Randy Paul Wins 2010 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman on Smokeelan

The Championship of the National Reined Cow Horse Association World’s Greatest Horseman contest held at the First Community Credit Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas, came down to the very last run. The four-event competition ended with Randy Paul being crowned as the World’s Greatest Horseman. Paul rode Smokeelan, owned by Jill Smiekel George, to the title.

Paul and Smokeelan, by Elans Playboy out of Smart Little Smokee, began the finals competition with a herd work run that placed him in a tie for seventh place. “I felt my horse wanted to be good in everything, but I had a little trouble getting good cattle in front of him. We were just average – but nothing bad happened so we were ok,” he explained.

Then it was time for the event that is Paul’s forte – the rein work. The accomplished trainer has earnings exceeding $1 million in National Reining Horse Association competition. “I knew I had a lot of horse for the rein work, so I pushed him. That caught me up pretty good.” Following the rein work Paul was in third place, only two points behind the leader.

When it came down to the cow work, the Scottsdale, Arizona, trainer was in third place – eight points behind the leader, Doug Williamson. Williamson drew first in the cow work, and marked a 213 for an 873.5 composite. The next eight contestants took their shot, but no one managed to mark higher. Paul would need to score a 221 to win the title. “I tried not to let the pressure get to me. I knew I had a good chance because I have a good fence horse, but I just tried to do a good job.” His strategy paid off, resulting in a 223!

Doug Williamson and Hes Wright On, owned by Gardiner Quarter Horses, had the lead going into the cow work – but luck of the draw made marking a high score difficult. “You know, my horse was so solid all day. I just didn’t have a very good cow. I had a 71 cow, and that’s all I got out of him,” said Williamson. “My horse was solid the whole time, and I am very proud of him.”

Williamson collected $21,000 for the Reserve title, and also received a Gist Silversmiths buckle, sponsored by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, and a monogrammed saddle pad from Classic Equine.

Hes Wright On, by Lenas Wright On and out of Shesa Lota Nic, has been in Williamson’s program through his Derby years, and had won about $78,000 prior to the World’s Greatest Horseman. “He’s a winner because he can do it all. He’s a great rope horse, a great fence horse, and a great reiner. He’s also good out of the herd,” he explained.

When asked if he would be competing with Hes Wright On in the 2011 World’s Greatest Horseman, the NRCHA Hall of Fame member - who has been a World’s Greatest Horseman finalist four other times, and finished as high as Reserve – laughed and replied, “I think the Gardiners are going to make me do it again!” There’s a deeper story - both men could do a clinic in perseverance, each having battled with cancer before going on to make even bigger marks on the industry. “I’m just glad to be here,” Paul noted. And Williamson, who along with having cancer suffered a terrifying fall at the 2008 Snaffle Bit Futurity added, “I thought they made this sport for me, so I’ll keep coming back.”

Jay McLaughlin Wins 2009 Open Hackamore World Championship with CD Dee Vee Dee

The 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Open Hackamore World Championship went to Jay McLaughlin and CD Dee Vee Dee, who marked a 151 to take home $8,527. It was a bittersweet win for McLaughlin, who trained the talented gelding. CD Dee Vee Dee was bred and raised by Carol Rose, for whom McLaughlin is the head trainer. But he was recently sold to Shannon and Hershel Reid – and Jay showed him for the last time in San Angelo, Texas.

On finals day the successful duo trotted into the arena, and paused for a long time in the middle of the arena. “We were there for a long time. We had a conversation. I told him it was a pleasure to train him and I just needed one more run. He took a big old breath, and then he did it!” McLaughlin added, “I have no idea how we did it. He was awesome. There was not one thing I’d change about anything.”

The competition was deep, with many fans commenting that it was the toughest Hackamore class they had ever seen. In fact, McLaughlin, who was the first entry in the class with his other entry, Genuine Masterpiece, thought he had won it with his first entry, with whom he tied for third. “I hadn’t seen many scores that high, and then Jake Telford came in on the mare and he was good!” McLaughlin said of Telford’s score of 450.

Jake Telford and Spark N Loulena, owned by Newt White, earned the Reserve title and took home $6,674. The pair also received a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Knight Haulers, custom spurs from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, Rios of Mercedes boots from Rios of Mercedes, an ESP saddle pad from Classic Equine, a commemorative World Finals vest sponsored by Gist Silversmiths, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion. Spark N Loulena is by Shining Spark and out of Mary Lou Lena.

Shiners Hot Flash Wins 2009 NRCHA Limited Open Hackamore with Jeremy Knoles

Jeremy Knoles, of Gainesville, Texas, won the Limited Open Hackamore World Championship on Shiners Hot Flash, owned by Nikki Miller. Shiners Hot Flash topped the preliminary competition and came back to win the Finals with a 442. “It feels good to have a World Championship. I didn’t expect to win. She felt great in the preliminaries, but I didn’t know if she had another run like that in her,” noted Knoles. “But today she felt real good, and I had plenty of time to get her ready. Today in the dry work she felt better to me than she ever has – I think it’s the highest rein work score I have ever received.”

While Miller has decided to give her original World Championship buckle to Knoles, she plans to show it off to as many people as she can first. “I always said I would get her first buckle with her name on it, so Jeremy can have this one and I’ll get another one.” Miller noted that Knoles will continue to be Shiners Hot Flash’s trainer. Shiners Hot Flash is by Shining Spark and out of Tarizana.

Kyle Trahern of Penrose, Colorado, won the Limited Open Hackamore Reserve Championship with a 439.5 on his horse MH Bold Intentions, by Bodee Boonsmal and out of Freckles Doc Oak.

Shining Lil Nic and Kevin Stallings Win 2009 NRCHA Open Two Rein World Championship

Kevin Stallings is a busy man – he qualified three horses for the National Reined Cow Horse Association World Championship Show Open Two Rein, and made the finals on all three! That would take a toll on anyone – but the Tucson, Arizona, trainer won not only the Championship, but also took home the Reserve title, and fourth place.

“I had a lot of great help today,” Stallings modestly answered when asked how he managed to show all of his mounts so well. He won the World Championship on Shining Lil Nic, a 7-year-old stallion by Smart Shiner out of Dig A Lil Nic. A nice rein work put him in great position for the fence work. “He was just really good. When I wanted to go fast he went fast, and he guided well. I felt like I could really ask him,” he explained. “The cow was pretty good on the end. I did work him just a little longer than I normally would because the cow wouldn’t move a whole lot. I tried to get just a little more feel.”

Apparently his strategy worked, as the judges rewarded the rein work with a 217 and a 225 in the cow work. “He’s just so willing,” said Stallings of Shining Lil Nic, owned by Bill and Janiejill Tointon. “I thank Bill and Janiejill for giving me the opportunity to ride such a great horse. I also thank my wife, Karen.”

With Voodoo Chic, Stallings won the Reserve title with a 434 total. Voodoo Chic is owned by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch, and collected $3,804.