Contestants at the 2006 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby took a break from the arena to let some of the cow horse industry’s most loyal sponsors and friends have their time in the spotlight. The NRCHA Derby Cow Horse Team Tournament took place Saturday afternoon, June 24, at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California, where team Roshambeau picked up championship bragging rights.

The Team Tournament featured six teams, each with three members, competing in herd work, rein work and cow work (only boxing). Teams selected one member to compete in each of the three events and combined scores at the end of the event determined the winning team.

Members of the Championship team – Roshambeau – included Freddie McGee of Great American Insurance, Annie Lambert from Quarter Horse News, and Ryan Fowler of Skyline Gold & Silversmiths. Freddie McGee rode a horse called Mickey to mark a 215 in the herd work while Annie Lambert teamed up with Topsails Rien Maker, by Topsail Cody and out of Jameen Gay, owned by Kevin Cantrelle and Russell Dilday, to earn a 222 in the rein work. The team secured their win after Ryan Fowler, riding the Ward Ranch’s Master Kaweah, by Master Remedy and out of Bueno Chex Kaweah, marked a 223 in the cow work. Each member received a Skyline Gold & Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Drayer Trust, Mid America Equine Sales and Lyn Anderson.

Fairly Lacy finished in reserve with a 225 in the herd work, a 219.5 in the rein work and a 213 on the cow. Fairly Lacy team members were: Sue Farag and Laramie Weimer of the Fairlea Ranch, riding Fairlea Ranch’s Fairlea Pepinic Star and Silver Gun, and John Lacey of Centennial Cattle Company riding Blondie. The Reserve Champions also received Skyline Gold & Silversmiths buckles sponsored by Paris Wixon, from Hope Hull, Alabama.

Other teams included: the Grain Haulers – James Henderson and Danielle Burke of Nutrena and Mark Borjon of Golden Hills Auto Center; After Sundown – Vickie Mullins of Prudential Real Estate, Don Daniel from former NRCHA Corporate Sponsor Sundowner Trailers and Mike Gibson representing the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce; the Wiley Coyotes – Ron Mullins of Central California Mortgage Company, along with Robin Fleissner and Melinda Griffith of MD Barns; and the Coastal Cowgirls – Vivian Robertson from the Paso Robles Event Center, Gretchen Lund of Platinum Performance and Megan Ryan of Nutrena.

Carol Rose Quarter Horses of Gainesville, Texas, sponsored the Hard Luck Award – a Skyline Gold & Silversmiths buckle – given to Mike Gibson.

Following the Team Tournament, Golden Hills Auto Center hosted a barbecue at the Paso Robles Event Center. There, the NRCHA awarded Jack and Phoebe Cooke, as well as Don Daniel, for their contributions to the association.

When the Paso Robles Event Center and the NRCHA first began to explore the possibility of having an event in Paso Robles, Jack and Phoebe Cooke were among those in the community to show their generous support. The Cookes have become such an integral part of the NRCHA, both as patrons and as owners, that the NRCHA Board of Directors decided to create the Jack and Phoebe Cooke Perpetual Award. This award, sponsored by Carol Rose Quarter Horses and the San Juan Ranch, will honor the owner of the NRCHA Open Derby Champion and will be displayed year-round at the Paso Robles Event Center.

The NRCHA Corporate Partners are also an integral part of the association’s success and the individuals of those partnerships become more than just acquaintances at the events. Don Daniel, as a representative of former NRCHA Corporate Partner Sundowner Trailers, attended each of the NRCHA’s premiere events and became a personal friend to many NRCHA members. For his dedication and friendship the NRCHA Board of Directors recognized Don Daniel with an honorary lifetime membership to the NRCHA.

The NRCHA Derby concludes Sunday, June 24, with the Derby Finals. For more information on the NRCHA Derby, including results from the event, please visit the Association’s official website at www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the 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 Bailey Hats, Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse 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, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, 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 www.nrcha.com <http://www.nrcha.com> .