Kreuth, Germany – March 12, 2010 – As snow fell on the town of Kreuth, Germany, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) competitors endeavored to rise to the challenge of winning a championship title at the 2010 NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show. 15 horses went to battle in the Level 1 and Level 2 Non Pro finals, and 25 horses slid into the arena in the Level 1 and Level 2 Open finals.
Riders from 8 countries qualified horses for the Level 1 and Level 2 Open division finals. Ruf And Lucky and Michel Sandyck (NED) set the pace early with a score of 217 (top photo). They watched and waited as another 18 horses went into the arena, and in the end they held onto their lead to win both the Level 1 and Level 2 Open Futurity divisions.
26-year-old Sandyck has ridden “Lucky” for owner Roy De Bruin since the stallion was a two-year-old and had a strong showing with him at last fall’s 2nd International Western Event Belgium Snaffle Bit/Hackamore Three-Year-Old Open. Sandyck said, “I knew I had a horse that could win this. But I knew there were others riding that do, too.” He continued saying this was his greatest win along with a championship in the Americana Level 4 Open Derby division.
Go round leaders Cielolena Jac and Lukas Brucek (CZE) drew up in the last drag of the finals and hoped to continue the improvements they’d seen so far this week. They turned in another impressive performance, but were just shy of the win marking a 216.5 for owner Cornelia Barnekow. The duo still faired well in the end. They took home reserve championships in the Level 1 and Level 2 Open divisions.
The Non Pro go round leader, Dualin Surprise and Giovanni Masi De Vargas (ITA) started off the finals, but unfortunately couldn’t repeat their performance and scored a 205.5. Four horses later, Jac In Hollywood and Daniel Arnold took the lead with a 209.5. However, Sailin Playboy and Anita Ernst (GER) came into the arena looking to beat the second place finish and the 212 they marked in the first go. They answered the call with a 213.5 in the finals to win both Level 1 and Level 2 divisions for $2,192 (bottom photo).
Anita’s husband, Emanuel Ernst, purchased the four-year-old stallion with the hope to ride him in open competition. However, the couple thought Sailin Playboy would really find his niche with Anita in the non pro as she made the finals of the NRHA European Futurity Level 1 and Level 2 Non Pro here last year. Anita and Sailin Playboy made their first run together only last week in Kreuth’s Slide Away show. Tonight’s performance proved they are a natural fit.
The teams of Liz By Dun It and Pia Kalle (GER) and Petra Rifeser-Burger’s Git It Dun and Ewald Rifeser (ITA) placed right behind Ernst in the go round for third and fourth place, respectively. In the finals, Rifeser scored a 212 in the next to last draw of the final, but Kalle was yet to come as the last competitor. The 22-year-old Agriculture student left the arena with a 212, as well. The two riders took home co-reserve titles in the Level 1 and Level 2 Non Pro Futurity divisions.
More information and complete results are available on the official Web site of the NRHA European Futurity at www.nrha-european-futurity.com, on the Online Reiner Blog at www.reiner.nrha.com and on NRHA’s Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/nrhareining.
RESULTS
Level 1 and Level 2 Open Futurity Finals
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Back # / Owner / Score / Purse (L1+L2)
1 / Michel Sandyck / NED / Ruf And Lucky (Lil Ruf Peppy x Lucky And Flashy, bred by Putman; Gary) / 174 / Roy De Bruin / 217.0 / $4,485.79
2 / Lukas Brucek / CZE / Cielolena Jac (MR BH Jac x Sweet Rooster Lena, bred by Braam Quarter Horses) / 275 / Cornelia Barnekow / 216.5 / $3,548.54
3 / Pierluigi Chioldo / ITA / Ms Twist Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Twist Tie, bred by Bob Loomis Reining Horses) / 5 / Ambrosini Quarter Horses / 215.0 / $2,477.21
3 / Pierluigi Chioldo / ITA / Arc Nic To Cee U (Nic It In The Bud x ARC Pleasedtoceeu, bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA) / 6 / Luciano Ciaravalle / 215.0 / $2,477.21
5 / Matthew Hudson / CAN / Buenonics Doughter (Buenonic Chex x Doll House Glo, bred by Buongiovanni; Arturo) / 99 / Enzo Gola / 214.5 / $1,508.63
5 / Roy Van Der Hoeven / NED / Bh Most Wanted (Mr BH Most Wanted x Tuckers Missy, bred by Bolleboom; Henry W) / 195 / Marjon Nieuwenhuijs / 214,5 / $1,508.63
Level 1 and Level 2 Non Pro Futurity Finals
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Back # / Owner / Score / Purse (L1+L2)
1 / Anita Ernst / GER / Sailin Playboy (Sailin Ruf x Hh Freckles Playgirl, bred by Hansen; Iver) / 59 / Anita Ernst / 213.5 / $2,147.39
2 / Ewald Rifeser / ITA / Git It Dun (Reminic N Dunit x Mistys Orphan Anny, bred by Mucaria; Ann) / 241 / Petra Rifeser-Burger / 212.0 / $1,143.72
2 / Pia Kalle / GER / Liz By Dun It (Pine Dun It x Lizbeth, bred by Steeger; Eckhard) / 214 / Pia Kalle / 212.0 / $1,143.72
4 / Daniel Arnold / GER / Jac In Hollywood (Mr BH Jac x Royal Britannia, bred by Braam; Pieter B)/ 11 / Daniel Arnold / 209.5 / $840.28
5 / Fabio Chella / ITA / Chinicchex (Buenonic Chex x Great Chinette, bred by Cozzo; Daniele) / 89 / Fabio Chella / 208.5 / $746.91
