2022 NRHA European Affiliate Championship

July 11-17, 2022 | CS Ranch - Switzerland

Beautiful CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland, welcomed yet another record number of competitors vying for the European Affiliate Championship titles at the SVAG CS Classic 2022 which included the prestigious NRHA Open and Non Pro ancillary Classes.

$18,000-Added NRHA EAC Open Grischa Ludwig riding Spooks Of Genius (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x A Spark Of Genius), owned by Margot Van Doorne, scored a 228.5 for the Championship.

“I am speechless. Last night I promised my dad that I would win the NRHA Open—and we did—and today he said ‘son, do it again.’ It’s been a long, hot week here, so I wasn’t sure we could repeat what we did yesterday but we did it again and it is very emotional for me. I am truly fortunate to have such great horses to ride and once again the public was amazing.”

NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck of Belgium rode Colonels Whize Gun (Colonels Shining Gun x Alicias Conquistador) owned by Anneliese & Hermann Meinert, to a 226.5 and second place. Fonck also tied for third place riding CS Sailing Gun (Gunners Enterprise x La Bigia Sailor), a stallion owned by CS Ranch Management SA, along with Ludwig riding West Coast Trash (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x Miss Cody Whiz It), a stallion owned by Margot Van Doorne.

$5,000-Added NRHA EAC Intermediate Open Sharing the EA Intermediate Open Championship was French Axel Pesek riding his own stallion

Reloaded Gun (NRHA Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy) and Steve Ouellet aboard Steadynest Dude (Steadys Dude x Finest Chicolena), a stallion owned by Christian Koehl of Germany. The duo also claimed the $2,000-Added NRHA EAC Limited Open title.

“I purchased this horse a year ago and we won quite a bit last year,” said the 22-year-old rider from France. “This year started off well, and our goal was to win the title here so it’s super.”

“Six years ago my wife [Alessia Vincenzi] and her favorite horse had a bad accident that almost cost her life. The following years were of course difficult and the one companion that did not change was Dude. He’s 11-years-old, has a lot of experience in the show pen, so that’s one point I really had to work on but his two qualities are his great mind and heart which brought us to win these two prestigious titles,” said Ouellet.

Third place was for Stefano Ferri of Italy riding A Ruff Spookin Gal (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x A Ruf Gal), a mare owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg.

Poland’s Rafal Dolata rode CR Blue Chrome (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Nu Chexy), owned by Nagiec Arkadiusz and bred by Dave Roberts, to second place in the EA Limited Open followed by Lena-Marie Maas and Arnels Spat Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spat Olena x RS Arnels Feo Jac), owned and bred by German Sabrina Adam.

$2,000-Added NRHA EAC Rookie Professional

Earning her first EAC title was Swiss Vera Schlauri riding Jac Whiz (Conquistador Whiz x Honeys Melody Jac). The 2009 gelding was bred in France by Catherine Castel and is owned by Schlauri’s companion, Fabien Boiron. “I love this horse and am so happy my boyfriend, who trains out of HorseAcademy in Mooslargue, France, gave me the opportunity to show him,” she shared. “I started riding western horses five years ago and thanks to Fabien I fell in love with reining and with Jac Whiz. He always takes care of me and even though I have another job and only ride on weekends, he makes me look good!”

Angelika Dobesova of Slovakia took reserve aboard LV Barny Remedys (Remedys Moonshine x Majors Queen Mary) owned by Daša Zahradníková. She also reined DB Spooknit Whiz (Kalispook x Whiz Skine On Skine) for owner and breeder Zuzana Dobesova, to third.

$15,000-Added NRHA EAC Non Pro

Topping 32 qualified riders Gina Maria Schumacher of Germany riding All Right Magnum (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x All The Right Motion), a gelding owned and bred by CS Ranch Management SA, after holding the lead with her second horse, beat herself closing with a 223. “I was pretending that I would not post the high score when I went in and I wasn’t really motivated. He’s 8 years old, kinda spooky, and didn’t even have sliders on last week! However, my goal now is to reach the million, and I knew he could do well. My brother [Mick] rode him last night, did a few maneuvers, had fun, and it worked. This horse is really very special and I am so proud of him.”

