GLADSTONE, NEW JERSEY – Bryant Pace & Gunner Win $100,000 Cosequin/USET Reining Championship -  - Gunner, the diminutive American Paint Horse Association stallion, was the brightest star on dirt at Gladstone, New Jersey when he won the $100,000 Cosequin/United States Equestrian Team Reining Championship at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions June 21-24.

Bryant Pace rode the sorrel overo to a score of 226.5 to win the first round on Friday and a 222 marking on Sunday to clinch both the second go and the title. That netted the Gold Medal and $31,780 to push Gunner’s lifetime earnings past the $160,000 mark. It also capped an incredible year for Gunner and Pace, who won every USET event they entered in 2001, plus posted the highest score ever in USET reining history – a 233 in the Semi Finals at Oklahoma City.

Pace, a National Reining Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association World Champion, is the resident trainer for Gunner’s owners Kim and Debra Sloan at their Kebra Ranch in Hasbrouk Heights, New Jersey. Predictably, the audience was enthusiastic with applause for their home state favorite, especially during the final performance on Sunday afternoon.

The win came after heavy rain on Saturday and Pace admitted to some anxious thoughts about the rain-soaked ground. “The crew did a great job of getting the arena worked,” he said. “But I did go easier today. I didn’t want to take a chance on slipping and falling.”

With a four and a half point lead from the first round, Pace could afford to be conservative, but he admitted to some anxious moments watching the rest of the runs after being second to work in the final round. “The people competing here are great,” he added. “I was running against the best in the world.”

National Reining Horse Futurity Champion Todd Sommers of Whitesboro, Texas finished second with a two-round total of 439.5 on Cattitude, owned by Frank Bolea of Gilroy, California. The Bronze Medal went to Californian Craig Schmersal on Pooque, owned by Cassie Simpson with a total score of 438.5.

In the CRIO Gladstone Nations Cup Reining, Team Canada upset the favored USA team. Cody Sapergia on SR Cotton Candy, Jason Grimshaw on Listo Pollito Lena, Lance Griffin on Moon Stone Chex and Shawna Sapergia on Pretty Much Eagle won the Nations Cup Team Gold with a total score of 1304 for the two rounds. Chef d'Equipe Molly Sapergia and the rest of the Canadian team were, in her words, “determined to be competitive” and they more than reached their goal.

In addition to the team Gold, Jason Grimshaw piloted Listo Pollito Lena, owned by Robert Thompson, scoring 445 to win the individual Gold Medal, followed by U.S. reiner Craig Johnson of Gainesville, Texas with 433.5 on Smokin Chic Olena, owned by Mary Susan Mason.  Pete Kyle of Whitesboro, Texas earned the Bronze Medal on Dun It The Hard Way, owned by Charlotte DeCoster, with 433 points.  

The United States claimed the Silver, with a total team score of 1298 posted by Kimberly Horn on BH Back Splash, Clint Haverty on Jumping Jack Whiz, Pete Kyle on Dun It The Hard Way and Craig Johnson on Smokin Chic Olena. Bronze honors went to Germany, represented by Kay Wienrich on Doc Char Sport, Steffen Breug on Ima Lucky Freckalena, Martin Steck on Scootin Little Lady and Grisha Ludwig on Peppy Sol Anson.

Mike McEntire rode Boggies Secret, a mare owned by T. Ruffin Johnson, Jr. to a total score of 432.5 for two rounds to win the first-ever $25,000 SoonerTrailer/USET Futures Reining Championship. He was thrilled with the win – and with the additional opportunities offered to reiners by USET competition. “This is the greatest thing for our industry. I enjoy training and riding older horses and I’m honored to have the opportunity to be here.” McEntire also placed third with Freckles Top Prize, owned by Carla Brown Conway, with 427 points.  Pete Kyle of Whitesboro, Texas was second with 429 points on Chexys Doctor Pepper, owned by Art and Carol Hurt.  

Kyle Johnson of Portland, Connecticut won the Young Rider Reining Medal on Boomer Fritz with a two round total score of 425.0.  Travis Wright of Boerne, Texas was second with Topsail Ransom, scoring 421.5.  Third place went to Jessicah Keller of Fayetteville, Tennessee riding Its Time To Smoke and Stacy Jowitt of Columbus Ohio on Nimble Jaspor Bars.  

Despite a weather delay as the reining arena adjusted to a 3 inch downpour, the US Equestrian Team Invitational Freestyle was held on Saturday afternoon and Pete Kyle rode Bueno San Lena, owned by Kimberly Wang, to a score of 221 for his second Festival of Champions Freestyle win. Kyle, sporting a fedora and white suit jacket along with an open-front red satin shirt and multiple gold chains, performed along with a bevy of dancers to Mambo #5, and earned $4114 for the win. Finishing second was last year’s Freestyle champion, Rocky Dare on Ima Lucky Freckalena, owned by Diane Noyes.

    The National Reining Horse Association is a sponsor of United States Equestrian Team, managing the reining show at the USET Festival of Champions. The NRHA is the governing body of the sport of reining, responsible for promoting the sport, working to insure the highest standards of competition and educating its members and the public about reining.