Entry-level riders kicked off the 2017 Reining Australia National Championships under the eye of judge Debra Versluis on Tuesday afternoon in the Thomas Arena Products Green Rider classes. More than 50 competitors used the relaxed Green Rider rules, riding two-handed and with optional simple lead changes, to get the feel of a reining show at the national level. Sarah Rawson-Harris and Mississipis Destiny won the buckle for Green Rider Level 1. Craig Hall, riding Wimpys Little Terminator, outscored the other Level 2 Green Riders to take out the top spot in this class.
Our international judges, Joe Hayes and Alessandro Milani, took their places early on Wednesday morning for the largest draw of the show when 70-odd horses contested the Xtreme Genes Novice Horse classes. The Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 buckle went to Anthony Ross and Einsteins Revelation. The winner of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 class was decided by a run off between Lee Thomson riding
Eskdale West Judgement Day and Denise Milgate on RKN Two Eyed Kid with Lee and Judgie proving the victors. Yves Cousinard and Spin Me Please came up with the double for the Novice Horse Open classes, taking home the buckles for both Level 1 and Level 2.
The feature event on Wednesday afternoon was the Ed Smith Reining and Performance Horses Snaffle Bit Futurity. Cameron Halliwell and Shine It Up a Notch won the Non Pro division while John Wicks rode Onya Shiney Nu Toy into first place in the Open division. This was a great finish to the first full day of the show and was an exciting sneak peek at the calibre of the 2017 Futurity horses.
The Hygain Rookie Level 1 and Level 2 opened Thursday’ s program with another big draw of more than 50 horse and rider combinations for the judges to consider. Sharon Leddington-Hill and Migs Shez Dynamite showed their heels to the opposition with a convincing win in the Rookie Level 2. Sharon’ s score of 144 in this class was the highest score by a Non Pro rider at the show. The Rookie excitement continued with a run off for the Rookie Level 1 buckle between Sarah Rawson- Harris on Mississipis Destiny and eventual winner Kasey Bogie riding Lyrics Custom Corey.
The very well supported Mr 4X4 Freestyle class followed after the break. Chris Gould outperformed a posse of youth riders to win this event on Malibu Lena. Thursday was rounded off with the running of the K Ranch Open and K Ranch Non Pro with 35 of the best and bravest horses and riders in the country. Cameron Halliwell and Gottagetagunner top-scored in both the Open and the Non Pro. It was an emotional moment when he was awarded the Michelle Halliwell Memorial trophy for his win in the Non Pro class.
Another draw of more than 50 horses opened the program on Friday with the Intermediate Non Pro, Southern Cross Saddlery Intermediate Open and Southern
Page 30 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December • 2017