articles | The Classic 2003
The Classic 2003
Jun 17 2003
Author: Kim Lansidel
"No Way…531 runs!" That is over 100 from last year's show! We keep shattering the Washington Reining Horse Association's totals. Exceeding $22,000 dollars in payouts for our three FULL days of classes, we also awarded two scooters, two mini Morrisons, four Morrisons, two Lawsons, two Pewters, Gist buckles, embroidered double chairs, custom jackets from Steve Sandvid with "An Educated Guess" embroidered on them, beautiful decorative engraved plates from Precision Images by Sue Muir and gift certificates from Chris Catalano's Wild, Wild West store!
It seems horses sired by "Smart Chic Olena" dominated our weekend. His get found it's way into the winner circle in the following NRHA classes: Open, Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Non Pro, Novice Horse Open, Novice Horse Non Pro, and a few other WRHA classes. He also had many second place placings throughout the show.
We kept our two judges busy all day long during those three days. Guy Vernon of Colorado and Marlin Holroyd of Michigan alternated judging classes throughout each day. With the ever-growing number of runs we have been having at our shows, this system has helped keep things spinning and our judges fresher for our "Big" classes of the weekend &endash; the NRHA Open and Non Pro.
Doug Stroud
The ever so camera shy Doug Stoud and Parnelli Chic Olena finally got a picture! They won both the NRHA $2,000 Open class and the $1,000 NRHA Novice Horse Open class.
Open and Non Pro Classic
Friday ran late…. the NRHA Open class was set for an evening performance that well, ran late. When it was all finished and the dust had settled it was 10:30pm and Doug Stroud found himself in first place on Parnelli Chic Olena. A son of Smart Chic Olena, this exceptionally handsome liver chestnut stallion owned by Judy Goodsell posted a score of 146 to win the $2,000 NRHA Open Lawson class. Doug found the horse as a yearling and has enjoyed his time on Parnelli.
Doug said, "I had to go home after showing him and breed him" and then they turned around and showed him the next day in the NRHA Novice Horse Open class and won that class too! Doug operates his training facility about 15 minutes from Monroe in Snohomish, WA.
"He's been really fun to show cows on too" said Doug. 
He has been adding some working cow horse classes into his schedule and is having a great time. Parenelli's get should be making their way into the pen next year.
Coming in second was Matt Mcauslan for owner Colleen Auffiero riding Shiningtopsail by Shining Spark. Matt lost some serious millimeters off his back shoes turning out a left spin worth +1 1/2 in this run. Matt spent time down in Oregon learning from the renowned Bob Avila and he is well known here in the Northwest for frequenting NRCHA shows. Matt and his wife Tiffany train out of Woodinville, WA and have one son.
Mike Helsen found himself in third, fourth and fifth! He recently reacquired Rhondalena in training for owner Margret Sullivan. It was great to see this horse back in the pen. Mike had only had him back for a short time and we expect to see this horse back into the winner circle in no time! Mike and his wife Inger train out of Stillwater Stables in Auburn, WA and they have one daughter (who heavily participates in leadline classes!)
Our Non Pro class competition took place on Saturday evening. We all knew it would stretch late into the evening with more than 40 runs scheduled to take place. We all needed a few toothpicks to keep the eyelids open as the night finally came to an end. Kim Lansidel rode
her parent's (Karl and Marge Eilers) palomino stallion DA Chics Tune out with the high score of the show at a 148 1/2 and the win in the NRHA Non Proclass. She was pretty excited to have such a great ride on "Louie". "He was right there with me the whole time!" she said. "I have been working with John Slack and a bunch of things just came together." Kim said. She plans on heading towards Denver next and wished she was heading to the USET Futures Finals, but couldn't make the trip.
A tie for second was between Cathy Martin on Smart Little King and Christie Batson on Smart Pep (both by Smart Chic Olena). They each came up with a 145 1/2 and smiles to boot. Each gal is a hoot to be around and they had a good time dividing up the loot they won in the three concurrent classes. Christie spent the winter - again - in Arizona riding with John Slack. And Cathy joined her for a short while down in Arizona too, to get away from the winter's rain. Cathy rides with Cory Hutchings up in Arlington.
Rookie winnerLindsey White came all the way from Canada to win both our NRHA Rookie and Youth 14-18 class on her mother's horse Tivio Breezes.
More NRHA Classes at the Classic
Future Reiners of America - a class that seemingly keeps growing, as does it's participants! There were nine kids decked out in their outfits with smiling faces! There was the fur vest, the pink sparkly outfits, a great pattern by the Davis girl, a couple of cowboys and a pony (this pony was fought over by about four girls all weekend!) And the last to show was Graysen Stroud, a five-year-old, who loped around a bit and then got a huge "yaaaaa hoooo" when she threw her horse, The Night Doctor, into a spin that any judge would have given at least a plus half!
