May 3, 2005 - A veteran and a new name walked away with the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic titles on May 1 when Bob Avila and Polly Bremel rode to the Hackamore Classic championships.

Multiple champion Bob Avila rode his 2003 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Chics Magic Potion to win the Open Title, with a composite score of 437 (143.5,146.5,147) and collect an $11,000 pay check. Chics Magic Potion, a son of Smart Chic Olena out of Remedys Magic Potion, is owned by Kenneth Banks.

The Open Reserve Championship went to Jon Roeser on Heart of a Fox, owned by Twisselman and Roeser. Just one point behind Avila in the composite (146,146,144), Roeser earned $8,800 for the win.

Sandy Collier finished in third place, with a 433.5 on Holy Cow Performance Horses’ CD Survivor, good for $6,600.

Lyn Anderson rode Kathryn Schaefer’s Ill Smoke Smart to a 430 composite, good for fourth and $5,280, and also topped the Intermediate Open division to win another $3,525. Jake Gorrell tied for the Reserve Championship on Quick As Einstein, owned by Joe and Bobbie Stone and Paid By A Starlet, owned by Dana Roulet. The identical 429 scores garnered $2,065 in earnings for each horse.

Jimmy Stickler rode Mel Smith’s Shesa Taris Catalyst to fourth in the Intermediate Open, good for $1,175. He won every section of competition in the Limited Open (141,143,144) to top that division and earn another $2,850. Reserve Limited Open honors went to Mark Luis on Pam Folgner’s Beep Beep Im A Jeep and his 417 composite earned $1,710.

Polly Bremel won $7,410 for her first-ever major Non Pro win on Uno Smart Starlight. She marked 138 in the herd, 143 in the rein work and a scalding 150 in the cow work to reach a 431 composite. An accountant by trade, Bremel has been steadily honing her skills and moving through the ranks in Non Pro Competition and she was also the Intermediate Non Pro Champion, good for another $2,925.

Dema Paul claimed the Non Pro Reserve Title on her 2004 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, Shiners Dulena. Her 427.5 composite earned $5,928.

John Showalter was the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Champion on Im Real Classy, and his composite of 423.5 (143, 138.5, 142) earned $2,437.

The Amateur Championship went to Sonya Lee on Dualing Star. Lee’s 414.5 composite earned $1,755. Marcia Gagnon became the 2005 Hackamore Classic Amateur Reserve Champion for a 412.5 score that garnered a $1,462 paycheck.

Last year, Ed Robertson and Pick N Shovel won both the Reserve Intermediate Open and Limited Open Championships. In 2005, they were again triumphant, this time in the Open Bridle Spectacular. Their scores of 149,143 and 148 translated to a 440 composite that earned $4,830.

The Open Reserve Bridle Spectacular championship went to Dema Paul on Primos Bob Acre (145,142.5,150). Paul earned $4,025.

Stacy Warnock earned the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular championship on My Peppy Jeep, with scores of 142,143, and 143.5 to make a 428.5 composite and win $3,240. The Reserve title went to Jo Anne Carollo on One Hot Plan. One Hot Plan, owned by her husband, Jim, added $ 2,430 to his lifetime earnings.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association returns to Paso Robles June 22-26, when it will hold its annual NRCHA Derby at the Mid-State Fairgrounds. The presence of the NRCHA Hackamore Classic and NRCHA Derby at the Mid-State Fairgrounds has helped establish Paso Robles as a focal point for reined cow horse competition. Strong support from the Paso Robles community continues in 2005, with the much-appreciated patronage and support of Jack and Phoebe Cook, George and Sue Hearst, Golden Hills Auto Center, Paso Robles Inn and JB Dewar, Inc. and Lacey Livestock.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the 56-year-old governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.