Carl Gerwien of Nanton, Alberta, marked 219 to lead the qualifying round for Non-Pro division of the Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting at the Calgary Stampede Monday. Eight riders qualified for Wednesday’s finals.
Gerwien, who was the first Canadian inducted into the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame in 2005, rode Shes Almost Heaven. The 6-year-old mare was bred by Kyle Manion by Im Countin Checks out of Smooth And Stunning, a Smooth As A Cat mare that goes back to $1.6 million producer Autumn Boon. Autumn Boon’s offspring include Im Countin Checks.
Gerwien has been a finalist at the Calgary Futurity, Big Sky Futurity and Canadian Supreme with Shes Almost Heaven. The mare has earned more than $20,000.
This will be the first Mercuria NCHA World Series finals for Gerwien, who is a four-time winner of the Pacific Coast Futurity.
Kelsey Conn of Hempstead, Texas and Boon Tooth marked 217 for the second high score in the go-round. She was riding Boon Tooth, a Mr Boonsmal To You gelding that has taken her to 11 previous World Series finals.
Carol Ward of Rancho Murieta, California, celebrated her birthday on Monday by qualifying for the finals on Spooked By A Cat, a son of Cat Ichi. Ward won back-to-back Mercuria World Series finals at Calgary in 2011-2012 on Lil Dulce Lu.
The Non-Pro finalists are:
- Carol Ward / Spooked By A Cat
- Margaret Meagher / Docs Stylish Fox
- Andrew Viola / Louellas Cat
- Ginger Turner / Dream Little Sue
- John Thomas / Dual Smart Deal
- Kathi Fisher / RPL Smart Ruby Rey
- Carl Gerwien / Shes Almost Heaven
- Kelsey Conn / Boon Tooth