The third edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championship Show got underway June 9th in Deurne, The Netherlands at the beautiful Nederlands Hippisch Centrum.  Riders representing nine countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands) came to compete.  Better than 140 horses travelled to Holland for the event, signifying an almost 30% increase in entries over last year’s event, which was held in Italy.

 

The Limited Open class was first on the agenda.  Arno Honstetter from The Netherlands rode Sweet Rooster Lena to the win with a score of 216.  Second place honors went to Bernard Fonck from Belgium riding Pride Of Pecos.

 

Italy’s Guilio Piazzolla took the lead in the Limited Non Pro class on Honeywood Dun It while Dutch rider Francisca Pierino earned the reserve title on Fiftys Royal Dude. 

 

The Netherlands dominated the $1,500 added European Championship Intermediate Open Finals.  Christof Feichter won the class aboard Mr BH Jac for owners Braam Quarter Horses.  Rieky Young guided Burnt Starlight for Scheffer and Young to the reserve title. .

 

The $3,500 added Non Pro ran concurrently with the Netherlands Summer Classic $5,000 added Non Pro.  The first, which saw 20 entries, was won by Francesca Sternberg from Great Britain riding Smart A Little.  “I am so thrilled with this win,” said Francesca after the class.  Francesca also placed Double R Splash in third place, one point behind Jeannette Kraehenbuehl who earned the European Reserve Championship title riding ARC Golden Boy. 

 

Sternberg also took home first and second place in the 22-entry Netherlands Summer Classic Non Pro class with Just Gotta Shine and Smart A Little, respectively.  Jeannette and ARC Golden Boy placed third.

 

Seventeen entries competed in the Rookie Finals.  Susy Baeck, a young Belgian rider who changed disciplines - from Dressage to Reining - last year, topped the class on Don Quixote Escapes.  Reserve championship honors went to Marja Van Duyn from The Netherlands riding Holly Gidget Chex.

 

Italy’s Silvia Panza won the Youth 13 & Under title riding Charlie Bar Cody.  The reserve championship went to Kelly Deelen of The Netherlands aboard Bonitas Okie Doke.  Jimmy Van Der Hoeven rode Command Peppy King to first place in the Youth 14-18 Championship Finals. The Reserve Champion was Daniele Lelli, from Italy, riding Niky Snappy Bar.

 

A determined Guilio Piazzolla, repeated his success in the Limited Non Pro aboard Honeywood Dun It and took home the Intermediate Non Pro title as well, scoring a 217.5.   Ingrid Vermeiren from Belgium placed Custom Berry second.

 

The $6,000 added European Affiliate Championship Open, the Euro $10,000 added NRHA Open and the CRI - Category B - a qualifier for the FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by NetJets, were run concurrently and had a total of 29 entries (17 of which were entered in the European Affiliate Finals).

 

Rudi Kronsteiner of Germany riding Seventh Iron won both the NRHA European Affiliate Open championship and the NRHA Open with a score of 222.  “This is my first NRHA European title and I am really proud of it,” said Rudi.  Italy’s Aldo Lorenzoni riding OT Taris Melody, and Ann Poels from Belgium, riding SR Lil Peppy Sprat, tied to win the European reserve championship.

 

Reserve champion honors in the NRHA Open went to Patrice St-Onge aboard Tinsel Nic.  They scored a 219 for owner Rosanne Sternberg of Great Britain.

 

The CRI determined who will represent Holland at the FEI World Reining Masters Finals in Oklahoma City.  Rieky Young and Burnt Starlight won the gold medal.  She also placed second with Taris Skeeto while Wendy Van Osch took the bronze aboard Tissy Spark.   Along with the qualifiers from all over the world, Dutch rider, Rieky Young, will make history in the upcoming edition of the NRHA Futurity & Championship Show in Oklahoma City where the FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by NetJets will be held.  Martien Van Der Heuvel, President of the Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation, the national governing body of equestrian sports in The Netherlands, joined NRHA representatives in the awards presentation.

 

The number of entries as well as the quality of both horses and riders made this third edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championship Finals presented by Arthur’s Western Store a very special show.  NRHA President Kim Sloan commented:  “This event is getting better every year.  On behalf of the NRHA, I would like to especially thank the Dutch Reining Horse Association and Show Manager Dave Young for their continued support of, and dedication to, the sport of Reining.  And naturally, we congratulate all the riders who qualified their horses for the 2004 NRHA European Affiliate Championships”.