gymkhana. The 125 outside entrants, several of whom were themselves State Champions, afforded Thacher boys some stiff but welcome competition. The guests dominated the morning events except for the two blues taken by Van Horne in the Trail Horse and Seat and Hands classes. In the afternoon Thacher pulled ahead by winning our specialty events. Free- man Ford' soon forged to a lead with 16 points, walking off with the Jed- licka High-Point-Man Trophy at the end of the day. In order to qualify for the 1959 State Championships, several Thacher horsemen entered the Region Nine Horse Show, the Fillmore Spring Show, and the Ojai Trails Association Spring Show. These Thacherites will com- pete for the Championships next October: Bending Race-DuBois, Mr. Huyler. Figure-8 Race-W. Boyd, Mr. Huyler. Quadrangle Stake Race-W. Boyd, Mr. Huyler, Du Bois. Keyhole Race-Mr. Huyler, Du Bois. Tilting-Porter, Mr. Huyler, Mr. Kahle. Trail Horse Class-Van Horne, Mr. Huyler. Pleasure Horse Class-Van Horne, Myers. Junior Equitation-Van Horne.