Four \”down south\” buckles for Canuck

The big news at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Circle Y Ranch Derby Non Pro divisions was an un-assuming 18-year-old named John Murphy. He and his family traveled more than 40 hours from his home in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, to the West Texas town of San Angelo to claim the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, Novice Non Pro, and Amateur Championships!

\”He was a good boy,\” Murphy modestly said of his horse, Pepto Pepermint, after the awards ceremony. Murphy took home four Gist Silversmiths buckles, four monogrammed jackets from Circle Y Ranch, and a $50 product gift certificate from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies. He also won $5,652 from the Championships alone. He also won $3,094 from the go-rounds, including the high Amateur cow work score. \”He was pretty much the best he\’s ever been. He was solid and he worked like he does at home.\”

Murphy and Pepto Pepermint, by Surely A Pepto and out of Haidas Pepermint, competed in 2011 at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, and were tied for the lead of the Amateur division going into the cow work. Unfortunately, a bad fence work took them out of contention. \”We definitely had a screwup. I watched a lot of people while I was there and got some videos of different people – like Boyd Rice – and when I came home I worked to change his style and do an overhaul on him. It worked,\” he said.

Murphy\’s parents, Eugene and Maria Murphy, own Pepto Pepermint, and were on-hand to cheer him on. \”I thank my parents for all their support. I\’m lucky that they help me do this and I get to go to the big shows,\” he said. \”I also thank Boyd Rice, Robbie Boyce, John Swales, Brad Peterson, the people I came with, and everyone else who has helped me.\”

Rhoda Rein, of Watkins, Colorado, marked the high cow work score for the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Novice Non Pro divisions with a 146. She was riding her horse, Dig My Peppy Steps, and won $975. Dig My Peppy Steps is by Diggers Rest out of Pep In My Step.

Clovis, California, Non Pro Tish Wilhite finished as the Non Pro Reserve Champion with a 428 composite, and collected $1,966. Wilhite was riding Smokin My Cash, by Smokums Prize out of Cash My Lean. She received a Gist Silversmiths buckle, a monogrammed jacket from Circle Y Ranch, and a $50 gift certificate from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies.

Lorna Neel, of Millsap, Texas, took the Reserve title in the Intermediate Non Pro and Novice Non Pro divisions on Tex Me A Pepto. Neel and Tex Me A Pepto, by Zezes Pepto Cat and out of Texas Switch, marked a 422.5 to win $1,024 in the Intermediate Non Pro and $341 in the Novice Non Pro. She was also presented with two Gist Silversmiths buckles and two monogrammed jackets from Circle Y Ranch.

The Amateur Reserve Championship went to Carolyn Edson and Daphne Doo Right with a 408.5. Edson, of Anacortes, Washington, took home a Gist Silversmiths buckle and a monogrammed jacket from Circle Y Ranch, as well as a check for $1,175. Daphne Doo Right is by Chex My Freckles out of Little Dolly Mac.