FORT WORTH, Texas — Doug Williamson and the Rocking J Ranch’s Short And Smart nabbed the Aaron Ranch Cow Horse Classic Derby, setting the stage for other California trainers and horses to make their mark in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions, held Feb. 14 – 22 at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center. The big week featured the Derby, the 2013 NRCHA World Championshps, and the 2014 World’s Greatest Horseman competition (see page 20).

Williamson, from Bakersfield, had two entries in the finals at the derby for 4- and 5-year-old horses shown in the snaffle or hackamore.

NRCHA management said open entries increased 80 percent over 2013, and the association welcomed Aaron Ranch of Commerce, Texas, as the new event title sponsor. It also altered the derby’s format, as competitors showed first in the rein work, then the herd and cow work. The top preliminary scorers advance to the cow work-only finals, with that score added to the previous three-event composite to determine the champions.

In the Monday night finals Feb. 17, Williamson had a pair of hopefuls — Short And Smart (Smart Little Lena-Miss Shorty Paloma by Shorty Lena), a 2009 stallion owned by Rocking J Ranch; and High Brow Shiner (Shining Lil Nic-High Brow Meow by High Brow Cat), a 2009 stallion owned by Belle Meade Ranch. Matters became more interesting when the two horses were evenly matched going into the finals fence work — Short And Smart with a 650 total score after three events, High Brow Shiner was a close 649.5.

“It was just a matter of who got the best cow in the finals,” said Williamson.

The luck of the draw favored Short And Smart, who handled a fast black steer to earn the high score of the finals – a 226. Williamson’s combined score on four events was an 876 (217 herd/215 rein/218 cow/226 finals cow), earning him a total paycheck, including go-round money, of $14,281. The derby open championship also came with a Gist buckle and monogrammed jacket sponsored by Aaron Ranch; and a $50 gift certificate from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies.

Williamson’s other Derby horse, High Brow Shiner, scored a 216 in the finals for a total 865.5, finishing fifth and earning $5,070.

“I’m fortunate to ride these nice horses and have such wonderful customers,” Williamson added.

Fellow Californian Phillip Ralls of Paso Robles finished in reserve on Williamson’s heels aboard Jackies Sparkle (Nic It In The Bud-Shinersdiamondjackie byShining Spark), owned by Estelle Roitblat. They scored an 872.5 composite, earning $9,680 and taking home an Aaron Ranch monogrammed jacket, a fleece cooler from Classic Equine and a $50 gift certificate from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies.

Oklahoma horseman Bobby Lewis won the Aaron Ranch Cow Horse Classic Derby intermediate open and limited open championships on CSR Dual Glo (Dual Spark-Look At Her Glo by CD O Cody), owned by Circle Star Ranch, Pontotoc, Texas. They scored a total 855.5 (205 herd/215.5 rein/218 cow/217 finals cow) to earn the titles that paid $4,418.

Parke Greeson swept all non-pro divisions of the Derby Classic with Checkn Out The Ladys (Im Countin Checks-No Lady Wood by Zack T Wood), collecting paychecks in non-pro, intermediate non-pro and novice non-pro finals that totaled $4,589, adding to his Amateur Championship total of $3,154 from the day before.

Two-time defending World’s Greatest Horseman Ron Emmons of Ione claimed the NRCHA World title in the Open Hackamore on Robertson Ranch’s One Fine Vintage (One Time Pepto x Shiners Siena), and Nicolas Barthelemy was fifth on Jamminalena (Quejanaisalena x Bobbie Gay Bingo), owned by Sheri Jamieson. In the Limited Open Hackamore, Marjie Robinson took Circles Nu Galaxy (Nu Circle N Cash x Gypsy Starshine) to fourth.

The NRCHA Non Pro Two Rein World Championship went to another Californian, Tish Wilhite riding her Smokin My Cash (Smokums Prize x Cash My Lean). In the Open Two Rein competition, Lyn Anderson rode David and Barbara Archer’s Tuckers Smart Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Smoke Time Tuck) to seventh after winning the prelims.

In the NRCHA Open Bridle World Championships, Tucker Robinson finished sixth on Gunna B Lucky (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Gunna Be Shur) for owners Michael and Debra Brautovich, and Barthelemy was 10th on Jans Rey Cuatro (Dual Rey x Haidas Jan), owned by Jamieson.

MORE ONLINE: Http://bit.ly/1403A_NRCHA

2014 NRCHA Celebration of Champions
Feb. 14-22, 2014 * Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas

Aaron Ranch Derby major winners
Horse/ Rider/ Owner/ Score/ Money/

Open Derby
CH – Short And Smart/ Doug Williamson/ Rocking J Ranch/ 876/ $13,137.07
RS – Jackies Sparkle/ Phillip Ralls/ Estelle Roitblat/ 872.5/ $9,679.95

Intermediate Open Derby & Ltd Open Derby
CH – CSR Dual Glo/ Bobby Lewis/ Circle Star Land & Cattle Co./ 855.5/ $4,417.44

Non Pro Derby, Int NP Derby & Novice NP Derby
CH – Checkn Out The Ladys/ Parke Greeson/ Parke Greeson/ 861/ $2,627.52

2013 World Championship Finals top finishers
Open Bridle
CH – Nabisco Roan/ Jake Telford/ Holy Cow Performance Horses LLC/ 437.5/ $8,100.00

Limited Open Bridle
CH – Reward Me Please/ Erika Lynn Roberts/ Jack & Beverly Vaughn/ 436.5/ $2,730.00

Non Pro Bridle
CH – Ima Chic Please/ Meryl Reber/ Meryl Reber/ 436/ $3,857.00
RS – A Dazzlin Prize/ Shelly Krieger/ Shelly Krieger/ 435/ $3,030.50

Intermediate Non Pro Bridle
CH – Lenas Alley/ Parke Greeson/ Parke Greeson/ 437/ $2,576.00

Novice Non Pro Bridle
CH – Peppy Nicolena/ Jorge Luis Cid/ Jorge Luis Cid/ 429.5/ $2,660.00

Open Hackamore
CH – One Fine Vintage/ Ron Emmons/ Robertson Ranches/ 442.5/ $8,881.25

Limited Open Hackamore
CH – Diamond J Starlite/ Ross Ericsson/ Big Creek Quarter Horses, LLC / 436/ $3,367.50

Non Pro Hackamore
CH – Oaks In Montana/ Kirk Druey/ Kirk Druey/ 430.5/ $3,738.00

Open Two Rein
CH – Sheza Dancingdiamond/ Jake Telford/ Del Bell/ 441.5/ $5,112.50
RS – One Time Rey Jay/ Jake Telford/ Holy Cow Performance Horses LLC/ 429/ $4,090.00

Non Pro Two Rein
CH – Smokin My Cash / Tish Wilhite/ Tish Wilhite/ 435/ $2,040.00