NRHA Southeast US Regional Affiliate Finals

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF THE NATIONAL REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION AND NRHA REINER VOLUME 34, ISSUE 08.
NRHA Southeast
U.S. Regional Affiliate Finals
WILLIAMSTON, NORTH CAROLINA, WAS THE PLACE TO BE LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2013.
BY LAURA MAE SCHOELLER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOLIKEN
W
ITH A NEW DATE AND A SHOW ALL THEIR OWN, THE
Southeast U.S. Regional Affiliate Finals
(SERAF), hosted by the Southeastern Reining
Horse Association (SERHA), went off without
a hitch on Labor Day weekend, August 30 to
September 1, 2013, at the Senator Bob Martin Agricultural
Center in Williamston, North Carolina. In years past, the
event was held in conjunction with the Carolina Fall Classic
Show and Futurity during the last weekend of October.
“The show went really well. We heard a lot of good feedback and exhibitors seemed to appreciate the earlier date giving them more time to enter and prepare their horses for the
championships in Oklahoma,” said SERHA President, Jesse
John Chase. “While we always enjoyed hosting the show
with the Carolina Fall Classic, moving to this date and doing
it on our own really made the Regional Affiliate Finals classes
the main focus of the show. We were able to do award presentations in the arena after every class and just put a lot
more emphasis on the affiliate classes and make it a big deal.”
In addition to the Regional Affiliate Finals (RAF) and a full
slate of Category 1 classes, the show hosted the McGee
Farms Derby as well as many activities outside the show
arena, including a silent auction, drag awards, a spaghetti
dinner on Friday evening and snacks and hors d’oeuvres
served during the Derby Saturday night.
“We really want to thank McGee Farms and our sponsors
for supporting us this first year. Now that we have that under
our belts, I think we can do some things to make the show
even bigger and better next year,” said Chase.
for Glen to show. That’s how I got qualified for the regional
finals and now we’re qualified for Oklahoma,” Valentine said.
“This has been a little like a gift for me. I’m still kind of starting out on my own so to have a nice horse like this to go and
show is really great.”
Valentine started his own training business in July of 2011
and runs his operation with the help of his wife, Allison, out
of Francois Gauthier’s Sunny Pines Farm in Lucama, North
Carolina. Although Valentine has only been out on his own
for a few years, he has been winning championships for
much longer, including Limited and Intermediate Open
World Championships as well as an Intermediate Open
Reserve World Championship. More recently Valentine’s
accomplishments include winning the 2010 National
Reining Breeders Classic Derby Level 2 Open division.
Open
With more than $50,000 in lifetime earnings, it’s no surprise to
see A Ruf Master in the winner’s circle once again as the 8-yearold gelding clinched the RAF Open championship with Nick
Valentine in the saddle. Owner Glen Yasser of Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, sent A Ruf Master to Valentine and the upand-coming trainer couldn’t be more pleased with the horse.
“He (Glen) bought the horse to show in the rookie class
but has been really busy running his business. So I have been
showing the horse some and schooling him to get him ready
Nick Valentine
and A Ruf
Master
A Ruf Master was trained and shown as a 3 year old by
NRHA Professional, Hall of Fame inductee and Three Million
Dollar Rider, Tim McQuay. After becoming an NRHA Futurity
finalist with McQuay at the reins and an NRHA Derby finalist
with Marco Ricotta in the saddle, the gelding was sold and
eventually found his way to Yasser and Valentine. Although
traveling to Oklahoma City for the North American Affiliate
Championships may seem like old stomping grounds for A
Ruf Master, it will be a first for Yasser.
“Glen’s never been to Oklahoma to see the NRHA Derby
or the Futurity so he’s thinking it might be pretty neat to go
out to see the NRHA Futurity and watch his horse show in
the Affiliate Championship and I’m looking forward to it,”
said Valentine.
Reserve in the RAF Open went to NRHA Professional
Christian Roux riding HS Hollywood Whiz for owner Hawk
Stables owned by Bobby Hawk and Tammy Wyles of
Madison, Georgia.
