The AQHA European Championships in Kreuth, Germany, brought a double whammy for Sterling riders Doug Allen and Francesca Sternberg when they repeated last year’s Gold Medal wins in the Amateur and Senior Reining classes. Doug also achieved a amazing feat taking bronze medal also in his class. The show was once again very supported with 15.countries, and more than 420horses with in excess of 1,700 entries.

 

Success stories came in right across the board for the British contingent , who had made the long trek to what is one of the furthest areas in eastern Germany. Youth Horsemanship was a particularly successful class with three out of the four top slots going to young British riders. Jessica Sternberg rode into the Silver medal position aboard Sushimi and Caroline Coles took Bronze Medal. Only just pipped for a medal was Lily Fry, and it was wonderful to see two British riders at the podium for the medal ceremony. Congratulations also go to Carrie, in her last year of Youth competition taking Gold in the Youth Hunt Seat Equitation. Jessica narrowly missed a medal in the Youth Reining taking 5th place with Josh Collins also in the top ten with Bet On Sonny. It was nice to see the two horses, both by  Sterling Horses by Njomi Sonny Reb, a past European Champion himself, standing side by side for the ribbon presentations.

 

Francesca, urged on by the success of the Youth in the pattern classes sailed forth in the Amateur Horsemanship class, raising the average age of the competitors by at least 15 years and the size of the horse/rider combinations by several sizes on her Reiner Just Gotta Shine!!. AKA Curly, who stands at over 16hh looked magnificent and to everyone’s surprise the pair not only made it to the finals, but won the Bronze Medal! Francesca, very delighted with result, admitted that it had been nearly 10 years since her last Horsemanship class and that it might be another 10 before the next one ! She said she had been made to use muscles she had forgotten she had! However it highlighted the versatility of a well trained Reining horse and raised many an eyebrow, amongst the elitist Horsemanshippers!

 

Reinomania.

 

The next week in Krueth heralded the Reinomania Show, the last in the series of the European Reining Challenge. As well as the $20,000 added Non Pro and $30,000 added Open Class there was a strongly contested Derby and Futurity.
Sterling Horses were well represented with Francesca taking 3rd  in the Futurity with Slide Me Like a Yankee. Hollywood Dun Star worked hard for his living going in both sections of the Derby. He took second in the Non Pro Section with Francesca aboard and then went straight back in to win the Open Derby with Doug!
In the Non Pro Yelena My Way was his usual consistant self to mark a 219 and take second place. This secured his reserve Champion  position in the European Reining Challenge.  Just Gotta Shine scored a 216 to take 5th place and win enough money to tip him over the $100,000 life time earning mark. With winnings of over $202,000 he is still the highest NRHA money earning son of the legendry Shining Spark.

 

Next Stop!

 

The next major event will be the FEI World Championship event in Mannerbio, Italy on September 10th . Doug and Francesca will be joining Tammy Greaves and David Deptford to represent Britain.

 

After this Doug will be off to the Italian Futurity and then it will Stateside for the pair as they take on the other side of the world. First stop will be the AQHA World Show for Francesca in the Amateur Reining with Yelena My Way , and then the FEI “Masters” at the Futurity Show for Doug. Watch this space for updates!                   

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For Further details contact:
Adam Heaton, British Reining at: adheaton@hotmail.com
Mary Le Pla at: Sterlingqh@aol.com
Or call +44 1580 830 710