The 2019 edition of the SVAG CS Classic & Swiss Championship Finals was a hit from the moment the entries came in and numbers were way above any expectations.

Givrins, June 8 — Provided by Simona Diale — Some of Europe’s best horses and riders made their way to the beautiful CS Ranch, situated in Givrins, and performed to their very best: from the grass root level to the professionals who participated in the highlight of the show, the €10.000-added SVAG CS Classic Open Trophy.

The Open Trophy – which closed the event – counted 15 entries and it was all about thrills as one after the other the amazing horses and riders lay down great reining patterns. Once the curtain fell, it was all about girl power as multiple past NRHA Open World Champion Ann Fonck rode Spook N Perla, owned by Golden Paint Ranch, to the win with the highest score of the week: a 150.5. “She was really nice and felt good all the way,” said Ann about the pretty 8-year-old bay mare by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook out of Shine On Ruf who she has had in training since the mare was 2-years-old. “She is a great stopper, a wonderful show horse and I am very proud with this result. This show is one of the best to go to: you have the possibility to school your horses so that they become comfortable in the show pen, and of course the facility and the organization are great. Thank you, Corinna, and team!”

 
Cira Baeck & Gunstep – Morey Fisk & Chics Smokin Gun

Tying for reserve honors with a 147.5 were NRHA Million Dollar Rider Cira Baeck and Morey Fisk: Baeck rode CS Ranch Management SA’s Gunstep (NRHA Ten Million Dolllar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Snowgun), and Fisk was seen riding Chics Smokin Gun (NRHA Eleven Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dun It By Chic) owned by Sabine Schmid.

Steve Vannietvelt & What A Wave

Just as exciting was the €6.000-added SVAG CS Classic Non Pro Trophy where, with three horses to go in a field of 35 entries, German riders Gina Schumacher with Dun Escaping BB along with Janine Ketterer aboard her own Miss Electric Spark were tied to lead the with a 144.5 score. That’s when the past 2016 NRHA Non Pro Reserve World Champions Piet Mestdagh of Belgium and Reining Whiz – duo that is currently leading the 2019 Non Pro rankings – stormed in the show arena to better their score with a 145. But the action wasn’t over yet as last to go, fellow countryman Steve Vannietvelt guiding his multiple past NRHA Open World Champion and FEI WEG Individual Gold Medalist, What A Wave, performed a great pattern worth a 145.5 to win the prestigious competition. For Steve, riding the amazing stallion has always been a dream from the moment he and Gina De Pauw purchased him. His dream has come true with the result being the cherry on the cake!

Piet Mestdagh & Reining Whiz

Once again, the SVAG CS Classic will be fundamental in determining who the NRHA World Champions will be as it was in determining who would claim the 2019 Swiss Open, Non Pro and Youth Championships.

Sabine Schmid & Xtra Voodoo Crème

The 2019 Swiss Open Championship final was run class in class with the SVAG CS Classic Open and was just as exciting as Sabine Schmid firmly claimed the title in a field of ten with a 144.5 riding her own Xtra Voodoo Crème (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wimpys New Pal). Philipp Kueng and Spook On Diamond (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x SIRI Yellow Diamond), owned by Sabrina Schneiter, were Reserve Champions with a 142. In third place, a point behind, was Adrienne Speidel riding Chexylution (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Einsteins Revolution x Chexymatic) for owner Ariane Speidel.

Joseph Pfaff Jr. & Cattlemans Whiz

In the 2019 Swiss Non Pro Championship it took a thrilling run off to determine who would slide to the highest step of the podium as Andrea Waeber aboard her Captain Igloo and Joseph Pfaff Jr. riding Cattlemans Whiz had tied to lead with a 141.5. Once the two came back to perform for the title, it was Pfaff and his mount who took the gold medal with a 143.5 leaving the silver to Waeber who closed with a 142. Third place honors in the Championship final went to Nina Zinsli and her Spooks Roxstar.

