Press Release

July 17, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

East Meets West in Shootout

Winner-take-all competition pits division cutting champions

(Fort Worth, TX) ¾ It wasn't the OK Corral, but the competition was smoking during the Sean Ryon NCHA Eastern-Western Shootout at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, July 17.

Held during the National Cutting Horse Association's 2001 Summer Spectacular, finalists qualified for the event by capturing their respective division championship during the Chevy Trucks NCHA Eastern-Western National Championships staged earlier this year in Jackson, Mississippi, and Ogden, Utah. One finalist advanced to represent either the Eastern or Western division in the Shootout that features the 11 cutting divisions offered by NCHA.

"This is one of NCHA's more fun and exciting events," said Clay Murray, NCHA director of marketing. "It brings a wider scope to our sport by allowing those competitors who enjoy cutting as more of a weekend sport to compete at a national level and for significant purse money."

Taking the win for the Western division in the Junior Youth competition, for youth age 13 and under, was Fredericksburg, Texas, cowgirl Ryan Michelle McCarty. Riding Shortys Scatcat, Ryan bested Alexandrea Landry of Youngsville, Louisiana, with a score of 221.In Senior Youth competition, J.R. Cook of Ormond Beach, Florida, scored a 214 on Playful Son to capture the title for the Eastern Division against the West's Edwin Christensen aboard Leans Camp Boss.

Kim Chamberlain scored a 224 in her bid to take the Non-Professional title aboard Pegis Play Pretty. Representing the Western Division, the Skull Valley, Arizona, native bested Tim May riding Hey Little Jude for the East. In the $20,000 Non-Professional division, Trey Hall of Highland City, Florida, scored one for the East by posting a 224 aboard High N Fancy to take the win from challenger Mary Kate Brehmer of Paso Robles, California, and Docs Cowboy Logic. Hall also took the win in the $50,000 Amateur competition by scoring a 218 on the same horse against Chamberlain.

The $10,000 Amateur win was captured by Grantsville, Utah's Mandy Williams for the West aboard Docs Smokin Bandit besting the East's Sandy Brannon of San Antonio, Texas, riding Montanas Mark by a score of 213.

Novice competition kicked off with the $10,000 Novice/Non Pro as Patsy Chamberlain, also of Skull Valley, Arizona, scored a 216 riding Bits N Hickory to take the win from Tim May of Saltillo, Mississippi, riding Ar Boon River. In the $10,000 Novice, Fort Worth, Texas, cutter Bobby Norris was declared the winner with a score of 217 riding Tari Pines For You against Guy Woods of Pilot Point aboard DJ Tracker. Robert Rust of New Ulm, Texas, riding Little Hickory Jane with a score of 214 over Gainesville, Texas' Teddy Johnson aboard Spooks Joe, took the $3,000 Novice. Rust was also the winner of Open competition aboard Rosies Lena when he scored the highest score of the day, marking a 229 over Dewayne Stamper of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, riding Sweepin Cow.

Winners in the competition took home a custom Sean Ryon saddle along with $700, with runner-up receiving $450 and a breast collar. Youth winners earned $250.

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

-30-