Intermediate Open
It was double duty for A Guy With A Gun at this year’s RAF
as owner Stephanie Sieradzki of Portsmouth, Virginia,
showed the 7-year-old on Friday in the rookie L2 RAF with
RESULTS UNOFFICIAL
NRHA SOUTHEAST U.S . REGIONAL
AFFILIATE FINALS
OPEN
HORSE
1. A Ruf Master
2. HS Hollywood Whiz
RIDER
OWNER
Nick Valentine
Christian A Roux
Glen Yasser
Hawk Stables
INTERMEDIATE OPEN
1.
2.
3.
4.
HORSE
RIDER
OWNER
A Guy With A Gun
Baroom Gunslinger
A Ruf Master
Steppin Out Tuf
Lucas Duchesne
Gilad Susman
Nick Valentine
Ronnie Wayne
Stephanie Sieradzki
Lucinda M. Human
Glen Yasser
Sherry E. Wayne
HORSE
RIDER
LIMITED OPEN
1.
2.
3.
4.
OWNER
Baroom Gunslinger
Gilad Susman
Sugaspais Smart Chic Romian Serin
DP Smokin Commander Romain Serin
Gunpowder And Lace Cole Sutton
Lucinda M. Human
Wolf Hills Farm LLC
Kathie A. Eger
Cole Sutton
ROOKIE PROFESSIONAL
HORSE
Shannon Rafacz and
Top Sailing Tivito
1. Lady Witha Pistol
2. Gunpowder And Lace
RIDER
OWNER
Bobbi Jo Roebuck
Cole Sutton
Jacquelynn Naatjes
Cole Sutton
NOVICE HORSE OPEN LEVEL 1
1.
2.
3.T.
3.T.
HORSE
RIDER
OWNER
Alright With Me
Timber Fancy Pine
Master Sugar Shapper
Wrangler Cee Cash
Russell Drawdy
Nick Valentine
Christian A Roux
Lisa Aldridge
Cheyenne D Leon
Francois Gauthier
Misty Yelton
Lisa Aldridge
NOVICE HORSE OPEN LEVEL 2
HORSE
1. Steppin Out Tuf
2. Master Sugar Shapper
2. Hard Workin Whizard
RIDER
OWNER
Ronnie Wayne
Christian A Roux
Wendy Gray
Sherry E. Wayne
Misty Yelton
Millie L. Gray
Youth Team Tournament Champions
NRHA SOUTHEAST U.S. REGIONAL AFFILIATE FINALS
Lucas Duchesne
Gilad Susman
YO U T H T E A M TO U R N A M E N T R E S U LT S
RIDER
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Tucker Lane/Gunner Gump
Alexa Rivard/Big Whimpy Step
Rebecca McCabe/Whizzen Footwork
Javier Melo/Wimpys Little Girl
Alexa Rivard/Big Whimpy Step
Kyndall Harper/Lotsa Jules
Abby Groves/Selano Bonita
Ashlyn Harper/SLJ Ruf Like Juice
SCHOLARSHIP EARNED
$300
$300
$300
$300
$150
$150
$150
$150
Bobbi Jo Roebuck
Russell Drawdy
Ronnie Wayne
the hope of qualifying for Oklahoma City to compete in the
Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year championship.
Finishing in a tie for third place, Sieradzki accomplished her
goal and then turned the reins over to her trainer, Lucas
Duchesne, who marked an impressive 148.5 on the gelding
two days later to win both the RAF intermediate open title
and ancillary class. The championship not only marked the
first win for A Guy With A Gun and Duchesne as a team, but
also marked the first championship in A Guy With A Gun’s
show career. Prior to Sieradzki purchasing the gelding in
2012, A Guy With A Gun was only shown four times, but
Duchesne saw potential in the horse and had Sieradzki buy
the then 6 year old.
