A lively crowd ready to cheer on the best reiners in Europe packed the stands at the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) European Affiliate Championship. The EAC was hosted by reining enthusiasts Helmut and Dennis Schulz. Eight countries were represented at the EAC: Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Sweden, Hungary and Norway.
NRHA Executive Director Dan Wall and NRHA Senior Director of Affiliate & Alliance Programs Debbie Drinko both traveled to Austria for the EAC. Wall said the entire event went off without a hitch. “What an absolutely fantastic show. Everything from the quality of the horses and riders to the management team of Helmut and Dennis Schulz and the Austrian Reining Horse Association made this the best European Affiliate Championships ever.” Wall continued, “Last year’s show was going to be hard to top, but they did it. We had a record number of championship class entries and a record number of ancillary entries as well. What is exciting to see, is the growth of the Intermediate and Limited divisions as well as the Rookie class.”
The spectators were enthusiastic to cheer on the top reiners in the Open class. They saw one exciting go after another. Wall said the fans really made the EAC an event to remember. “This year’s show featured a huge influx of entries from Scandinavian countries where Reining is really taking off. Those fans really know how to cheer for their teammates. They brought a huge contingency of supporters all sporting team shirts and flags. They added to the thousands of local spectators that flooded the show grounds”
Rieky Young, of the Netherlands, showed the judges incredibly fast spins and good sliding stops on Burnt Starlight, co-owned by Rieky and Dave Young. She scored a 222 to win the NRHA European Affiliate Open Championship. This is the second time Young and Burnt Starlight have earned the European Open Championship. The pair first won the title in 2005. Young’s awards for this year’s win include a saddle from Pard’s Western Shop, the NRHA’s Official and Exclusive Saddle Provider, a trophy buckle from Gist Silversmiths and an NRHA Lawson Trophy. The Reserve Championship went to last year’s European Open Champion, Jurgen Pouls from the Netherlands. Pouls scored a 221.5 riding Tabasco Tari, owned by Edward Patist.
Other NRHA European Affiliate Champions include:
Intermediate Open: Little Royal BH, owned by Susy Baeck of Belgium, ridden by Ann Fonck-Poels
Limited Open: Remedys Hickory Star, owned by Oswald Kraft, Germany, ridden by Ulrich Kofler
Non Pro: Tina Kuenstner Mantl, Austria, Heza Sure Whiz, owned by Jac Point QH
Intermediate Non Pro: Fifty Proof, owned and ridden by Claudia Klucsarits of Austria
Limited Non Pro: Heidi Wallner, Germany, Rooster Trip owned by Heidi Wallner
Youth 13 & Under: Marie Schranz, Austria – Smartin Spirit, owned by Marie Schranz
Youth 14-18: Tammy Greaves, United Kingdom – Peppy Nic Tivio, owned by Patricia Greaves
Rookie: Ives Leflot, Belgium – Trouble By Frosty, owned by Ives Leflot
All results are unofficial until posted by the NRHA Office. The EAC is one of the most important competitions for NRHA members in Europe. The event was held July 6-8 in WR Neustadt, Austria.
For more information about the NRHA European Affiliate Championships go to www.nrha.at.
