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Articles: Press Release
Austria's Rudi Kronsteiner Wins 2008 FEI World Reining Masters;
U.S.'s Jordan Larson and Craig Schmersal take Silver and Bronze Medals
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2008
By Stacey Meier
Lexington, KY- Last night the top reiners in the world came together for
an evening of intense competition at the 2008 FEI World Reining Masters
in Oklahoma City, OK as part of the National Reining Horse Association
(NRHA) Futurity and Adequan(r) North American Affiliate Championship
Show. Austria's Rudi Kronsteiner and Smart Spook scored 221 to take the
2008 FEI World Reining Masters in the Open division. The U.S. won the
Silver and Bronze medals in the Open division- Jordan Larson and Lena
Gallo took the Silver medal with a score of 218 and Craig Schmersal and
Mr Dual Rey earned the Bronze medal with a score of 216.5.
Kronsteiner outmaneuvered 18 horse-and-rider pairs from 15 countries to
win for the second year in a row. Last year, Kronsteiner took home the
title which made him the first reiner outside of the U.S. to win the FEI
World Reining Masters.
Larson, of Whitesboro, TX, and his partner Lena Gallo, an eight-year-old
bay Quarter Horse stallion owned by Lapke Quarter Horses, have proved to
be quite a pair this year with their consistent performances. Larson
said that he was especially pleased with Lena Gallo's efforts in the
Masters since he continues to step up to the plate in all of the
competitions this year.
"A horse that can mark a 76 three times in a year is a remarkable
horse," said Larson. "Lena has stepped up and done his best every time
we enter the arena."
Similar to Larson and Lena Gallo, Craig Schmersal, of Overbrook, OK, and
Mr. Dual Rey, an eight-year-old sorrel Quarter Horse stallion owned by
Holly Casey, have been quite a team this year. Schmersal said that they
have had a good year and that he was pleased with Mr. Dual Rey's
performance in the Masters competition.
"We had a penalty in the first set of turns but after that he did really
good," said Schmersal. "He gave every time I asked."
Schmersal credits Mr. Dual Rey's owner, Holly Casey, who has been very
supportive of the partnership.
"She is one of those lifetime owners that you get few and far between
and I am happy to have her," said Schmersal.
Larson and Schmersal competed in September at the 2008 FEI World Reining
Championships in Manerbio, Italy. Together, they won the Team Silver
medal and Larson took the Individual Gold medal and Schmersal tied for
the Individual Bronze medal.
"It has been an exceptional year," said USEF's Director of Reining
Programs Courtney Barnett. "Both riders have competed in the 2008 FEI
World Reining Championships and now in the 2008 FEI World Reining
Masters here in Oklahoma City. They've both done very well in the highly
contested competitions."
For more information, contact Courtney Barnett, USEF's Director of
Reining Programs, at (859) 225-6919 or cbarnett@usef.org
ENDS
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
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