New circuit hosts first event Saturday

Thursday, April 10, 2008
Submitted photo Eastern Kansas Timed Events Circuit Board Members gather to finalize plans for the newly created organization's upcoming season. The board members are front, from left: David and Jada Fuhrman, Elizabeth Meech and Danea Esslinger. Back, from left: JW Meech, Susie and Becky Bennett and Marita Meech. Not pictured: Bret and Katie Umphenour, Deanna Fuhrman, Margaret Bennett and Pat Menzie.

When David and Jada Fuhrman, Bronson, conducted several horse riding competitions last year, it sparked the idea for creating an organization geared toward area youth.

According to Eastern Kansas Timed Events Circuit Board Member Marita Meech, the Fuhrman's called several of their acquaintances together in January to discuss the creation of the Eastern Kansas Timed Events Circuit.

After discussing the benefits of such an organization for the area youth, they began to coordinate ideas for those events. Meech said that each of the board members is very excited about the first EKTEC event that will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Uniontown Saddle Club Arena.

The Eastern Kansas Timed Events Circuit was created to give area youth the opportunity to compete in timed events close to home, according to Meech.

"The group's primary focus is to provide timed events for youth of the area to compete at an affordable price closer to home," Meech said.

The competition will be open to youth 19 and younger and will include various competitions such as poles, goat tying and break away roping, in addition to several other events. According to Meech the youth will compete for year-end awards.

"There is a membership of $5 for ages 19 and under with year-end prizes going to members who meet specified qualifications by the end of the season in October," Meech said.

In addition to the youth events, Meech said that the organization will conduct some open class events for the adults. The open class events will include barrels, calf roping and team roping. Unlike the youth events, the open class events will not compete for awards.

"The open event contestants will not compete for year-end awards; they will only jackpot," Meech said.

Although the first event will be conducted in Uniontown, the organization will also conduct competitions in Iola and Chanute throughout the EKTEC season, which will run from April to October.

According to Meech, the April and May events will be conducted on Saturday evenings. During the months of June, July and August, the competitions will occur on Friday evenings, and the September and October events will be conducted on Sunday afternoons.

Meech said that although the organization will only conduct events in Uniontown, Iola and Chanute this year, she hopes that in the future the success of the program will enable it to conduct events in other surrounding towns.

With severe weather in the forcast, Meech said that it is important for competitors to "Call before you haul." Meech said that if it begins to rain, the location of the event could be changed, or, although it would be a last resort, the event could be canceled. Event participants should call Fuhrman at (620) 939-4894, or EKTEC Board Member Susie Bennett, Humboldt, at (620) 473-2509 for changes due to the weather.

EKTEC Board Members include David, Jada and Dalton Fuhrman; Marita, Elizabeth and J.W. Meech; Danea, Breanna and Brenton Esslinger from Uniontown; Becky, Susie and Margaret Bennett; Pat Menzie from Iola; Deanna Fuhrman from Bronson and Bret and Katie Umphenour from Fulton.

For more information about EKTEC, including dates, times and locations of future events, area residents can access the EKTEC Web site at http://ectec.tripod.com or send an email to easternkansastimedeventscircuit@yahoo.com. In addition, residents can call Marita Meech at (620) 857-4503, David Fuhrman at (620) 939-4894, or Susie Bennett at (620) 473-2509.