Givrins, July 14 — Provided by Simona Diale — When the sun rose on CS Ranch where the 2023 edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championships (EAC) is being held, riders were set and ready to perform vying for the prestigious titles. Open to European-qualified riders in ten classes, the EAC is celebrating its 22nd edition in Givrins. The very first edition was held in 2002 in Bolzano, Italy, and has been held in most European countries (for two consecutive years at each location) in the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Germany, France, and Poland, and was previously also held in Switzerland in Givrins. Today, the first European Affiliate Champions were determined along with the winners of the $12,000-Added NRHA Open and $8,500 NRHA Non Pro ancillary classes.
$5.000-Added EAC Intermediate Open and $2.000-Added EAC Limited Open
French Professional Quentin Galliere piloted Tinsel Whizington (Tinsel Jac x Conquistador Sis) to a score of 217.5 to win both the $5.000-Added EA Intermediate Open and $2.000-Added EA Limited Open Championships. The 7-year-old stallion, who has been in Galliere’s training program his whole career, is owned by Sharon De Groot and Quentin is very thankful to her for allowing him to train and show the stallion. “I treat him as my own, he definitely has a special place in my heart,” said Galliere. “It is a long show; we’ve been here for two weeks as we also showed at the World Reining Championship last week and he’s always been good for me. He definitely deserves a vacation now, but we will be back in the pen at the AMERICANA and the NRHA European Derby.” Quentin added that it’s always a challenge to keep show horses happy and healthy when shows are long but that the CS Ranch facility makes it easier to do so. “This is such a good show with lots of opportunities for the horses and great organization. I also want to thank my team because with being away for so long, you have to have people that will take care of everything at home and they do just that, so I really appreciate their hard work and dedication to their job,” he added.
Dutch rider Anne Grether rode Tr Voodoo Doll (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wallawhizagun) to a score of 217 taking second place in both classes. The 5-year-old mare is owned RS Reininghorses BV.
The third step of the podium in the Limited Open belonged to Peter Ljungberg of Sweden riding SG Whizing For Guns (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shesa Ladygun) for owner Jens Jelgard. The duo also tied with France’s Axel Pesek aboard his own Reloaded Gun (NRHA Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy) in the Intermediate Open after scoring a 215.5.
$4.000-Added EAC Intermediate Non Pro
French rider Laura Pouzol rode Michel Pouzol’s 7-year-old stallion Tricky Vobinda Whiz (CJ Whiz x RS Cayenne Jack) to a score of 215.5 to capture the win in the $3,000-Added NRHA Intermediate Non Pro ancillary class. Today, the pair scored a 213.5 to take home the $4,000-Added NRHA EA Intermediate Non Pro Championship. “It was a fantastic run for me today but it was really emotional because I saw the entry list and all those showing, so I knew the level of the competition would be very high,” said Pouzol who bred the stallion. “I made a few mistakes in the run; we had an underspin and a lead change issue, but they were all my fault so I can’t say anything bad about my horse. It was basically both because he listened to me too well, so we got some penalties. I am on cloud nine!”
Laura Pouzol & Tricky Vobinda Whiz
Reserve Champion Peter Arnet of Switzerland scored a 213 aboard his 5-year-old stallion Whizkers (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Watch Me Purr) for the title.
Third place saw two riders scoring 211.5: Siebe Van Bekhoven of Belgium riding her own 8-year-old gelding WS Check My Pedigree (Wimpys Smoking Gun x Footworks Finetiming) and Pia Andreassen of Norway with her 7-year-old gelding Gunna Spook (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x West Coast Sandy).
$2.000-Added EAC Limited Non Pro
Lou Covarel of France, who rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Clemence Neveaux, rode Severine Hallay’s 13-year-old gelding Big Chex Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash x Mistis Olena) to a score of 214.5 which earned her the top slot in the $2.000-Added EAC Limited Non Pro. “It was a really fun run and the circles in particular were really good. I have been riding him for four years and I love him. He is such a good stopper,” said the young Champion, who will show again tomorrow in the EAC Youth 14-18 and then will give her horse a well-deserved break.
Lou Covarel & Big Chex Olena
Laura Pouzol and Tricky Vobinda Whiz took reserve honors followed by Czech Martina Zelená, who rode her 8-year-old gelding Whensungoesdown (Kiowas Smokingun x Look At The Sunrise) to a score of 212.5.
