April 4, 2011 – Kreuth, Germany – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) ended its 2011 NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show on Saturday, April 3, in Kreuth, Germany. The show is the largest NRHA-approved show to be held outside of the U.S. and welcomes more than 300 horses and 200 riders.
NRHA crowned champions in the Level 3 and Level 4 Non Pro Futurity divisions, as well as champions in the Level 3 and Level 4 Open Futurity divisions. Riders from 11 countries battled for their piece of the $125,000 added Level 4 Open, $50,000 added Level 3 Open, $50,000 added Level 4 Non Pro and $10,000 added Level 3 Non Pro purses.
The Level 3 and Level 4 Open division finals of the NRHA European Futurity made history tonight. After the top-quality go round, expectations were set high for the horses and riders. Almost 5,000 visitors watched a spectacular final with one first-class horse after another. It was truly amazing – a 222 was necessary to rank among the top ten in the Level 4 division.
In the end, Rudi Kronsteiner (AUT) sat atop of the standings again. With Finest Copyshot, he bested their performance in the go round and scored show high score of 233! With this, Kronsteiner won the NRHA European Level 4 Open Futurity for the second time bringing his NRHA LTE to nearly $900,000. Finest Copyshot made her own mark in the history books by becoming the first mare to claim the prestigious Level 4 Open division title, plus $ 46,550 in prize money. Finest Copyshot is by I Am Shotgunner out of Its Another Footwork. She is owned by her breeder Anja Deutzmann. The horse was Western Event Snaffle Bit Level 4 Open Futurity Champion, Oakland Reining Classic Level 4 Open Futurity Champion and Italian Level 4 Open Futurity finalist with Bernard Fonck in the saddle.
Lenas Drawin His Guns and Prevosti Win Again
Giuseppe Prevosti (ITA) and Lenas Drawin His Guns claimed the reserve champion title in Level 4 Open division, in addition to the NRHA European Futurity championship title in Level 3 Open division scoring a 229.5. The stallion (Dun Gotta Gun x Lena Lady Jac, bred by Gerald Kimmel) also won the Level 2 Open Futurity division yesterday.
The reserve champion title in the Level 3 Open division was earned by Lukas Brucek (CZE) and Shes Got Big Guns (Gunner x PH Top Gun) who scored a 226.5. The mare is owned by Sigrid Gooris. She was bred by Fredrick Pursell. Brucek was reserve champion at the 2010 NRHA European Futurity in the Level 1 and Level 2 Open divisions.
PC Sliderina For Me and Cortesi Win Non Pro Crown
They had been the best of the go round (216.5) and repeated with another outstanding performance in the final. Scoring a 220, Manuel Cortesi (ITA) and PC Sliderina For Me (Dualin For Me x The Slide Surprise) claimed the 2011 NRHA European Futurity championship in the Level 3 and Level 4 Non Pro divisions, plus more than $13,200.
The title was another milestone for the 18-year-old Italian who has already won Bronze at the first FEI European Championship Young Riders, as well as championship honors in the Level 4 Non Pro division of the NRHA Germany Breeder’s Futurity. Just last year aboard PC Sliderina For Me, he won the Italian Level 4 Non Pro Futurity Championship and became a finalist in the NRHA Germany Breeder’s Snaffle Bit Level 4 Non Pro Futurity. Manuel Cortesi trained the mare, bred by his father Piero, himself. “I love her – she is totally honest and a real character,” he said.
Tom Vandermot (BEL) and Colonel WR San Jo (San Jo Freckles x Selenas Classy Smoke) placed second in Level 4 Non Pro division scoring a 219. The two already earned the Reserve Championship in Level 1 Non Pro division at this show to take home total prize money in excess of $8,000. The 19-year-old Belgian and 2008 NRHA European Affiliate Champion Limited Non Pro trained the horse himself.
In the Level 3, the Reserve Championship title was earned by Tina Kuenstner-Mantl (AUT) and Nu Chexomatic (Nu Chex To Cash x Tejons Texie) who scored a 217.5. The score also was good enough for third place in the Level 4 Non Pro division. The NRHA Non Pro Reserve World Champion rode two horses in the finals and took home nearly $12,000 for her efforts.
Ancillary Classes End
Scoring a 210.5, Zoey Kant (NED) and her Its Dun Time won the NRHA Youth 13 & under ancillary class. Michelle Maibaum (GER) and Sailcommander finished the class in second place.
In the Youth 14-18, Sarah Ehrenreich (GER) rode Chocolate De Leche to be crowned champion. Luisa Zieglmeier (GER) and The Smart Spark took second-place honors.
Karin Stoll (AUT) and Jacs Bionda O Rima won the final ancillary class at the NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show, the Rookie II. Kerstin Kraus (GER) and Freckles Play Ruf placed second in the class.
More About the Show
More information is available on the official website of the NRHA European Futurity at nrha-european-futurity.com, on the Online Reiner at reiner.nrha.com and on NRHA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/nrhareining.
