Coverage
of the 1999 USCTA Annual Convention
by Nancy Jaffer
The debut of the U.S. Combined Training Association's Hall of
Fame was the highlight of the group's December convention in Tampa,
where 422 people from all over the country gathered to discuss,
debate and applaud during four days.
The Hall enshrines the people who made it possible for a sport
little-known in the 1930s and '40s to develop and grow into a
popular pastime for thousands. Without their foresight and hard
work, eventing as we know it in this country would be far less
of a presence.
Shown here are General Jonathan (Jack) R. Burton, Jack LeGoff,
Helen Ayer, widow of inductee Neil Ayer, Jack Fritz, and Ed Harris.
The special spirit of eventers was evident throughout the convention,
which was as much about good fellowship as it was about rule-making
or the many excellent seminars that were learning experiences
for trainers, riders and event organizers. Presiding over all
of it were the giant blown-up pictures of the Hall of Famers,
from the late Neil Ayer and Alexander Mackay-Smith to the wonderful
horses Jenny Camp and Grasshopper.
"I
saw those pictures and I felt like I was coming home," said Hall
of Fame Dinner emcee Denny Emerson, a former USCTA president and
now the U.S. Equestrian Team's vice president for eventing. "That's
the thing I like about this organization--you're with your friends."
On the following pages, we'll show you the highlights of the convention.
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