Le Pin, July 20 — The 2024 edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championships counting 292 entries closed with the exciting $10,000-Added NRHA EA Open Championship run class in class with the $500-Added Donut NRHA EA Limited Open Championship. NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and Arnaud Girinon both performed to a 225 score and opted to share the Championship. The EA Limited Open Championship remained in the Fonck family as 18-year-old Jody rode to a 220.5 and the top step of the podium.

$10,000-Added NRHA EAC Open
Late in the draw Arnaud Girinon of France and Honey First Gunny flew in the arena to perform a phenomenal NRHA pattern #10. The duo walked out happy with a strong 225 holding top honors in the $10,000-added NRHA EAC Open. Second to last to go, Fonck of Belgium and the Golden Paint Ranch entry GP The Stud in Town (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown x Cp Surprise) performed to the same score and the two riders opted for the Co-Championship. “I’m really happy,” said Girinon. “For the first time since I’ve been showing ‘Gunny’ I managed to achieve a great result after a series of mistakes in various finals we competed in. Today everything went well and I was hoping for this result without making any mistakes, and he was very good. During our run I pushed him a little less and he performed a little better and in my opinion this is the key to his success. I always knew he could perform +1 maneuvers and I always looked for them and pushed him. This time I listened to him more and it worked out.” About the decision to share the Co-Championship Girinon said: “Bernard and I agreed right away to tie for the Championship given the friendship and respect towards each other, and above all for the respect of our horses. It was so hot and it wouldn’t have made sense to bring them back to the arena for another run. They were both great and deserved to be at the top together.”

The 9-year-old stallion by NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of ARC Honey Chick is owned by Soc. Agr. Le Fattorie di Matilde and is a double registered AQHA/APHA. That also gave him the opportunity to compete in the $500-added APHA Chrome Cash Open which he pair also claimed. “I am happy to have won the this title once again because it is a great opportunity for both the rider and the horse, so thank you APHA. I look forward to more riders registering their Paint horses!”

Second to last in the draw, Fonck and the 6-year-old palomino stallion were determined to claim top honors when they ran in the Le Petit Far West arena and that is exactly what they did. “I am super happy with tonight’s run. Even though we had a penalty, I was happy with how he performed. I concentrated on our turns this week because last week [at the 100X European Classic] I noticed that on the score cards they were not very good so I tried to improve them here and I really felt like he was there for me today. Also in the circles I had loose reins and he was with me. He is for sure an open horse; he has a lot of mind and is very sensitive, so you have to ride him with a lot of feeling otherwise it can be a problem.” Fonck explained that the two professionals decided not to run off due to the heat conditions at the show. “It is really hot here and it just wouldn’t be fair to the horses. That is the most important to me. Arnaud is a great rider and I am happy to share the Co-Championship with him and his horse. I am also a proud father today because my daughter [Jody] just won the EAC Limited Open, so it is a great feeling to share the podiums with her today.”

Fonck also rode to the third step of the podium with a 220 score aboard JJ Pleasedforanite (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite out of Chic Of Florence), a 5-year-old gelding owned by Deboti BVBA, together with France’s Axel Pesek and his 10-year-old stallion Reloaded Gun (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy).

$500-Added NRHA EAC Donut Limited Open
Jody Fonck of Belgium rode Sabrina Adams’ Arnels Spat Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spat Olena x RS Arnels Feo Jac) in the first section of the EAC Open classes. The young rider did not hold back and guided the 7-year-old stallion to an impressive score of 220.5. As the second section concluded in the evening, Fonck’s score still held and the duo clinched the $500-Added NRHA EAC Donut Limited Open Championship. “I feel amazing today; I have a super sweet horse and a great supportive owner, so this was great,” she said. “I think the key is to give our horses confidence and love and ride them well. When we go in, they just do it for us. He also gives me enough confidence. I know when I show and I need him, he is always there for me and has my back.”

Just a half point behind French rider Christelle Graffeuil slid her own 12-year-old gelding Customized Whizcrome (Custom Black Crome x Roxy Whiz Pine) to the second step of the podium.

Miroslav Baniari of Slovakia and the 9-year-old black stallion LV Barny Remedys (Remedys Moonshine x Majors Queen Mary) owned by Slovakian Daša Zahradníková scored 218 closing the podium.

$3,500-Added NRHA EAC Intermediate Non Pro
Earlier in the day, Dries Verschueren of Belgium and GP A Spook In Town performed a stellar run closing with a 220.5 score, which earned them the first step of the podium in the $3,500 NRHA EAC Intermediate Non Pro. The 8-year-old stallion, sired by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown out of Spook N Perla, is owned by Golden Paint Ranch. “He was there for me as always,” said an enthused Verschueren. “Yesterday, we had some penalties in the EAC Non Pro, but today we improved and the run was just perfect. I am so proud of him because we are in the middle of breeding season and he is still focused and does his best in the show pen.” Verschueren, who bred the palomino stallion, took over the reins last year after the stallion already had a successful career with Ann and Bernard Fonck and right from the get go, the duo finished third in the 2023 NRHA European Level 4 Non Pro Derby. “He is eight this year and we plan to finish the season strong at the European Derby since it’s his last derby year,” he added. “There is no difference if he is in the breeding shed, show pen or just his stall…he is always cuddly and wants to play. He looks like a Barbie horse and is super sweet. We also have his dam, who is very special to us as she had won over $100,000 in Europe and this is her first baby, so he turned out pretty great and I am looking forward to continuing this bloodline. His first babies are two years old this year, and we look forward to seeing them in the show pen next year. I’m sure it will be a great show season for us.”

Tying for the second step of the podium with a 217 score was Jody Fonck of Belgium aboard the 8-year-old gelding Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody) owned by J&J comm v score 217 and France’s Alexandre Giarratano with his own 6-year-old gelding The Electric Bandit (Dont Miss My Guns x Electra Stop Ruff).

The 2025 edition of the prestigious NRHA EAC will return to Le Petit Far West located in Le Pin, France.

For further information: NRHAEAC.com
Photos by International Horse Press
Media Contact: Simona Diale
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