2019 Best of the Best

Best of the Best 100 - August 17, 2019
Best of the Best 25/50 - August 15, 2019

Entry Package

Welcome to Best of the Best 100! Congratulations on qualifying for this awesome event. Your dedication and conviction should make you quite proud. This accomplishment puts you in a league with a small percentage of distance riders who demonstrate the ability to conquer the ultimate endurance challenge.

Qualifications: Successful completion of no less than five (5) 100 miles in one day AERC sanctioned competitions with a minimum of one (1) in the Top Ten same horse and rider team. Alternate criteria consist of three (3) 100 miles in one day completions with one (1) in the Top Ten and two (2) multi day rides with all offered days completed.
Lifetime record will apply. YOU NEED NOT BE QUALIFIED TO ENTER. MUST COMPLETE QUALIFICATONS ON OR BEFORE MAY 31, 2019.

Accommodations: Riverton, Wyoming
Base camp is at Rick & Cindy Simcox’s home. Camping is primitive with porta potties and horse water. Bring people water. Close to town location with many restaurants, lodging options, fuel, 3 feed stores and Super WalMart just minutes from camp. Camp will open on Monday, August 12, 2019 at noon for early arrivals and close on Monday August 19, 2019 at noon. With prior arrangements, a neighbor who operates a broading facility has agreed to provide turnout or stalls (if you wish to go sightseeing). She will also feed for you as well. For riders wanting to come early or stay late to do more touring you can be assured your animals are secure and well cared for.

Camping: There is a large open fenced field for dry camping where horses may have paddocks or be high-tied. Generators need to be off by 10 pm out of courtesy to others. Horse water will be available. Please come prepared to pick up manure and hay. This is a commercial hayfield and the farmer will need to make another cutting after the ride. Manure will go into a dump trailer WITHOUT garbage bags so bring a mucktub or other container.
2. Any abuse of management, volunteers, equines, neighbors, or competitors and/or their crews will result in immediate disqualification without refund.
3. Well behaved and restrained dogs are welcome. Not everyone loves these pets and your cooperation is appreciated to make everyone’s weekend a positive experience. You will need to clean up after your pets- it is a sanitation issue as well as courtesy. Loose dogs will not be tolerated- this is a working farm area and Wyoming law allows for shooting any animal harassing livestock. Please keep peace for all and come prepared to keep your dogs contained/restrained.
4. Come prepared to clean up your campsite.
5. Completion criteria will by 64 bpm within 30 minutes. There will be a safety check for the 100 mile horses one (1) hour after arrival at the finish. It will have no effect on your completion and is strictly for equine safety.
6. Ties are not permitted.
7. Trail will be flagged with ribbon, lime and glowbars- deviation from the marked trail will result in disqualification.
8. There will be hay on the longer loops at water stops. DO NOT allow your horse to use this for a potty. Crews and riders are responsible for cleaning up their areas before departure.
9. Health certificates will be required for out of state horses along with current coggins.
10. Junior entry is half-price all distances. Junior must be sponsored by an adult competitor and may not be accompanied by an unentered individual. Juniors may change sponsors during the event with signed release. Additional releases will be at the vetchecks.
11. No Smoking on trail.

Trail: 100 mile ride is one loop with vet checks out of camp. All vet checks are at two locations. We will transport crew bags for riders without crew. Trail consists of some sand, some rocks, some gravel and climbing- natural diverse desert terrain. Elevation at camp is about 5000 feet. There are no major climbs but be prepared to climb. Hoof protection is required; pads are recommended. Glow bars to be used after dark. Water stops on trail and water will be available at all checks. 25/50 mile vet check is out of camp in one location. Please remember to be water conscious- we are in the desert and almost every drop must be hauled! Ride time is 24 hours for the 100, 12 hours for the 50 mile ride and 6 hours for the 25.