$200-Added EAC Rookie
Taking the Championship in the $200-Added EAC Rookie class was Swiss Patricia Künzli riding Shiners Dreamer, a 5-year-old gelding by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Jessies Lil Dreamer. The flashy palomino gelding, owned by Investpath AG, rode Kuenzli to the win with a 211 score.
“I’m so happy,” said the enthused Rookie Champion hot off her win. “We came here without a trainer just to give it a try in the EAC and have fun. [NRHA Professional] Fabien Boiron kindly stepped in, helped us tremendously, and we had a really good run. I would like to thank him for all his help at this show as I never expected to win. I’ve had my horse for two years now and since he is only 5 years old, I plan to show him at the AMERICANA and then hopefully in the NRHA European Derby. We will take it step by step.”
Patricia Künzli & Shiners Dreamer
Reserve honors went to Emma Louise Eggen of Norway and her mother’s [Pia Andreassen] 7-year-old gelding Gunna Spook (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x West Coast Sandy), who scored a 210.5.
Two riders tied for the third place, both scoring a 210: Belgium’s Marie Verschueren, who rode her and her brother’s [Dries Verschueren] SG Gunnerspecialwhiz (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Nics Whiz) and Manuela Ernst of Germany riding her own Just Docs Hollywood (ML Doc Hollywood x Just Burnt Spur).
Friday NRHA EAC Ancillary Action
$12,000-Added NRHA Open
In the prestigious Open offering $12,000 added money, it was all about Katarzyna Roleska’s CSG Piggiemove who closed his powerful run worth 225.5 with Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz in the saddle.
Second place honors went to Belgium’s NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck who rode Mello Yello Jersey (Yellow Jersey x Smart Okie Lena) owned by Kay Schroeder to a 223.5.
$8,500-Added NRHA Non Pro
Claiming top honors with a 220.5 score and opting to share the spot in the high-paying NRHA Non Pro ancillary class were Switzerland’s Adrienne Speidel aboard her own CDC Cromed Resolve, a 7-year-old stallion by Custom Del Cielo out of Kaysolve, and Nikolai Stiller of Germany aboard his own Hollywood Gunrunner (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dun It For Missy).
Riders Spotlight: Golden Oldies
Whoyacallinwimpy, a 2005 gelding by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step out of Dun Dealt An Ace, was purchased by Tanja Waida in 2009. Leased by Sebastian Neff of Germany for the past three years, Neff and “Roger” qualified for the EAC Rookie, Limited Non Pro, and Intermediate Non Pro for the second year running. The beautiful bay came to the event already wearing a crown: “that of oldest horse showing in Givrins!” Shown in his career by Waida and her daughter Freya, who learned the art of reining on him, according to his owner he is not ready to retire and always would rather work than stay in a paddock. “He truly does not like to do nothing; he’s a very smart horse and loves to do his job. He wants to work and is everyone’s darling,” she says. Neff and his wife Samantha are Tanja’s best friends and that is how they came about leasing the horse. “We really get along and he is so jealous of our relationship,” said Neff. “He wants to work and is so physically fit. In the show pen, I can trust him all the time; there is an amazing relationship between us because we know each other so well; we grew together!” Though “Roger” may be an 18-year-old gelding, he looks like a young stallion!
About CS Ranch
CS Ranch is the biggest and most modern private reining facility in Switzerland. Owner Corinna Schumacher, with careful attention to detail, is constantly striving for CS Ranch to remain the best environment for reining horses. Since 2006, the state-of-the-art facility has been host to prestigious reining competitions including the Swiss Slide and, since 2009, the renowned SVAG CS Classic. Show manager Eric Obrecht and his ambitious CS Ranch team are always making a huge effort to comfortably accommodate riders, horses, officials, and spectators at the CS shows.
Photos by Tom Hautmann
If you make it to Givrins, admission is free. If not, follow the webcast and live score here: nrhaeac.com/live
For further information regarding the SVAG CS Classic ’23 held at CS Ranch, host of many a prestigious World and European competition CS-CLASSIC.com
For further NRHA EAC info, images, and Champion runs: NRHAEAC.com
Follow SVAG CS Classic ’23 on Facebook
NRHA European Affliiate Championship Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
internationalhorsepress@gmail.com
Cell: +39 3405354629
