Givrins, July 15—The SVAG CS Classic National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Affiliate Championships officially opened the day at CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland. The first 2022 Champions were crowned after a tight battle for the highest step of the podium in the four Finals offered; more high level competition closed the day with the $8,500-Added NRHA Non Pro and $12,000-Added NRHA Open which kept the public glued to their seats until the very last contestant.

$5,000-Added NRHA EAC Intermediate Open
Opting to share the NRHA EAC Intermediate Open Championship with a 216.5 score was Axel Pesek riding his own 2014 American Quarter Horse stallion Reloaded Gun (NRHA Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy) and Steve Ouellet aboard Steadynest Dude (Steadys Dude x Finest Chicolena), a 2011 stallion owned by Christian Koehl of Germany. Ouellet and his mount also claimed the $2,000-Added NRHA EAC Limited Open title.

“I purchased this horse a year ago and we won quite a bit last year,” said the 22 year old rider from France. “This year started off well, and our goal was to the title here so it’s super. Since we are currently leading the NRHA Intermediate Open rankings after three shows, we’ve now decided to haul for the title and since it’s my first time aiming for the World Championship, it’s truly exciting,”

Ouellet had a special story to tell: “Six years ago my wife [Alessia Vincenzi] and her favorite horse Steadynest Dude, AKA ‘Dude,’ had a bad accident during a work session that almost cost her life. The following years were of course difficult for her and the one companion that did not change and stayed with us was Dude. He’s 11-years-old, has a lot of experience in the show pen, so that’s one point I really had to work on but his two qualities are his great mind and heart which brought us to win these two prestigious titles. We are so proud of this achievement!”

Stepping on the third place of the podium, half-a-point behind the Champions was Stefano Ferri of Italy riding A Ruff Spookin Gal, 2016 American Quarter Horse mare (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x A Ruf Gal), owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg
score 216

Taking the NRHA EAC Limited Open Reserve Championship with a 215.5 score was Poland’s Rafal Dolata riding CR Blue Chrome, a 2014 American Quarter Horse stallion by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite out of Nu Chexy owned by Nagiec Arkadiusz and bred by Dave J Roberts

Lena-Marie Maas and Arnels Spat Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spat Olena out of RS Arnels Feo Jac), owned and bred by German Sabrina Adam, scored a 215 for the third step of the podium.

$4,000-Added NRHA EAC Intermediate Non Pro
Swiss Sabine Schmid riding her own Big Code (Electric Code x Roosterina) scored a 220.5 early in the draw to take the Championship. “I purchased this horse in September last year – I had my eyes on him for a long time because I really loved him and am so emotional right now. After our ride together today, the only thing I could do was cry!” said the Swiss rider. “I only showed him at a show in Mooslargue, France, and at the Italian Derby. We love each other so much and he is amazing to show.”

Taking Reserve honors with a 217 and third place honors with a 215.5 in both the Intermediate and Limited non pro was George Sternberg Allen of Great Britain riding Slide Like Jac (Jacs Little Sunrise x Slidin Like A Yankee) owned and bred by Francesca Sternberg and A Shining Gun (Shine My Gun x Lady Buena Freckles), also owned by Francesca Sternberg respectively.

Bringing home the $1,500-Added NRHA EAC Limited Non Pro title with a 219 was 19-year-old Sara Karasova of the Czech Republic aboard her own KH Yankee Step, a 7-year-old gelding by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Rowdy Yankee out of Step A Little Closer. “This is my first EAC title with my great horse who had some time off after the European Derby last year where we won the Level 3, 2, and 1. My sister showed him at the Italian Derby since I was graduating from high school, I took back the reins for the Germany Derby where things didn’t go too well but then we made up for it at the Czech Maturity where we won, and now this!” said Karasova who was quick to credit her trainer Jonáš Bujnoch for her results and her family for the great support.

$12,000-Added NRHA Open
Grischa Ludwig and Alexandra Schmitz’s 2016 American Quarter Horse stallion Gunnit In Hollywood (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x Buffy In Hollywood), laid down an amazing ride paid back by the judges with a huge 229. “This is a great horse, trained by Italian Pierluigi Fabbri who did a great job on him,” said the German rider. “This is our third show together and this is the first time he was exactly where I needed him. He really showed how classy and athletic he is, and I am thrilled. I love CS Ranch, there’s so much history here, and the public is always amazing.”
Piloting Anneliese & Hermann Meinert’s Colonels Whize Gun (Colonels Shining Gun x Alicias Conquistador to second place honors with a 228.5 was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck of Belgium.

$8,000-Added NRHA Non Pro
Gina Maria Schumacher, now based in the family CS Ranch in Gordonville, Texas, came back to Givrins for the EAC and once again left her mark by scoring a 223.5 to win the Non Pro ancillary class with CS Ranch Management SA’s CS Wallawallaboom (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz out of Cheeky Boom) and placed third and fourth with Alittlewhitetrash and Gunna Black Out respectively. “It feels great to be back home,” said Schumacher. “This horse has always made everyone who’s shown him happy; he came back from the U.S. last week after the Derby and will stay here as he’s actually my mom’s horse. I’m very happy with my other two horses I showed, it’s been a great night.”
Swiss Adrienne Speidel performed to a 221.5 with her own Wimpysshortstride BB (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Short Rooster) to take second place honors.   

For full results click here

Action continues in Givrins on Saturday and Sunday, admission is free.
Follow the action live here

For all info regarding the 2022 SVAG NRHA European Affiliate Championships: www.cs-classic.com/en/general-info#reining

For more info and updates: www.NRHAEAC.com

Photos by Official Photographer Tom Hautmann

NRHA EAC Media Contact
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
+39 340 5354629
internationalhorsepress@gmail.com