CZECH CRI – Lukas Jirak once again in the finals

The Czech qualifying show for the 2005 World Reining Masters finals was held on 12th August in Nova Amerika.

A total of nine horse and rider combinations from Czech Rep., Slovakia and Poland entered the show, which was judged by Sylvia Katschker and Klaus Fock (Austria).

Lukas Jirak aboard his 7-year-old mare SR Sweet N Low (Yo Sugar Par x Par Tozan) placed the bar high by scoring 142 as the first entry. Lukas showed good transitions, nice and cadenced spins and finished with correct stops. This clean run earned him the first place in Czech CRI. But there was a lot of excitement until the end of the show. Klara Salkova almost matched Lukas’ score. With her 8-year-old stallion Smart Chiconita (Smart Chic Olena x One More Memory) she did big, deep sliding stops and excellent roll-backs – trademarks of this duo. An overspin resulted in a 0,5 penalty from each judge and the final score was 141,5. Irena Machalikova riding April Doc Olena was the last entry to go. She tied for third with Aleksander Jarmula from Poland aboard Miles O Rima. They both showed nice sets of circles and spins thus earning 139,5.

Lukas Jirak and SR Sweet N Low (Photo: Katarzyna Pec)

Lukas Jirak (19) will represent the Czech Rep. in the World Reining Masters finals for the second time. Last year he finished on a respectable seventh place in Open division riding SR Sweet N Low and was fourth in the Restricted division. He is one of the most talented young riders in Czech Republic. Lukas get involved with horses in 2002, after an accident on a motor-bike. He started his reining career in 2003, winning the year-end CZRHA champion title in Youth reining (riding Little Lady Del Maso) and tying for third place during the CZRHA Championship. In 2004 Lukas won the Championship title in Amateur reining during the Western Riding Club of Czech Rep. Championship Show. He also placed fifth in Senior reining. This year he was representing his country at the FEI European Reining Championship in Manerbio, where he earned a 14th place. Among his favourite riders he lists Grischa Ludwig and Rudi Kronsteiner.

1. Lukas Jirak, SR Sweet N Low, 142

2. Klara Salkova, Smart Chiconita, 141,5

3. Irena Machalikova, April Doc Olena, 139,5

3. Aleksander Jarmula, Miles O Rima, 139,5

5. Irena Machalikova, Peppy Golden Scooter, 136

6. Ivan Cernoch, Littles First, 133,5

7. Bogdan Czarnik, My Joy, 129,5

8. Lukas Jirak, Pokeys Easter Star, 129

9. Martin Veternik, Sonniboy Doc Del Maso, 128,5