With a 222 score, Schumacher also tied for the Reserve Championship riding CS Wallawallaboom (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Cheeky Boom), a gelding owned and bred by CS Ranch Management SA, with Nina Zinsli of Switzerland riding TR Reinman (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine x KR Ima Gunner), a gelding owned by Christian-Peter Zinsli.

$4,000-Added NRHA EAC Intermediate Non Pro

Swiss Sabine Schmid rode her own Big Code (Electric Code x Roosterina) to a 220.5 and the win. “I purchased this horse in September last year and I had my eyes on him for a long time because I really loved him and am so emotional right now. After our ride together today, the only thing I could do was cry. I only showed him twice before and we love each other so much. He is amazing to show.”

George Sternberg Allen of Great Britain riding Slide Like Jac (Jacs Little Sunrise x Slidin Like A Yankee) owned and bred by Francesca Sternberg and A Shining Gun (Shine My Gun x Lady Buena Freckles), also owned by Francesca Sternberg, took second with a 217 and third with a 215.5 in both the Intermediate and Limited Non Pro respectively.

$1,500-Added NRHA EAC Limited Non Pro Champion with a 219 was 19-year-old Sara Karasova of the Czech Republic aboard her own KH Yankee Step, a gelding by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Rowdy Yankee out of Step A Little Closer. “This is my first EAC title with my great horse who had some time off after the European Derby last year where we won Level 3, 2, and 1. My sister showed him at the Italian Derby since I was graduating from high school and I took back the reins for the German Derby and then the Czech Maturity where we won, and now this!” said Karasova who was quick to credit her trainer Jonáš Bujnoch for her results and her family for the great support.

$100-Added NRHA EAC Youth 13 & Under

Belgian Hayley Verlinden and her 10-year-old gelding, Lena Smoking Chex (Hot Smoking Chex x ARC Pleasealena), rode to her first EA Championship. “He’s a super horse, sometimes hard to show, but this time he gave me everything and I’m so happy with him even though I didn’t expect it at all. I so enjoyed this show, loved the Youth Team Tournament and all the people around me. I especially want to thank the Foncks and my all Belgian Team.”

Victoire Molla Guisset of France and Jacbsailnthrulites (Hit The Lights x Jolly Be Nimble), a gelding owned by Laetitia Guisset, took reserve and French Matt Legrand rode Gb Little Kid (Nicmeridalittlestep x Ima Torrid Lady), a stallion owned by Anniek Legrand, to third.

$100-Added NRHA EAC Youth 14-18

Swiss Sophia Staub rode Gunslinger Lil Step (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Playguns Rose) to the highest step of the podium. “My horse’s nickname is Bob, he’s 12, and I have been riding him for three years now,” she said about the gelding owned by her mother, Sabine Schmid. “This show was a very good one for us, my horse was very nice and was always there for me. He means the world to me; he is my life and feels all my emotions. I usually ride Bob myself at home with my mother and my two sisters who also compete.”

Thea Karasova of the Czech Republic rode her own Playin for Big Guns (Tinseltownsmokinggun x Playin For Big Chex) to second place in front of Belgian Jody Fonck riding Chic Chic Hoorah (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x Chuka Chic) owned by J&J Comm V.

$200-Added Rookie EAC

With 25 qualified riders from seven countries, 14year-old Matt Legrand of France won with Gb Little Kid (Nicmeridalittlestep x Ima Torrid Lady), a stallion owned and bred by Anniek Legrand. “I am super happy with this prestigious title. I was a little stressed before the class since this is my last Rookie, but was very determined as I have been working with the goal of winning the Championship since the beginning of the year.

This win encloses a lot of emotions since this horse was born at our place and we have both the dam and sire at home. My father [Gregory Legrand] showed the dam at the very first European Championship, and I would like to thank him for preparing my horse for this competition and I thank my number one supporter, my mother!”

Belgium’s Siebe Van Bekhoven rode his own APHA gelding WS Check My Pedigree (Wimpys Smoking Gun x Footworks Finetiming) to second place. “I'm very happy with all the Belgian team who was here to support me all week, especially my trainers Ann and Bernard Fonck. My horse was as always really sweet; he gave me all like he does every time. We had a lot of fun, and I wish I could ride and show like we did today all the time.”

Barbora Julinova of the Czech Republic rode LV Pistol Great Pine (Custom Rooster x Majors Queen Mary), a gelding owned by Petr Monika Julina, to third place.