The Hamilton County Junior Drill Team competed in the SSMDTA Championship Finals in Tampa on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.

They rode in three different divisions and came home with three ribbons: second place in the Maiden Division (first year drill team competition), fourth place in the Youth Division, and eighth place in the Open Division (youth and adult).

The mounted drill team competition is a timed event in which the horse and rider perform with timing and synchronization to music. They are judged on their musical composition, costume, horsemanship, showmanship, grooming, difficulty of maneuvers/patterns and the willingness of their horses to perform at different gaits and various maneuvers.

The Junior Drill team would like give a special thank you to the following people and businesses: Mary Grubbs, Linda and Otis Wetherington, Patty and Caitlin Mitchell, Tori Harris, Farley Cone, Rogers Deas, Matt Waters, Jesse Mitchell, Marie Warren, Linda and Bill Taylor, Bass Furniture and Appliance, North Florida Farm Center, ESP, Eddie Accardi, Hamilton County Riding Club, Hazel Strickland, Will Curry and the Jasper News. Also, we would like to extend a very special thank you to the whole team and their parents.

The drill team is open for new riders (ages eight to 17). We are planning a barbecue dinner fundraiser on Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. and a pancake breakfast with Cowboy Santa at the arena on Dec. 22, at 9 a.m. The drill teams will be riding. Sign up soon; they, are doing partner line ups now. Thank you for supporting our fund raisers.

The Hamilton County Junior Drill Team plans to ride in the Sunshine State Mounted Drill State Competition at the Florida State Fair in February 2008.