Flarida Holds Open Lead at End of First Go Round

Smith Leads Non Pro Section

Archer Wins Two NAAC Titles

Shawn Flarida and Shine Chic Shine still hold a convincing lead at the conclusion of the first go of the $170,000 added NRHA Open Futurity competition at the 2010 NRHA Futurity & AdequanR North American Affiliate Championship Show being held now through December 4 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

Flarida rode the three-year-old stallion by Smart Chic Olena, owned by Amabile & Strusiner of Grandview, Texas, to a 227.5 in Saturday’s third section of open competition. The duo now leads the Level 4 Open division by a four-point margin.

The top three in the Level 3, 2 and 1 Open divisions also remain unchanged after section four. Brett Stone holds the top spot in Level 3 and 2 Open divisions with his 221.5 scoring run aboard Smoking Whiz, a stallion by Topsail Whiz owned by Silver Spurs Equine of Cave Creek, Arizona.

A 221 is still the top score in the Level 1 Open division. Billy Williams and Wimpys Lil Star, owned by the Wimpys Lil Star Partners of Murrieta, California, marked their 221 in Friday’s second section.

Open riders have one more go round of competition before finalists are determined. The top horse and rider combinations, based on composite scores from the first and second go round, will advance to the Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 4 where the winner of the Level 4 Open is guaranteed a check for $125,000 as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors.

The $105,000 added Cinch Non Pro Futurity got off to a strong start with Kelle Smith marking the highest non pro score of the day and taking the lead in the Level 4 Non Pro division. Smith rode her Bueno Chexinic mare Whiz N Nicki to a 218.5. Mandy McCutcheon and Lil Mistress are in second with a 217. The Lil Ruf Peppy mare is owned by her husband and fellow NRHA Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon.

The Level 3 Non Pro division is led by Lisa Bissell and her gelding Timber Chic Olena. Their 216.5 score also tied them for third in the Level 4 Non Pro division with Josiane Gauthier and Timber Finest, owned by Francois Gauthier. Both geldings are by Boggies Timber Jack.

Chad Clark scored a 213 aboard his Easy Otie Whiz stallion Pop Qwiz to take the Level 2 Non Pro division while Clayton Eggers leads the Level 1 Non Pro division with a 210 score on his mare Shesa Cherry Twist that is by Hesa Smarty Pants.

The first champions were named in the AdequanR North American Affiliate Championships, a competition which features the top eight riders from NRHA Affiliates across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

In the AdequanR Championship Arena, Andrea Archer and her fifteen-year-old gelding Tougher Than The Rest dominated scored a 215 to win both the rookie professional and limited open North American Affiliate Championships. Andrea represents the South Central Region and lives in Richmond, Texas with her husband NRHA Professional Steve Archer. “We’ve been married 25 years and I’ve always carried the grooming bag,” she said. “After the wins I joked that it’s time to retire.”

Watch the live webcast, keep tabs on the leaders and find out about the latest news and upcoming events at www.nrhafuturity.com, www.facebook.com/nrhareining or www.twitter.com/nrha.

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the 2010 NRHA Futurity & AdequanR North American Affiliate Championship Show: AdequanR; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Purina Mills; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Co.; SmartPak, and Wimpys Little Step.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard setting body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition.

For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit www.nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.

Place / Rider / Horse / Score / Owner / Hometown

Open Futurity – 1st Go Leaders

Level 4 Open 1 / Shawn Flarida / Shine Chic Shine / 227.5 / Amabile & Strusiner / Grandview, TX 2 / Dell Hendricks / Taris Little Whiz / 223 / Adair Reiners LLC / Mesa, AZ 3/ Tim McQuay / Always Gotyer Gunsup / 222.5 / McQuay Stables / Tioga, TX

Level 3 Open 1 / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ 2 / Todd Sommers / This Cat Can Slide / 221 / Cat Can Slide Partnership / Whitesboro, TX 2 / Billy Williams / Wimpys Lil Star / 221 / Wimpys Lil Star Partners / Murrieta, CA

