The second leg of preliminary competition - the rein work - was completed Thursday, June 17. Now, entries in the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby have a good idea of what they will need to score in the final phase of competition - the cow work - to claim one of the coveted spots in Sunday's clean-slate finals. The Open Derby Champion will receive a check for $41,002, while the Non Pro Champion will be awarded $11,825. 

Taking the top spot in the Open Rein Work was NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen, who piloted Smart Luck to a high score of 223. Fast spins and hard stops helped Bergen and the Very Smart Remedy stallion, owned by Cable Creek Ranch, located in Aurora, Oregon, climb to the top of the preliminary composite with a 441.

In the Intermediate Open Derby rein work, Brad Barkemeyer and Dulce Smart Boomer tied Shadd Parkinson and Deal Me A Winner with a score of 216.5. Deal Me A Winner (Dealin Dirty x Just Plain N Taffi) is owned by Copper Springs Ranch.

Barkemeyer and Dulce Smart Boomer (Dulces Smart Lena x Boomerita), who is owned by Steven and Trish Greenberg, also had the high score of the Limited Open. Those high scores pushed the pair to the high composite score for both divisions.

The Open Novice Horse - which is decided through the preliminary ompetition - is currently led by Jake Telford and Nabisco Roan, owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses. Telford and Nabisco Roan, by Boonlight Dancer and out of Crackin, currently boast an 8-point lead in the division with a 427.5.

Brandon Staebler and Get A Mister, by Mister Dual Pep and out of Get A Master, have a 2-point edge in the Intermediate Novice Horse with a 421.5. Get A Mister is owned by Whitneys Wild Oak Ranch.

Tammy Jo Hays, riding Nics Get Smart, had the high score of the Non Pro rein work with a 219. That pushed the Nocona, Texas, Non Pro to eighth in the composite. Nics Get Smart is by Nic It In The Bud and out of Chelsea Lena.

In the Intermediate Non Pro division, Patty Ralls of Gainesville, Texas, piloted Triple Nic L to tie with Kylie Knight of Peoria, Arizona, and Dualin With Nitro. Both Non Pros marked a 218. Triple Nic L is by Pepto Taz and out of Lady Reminic, while Dualin With Nitro is by Nitro Dual Doc and out of Shootin Poo.

Jo Anne Carollo and AR Splash Of Pep (Hickorys Indian Pep x Splashnround) currently lead the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro composite with a 434.

Sandra Austin marked a 217 on her horse Nic It Night (Nic It In The Bud x Shiney Pants) to top the Amateur division rein work. That score catapulted her into a 3-way tie for the composite lead. Going into the fence work, Austin and Nic It Night, Deborah Wise and Wearingonlydiamonds (Mister Dual Pep x Whose Your Papa), and Kirk Druey and Peppy Plain Jane (Mister Dual Pep x Miss Plain Plain) all have a 418 composite.

The preliminary competition conclude Friday, June 18, following the fence work. The Amateur Championship will also be decided during the preliminary competition. A live webcast of the event is available for free by visiting the NRCHA website, thanks to NRCHA Official Videographers Galloping Video.

NRCHA Youth Compete in Bull Riding Competition!

The National Reined Cow Horse Youth Association invaded Bubbas BBQ for the NRCHYA Bull Riding competition. NRCHYA members got to ride the mechanical bull, and the rides were televised throughout the restaurant. Officiating the event was Robbie Boyce of Jacksboro, Texas.

            Josey Thompson won the 18 & Under division, while younger sister Saige (shown above) topped the 10 & Under class. Every participant brought an entourage of fans - and the cheers during each bull ride rivaled those from the NRCHA Derby.