News from NCHA, December 1, 2000

World Championship Futurity

CELEBRITY CUTTERS CUT IT UP FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Fort Worth, Texas ---- The stars saddled up tonight for a great cause in Fort Worth, Texas. Tonight was the celebration of the annual Celebrity Cutting event, benefiting Fort Worth's Cancer Care Services and NCHA's Cutters In Action Charities. Six celebrity personalities teamed up with cutting legends and youth cutters to put on a great show and raise more than $100,000 for Cancer Care Services, a volunteer group which provides much needed monetary support for cancer patients in Tarrant, Parker and Hood counties.

Barry Corbin's "Barrys' Bunch" team led the way with a combined score of 449 points. Cutting with Corbin, a favorite western TV and film star, were cutting legend Buster Welch and youth member Jill Farmer. Welch marked a 153, to become the highest scoring legend, while Farmer also marked a 153 to put the team on top.

In second place was the team led by Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. "Walton's Wranglers" racked up a total of 436 points, including a 134 by Walton, a 147 by legend member Pat Jacobs, and a stunning 155 by Megan Mowery, the youth representative of the team. Mowerys' score was the highest marked by any of the youth cutters, aboard the nice mare Some Kinda Memories, winner of the NCHA Futurity in 1997.

The other celebrities participating and their team members were: recording star Tanya Tucker and "Tanya's Top Hands," including legend Sam Wilson and youth member Luke Bouget; One half of the Brooks & Duo, Kix Brooks with "Kix' Kutters," including legend Jim Lee and youth representative Nikki Sokol; "Lynns' Lone Star Gang," with country music legend Lynn Anderson, cutting legend Sonny Braman and youth cutter Courtney Sokol; former Dallas Cowboy football great Jay Novacek, leading "Jay's Cowboys" with legend John Carter and youth cutter Lauren Middleton.

The annual Celebrity Cutting drew a large and enthusiastic crowd this year, and was followed by a party and auction, with all proceeds benefiting Fort Worth's Cancer Care Services and NCHA Charities.

On behalf of Cancer Care Services, NCHA and all of those persons benefiting from tonight's performance, a big thank goes to all of the celebrities, legends and youth members along with sponsors, judges, arena help and the many volunteers who helped make this year's event a success.

The annual Cancer Care Celebrity Cutting is just one of the highlight events within the annual NCHA World Championship Futurity agenda. Futurity action continues through Sunday, December 10, with a total purse this year of more than $2.8 million available to the nation's top three year-old cutting horses. For complete up to date Futurity results and schedule, click on Futurity Schedule at the NCHA website homepage, www.nchacutting.com.

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