Kevin Lynch & Fairlea Zannie Jay Win Amateur Futurity

Coming into Thursday’s Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Amateur Cow Work, Kevin Lynch and Fairlea Zannie Jay had a 417.5 after the Herd and Rein Works. They had a dynamite run down the fence, posting the high score of 224, to take the National Reined Cow Horse Association Amateur Futurity Championship back home to Ulm, Montana, with a 641.5-point composite.

Kevin bought “Zannie,” by Colonel Pic and out of Zannie Jay Lena, during last year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Select Sale. He brought her back to Reno, for his first time to compete in the Futurity, and is still waiting for the win to register.

“I knew she was a great fence horse and we finally drew a cow that let her show her stuff. I just stayed out of her way and let her go to work,” Kevin said after his cow work. “I knew it was a good run and I was happy with my run but I didn’t expect a 224. It hasn’t sunk in yet!”

In the herd work, Kevin said he pulled on Zannie a little too much. His second cow was a tough one and his nerves got the best of him but he still finished with a 211. The rein work proved to be the most challenging for the Montana cowboy but he knew he could make up for lost points down the fence.

“She’s a great fence horse. She’s really good on a cow and is just great to be around,” he said of Zannie. “She’s a lot of fun to ride and does whatever you ask her to do.”

Matt Armenta, of Whitesboro, Texas, finished Reserve in the Amateur riding Smarty Montana, by Hesa Smart Chic and out of Montanas Playgirl. He drew up second and marked a 207 to finish with a 636-point composite. Matt and Smarty Montana also finished ninth in the Non Pro and third in the Intermediate Non Pro Preliminaries to make it back for the Finals in both divisions.

Anne Reynolds, King Hill, Idaho, finished first and second in the Non Pro Futurity Preliminaries with Shoshone Pony (J R Colored Rambo x Docs Colorful Lady) and More Magic Please (Chic Please x Magical Lena), respectively. Jody Semper topped the Intermediate Non Pro Futurity Preliminaries riding Bella Tonic, by Tuckers Tonic and out of Reminics Miss Priss. The top 19 in the Non Pro and top 15 in the Intermediate Non Pro will compete in the Finals next Thursday.

Michelle Cowan, Ardmore, Oklahoma, took over the lead in the Ladies division with a 640 composite on Irish A Shine (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Shine O Lena). The Ladies Champion will be determined at the end of the Open Preliminaries.

Late Wednesday evening, two-time NRCHA Non Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Dema Paul, Cave Creek, Arizona, rode Primos Bob Acre (Teninas First x Bob Acre Angelena) to win the Non Pro Bridle class with a 291.5. “Bob” was the 2002 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Reserve Champion, 2003 Stakes and Hackamore Classic Non Pro Champion, 2003 Non Pro Derby Reserve Champion and 2004 Stakes Open and Non Pro Champion. Nichole Scott, Paso Robles, California, and Tucker Cash (Nu Cash x Jezabelle Tucker) earned the Novice Non Pro Bridle Championship with a 286.5.

Thursday’s competition concluded with the first four sets of Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open Cow Work Preliminaries, which will continue with the fifth set at 7am tomorrow. The Snaffle Bit Futurity runs through October 2 at the Reno Livestock Event Center in Nevada. For up to date results, a list of those still in the running for the Sundowner Drawdown and a live web cast of the Futurity, please visit www.nrcha.com.

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, 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, GASTROGARD and ULCERGARD 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.