Breezing her way into the winner circle and topping the list of 32 entries in our Rookie class, was Lindsay White for her mother Janet White of Langley, BC on Tivio Breezes. She then turned around in the next class and captured the NRHA Youth 14-18 class. It seems her trip across the Canadian boarder was well worth the effort! Sequins Last Smoke and Kathy Goodrich for owner Leona Davis found herself respectively in second in our Rookie Class. She rides with Mike Helsen.
Kelly Pinkerton showed her riding abilities and adaptability to a new horse. She won in Wenatchee earlier this year riding Topsail Brisk - her mount for the past two years, he became injured and has to sit out the rest of the year. So, with the help of Mike Helsen and her strong desire not to sit out the season, she grabed the reins of her father's horse CDB Hickory. Kelly's father Bruce Pinkerton was elated to see a victorious ride at her first show with his horse in the NRHA Youth 13 and under class.
Maureen McCann Lathrop turned out a score of 72 1/2 to win the Novice Horse Non Pro class. Crown N Chic, sired by Smart Chic Olena, is a real cute sorrel stallion that has been at McCann's Summit View Ranch for a few years now. Crown has sired a few foals of his own and they are just coming of age to be in the show pen. Tying for second place was Rachel Shobe on Doctors Alibi (our WRHYA Vice President) and our bridesmaid award winner for the weekend Christie Batson on Smart Pep. They both marked a 72.
Our NRHA Limited Non Pro and NRHA Intermediate Non Pro was won by Heidi McCann and Surely Wright. "Doppler" as he is known in the barn, is a bay gelding by Lenas Wright On. Last year Heidi won the Rookie class riding Time to Shine On and this year she again rose to the occasion by topping this class of 16 in the Limited and 7 in the Intermediate.
Kim Lansidel
A 148 1/2 and the high score of the show, Kim Lansidel and DA Chics Tune took home the $2,000 Non Pro Lawson trophy.
A 72 1/2 was the score posted by Cory Hutchings aboard Smart Little King, owned by Cathy Martin, and it was enough to win both the NRHA Limited Open class and the NRHA Intermediate Open class. Cory was beaming with a smile for this victory. Cory has his training facility located up in Arlington, WA. He apprenticed with Todd Bergen and Andrea Fappanni and helped start and ride RR Star. He and his wife just found out that they are expecting twins due around the time of the NRHA Futurity. Right behind Cory was Dean McCann on his father's horse Shiners Little Peppy. A stout palomino stallion by Shining Spark, Dean marked a 71 1/2 and around $600 was earned.
To those we give THANKS!
The tireless show secretary Jeff Lansidel for knowing computers and keeping the office running smoothly. Christie Batson, Matt Livengood and Alayne Blickle for co-managing the show. Without your efforts, there would be no volunteers nor organization! Cindy McKinzie and Julie Daviscourt for awards shopping. Our announcer Bob Garet for somehow keeping upbeat after a long day and Joelle Barker the "gate keeper" for being friendly and keeping the show going! Our hats are tipped to you'll.
Our ever wonderful video tapers from Montana &endash; Dan and Rainy Browning came to record our show. Raindancer Video has become an important facet of our shows. And, their prices are so good; we can all afford to purchase more runs and go in more classes!
Cheryl James used her digital camera to record those dirt-flying stops and other momentous maneuvers in the pen. She also took some time out during this show to capture some precious moments and a few portrait shots. She took some really neat photos over the weekend.
Thanks to the following sponsors - PLATINUM: Continental Dirt Contractors, Fleek Quarter Horses, NOAH &endash; NorthWest Organization for Animal Help, The Shobe Family, Tina Peterson, The Pacific Reining Horses Association which presents "The Super Slide" in Chilliwack, BC October 2003 - SILVER: Chris Catalano's new store, Lucky Eagle Casino, H+H Non Pros, Stroud Non Pros, Judy Goodsell, McKinzie Construction - BRONZE: Julie and Mark Daviscourt, HANS Restaurant, Sue Muir/Precision Images.
And, we welcome a few new sponsors, The Chap Lady &endash; Lori Goulet, Stone Canyon Ranch, Winfield Farms and Matt Dillon Dunit of Three Peaks Ranch in Oregon.
Port Angeles will be our next WRHA show & August 1, 2 and 3rd. Visit our web site at www.wrha.net or call Jeff Lansidel at (360) 458-8865 for more information. Until then, Happy Trails to you….