“We were looking for a horse for her to run for the Rookie
of the Year and wanted something a little flashy and this
horse seemed like he would fit the bill,” Duchesne said. “He
actually turned out to be a little more horse than I expected
and it has been great.”
After reviewing the schedule for the NAAC, Duchesne and
Sieradzki both plan to show A Guy With A Gun in their
respective affiliate classes. “There is a six-day interval
between our two classes, so I think we should have the time
to prepare him properly for both,” Duchesne said. “I am also
really glad that he showed so well here so Stephanie and I
could see that he can handle both classes. It also gave her a
big confidence boost being able to see what her horse is really capable of marking.”
NRHA Professional Romain Serin piloted Sugarpais Smart
Chic owned by Wolf Hills Farm LLC of Abingdon, Virginia,
to the RAF Limited Open Reserve championship.
Rookie Professional
Bobbi Jo Roebuck began competing in NRHA events as a non
pro rider, but in 2012 Roebuck turned in her non pro status
RESULTS UNOFFICIAL
NRHA SOUTHEAST U.S. REGIONAL AFFILIATE FINALS
NON PRO
RIDER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
OWNER
Shannon L. Rafacz
Top Sailing Tivito
Pamela M. Dickinson Dun Gotta Chex
Daniel W. Blackburn Smokem Lucky Solano
Suzanne De Champlain Sail On Kuna Whiz
Christy Leigh Langdon Pine Juice
Catherine Hancock
SLJ Hope Its A Juice
Jeff Kirkbride
KR Lil Conquistador
Julie Burkett
Dizzy Whizzy
Shannon L. Rafacz
Pamela M Dickinson
Daniel W. Blackburn
Suzanne De Champlain
M.R. Langdon & Sons Inc
Michael H. Hancock
B. Cheree Kirkbride
Julie Burkett
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Pamela M. Dickinson
Daniel W. Blackburn
Suzanne De Champlain
Christy Leigh Langdon
Catherine Hancock
Julie Burkett
Kevin J. McCall
Dun Gotta Chex
Smokem Lucky Solano
Sail On Kuna Whiz
Pine Juice
SLJ Hope Its A Juice
Dizzy Whizzy
Gunners Lil Smarty
Pamela M. Dickinson
Daniel W. Blackburn
Suzanne De Champlain
M.R. Langdon & Sons Inc
Michael H. Hancock
Julie Burkett
Kevin J. McCall
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Daniel W. Blackburn
James Windham
Dirk Winkelhake
Catherine Hancock
Terry E. Carter
Julie Burkett
Carol Bell
Jan Pence
Smokem Lucky Solano
Shootin Taw
Glendas Secret
SLJ Hope Its A Juice
Brennas Power Stroke
Dizzy Whizzy
Another Wimpy
Wimpys Dun Twistin
Daniel W. Blackburn
Lee Hallman Windham
Anja Kuhlmann
Michael H. Hancock
Terry E. Carter
Julie Burkett
Carol Bell
RJP Group II LLC
LIMITED NON PRO
Limited Open
Israeli native, Gilad Susman, had the best ride of his career to
date on Sunday as he piloted Baroom Gunslinger through
NRHA Pattern 4 to mark a 147.5 and win the RAF Limited
Open championship and ancillary class. The dynamic pair
also captured the RAF Intermediate Open Reserve championship as well as reserve in the corresponding ancillary class.
“That is the highest I have ever marked on a horse,”
Susman said. “When I was walking out of the arena I wasn’t
sure what the score was going to be but I knew it felt really
good. It felt like I didn’t have to try very hard and he was just
doing it effortlessly,” And according to Susman, owner
Lucinda Human of Advance, North Carolina, couldn’t be
more pleased. “She told me she was just blown away when I
came out of the arena,” Susman said.
