Le Pin, July 19 – Le Petit Far West, the state-of-the-art facility in Le Pin, France, welcomed the 22nd edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championships (EAC) bright and early on Friday morning. Riders of 13 countries qualified for the prestigious NRHA European titles arrived to the small town outside of Paris, the site of the 2024 Olympics. While the French capital is getting ready for the largest sports event of the world, reining enthusiasts enjoyed the welcoming and family atmosphere of the western facility in the French countryside while crowning the first of the ten Champions.
$200-Added Rookie Level 1
Dutch rider Martijn Warnecke and his 11-year-old gelding Whizzin Wimp (Wimpys Little Tejano x Alicias Conquistador) performed a top honors run during the first class of the the day. Their run earned them a score of 215, which held through the 43 runs in the $200-added Rookie L1. “This is my last Rookie class, so I am excited for this result,” said the young rider of the Netherlands. “My favorite part was the last stop, because he went really deep and I had my hand loose and he just went for it, so it felt so good.” Warnecke purchased the sorrel gelding a year ago and has been more than happy with how he turned out. “Last year we placed at every show that we went to, so that is why I will be out of Rookie next year,” smiled the Champion and continued, “this afternoon we will show again in the EAC Limited Non Pro and Non Pro, so I am hoping to repeat the success.” Warnecke thanked his wife for her her continuous support. “We just got married few weeks ago, so she is a really good sport here during the show.”
Wannes Verschueren of Belgium and his mount TG West Joe Cash, a 9-year-old gelding (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x West Coast Chic) owned by Golden Paint Ranch scored 211 to receive second place honors.
The third step of the podium belonged to Belgian Julie Douillet and the 6-year-old stallion Vintage Days RM (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Starmax Rm) owned by Benjamin El Hichri and Julie Douillet after scoring a 210.5.
$500-Added ELEMENTA Rookie Professional
French professional Samia Loutis piloted AJ Commander Dun Gun, a 9-year-old gelding (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x AJ Dunnit Lady), owned by French Gregory Legrand, to a score of 215.5 sliding to the highest step of the podium in the $500-added ELEMENTA Rookie Professional. “This horse is just amazing,” said Loutis about her mount. “He has come so far since we bought him. He got hurt as a 2-year-old but we got him back on track and I started riding him two years ago. Our first season was a little complicated, we had to get used to each other, but this year we are on the roll. We won at the Bo Ranch Maturity and now here, so I cannot thank him enough and I am super proud of him.” Loutis also thanked her team for their support. The duo will return to the arena tomorrow for the EAC Limited Open and then continue the season with the French Championship Finals and a finish at the NRHA European Derby in Lyon, France.
Reserve honors with a 210 also went to France’s Lucile Buisson riding Annabel Tayssier’s 5-year-old mare Walla Jameen Step (ARC Wallys Dun x Wimps Little Jameen).
Yet another French combination, Claudia Giurisato and her 6-year-old mare Fame At The Bar (Star At The Bar x Madeline Melody), rode their way with a 206.5 score to the third step of the podium.
$4,500-Added FAUTRAS Intermediate Open
Kim Obenhaus of Germany showed GP Sparkin N Muffin for the first time today and didn’t come out with anything less than a win in the $4,500-added FAUTRAS Intermediate Open scoring an impressive 220.5 and a big cheer from the audience. Her mount, a 5-year-old stallion by Smart N Sparkin out of Cp Surprise, is owned by Golden Paint Ranch of Belgium. “This horse has been riding really well all week,” said an enthused Obenhaus. “It’s my first time showing him and the rider that had him before told me to just trust him and that he would there for me. His best maneuver was definitely the circles and last night when I was riding him, he felt he could go really fast – which we did today. He was always between the reins and his transitions were great too, and this was the best part about him. Future plans include a small show in Belgium and, since he’s for sale, if he doesn’t sell I will bring him to the NRHA European Derby in Lyon.”
Belgian Jody Fonck came out of the pen just one point short behind Obenhaus aboard Jaqueline Seger’s 5-year-old stallion Iam A Voodoo Dr (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Show Tennic).
Two French riders tied for third step of the podium with a 217.5 score: Dutch Anne Grether riding Tr Voodoo Doll (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wallawhizagun), a 6-year-old mare owned by Rs Reininghorses, and Jeremy Vandenabeele of France aboard ARH Volcano Surprise (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x ARC Lena Surprise), a 5-year-old stallion owned by Sylvain Barbier.
$500-Added EURO HORSE Limited Non Pro
Jody Fonck had a successful day with both of her horses. She topped the $500-added EURO HORSE Limited Non Pro scoring a 221 aboard MT Okies Sweetnes (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x Okies Eldorado), a 5-year-old mare owned by J&J comm v J&J comm. Scoring a 216.5, the 18-year-old also took the second place aboard her trusted companion Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody), an 8-year-old gelding also owned by J&J comm v J&J comm. “This was fun,” she said after her runs. “My mare is really good minded and super sweet; she is there for me every single time. I get to ride my horses mostly by myself and when I need help, I usually turn to my dad. My mom is always there for me too, mostly for the mental support, so I get the best of both worlds. I would never be able to do all this without my parents, my whole family, and our entire team at home. They just do so much for us, I am very thankful for them.” The young rider admitted it is a family affair to come to the EAC. “My parents went to every single affiliate championship and I always enjoy coming to this show as well. It has such a nice and relaxed atmosphere and everyone is just very friendly here. It is sure a show not to be missed.”
