Update From Europe’s Premier Western Event- AMERICANA 2017

AMERICANA 2017:

Belgian Riders dominate $50,000-added World Class Open Bronze Trophy Go round – Cira Baeck takes lead with two horses

The $50,000-added World Class Open Bronze Trophy finals on Friday night should really be a sight to see. From the 35 horse-rider-combinations in the go round, the top 10 plus ties made it to the final – at least a score of 216 was necessary for this.

Especially the Belgian participants were strong – both in numbers and quality: seven out of the 12 finalists came from Belgium. As the second rider of the go, Cira Baeck earned a brilliant 221.5 aboard KR When in Rome (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Crome Shiner) for owner Katarzyna Roleska. The 5-year-old bay mare with the white face could plus in every maneuver. Cira, whose NRHA LTE exceed $827,000, got the mare as a yearling and was NRHA European Futurity Reserve Champion Open as well as third at the IRHA Futurity 2016. Then, Cira Baeck managed to ride Gunners Snappy Chic (Gunner x Chics Miss Snip) for owner Piet Mestdagh to a 221.5 as well. With this 5-year-old mare Cira was 2017 French Derby Open Reserve Champion and NRHA European Affiliate Reserve Champion Open.

“I was really scared when I saw the draw list,” said Cira laughing afterwards. “All those fine horses and riders…. My goal was to ride a 220 to reach the final, and it worked. These two mares are fantastic – they are extremely consistent and have got big hearts.“

Only half a point behind them, NRHA World Champion Open Bernard Fonck and What A Wave (Tidal Wave Jack x What A Sunrise, owner Steve & Gina Vannietvelt) followed in third place. The stallion, who was World Champion Open twice and whose NRHA LTE exceed $200,000 NRHA LTE, showed a run full of his usual finesse – without the ½ point penalty in the right spin, he would have been the third in the lead of this go round.

NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck also rode Smart N Sparkin on fourth place for owner Goldenpaint Ranch with a score of 220– tying with Ann Fonck aboard Gunnerlicious (owner Steve & Gina Vannietvelt) resp. Spook N Perla (owner Goldenpaint Ranch) as well as FEI World Champion Gennaro Lendi aboard Dont Miss My Guns (owner David Roux).

Grischa Ludwig placed eighth aboard Jacpoint QH’s Nu Chexomatic (219) with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Rudi Kronsteiner placing ninth aboard Jennifer Nixdorf’s AB Peppy Diamond (218). Kronsteiner is leading NRHA Open ranking with this gelding at the moment. Three tied for tenth place posting a 216 each: Ann Fonck aboard her third horse Made In Walla (owner Sabine Lisec & Chuck Klipfel), Markus Gebert aboard Wimpy Crashed Ice (owner Simon Bilger) and Egon Gerstgrasser aboard Cashworthy (owner Deanna Kasper).

Uli Kofler wins Höveler NRHA Bronze Trophy Intermediate Open

The NRHA Bronze Trophy Intermediate Open was claimed by Uli Kofler aboard Patricia Escoda’s Nu Reds Spat Delmaso (Spat Olena x Reds Ant Star) who scored a 217. The two were 2015 AMERICANA Reserve Champions in this class.

Egon Gerstgrasser and Cashworthy (Big Chex To Cash x Banjos Shining Star, owner Deanna Kasper) placed second (216) with Arnaud Girinon and Saturday Whiz (Saturday Night Custom x Anjolena Whiz,owner Marianne Benais) following in third place.