Martin
Larcombe guided ARC Oak Enterprise, owned by Cisal Quarter Horses,
to a decisive win in the Eur $100,000 added NRHA Open reining held
at the Horse Academy in Mooslargue (Alsace/France). Sixty-three
Open entries were pared down in the first go-round to a field of
twenty-five reiners ready to compete in the clean slate finals held
on Sunday, June 13th. Larcombe's score of 226 earned the victory
and over $20,000 (USA).
Promotion
ARC Oak Enterprise
clearly represents NRHA's extended family. He is by the 1990 NRHA
Open World Champion, Surprise Enterprise, and out of the 1986
NRHA Futurity Champion, Sophie Oak. Eleuterio Arcese, the first
European to be inducted into the prestigious NRHA Hall of Fame,
bred this nine-year-old stallion. Larcombe is from Australia and
works for Mario Erbetta's Cisal Quarter Horses located in the
Lake Maggiore region of Italy. Martin and ARC Oak Enterprise have
been consistent winners in NRHA sanctioned events. They were the
NRHA Open Reserve World Champions in 2003.
As Smart As Charley, ridden
for Juergen Kalischinski (Ger) by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida,
placed second with a score of 222.5. There was a tie for third place
between RS Bovinda ridden by Stefano Massignan (ITA) for Claudio Risso
(ITA) and Larcombe riding Red Chic Peppy owned by Maria Bianchi (ITA).
Star Tac Pride, ridden by
Christian Perez (ITA) for Chiara Bonavolta (ITA), scored a 224 to win
the Intermediate Open Division followed by a tie for second between
Rieky Young (NED) riding Scheffer & Young's Burnt Starlight and Arno
Honstetter riding Dunit Sugar Quixote for Willem Jan Langendoen.
Fifty-two Non Pro riders
competed in the Eur 30,000 added NRHA Non Pro class with Jeannette Kraehenbuehl
(SUI) riding ARC Golden Boy to the winner's circle with a score of 219.
Jeannette, who is coached by Martin Larcombe, earned almost $6,500 for
the win. Cecilia Frediani (ITA) was second on Spanish Snapper with Rosanne
Sternberg (GB) placing third on Nijomi Sonny Reb.
Yves Fromont (FRA) and Titan
Texan won the Intermediate Non Pro with Cira Baeck (BEL) placing Don
Quixote Escapes second, followed by third place Christine Berndorfer
(AUT) riding Bobs Manolla.
There were twelve countries
represented by the Open and Non Pro finalists indicating the global
importance the sport of Reining has attained in recent years. Accepted
for international competition by the Federation Equestre Internationale
(FEI) in 2000, Reining was included as a full medal event in the 2002
World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. The inaugural FEI World Reining
Masters Series Finals, hosting qualified reiners from around the world,
will be held at the 2004 NRHA Futurity & Championship Show in Oklahoma
City this coming fall. Reiners are looking forward to additional high
dollar and prominent reinings in Europe this show season: The NRHA European
Affiliate Championship will take place July 9-10 in Deurne, Netherlands,
the Challenge, to be held July 15-18 in Kreuth, Germany, will offer
a Eur 75,492 added Open and a Eur 37,746 added Non Pro reining with
Americana slated for early fall.