Fresh off their Rookie L1 win, Dutch rider Martijn Warnecke and his 11-year-old gelding Whizzin Wimp (Wimpys Little Tejano x Alicias Conquistador) improved their score from this morning, receiving a 215.5 from the judges and tying for the third place together with Siebe van Bekhoven of Belgium and his 9-year-old gelding Ws Check My Pedigree (Wimpys Smoking Gun x Footworks Finetiming).
$5,000-Added EURO HORSE Non Pro
Alexandre Giarretano and his own The Electric Bandit (Dont Miss My Guns x Electra Stop Ruff) scored an electrifying 224 to win the $5,000-Added NRHA EAC Non Pro title. “This evening my horse was exceptional,” said the French rider who qualified with his mount for The Run For A Million this year in the past edition of the NRHA European Derby in Lyon. “Everything I ask of him he does, he is really healthy all-around, and is simply super. Last week at the 100X European Derby we had a bobble in the finals, but here he made up for it!” Giarretano purchased the flashy palomino from NRHA Professional Jeffrey Touroute-Thomas who broke and trained him and who also helps him in getting ready for competition. “Together we have done really well and though I qualified for TRFAM Non Pro Shootout on him, I will be riding another horse in Vegas trained by Cade McCutcheon,” he said
Finishing the day strong, Fonck also claimed the Reserve Championship in the $5,000-added EURO HORSE Non Pro on MT Okies Sweetnes.
Closing the podium with a 217 score was Belgian Dries Verschueren aboard GP A Spook In Town (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown x Spook N Perla). The 8-year-old stallion is owned by Golden Paint Ranch.
$500-Added APHA Chrome Cash Amateur / CC EAC Rookie 1
Eric Leseur rode AC Gunna Be A Shin (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Smart Lookin Whizard) owned by CJA Quarter Horses to a score of 205 to top the $500-added APHA Chrome Cash Amateur class run concurrently with the EAC Rookie L1. “My run wasn’t incredible but it was fun and my horse was with me all the way plus I’m really happy for this award because I really wanted to win it,” said Leseur. My spins were good and so was my first stop; the rest of the run wasn’t great but I reached my goal and brought home the APHA Chrome Cash.”
$500-Added APHA Chrome Cash Open / CC EAC Intermediate Open / EAC Rookie Pro
Anne Grether of France and Tr Voodoo Doll (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wallawhizagun), owned by RS Reininghorses, scored 217.5 to win the $500-added APHA Chrome Cash Open. “We made some mistakes but at the end of the day I’m really happy with my mare,” said Grether who came to the EAC after the 100X European Derby held the week before. “It’s been a great two weeks; I love horse shows and love showing this horse who I’ve had since last year and who I showed in last year’s EAC. At home she’s spooky but in the arena she’s great and I look forward to bringing her to the Euro Derby.”
$500-Added APHA Chrome Cash Amateur EAC Limited Non Pro
Siebe van Bekhoven of Belgium rode his 9-year-old gelding Ws Check My Pedigree (Wimpys Smoking Gun x Footworks Finetiming) to top the $500-Added APHA Chrome Cash Amateur EAC Limited Non Pro scoring 215.5 for the win. Siebe, who qualified for the EAC Limited Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Non Pro was happy with his horse’s performance as they placed in Top 5 of both entered classes today and won the APHA Chrome Cash Amateur class. “We had a lot of fun today. He was very nice. It was difficult to beat the heat but it turned out well for us. We have had a good progress over the week, so I am very satisfied. Tomorrow we have the EAC Intermediate Non Pro, so I hope to improve even more,” closed the Champion with his trusted spotted mount by his side.
Riders Spotlight
Daša Zahradníková of Slovakia traveled to her first NRHA Affiliate Championships this year together with her 9-year-old stallion LV Barny Remedys. The duo rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Miroslav Baniari and qualified through their NRHA Czech affiliate. “The qualification was very unexpected for me,” said Daša about her journey to the EAC. “My trainer came to me and asked if he could qualify with my horse, and I told him ‘OK, but I want to try too’, so we did and surprisingly after the first try we ended up qualifying. Zahradníková purchased the stallion two years ago and has been showing him for about a year. “This is only our fifth show together and mine as well. My horse has shown at the EAC before with my previous trainer shortly after I bought him but for me, this is the first time and what an experience.” The Slovakian rider qualified in the Limited Non Pro and Baniari qualified the stallion in the Intermediate Open and Open. Zahradníková praised her horse for his ability to adjust to the rider he carries on his back. “He is a finished horse, so sometimes it can be a little difficult for me to ride him, but we have a great trainer, so that helps a lot.” Zahradníková and her black stallion plan to finish the season at NRHA Czech shows and hopes to return to the EAC next year. “Hopefully next year we will get on the podium as well,” wished the only rider representing Slovakia.
Tomorrow’s action will commence with the NRHA EAC Youth classes along with the NRHA Youth Team Tournament and will close with the $10,000-Added NRHA EAC Open counting 15 qualified riders.
Entrance is free but if you can’t make it to Le Pin, follow the action live at https://nrhaeac.com/live
For further information: NRHAEAC.com
Photos by John Photography
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