Kreuth, Germany – March 28, 2009 – In the sport of Reining, the day of Saturday, March 28, 2009 should be considered monumental. The first-ever National Reining Horse Association European Futurity brought the world together to a spectacular $251,000 added event at Ostbayernhalle in Kreuth-Rieden, Germany. By the end of the show, riders from 16 countries brought more than 320 horses, sold-out area hotels, drew online visitors from more than 30 countries and filled nearly every seat in the stands on Saturday night. This monumental night was capped off in the next to last run. Sail On Top Whizard and Bernard Fonck blistered the competition with a 228.5 to win both Level 4 Open and Level 3 Intermediate Open Divisions.
The large crowd of approximately 10,000 let the reiners know when they liked what they saw, and with boisterous enthusiasm. When the duo finished their pattern in Saturday night’s finals, the crowd couldn’t control their appreciation for such an amazing ride. Fonck’s wife, who placed among the top 5 in both divisions, watched on with pride during the awards ceremony in the arena. After his ride Fonck talked about the great partnership they have in preparing horses to show and how it helped Danny and Deluc Cerato’s stallion take home the futurity win and a total of more than $55,000.
Spark N Whiz and Duane Latimer earned their berth by qualifying through the consolation round. In the finals, they marked a 220.5 as draw 12 and led for quite sometime. In draw 18, Smart Reminic Twist and Volker Schmitt knocked on the door with a 220. Spark N Whiz, owned by Luga QH, showed at the NRHA Futurity and was shipped to Germany to compete this week. The stud developed some respiratory problems before the show and the Fonck’s helped Latimer get him healthy and ready to compete this week. Schmitt said Smart Reminic Twist was shown to him only a few weeks ago when Kimberly Wegner was looking for a horse for the futurity. He said, “I rode the horse ten minutes and I said this is my horse (for the show).” Wegner agreed and made plans to have him shown in Kreuth-Rieden. Latimer finished second in the Level 4 Open Division and Volker placed second in the Level 3 Intermediate Open Division.
Not only were the finals of the Level 4 Non Pro and Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro finals exciting to watch, but the awards presentation was also. Italy’s Claudio Risso showed his RS Linkwood Jac to an impressive win in the Level 4 Non Pro Division finals with a 216.5. During his “Celebration of Champions,” he enjoyed the moment waving his hat at the cheering crowd while he piloted RS Linkwood Jac to bridleless slides and spins. Risso bred the mare has owned her dam since 1992, NMSU Bonitas Jo, a horse hailing originally from New Mexico State University. The mare has produced the earners of more than $72,000 at NRHA shows and more than 110 AQHA points.
Twenty-four year-old Matteo Benedusi was ready to show against his good friend Risso on Saturday. Risso joked with Benedusi before the finals telling him to do well, but not to beat him. In the end, Benedusi showed his At Toriwin to a win the Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro Division and place in the Reserve Championship position in the Level 4 Non Pro division. This is the first futurity win for the aerospace engineer major who has been showing since age 11. He said, “I was very happy to win my first futurity championship. And I want to give great thanks to my parents. Without them, I couldn’t be here.”
$125,000 added Level 4 Open
Place / Horse (Country) / Rider (Country) / Owner (Country) / Breeder/ Score / Purse
1 / Sail On Top Whizard (Whizard Jac x Miss N Sis) / Bernard Fonck (BEL) / Danny and Deluc Cerato (BEL) / Yvette Saad / 228.5 / $45.115.00
2 / Spark N Whiz (Shining Spark x Mizzen Topsail) / Duane Latimer (CAN) / Luga QH(ITA) / Bob Loomis Quarter Horses Inc / 220.5 / $15.882.68
3 / Smart Reminic Twist (Dun It With A Twist x Smart Reminic Twist) / Volker Schmitt (GER) / Kimberly Wegner (GER) / Werner and Linda Hermus / 220 / $12.408.34
$50,000 added Level 3 Intermediate Open
Place / Horse (Country) / Rider (Country) / Owner (Country) / Breeder/ Score / Purse
1 / Sail On Top Whizard (Whizard Jac x Miss N Sis) / Bernard Fonck (BEL) / Danny and Deluc Cerato (BEL) / Yvette Saad / 228.5 / $10.924.94
2 / Smart Reminic Twist (Dun It With A Twist x Smart Reminic Twist) / Volker Schmitt (GER) / Kimberly Wegner (GER) / Werner and Linda Hermus / 220 / $8.642.30
3 / Whizoom (Topsail Whiz x Dun It The Hard Way) / Grischa Ludwig (GER) / Roy DeBruin (GER) / Charlotte M Decoster / 219.5 / $6.847.92
$50,000 added Level 4 Non Pro Finals
Place / Horse (Country) / Rider (Country) / Owner (Country) / Breeder/ Score / Purse
1 / RS Linkwood Jac (Mcjac Flash x NMSU Bonitas Jo) / Claudio Risso (ITA) / Claudio Risso (ITA) / Claudio Risso / 216.5 / $9,987.88
2 / At Toriwin (Mr Tori Kid x Iown Doc Win) / Matteo Benedusi (ITA) / Matteo Benedusi (ITA) / Antonio Tropepe / 211 / $7,901.88
3 / Sweet Reminic (Reminic Dun It x Morosita Chex) / Chiara Bartoletti (ITA) / Marco Bartoletti (ITA) / Alesandro Tameni / 210.5 / $5,515.66
3 / Miss Whiz Sparkles (Topsail Whiz x Diamonds Sparklette) / Katharina King (GER) / Katharina King (GER) / Carol Rose / 210.5 / $5,515.66
$10,000 added Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro Finals
Place / Horse (Country) / Rider (Country) / Owner (Country) / Breeder/ Score / Purse
1 / At Toriwin (Mr Tori Kid x Iown Doc Win) / Matteo Benedusi (ITA) / Matteo Benedusi (ITA) / Antonio Tropepe / 211 / $3,130.36
2 / Sweet Reminic (Reminic Dun It x Morosita Chex) / Chiara Bartoletti (ITA) / Marco Bartoletti (ITA) / Alesandro Tameni / 210.5 / $1,667.26
2 / Miss Whiz Sparkles (Topsail Whiz x Diamonds Sparklette) / Katharina King (GER) / Katharina King (GER) / Carol Rose / 210.5 / $1,667.26
The NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show offers a full slate of Category 1 classes for Open and Non Pro riders. The NRHA European Futurity is “Open to the World” and showcases four-year-old reining horses and riders competing for close to $300,000 in prize money. More information is available on the official Web site of the NRHA European Futurity at www.nrha-european-futurity.com or on the Online Reiner Blog at www.reiner.nrha.com.
