Lenas Drawin His Gun and Prevosti Win Level 2 Open Championship

Source: National Reining Horse Association Press Release

1 April 2011

Kreuth, Germany – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity welcomed the finals for the Level 1 and 2 Open and Level 1 and 2 Non Pro Futurity finals. Spectators enjoyed the beautiful weather in the German countryside and spectacular reining competition. Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Switzerland and United States were represented in Kreuth today.

LENAS DRAWIN HIS GUN AND PREVOSTI WIN LEVEL 2 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

 
The first day of the NRHA European Futurity finals ended with a double success for Italian Matteo Benedusi. After riding to wins in the Level 1 and 2 Non Pro finals earlier in the day, his stallion Lenas Drawin His Gun became NRHA European Futurity Level 2 Open Champion with Giuseppe Prevosti (ITA) in the saddle. Their brilliant performance ended in three amazing stops earned them a 228.5 – and more than $3,300 in prize money. Lenas Drawin His Gun (Dun Gotta Gun x Lena Lady Jac, bred by Gerald Kimmel) was a Level 4 Open finalist at the Italian Reining Horse Futurity last year. “I’ve known this horse since he was a year old. I knew that he could do it,” said Giuseppe afterwards. “And he did it.”

GB JACS BOND AND LILL EARN LEVEL 1 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

 
Nina Lill (GER) claimed the Reserve Champion title in Level 2 Open division and became NRHA European Futurity Champion in the Level 1 Open division scoring a 226 with GB Jacs Bond (GB Jac x Dr Bonds Bessie). She acquired the gelding after the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity where Juergen Pieper rode him in the finals. “We liked him at once, especially as he has lots of potential in his stops,” Nina said. Only a few weeks after getting him, they won the Level 2 Open Championship at the Western Event Snaffle Bit Futurity. GB Jacs Bond was bred by Daniela Schürer and is owned by Jan Gerbig.

Scoring a 224, RS Countach Olena and Pierluigi Chioldo (ITA) became Reserve Champion in the Level 1 Open division. The mare (Spat Olena x Harlan Glo) was bred and is owned by Claudio Risso. She was Italian Level 4 Open Futurity finalist with Nicola Brunelli in the saddle.

BENEDUSI AND ARC FRECK ENTERPRISE WIN LEVEL 1 AND 2 NON PRO

 
Matteo Benedusi (ITA) and ARC Freck Enterprise (ARC Oak Enterprise x Freckled Boots) claimed the Level 1 and 2 Non Pro Championship. The two scored a 219 in the final. It was another big success for the 26-year-old Aerospace Engineering student and 2009 NRHA European Level 3 Non Pro Futurity Champion.

“ARC Freck Enterprise simply felt right from the first moment,” he said. “I knew he could do it. He has a big heart and can get plus points in each maneuver."  Matteo got ARC Freck Enterprise two months ago from Aldo Lorenzoni.

In Level 2 Non Pro division, Lukas Jirak (CZE) and Elite Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Elite Queen) took Reserve Champion honors. Jirak is one of the best Czech riders and represented his country many times at international events like the World Equestrian Games in Aachen.

The Level 1 Non Pro Reserve Champion was Tom Vandermot (BEL) who scored a 217.5 with Colonel WR San Jo (San Jo Freckles x Selenas Classy Smoke). It was the second time the 19-year-old Belgian showed this horse.

HOT SPICY WHIZ AND STRAMBACH TAKE ANCILLARY LIMITED NON PRO TITLE

 
In a field of 52 competitors, Heike Strambach (GER) and her Hot Spicy Whiz claimed the Limited Non Pro Championship scoring a 216. With this, the gelding (Holly Golly Whiz x Rosita Cody) has kicked off another promising show season. In 2010, he won the Italian Reining Horse Association Challenge Futurity and the Austrian Reining Horse Association Western Star Derby (four-year-old horses) with Rudi Kronsteiner in the saddle. Hot Spicy Whiz was bred by Klaudia Koudelka. Susy Baeck (BEL) and Gumpy Grumpy BB (215) placed second, Sonja Lubas (GER) and Smokin Mifillena third (214.5).

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW – The NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show offers a full slate of Category 1 classes for Open and Non Pro riders. The NRHA European Futurity is “Open to the World” and showcases four-year-old reining horses and riders competing for close to $400,000 in prize money.

More information is available on the official website of the NRHA European Futurity, on the Online Reiner and on NRHA’s Facebook Fan Page.