By Tracy Bidwell, OQHA
Photos Courtesy Jeff Kirkbride Photography
Concluding what is known is “Youth Weekend” at the All American Quarter Horse Congress is the event’s most popular youth event: the National Youth Activity Team Tournament.
This year’s tournament included 77 teams and 484 youth competitors from around the country. Many contestants competed throughout the year to earn a spot on their regional association’s NYATT team. Teams must consist of a minimum of four youth members and a maximum of 12 members, with no more than two members competing in each of the NYATT classes, which are Showmanship, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Reining, Hunter Under Saddle and Barrel Racing.
“We had more teams and youth that participated this year, compared to last year,” said Don Recchiuti, NYATT committee chairperson. “This was a very successful team tournament.”
Teams began the competition at 7 am on Sunday, October 21 in Cooper Arena with Showmanship, with 148 entries. At the conclusion of the class, Rebecca Anderson and her 2004 mare Ok Shes Unzipped came out on top for the Warren County Quarter Horse Association, followed by Erika Rodenski and Good Time To Win for the River Cities Quarter Horse Association.
Next up at 8 am in the Celeste Center was Reining, with 34 entries. The River Cities Quarter Horse Association came up big, winning both Champion and Reserve, with Elissa Bening and Brother Please taking first, and Wade Powell and Sailor Dun It taking home second.
After the first two classes, the River Cities Quarter Horse Association led the field with a staggering 28 points, followed by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association and the Warren County Quarter Horse Association, both with 10 points.
The rest of the NYATT classes were held in the Coliseum, starting with Barrel Racing. Tyler B Aitken and Go Spin An Dash bested 68 entries to win the Congress Bronze for the Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association. Taking home reserve was Grace Drewicke and Miss Brisk Poppy for the North Dakota Quarter Horse Association.
Calley Huston and Colossal Asset won the NYATT Hunter Under Saddle, with 119 entries, for the Badger Quarter Horse Association, followed by Nika Vilcins and Al I Want Is You for the North Carolina Quarter Horse Association.
Western Horsemanship, the second largest NYATT class with 146 entries, put the Ohio Quarter Horse Association back in the running for the top overall team spot, with the Congress Bronze going to Lacy Watson and HF Tahnee Too. Graysen Stroud and Phat Asset took reserve for the Washington State Quarter Horse Association.
Western Pleasure was the last class to go, with 114 entered. Going into the class, the River Cities Quarter Horse Association was still standing in first with 41 points, followed by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association with 31 points.
After five splits and a final, Erin Nicole Mask and Only Because Im Good were the last pair left standing, taking home Congress Champion bragging rights for the Georgia Quarter Horse Association. Taking home reserve honors was Katie Burks and A Good Cookie for the Indiana Quarter Horse Association.
Following the competition, all the 2012 NYATT teams filed into the Coliseum for the final awards presentation.
“I would like to thank all NYATT participants and advisors for their cooperation during the NYATT Ceremony this year, especially with seating all the teams,” Recchiuti said. “Even though the ceremony started later than expected, everyone worked together to make the ceremony go off without a hitch.”
Below are the final placings for the 2012 Congress National Youth Activity Team Tournament:
1st – River Cities Quarter Horse Association with 48 points
2nd – Ohio Quarter Horse Association with 31 points
3rd – Indiana Quarter Horse Association with 16 points
4th – Georgia Quarter Horse Association with 16 points
5th – Mississippi Quarter Horse Association with 15 points
6th – Texas Quarter Horse Association with 13 points
7th – Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association with 12 points
8th – Missouri Quarter Horse Association with 11 points
9th – Michigan Quarter Horse Association with 10 points
10th – Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association with 10 points
Tie-breakers are as follows: 1) the team placing in the greater number of events, 2) the team winning the greater number of seconds, etc., 3) the team with the fastest time in Barrel Racing.
Congratulations to all youth who competed in this year’s Congress National Youth Activity Team Tournament!
