ANNUAL CLUB BANQUET Update 2-21-24

The club holds an annual award banquet to connect with each other and announce award winners. 

Click here to see a summary of the 2024 banquet on the banquet page.

The 2024 Banquet was held on Saturday, February 10th at the Longhouse restaurant in Gilroy, Ca. We had great attendance and people seemed ot like the new format of daytime rather than for dinner, and ordering from the menu rather than a catered dinner. Click the above link to check out the banquet and see some pictures.

February 21, 2024- The Quicksilver Club excels in AERC Regional awards for 2023!

Several Quicksilver members placed in their respective regions in 2023: 

1. Lori Olsen and Rushcreek Fargo placed FIRST in the West Region Lightweight division.

2. Jerry Wittenauer and Carlos placed FIRST in the West Region Heavyweight division.

3. Robert Ribley placed FOURTH in the South East Heavyweight division.

4. Rachel Miura and Theo placed FIFTH in the Werst Region Lightweight division.

5. Melissa Ribley placed EIGHTH in the South East Featherweight division.

6. Lisa Schneider and Farwa placed NINTH in the Pacific South Featherweight division.

7. Gretchen Montgomery and Lani placed TENTH in the Pacific South Featherweight division.

February 10, 2023- The Quicksilver Club excels in AERC Regional awards for 2022! 

Several Quicksilver members placed in their respective regions in 2022: 

  1. Lori Oleson and Rushcreek Fargo placed FIRST in the West Region Lightweight Division.

  2. Nick Warhol and Sorsha placed FIRST in the West Region Heavyweight Division.

  3. Robert Ribley and Perfecta placed FIRST in the Southeast Region Heavyweight Division.

  4. Jerry Wittenauer and Carlos placed SECOND in the West Region Heavyweight Division.

  5. Matthew Lease and Felon placed FOURTH in the West Region Heavyweight Division.

  6. Mary Vredenburg and Jeconiah finished FIFTH in the West Region Middleweight Division.

  7. Melissa Ribley and Chipofftheoleblock placed SIXTH in the Southeast Featherweight Division.

  8. Michelle Roush Rowe and Slim Shady finished SEVENTH in the West Region Featherweight Division.

Congratulations to the Club Riders and their amazing horses!

February 4, 2023 - THE QUICKSILVER BANQUET WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, FEB 4TH AT THE BAYSIDE GRILL IN GILROY  

WE HAD ABOUT 25 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE, AND IT WAS A NICE CHANCE TO GET TO SEE PEOPLE NOT AT AN EVENT. THANKS TO MARY ANDERSON WHO DID A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING TO GET THE EVENT TO HAPPEN. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE LISTED BELOW:

  1. The annual Hall of Fame Person award was presented to Nick Warhol. 

  2. The annual Elanor Norton Award was presented to Elaine Elbizri. This award, given in the memory of Elanor Norton, is a sportsmanship award, given to the club member that exemplifies the meaning of the word “sportsmanship”. 

“This individual continues to be an advocate for Endurance riding.  They are active in encouraging new riders, whether volunteering at events or riding themselves, and can always be counted on to provide words of encouragement to riders and volunteers. They thoughtfully share the lessons they have learned without passing judgment on those of us who have not quite figured those lessons out yet!   Elaine Elbizri - we appreciate your writing to document the history of Endurance, and we are so grateful for your time and energy as you continue to ride, and support the sport and the Club” 

  1. The Horse of the Year award for 2022 was a bit different!  

This year we awarded two horse of the year awards!  One to Rushcreek Fargo, owned and ridden by Lori Oleson.  Fargo had the best AERC record of the year, edging out Sorsha.  Fargo had a great year, riding and completing 500 miles.  He finished two 100 mile rides, got two best conditions,  had eight top tens,  and he won the west region Lightweight division award for his rider Lori.   

We also awarded the prize to Carlos, owned and ridden by Jerry Wittenauer.  Carlos had a good year as well, finishing 615 miles, and got two top tens.  But Carlos did something else amazing- he and Jerry rode in EIGHT different states in 2022!   It is estimated that Carlos did about 15,000 miles in a trailer! 

Congratulations to these two amazing horses!

  1. There was no Hall of Fame Horse awarded.

The History of the Quicksilver Endurance Ride - 
By Elaine Elbizri - December 2022

CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF THE QUICKSILVER ENDURANCE RIDE
OVER THE PAST 50 RIDES!

In 2020, the Quicksilver Endurance Riders elected to participate in the “Adopt-the-Trail” Campaign, organized to create a permanent endowment for the Western States Trail Foundation (WSTF).  The WSTF is chartered with not only staging the annual Tevis Cup Endurance Ride, but also preserving and protecting the legacy of the historic Western States Trail, and conducting annual studies of equine performance and recovery during the Tevis Cup Ride.  

In recognition of our donation to the WSTF Endowment Fund, the Quicksilver Club has been presented with a Certificate of Appreciation.  The certificate notes that a ½ mile section of the Western States Trail, one mile east of Dusty Corners, will henceforth be known as the “Quicksilver Endurance Riders Half-Mile”.  We hope that all of our members have a chance to experience this portion of the Western States Trail first-hand!