FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the NATIONAL CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION

CONTACT:  Amy Vorhes 817-683-7807

 

Benjie Neely / Fritzs Doc Finale top Jackson $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro finals

Win makes second big placing for Georgia cutter at 2001 Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships

 

(Fort Worth, TX) — Benjie Neely's first trip to the Chevy Trucks/National Cutting Horse Association Eastern National Championships since a youth competitor in the early 90's has been a good one. First, trainer Austin Shepard placed her mare, Missis Trona, second in the $3,000 Novice finals on March 14. Then Neely qualified two of her horses for the finals of the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro. But the high point of all for the dedicated rider was winning the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro class on Saturday, March 16.

Neely, of Lyons, Georgia, comes from a family that is highly-involved in the sport of cutting. Her NCHA lifetime earnings have surpassed $475,000. Fritzs Doc Finale was the horse that got it done for Neely in the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro finals class. The horse's career earnings previous to the Jackson show were $36,590. The other horse that Neely qualified for the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro finals was Tronas Little Cowboy. They finished 14th in a class that began with 105 entries. All of Neely's horses qualified to compete at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships through the Mississippi CHA, and that affiliate received points for the AQHA Affiliate Challenge program for her success.

Thanks to the tremendous support of NCHA's sponsors, Neely will go home with great prizes, as well, including an NCHA trophy, two Gist buckles, a Cowboy Tack saddle blankets, a Cowboy Tack breast collar, two Walls jackets embroidered by Chevy Trucks, and lots of Cinch Jeans gift certificates.

The cutting event will take 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.

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 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.