The National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby closed Sunday evening, June 25, at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California, as Todd Bergen won the Open Championship and Jo Anne Carollo topped the Non Pro.

Todd, from Eagle Point, Oregon, teamed up with Sum Irish Rum for the Open Championship. By Paddys Irish Whiskey and out of Rum Sizzlin, Sum Irish Rum scored a 217 in the herd work, a 219 in the rein work and finished with a 222 down the fence to earn the first-place check of $39,406.

Todd first got Sum Irish Rum just to prep for a sale. But he really liked the horse and thought he could be a great athlete so his clients Mikelyn Hall and Nancy Fields partnered on him. Nancy’s Dawson Performance Horses LLC in Monroe, Oregon, currently owns Sum Irish Rum.

At the 2005 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, Todd and Sum Irish Rum placed third in the Open. They found themselves in the same spot at the NRCHA Stakes, where they once again finished third. The gelding now has his first NRCHA Premier Event win and Todd has also qualified him to compete in Working Cow Horse at the American Quarter Horse Association World Show in November.

Jake Telford, from Caldwell, Idaho, finished reserve in the Open riding CD Survivor, owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses of Santa Ynez, California. Jake and the horse, by CD Olena and out of Have A Lil Lena, earned $29,036 for second place.

In the Intermediate Open, Corey Cushing, from Thermal, California, marked a 215.5 in the herd, a 216 in the rein work and a 222.5 down the fence to take the Championship. Corey rode CC Spin Cycle, by Ray Gay Quixote and out of Lenas Cutter, owned by Cathy Corrigan Frank of Phoenix, Arizona, and earned $6,740 for the win. CC Spin Cycle was the 2006 Reserve Champion High Point Junior Working Cow Horse at the Arizona Sun Circuit and then tied for reserve at the NRCHA Stakes in the Intermediate Open.

T.J. Good, from Phoenix, earned the Limited Open Championship and $5,025 riding Playin Fletch, by Royal Fletch and out of Playboys Promise. The horse, owned by Clay and Ronella White from Red Rock, Arizona, earned a 211 in the herd work, a 215.5 in the rein work and a 214 down the fence, which also secured the Intermediate Open Reserve and an additional $5,392.

Riding ARC Hollys Chicadee, by Chic Please and out of Hickorys Holly Cee, Jo Anne Carollo of Atascadero, California, marked a 215 in the herd work, a 218.5 in the rein work and a 223 down the fence to win the Non Pro Championship and a check for $13,800.

After a bad preliminary herd work, with a 194, Jo Anne and her mare squeaked into the finals as the eight and final team. There, ARC Hollys Chicadee had a chance to show her true athleticism and Jo Anne said she was really proud of her mare and her finals performance.

The 2006 show season has been a tremendous one for Jo Anne and her talented mare. This year alone, ARC Hollys Chicadee has earned Non Pro Championships at the Circle Y Derby in Stephenville, Texas, the NRCHA Stakes, the NRCHA Hackamore Classic and now the NRCHA Derby.

Jo Anne bought ARC Hollys Chicadee from Arcese Quarter Horses of Clements, California, last spring. She showed her at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity last fall, where she placed sixth, and has had a major event winning streak ever since.

Anne Reynolds, from King Hill, Idaho, finished second and third riding Shoshone Pony, by JR Colord Rambo and out of Docs Colorful Lady, and More Magic Please, by Chic Please and out of Magical Lena. Anne earned $19,320 for the two placings.

Laurel Morais of Pleasanton, California, picked up the Intermediate Non Pro Championship riding Brooksinics Sis, by Brooksinics Badger and out Chantillys Sis. Laurel and her mare earned a 212 in the herd, a 208.5 in the rein work and a 216 down the fence to secure the win and $5,370. Earlier this year, Laurel and Brooksinics Sis earned the NRCHA Amateur Stakes Reserve Championship, followed by the Intermediate Non Pro and Amateur Championships at the NRCHA Hackamore Classic.

For more information on the NRCHA Derby, including complete results from the event, please visit the Association’s official website at www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bailey Hats, Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Reno Hilton, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit www.nrcha.com <http://www.nrcha.com> .