April 9, 2007 — Corey Cushing and CC Spin Cycle, owned by Cathy Corrigan Frank, finished a stellar week at the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Stakes in Nampa, Idaho, with a $45,000 paycheck for the Open and Intermediate Open Championships on March 29. Cushing topped the field with a 656 (212, 220, 224) and won his first major NRCHA title.
“I’m just on cloud nine,” Cushing said. “It’s been a good wait, but I’m glad it’s finally here.
Cushing and CC Spin Cycle (Ray Gay Quixote x Lenas Peppy Cutter) finished the preliminaries in second place, which boosted the 27-year-old trainer’s confidence.
“I had the adrenaline going, and in the cow work today I felt like no matter what cow got turned out, I could handle it. This horse gives you that kind of confidence.”
Two and a half points behind Cushing were Doug Williamson and Docs Soula (Soula Jule Star X Docs Hickory Nut). Docs Soula is owned by D&S Quarter Horses. Williamson marked a 652.5 (214,222.5,216) after a phenomenal run in the reining.
T.J. Good marked a 649.5 (218,215, 216) on Playin Fetch to earn the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship. Playin Fetch (Royal Fletch X Playboys Promise) is owned by Clay and Ronella White.
Doug Mills scored 628 (209, 207, 212) on Hes Wright On to win the Limited Open Championship. Hes Wright On (Lenas Wright On X Shesa Lota Nic) is owned by Michael Vantreight. Mills’ win was somewhat bittersweet, as fellow competitor Jason Grimshaw, who was leading the class by 10 points, had a horse fall in the cow work.
“It’s not a very nice way to win,” Mills said. “But I’ll take it anyway because that’s worth showing.”
Brenda Brown marked a 622 (205, 214, 203) on Amazing Miss Whiz to earn the Limited Open Reserve Championship. Amazing Miss Whiz (Missn No Chex X One Great Whiz) is owned by Warledge, LLC.
Even though JoAnne Carollo was feeling under the weather, she managed to stay mentally sharp enough to top the Non Pro finals. Carollo marked a 645.5 (214, 218.5, 213) on home-grown Repeat Plan (A Master Plan x Lenas Solana). Carollo led the pack after two events, and was first up in the cow work.
“I don’t like going first in the fence work because those first cows are always rotten,” Carollo said. “It’s was hard to watch those last couple of horses go.”
Carollo savored the win because Repeat Plan is by her stallion A Master Plan. “It was a special win for our stallion,” Carollo said. “I’m a big believer in him.”
Laurie Ward rode Kiss Me A Little (Smart Little Pepinic X Kiss Me Mister) to the Non Pro Reserve Championship. Ward and Kiss Me A Little marked a 643.5 (214, 210.5, 219).
Kathy Wilson earned what she felt was a long overdue Intermediate Non Pro Championship with a 646 (212, 216, 218) on Sis Is Smart. Wilson and her mare Sis Is Smart (Ill Be Smart X Sis Royal Mahogany) topped all three rounds of the Intermediate Non Pro, even though they were the last qualifying team from the preliminaries.
“I’m so relieved it’s over,” Wilson said. “This is a good little mare and we just haven’t been able to get her shown (in previous shows). We’ve really turned a big corner up here.”
Marc Bourdet marked a 621.5 (206, 213.5, 202) on CD Precious Peppy to take home the Intermediate Non Pro Championship. CD Precious Peppy is by CD Olena and out of Splash A Lil Cash.
