By Cammy Schneider
Special To Ropers Sports News 

SALINAS, CA -– The 2013-2014 ACBRA Finals finished up with over $86,000 paid out over the entire competition plus $30,000 in awards. That’s $116,000 of cash and prizes throughout the weekend! The ACBRA finals were nothing short of spectacular! The Salinas coastal weather offered up the perfect relief to some of the hot weather most of the contestants were coming from.  

A huge thank you is owed to all those who made the event such a success. The tractor drivers, barrel setters, board members, Betty Breaux our arena judge, and to Taylor and Bailey Nahrgang who ran a top notch office. Taylor Nahrgang kept things moving smoothly with all the contestants being ready to go when announced. Thank you! Bailey not only was running one horse AND being a mom to her 5-week old baby (with the help of her mom and sister), she also had the times entered, checks cut and results done in record time! She cut over 245 checks this weekend.  What an amazing team who set the tone of the entire event!

We cannot thank our sponsors enough!  Awards sponsors:  McSherry & Hudson, MY Cars, Coastal States Insurance, The Business Journal, Bart and Toni Bonfantini, Ed LeTourneau, D.V.M. Contestant bag sponsors: Mrs. Pastures Cookies, Rogers Supply, United Vet Equine/Med Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, State Line Tack, Sun Ridge Farms. Ground sponsors: Don Chapin Construction, Chris Nielsen Tractor Sales, Diamond Bar Groomers. Raffle sponsors: Jeff Freitas Video, DMarie Photography, Lame Away (Sis Buttrey), King Feed, Wild Gold (Charleen Ornellas), Formula 1 (Kristen Smith), Tuffies (Sue Spence).

With 270 runs each day, the weekend offered up some tough competition in all categories. Friday started the weekend off with a warm up race. Stephanie Dehner took the lead for the weekend with a 17.589 on board Hundred Dollar Jack. Saturday’s fastest time went to Allie Hamner with a 17.514 on Bushwackin Cat. But the fastest time of the entire weekend was run by Katelyn Wall on Sunday with a 17.205 on Wake Up to Fame which brought her the largest payout check of the weekend at $969. The 4D side pot had $8,000 added per day, which provided an amazing payout each day! The top money winner for the weekend was Shelby Sullivan and Colonel Whisper Whiz winning $3,072!

There was a flood of comments throughout the weekend and all over social media about how wonderful the awards were and the appreciation of such an amazing event. There were 14 Shiloh saddles awarded throughout the Finals. Five saddles for year-end category winners were handed out at the awards mixer on Saturday night. Five more saddles were awarded to the average category winners and four saddles to the 4D average winners on Sunday. Western Dove breast collars and headstalls, Bob Berg buckles, Jodi Reese Designs, MadCow spurs, Back on Track, and much, much more.  

After two days of some amazing competition, the average winners were announced. Awards were given to the top 5 average winners in each category as well as the 4D. Your 2013-2014 ACBRA finals winners are:

Open: 1. Shelby Sullivan on Colonel Whisper Whiz. 2. Jaime Hinton on The Goob. 3. Sabina Andreini on Jacks Folks Cash. 4. Amanda Stallins on Tivios Custom Gage. 5. Gayle Lewis on Taking All Bets. 

Under 7500: 1. Bill Overton on OBD Smoke That. 2. Taylor Rogers on California Cool Ranger. 3. Cheryl Gatz on Bacon. 4. Katie Davis on Lucky to Shine. 5. Laura Ward on Dakota. U3500: An unbelievable tie for first place went to Kristen Rogers on I’m a Lucky Tinkerbell, and Allie Hamner on Bushwackin Cat. The tie was broken by a flip of a coin, with Kristen Rogers coming out on top. 3. Jaycee Spence on Right Like Ike. 4. Emily Hannaford on Hollywood Heatwave. 5. Corene Baldwin on Tiny Red Pepper. U1000: 1. Bryan Scheer on Liddle Judge. 2. Lindsey Stornetta on Frenchmans Royal Gal. 3. Pam Wilkens on Cuz I Can. 4. Deeana Horner on JW Trapper Mike. 5. Kristie Jensen on Royal Quick Star.

