2015 NRHA Derby Kicks Off By Recognizing Hall of Fame Inductees

More than 400 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) members, NRHA Partners, family members and guests gathered at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Saturday evening, June 20, 2015, to celebrate 2014 World Champions and introduce the 2015 Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame inductees.

Oklahoma City, Okla., June 20, 2015 – The 2015 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby is off to an excellent start in Oklahoma City with the first day filled with great competition, children making special Father’s Day gifts for dad and wrapping up with the NRHA Awards Banquet & Hall of Fame Inductions.

Saturday night, more than 400 NRHA members, NRHA Partners, family members and guests gathered at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to celebrate 2014 year end award earners and introduce the 2015 Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame inductees.

Receiving awards Saturday night:

AQHA Awards

AQHA Leading NRHA Sire: Wimpys Little Step sired by Nu Chex To Cash and out of Leolita Step, owned by Xtra Quarter Horses, LLC.

AQHA Leading NRHA Dam: Ebony Shines sired by Shining Spark and out of Ebony Whiz, owned by Rosanne Sternberg.

Quarter Horse News Breeders Award

Petra Zeitler, breeder of Not Ruf At All sired by A Sparkling Vintage and out of All Ruffed Up.

NRHyA Awards

NRHyA Volunteer of the Year: Rick Ford

NRHyA Pro of the Year: Ashley Dunn

NRHA Volunteer of the Year: Jody Brainard

2014 10 & Under Youth Incentive Awards

100 Points: Cadence Rose Eger, Emma Filiatreau, Reed Harris

200 Points: Raeanna Thayn

800 Points: Caroline Gute

2014 NRHA Top Professional

Jordan Larson – $387,546

Top NRHA Non Pro

Mandy McCutcheon – $157,757

Top NRHA Owner

HDC Quarter Horses – $167,862

NRHA Platinum Certificate Earners

Big Sky Whizard – Color Invest A & S Deredowscky

Broady BH Dunit – Jaime Nelson

Chicadero – Tessa Lindberg

Ebony Spook – Rosanne Sternberg

Gotta Magnum Dream – John Fletcher

GR Hug A Jewel – Vanety Korbus

Kickit In The Bud – Marcia Walker

Lil Joe Cash – Lil Joe Cash Inc

Lucky Star Gun – Denise Bixler

Pearls King Whiz – Jenny Hooper

Rooster Trip – Ingrid Vermeiren

RU Missin Diamonds – George & Cindy McKinzie

Smart Crystolena – Lindsay Baar

Sparkling Major – Torpey Performance Horses

The Whiz Way – Candace Rodriguez

Whiz Good To Go – Larry McCollough

All World Champion standings are available at nrha.com, the following recipients won World Champion titles.

NRHA Youth 13 & Under World Champion

Madeline R. Bomba, riding Brennas Sugarlena and owned by Marjorie L. Morris of Salem, Indiana

NRHA Youth 14-18 World Champion

Savannah Grace Ostner owner and rider of Mr Crometastic of Memphis, Tennessee

NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 World Champion

Rodney W. Bryson owner and rider of Whosdoctorwhizit of Wellington, Florida

NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 World Champion

Jenny Lynn Hooper owner and rider of Pearls King Whiz of Cullowhee, North Carolina

NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 1 World Champion

Smart Red Jackie, ridden by Bill Thomas, Jr. and owned by J.T. Howard of Freeland, Michigan

NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 2 World Champion

PS A Whizzen Chic, ridden by Robin Schoeller and owned by Patsy Shelton Schutz of Pottsboro, Texas

NRHA Prime Time Non Pro World Champion

Susan E. Kuryloski riding Squeaky Clean Genes and owned by Bruce and Susan Kuryloski of Elverson, Pennsylvania

NRHA Limited Non Pro World Champion

Sarah Yu owner and rider of Lucky Little Seven of Dublin, Ohio

NRHA Intermediate Non Pro World Champion

Shawn R. Reynolds owner and rider of This Ones A Chic of Bordentown, New Jersey

NRHA Non Pro World Champion

Tina Kuenstner-Mantl riding Cashn Rooster owned by Jac Point QH of Lermoos from Austria

NRHA Rookie Professional World Champion

Playin In Paris ridden by Shannon Quinlan and owned by James J. Blumer, Jr. of Spring Brook Twp., Pennsylvania

NRHA Limited Open World Champion

Gotta Magnum Dream ridden by Hayley A. Stubbs and owned by John Fletcher of Waterford, Ontario

NRHA Intermediate Open World Champion

The Genuine Rooster ridden by Guglielmo Fontana and owned by 23 Quarter Horses Az. Agricola S.S. from Incisa Scapaccino, Italy

NRHA Open World Champion

Ebony Spook ridden by Ann Fonck and owned by Rosanne Sternberg of Aubrey, Texas

Also recognized were the newest multi-million dollar sires: Two Million Dollar Sire, Jacs Electric Spark, Six Million Dollar Sires, Wimpys Little Step and Gunner, Seven Million Dollar Sire, Wimpys Little Step and Ten Million Dollar sire, Topsail Whiz. Additionally the 2015 Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement award recipients, Kenny Eppers and Bob Stinner, as well as 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees Miss Tinseltown, Smart Spook and Terry Thompson were recognized.

NRHA extends sincere congratulations to all award recipients recognized at the Saturday night awards banquet during the 2015 NRHA Derby. Make plans to come to the admission-free NRHA Derby where spectators can see some of the best horses and horsemen in the world compete for nearly $1 million in cash and prizes, but spectators can also go home big winners by signing up to win starting Monday, June 22 at the NRHA booth! As always, there is a not-to-be-missed trade show filled with items for even the most die-hard shopper. A complete schedule and list of host hotels are available now at nrhaderby.com.