Recreation / Ralph Nichols : Wallner Gets Up to Help Team Place in Equestrian Meet

Christen Wallner of Westlake Village helped the Area 6 team--which represented California and Hawaii--to a sixth-place finish in the American Continental Young Riders equestrian championships in Wadsworth, Ill, last month.

Wallner, 19, failed to finish the course in the individual dressage competition after falling while attempting to jump a water obstacle on the cross-country course. She completed the course in the team competition, however.

In dressage, a rider and horse are judged on speed and endurance while riding over a cross-country course and on obstacle jumping and compulsory movements inside an arena.

Wallner was competing in the Young Riders championships for the second consecutive year. The former Agoura High student vied with riders from throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Eagle Rock rugby: The Eagle Rock Athletic Club, the oldest rugby club in Southern California, finished sixth in a seven-man rugby tournament at the Rose Bowl last Saturday. The tournament drew more than 20 teams from throughout the state.

Eagle Rock defeated the Santa Monica Rugby Club, 18-12, for its only victory in three games. The field was split into two divisions, with Belmont Shore winning the A division, which included Eagle Rock.

Cal State Bakersfield will be the site of the next seven-man tournament Sept. 10. The 15-man rugby season starts Oct. 1 and runs through April. Games will be held at several sites in the Valley, including Balboa Park and Hjelte Sports Center in Encino.

Information: 818-786-5682.

Tribe triumphs: The Tribe won the men’s A division of the Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Department’s slow-pitch tournament.

More than 200 teams from nine divisions and 150 leagues competed in the single-elimination tournament this month at sites throughout the Valley. Four division winners were determined at the championships last Thursday at Balboa Park.

The Tribe defeated Byron’s Bail Bonds, 7-6, to win its division. Danglin’ Fury defeated Bad Co., 14-3, to win the men’s B division and VCA beat The Bones to claim the men’s C division title. The Cobras knocked off Image Makers, 6-3, in the co-recreation C division final.

The fall softball leagues begin play Tuesday at sites throughout the Valley. More than 600 teams are scheduled to compete in slow-pitch, fast-pitch and modified leagues.

Judo instruction: Neil Ohlenkamp of the Encino Judo Club is one of five instructors staging clinics throughout Southern California over the Labor Day Weekend as part of the California Festival of Judo.

Athletes from the America Judo Team are scheduled to take part in the clinics. Ohlenkamp will teach a clinic Tuesday night at the Encino Community Center, one of two Valley-area locations. Rey Tinaza, coach of Stonehurst Judo Club in Chatsworth, will stage a clinic at the San Fernando Judo Club in Pacoima on Wednesday night.

Information: 818-341-9711.

Canoeing: The City recreation and parks department will stage canoeing lessons beginning Sept. 17 for youths aged 12 and older.

The sessions will be held at the Echo indoor swimming pool in Los Angeles and at Echo Park Lake near Dodger Stadium. The three-hour sessions will run on five consecutive Saturdays.

Swimming lessons at the City recreation and parks Valley-based pools will end this weekend and most of the area pools will be closed by Tuesday. Lessons will continue at the Hubert H. Humphrey pool in Pacoima, which is open year-round.

Information: 213-485-5559.

Basketball sign-ups: Sign-ups continue for the Southern California Basketball Club fall league, which is for players 6 feet, 4 inches or shorter. Games will be played at Monroe High beginning Sept. 10.

Information: 818-362-5572.