Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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s, Wednesday, July 22,1998 Beckha gets a f; sports editor BRYAN JOHNSTON The University of South Carolina's softball facility has gone through many changes in the past three years. What was once a bland facility with several hundred metal bleachers has become one of the country's finest. With concrete bleachers and lights added last year, the complex keeps improving. But the school is not done yet. Beckham Field is nnderpninp another ren ovation project. Thanks to a generous gift from David and Mitzi Beckham, a $225,000 project, Construction workers clean up Carolina's s ing a $225,000 expansion project to extend Eauestrian t X new home, ci staff writer 10HY ISAAC The University of South Carolina's Equestrian team will have a new home and new coach this fall As the program begins its third season of competition at the varsity level, Irish Oaks Equestrian Center, recognized as one of the premier equestrian facilities in the state, will serve as the team's home base. Irish Oaks is located in Irmo, 15 minutes from the USC campus. In addition, Frances "Boo" Major, who has rooonrorl ctato rPPinnal anH national rooncmi. tion as a premier equestrian instructor for nearly 20 years, will serve as the team's coach. Major has instructed riders throughout the >ORTS The Gamecock Page 1 m Field l*i?i ace mi adding approximately 500 permanent seats to the facility, is near completion. The project calls for the pre-cast concrete sections, identical to the ones in place now, to be extended down to the dugouts, increasing the capacity in the concrete sections to 1,000 and the total capacity, including the metal bleachers down the foul lines, to 1,600. "This is going to make it more of a stadium enclosure, and it'll definitely add to the scene," USC Head Softball Coach Joyce Compton said. "The feel of the stadium is going USC page five T - J i BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gamecock oftbali stadium. Beckham Field is undergothe bleachers down to each dugout earn to have iaeh in fail bf Vt> VJLJL AJLA Jk VVAJL Southeast and has suCcessftdly competed at the national level for the past two decades. Irish Oaks has a solid reputation within the equestrian community in South Carolina. Constructed in 1995, the facility features two custom-designed barns with 23 horse stalls. Irish Oaks also has lighted horse rings, providing an opportunity to showcase the Gamecock program. Major is a 1981 graduate of South Carolina. She received her master's degree from USC in 1990. She has taught equestrian at nearly 10 different riding facilities across the state, coaching more than a dozen riders who have won regional and national honors. Major served as an equestrian official at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and is a member of six different equestrian associations. W ' .j?!!''" :*S. ? JU jri Caf< ^ Serving ^ > lunch & dinnerC mon. - sat. ^ 1 mi NU mmm mt tVtnl 1 920 LADY COLUM 255-01 > i bias Mi UESDAY STREET IRI A i n 042 |