ARTICLE BY KYLIE R. MELROSE.
The 2016 Australian Barrel Horse Association National Finals were heldat the prestigious Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre in Tamworth, New South Wales from the 6th to 11th of September, 2016.
JUNIOR DIVISIONAL BARREL RACE
The Junior events saw 120 horses entered. What fierce competitors we have with Kelly Atkins and Houdini earning the Division 1. Bianca Lumby rode Touch Of Chemistry( Docs Chemistry x Jessies Dream Girl) to finish second in the Junior 1D, earning them an AQHA vest and garland for being the Fastest Financial Registered Quarter Horse. Placing in third position was Kaydee Hernando running Indi.
Finishing fourth in the Junior 1D was Jade Tribe riding Radical Sabbatical, earning them Runner Up Fastest Financial Registered Quarter Horse, taking home an AQHA rug. Coming fifth in the Junior 1D was Olivia Webb aboard Morn N Te, who were also named as the Runner Up Fastest Financial Registered Quarter Horse, earning them a bag of AQHA merchandise.
OPEN DIVISIONAL BARREL RACE
The competition was fierce in the Open Divisional Barrel Race with 340 horses entered. Nichole Fitzpatrick running Just A Busy Cat( Intricatolena( imp) x Winderadeen Just A Busy Jet). Together they not only won the event with an average time of 17.340, but also were awarded with the $ 250.00 Bonus for the Fastest Registered Financial Quarter Horse sponsored by the AQHA.
In second place was Jo Caldwell running the son of the ABHA Stallion Incentive Award recipient Traditional Roc( Roc O ' Lena( imp) x Docs Misty Morn),( owned by Mathea Usher of Santa Rio Quarter Horse Stud) and
Morn ' s Sweet Chique, County Roc, with Emma Peters finishing third riding Roc N Billy, also by Traditional Roc and from Roc N Good Way.
Amy Knox rode HPH Hickatass Ketchup Kid, a son of Hickatass and Barque Tachita Sonita to win the Division 2 Barrel Race. Sophie Hanna rode Turbo to claim victory in the Division 3 Barrel Race and the Division 4 was won by Josie Atkins running the son of Lonesome Dove Richochet Oak and Verda Lass, Banarabin Laddie.
Division1- Nichole Fitzpatrick & Just A Busy Cat
PASTIE HOLDER MEMORIAL CLASSIC BARREL RACE
Fifty-seven outstanding combinations competed for the 2016 Pastie Holder Memorial Classic Championship title, incredible trophy saddle and accolades with Cheyenne Whitwell claiming it all after running three solid patterns aboard the stylish Peptos Royal Doc, a 2009 chestnut son of Santa Rio Quarter Horse Stud ' s exciting young stallion Flashy Pepto and Royal Denny.
Peptos Royal Doc was named as the winner of the Fastest Registered Quarter Horse $ 1000.00 Bonus. Winner of the $ 500.00 Breeder of the Fastest Registered Quarter Horse was Mathea Usher. Earning the Reserve Championship was well known Australian Champion Cowgirl Wendy Caban riding Jay Lo Working, a 2011 bay daughter of SLR Mojos Workin( imp) and Classic Amarillo. Jay Lo Working was named as the AQHA Runner Up Fastest Registered Quarter Horse $ 250.00. While Leslie Moore rode the 2011 palomino son of Doc O Roy x Lethal Way Michelle, Roys Lethal Way to finish in third place.
This was the third year that the AQHA have been generously supporting the ABHA with incentives.
CHEYENNE WHITWELL
" It was such an amazing feeling to win the classic," says Cheyenne. " I felt so proud of my horse and myself for being able to accomplish such a big win against so many super talented horses and competitors. Definitely one of my career highlights."
" Peptos Royal Doc better known as Joker was Purchased of Mathea Usher as a rising two year old," says Cheyenne. " Joker has been a really challenging horse. I remember dad calling people after he was broken in trying to sell him because of how difficult he was to just catch and be around on the ground, so easily spooked and frightened and he didn ' t trust many people and still doesn ' t like many people."
" As a four year old my brother Thomas started Joker roping, but he didn ' t really take to it like he would have liked and would often take off on him," Cheyenne recalls. " Tom sent Joker away to the feedlot where he did four days hard work and came back a different horse still with his quirks and hard to catch but
Page 46 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine November • December • 2016