News from NCHA, December 19, 2000

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURITY WRAP-UP

2000 NCHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURITY ENDS WITH RECORD SCORE;

KATHY DAUGHN AND ROYAL FLETCH TAKE CROWN IN STYLE

Fort Worth, Texas ---Veteran trainers and riders of the cutting horse industry know that with three-year-old cutting horses, anything can happen. For anyone watching, or participating, in this year's National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas, the proverbial "anything" can and did happen… Kathy Daughn and Royal Fletch, a three-year-old stallion by Jae Bar Fletch, rode into the herd during the pressure packed and prestigious Open Division Finals, cut three cows, and walked out with a record setting, crowd stunning score of 229… enough to set an all-time NCHA Futurity record and certainly enough to win this year's Open Futurity Championship Crown.

Daughn, of Weatherford, Texas drew fifth in the second group of twenty finalists for this year's Open Championship, held Sunday evening, December 10 at the historic Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth. Daughn and Royal Fletch never waivered, picked three great cows to cut, and walked away from the herd with the most rousing ovation of the night. When the score was posted, Daughn threw her hat in the air and welcomed the applause from the standing room-only crowd who were greeted with a score of 229, an all-time NCHA Futurity record high score and enough to clench this years Open Division title and the $200,000 prize.

This year's NCHA Futurity was the largest and richest ever held. A total of 1,509 entries in Open, Non-Professional and Amateur competition met at Will Rogers Coliseum to begin competition on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, with the event running through Sunday, December 10. This year's total purse of more than $2.8 million, including $300,000 in added money from the City of Fort Worth, the Fort Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, eclipsed all previous records.

The annual NCHA World Championship Futurity is one of the equine world's premier events, and marks the competitive debut for the nations' top three-year-old cutting prospects. In addition to top cutting competition, the annual Futurity event includes horse sales, highlighted by the annual NCHA Select Futurity Sale, the Cowboy Christmas Extravaganza Trade Show and numerous special events.

NCHA's extensive network of corporate sponsors help, in part, to fund the event and add excitement through extra promotional programs. Among the key sponsors which helped host this year's event were Chevy Trucks, Sam's Club, John Deere Co., Sooner Trailers, Acco Feeds, MBNA, M.L. Leddy's, Cowboy Tack, American Airlines, Professionals Choice, Gist Silversmiths, Cinch Jeans, Nutramax, the Fort Worth Star Telegram, KSCS Radio, the American Quarter Horse Association, E Z Cool, Texas Bank, Barnmaster, Edward H. Bohlin, Weatherford National Bank, American Country Countdown, Radio Shack, Homewood Suites, Stetson Hats, and Great American Insurance Companies.

Taking the 2000 Open Futurity Championship marked the second such win for Daughn, a California native who now resides in Weatherford, Texas. She won the Futurity crown in 1985 aboard The Gemnist. This year's Champion, Royal Fletch, by Jae Bar Fletch and out of Royal Blue Dually, is owned by the Royal Fletch Partners, of which Kit Moncrief is a principle, based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Justa Smart Peanut and Faron Hightower held on for the Reserve Open Championship, with their second high score of 224.5, also an outstanding performance. Justa Smart Peanut, owned by Dean Sanders of Anderson, Texas, is by Smart Little Lena and out of Justa Swinging Peanut.

In the Non-Pro Division, Lachlan Perks of Rockford, Illinois rode Stella Starlight almost to perfection to claim the Non-Pro title. Stella Starlight, a mare by Grays Starlight and out of Torsion Girl, is owned by Lach and his wife Jan. The duo scored 224 in the final round to claim the win.

The Non-Pro Reserve Championship went to Janet Westfall, scoring 221 aboard CD Royal. By CD Olena, CD Royal is out of Boons Royal Uno, and is owned by Janet and husband Russ, who reside in Los Olivos, California.

A cool-handed Mark Pearson of Spearman, Texas piloted Flo Little Lena through a great two weeks, culminating with the Championship honor aboard his horse in the Amateur Division. Pearson and Flo Little Lena scored 220 points to win the title. Taking the Reserve Amateur title was Kathleen Hauenstein riding her horse, Swinging Miss Gin to a score of 216 points.

In the Limited Open Division, Rodie Whitman of Acampo, California rode Starlight Warrior to the crown. Starlight Warrior, owned by Dean and Marcia Rebhuhn of Woodinville, Washington, scored 221 to best the field of ten finalists in the division. The Reserve Limited Open title went to Darren Simpkins of Weatherford, Texas riding Shortys Cyndi Lena, owned by Jerry Durant, also of Weatherford.

The Limited Non-Pro class was won by Miss Five Across, owned and ridden by Scott Ferguson of Hempstead, Texas. The duo scored 222 points to claim the title. Taking Reserve honors in the Limited Non-Pro Division was Julie McCloud, riding Smart Peptolena to a score of 220. Smart Peptolena is co-owned by Julie and her husband, Tim, of Weatherford, Texas.

The 2000 NCHA World Championship Futurity seemed a fitting debut for this

year's three-year-old class. Many of the horses from this year's Futurity will continue with show careers in the cutting industry for years to come, and many of tomorrow's stars were no doubt seen in one of the many sales surrounding this year's Futurity event. This marked the 39^th annual NCHA World Championship Futurity, which has been held in Fort Worth since 1967.

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the National Cutting Horse Association was founded in 1946 to preserve the cutting horse's Western heritage and standardize rules for cutting competition. Today, the NCHA has more than 13,000 members through the U.S. and 22 other countries, and oversee more than 1,400 events annually, with more than $23 million in prize money awarded each year.

For more information, or complete results from this years World Championship Futurity event, visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com, or call NCHA

at 817-244-6188.

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