Susman moved to the states in 2009 and worked for
NRHA Professionals Mike McEntire and Jordan Larson
before starting out on his own in 2012. While working for
McEntire, Susman got to know Baroom Gunslinger, aka
Puzzle, and owner Human. Puzzle was an NRHA Futurity
finalist with McEntire before Human purchased the horse in
2010 and began showing Puzzle in non pro events. When
Susman returned to North Carolina in 2012 to start his own
training business, Human sent Puzzle to him with the hope
of selling the now 7-year-old gelding, but with Susman’s
recent success, Human might be rethinking her decision.
“We are thinking of taking him to Oklahoma to show in the
championship and then she is hoping to show him in some
7&Up derbies next year,” Susman said.
HORSE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
PRIME TIME NON PRO
RIDER
1.
2.
3.
4.T.
4.T.
6.
7.
8.
HORSE
OWNER
Pamela M. Dickinson Dun Gotta Chex
George R. Bell
Custom Chic
Daniel W. Blackburn Smokem Lucky Solano
James Windham
Shootin Taw
Suzanne De Champlain Sail On Kuna Whiz
Aaron L. Marx
Gunners Dynamite
Carol Bell
Another Wimpy
Jan Pence
Wimpys Dun Twistin
Pamela Dickinson
Pamela M. Dickinson
Carol Bell
Daniel W. Blackburn
Lee Hallman Windham
Suzanne De Champlain
Aaron L. Marx
Carol Bell
RJP Group II LLC
Daniel Blackburn
to become an NRHA Professional and has been quickly
climbing her way up ever since. Currently sitting in second
place in the Rookie Professional World Top 10 standings,
Roebuck and Lady Witha Pistol didn’t settle for second place
at the Southeastern RAF where they won the Rookie
Professional Affiliate championship for Roebuck’s mother
and owner, Jacquelynn Naatjes.
Roebuck lives in Lake Placid, Florida, where she and her
husband, Bud, own and operate Roebuck Reining Horses. In
addition to their Affiliate win, Roebuck and Lady Witha
Pistol took home second place prize money in the rookie
professional ancillary class. Cole Sutton piloted his own
Gunpowder And Lace to the reserve affiliate championship.
of day for me,” Dickinson said with a big smile. “The stars
must have been perfectly aligned!”
Dickinson purchased ‘Checkers’ in 2011 as a 3 year old with
the help of her fiancé and trainer, NRHA Professional John
Rosi, and has been working on finishing the big palomino ever
since. “At this show I felt like it all finally came together for us
in the show pen. He has a lot of talent, it just took a while to
get him really broke,” Dickinson said. “This was the first time
I really had to call on him in the show pen and he answered
twice in one day so I couldn’t be happier with him.”
George Bell took home reserve honors in the RAF prime
time non pro on Carol Bell’s Custom Chic and Suzanne De
Champlain piloted her own Sail On Kuna Whiz to the
reserve championship in the novice horse non pro level 2.
Non Pro
In 2012, veteran non pro competitor and multiple world
champion Shannon Rafacz and her stallion Top Sailing
Tivito captured the Southeastern RAF Novice Horse Non
Pro Level 2 championship. This year the duo found themselves in the winner’s circle once again as they clinched the
RAF Non Pro championship.
“We actually almost didn’t even take him along to the
show. I have been so busy with other things right now that I
haven’t had a chance to ride him since the end of May. Mark
(husband Mark Rafacz) has been riding him when he has
time, but he has been so busy with customers that he is
always the last horse we think about,” Rafacz said. “He was
really good and went in there and just did his job. We stayed
out of the penalty box and ended up winning, so I was really
happy that we decided to take him along.”
Rafacz and ‘Theo,’ as he is more affectionately called, also
competed again and qualified for the NAAC in the novice
horse non pro level 2 class, but with only a single slate of
classes on the show bill that proved to be a pretty big task.
“The novice horse was earlier in the day so the non pro was
actually his second run of the day. I was able to show and
qualify him in both classes so it really turned out to be a great
Regional Affiliate Finals for me,” Rafacz laughed. “I really
owe a big thanks to my husband because without him my
horse wouldn’t have been ready to show.”
