GVRHA “Ride & Slide to Equitana” Show 2012: Results & Photos

Shaun Saunders and Whizz Peppy

Sophie Harris and Kolora Lena - Youth 14-18 Champions (photo: Ev Lagoon)

Mackenzie Bascombe on Lethally Cowsmart - Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Champion (Photo: Ev Lagoon)

GVRHA Ladies Champions Georgia Mundie riding Azure Bleu with John Lyons (photo: Ev Lagoon)

Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association held their bi annual Reining Show at Tatura Park Indoor Arena Victoria on 10 November 2012.

The "Ride & Slide to Equitana" Open and Non Pro reining feature on the Saturday night was held in front of a full house of spectators, who all came along to see the best of the best Open and Non Pro Reiner's from around Australia.

18 competitors went head for head to win a prize pool of $3500 and prizes, the Non Pro class proudly sponsored by E & A Salce Stock Foods and The Greater Shepparton City Council was won by local Tatura Reiner Mick Taylor on his gelding Whizzel with Me scoring a 141.5, Reserve Champion was Mick Taylor again riding CL Spinin Up Dust, third place was Brett McDonald on his stallion Slippery Lil Badger.

The Open event, proudly sponsored by Australian Horseman Magazine, The Tatura Hotel and Equissage was won by the Queenslander Shaun Saunders riding Whizz Peppy scoring a 146 from the Victorian Judges Pam Spokes and Deb Versluis. Reserve Champion was another Queenslander who needs no introduction, Warren Backhouse, riding Docs Fancy Roy and third place was Warren riding Ruf Lil Renee. Winners from these two classes went home with $3500 prize money, a Kentucky Equine Champion GVRHA rug and a Champion Jacket.

The show weekend kicked off on Saturday morning at 8am going through to 5pm, Judge for the day was the Victorian Deb Versluis who recently received her certified NRHA judges ticket in August at the NRHA Judges examination held by Ollie Griffith (USA). Along Deb's side scribing for the day was GVRHA's wonderful sponsor and supporter Evelyn Woods.

The Saturday night program saw the DJ pumping up the music nearly blasting the roof off the Tatura park arena as an aid for getting the horses accustomed to the lights and noise they would be experiencing the following week at Equitana.  The rock concert atmosphere inspired Shaun Saunders and Warren Backhouse to do their thing, and the crowd went crazy. 

After the show the next event on the program was the Tatura Hotel "Trainers Triathlon",  13 trainers were put through their paces over three events all fighting for $100 cash.  The first event was an obstacle course, involving, eating a dry weetbix, spinning around a broomstick 10 times, jumping over the broomstick, holding a dish of water over their head while jumping over a hurdle, running down and roping a bale, heeling a heifer, under the limbo, and popping a balloon between their legs to stop the clock. The second event was the Dash for Cash, a sprint race, and the third event was a dancing competition, where the trainers had to dance off against one another doing their best BOOTY SHAKE and GANGNAM STYLE for the crowd. The Trainers triathlon had the crowd in stiches, and some of the dance moves, well let's just say, we are glad these guys can train horses, because they are not getting a gig on dancing with the stars anytime soon! The dance off was between Queenslander Travis Humphries and Victorian trainer David Norbury both shaking their booty to the hysterics of the standing room only crowd.  Travis performed the better gangnam style dance and went home with the $100 cash.  Great to see the trainers let loose and have some fun!

