Kreuth, July 27 — The 2019 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Derby opened the doors to competition today at the Ostbbayernhalle in Kreuth. The ninth edition of the event, open to 5-6-7-8-year-old horses enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, welcomed the first section of the €49.000-added Non Pro Derby qualifier counting 100 entries as well as the first of the full-slate of NRHA ancillary classes.

Taking the lead in the €20.000-added Level (L)4 and €15.000-added L3 divisions with a 217.5 — the high score of the day — was Italian Edoardo Bernardelli riding his own Whiz Wild West. The 6-year-old gelding by Spark N Whiz out of West Coast Oak was bred and nominated by Mattia Camisi. The talented bay, who boasts over $167,000 Lifetime Earnings (LTE), clinched the 2017 NRHA European Futurity L3 Open Championship with NRHA Professional Guglielmo Fontana in the saddle and the 2019 Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) L3 Non Pro Derby Championship with Bernardelli.

Leading the €9.000-added L2 division following the first section, with a 215 score, was Julia Gaupman-Lechner of Austria aboard Guns Still Smokin (Gunner x Scoot Lil Bo), a 6-year-old gelding bred and nominated by McQuay Stables. The €5.000-added L1 division saw Germany’s Juli Kaiser take the lead after posting a 212.5 aboard SL Rufnightintown (Hollywoodstinseltown x Lil Cow Paddie), a 6-year-old stallion bred and nominated by Sandra Linnig-Fohl.