An inspiring Doug Williamson and Smart Miss Merada win NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open.
PASO ROBLES — Doug Williamson defines perseverance. After fighting his way back from a setback with cancer, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Fame inductee won his second NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship in 2002.
Then, after experiencing a grisly fall just seven months ago during the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity cow work, he has once again come back to win — this time taking the 2009 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Championship on Smart Miss Merada.
For Williamson, the comeback is all about getting to do what he loves–train and show reined cow horses.
“I’m just a lucky man to still be doing what I love to do,” he said. “I have to thank my wife, Carol, and all my help. They’re my inspiration, because they believe in me so much. I am so grateful to them.”
At the NRCHA Hackamore Classic from April 24-26 at Paso Robles Event Center, Williamson piloted the mare to a 148 in the herd work, and followed that with a 145.5 in the reining.
“She was really cute and good in the cutting, and she was very strong and nice in the reining,” he said. “In the cow work, we had tough cattle, but she handled it anyways. We wound up marking a 149.”
Because he owns Smart Miss Merada (Leo Merada x Uno Smart Lady), Williamson was awarded a check for $17,180, a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a monogrammed tooled breast collar, a full handcrafted hackamore from Krause Mecates and San Benito Braiding, and a CR Morrison NRCHA trophy.
Ed Robertson and That CD Rocks take NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Reserve and Intermediate Open.
Earning the Open Reserve and the Intermediate Open Championship was Ed Robertson, who rode the 4-year-old stallion, That CD Rocks, to a 442 total. The Open Reserve title netted $13,744, and the Intermediate Open Championship came with a check for $3,960.
With Robertson at the reins, That CD Rocks (CD Lights x Shiney Tari) marked a 149.5 in the herd work, and followed that with another 149.5 in the rein work.
“We were last in the set, and I got to cut the cows I had picked out. This horse was awesome and was just dead on. In the reining, he was smooth as glass, and he just floated through,” he said.
And although the score of 143 in the cow work was a point shy of what was needed to take the lead in the Open from Williamson, Robertson was quick to say the horse did his job.
Eric Freitas and Travelin Cielo win NRCHA Hackamore Classic Non Pro.
“Today we had a lot of cow,” he said. “We had good fence turns but he was scrambling in the circle. But this horse was really good, and honestly, he’s really good all the time. I really want to thank Robbie Humphreys for letting me show this horse.”
At the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, Robertson and the stallion earned the Intermediate Open Championship, and barely a month ago earned the Open and Intermediate Open Championships at the NRCHA Stakes in Nampa, Idaho. The stallion’s future looks bright. “We’re just going to save him and take him to the big ones,” he explained.
Brandon Staebler earned Intermediate Open Reserve honors on Chic Ostarlight, owned by Kim Routh. Chic Ostarlight, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Cassandra Starlight, had a 431.5 composite, worth $3,168.
Will Pennebaker won the Limited Open Championship on his horse, Snorty Little Pep, by Snorty Lena and out of Badger Sis. Their 417 composite came with a paycheck for $2,010.
Will Pennebaker and Snorty Little Pep win NRCHA Hackamore Classic Limited Open.
Jake Telford and Shady Lil Starlight win Hackamore Classic Open Bridle Sweepstakes
“I had a hot quit in the herd work – my second cow wouldn’t quit, and when it did I was just a little too slow getting off of it,” he said. “But then we went in the reining — that was the best she’s ever done. We had a tough cow down the fence, but we got her shown. This is actually her first show this year.”
Although Pennebaker hopes to show the mare at the NRCHA Derby in June, he noted that the mare was for sale.
For complete results, visit: www.nrcha.com/pdf/news/prod/showresults.asp
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