Junior average: 1. Caitlyn Wood on Spookdeville 2. Abigail Knecht on Pearl. 3. April Flook on Falcons Montana Jet. 4. Halee Harrison on Rio Smashed. 5. Cassie Dallara on Circle Bar Socks.

The 4D Average also received awards to fifth place. The top honors in the 1D went to Caitlyn Wood. 2. Shelby Sullivan. 3. Jaime Hinton. 4. Bill Overton. 5. Taylor Rogers. 2D: 1. Abigail Knech. 2. Patti Davis. 3. Noel Cosca. 4. Jaycee Spence. 5. Betty Grohl. 3D: 1. Lauren Hayman. 2. Katrina Dugo. 3. Tammy Hoskins. 4. Dude Overton. 5. Jennifer Hall. 4D: 1. Jamie Ackerman. 2. Allie Tully. 3. Kay Crook. 4. Adriana Correia. 5. Jennifer Payne.

Year-end winners in each category receive saddles and they were: Open: Tammy Hoskins, Chex the Blue; Junior: Abigail Knecht, Buds Diamond Pearl; Under $1,000 Rider: Tina Barnett, Flits Flitterbug; Under $1,000: Tina Barnett; Flits Flitterbug. Under $3,500: Corene Baldwin, Tiny Red Pepper; Under $7,500: Lacey Pursley, KM Truckin In Style.

Congratulations to all the 2013-2014 winners! The exiting Board would again like to thank all of this year’s members  for making the year a gigantic success. ACBRA is built behind its membership and everyone on the Board was excited this year to be able to present an astounding finals with breathtaking awards.

Please welcome your new Board for 2014-2015: returning member Patti Silva, who will be joined by Stacy Neeley, Tammy Hoskins, Lacey Lockard, Beverly Sanchez, McKay Knecht, and Katie McPartland.

The first Board meeting was held August 9 in Salinas. Membership applications are available on the web site. September 2 marks the beginning of the new season. The 2014-15 Kick-Off Race is Sept. 13 at SJVR in Stockton.   

Wishing everyone a successful 2014-15 competition year!

For complete results go to www.acbra.net.

August 2-3

SATURDAY OPEN: 

1D: 1. Allie Hamner, Bushwackin Cat, 17.514, $927. 2. Katrina Dugo, KD Sambrita, 17.602, $824. 3. Shelby Sullivan, Colonel Whisper Whiz, 17.615, $670. 4. Stephanie Dehner, Hundred Dollar Jack, 17.641, $515. 5. Shannon Shade, Six Saity, 17.682, $386.

2D: 1. Kaylee Silverberg, Trip To Hollywood, 18.014, $811. 2. Whitlee Burgess, Top Time Dude, 18.022, $721. 3. Stephanie Dehner, Uno Cash Bar, 18.033, $586. 4. Pamela Scheer, Nitas Bright Cat, 18.042, $451. 5. Tracy Ash, CC Little Sister, 18.080, $338.

3D: 1. Renee Dell, Callie Cashing In, 18.515, $638. 2. Cammy Schneider, Bugs Rule My Heart, 18.522, $567. 3. Shelley Holman, The Drag Strip, 18.526, $460. 4. Ella Whiteman, Magic Lucero, 18.531, $354. 5. Emma Gower, WS Snookies Driftwood, 18.539, $266.

4D: 1. Michelle Silva, Gunsmoke Nana, 19.52, $522. 2. Salina Danley, Riddicks Twist, 19.574, $464. 3. Jennifer Allen, Red Rip Cord, 19.611, $377. 4. Jessica Erwin, Parker, 19.614, $290. 5. Kaylee Silverberg, Trip To Hollywood, 17.967, $49.

UNDER $3,500

1st. go: 1. Allie Hamner, Bushwackin Cat, 17.514, $832. 2. Kristen Rogers, Im A Lucky Tinkerbell, 18.085, $687. 3. Jaycee Spence, Right Like Ike, 18.173, $615. 4. Rayanne Currin, Whata Chiquita Moon, 18.177, $506. 5. Emily Hannaford, Hollywood Heatwave, 18.199, $398.

