For Immediate Release March 15, 2001

Robert Rust on a Roll With Wins as Open and Reserve Champion in $3,000 Novice Horse Division

Riding Little Hickory Jane, owned by Susan Stoval of Cuero, Texas, Robert Rust claimed the $3,000 Novice Horse Championship at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships at Jackson, Mississippi. Little Hickory Jane won the class with an impressive 222-point score.

"This mare is pretty green," said Rust of the 5-year-old Smart Little Lena mare. "We got lucky and cut two super cows. I think she'll just get better and better as she gains experience."

Rust carried away the Reserve Championship in the same class riding his own mount, Huggs Olena with a score of 221. Rust and Huggs Olena had already impressed the judges earlier in the day with a Co-Reserve Championship in the $10,000 Novice Horse class.

About six-year-old Huggs Olena, Rust said, "She has tremendous amount of style and is very athletic."

The Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championship competition will continue daily beginning at 8AM and culminate with the Non-Pro and Open Finals beginning at 8AM on Saturday, March 24. The competitors at this event have qualified to participate through the affiliates or regional cutting competition. More than 900 entries will be vying for more than $90,000 in cash and prizes.

The NCHA Celebrity & Media Cutting is slated for 7:30PM, Friday, March 23 at the Mississippi Fairgrounds and Expo Center. Participating in the Pro-Am style competition are former Dallas Cowboy Jay Novacek, World Champion All-Around Cowboy Dave Appleton, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, MISS 103 morning DJ Rick Adams and Jackson's Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Wanda Wilson. A new John Deere LT 166 Lawnmower will be given away to one lucky fan in attendance after the competition.

Additionally, a drawing for the years-use of a three horse-neck gooseneck Sooner Trailer will highlight the annual Catfish Fry being held at the Trademart Building on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.

Lucky prize winners, Tom and Malinda Moore, of Onsted, Michigan, will be driving away in their brand new Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Duramax Diesel Truck compliments of NCHA title sponsor Chevy Trucks. The competitors' names were drawn on Thursday evening, March 15 at the Taste of Mississippi, hosted by Governor and Mrs. Ronnie Musgrove and the MDA Division of Tourism.

For more information contact the NCHA media office at (601) 948-0511 or visit NCHA's website at www.nchacutting.com