KATY, Texas – If there is a theme to Tanya Jenkins’s success story with her No Wimpy Cowboys this year at the 2012 National Reiner Breeder’s Classic, is would be “right place, right time.”

The huge show pen here at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center is the perfect place for the big gelding, Jenkins says, and after a show career that started a bit late because of a non-riding injury, this year was the 6-year old’s party — and he celebrated with his owner by winning the Intermediate Open title as well as taking third in the Open Level 4, just a half-point behind reserve champion Andrea Fappani and Tinker With Guns.

Combined, the two placings of No Wimpy Cowboys (Wimpys Little Step X Dunnits Cowgirl) earned Jenkins $67,612.

Shawn Flarida rode the Open Champion, Spooks Gotta Whiz, for owner Michelle Kimball of Encinitas, and earned $75,000.

“We had so much fun at this show!,” said Jenkins, who was a crowd favorite each time she and the flashy Palomino entered the arena. “I didn’t get to futurity him his 3-year old year because he was injured, so he had some time off – and I really didn’t show him at any of the big shows.”

No Wimpy Cowboys missed the NRBC finals last year by a half-point, and he also showed well at the High Roller Classic in Las Vegas later in the year. The entire time, this year’s Breeder’s Classic was in Jenkins’s sights.

“I knew what kind of horse I had under me, but it was a matter of just putting everything together.” She said. “I really wanted to focus on this year’s NRBC with him because it was the show that was going to compliment him the best.”

The NRBC Open Finals were held April 21, with 33 finalists posting an average score of more than 223.

NRHA Leading Rider Shawn Flarida claimed his fourth NRBC Open title on Spooks Gotta Whiz (Spooks Gotta Gun X Prettywhizprettydoes), it marked an amzing debut together.

“I got him in January, and this was my first time to show him,” Flarida said. “He’s a super-minded horse and his foundation was phenomenal. Tanya Jenkins started him and did really well, and then Jordan Larson did a great job on him and won the NRHA Futurity.”

“Michele called me and asked if I’d be interested in riding him, and I told her I didn’t think I could do any better than the other people who had ridden him — but I’d love the opportunity. She said ‘I think he’d look really good with a green shirt,’ so I said I’d love to try him.”

Andrea Fappani and Tinker With Guns (Colonels Smoking Gun X Tinker Nic)earned $56,000 for the reserve Open Level 4 placing, finishing with 233.5. The 6-year-old stallion is owned by Rancho Oso Rio.

Jenkins and No Wimpy Cowboys ran away with the National Reining Breeders Classic Intermediate Open Championship, winning the title by 5.5 points.

Amidst the cheers and whistles, the pair executed a near flawless run.

“I have never had so much fun in my life!” Jenkins said. “I’m very proud of him. I knew he could mark big, but it was just about keeping everything together – and he did. I have a great rapport with this horse. I love him – he’s just amazing.”

NRCHA Dollar Rider Anne Reynolds made her NRBC debut with a finals berth in all five Non Pro divisions. With a score of 218 on her horse Shiney And Verysmart, by Very Smart Remedy out of Shirley Shine, Reynolds finished as the Reserve Champion for both the Limited and Level 1 Non Pro division.

Reynolds and Shiney And Verysmart, on whom she won the 2009 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, took home $10,109 and two Gist Silversmiths buckles.

It’s been seven years since Harper Conner has shown at the National Reining Breeders Classic, but he made his return in spectacular fashion, winning both the Limited Non Pro and Non Pro Level 1.

“It was time. I had three back operations and was out of the business, but I got healed up and this was my first hoorah back,” he explained. “I thank my wife Petra, Gabe Hutchins, and my family.”

Conner was riding his homebred mare Sparkling Bells, by A Sparkling Vintage out of Cowboys Belle Bar. Their score of 220 resulted not only in the two Championships, but also a sixth place finish in the Intermediate Non Pro and a sixteenth place finish in the Non Pro. All total, the pair won $13,091, a saddle from Continental Saddlery and a saddle sponsored by Jim Taylor Saddlery, two Gist Silversmiths buckles, product from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, InfoMedia Video, the signature crystal trophies, and other NRBC memorabilia.

MORE RESULTS: See website http://bit.ly/25A_NRBC