Ytterligare rapporter från NRBC har kommit, tävlingen är i full gång och slutar först på söndag.
Jordan Donnelly Wins NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 at NRBC
There were 27 entries in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 National Reining Horse Association Ancillary class at the National Reining Breeders Classic. When the last entry had left the arena, the title of Champion went to Jordan Donnelly, of Aubrey, Texas, on Smokems Whiz.
“She did really well today. She was honest and trustworthy and I didn’t have any problems,” noted Donnelly, who marked a 146.5 to win $625.
Jordan’s mother, Kim Ferguson, purchased Smokems Whiz last year and the mare was trained as a cow horse. “She’s turned out to be a really good reiner,” noted Donnelly. “She’s very quick-footed and that is awesome to me.”
Finishing as Co-Reserve Champion in the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 was Jessicah Torpey on Sheza Chic Olena and Lindsey McCutcheon with Mega Beat. Both scored a 144.5 and won $400. Torpey and McCutcheon were also tied for the Championship of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1, which was run concurrently, and took home an additional $279.
Fappani is “Gunning” for Another NRBC Championship
Former National Reining Breeders Classic Champion Andrea Fappani is after another NRBC title, and he brought the big guns to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. On the first day of Open preliminary competition, the National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Rider piloted Tinker With Guns to a 227.5 – currently the high score of the round!
Tinker With Guns, owned by Rancho Oso Rio, is a former NRHA Futurity Top Five finisher. Tinker With Guns is by Gunner (Colonels Smoking Gun) and out of Tinker Nic.
Currently leading the Intermediate Open with a 224 is Peter DeFreitas and Conquistadors Sandy, owned by Double Run Farm LLC. Conquistadors Sandy is by Conquistador Whiz and out of Ritas San Jo.
Topping the Limited Open and Level 1 Open is David Zimmerman, who piloted Jacs Lil Spook to a 223.5. Jacs Lil Spook, owned by Newell Quarter Horses, is by Smart Spook out of Miss Whoa Jac.
Scott McCutcheon and Smart Like Valentino lead the Open Prime Time division with a 223.5. Smart Like Valentino, by Smart Like Juice out of Smart Little Jewell, is owned by Rosanne Sternberg.
The Open preliminary competition concludes Thursday, April 21, with the final 88 runs. The top 30 Open entries, as well as the top twenty in the Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Level 1 Open, and Open Prime Time, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, April 23.
Following the Open Preliminary competition, all Open Finalists, along with family and friends, will enjoy the Surpass Open Draw Party in the Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club. The Draw Party begins at 7 p.m., and everyone is invited to join in the excitement.
Mary Anne Van Degna Sweeps NRBC Ancillary Rookie Competition
Only six years into reining and Mary Anne Van Degna has already found a niche as a winning Non Pro and owner. Her latest success happened at the 2011 National Reining Breeders Classic in the National Reining Horse Association Ancillary Rookie Level 1 and Level 2 divisions. The NRBC first-timer clinched the No. 1 slot in each class with a score of 140.5 on Ruf N Dunit.
“He’s just such a great horse, and he does such a great job,” Van Degna said. “I could tell when we were warming up that he was really focused on what we were doing, and I was focused. When that happens, it just feels like it’s going to be a good run.”
Van Degna said that by working with her trainer, Marcy Ver Meer, she has been able to improve in her riding abilities to be able to match the skill of her 7-year-old reiner Ruf N Dunit, who she calls “Rocky.” “I’ve graduated to his level,” Van Degna said.
Ver Meer rode Rocky in the 2007 NRHA Futurity, claiming the Intermediate Open title. The trainer was also Open Reserve Champion at that year’s Futurity on another of Van Degna’s horses, Gunners Special Nite, now owned by Sarah Willeman and shown by Tom McCutcheon to two Reining gold medals at the 2010 FEI/Alltech World Equestrian Games.
“I just love horses, but I could never ride them full time until all my kids were grown,” Van Degna, a stay-at-home mom for over 20 years, said. As soon as their youngest child left for college, Van Degna and her husband, Bob, headed to Cave Creek, Arizona, and established Bar Double C ranch, where Ver Meer is resident reining trainer. “We feel very fortunate to have found Marcy. It worked out that I love her program, and she’s a great coach.”
Van Degna said that Ver Meer might also show Rocky in the NRBC Open Classic Challenge on Friday, April 22.
The Rookie Level 1 Reserve Champion was Jill Martin, Houston, Texas, who scored a 139.5 riding her New Olena Cash. Scoring a 140 and riding the No. 2 spot in the Rookie Level 2 was Tiffani Avery, Fulshear, Texas, and her Chullo Chic Dream.
Torpey and McCutcheon Win NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 at NRBC
The National Reining Breeders Classic, held annually at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, annually boats a payout that exceeds $1.3 million – and part of that comes from the National Reining Horse Association Ancillary classes that are part of the show.
On Wednesday, April 20, Jessica Torpey and Lindsey McCutcheon tied for the Championship of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1, and the pair also shared the Reserve title of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, which was run concurrently.
Torpey was competing on Sheza Chic Olena, while McCutcheon was riding Mega Beat. Both Non Pros marked a 144.5, to collect $279 in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 and $400 in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2.
“I bought her in January and have only shown her twice – but she’s won both times,” noted Torpey, of Princeton, Kentucky, who owns Hickory Chic Olena – Sheza Chic Olena’s sire. “She worked well today. It’s hard to get one shown on this pattern, but it went well.”
McCutcheon, of Whitesboro, Texas, did compete on Mega Beat in the Non Pro Classic preliminaries, but missed making the finals. “It was my screw up, so I decided to show her today and she was so good!” she said of the mare, who she plans to show at the NRHA Derby. Even though it didn’t happen on Mega Beat, McCutcheon did make the Non Pro finals on her other Classic entry. “I love showing here. It’s so fun and it’s a great place to show because there are so many options.”
Mer info på www.nrbc.com