Intermediate, Prime Time and
Novice Horse Non Pro
Although the novice horse and non pro divisions were held
on the same day, Rafacz wasn’t the only one to find success
in both events. Pamela Dickinson, of Greenwood, Florida,
might still be counting trophies after she piloted her own
Dun Gotta Chex to the championship in the RAF intermediate and prime time non pro classes as well as the RAF novice
horse non pro levels 1 and 2. But Dickinson didn’t stop there.
She also earned the reserve championship in the RAF non
pro class and picked up wins in the novice horse non pro levels 1 and 2 ancillary classes, tied for the win in the intermediate non pro ancillary and took home second place prize
money in the prime time non pro ancillary division. All in all,
Dickinson took home six NRHA trophies and an NRHA
pewter trophy for her efforts. “It was a once in a lifetime kind
Limited Non Pro
Daniel Blackburn from Selma, North Carolina, and his horse,
Smokem Lucky Solano, competed in the Southeastern US
RAF in 2012 and qualified to show in Oklahoma in all three
non pro classes as well as both of the novice horse non pro
level 1 and 2. In 2013, Blackburn and his 8-year-old mare
once again qualified for the NAAC in all divisions, but this
time they went home with the RAF championship in the limited non pro as well as the reserve championships in the RAF
intermediate non pro and novice horse non pro level 1.
Smokem Lucky Solano was bred and raised by Blackburn.
The mare was shown by NRHA Professional Jesse John Chase
as a 3 year old and Blackburn has been at the reins competing
with the mare ever since. James Windham showed Shootin
Taw to the reserve championship in the limited non pro division. Shootin Taw is owned by Lee Windham.
Novice Horse Open Level 1
As the new Western coach for the University of Central
Florida, Russell Drawdy of St. Cloud, Florida, has a busy
schedule, but he still found the time to travel to the
Southeastern RAF to capture the Novice Horse Open Level I
championship aboard Alright With Me for owner Cheyenne
Leon of Mayfield, Kentucky. “I’ve had this horse in training
for almost a year now and he is just a really nice all-around
horse,” Drawdy said.
Drawdy originally purchased the 10-year-old gelding for
his daughter, Deanna Sphaler, to show but soon found a better fit for the horse with owner Leon. And their win at the
RAF didn’t come as a big surprise. Drawdy and Alright With
Me are currently sitting in second place in the World Top 10
standings in the novice horse open level 1.
“We are having a great year and it’s been a lot of fun,”
Drawdy said. “But I owe a lot of thanks to my mentor,
Charlie Smith, for helping me get where I’m at. I also couldn’t
do it this year without the great intern we had this summer
from the University of Florida, Alex Balder, and our entire
DTF barn (Drawdy Training Facility) has been so supportive
of us hauling up and down the road this year.”
Nick Valentine took home the reserve championship honors with Timber Fancy Pine for owner Francois Gauthier of
Lucama, North Carolina.
Novice Horse Open Level 2
In 2012, Ronnie Wayne of Taylors, South Carolina, won the
Southeastern RAF novice horse open level 1 and 2 championships aboard his wife, Sherry’s, Steppin Out Tuf. After
recovering from a car accident earlier in the year, Wayne
qualified ‘Junior’ for this year’s event with the hope of defending his title in the level 2 and he didn’t disappoint. Wayne
piloted the 6-year-old gelding through NRHA Pattern 3 to
win the championship for the second year in a row.
“He’s out of Sherry’s good mare, One Tuf Muffin (now
owned by Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg), and he’s
just like her, a big, strong, stout horse that can really stop and
turn,” Wayne said. “We bred, raised and trained him ourselves and he has just been a super horse for us.”
Wayne is hoping to show Junior in the NAAC later this fall
but says it all depends on his wife. “Sherry broke her ankle a few
days ago and so she’s not able to ride right now. If she heals up
fast and feels good enough to finish getting her 3 year old ready
for the Futurity then I’ll take Junior along and show him. We
have just had a rough 2013, but I keep buying lottery tickets
hoping our luck is going to change,” Wayne said with a laugh.