Level 2 Open 1 / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ 2 / Billy Williams / Wimpys Lil Star / 221 / Wimpys Lil Star Partners / Murrieta, CA 3 / Thiago Boechat / Shiners Voodoo Dr / 220.5 / Xtra Quarter Horses, LLC / Purcell, OK

Level 1 Open 1 / Billy Williams / Wimpys Lil Star / 221 / Wimpys Lil Star Partners / Murrieta, CA 2 / Patrick Flaherty / Peekomacho Del Cielo / 218.5 / Jennifer Deweese / Carbondale, CO 3 / Sean McBurney / Chromer Simpson / 218 / CDR Farms / Arlington, WA 3 / Jonathan Gauthier / Hollys Electricspark / 218 / Loni Lapalme / Quebec, Canada

Non Pro Futurity – 1st Go, 1st Section Current Leaders

Level 4 Non Pro 1 / Kelle Smith / Whiz N Nicki / 218.5 / Kelle Smith / Marietta, OK 2 / Mandy McCutcheon / Lil Mistress / 217 / Tom McCutcheon / Aubrey, TX 3 / Lisa Bissell / Timber Chic Olena / 216.5 / Lisa Bissell / Ft Valley, GA 3 / Josiane Gauthier / Timber Finest / 216.5 / Francois Gauthier / Lucama, NC

Level 3 Non Pro 1 / Lisa Bissell / Timber Chic Olena / 216.5 / Lisa Bissell / Ft Valley, GA 2 / Sally Broten / Rio Grande Whiz / 214 / Sally Broten / River Falls, WI 2 / Lindsey McCutcheon / Shes One Hot Chic / 214 / James McCutcheon / Valley View, TX

Level 2 Non Pro 1 / Chad Clark / Pop Qwiz / 213 / Chad Clark / River Falls, WI 2 / Clayton Eggers / Shesa Cherry Twist / 210 / Clayton Eggers / Mingus, TX 2 / Todd Sherrer / Chic Dunit Shiney / 210 / Todd Sherrer / Richford, VT

Level 1 Non Pro 1 / Clayton Eggers / Shesa Cherry Twist / 210 / Clayton Eggers / Mingus, TX 2 / Lisa Byrne / Having Sweet Dreams / 208.5 / Lisa Byrne / Fulshear, TX 3 / Carrie Von Uhlit / Kr Rock On / 205.5 / Carrie Von Uhlit / Winters, CA

NAAC & Ancillary

NAAC Rookie Professional 1 / Andrea Archer / Tougher Than The Rest / 215 / Andrea Archer / Richmond, TX 2 / Joseph Sutherland / Dommandalena / 214 / David & Lorene Zimmerman / American Falls, ID 2 / Rane Baker / Smokey Mtn Reyn / 214 / James Balkema / Englewood, CO

Rookie Professional – Ancillary 1 / Jake Telford / Once A Von A Time / 220.5 / Holy Cow Performance Horses, LLC / Santa Ynez, CA 2 / Barbara Bouchard / Tag This / 216 / Lance Griffin / De Winton AB Canada 3 / Andrea Archer / Tougher Than The Rest / 215 / Andrea Archer / Richmond, TX

NAAC Limited Open 1 / Andrea Archer / Tougher Than The Rest / 215 / Andrea Archer / Richmond, TX 2 / Jeromy Lipps / Whizard Rox / 214.5 / Troy Lancaster / Inola, TX 3 / Joseph Sutherland / Dommandalena / 214 / David & Lorene Zimmerman / American Falls, ID 3 / Rane Baker / Smokey Mtn Reyn / 214 / James Balkema / Englewood, CO

Limited Open – Ancillary 1 / Jake Telford / Once A Von A Time / 220.5 / Holy Cow Performance Horses, LLC / Santa Ynez, CA 2 / Rhea Pole / PKM Imjusttwosmart / 215 / JP Andersen / Sallisaw, OK 2 / Andrea Archer / Tougher Than The Rest / 215 / Andrea Archer / Richmond, TX