Ginger Schmersal Tops SWRHA Futurity Non Pro Preliminaries

The Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, has grown to one of the most prestigious Pre-NRHA Futurities around. Tagged as “Where the Finest go First,” the 2007 edition of the Futurity will pay out over $42,000 to its Non Pro contestants.

Forty top Non Pro exhibitors began preliminary competition Thursday, October 25 – vying for a top 15 placing to make it back to Saturday’s finals.

Winning the Non Pro prelims and a check for $1,503 was Ginger Schmersal on Oh That Whiz. The pair marked a 217.5, besting the rest of the field by a point. Oh That Whiz is by Topsail Whiz and out of Shiners Valentine, and owned by Ginger’s husband, and NRHA Million Dollar Rider, Craig Schmersal.

Tying for second place in the Non Pro division were Mathew Armenta and Mandy McCutcheon, who each marked a 216.5, and took home equal money of $800. Matthew rode Spooky Boomer, by Spookin Tari and out of Ima Sail Babe, owned by Armenta Quarter Horses, while Mandy piloted Haidachino Hollywood, by Hollywood Dun It and out of Haidachino Cherry, for her father, Tim McQuay.

Perhaps even more impressive is that Mandy not only made the finals on all three of her horses, but those three finals berths were in the top five spots.

The Intermediate Non Pro division was won by Flis Sassella, who rode her horse, Twilight Rooster to a score of 214. Twilight Rooster is by Roosters Wrangler and out of Not Too Shiny. First place in the Intermediate Non Pro first go round paid $512.

Three riders tied for second place and $282 with scores of 211.5. Veronica St Onge rode West Coast Hick, by West Coast Whiz and out of Homespun Hickory, and Steve Braun showed Show Biz Benz, by Smart Starbuck and out of Kate Can Skate.

Jackie Redish also tied for third in the Intermediate Non Pro. She competed on I love A Surprise, by ARC Sparkle Surprise and out of Little Peppys Vet. Not only did she take home go round money for that division – she also won the Limited Non Pro, which earned an additional $368.

Jordan Donnelly rode Ikes Top Sail to a score of 209 to take second place in the Limited Non Pro division, pocketing $253. Ikes Top Sail is by Ikes Double Drift and out of High Fives.

The SWRHA Futurity continues Friday, October 26, with a full day of National Reining Horse Association approved classes. The Futurity finals will begin Saturday morning.

For more information on the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, or to inquire about the SWRHA, call 580-759-2572, or visit the Southwest Reining Horse Association web site at www.swrha.com.