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Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Tom McCutcheon Wins USET Reining Championship



When Tom McCutcheon rode into the arena for the second round of competition in the USET Reining Championship on June 23 at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, he knew he had to make a flawless run on Conquistador Whiz.

Shawn Flarida had already marked a blistering 224.5 in the round on San Jo Freckles to boost his composite total to 446.5 and lead the competition. With a first-round score of 222.5, McCutcheon would have to at least match Flarida's score to win the event. He did that and more, putting together a picture-perfect pattern that the judges scored 228.

That earned Tom McCutcheon the championship, and a place on the United States Reining Team that will compete at the World Equestrian Games in Spain this September. The Pilot Point, Texas, trainer was quick to compliment Conquistador Whiz, a stallion that his good friend Duane Latimer had shown to NRHA Derby and National Reining Breeders Classic wins. Conquistador Whiz is owned by George Shifrin of Colorado. "I feel fortunate to ride him. I'm looking forward to showing him in Spain," McCutcheon stated.

Silver honors went to Flarida and San Jo Freckles, owned by Michael Harper. Finishing tied for bronze were California reiner Craig Schmersal on Tidal Wave Jack, owned by the BS Syndicate and Scott McCutcheon on Inwhizable, owned by Inwhizable Partners, both with a composite total of 444.

Finishing tied for fifth were Craig Johnson on Smokin Chic Olena, owned by Mary Susan Mason and Bryant Pace on Gunner, owned by Debra Sloan, but tie-breaking rules moved Johnson into the fifth position and earned him an alternate slot on the United States team.

Earlier in the day, Mandy McCutcheon, Tom's wife, had earned the Futures Championship on Haidachino Cherry, owned by her parents, Tim and Colleen McQuay. Like her husband, Mandy won both the first round and the second round (219.5 and 220) to earn her title.

Silver Futures honors went to Ben Gerst on Nick Chavezā Joses Bueno Chex and Brian Welman on Jennifer Easton's Boogernic, both with a score of 431. Finishing as the bronze winner was McCutcheon on her other horse, Don't Miss This, also owned by her parents.

Click here to see a Photo Gallery of the USET Reining finals!

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