Givrins, July 15 — Provided by Simona Diale — The NRHA European Affiliate Championships (EAC) held at CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland, during the SVAG CS Classic Show ’23 closed on Saturday providing great competition from the younger athletes to the Million Dollar Riders. The 22nd edition of the EAC counted 115 riders, 150 horses, and a total of 450 entries making yet another CS Classic event go down in the history books.
$18.000-Added EAC Open
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck of Belgium rode Colonels Whize Gun (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Alicias Conquistador), a 7-year-old gelding owned by Hermann and Lisa Miltrup-Meinert to a score of 226 to win the $18.000-Added EA Open Championship.
Ann was proud of her horse’s performance. “He never left me alone, and always tried to do his best. He was simply super nice! I just love him, he’s a super good-minded horse and is just as honest as the first time I showed him. I didn’t expect to win here, because ‘Nelson’ is always really good but I thought Bernard’s [Fonck] and Lukasz’s [Czechowicz] horses would be stronger than mine. I do trust him and I know he can mark a good score but I thought the others could beat us. Now, together with the owners, we’ll decide the next shows to bring him to. The NRHA European Derby is in the plan and maybe AMERICANA.” Fonck’s goal is to reach the Two Million Dollar Mark. “It’s not about the money, it’s about getting to the two million step by step!” she added.
Fonck said she had a great time at the show, but overall she’s really proud of her daughter, Jody. “Unfortunately at the last minute, she couldn’t show the horse we brought here for her, but one of Bernard’s customers [Kay Schroeder] told us she could ride his horse [Mello Yello Jersey]. So she rode him one time and then showed in the World Reining Team Competition, I could see she was still trying to figure out how to properly ride him, but she handled the situation greatly, especially if we consider that she’s 17 years old,” closed the proud mom.
Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz and CSG Piggiemove (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Roosters Hot Piq) marked the second-highest score of 224.5 to earn the Reserve Championship for owner Katarzyna Roleska.
NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck of Belgium took home the third place with his two horses: Mello Yello Jersey (Yellow Jersey x Smart Okie Lena) owned by Kay Schroeder and ND Pop Gun Trash (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Nine Gunnatrashya x Pop Tart) owned by Nathalie Derua. Both horses scored 223.5 with Fonck in the saddle.
$15.000-Added EAC Non Pro
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gina Maria Schumacher of Germany walked in the pen at the very end of the class and after performing a great run aboard CS Wallawallaboom (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Cheeky Boom), the duo was awarded a 223, which brought them the $15.000-Added EA Non Pro Championship. “This experience at home was really nice and my horse was great! He was relaxed and didn’t take anything away from me, letting me guide him through the run. Since I haven’t ridden him for a year now, I didn’t want to push him, I just wanted to have a nice run. Last week I rode him just a bit and he felt really good, maybe a little lazy since he was in a relaxed time of his life, but he really didn’t mind coming back to work. Since I ride my horses by myself, it was pretty difficult to leave a horse for one year and then come back to ride him, but he was in great shape and he knows his job and it’s great to be back home.”
Gina Maria Schumacher & CS Wallawallaboom
Swiss Adrienne Speidel rode her two horses Wimpysshortstride BB (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Short Rooster) and CDC Cromed Resolve (Custom Del Cielo x Kaysolve) to a score of 217.5 to share the Reserve Championship on her two mounts together with Francesca Sternberg of United Kingdom and Red Dirt Paleface (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Lost In Tinseltown).
$1.500-Added EAC Rookie Professional
Three riders tied for the lead after scoring a 212 in the EA Rookie Championship Finals and decided to run off for the title. Once Lynn Thill of Luxembourg riding her own DS Little Ottaviogun (GFC Quixote Gun x Little Pie Di Cuori) closed her second run with a 214, the highest step of the podium was hers. “It was a super exciting run!” smiled the thrilled Champion who won the first EAC title for her country. “I was nervous coming in but I knew I could count on my horse. This month marks one year since I purchased him and I am discovering so much about him. I can count on him every single time, he is a once-in-a-lifetime horse, has a big heart, and a lot of talent. I have never ridden a horse like him before.” Thill was thankful to French NRHA Professional Clémence Neveux for getting the stallion ready. “She is a wonderful rider and we have the same philosophy, so her help during the show was precious. I believe it is really important to have another professional watch you ride and I definitely give her credit for our success as well.”
