Are you coming to Front Royal, Virginia for the AERC National Championships on October 20 and 22? This event will have something for everyone, whether a rider, crew, official, ride management supporter, AERC member, tourist, and/or student of the sport.

AERC's long-term goal is to make the National Championships a premier "happening" that all AERC members will put on their calendar to participate in in some way.

High points of the schedule this year include:

-- "Moving Up" seminar on Thursday, October 19 by Dinah Rojek, chair of the Education Committee, and myself (Thursday, October 19, 9am-3m, bring your lunch, at the tent).

-- The AERC National Championship 100-mile competition on Friday.

-- The AERC midyear board of directors meeting on Saturday.

-- The AERC National Championship 50-mile competition on Sunday.

-- Vendor booths.

This year AERC will certainly have a great competition with more than 100 excellent endurance horses entered in the two competitions. The ride will be in the historic Massanutten Mountains and Fort Valley at the height of the fall color season over many of the challenging trails used by the Old Dominion 100. This ride will provide a classic rugged mountain challenge with eight significant climbs.

The seminar held in conjunction with the National Championships will provide valuable information to enable riders, crews, and owners to improve their horses' performance.

The midyear board meeting will be in nearby Luray, Virginia, home of Luray Caverns. Any AERC member is welcome to attend and observe the board discussions as we chart the future of AERC. This weekend will provide an excellent opportunity for members to discuss their ideas, issues, and concerns in person with their representatives on the board.

Any event of this nature involves the contribution of time, energy, and money by many people. We all owe thanks to the Old Dominion Endurance Rides, Inc., for hosting this event, led by ride manager Bob Walsh. A hearty thanks goes to our AERC National Championships major sponsor Gulf Coast 4-Star Trailers. And hearty thanks to the many sponsors and vendors who are also supporting this event.

You, too, can become a sponsor. Patti Pizzo has come up with the idea of selling trail miles at $20 per mile for the 100-mile and 50-mile rides. If you are interested, just drop a check for $20 per mile made payable to the Old Dominion and send it to Patti Pizzo, 91 Tammany Rd., Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972. Or contact Patti at piz200@epix.net for other sponsorship ideas.

So come to historic Fort Valley October 19 to 22 where George Washington surveyed and General Stonewall Jackson battled. (See the five-part series in EN by Flora Hillman for the history of the area from pre-Colonial times through the Revolutionary and Civil War until today). Take a stroll up the signature climb of the Old Dominion to Sherman's Gap but do bring good walking shoes. Hint: it is a one hour climb on horseback. Learn by observing the top horses and riders and attending the seminar. Offer to help ride management. Most importantly, be part of the endurance happening!

NC: looking ahead

The National Championship Committee, led by Robert Ribley, and the Marketing Group, led by Barry Waitte, are working on exciting long-term plans to promote the AERC National Championships as a "must attend" event for members of the endurance community that will offer expanded options for great competition at various distances, educational opportunities, entertainment, vendor booths for shoppers, and just a great time.

Last month I had the pleasure of participating in the Canadian National 100-mile Championship. The Canadians have set of good example for AERC by putting together in one venue the following competitions that made for a week-long celebration of long-distance riding:

-- August 31: 100 mile Canadian Championship Endurance Ride. Canadian teams and open. FEI, CEI***, AERC, CALDRA (Canadian Long Distance Riders Association), OCTRA (Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association) and AHA (Arabian Horse Association) Region 18 sanctioned.

-- September 1: 20 mile Canadian Championship Ride & Tie. Canadian teams and open. CALDRA and OCTRA sanctioned. 10 mile Ride & Tie: open and novice. OCTRA sanctioned. 20 mile Helen McMaster Classic Ride (OCTRA sanctioned).

-- September 2: One-day 40 mile Competitive Trail Ride (OCTRA and AHA Region 16 sanctioned). Day 1 of the 2-day 80-mile Canadian Championship CTR. Canadian Teams and open (CALDRA and OCTRA sanctioned).

-- September 3: Day 2 of the 2-day 80 mile Canadian Championship CTR. 50 mile Canadian Championship endurance ride. Canadian team event and open (AERC, CALDRA and OCTRA sanctioned).

-- The Canadian Championship event provides some food for thought for consideration for future AERC championship events. Contribute your ideas for what our AERC National Championships should become. Let Robert and Barry and their committees know your thoughts.