𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥'𝕤 𝔸 𝕎𝕣𝕒𝕡

We hope you all enjoyed the 30th Anniversary of the QRHA State Championship Show (1994 to 2024) – as a competitor, spectator, sponsor or watching along from home.

The 2024 QRHA State Championship Show certainly was one to remember for all the right reasons!!  

Starting with our seriously impressive youth riders who won buckles in multiple classes from Youth and Rookies to Limited Open and the Non Pro Futurity L4.  Special shout out to Chelsea Sutton who at just 15 and riding her first futurity horse, was co-champion with Hayley Smith in all levels of the Trails End Saddles Non Pro Futurity. 

Not only did Queensland’s Hayley Smith achieve great success in the Futurity, but she also had a clean sweep in the Wingaran Stock Horses Non Pro Derby winning all three levels.  An incredible achievement and one we do not think has ever been done before in the history of our show.

Friday night’s feature event the DCD Quarter Horses Open Derby produced some incredible runs – including the highest score of the show.  Queensland’s Scott Burnett started the ball rolling with a great run of 144.5 on Hollywood Remidy, then Victoria’s Tyler Smith took it up a notch with a smoking run on her mare Plum Outta Town to mark a 146. 

The stage was now set for Warren Backhouse riding stallion NPH Gunner Be A Goodnite – could they better the 144.5 they scored in the Onya Quarter Horses Open the night before?

Oh yes they could – in a truly dynamic performance that wowed the crowd Warren and NPH Gunner Be A Goodnite aka Mikey scored an epic 153!!

Leaving her best till last, Saturday’s night’s feature event the Backhouse Training Stables Open Futurity was all Tyler’s.  Riding a mare she started and trained herself, Tyler and Q Vista Step It Up blew everyone away with a spectacular run to score a new PB of 149.5. 

With over 300 runs performed by 70 competitors from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and New Zealand over four days – it really does take a village to bring these events together.

So please join us in acknowledging the people who volunteer their time to make it all happen.

It all starts with the QRHA Committee – thank you to Warren Backhouse, Karen Lowe, Lynda Gray, Kathleen Murphy, Daralyn Davies, Susan Laws, and Leanne Bartlett.  Special thanks also to the wonderful Nicole Finnigin who assisted Lynda all week in the office and to Kerri Behrens for keeping our social media updated.

However, special mention must be made to our Show Manager and sponsorship superstar Karen Lowe who has done an incredible amount of work over the last year and throughout the event.  You are amazing Karen and we cannot thank you enough.

From the best seat in the house and doing the biggest hours of the show, huge thank you to our Judges Steve Withers and Susan Frost and scribes Paul Watson and Tim Hoffmann. 

Thank you to everyone who pitched in during the week – too many to name but in particular Devin Lowe and Steve Conn on the gate, Shane Davies for dragging the arena all week and Andrew Behrens for being our Riders Rep!!.

Shout out to our favourite announcer Julian – for adding your special touch that makes for a professional yet fun show atmosphere.

Remember you can rewatch the 2024 QRHA State Championship Show runs here - https://c.streamhoster.com/embed/list/WQs3td/iUxJ4Z3s2Wi/iMRd4elsAJc_1_1?preview=1 thanks to Joe McInally Video and Live Streaming. 

Thank you to the best in the business Ken Anderson and Julie for capturing all the action for us.  Ken and Julie hope to have all the photo galleries uploaded by Sunday so keep checking their website - https://www.kaequinephotography.org/.

Finally, please take the time to thank and support our generous sponsors – we cannot put on an event like this without them. 

Next stop Reining Australia Nationals – see you all in Tamworth in August.

Let’s Rein