Gladstone, New Jersey—June 26, 2001—After qualifying for the $100,000 Cosequin/USET $100,000 Open Reining Championship with the highest USET reining score in history, Bryant Pace of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ continued his winning streak on Gunner, owned by Debra Sloan , by clinching the $100,000 Cosequin/USET Open Reining Championship, presented by Bayer. Pace earned an overall score of 448.5 in the two rounds of competition in the Cosequin Reining Division. He had won the first round of this competition on Friday with a score of 226.5.

Todd Sommers of Whitesboro, TX was second with Cattitude, owned by Frank Bolea, with an overall score of 439.5 points, followed by third place finisher, Todd Schmersal of Menifee, CA riding Pooque, owned by Cassie Simpson, with 438.5 points.

In a surprise victory, Canada won the CRIO Gladstone Nations Cup competition with a team score of 1304 points. The U.S. team was second with a total of 1299 points, followed by Germany in third with 1231 points and Japan in fourth with 982.5 points. Jason Grimshaw of Canada was the highest placed individual rider overall with a score of 445 points followed by the U.S.’ Craig Johnson of Gainesville, TX on Smokin Chic Olena, owned by Mary Susan Mason, with 433.5 points. Pete Kyle of Whitesboro, TX was third on Dun It The Hard Way, owned by Charlotte DeCoster, with 433 points. Additional team members Clint Haverty of Krum, TX and Kim Horn of Mislap, TX were fourth and fifth respectively. Haverty rode Jumping Jack Whiz, owned by Holly Casey, to a score of 432 points and Horn rode BH Backsplash, owned by Bill Horn, to a score of 431.

Michael McEntire of Sanford, NC won the $25,000 Sooner Trailer/USET Futures Reining Championship with Boogies Secret, owned by T. Ruffin Johnson, Jr. McEntire had an overall two round score of 432.5 points. He also placed third with Freckles Top Prize, owned by Carla Brown Conway, with 427.0 points. Pete Kyle of Whitesboro, TX was second on Chexys Doctor Pepper, owned by Art and Carol Hurt, with 429.0 points.

Kyle B. Johnson of Portland, CT won the Young Rider Reining Medal on his horse Boomer Fritz with an overall two round score of 425.0. Travis Wright of Boerne, TX was second with his horse Topsail Ransom with a score of 421.5. Third place went to Jessicah Keller of Fayetteville, TN riding Its Time To Smoke, with a score of 414.5.

HorsesDaily® "On The Scene" coverage of the 2001 USET Festival of Champions