Reining International de Lyon $37,000-added Grand Prix Open Equidia

Colonels Shining Gun and Cira Baeck score big and take home the win!
Lyon, 2 November 2013 – The $37,000-added Grand Prix Open was thrilling to say the least.  In a field of 23 horse-rider-combinations, Belgian NRHA Professional Cira Baeck, riding Katarzyna Roleski’s Colonel Shining Gun, closed her performance with an amazing 231.5.  “This is just a phenomenal horse and I could not be happier,” said Cira about the six-year-old stallion by Gunner and out of Shining Little Peach (by Shining Spark).  “Since the beginning of the week he’s just been getting better and better and today
he was superb. I really look forward to showing him in the $100,000-added Shootout in Oklahoma City now!”
Claiming second place honors was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck aboard Dany & Mireille Cerato’s Sail On Top Whizard.  The pair, who had claimed the NRHA Open World Championship last year posted a 229.  “I couldn’t be happier,” said Bernard about the eight-year-old stallion.  “This is an amazing horse and today he proved it yet again.” 
Equidia Open (23 entries)
1. Colonels Shining Gun (Katarzyna Roleski) Cira Baeck 231,5
2. Sail On Top Whizard (Dany & Mireille Cerato) Bernard Fonck 229,0
3. GR JFB BOY (Dominik Reminder) Dominik Reminder 228,5
4. Gunna Be Majestic (Quarter Deeam) Bernard Fonck 227,5
Making the competition even more prestigious was the FEI Euro10,000-added CRI***.  Aboard Whizoom, owned by Jennifer Nixdorf, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Rudi Kronsteiner slid to the highest step of the podium after scoring a 227.
Rudi Kronsteiner & Whizoom
Winning the CRI*, after scoring a 207, was Charlotte Tardrup aboard Magnum Licorice Chic.
The 3 & 4-year-old Futurity
Dominik Reminder riding Uwe Gerbig’s Cashworthy took the lead in the Open  Level 4 after scoring a 222.
Dominik Reminder & Cashworthy
Riding Thomas Till’s Arc Captain, Philip Haug won the Open  Level 2 scoring a 216.5.
Winning the Futurity Non Pro Level 4, with a score of 213.5, was Barbara Jenzen with Mc Oleaner between the reins.
Barbara Jenzen & Mc Oleaner
Taking the Non Pro Level 2 division with a score of 214 was Viktoria Seekircher riding her KN Miss Lenas. 
The Non Pro Snaffle Bit 3-year-old Futurity saw Piet Mesdagh ride his Shaza Spook Lil Step to the win, after posting a 216.5, in the Level 4. “This win is particularly sweet because we bred this horse!“ said Piet.
Piet Mestdagh & Shaza Spook Lil Step
In the Level 2, Jennifer Nixdorf and her RH Legacy Whiz took the win after scoring a 208.5.
The Equità Lady’s Cup counted eleven entries with Gina Maria and Gunners Enterprise taking the lead after scoring a 215.  Half a point behind the winners were Charlotte Reynaud and A Flashy Rooster.
Ancillary Action
Opening the competition was the Any Horse Any Rider won by Belgian Bernard Fonck riding Quarter Dream’s Gunna Be Majestic. The pair scored a 72.
The Novice Horse Open Level 2, with a score of 72.5, was claimed by German Grisha Ludwig riding SSR Custom Shines owned by Natalie Schaffner Hirschi.  Winning the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, with a score of 71, was Ingrid Vermeiren riding CB Custom Junior.
Winning the $5,500-added Intermediate Open by HBP Associés was Quentin Galliere riding RS Spat Man O War for owner Piet Mesdagh.
Following a three-way tie, after each scoring a 143.5, Anne Sophie Guerriero of France took the win in the Limited Open aboard Chicken Sandwich owned by Eric Defouilhoux. Tying for second place were Klaus Lechner and KH Hes A Smart Jac and Henry Kuehnel riding Trudy Sailor Bar for owner Dorothee Herzner.  The three horse-rider combinations tied for second place in the Intermediate Open.
Winning both the Intermediate and Limited Non Pro by Gaillard was sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reyanaud aboard A Flashy Rooster, owned by her father, Dominique.  The young French rider took the double win after scoring a 215.5.
In the Youth Competition, Mick Betsch and RS Esplendidos Olena won the 13 & Under.  Laura Pouzol and Bar Honny Enterprise won the 14-18.
Simona Diale