2nd. go: 1st. Karla Sanchez, Master Rabbit, 17.754, $832. 2. Kristen Rogers, Im A Lucky Tinkerbell 17.087, $687. 3.Charleen Ornellas, Charging All Fires, 17.953, $615. 4. Jaycee Spence, Right Like Ike, 17.956, $506. 5. Emily Hannaford, Hollywood Heatwave, 18.088, $308.

Average: 1. Kristen Rogers, Im A Lucky Tinkerbell, 35.892, $720. 2. Allie Hamner, Buschwackin Cat, 35.892, $760. 3. Jaycee Spence, Right Like Ike, 36.192. 4. Emily Hannaford, 36.287, $506. 5. Corene Baldwin, 36.512, $398.

UNDER $7,500

1st. go: 1. Stephanie Dehner, Hundred Dollar Jack, 17.641, $611. 2. Bill Overton, OBD Smoke That, 17.690, $505 3. Lacey Lockard, Mighty Easy Fame, 17.790, $452. 4. Taylor Rogers, California Cool Ranger, 17.802, $372. 5. Katie Davis, Lucky to Shine, 17.892, $292.

2nd. go: 1. Taylor Rogers, California Cool Ranger, 17.626, $611. 2. Laura Ward, Dakota, 17.629, $452. 3. Bill Overton, OBD Smoke That, 17.662, $452. 4. Cheryl Gatz, 17.679, $372.  Katie Davis, Lucky To Shine, 17.717, $292.

Average: 1. OBD Smoke That, Bill Overton, 35.352, $611. 2. Taylor Rogers, California Cool Ranger, 35.428, $505. 3. Cheryl Gatz, Bacon, 35.583, $372. 4. Katie Davis, Lucky To Shine, 35.609, $372. 5. Laura Ward, Dakota, 35.811, $292.

UNDER $7,500

1st. go: Katrina Dugo, KD Sambrita, 17.602, $728. 2. Shelby Sullivan, Colonel Whisper Whiz, 17.615, $602. 3. Shannon Shade, Sixy Saity, 17.682, $538. 4. Sabina Andreini, Jacks Folks Cash, 17.779, $443. 5. Pam Ross, Bueno Bruce, 17.780, $348.

2nd. go: 1. Katelyn Wall, Wake Up to Fame, 17.205, $728. 2. Jaime Hinton, The Goob, 17.406, $602. 3. Shelby Sullivan Colonel Whisper Whiz, 17.493, $538. 4. Amanda Stallins, 17.513, $443. 5. Stacey Freitas, Mohican Sun, 17.571, $348.

Average: 1. Shelby Sullivan, Colonel Whisper Whiz, 35.108, $728. 2. Jaime Hinton, The Goob, 35.272, $602. 3. Sabina Andreini, 35.458, $538. 4. Amanda Stallins, Tivios Custom Gage, 35.463, $443. 5. Gayle Lewis, Taking All Bets, 35.511, $348. 

JUNIOR

1st. go: 1.Caitlyn Wood, Spookdeville, 17.691, $577. 2. Whitlee Burgess, Top Time Dude, 18.022, $476. 3. Cassie Dallara, Circle Bar Socks, 18.159, $426. 4. Abigail Knecht, Pearl, 18.165, $351. 5. Dry Doc Bogies Bar, Gianna Esteve, 18.436, $175.

2nd. go: 1. Catilyn Wood,  Spookdeville, 17.334, $577. 2. April Flook, Falcons Montana Jet, 17.860, $476. 3. Abigail Knecht, Pearl, 17.865, $426. 4. Courtney Corwin, Butch, 18.245, $351. 5. Halee Harrison, Rio Smashed, 18.311, $276.

Average: 1. Caitlyn Wood, Spookdeville, 35.025, $577. 2. Abigail Knecht, Pearl, 36.030, $476. 3. April Flook, Falcons Montana Jet, 36.421, $426. 4. Halee Harrison, Rio Smashed, 36.747, $351. 5. Cassie Dallara, Circle Bar Socks, 36.900, $276.  

Allie Hamner, Under $3,500 winner of the first round with a time of 17.514.    

 
Spookdeville and Caitlyn Wood were the Jr. Average saddle winner and the 4D Average saddle winner for Saturday and Sunday.  She took home two Jerri Mann/Shiloh Saddles for her efforts and as well as $2,850 in cash. D Marie Photography