Elizabeth The 1st

NC National Guard to get its 1st female general

The Guard says Elizabeth Austin of Willow Spring will be promoted in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon in Raleigh. Once promoted, Austin will serve as the Guard's assistant adjutant general for the Army, and her duties will include equipment and personnel readiness. She'll be the main adviser to Adjutant Gen. Gregory Lusk.

Austin is a career logistics officer who's been a soldier in the N.C. National Guard for more than 32 years. She deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and to Iraq in 2004.

Atlanta Summer Classics Awards Over $160000 in First Week-Elizabeth

Kicking off a huge week at the Georgia International Horse Park, the Hunter riders took center stage on Friday evening as 30 determined horses vied for the spotlight in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by the Classic Company. It had the feel of a red carpet extravaganza with competitors donning Shadbelly jackets, shiny boots, braided manes and tails –all those special touches to further impress the panel of four judges-Mike Rosser, Betsy Perry, Leo Conroy, and Mike Lowrey. Beauty aside what the judges really wanted to see was the talent used to negotiate the 12 obstacles brought to reality from the imagination of designer Allen Rheinheimer.  Making use of the expansive Olympic arena Rheinheimer created a track that traversed its entirety including the sizable bank along the back wall, additionally riders encountered 4 options with height choices of 3’6 or 4’ as well as bending and broken lines throughout. Only the top 12 scores would be invited back for the handy round two.

“Awesome job!” Elizabeth Boyd [Liza to her friends] of Camden, SC commented on Rheinheimer’s layout. Boyd and mount Brunello, the 13 year-old Hanoverian gelding by Accord II whom she co-owns with Janet Peterson of Landrum, SC, lead the first round pack with a score of 185.  “Horse of a lifetime, I’m so lucky! He’s a real master of these [Derbies] now. I can really count on him.” Boyd complimented her partner, who is currently ranked 2nd going into the $100,000 USHJA International Derby Finals this August at the Kentucky Horse Park. She felt that one of the best obstacles in the first round was its length and stated you needed a fit horse for this layout. “Brunello is ridden and prepared like a grand prix horse-he gets worked. I keep him very very fit; you have to for the Derbies.”

Not far off Brunello’s hooves was Wagner with pilot Hasbrouck Donovan of Ocala, FL finishing the first round with a 178 score. “Hasbrouck is a wonderful young rider and I don’t take anything for granted when she’s in the competition.” Boyd said.

Moving to the second act, Rheinheimer deigned a handy 10 fence layout which included 4 options, however, the p’est de resistance came at the final two fences, #9 and #10 which were both option fences. Riders could take a left turn off vertical #8 to the lower #9 then sweep right to the 3’6 oxer at #10. Or they could brave the high road like owner-rider Lucille Oken of Charlotte, NC with Cool Blue and execute a nearly flawless ride earning them a score of 196 added to their first round 150 for a total of 346. One of the toughest riders Boyd faced was young Donovan with Wagner. The duo had a smooth approach to the big obstacles which the judges’ scores reflected with bonus points for a 195 second round total and overall score of 373 giving them the lead position.  Boyd and Brunello’s curtain call included choosing all the high options, making them only the second pair to attempt that strategy. “It rode big; those last two options were BIG solid oxers! I don’t get jumped loose very often, but my horse made such an effort that I got a little loose.” Boyd laughed, “He [Brunello] was great. I have such a bond with this horse and know him so so well.” Boyd’s confidence paid off with a score of 200 added to their first round for a total of 385 and the victory.