RESULTS UNOFFICIAL
NRHA SOUTHEAST U.S. REGIONAL AFFILIATE FINALS
NOVICE HORSE NON PRO LEVEL 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.T.
6.T.
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Pamela M. Dickinson
Daniel W. Blackburn
Nicole Collins
Lucinda M. Human
Kelsey R. George
Theresa Drawdy
Jessicah Torpey
Dun Gotta Chex
Smokem Lucky Solano
This Chics Paid
Einsteins Mrnoitall
Timber Quixote
Ruf Reiny Jac
Wunder Bread
Pamela M. Dickinson
Daniel W. Blackburn
Nicole Collins
Lucinda M. Human
Kelsey R. George
Theresa Drawdy
Torpey Performance Horses
NOVICE HORSE NON PRO LEVEL 2
RIDER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.T.
8.T.
8.T.
HORSE
Rookie and Ancillary
Cameron Sanford of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and her
horse GS Smart Kitty Cat captured the RAF rookie level 2
championship as well as the win in the ancillary class with a
score of 142. Sanford purchased ‘Simon’ at the beginning of the
year and began competing in green reiner and rookie classes
under the guidance of NRHA Professional Matt Flarida.
Simon is a 6-year-old gelding that was bred and trained by
veteran non pro Sarah Johnson Babcock and her father,
NRHA Professional and Million Dollar Rider Craig Johnson.
Ashlyn Harper and SLJ Ruf Like Juice owned by J.B. Burney
earned the reserve championship.
Youth 14–18
Alexa Rivard of Suwanee, Georgia, rode to the RAF Youth 1418 championship on her own Big Wimpy Step. The unstoppable pair has been dominating the NRHA youth 14–18 class
all year and currently sits at the top of the NRHA World Top
10 standings.
“I’ve had him for close to a year now and we just clicked
automatically from the beginning,” Rivard said. “Ever since
then we’ve been able to mark big scores, so it has been a really
great year so far.”
For Rivard, however, all her recent success has been part of
a bigger plan. The now 17-year-old high school senior saw
Reining for the first time when she was 10 years old. She
decided then that she wanted to start showing in Reining and
one day earn a scholarship to compete on a university equestrian team. And Rivard is as good at executing her plan outside the arena as she in inside the show pen.
“I will be going to Auburn University next year and will be
riding on their equestrian team. I just recently committed
and I’m really excited and still in a bit of shock that it all
worked out so perfectly,” she said.
OWNER
Pamela M. Dickinson Dun Gotta Chex
Suzanne De Champlain Sail On Kuna Whiz
Shannon L. Rafacz
Top Sailing Tivito
Julie Burkett
Dizzy Whizzy
Daniel W. Blackburn Smokem Lucky Solano
Nicole Collins
This Chics Paid
Kevin J. McCall
Gunners Lil Smarty
Theresa Drawdy
Ruf Reiny Jac
Javier Melo
Show N Tag
Jessicah Torpey
Wunder Bread
Pamela M. Dickinson
Suzanne De Champlain
Shannon L. Rafacz
Julie Burkett
Daniel W. Blackburn
Nicole Collins
Kevin J. McCall
Theresa Drawdy
Javier Melo
Torpey Performance Horses
ROOKIE
1.
2.
3.T.
3.T.
5.
6.
7.
8.T.
8.T.
