Then halfway through the second bunch of cattle, Tina Russell entered the herd riding Freckles Best Lena. The pair worked three cattle and were rewarded with 217.5 points at the end of their two and one-half minutes in the arena. Russell, Canada and Layton held their respective places of 1-2-2 through the rest of the 26 riders qualified for the $10,000 Amateur finals. The class began with 98 riders who qualified to compete at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships by finishing the 2001 point year in the top ten of their affiliate's $10,000 Amateur class.

Russell, of Wesson, Mississippi, rode for the North Mississippi Cutting Horse Association. Canada, who lives in Yukon, Oklahoma, rode for the Southwest Oklahoma Cutting Horse Association while Layton, of Ada, Oklahoma, rode representing the Western Oklahoma Cutting Horse Association. At the conclusion of the show's seventh day, the North Mississippi Cutting Horse Association is leading the AQHA Affiliate Challenge race with 1,365 points.

The nature of the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships is traditionally competitive, yet fun for the whole family at the same time. The AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge program will only enhance that feeling. The Affiliate Challenge format encourages affiliates to send as many entries as they can to the Jackson cutting. In addition to the individual competition, which will pay out $286,043, all entrants in the show will also compete on behalf of their local NCHA Affiliate. The AQHA will award $27,000 to affiliates at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships, and again at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships.

The prizes awarded to the champions and reserve champions at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships include NCHA trophies, Gist trophy buckles, Cowboy Tack saddle blankets and breast collars, Walls jackets provided by title sponsor Chevy Trucks, and Cinch jeans gift certificates.

The 2001 Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships are taking place at the Jackson, Mississippi, Fairgrounds from March 12-23, 2002. Thanks to all of the added money and the potential to win a championship title in top-end competition, 979 entries were taken for the 12-day show. That number marks a strong increase in last year's numbers.

The City of Jackson, Mississippi, has been home of the Eastern Nationals cutting for 21 years. Past figures credit the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships for bringing an economic impact to the city of $8 million. Additionally, over $4,000 was raised by the NCHA for the Orthopedic Division of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

The NCHA and HorseCity.com have developed an interactive, educational site about the sport. Visit and learn more at www.horsecity.com/NCHAcutting/nchacutting.shtml. For more information about the sport of cutting, the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships, the AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge, or the National Cutting Horse Association, please contact the NCHA at 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.