Meals: Welcome BBQ, Friday night meal and Sunday Brunch on August 18, 2019 and will be catered. We are working with several companies to offer food and drinks all day at Beartrap Meadow for crews, riders, and staff. More information to follow.

Check In: Check in for the 100 mile ride will start at 11 am Friday morning with vetting to start mid-afternoon.

Entry Information:
100 mile entry includes all veterinary examinations, right to ride the marked trail, 2 sets of meal tickets to the pre ride dinner and post ride awards brunch (4 tickets total), a welcome goodie bag at check in, completion awards, and drug fees.

Fees & Policies:
Entry fee for the 100 is $500. A deposit of $200 must accompany entry with the balance fees may be paid in increments with final payment due on or before May 31, 2019.
Refund policy is full refund for all monies paid before December 31, 2018. Until May 31, 2019, a full refund less $100. Entries received after January 1, 2019 will incur a $95 penalty. After May 31, 2019 one half of fees will be refunded with veterinary certificate. No entries accepted after May 31, 2019. NO SHOWS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.



Directions: From Casper and points North/East:
Follow US 26 West from Shoshoni. Cross the Causeway for Boysen Lake. Once the road widens to 4 lanes (plus a turn lane), go about 2 miles to Wyoming Livestock Supply and you will see Wyoming Elevator (grain bins) both on the right side. Turn right on Hutchinson Road. GO ½ mile to the stop sign and turn right on 2 Valley Rd. Follow it up the hill and around to the big sign and parking directions.
From Lander and points South/West:
Follow Wyoming 789 or US 26 into and through Riverton. Follow US 26/WY 789 (they merge in downtown). Shortly after WalMart is a flashing yellow caution light. Continue 5 miles to a left on 2 Valley Road. There is a dinosaur billboard directly across from the entrance to 2 Valley Road. Take 2 Valley approximately one mile to large sign and parking directions.

Volunteers are the life blood of these events. If you would like to volunteer, please let us know so we can have a shirt and goodie bag for you, too!


25/50 Specific Information

Qualifications: This is an open AERC sanctioned 25/50 mile event. There are no qualifications to participate outside AERC requirements.

Trail: This is a 50 mile loop with holds at a central location out of camp. The 25 will start and finish at camp. The trail consists of varied desert terrain and will be different from the 100 mile ride. Expect rocks, soft footing, single and two track, with some climbs.

Meals: 25/50 mile ride includes one ticket to Welcome BBQ on August 14, 2019.

Check In: Check in for the 25/50 mile ride will start Wednesday afternoon with vetting to follow.


Entry Information:
25/50 mile entry includes all veterinary examinations, right to the ride marked trail, a goodie bag, completion awards, drug fees and one ticket for the Welcome BBQ.
A minimum of 20 paid entries needed by May 31, 2019 to ensure this event. Entries after this date can not be guaranteed meals, goodie bags, or completions.



Schedule of Events
Tentative

Monday, August 12, 2019

12 PM Camp Opens

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Noon 25/50 Mile Check in
3 PM 25/50 Mile Vetting begins
7 PM 25/50 Mile Pre-Ride Briefing after Welcome BBQ

Thursday, August 15, 2019

7 AM 50 Mile Trail Opens
8 AM 25 Mile Trail Opens
2 PM 25 Mile Trail Closes
7 PM 50 Mile Trail Closes and 25/50 mile awards

Friday, August 16, 2019

11 AM 100 Mile Check in
3 PM 100 Mile Vetting Begins
6 PM Pre-Ride Dinner
7 PM 100 Mile Pre-Ride Briefing

Saturday, August 17, 2019

6 AM 100 Mile Trail Opens

Sunday, August 18, 2019

6 AM 100 Mile Trail Closes
8 AM 100 Mile B of B Best Condition Judging
9 AM Brunch
10 AM 100 Mile Awards

Monday, August 19, 2019
Noon Camp Closes



More information and an entry form can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/307550366666252/