Shaun McBride and Pao Pao Chex.
Sarasota, FL – October 12, 2013 – Show by Appointment awarded its first set of championships on Saturday at the SBA Championship Finals, held at Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL. Open and Non Pro Bridle and Hackamore divisions, as well as Non Pro Boxing, all wrapped up on Saturday as riders returned for their second go and vied for top honors.
Champions took home generous cash awards as well as prizes from three sponsors: Don Rich Saddlery, J. W. Brooks Custom Hats and Skyline Vaquero. J. W. Brooks was on hand to measure winners for their custom-made hats.
“We’re really excited about this new event, and it’s an event that we believe in: we think it’s going to go far,” Brooks said. “We’re proud to be here and to be a part of the beginning. They’ve done a great job with it so far, and we’re excited to be involved.”
“I think we get a pretty good response out of giving away custom hats because it’s something that not everybody gets – it’s a little different from the norm,” he added. “We can measure all the winners and make a hat that’s perfect for them. Everyone has been very positive about it.”
Don Rich Saddlery’s finely crafted saddles were a hit with the lucky champions who earned them. Don Rich was also on hand at the Finals on Saturday to present saddles.
“I’m proud to be a part of it,” Rich said. “SBA is a good organization and it’s going to be great for the cow horse industry, especially here in the East. It seems like everyone’s loved the saddles so far, and we’ll get more feedback once everyone rides in them and sees how they like them.”
Skyline Vaquero, which provided beautiful custom buckles and knives, added to their initial sponsorship to ensure that champions at all levels, from top professionals to beginners just starting out in the sport, would receive fitting recognition for their accomplishments.
“We know the beginning people really want a belt buckle, so we increased our sponsorships to provide that for them,” Dave Hammonds of Skyline Vaquero said.
The day began with the second go for riders in the Open Bridle divisions. The Open Bridle championship went to Rick Steed and Murray Logan’s Whiz Bar Sooper, who achieved a composite score of 293 over two days of competition. Shaun McBride paired with Pao Pao Chex, owned by Paula Burnett, for the Intermediate Open Bridle championship, scoring 287 to take the top spot. Trevor Steed rode Toni Steed’s Gunna Miss You to top honors in the 2K Open Bridle division with a score of 283.5.
After the Open Bridle divisions, Non Pro Bridle and Boxing riders took center stage. Lucas McCullough and Nice Bobby Sox, owned by Jean McCullough, scored 290.5 in the Non Pro Bridle to take home the championship.
“It feels great – it was a fun day,” McCullough said. “The championship early in the day was a big relief. It helped me focus on my second horse [Tinsel Lena in the Non Pro Hackamore] and not worry, since I already had something good going. I won $5,000 and a custom-made hat by J. W. Brooks. I’m really excited about that.”
Barry Spinweber and his own Suz Mountain Dew claimed double championships in the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle and 2K Non Pro Bridle. “He’s a good horse,” Spinweber said. “He’s strong in the reining and good at the fence work – just a great all-around horse.”
“The reining was a highlight today,” he continued. “My cow was really fast going down the fence. I didn’t know if I would quite catch up to him before the end of the arena, but luckily, we made it. I won a ton of money and I won my first saddle, as well as a hat and a nice knife, so that’s really cool.”
Dwyatt Bull and his own Khatch a Diamond were impressive in the 2K Non Pro Boxing, claiming the championship on a total score of 281.5. In the Non Pro Boxing, Verna Benbow and 177 Performance Horses’ Choco Latte Lena earned 285 overall to secure the championship. Benbow was thrilled with her win.
“It’s just wonderful,” Benbow said. “I’m very surprised. I appreciate the people I ran against. They make you a better rider. And I’m grateful for all the help from Jay Holmes, Rick Steed, Robert Smith – everybody who has helped me get here. I was very happy with my high reining score today, and it’s great to win at the first Show by Appointment finals.”
Benbow also credited her horse with a great effort. “She carries me,” Benbow said. “I know I had to ride her, but she carries me. She makes me a better rider. I feel very blessed.”
Open and Non Pro Hackamore classes closed out Saturday’s competition. Jay Holmes and his own Senor Dun It maintained their lead in the Open Hackamore, taking the championship with a score of 293.5. Corey Rodgers and Joana Azevedo’s Dun It Big N Smart scored 280 overall to claim the 2K Open Hackamore title.
Morgan Holmes continued a successful weekend at the Finals by riding her own Mutt to the Non Pro Hackamore championship with a score of 287. Jeff Pressler and Paula Burnett’s Oh Cay Floyd collected a total score of 270, earning them the 2K Non Pro Hackamore championship.
Interspersed with the championships were three Derby classes. Jay Holmes won the Open Derby on Jen Frame’s Junkyard Cat, scoring 221 for the three phases of herd work, reining and fence work, while Morgan Holmes secured the win in the Non Pro Derby on Mutt with a score of 214. Jen Frame and her own One Time Bugsy scored 207.5 to take first place in the Non Pro Boxing Derby.
“He’s really a trouper,” Frame said of One Time Bugsy. “He’s a very honest horse – very steady and consistent.”
She added that she was happy to be at SBA’s first Championship Finals. “It’s exciting to be part of something new like this,” she said.
Saturday evening was highlighted by the debut of a unique SBA class, the Horse Sale Class showcasing sale horses to potential buyers. Show by Appointment’s first Championship Finals conclude on Sunday, when championships will be determined for Open and Non Pro Two Rein, Level One and Level Two Boxing, Youth Bridle and Boxing, and Little Britches Boxing.
About Show by Appointment
Show by Appointment’s fresh approach to reined cow horse competition has been an unprecedented success in its first season. SBA aims to make showing “Fun, Fair, and Affordable” for competitors. To accommodate those traveling long distances to show and help busy riders fit showing in at their convenience, SBA allows riders to reserve their own ride times in advance. This cuts down on usual travel expenses such as stall rentals and hotels and encourages competitors to make the trip and join in the fun.
Each SBA series includes four shows. Riders who compete at three out of the four shows earn a place in the Championship Finals, slated for October 10-13, 2013, at Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL. The Finals offer over $100,000 in cash and prizes. Competitors may also qualify for the Finals in absentia by simply sending in entries and payment to each of the four shows. This system is designed to allow riders a chance to compete in the Championship Finals without spending the season chasing points and incurring excessive competition expenses.
Keep up to date with SBA’s news by liking them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShowByAppointment, following them on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ShowByAppt, and checking out their website at http://www.showbyappointment.com. See SBA videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/ShowByAppointment.
Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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