Tubesing/Just My Cash and Scheckel/A Perfect Pleasure Win 11 and Under/15-18 Congress Showmanship

By: Brittany Bevis

Two new Congress Champions were named in this afternoon’s Showmanship classes. One was a longtime veteran who has won every major Youth Showmanship title this year, and one is a newcomer who claimed her first Congress Championship title.

First up, Sydney Scheckel led A Perfect Pleasure to win a Congress Champion title in 15-18 Showmanship. Earlier this year, Sydney was named the World Champion at the AQHA Youth World in Showmanship and the World Champion in Youth Showmanship at the NSBA World Show. This Congress Championship in 15-18 Showmanship caps off the big three.

The Reserve Champion in the class was Kyle Dougherty with Bit Western. Third place was Madison Thiel with KM Sudden Lil Zip. Fourth place was Lauren Lloyd with Rising Shadow. Fifth place was Livvie Van Lanen with All But Sudden.

In 11 and Under Showmanship, Brooke Tubesing led her adorable 18-year-old gelding, Just My Cash, to win their first Congress Championship title as a team. Brooke and “Dobbin” have been coming to the Congress for the past three years. She’s very glad that her first Congress Championship was won in Showmanship, because it’s her favorite class.

“It’s my favorite class, because it’s so unique, and he’s really good at it,” she says. “My favorite part [of the pattern] was when you turned to get even with the judge.”

If extra points are awarded for the cute factor, Brooke and Dobbin won those as well with her perfectly coordinated eyeshadow (that she did herself, which perfectly matched her sparkly outfit) and his elaborately banded mane.

Later on in the show, Brooke and Dobbin will compete in Novice Youth 13 and Under Showmanship, where they will face some stiff competition. She isn’t worried though, because she relies on the advice of her horse trainer Dale Hamilton. “He tells me good luck and says to remember to smile,” she says. Now that she’s a Congress Champion, we wondered if Brooke has any advice for the next generation of Small Fry competitors. “My advice would be to do your very best. Just be as good as you can be.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Violet Shetler with Flaunting Her Assets. Third place was Karissa Shank with Assets Miss Reba. Fourth place was Cheyenne Augsburger with Dynamic Allnite Long. Fifth place was Lyla Bellar with Potentially Money.