Ann Fonck rides Colonels Whize Gun to EAC Open Champion title

17/07/2023 – The $ 18.000 added Open class, counting 11 entries, was the closure of the NRHA European Affiliate Championship (EAC) scheduled in conjunction with the Classic in Givrins (CH). Most of the entries already competed against each other in the Open class of the CS classic that had been scheduled the day before. Bernard Fonck (BEL) and the 7-year-old stallion Mello Yello Jersey [Yellow Jersey] owned Kay Schröder opened the class and put the bar at 223,5. In the CS Classic Open class the pair marked the same score, claiming reserve honors. With this horse his daughter Jody won the golden medal in the individual competition of the World Reining Championship scheduled for the week before marking a 221,5. Being the 5th entry, Ann Fonck (BEL) and the 7-year-old gelding Colonels Whize Gun [Colonels Shining Gun] owned by Hermann and Lisa Meinert raised the bar to 226,0. The spins were impressive and the circles exciting. The next entry was Bernard again with the 7-year-old stallion ND Pop Gun Trash [Gunnatrashya] owned by Natalie Derua. Each member of the judge panel rewarded the run with a 74,5 -which is quite unique- resulting in a 223,5. Immediately following was Lukasz Chechowics (POL) with the 9-year-old gelding CSG Piggiemove [Colonels Shining Gun] owned by Katarzyna Roleska; the horse he had claimed the title with in the CS Classic Open marking a 225,5. After performing the run in and the spins Chechowics was definitely ahead of Ann, but in the circles the combination came short, resulting in a 224,5. The title was for Colonels Whize Gun and Ann, reserve honors for CSG Piggiemove and Lukasz. Step 3 of the podium was too narrow for Mello Yello Jersey and ND Pop Gun Trash, but wide enough for Bernard.
Although the qualification criteria for participation at the EAC have been considerably relaxed, the number of entries was disappointing this year. Something in the system needs to be changed to stimulate riders to participate.

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Photo: Ann Fonck and Colonels Whize Gun. Photo: Tom Hautmann, GER