The 2021 Final of the NRHA European Derby Open

The 2021 NRHA European Derby Open final took place yesterday in the reining arena of the Equita Lyon Western Horse Show! The event was sponsored by LL Tecnology, which specialises in the production and sale of harrows for agriculture. 

Of the 80 riders involved in the qualifying rounds at the beginning of the show, only 47 managed to qualify, with the 21 best scores being grouped together in Section 2, organised for the first time during an evening session, in front of a sell-out crowd. Eleven countries were represented, including France, with 8 French riders entered in the event. Half of them qualified for the final.

The level in Lyon this year was extremely high, and some very good scores were achieved. The best score was 227.5, which is the highest score recorded in an international event in Europe this year! The feat was achieved by Polish pair in Level 4: Lukasz Czechowicz and Frozen Shining Gun, owned by Katarzyna Roleska. The Italian riders put in some top performances in the other levels, with Sebastiano Valtorta and Four Seasons Whiz (owned by Luca Mauri,) winning Levels 2 and 3 with a score of 222 and Lena Marie Maas and Gunnersbabe (owned by Bartolomeo Rubino) winning Level 1 with a score of 217.5.

Arnaud Girinon and Showgirl Shining Gun (owned by Stéphanie Blessing) produced the best French performance with a great score of 222.5, particularly appreciated by the audience in Lyon.

The NRHA European Derby - for horses aged 5 to 8 - is a major event on the European circuit. This was the second time it has been organised at Equita Lyon, and the American association has already confirmed that the 2022 event will also take place in Lyon, which once again bodes well for next year's show!

All the scores are available here