SBA Championship Finals Offer Top-Notch Competition and Entertainment
Kristin Cosentino. Photos by Gayae Ghazaryan.
Sarasota, FL – October 4, 2013 – Show by Appointment is getting ready to wrap up a successful first year of reined cow horse competition with its much-anticipated Championship Finals. The Finals, which will take place Oct. 10-13 at Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL, offer over $100,000 in cash and prizes. Spectators are welcome and will enjoy the excitement and family-friendly atmosphere that are SBA trademarks.
The Championship Finals offer divisional championships for competitors at all levels who have qualified through SBA’s regional circuits throughout the year. SBA has hosted circuits in Indiantown, FL, Unadilla, GA, and Jackson, OH. They also collaborated with National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) affiliates to co-sanction shows in Murfreesboro, TN, and Sarasota, FL.
Qualified riders are looking forward to the high level of competition and generous prize money at the Finals.
“I’m looking forward to so many things,” Kristin Cosentino said. “Of course the main goal is winning and it would be awesome to win, but just to be there will be the best thing ever for someone like me. It’ll be really exciting to see everyone go out there and do what they can do. I’m going to be overly excited to be there – I think the whole time I’ll be shaking! I’m hoping most of my family can come out, and most of my friends to see me ride.”
“The money and prizes at the Finals are really good, better than most shows because it’s guaranteed money,” Josh Veal explained. “That makes a huge difference for trainers and especially owners.”
Andreas Sanchez and his daughters Cecilia and Carolina will be attending October’s Championship Finals together. “We’re going to be there as a whole family,” he said. “It should be nice – there should be quite a few people there.”
Along with the divisional championships, several specialty classes are also offered at the Finals. The Horse Sale Class is an unjudged exhibition that gives owners the opportunity to show off their sale horses to prospective buyers. Each horse and rider will take a turn in the arena to demonstrate their ability while the announcer gives details about the horse’s background and experience. View current entries here: http://www.showbyappointment.com/Horse-Sale-Entries.html.
Thursday evening features the Stallion Stakes Horse Sale. Owners may nominate a single stallion or their ranch. With a ranch nomination, any horse on the ranch may be sold in the Horse Sale. Three-year-olds may be nominated for the Stallion Stakes Class and compete as 4-year-olds for Stallion Stakes money.
Down the Hairy Fence, a fence run only class, is always a highlight of SBA shows and will be especially exciting at the Finals. Top professional riders pull out all the stops as they work a cow down the fence, showcasing their horses’ speed and agility as they compete for first place honors.
A seminar for judges will be held just after the Finals on Oct. 14-15. Led by Bill Enk, the NRCHA Director of Judges, the seminar will provide an opportunity to test for the NRCHA and SBA judge’s card or simply audit and learn about the judging process and scoring system. The cost to test or audit is $125. Contact Debbie Hall at debbie@firststringfarms.com to learn more and register.
The Championship Finals are supported by several generous sponsors. Skyline Vaquero, Don Rich Saddlery and J. W. Brooks Custom Hats are teaming up to provide awards for the Finals.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Finals and for SBA’s 2014 schedule. For more information, contact Mary Adelaide Brakenridge at mab@phelpsmediagroup.com. Read more about Show by Appointment at http://www.showbyappointment.com.
SBA Championship Finals Fast Facts
Dates: Oct. 10-13, 2013
Location: Triple J Ranch, Sarasota, FL
Schedule and More Information: http://www.showbyappointment.com/2013-Championship-Finals.html.
Host Hotel: Holiday Inn – Lakewood Ranch, $89/night if you request the special SBA show rate. http://www.hilr.com.
Entries: Contact Debbie Hall at (321) 863-0456 or debbie@firststringfarms.com.
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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