"We feel the inaugural AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge has been a tremendous success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the NATIONAL CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION

CONTACT: Amy Vorhes 817-244-6188 ext. 113

North Mississippi Cutting Horse Association wins inaugural AQHA Affiliate Challenge

Local affiliate's members accumulated 1,730 points for $10,000

(Fort Worth, TX) — By all measures, the first-ever AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge program at the 2001 Chevy Trucks/National Cutting Association Eastern National Championships in Jackson, Mississippi, was a tremendous success. The 979 entries that spent March 12-23 in Jackson were competing for $286,043 with $90,000 added from title sponsor Chevy Trucks. For the first time, though, a team concept added new depth to the competition due to the $27,000 up for grabs in the AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge.

That said, representatives from 75 NCHA affiliate clubs went to Jackson, Mississippi, to compete at the 2001 Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships, making it the most well-attended area work-off show in the history of the NCHA. The most local affiliate of the 75, the North Mississippi Cutting Horse Association, was presented a check for $7,500 by Don Treadway, the Executive Director of Marketing for the American Quarter Horse Association. North Mississippi CHA accumulated 1,730 points through the course of the 12-day cutting.

"AQHA is excited to be a partner in this great new concept of team competition at the Eastern National Championships. We hope the winning affiliates will utilize the funds to grow the sport of cutting at the grassroots level," said Treadway of the first AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge.

Jeff Hooper, the Executive Director of the National Cutting Horse Association, gave his utmost approval of the new program. "We feel the inaugural AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge has been a tremendous success. We had almost 1,000 total entries at this show, making it the biggest Eastern National Championships ever. We give a lot of the credit to the show's growth to the AQHA and the Affiliate Challenge program. If gives people another great reason to participate because they can help their NCHA affiliate organization earn significant cash awards."

"On behalf of the NCHA, we want to thank the AQHA for their support of this program, and thank all the NCHA cutters that made this year's Eastern National Championships such a great event."

Portions of the American Quarter Horse Association's $27,000 were distributed to the top ten placing affiliates. From first place through tenth, they were: 1 - North Mississippi CHA with 1,730 points for $7,500; 2 - Florida CHA with 1,115 points for $5,000; 3 - West Tennessee CHA with 1,095 points for $4,000; 4 - North Texas AQHA CHA with 975 points for $3,000; 5 - Central Michigan CHA with 740 points for $2,500; 6 - Sun Coast CHA with 680 points for $1,000; 7 - Western Oklahoma CHA with 665 points for $1,000; 8 - Mid-South CHA with 660 points for $1,000; 9/10 - Kentucky CHA and Area 18 CHA each with 645 points and $1,000.

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.