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Cameron P. Sanford
Ashlyn Harper
Linda Brewer
Stephanie Sieradzki
Parker H Minchin
Holly I Van Duys
Nicole Collins
Julianna M Cook
Marcy Whittle
GS Smart Kitty Cat
SLJ Ruf Like Juice
Cody Jac Whiz
A Gut With A Gun
Dun Whizzin Ruff
He Gets The Chex
This Chics Paid
Invader Gata Whiz
Check My Tab
Cameron P Sanford
J.B. Burney
Linda Brewer
Stephanie Sieradzki
Parker H Minchin
Holly I Van Duys
Nicole Collins
Julianna M Cook
Marcy Whittle
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Taylor Masson
Ashlyn Harper
Courtney Blumer
Evie L. Laney
Carlysle Salter
Tucker Lane
Emma K Lane
Sugar Coated Whizen
SLJ Ruf Like Juice
Imasmart Tipolena
Miss 8650
Play With My Gun
Gunner Gump
Wimpys Bama Chic
Taylor Masson
J.B. Burney
Courtney Blumer
Todd Laney
Carlysle Salter
Bundy Lane
Emma K Lane
YOUTH 13 & UNDER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
YOUTH 14–18
1.
2.
3.
4.
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Alexa Rivard
Abby Groves
Alexa Rivard
Nicole M. Ellis
Big Wimpy Step
Solano Bonita
Spot This One
Monty Sliding Dry
Alexa Rivard
Abby Groves
Alexa Rivard
Nicole M. Ellis
Cameron Sanford
Taylor Masson
Alexa Rivard
Rivard also earned third place in the RAF youth 14-18
class on her other horse, Spot This One. Taking home the
reserve championship was Abby Groves and her horse
Solano Bonita.
Youth 13 & Under/Ancillary/Youth Rookie
Although 2013 is only the second year for Taylor Masson to
compete in NRHA events and the first year for her horse,
Sugar Coated Whizen, you wouldn’t know it by watching
them in the show arena. The 13-year-old rider from Davie,
Florida, dominated the youth 13 & under at the
Southeastern RAF, winning not only the Affiliate youth 13 &
under and ancillary class but also the rookie youth class. In
addition, this dynamic team is currently sitting in second
place in the World Top 10 standings.
“One of my main goals this year was to qualify for this
show and do well so I can compete for the championship in
Oklahoma,” Masson said. “She is so consistent for me in the
show pen and is just the perfect all around horse for me.”
Sugar Coated Whizen is a 9-year-old mare that was originally trained and shown as a roping horse. With help from
her trainer, Dave Moore, and his assistant Lindsey
Seewaldt, Masson was able to convert Sugar Coated
Whizen over to Reining.
“She is reining bred and seemed like she had a lot of ability
for Reining when we bought her. Once we started working
with her she caught on really quickly,” Masson said. After
competing with her mare some next year, Masson is hoping
to retire Sugar Coated Whizen from the show arena and start
breeding her. ✦
McGee Farms Derby
MIKE McENTIRE EARNS THE LEVEL 4 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.
BY CAROL TRIMMER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOLIKEN
H
ELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOUTHEAST U.S.
Regional Affiliate Finals by the Southeastern
Reining Horse Association, the McGee Farms
Derby was a welcome addition of Category 2
competition.
Open Competition
NRHA Professional Mike McEntire, Selma, North Carolina,
piloted Stanley Coat’s Wimpys Flashy Jac (Wimpys Little
Step x Flashy Tackie Jac x Boggies Flash Jac) to win the
McGee Farms Derby Level (L) 4 Open division. The 2009
buckskin obviously thrives under McEntire as the pairing
has earned nearly $50,000, including a Top 10 finish at the
2012 NRHA Futurity. Wimpys Flashy Jac was bred by
Nathalie McEntire. Coats is from Smithfield, North Carolina.
With a 146.5 score they banked an additional $1,340 in
Williamston.
Close behind McEntire was Josiane Gauthier, Lucama,
South Carolina, aboard Twisters Hot N Spicy owned by
Milton White, Orange Park, Florida. Gauthier, a formidable
non pro competitor before joining the professional ranks, is
proving to be equally skilled among open competitors.
Twisters Hot N Spicy (Dun It With A Twist x Hombres Hot
Tomale x Genuine Hombre) is a 2007 mare bred by
Christopher Adams. For their 145 score the pair collected
more than $890.