The Saturday winners included:

• Prime Time Non Pro Champion: Lyndon Hale on Op Whizzel Do score: 68.5
• Prime Time Non Pro Reserve Champion: Karin Turner on Glenburn Behind Bars score: 63.5
• GVRHA Ladies Champion Georgia Mundie on Azure Bleu score: 67
• GVRHA Ladies Reserve Champion: Karin Turner on Glenburn Behind Bars score: 63.5
• Intermediate Non Pro Champion: Shane Sainsbury on Whizkey on the Rocks score: 68.5
• Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Champion: Sonya Taylor on CL Spinin Up Dust score: 68
• Limited Non Pro Champion: Shane Sainsbury on Whizkey on the Rocks score: 68.5
• Limited Non Pro Reserve Champion: Sonya Taylor on CL Spinin Up Dust score: 68
• GVRHA Green Rider Co Champions: Vicki Frost on Annlee Hes Jim Dandy & Linda Chisholm on Red Hair & Freckles score: 67
• Youth 13 <Under Champion: Mackenzie Bascombe on Lethally Cowsmart score: 64.5
• Youth 14-18 Champion: Sophie Harris on Kolora Lena score: 67
• Youth 14-18 Reserve Champion: Georgia Mundie on Azure Bleu score: 61.5
• Limited Open Champion: Josh Lyons on Sweet Serendipity score: 69.5
• Limited Open Reserve Champion: Kate Elliott on Ope Whizzel Do score: 69
• Intermediate Open Champion: Josh Lyons on Sweet Serendipity score: 69.5
• Intermediate Open Reserve Champion: Kate Elliott on Ope Whizzel Do score: 69
• Non Pro Champion: Mick Taylor on Whizzel With Me score: 141.5
• Non Pro Reserve Champion: Mick Taylor on CL Spinin Up Dust score: 140
• Open Champion: Shaun Saunders on Whizz Peppy score: 146
• Open Reserve Champion: Warren Backhouse on Doc Fancy Roy score: 144.5

Sunday show day kicked off with another 8am start seeing the NRHA Victorian Judge Pam Spokes and scribe Steph Smith putting her judging skills to work.

Results for the day included:

• Novice Open Level 1 Champion: David Norbury on DC Cadillac score 70.5
• Novice Horse Open Level 1 Reserve Champion: David Norbury on Termite Grounded score: 69
• Novice Horse Open Level 2 Champion: David Norbury on CD Quixote score: 69.5
• Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Co Champions: Chelsea Ragg on Triandibo Indenable & Shane Sainsbury on Whizkey on the Rocks score: 68.5
• Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Champion: Mackenzie Bascombe on Lethally Cowsmart Score: 69.5
• Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Co Reserve Champions: Chelsea Ragg on Triandibo Indenable & Shane Sainsbury on Whizkey on the Rocks score: 68.5
• GVRHA 2 Handed Beginner Champion: Georgia Mundie on Azure Bleu score: 69.5
• GVRHA 2 Handed Beginner Reserve Champion: Juliana Sheridan on OP My KindaWhiz score: 67.5
• Rookie Professional Champion: David Simons on Cowboys Smart Play score: 69.5
• Rookie Professional Reserve Champion: Josh Lyons on Sweet Serendipity score: 66.5
• Rookie Level One Champion: Lyndon Hale on Op Whizzel Do score: 69.5
• Rookie Level One Reserve Champion: Khris Martin on Tamkaura Promise of Glory score: 68.5
• Rookie Level Two Champion: Shane Sainsbury on Whizkey on the Rocks score: 70
• Rookie Level Two Co Reserve Champions: Khris Martin on Tamkaura Promise of Glory & Sophie Harris on Kolora Lena score: 68.5

Overall GVRHA ran a fun, full packed Reining show weekend with lots of great prizes up for grabs.  GVRHA would like to thank their sponsors for the support given to this show, which made it a huge success.  A very big Thank you goes out to : Australian Horseman Magazine, Horsezone, Equissage, E & A Salce Stock Foods, Greater Shepparton City Council, The Tatura Hotel, Melbourne Woodheating Centre, Kentucky Equine Research, Madam Entertainment, National Reining Horse Association (USA), Rail Shirt Supply, Buckaroo Trading Company, National Centre for Equine Education, Wangaratta Stock Foods, M & S Stainless Steel, Affordable Tack & Horsewear Tatura, Pards Western Wear, Ev Lagoon and  Show'n off Show wear by Shelley-Anne, Equitana.

By: Michelle McDonald/GVRHA

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