Martin Larcombe guided ARC Oak Enterprise, owned by Cisal Quarter Horses, to a decisive win in the Eur $100,000 added NRHA Open reining held at the Horse Academy in Mooslargue (Alsace/France).  Sixty-three Open entries were pared down in the first go-round to a field of twenty-five reiners ready to compete in the clean slate finals held on Sunday, June 13^th.   Larcombe’s score of 226 earned the victory and over $20,000 (USA). 

 

ARC Oak Enterprise clearly represents NRHA’s extended family.  He is by the 1990 NRHA Open World Champion, Surprise Enterprise, and out of the 1986 NRHA Futurity Champion, Sophie Oak.  Eleuterio Arcese, the first European to be inducted into the prestigious NRHA Hall of Fame, bred this nine-year-old stallion.  Larcombe is from Australia and works for Mario Erbetta’s Cisal Quarter Horses located in the Lake Maggiore region of Italy. Martin and ARC Oak Enterprise have been consistent winners in NRHA sanctioned events.  They were the NRHA Open Reserve World Champions in 2003.

 

As Smart As Charley, ridden for Juergen Kalischinski (Ger) by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida, placed second with a score of 222.5.  There was a tie for third place between RS Bovinda ridden by Stefano Massignan (ITA) for Claudio Risso (ITA) and Larcombe riding Red Chic Peppy owned by Maria Bianchi (ITA). 

 

Star Tac Pride, ridden by Christian Perez (ITA) for Chiara Bonavolta (ITA), scored a 224 to win the Intermediate Open Division followed by a tie for second between Rieky Young (NED) riding Scheffer & Young’s Burnt Starlight and Arno Honstetter riding Dunit Sugar Quixote for Willem Jan Langendoen.

 

Fifty-two Non Pro riders competed in the Eur 30,000 added NRHA Non Pro class with Jeannette Kraehenbuehl (SUI) riding ARC Golden Boy to the winner’s circle with a score of 219.  Jeannette, who is coached by Martin Larcombe, earned almost $6,500 for the win.  Cecilia Frediani (ITA) was second on Spanish Snapper with Rosanne Sternberg (GB) placing third on Nijomi Sonny Reb.

 

Yves Fromont (FRA) and Titan Texan won the Intermediate Non Pro with Cira Baeck (BEL) placing Don Quixote Escapes second, followed by third place Christine Berndorfer (AUT) riding Bobs Manolla.

 

There were twelve countries represented by the Open and Non Pro finalists indicating the global importance the sport of Reining has attained in recent years.  Accepted for international competition by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 2000, Reining was included as a full medal event in the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain.  The inaugural FEI World Reining Masters Series Finals, hosting qualified reiners from around the world, will be held at the 2004 NRHA Futurity & Championship Show in Oklahoma City this coming fall. Reiners are looking forward to additional high dollar and prominent reinings in Europe this show season:  The NRHA European Affiliate Championship will take place July 9-10 in Deurne, Netherlands, the Challenge, to be held July 15-18 in Kreuth, Germany, will offer a Eur 75,492 added Open and a Eur 37,746 added Non Pro reining with Americana slated for early fall.