Twisters Hot N Spicy paired with Gauthier was the L3
Open Champion as well and banked another $600. NRHA
Professional Matt Flarida was at the reins of Rey Jays
Revolution for owner Stephanie A. Rouse, earning the L3
and L2 Open Reserve championships with a 143.5 score and
take home pay of more than $800. Rey Jays Revolution
(Einsteins Revolution x Jazzific x Jazzy Spookster) is a 2009
dun stallion who was bred by David Evans. Flarida is from
Smithfield, North Carolina.
Hs Hollywood Whiz carried NRHA Professional Christian
A. Roux, Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the L2 Open division championship. Hs Hollywood Whiz (Bartop Sailor x
Annie Dun Did It x Hollywood Dun It) was bred and is
Michael D. McEntire and
Wimpys Flashy Jac
owned by Hawk Stables, Madison, Georgia. The 2007 mare,
earned a score of 144 to best the rest of the field and take
home over $500.
Non Pro
There were co-champions in the L4, L3, and L2 Non Pro divisions. Philip Lanier, Lexington, North Carolina, rode his
2009 stallion Hezawhizzinpistolena (Another Great Whiz x
Squaws Jo Olena x Kings Pistolena) to tie with Tucker Lane.
Each scored a 144.5 and pocketed over $2,000. The Lanier
owned sorrel has earned over $22,000 in NRHA-approved
competition. Hezawhizzinpistolena was bred by Dan Hege.
Tucker Lane, Gates, North Carolina, proved worthy of the
McGee Farm Derby’s non pro competition and claimed the
Derby’s L4, L3, and L2 Non Pro co-champion titles aboard
Bundy Lane’s Gunner Gump (Gunner x Little Patrasha
Gump x Little Gump), a 2008 gelding bred by Harold
Lepler. The pair also earned the win in the L1 division to
earn another $922. Lane and Gunner Gump took home the
lion’s share of the loot, almost $3,000. Gunner Gump has
NRHA LTE of more than $68,000.
Robin D. Mazzocca, East Quoque, New York, rode her
Miss Whizarima to a 144 score and the L1 Non Pro division
reserve championship. Miss Whizarima (Boggierima x
Ghost Buster Baby x Topsail Baby) is a 2008 sorrel mare bred
by Francois Gauthier. Her NRHA LTE are almost at the
$50,000 mark. ✦
Tucker Lane and
Gunner Gump
RESULTS UNOFFICIAL
MCGEE FARMS DERBY
LEVEL 4 OPEN
HORSE
RIDER
1. Wimpys Flashy Jac
Michael D. McEntire
2. Twisters Hot N Spicy Josiane Gauthier
OWNER
Stanley Coats
Milton White
LEVEL 3 OPEN
HORSE
RIDER
1. Twisters Hot N Spicy Josiane Gauthier
2. Rey Jays Revolution Matthew M. Flarida
OWNER
Milton White
Stephanie A. Rouse
LEVEL 2 OPEN
1.
2.
HORSE
RIDER
OWNER
HS Hollywood Whiz
Rey Jays Revolution
Christian A. Roux
Matthew M. Flarida
Hawk Stables
Stephanie A Rouse
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Tucker Lane
Philip F. Lanier
Robin D. Mazzocca
Gunner Gump
Hezawhizzinpistolena
Miss Whizarima
Bundy Lane
Philip F. Lanier
Robin D. Mazzocca
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Tucker Lane
Philip F. Lanier
Robin D. Mazzocca
Gunner Gump
Hezawhizzinpistolena
Miss Whizarima
Bundy Lane
Philip F. Lanier
Robin D. Mazzocca
RIDER
HORSE
OWNER
Tucker Lane
Philip F. Lanier
Robin D. Mazzocca
Gunner Gump
Hezawhizzinpistolena
Miss Whizarima
Bundy Lane
Philip F. Lanier
Robin D. Mazzocca
LEVEL 4 NON PRO
1.
1.
3.
LEVEL 3 NON PRO
1.
1.
3.
LEVEL 2 NON PRO
1.
1.
3.
Philip F. Lanier and
Hezawhizzinpistolena