Nanina Staub & Chant For Chics

Once the young riders had performed, it was Nanina Staub riding Sabine Schmid’s Chant For Chics to soar to a 141.5 thus clinching the Swiss Youth 14-18 Championship medal. Claiming the Reserve Championship and silver was Sophia Staub who reined Sabine Schmidt’s Gunslinger Lil Step to a 141.

Ancillary Action:
Offering a full-slate of NRHA approved classes, the SVAG CS Classic kept the action going from day one. Here are your champions:

    •    Any Horse Any Rider 1 officially opened the competition counting 68 entries. Four riders topped the class with a 69.5 score: NRHA Million Dollar Rider Cira Baeck riding Silvia Dumont’s CB Chic Shining Gun, Philipp Kueng riding Andrea Waeber’s Walla Walla Genius, Lukas Wertli with his own Tuckrs Pumuckel, and Charlene Auberton aboard A Reminic Star for owner CJA Quarter Horses.

    •    Whizzard (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Lil Miss x Shining Spark), owned by CS Ranch Management, SA., slid Ian Bethke to a 71 and the Any Horse Any Rider 2 win.

    •    In an amazing field of 32 entries, Swiss Sabine Schmid rode her own Sailorsarcofpride BB to a 71.5 score to win the NRHA approved SVAG CS Classic NRHA Novice Horse Level 2 Non Pro title.

    •    Earning top honors in the NRHA Novice Horse L2 Open was Andrea Waeber reining his Captain Igloo with a 70.5.

    •    Thomas Hein took the NRHA Rookie Professional with a 133 aboard his Black Badger RST.

    •    Winning the NRHA Prime Time Open with a 138 was Vera Wengen riding Beat Wenger’s Xtra Grayt Step.

    •    Gina Schumacher rode CS Ranch Management SA’s Colonels Danger Zone to a 140.5 and first place in the SVAG CS Classic S/H 5 & Under Non Pro.

    •    NRHA Million Dollar Rider Cira Baeck clinched the first two places in the SVAG CS Classic S/H 4 & Under Open with Lil Voodoo Chic RD (142.5) and Lil Joe Whiz BB (140.5), both owned by Ruediger Diedenhofen.

    •    The 2016 NRHA Non Pro World Reserve Champions Piet Mestdagh and his Reining Whiz placed first in the NRHA  Intermediate Non Pro with a 144.

    •    It was a win, with a great 143.5, for Janine Deana Ketterer and her Miss Electric Spark in the NRHA  Limited Non Pro.

    •    It took a 147 to fly to the first place of both NRHA $4,000-added Intermediate Open and $400-added Limited Open classes and that’s exactly what young Nimroid Vannietvelt of Belgium posted riding Gunnerlicious owned by De Pauw/Vannietvelt.

    •    Taking home first place honors in the NRHA Rookie Level 1 with a 135 was Swiss Marion Kaufmann-Amstutz riding her own Tacos Lark.

    •    In the NRHA  Rookie Level 2, Zoé Vercammen of Germany rode her Lil Ruf Revolution to a 138 top score.

    •    Nanina Staub riding Sabine Schmid’s Chant For Chics took the NRHA Youth 14-18 with a 141.5.

    •     Sophia Staub reined Sabine Schmidt’s Gunslinger Lil Step to a 141 and first place in the NRHA Youth 13 & Under

For full results, please visit http://www.showmanager.info/Result.aspx?eventID=14588&turnierID=854&klassenID=1776&status=3

As the first week of The Summer of Reining at the beautiful CS Ranch owned by Corinna Schumacher comes to a close, once again the CS Team is proud and honored to host the upcoming SVAG FEI World Championships for Young Riders & Juniors and European Championships for Seniors. The Ranch is the biggest and most modern private reining facility in Switzerland and is ideally situated and equipped for professional reining training and showing. The covered arena measures 95×50 meters and can accommodate over 1400 spectators. As always, ADMISSION IS FREE. For further information www.cs-ranch.eu

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