EUR 40.000-added NRHA Bronze Trophy Open Go round

EUR 40.000-added NRHA Bronze Trophy Open Go round

Top Score for Klaus Lechner & Tinseltownsmokingun

Fifteen top-class riders and horses competed in the go-round for the EUR 40,000-added NRHA Bronze Trophy Open. The top 12 advanced to the final, for which a score of at least 213.5 was required. Klaus Lechner (AUT) took the lead on Tinseltownsmokingun (Colonels Smoking Gun x Miss Tinseltown), owned by Julia Gaupmann-Lechner. This is already the fourth AMERICANA for the 15-year-old stallion. In 2019, he was Intermediate Open and Non Pro Champion, and in 2021 and 2023, he was among the top 3 in the Intermediate. The pair scored plus points in every manoeuvre and finished the run with a +1 stop scoring a 223.

‘Tommy was great as always,’ said Klaus Lechner, who recently became Austrian Reining Futurity Champion Open and won the Bronze Trophy Open in Wiener Neustadt. ‘He's just a reliable horse that nothing can faze. He was completely with me from the very first moment. The cards will be reshuffled in the final – let's see what's possible.’ He added: ‘A big compliment to the AMERICANA show management and Messe Friedrichshafen for the great organisation of this event – we always enjoy coming here. And many thanks to Adi Wagner – he does a great job with the ground. It was very good!’

NRHA Million Dollar Rider Grischa Ludwig followed in second place in the Go Round on Chic Weasel (Chic Magnetic x Donnola Chex), owned by Georg Wiedenhofer.The two scored 222 after a beautiful run. Grischa had already won the NRHA German Reining Championship and came fourth in the NRHA Breeders Derby Open this year with the 6-year-old stallion. He also rode No Sugar No Party (by Sugar Little Step), owned by Bernhard Blem, to third place with a score of 220.5 – together with NRHA 2 Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck (BEL) on The Spook Is Dun (Spooks Gotta Whiz x The Bun Is Dun), owned by FC American Horses Fabio Cerantola.

‘Both my horses were top notch,’ said Grischa Ludwig. ‘I am very satisfied. We will see how far we can push and how fast we can ride in the final. In any case, the ground is very good – it has been so since day one.’

In any case, visitors to Friday evening's show can look forward to another thrilling final. Bernard Fonck took three horses to the final with excellent rides, as did Stefano Ferri (ITA). Davide Brighenti (ITA) will be there with two horses and Danilo Ruscetta (SUI) with one.

NRHA Bronze Trophy Open Finalists

NRHA Bronze Trophy Int. Open Champion
Uli Kofler & ARC Walla Smart

The Intermediate Open Bronze Trophy was claimed by Ulrich Kofler (ITA) on Adrienne Speidel's ARC Walla Smart (Walla Walla Whiz x Please Pass The Chic), a 13-year-old mare who has already won a lot under her owner. The pair received a score of 219 for their outstanding ride.

Intermediate Open Reserve Champion was June Alu Martinez de Rituerto (NED) on KB No White Whiz (CJ Whiz x KB Jenny Whiz A Gun), owned by Peter Depessemier, with a score of 213.5. Third place went to Nina Dan (AUT) on her Blue Eye Gunlady with a score of 211.

Further information: www.americana.de

About AMERICANA:

AMERICANA is Europe's largest western riding exhibition and transforms the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen into a paradise for horse enthusiasts every two years. With over 400 horses, 700 cattle and almost 1,000 entries in around 50 classes, it is the highlight of the western riding scene. From clothing and accessories to stable construction, fans of equestrian sports and the Western lifestyle will find what they are looking for among the international exhibitors. After the fair closes, the Western atmosphere of AMERICANA invites visitors to linger and join in the excitement, for example at the evening shows or during a visit to the saloon.