2008 NRBC News
Final Results:
- Champions: Shawn Flarida and Wimpys Little Chic (score 233.5)
- Reserve Champions: Shawn Flarida & RC Fancy Step (score 231)
- 4th place: Craig Schmersal and Boom Schernic (score 226.5)
- 5th place: Shawn Flarida and Walla Walla Whiz (score 226)
- 8th place: Craig Schmersal and Sparkling Waves (score 224)
Multiple Records Set At 2008 NRBC: Shawn Flarida And Wimpys Little Chic Win NRBC Open Championship
The 2008 National Reining Breeders Classic provided a week of thrills and excitement for exhibitors, owners, sponsors, and spectators that escalated to a crescendo on Open finals night, April 19. The Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, was filled with an enthusiastic reining crowd.
That crowd saw its share of memories made when Shawn Flarida delivered a 1-2 punch by earning the NRBC Open Championship on Wimpys Little Chic and the Reserve title on RC Fancy Step.
“This was great – it’s very exciting to be among this group of people,” he said after the awards ceremony. “It’s tough to win here. The competition is so good.”
Arcese Quarter Horses’ Wimpys Little Chic, by Wimpys Little Step and out of Collena Chic Olena, marked an outstanding 233.5. “She’s probably the best horse I’ve ever ridden. She has heart, and is trainable. She has the strength of a stud, but is definitely a mare,” he noted.
RC Fancy Step, owned by Jimmy Pierce and Mark Schols, is by Wimpys Little Step and out of Sonita Wilson. He marked a 231 to take the Reserve title.
Wimpys Little Chic and RC Fancy Step helped their sire, Wimpys Little Step, earn the NRBC Leading Sire Award – worth $2,500 for owner Mark Schols. Wimpys Little Step’s foals earned over $218,000 at this year’s NRBC.
Flarida, who is the winningest rider in NRHA history, has a certain philosophy when it comes down to the upper-crest competition. “When you have all these exceptional riders, you’ve got to take risks,” he said.
Flarida accepted the $75,000 check for the Championship on Wimpys Little Chic and he also won $18,046 for the NRBC Mare Bonus. Add that to $62,000 for the reserve title, but there was more. He also earned $32,000 on his third entry – Walla Walla Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda) also owned by Arcese Quarter Horses – for placing fifth with a score of 226. ...
There was another milestone at the 2008 NRBC. Prior to the NRBC, Topsail Whiz’s foals had earned $907,600 in NRBC competition alone. Money was won by his offspring in the Non Pro Classic and in the Open preliminaries, so by Open Finals time, Topsail Whiz was only $65,987.19 from being the program’s first million dollar sire.
It all came down to his last foal to compete in the Open Finals – Walla Walla Whiz. The fifth place finish secured the needed money, and word of the accomplishment quickly spread throughout the facility. In total, Topsail Whiz’s foals earned over $117,000 at the NRBC to make him the first sire to have foals earning over a million dollars at the NRBC.
source: NRBC press release