Lynn Thill & DS Little Ottaviogun
Sharing reserve honors after the run-off was French Margaux Legrand riding Axel Pesek’s Reloaded Gun (NRHA Fourteen Million Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy), who scored 213.5 for her second run, and Maria Astikainen of Finland aboard Gun Secorima (Hollywood Gun Dunnit x Miss Secorima) owned by herself and Nora Hortling, who scored 207.5.
$100-Added EAC Youth 14-18
In the EAC Youth 14-18 class, Czech youth riders didn’t hold anything back and when the class was over, it was Vladimír Čejka who slid to the top of the podium after scoring 218.5 aboard his 9-year-old gelding Remy Rooster SG (Remin Whiz x Tea Rooster).
“I’m very happy about this run because it is my last year as a Youth and I really enjoyed it. I think I will remember it as being the best show of my whole Youth career. Also, my horse really exceeded my expectations. He is always so good-minded and simply a good show horse; today he was really good in the show pen… he has a great heart. We will give him a break now and focus on the young horses and the futurity season,” said the young rider who rides under the supervision of NRHA Professional Pavel Orel.
Vladimír Čejka & Remy Rooster SG
Reserve honors also went to the Czech Republic with Sára Karasová riding her mare Wimpy N Mercedes (Mercedes Rooster x Pretty Little Steps) to a score of 213.
One point behind were two riders who shared the lowest step of the podium: Belgian Jody Fonck riding Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody) owned by J&J Comm V and Lou Covarel of France riding Severine Hallay’s Big Chex Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash x Mistis Olena).
$100-Added EAC Youth 13&Under
Anna Palasová of the Czech Republic repeated her success from earlier this week where she tied to win the Rookie Level 1 ancillary class. Riding Petr Palas’ Dr Who (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Peppergun), today the duo scored a 212 for the EA Youth 13&Under Championship. “It’s amazing to be here and represent my country at such a big show. To win this title has been my dream for many years, so I am really happy. My horse was great; he is always nice and feels like ‘let’s go’ in the show pen, so I enjoyed our run. It has been a long show and we are now both ready to go home, but I am so happy to bring home the championship,” she said.
Anna Palasová & Dr Who
Three riders scored a 211.5 to tie for second place honors: Emma Louise Eggen of Norway riding Gunna Spook (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x West Coast Sandy), Belgian Lotte De Boever aboard Spook N Ruff (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x Shine On Ruff), and French Victoire Molla Guisset riding Whizkey Coated Kiss (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds x Einsteinshersheykiss).
NRHA Youth Team Tournament
Of all of the European Championship youth entries in this year’s edition, teams of four youth riders were formed to include at least one Youth 13&Under and one Youth 14-18 by random selection in which the scores from their Championship classes would be added together with the lowest score dropped.
Taking the win was team “Orange Juice” thanks to the performances of Czech Vladimír Čejka and Remy Rooster SG; Belgian Lotte de Boever riding Spook N Ruff; French Victoire Molla Guisset with Whizkey Coated Kiss, and German Lisa Marie Wiechers aboard Spinderellstory.
Many memories were made not only during the Youth Team Tournament but also throughout the whole event. The future of reining in Europe proudly represented their home country!
2.000 CHF-Added Swiss Reining Challenge Non Pro
Marisa Speidel scored a 213.5 aboard Gumps All Mighty BB (Little Gump x Hollywood Balloues) to claim the 2.000 CHF-Added Swiss Reining Challenge Non Pro victory. Close behind, scoring a 211, was Thomas Schneiter riding Magnum IT (NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Dun It The Hard Way) taking the Reserve honors.
2.000 CHF-Added Swiss Reining Challenge Open
Adrienne Speidel rode her two horses Wimpysshortstride BB (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Short Rooster) and CDC Cromed Resolve (Custom Del Cielo x Kaysolve) to tie herself for the win in the 2.000 CHF-Added Swiss Reining Challenge Open scoring a 217.5. The successful non pro competitor was required to enter the Open division of the Challenge according to Swiss NF rules that require riders who previously represented Switzerland at an international competition, can enter the open divisions.
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
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 more information on the NRHA European Affiliate Championships NRHAEAC.com
Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
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