Three-Time Repeat Champion Crowned in 2014 NRHA European Futurity

NRHA press release- Kreuth, Germany – April 6, 2014 – After seven days of showing, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity ended in the Ostbayernhalle in Kreuth with the Open Futurity finals, levels (L) 1-4. Nearly 4,000 reining fans made their way to Kreuth to see the international stars of reining. The week ended with high quality competition and a historic crowning of the 2014 champion.

“I am very impressed by this event,” said Gary Carpenter, the new NRHA Commissioner. “The organization has been wonderful, the ground, the facility, the quality of the horses, and even the weather.“

The star of the night was Morey Fisk (CAN) who guided Arc Walla Dun Did It (Walla Walla Whiz x Dainty Dun it x Hollywood Dun It), owned by Inge Magnusson of Sweden, to a score of 223.5. The score gave them the win, and Fisk’s third title in consecutive years. He is now the winningest open rider in the event’s history.

Morey Fisk: Winning this title three years in a row is incredible, and I still can’t believe it, even thought I knew I had a really good horse and that it could be done. Arc Walla Dun Did It was trained by Andrea Fappani and shown by him at the NRHA Futurity so I knew that he was pretty solid, even though I haven’t had much time to fit him to my program since he got to France. He did really well in the go-round after which I felt there were a couple of things I needed to work on before the finals. I rode him this morning, he felt really good and tonight he was awesome. I’d like to thank all my team and of course the owner, Inge Magnusson, for having given me this opportunity.

Arc Walla Dun Did It won the 2013 All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity and placed seventh at the 2013 NRHA Futurity Open with Andrea Fappani. Before tonight, he had $54,410 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings. The chestnut stallion was bred and North American nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses. Magnusson added the European option to make the horse eligible for the NRHA European Futurity. The championship paid $48,090, with 5% going to the nominator. In addition, they won a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Montana Silversmiths buckle, an NRHA trophy and a cooler from XCS Ranch.

Just one-half point behind was Duane Latimer and Gotta Nifty Gun (Dun It Gotta Gun x Custom Nifty Nic x Custom Crome) for owner Luga Quarter Horses of Italy. The stallion was bred and nominated for North America by Carl Lambert and nominated for Europe by Luga Quarter Horses.

Giovanni Lugara, owner of Gotta Nifty Gun, L 4 reserve champion: I really want to thank Duane for coming over and showing this horse for us. He did a really good job and I can’t wait to show this horse myself this year.

Duane Latimer: This is truly a talented horse, I’m really happy to have had the opportunity to come over to show him here and would like to thank Luga Quarter Horses for this opportunity.

Level 3 Open Co-Champions

Scoring a 215 for the co-championship in the L 3 open division was Sylvia Rzepka (AUT) riding Start A Revolution (Einsteins Revolution x Plenty Of Rest x Custom Crome) and Guy Zemah (ISR) aboard Walla Whiz Keen (Walla Walla Whiz x Keen Little Katie x Tejons Little Johnny). In a mutual decision to make the best interest of their horses the priority, the riders and owners decided against a run-off and shared the championship title. They each earned $15,037, including the nominator incentive.

Start A Revolution ($14,629 NRHA LTE), an NRHA / Markel Insurance Futurity Sales graduate, is owned by Sabine Lisec & Chuck Klipfel. The stallion was nominated by Wagman Ranch.

Walla Whiz Keen was bred by his owner and nominator, Olga Hoffman. This is the bay gelding’s first major win.

Level 1 and 2 Open Champions – Schnell and Dunits Finest Stop

From draw 14 in section 1 of the finals, Susanne Schnell (GER) and Dunits Finest Stop ((Footworks Finest x Smart Katy Rio x Ill Be Smart) marked a 212 to win the L1 and L2 open divisions. The stallion was bred and nominated by Christine Bayer and owned by Wolfgang Neuendorff. In all, they earned $14,372 with $718 going to the nominator.

Tying for the reserve championship in the L 2 open division with scores of 211.5 was Julia Schumacher (GER) riding Coeurs Little Tyke and Giovanni Masi De Vargas (ITA) with Saturday Whiz.

Coeurs Little Tyke (Coeur D Wright Stuff x Sweet Remy Chexs x Little Remedy Chexs) is owned and was nominated by Hans-Georg Holzwarth. They also won the reserve championship in the L 1 open division.

Saturday Whiz (Saturdaynight Custom x Anjolena Whiz x Topsail Whiz) is owned by ASD Little Ranch. She was nominated by Ambrosini Quarter Horses.

A youthful morning – NRHA Youth Classes

On the last day of the NRHA European Futurity prior to the open finals, the arena of Ostbayernhalle in Kreuth belonged to youth competitors. They showed in Youth 13 & Under and Youth 14-18 classes.

Franziska Wallner won the class for the youngest riders, the 13 & Under, with her 10-year-old mare Prosecco Enterprise (Chex Enterprise x Tobs Miss Roby, owned by Heidi Wallner). The 12-year-old girl has ridden since she was 5-years-old, and from the beginning she knew it must be reining. “With the score of 203.5, I am really happy,“ she said after her ride. “When I ride the first steps into the arena, I can feel if it will be good or not. Today, I felt something in between, but it turned out to be really good. This season I want to finish as a Rookie.“

The champion in the Youth 14-18 class was Gina Maria on Spookin Right On (Smart Spook x Jessies Right On). With a score of 208, the German rider left the second place youth three-points behind. At last year’s event, the talented youth won the 14-18 class, as well as the highly contested Arcese Non Pro class. Other accolades include winning the 2012 NRHA European Affiliate Championship in the Intermediate Non Pro.

The reserve champion with a score of 205 was Shawn Wagner on Oakendokie (Smart Chic Olena x Oakwood Trim). The 14-year-old German has ridden for about four years now and already has become a member of the AQHA World Youth Cup team and member of the junior national team NRHA/Germany. „I should have been a little bit faster,“ he said. “The horse didn’t make a mistake, she always takes care and listens. She always wants to give the best. Especially her rundowns are great.“ (Pictured above with Franziska Wallner)

The Non Pro

Topping the field of 30 entries in the Arcese Non Pro class was Vanety Korbus of Germany and her GR Hug A Jewel (Solanoswarlee Boy x Hug A Freckle x Colonel Jay Bar). She rode her mare to a score of 215.5 to take the NRHA trophy home with her. Earlier in the week, Nina Lill showed GR Hug A Jewel to win the Open class. Vanety had planned on , but Nina was searching for a horse to ride in the 5 & Up and the Open. Vanety graciously agreed and made the decision that created a very successful weekend for the team.

In second place in the Non Pro was Ingrid Vermeiren (Belgium) riding her gelding Rooster Trip to a score of 214. The 2001 gelding is by Cielo San Badger and out of Trips Flite by Tripolay Bar.

Find more results, watch videos, see photos and more at www.nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com.