AQHA Magazine May / June 2018 AQHA_May_June_2018_WEBSITE | Page 31

The Rookie Challenge Champion Scott Keogh took out first place on his first trip to the ARBC , this was a hard fought event which saw a lot of new competitors to the ARBC Show .

This year we introduced the ARBC OPEN and NOVICE Campdraft Events and we saw some competitive and skilful Campdrafters competing for the prize pool payout of $ 3,600 plus ARBC buckles and prizes . Big congratulations to Darrin Jones taking out first position in the OPEN Draft and Jon Templeton for taking out first position in the NOVICE Draft . Great work from Hayley Ahern for taking out third place in both the OPEN and NOVICE Draft on different horses . It was to have the draft event this year and we look to expanding on draft events for our 2019 ARBC draft events .

These cattle events would not have been made possible without the supply of great cattle from Ian Stark and Jeanne Seifert from Seifert Belmont Reds and Trevor and Katrina Maunder the cattle were exceptional helping add to the strong competition in all our ARBC cattle events . Thank you also to Jason Gates from RPC Livestock Haulage for getting our cattle delivered to and from our ARBC Show .

The ARBC saw the introduction of the ARBC Western Dressage Events held on Sunday 25th March with a full day of competitions held . We would like to thank Western Dressage Association of Queensland organisers Jim Whitaker , Vivian Wearing , Lisa Berg , our judge Steve Thake and his penciler / wife Anne from Western Dressage Queensland for making this event possible . A special thank you goes out to all the callers for the riders including Louise Harris . Such a great number of entries for our first ARBC Western Dressage Event held on Sunday 25th March . A total of 11 classes were run with over 38 tests completed at this great event .

CLASS INTRODUCTORY LEVEL TEST A- Non Sanctioned INTRODUCTORY LEVEL TEST B- Non Sanctioned INTRODUCTORY LEVEL TEST C- Non Sanctioned BASIC LEVEL TEST A- Non Sanctioned BASIC LEVEL TEST B - Non Sanctioned BASIC LEVEL TEST A- Sanctioned BASIC LEVEL TEST B- Sanctioned LEVEL 1 TEST A - Sanctioned LEVEL 1 TEST B – Sanctioned LEVEL 2 TEST A - Sanctioned LEVEL 2 TEST B - Sanctioned

Placing & Rider Tied 1st Jim Whitaker & Denise Milgate 1st Gita Thomas 1st Zoe Smith 1st Zoe Smith 1st Zoe Smith 1st Gita Thomas 1st Kerin Cullen 1st Mandy Camfferman 1st Mandy Camfferman 1st Mandy Camfferman 1st Mandy Camfferman

Gita Thomas winning the Western Dressage at ARBC

Congratulations to everyone and thank you for helping to make it such a successful event at our ARBC Western Dressage Event , we look forward to welcoming you all back in 2019 .

We were blessed to have met an amazing lady Chris Parnell in the lead up to our ARBC Show this year . Chris is not well and yet she travelled up from NSW to not only compete on her beloved pony Chicka at the ARBC Show but to put forward an amazing Encouragement and Sportsmanship award for the person that showed the best sportsmanship throughout the ARBC , perhaps not getting their hands on a buckle , but had a fun time trying . The award recipient was chosen by our judges Leanne Bartlett and Pam Spokes . At our VIP we had over 160 guests attend to hear the award recipient was Kristine McDougall Chris had her dream come true on Friday evening at the ARBC getting to meet and dine with Mr Ian Francis , this ticked one off her bucket list . What a true gentleman Ian was thanking Chris for dining with him . Thank you Ian you are a true legend in so many ways .

As the ARBC last evening is renowned for the getting together of our competitors , helpers and sponsors alike we broke our all-time record seating over 160 guests at our VIP Dinner , where we thank our great sponsors and celebrate our ARBC Champions . Our reining champions that won classes with prize money over $ 2,000 received a beautiful Lawson Trophy from NRHA in the USA . The recipients of these beautiful Marrison trophies were Denise Milgate the ARBC Open Champion , Warren Backhouse / Henry and Julie Maxwell Family the ARBC OPEN Derby Champion , Rodney Peachey / Peter Bartolo the ARBC Intermediate OPEN Derby Champion and Warren Backhouse / Henry and Julie Maxwell the ARBC OPEN Maturity Champion . We were excited to presented seven Big Cheques to our ARBC Champions across the disciplines of Reining and Challenge Events , which are always well received ; it ’ s not every day you get a big cheque to take home for the trophy room . Congratulations to you all .

This celebration of reiners , challenge competitors and ARBC sponsors and supporters has become a must attend event on the calendar and continues to grow each year . The ARBC Saloon kicked on to a live band so everyone could unwind and just enjoy each other ’ s company at the end of a big week of showing . We would like to thank everyone involved and to all those that attended from near and far to attend this prestigious event , it continues to be a fun and successful show because of all the great people that attend and support the ARBC . Our dates for the ARBC 2019 are already locked in , so lock in the dates 24th to 27th April 2019 , we will be having the ARBC Show the week following Easter and look forward to welcoming you all back in 2019 .

Cameron Halliwell riding Gottagetagunner

May • June • 2018 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • Page 31