Press Release

July 26, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Clay Murray - 817-244-6188 (817-781-0883 cell)

Stage Set For Tough Derby Non Pro Semi Final

Finals to be held July 29

(Fort Worth, TX) ¾ Non-professionals riders squeaked through the second round competition during the National Cutting Horse Association's Summer Spectacular Derby competition held Thursday, July 26. Riding four-year-old horses in this competition, non-professionals make up the bulk of NCHA competitors across the country.

Requiring a cumulative score of 423 after two rounds to make the semi-finals, which will be held Friday, July 27 at Will Rogers Coliseum, the top five riders scored better than 430 to make their threat for the championship.

Leading going into a clean-slate semi-final is Janet Westfall riding CD Royal Russ, owned by Janet and her husband, Russ, of Los Olivos, California. With a score of 218 in the second go added to her first round score of 213 for a cumulative 433, Westfall is one of the favored riders having captured the reserve championship of the 2000 NCHA Futurity. Dub Leeth of Cleburne, Texas, riding Agardiente, who scored a cumulative 431.5, follows Westfall. Also scoring a 431.5 is Jo Ellard of Pilot Point, Texas, riding Goran. Starlight And Jazz, ridden by Carol Dewrell of Gulf Breeze, Florida, is holding the fourth position with a 430.5, while Smart Little Glo, owned and ridden by Benjie Christian Neely of Lyons, Georgia, is holding onto the fifth spot with a 430.

Cutting action continues through July 29 with the finals of the Derby Non Pro and Open to be held Sunday, July 29. Admission is free during all go-round competition that begins each day at 8 a.m. at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth.

For up-to-date scores, information and streaming competition video, go to www.nchacutting.com.

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