Stare Zukowice, Poland—The last show for NRHA Czech this season was held in cooperation with Roleski Ranch in Poland, at the state-of-the-art facility owned by a long-time reining breeder and supporter of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Katarzyna Roleska. The show offered the NRHA Czech ancillary classes, the Roleski Ranch Futurity & Derby, AQHA classes, and All Breed classes. As usual, Roleska and her team’s warm welcome, great organization, and amazing facility made the show a memorable one.
Non Pro Futurity
The 3- and 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity, sponsored by Roleski, was held on Friday morning, and it was Austrian rider Alexander Nestelberger who claimed the $1.300 added Level (L)4 Championship aboard Doctor Cop (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Finest Copyshot). The duo scored a 71 for their run to top the class.
Alexander Nesterlberger & Doctor Cop, photo by Western Sport Photography
Nestelberger, who sent the horse to Poland after the Austrian Futurity earlier this year, rode him for the first time since then. “My horse was actually here for the last two months in training with Łukasz Czechowicz and he did a really good job with him. I only rode him last night and that was it; he was ready. Although we had some penalties, he was very good in the show pen, he stopped huge, so I enjoyed our run.” The non pro rider normally rides with Marco Moriello, who also trained Doctor Cop before Czechowicz.
Nestelberger was very pleased with the show. “We came here three years ago, and it’s just such a nice facility and nice people here. I like the Futurity and Derby classes together at one show. You can bring more horses to a show like this. I personally had a Futurity and a Derby horse and it was great that I could show them both,” concluded the Champion.
Two ladies of the Czech Republic tied for the Co-Reserve Championship in the L4, both just a half point short of Nestelberger: Thea Karasová who rode DG Sky Scarlet Dunit (DG Hollywood Top Gun x Moon Stone Chic), and Jana Floková riding Let You Love Me (Mercedes Rooster x Pretty Little Steps).
Jana Flokova & Let You Love Me, photo by Western Sport Photography
Floková and her mare also claimed the $500 added Non Pro L1 Championship. Her mount is already an accomplished show horse who won the ARHA Futurity L2 Open Futurity with NRHA Professional Pavel Orel in the saddle. “Jana just started riding again after a break, so she rode the mare about three times before they came here to show. She rode her at the show, went in the pen, and they had a great run. I think she will show her more again next year, which is exciting. It’s her homebred horse, so that’s always special,” closed the trainer, who is set to show the mare again in the Open Futurity on Saturday.”
Non Pro Derby
Later in the day, the Non Pro Derby riders took the reins to compete for the Roleski Non Pro Derby Championship. The atmosphere in the arena got exciting towards the end of the class as three young ladies entered the show pen. First to go in was Antonina Zarnawska aboard Jac Out Gun (Colonels Shining Gun x Jac Out Freckles), who flew through the arena and was awarded a 74 score by the judge. Sára Karasová and KH Yankee Step (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Rowdy Yankee x Step A Little Closer) didn’t hold back and walked out of the pen with a matching score of 74. The two opted to share the $1.300 added L4 Non Pro Derby Championship.
Non Pro Derby Co-Champions, photo by International Horse Press
Zarnawska was very excited about her run. “Our run was amazing today. I am really grateful for my horse. She may be lazy, but I still love her,” smiled the winner. “She is a great stopper and can plus half her rollbacks, so I like that a lot about her. I bought her from Roleski Ranch as a 3-year-old and started her myself back then. We won the Austrian Futurity two years ago and now we are getting ready for the [NRHA European] Derby in Lyon, France,” closed the youth rider, who rides under the guidance of Łukasz Czechowicz.
Karasová was also thrilled about her result. “I am very happy that we won here today because we are getting ready for Lyon and hope for the same results there. I didn’t expect this score at all; I know we had some bobbles in the run, so I was surprised to hear that good score,” said the accomplished rider, who has had a very good season so far with her mount. “We won the NRHA Czech L4 Non Pro Maturity in the spring, then we made the finals at the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby, and the biggest success was at the NRHA European Affiliate Championship in Switzerland where we won the Limited Non Pro Championship. We are planning to go to Lyon and next year it will be ‘Yankee’s’ last derby year, so I hope to show him some more in the derbies.”
Karasová thanked her family, especially her sister, for all their support, as well as her trainer, NRHA Professional Jonáš Bujnoch, and the whole Bujnoch Ranch team for all their help. She was also pleased with the outcome of the show. “NRHA Czech shows have a great atmosphere, so I really want to thank all the organizers for putting up such a nice show for everyone.”
Irena Grygiel and A Diamond Enterprise (I Cee Diamonds x BH Frosty Lena) went in second to last and were aiming for the top score. After their run, they settled for the second-highest score of the Non Pro Derby, a 73, and the $500-added L1 Non Pro Derby Championship.
Grygiel was pleased with the whole season, especially since this show is the last of the year. “It was a great season for Rafal [Dolata] and me, so I am even happier about the big finish here. I really enjoy this show. We have a lot of friends around, so we always like to come here to compete.” Grygiel continued about her horse: “He was very honest in the show pen today. He is a great spinner, which he performed, and he was trying hard in the stops as well, even though the ground didn’t really fit him. I’m hoping to show him again next season and maybe buy a futurity horse for next year.”
Barbora Julinová rode LV Pistol Great Pine (Custom Rooster x Majors Queen Mary) to a score of 71 to pick up the Reserve Championship in L1.
Freestyle Youth
After the conclusion of the Non Pro Derby, it was time for some serious freestyle reining. Six horse and youth rider combinations walked into the show pen to perform. It was Alicja Olejnik riding Gam Gun Whiz (Topgun Whiz x Gam Holly Planet) and their “Casa de Papel“ performance that caught the judge’s eye the most and was awarded the winning score of 73.5.
Olejnik was thrilled about her win. “I watched the show Casa de Papel and I just fell in love with it. I knew I had to come up with a freestyle on this topic, but couldn’t because of the pandemic, and this show finally provided a good opportunity to perform it. We have been preparing for over two weeks and today we put it all together. I am so thankful for my horse and my coach Marek Misiek, who trained my horse, because he did such a good job with her and he is always patient with us. This is my last year as a youth and I will probably pass the reins of ‘Princessa’ to my younger sister Anna, who already started showing her at this show and did very well with her.”
Action continues at Roleski Ranch over the weekend.
For complete results and livescore: www.showmanager.eu
Livestream: https://bit.ly/3Ts112O
By International Horse Press / Marie Klimová
