Christy McElreath Leads 2009 NRBC Non Pro Finals on Gimme Major Bucks
 In only her second time to compete at the National Reining Breeders Classic, 19-year-old Christy McElreath did something many competitors only dream of – she earned a spot in the Non Pro finals by marking the high score of the preliminary competition. But McElreath, who rode Gimme Major Bucks, was also entered in the Intermediate Non Pro, the Limited Non Pro, and the Non Pro Level 1. Go to the NRBC Web site here.
“I’m so excited. I am so pleased with Money (Gimme Major Bucks) and can’t wait to show in the finals,” she noted after the scores were finalized. The young rider was quick to thank her trainer of five years, Pete Kyle, for his help, and gave credit to her horse, a son of Smart Starbuck. “He’s just cool. He always performs so well.” The first place in the four divisions amounted to a total of $10,887 earned in the first go, which she will collect during the Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party, held at 7pm on Wednesday upstairs at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. Lori Getzwiller’s score of 220.5 in the Non Pro Prime Time led the division, and she and her horse, Smartest, by Smartest Chic Olena, made all five Non Pro division finals. The top thirty Non Pros, including ties, earned Final’s berths, with the bubble score landing at 215, and in the Intermediate Non Pro, 214.5 was the magic number. It took a 212.5 to make the Limited Non Pro finals, and a score of 212 was good for the Non Pro Level 1. Non Pro Prime Time riders needed to mark a 211 to make it back to Friday’s competition. www.nrbc.com |
