(Fort Worth, TX) — The second phase of the 2002 National Cutting Horse Association's Summer Cutting Spectacular for the Classic/Challenge Non-Pro division is complete. Mary Ann Rapp and Janet Seago are the first of eight ladies in the top spots of the class.

Rapp, from Weatherford, Texas, has $1,256,473 in NCHA earnings prior to the Summer Cutting Spectacular. Seago, of Claremore, Oklahoma, has $222,749 in NCHA earnings to date.

Rapp's horse, Playin CDs is a gelded son of CD Olena. Their combined scores of 220 and 217.5 points from the initial two go-rounds put them ahead of everyone except Seago and her Case Of Freckles mare, Harriott Play Kitty, who scored and 218.5 in the first round and 219 points in the second.

Robert Ballard of Lake Jackson, Texas, riding his Smart Little Lena mare, Smart Like Nike, led the first go-round with 221.5 points.

Of the 193 Non-Pro entries that began the competition for five- and six-year-old cutting horses, just 31 earned the right to compete in the clean-slate finals by accumulating 432.5 points or more from the first two rounds. The Classic/Challenge Non-Pro finals will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 16.

The 2002 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular will take place July 9 - 28, 2002, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The Summer Cutting Spectacular is the third portion of NCHA's Triple Crown of Cutting, which are limited age events beginning with the Futurity in December, the Flowmaster Super Stakes in April, and concluding with the July Summer Cutting Spectacular.

Thanks to the support of the Emison Insurance Agency and the Insurance Corporation of Hannover, added money for the 2002 Summer Cutting Spectacular will reach $221,000.

Among a host of insurance services provided worldwide, the Insurance Corporation of Hannover writes policies for livestock mortality through agent and NCHA member Ben Emison. ICH is a niche, special-program insurance company that carries a rating of "A" from A.M. Best rating services, and are the fifth largest reinsurer in the world. Currently, ICH insures roughly 20,000 horses ranging from miniature breeding animals to cutting horses to Grand Prix jumping horses.

During the 20 full days of cutting at the 2002 Summer Cutting Spectacular, special events like the youth scholarship cuttings, the East/West Work-offs, the Sponsors cutting and the Sooner Trailer/NCHA Day Work-off offer something for everyone involved with NCHA cutting. Plus, there will be lots of great shopping next door to the cutting at the Coors Light Trade Show.

Awards for class finalists and champions will be presented by NCHA sponsors including Cowboy Tack, Gist Silversmiths, M.L. Leddy's, Cinch Jeans, Sean Ryon Western Store and Saddle Shop, Walls, Stetson, Sooner Trailers, and KO Trading.

For a schedule of events at the 2002 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, hours for the Coors Light Trade Show, to learn more about the sport of cutting, how to get tickets for the finals, or for more information about the sport of cutting, please call the NCHA office at 817-244-6188 or visit our website at www.nchacutting.com.