Phtotos Mel Cruden
There was plenty of action under
beautiful blue skies when the
Queensland State Equestrian Centre
at Caboolture hosted the Queensland
Reining Horse State Championships
and Futurity of 2015. Under the
watchful eyes of judges Donnie
MCLOUGHLIN all the way from the
USA, and local judge Rob LAWSON,
competitors came from near and far to
compete over four days for a share of
$40,000 worth of cash and prizes.
very tight with Ben Ryan showing
great composure in taking out his first
State Futurity Open Championship
on the very impressive, Pekarra
Dazzling Deputy. Ben also took out the
Intermediate and Limited Divisions of
the Futurity. Congratulations to Ben and
his partner Tamika of Ryan Performance
Reining showed it continues to grow
at all levels across the nation and this
event saw record numbers of horses
and competitors flock to the show. There
was also an international flavour with
a number of riders coming to compete
from New Zealand.
The Friday night feature event was the
Thomas Arena Products Open Derby
and the Backhouse Training Stables
Open. And what a feature event it was
with the young horses taking on the
Errol Thomas & Shiney Nu Jack
Horses, who showed that all their hard
work was paying huge dividends.
The Non Pro Futurity was
won for the second year
running by Errol Thomas,
this time on Shiney Lil
Jack with Greg Peters
coming all the way from New
South Wales took out the
Intermediate and Limited
Divisions on Okies Fancy
Step.
Warren Backhouse & Lil Nu It All
seasoned campaigners. Showing he has
lost none of his class over the summer
break, last year's Futurity winner, Lil
Nu It All, ridden by Warren Backhouse
took out both the Open and the Open
Derby titles. Lil Nu It All was bred and
is owned by Dennis and Erin Neylon
of Neylon Performance Horses. Erin
had earlier in the week taken out the
Non Pro event on the dam of Lil Nu It
All when she rode Lilmissnoitall to one
of the show high scores with a powerful
run to blow away a top class field, and
claim the prestigious Non Pro award.
In the Non Pro Derby there were
Co-Champions with Melanie Lindsay
riding Determinated and Rod Osborne
riding Kitten Revolution.
Saturday night featured the Saunders
Performance Horse Open Futurity.
As per usual the competition was
Novice Horse Non Pro, Level 1, Little
Hootchy was piloted by Greg Walker
to take the buckle and Kylie Norman
riding Ronlea Docs Fancy Magic took
out Level 2.
Riding in one of her first big reining
shows 11yr old Amelia Baker showed
great style in winning the Rookie Level
1 and the Freestyle, whilst the Rookie
Level 2 was taken out by the more
mature Paul Sharp on Me Lil Mercedes
Chic.
The Graham Hargreaves Memorial
Trophy for Youth 14yrs to 18yrs was
won for the second time by Bayley
Lowe, riding the little champion horse
Microchip who had earlier piloted mum,
Karen Lowe, to a comeback win in the
Intermediate Non Pro. In the Youth 13
and Under Grace Christoffel won on her
lovely mare Lethal Katie.
All in all it was a fantastic show befitting
one of the biggest held by the QRHA
committee. The committee would
personally like to thank all competitors,
volunteers, spectators and sponsors who
made it all possible. Until next year –
Keep Riding – Keep Sliding !
In other events Angela
Glover shined in the
Michelle Halliwell
Memorial Ladies Event
Melanie Lindsay & Determination
Ben Ryan & Pekarra Dazzling Deputy
riding Snippin Cash to win the beautiful
garland and prizes. De Termination
again showed his versatility by winning
the Limited Open with Michelle
Burnett, before being handed over to
Scott Burnett to win the Intermediate
Open. In the Novice Horse Open Fancy
Stepping Hart Throb won both Level
1 and 2, with Noel Watson, and in the
Page 24 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • September • October 2015
Michelle Burnett & De Termination with Tim
Hoffman