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MEDIA CONTACT:
Abby Whitaker
Cheryl Magoteaux
Pro Management
Media & Public Relations
13181 US Highway 177
Byars, Oklahoma 74831
405-238-9893 (at Show)
Fax: 580-759-3999
E-Mail:
abby@magoteaux.com
Cheryl@magoteaux.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Craig Schmersal & Tidal
Wave Jack Win USEF Open Championship & Secure an Invitation to Italy
Twenty three of the greatest reining horses in the United
States traveled to Lexington to compete for the $75,000-added Adequan®/United
States Equestrian Federation Open Championship. Craig Schmersal
accompanied three of those horses and earned the 2005 USEF title with
Tidal Wave Jack.
Craig, Menifee, California, and his 9-year-old power-house
stallion entered the arena as the sixth draw. The pair made a
picture-perfect run and earned the high score of 226 along with a
championship check for $20,645.
“About halfway through my
second set of circles when I slowed down I knew he was hooked,” Craig
recalled of his run with Tidal Wave. “I got chills up my spine and held
on to the rest of it. Once I got through my figure eight I knew if I
could run and stop with no penalties that I’d be home free.”
Craig’s win in Lexington
bumped him to the top of the qualifying standings for the FEI World
Reining Masters and he’s ready to make the trip to Manerbio, Italy, this
September.
“All the big names are here and everybody was trying for
it,” Craig said of the prestigious Championship. “It’s a big honor for
me to best the rest of these guys. For me that’s a major feat.”
Tidal Wave Jack, by Hollywood Macho Jack and out of Tidal
Mist Cody, is an NRBC Open Reserve Champion and has lifetime earnings
exceeding $100,000. Craig and the horse traveled to Jerez, Spain, in
2002 for a medals finish at the World Equestrian Games. The stallion
spent the breeding season at Mike
McIntyre’s in North Carolina and Mike
started showing him last spring. Craig saw how well he was doing and
decided to bring him to Kentucky for the USEF.
“I
didn’t ride him until Monday when I got here,” Craig noted. “My hat’s
off to Mike; he did a great job preparing him.”
Craig also credited his
wife, Ginger, along with Pierre Luc Phaneuf and Liam MacNeil for helping
him throughout the show with his three horses. Craig also showed his
stallion Mister Montana Nic, by Reminic and out of Mollie Montana, and
placed in the top 10 with Vintage Boom, by Mr Boomerjac and out of Taris
Little Vintage, owned by Doug Porcello.
Todd Crawford flew in from
the Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity in Waco, Texas, last
night to compete in the USEF Championships. The versatile trainer from
Blanchard, Oklahoma, earned the USEF Open Reserve Championship riding
Commandalena, a 13-year-old stallion owned by Wayne and Judy Clark of
California. Commandalena, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Givenchy
Command, markeda 225 as the third-to-last draw for the silver medal and
a check for $14,864.
“I’ve shown this horse for
quite awhile and I know him pretty well so I knew that could trust him
and just trotted him to warm him up,” Todd said of Commandalena.
“Because of that I knew he would have the air to make it through the
run.”
In 2003, Todd and
Commandalena finished fourth at the USET Festival of Champions in
Gladstone, New Jersey. The stallion is also an AQHA Amatuer Reining
Reserve World Champion and won the USEF Preliminary competition at the
2005 National Reining Breeders Classic.
The Clarks bought
Commandalena just after the NRHA Derby in May and plan to show him in
non pro competition. Because of Todd’s prior commitment to compete at
the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity, which
takes place at the same time as the FEI World Reining Masters, he will
not be able to travel to Italy. Tim McQuay, who finished in third place
in the standings, is planning to take his place.
The Fiesta began today with
the Rookie class where Gary Hostetler, Inglefield, Indiana, rode
Imperials Renee Star to the championship. Imperials Renee Star, by Mr
Imperial Doc and out of Bossette, marked a 203.5 for the win.
In the Intermediate Open
class, Khi Burgman and CS Curty San Badger, by Docs Royal Lancer and out
of Lemon Light, marked a 217 for the title. CS Curty San Badger, owned
by the Classic S Ranch, earned a check for $524 for the win.
The inaugural Fiesta in the Park
concludes tomorrow at the historic Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The
USEF Youth Championships, sponsored by Markel Insurance and Hagyard,
Davidson and McGee, begin at 8 am, followed by the Open and Non Pro
Freestyle Reining. The event will close with the $10,000-added Fiesta
Non Pro Classic. For complete results and highlights from the show, or
for more information on the Fiesta in the Park, visit
www.fiestainthepark.com or contact Pro
Management at 580-759-2572.
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