The Sunset Saddle Club members celebrated their past year of riding accomplishments with their year-end banquet at the Albert Lea American Legion. President Troy Thompson welcomed about 100 members and their families. Trophies and awards were presented by Vice President Kelley Jensen and 2010 Saddle Club Princess Kendall Ward. Members elected new 2011 officers and board of director members. New 2011 Sunset Saddle Club royalty was crowned that evening as well.

Newly elected officers for 2011 are President Gary Richter, Vice President Nicole Brown, Secretary Marcie Sailor and Treasurer Todd Uptadel. Board members elected were Fallon Thom, Jolene Babcock, Kelley Jensen, Emily Johnson and Brynn Hable. The new club queen is Brittany Reese and new princess is Rachel Petersen.

Awards were presented to the following members:

Jolene Babcock: reserve championships in jumping figure 8-20 and over, and speed dash 20 and over.

Maverick Babcock: tied for grand champion keyrace 10 and under, reserve champion poles 10 and under, jumping figure 8-10 and under, speed dash 10 and under. He was named 10 and under boy high point champion.

Ashley Bartness: grand champion English pleasure-all ages.

Breanna Brown: grand champions in egg and spoon 10 and under and pole weaving 10 and under.

Isabelle Brown: grand champion in leadline 6 and under.

Kjersten Brue: grand champion horsemanship 20 and over, 2, 3 and 4 year old snaffle bit, reserve champion western pleasure 20 and over, egg and spoon 20 and over, tied for reserve champion in showmanship 20 and over.

Makayla Elmer: grand championships in jumping figure 8-11-14 years, pole weaving 11-14, reserve championships in barrels 11-14, speed dash 11-14, keyrace 11-14.

Drew Folie: tied for grand champion in showmanship 11-14 year, tied for reserve champion in one barrel pennant 14 and under.

Dave Gilman: grand champion barrels 20 and over, jumping figure 8-20 and over, speed dash 20 and over, pole weaving 20 and over and keyrace 20 and over.

Brynn Hable: grand championships in pony halter, showmanship 10 and under, walk-trot 12 and under, horsemanship 10 and under, western pleasure 10 and under, barrels 10 and under, jumping figure 8-10 and under, speed dash 10 and under, grand champion tie-key race 10 and under, reserve champion egg and spoon 10 and under. Hable was named 10 and under girl high point champion.

Kelley Jensen: reserve champion keyrace 20 and over, tied for reserve champion in showmanship 20 and over and one barrel pennant 15 and over.

Bryn Johnson: reserve champion in showmanship 10 and under.

Emily Johnson: grand champion speed dash 15-19 years, barrels 15-19, jumping figure 8-15-19, keyrace 15-19, tied for reserve champion in one barrel pennant 15 and over.

Lapree Jordan: tied for grand champion in egg and spoon 15-19, champion in one barrel pennant 15 and over. Reserve champion in pole weaving 15-19 and barrels 15-19.

Amanda Lampman: grand championships in showmanship 15-19 years, and tied for grand champion in egg and spoon 15-19, reserve championships in aged halter and speed dash 15-19.

Cheryl Lein: grand champion yearling halter and tied for grand champion weanling halter.

Brandi Modene: grand champion pole weaving 15-19, reserve championships in jumping figure 8-15-19 years, and keyrace 15-19.

Melissa Opsahl: tied for grand champion weanling halter.

Rachael Petersen: grand champion in bareback horsemanship-all ages, horsemanship 11-14, western pleasure 11-14, trail class-all ages, tied for grand in egg and spoon 11-14 and rescue race 14 and under.

Carter Richter: reserve champion barrels 10 and under, keyrace 10 and under, tied for reserve champion in one barrel pennant 14 and under.

Laytan Thom: reserve champion in pony halter.

Fallon Thom: won grand championships in two-year-old halter, aged halter, showmanship 20 and over, western pleasure 20 and over, egg and spoon 20 and over, reserve championships in horsemanship 20 and over and 2, 3 and 4 year old snaffle bit class.

Holly Thompson: reserve champion in showmanship 11-14 years, pole weaving 11-14 years.

Jordyn VanRyswyk: reserve championships in barrels 20 and over and pole weaving 20 and over.

Kendall Ward: tied for grand champion showmanship 11-14 years, and egg and spoon 11-14, grand champion in barrels 11-14, speed dash 11-14, keyrace 11-14, and rescue race 11-14. Reserve championships in two-year-old halter, horsemanship 11-14, western pleasure 11-14, and jumping figure 8-11-14.

Kylee Ward: grand champion one barrel pennant 14 and under, reserve champion egg and spoon 11-14.

Grace Wolfe: reserve champion in horsemanship 10 and under, western pleasure 10 and under, and bareback horsemanship-all ages.

Riders who are 10 years old and younger, who participated in at least three Sunset Saddle Club shows and didn’t receive a year-end trophy received a participation trophy. Those receiving this award were Trevor Johnson, Laine Sailor, Josie Sailor, Sierra Babcock and Weston Dahl.

Sunset Saddle Club meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in horses is welcome to become a member. For more information contact any member or stop in at the next meeting on Jan. 3 at Hardee’s in Albert Lea. The club holds two major open horse shows each year in May and September. There are also 10 horse shows for the members during the summer. The public is welcome to attend any show and enjoy watching the events. There is no admission charge for events.