Berlin - Saturday September 15th the Berlin Historical Society hosted the Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride. Saturday was the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Maynesboro stud by William Robinson Brown. Fifty horses and riders from all over New England and one from New York trotted, cantered and walked their way all around Berlin despite the chill wind and a few raindrops.

There were three divisions: 50 mile run, 25 mile run and a leisure category. With a time of seven hours and one minute in the 50 mile run, riders Kathy Downs of Somerville, Maine riding Bey Gibby, Ruth Ferland of Cornish, New Hampshire riding Jedidiah Blackguard and Sally White of Marlboro, Vermont riding RSF Rusty crossed the finish line together. Walter Nadeau, organizer of the event said that the women held hands while crossing the finish line. The women plan to have all three names put on the cup and then take turns caring for it.

In the 25 mile run, husband and wife Cindy and Peter Seames took first and second. Cindy was riding Alar Enchanted Safire and Peter was riding Alar Alladinns, when they crossed the line at three hours, twenty eight minutes and three hours twenty nine minutes respectively. While riding TA First Class, Charlene Fraske took third place. Winners were announced and awards presented at a BBQ in the stud barn following the race. Jackie Nadeau co-organizer of the event said that the planning for this event started one year ago. Everyone is very grateful to the numerous sponsors, Head's Pond ATV trail users, the local snowmobile club and 12 landowners for helping to make this event possible.

Odette LeClerc and Barbara Barbieri, event volunteers and members of the Berlin/Coos County Historical Society, shared some of the history surrounding this race.

W.R. Brown was a member of the Brown family who owned and operated the Brown Paper Mill. In the early years of the twentieth century, Brown was considered the expert on Arabian horses. Between 1918 and 1932, WR Brown imported 33 Arabians from Europe and Asia. From these 33 he bred 194 Arabian foals. In 1919, he sponsored the first United States Mounted Service Cup for Endurance Tests. Mr Brown was hoping the endurance race would show that Arabian horses would be the perfect horses for the military. From 1918 to 1938 he was the president of the Arabian Horse Club of America. WR Brown died in 1955.