(Fort Worth, TX) — Roy Carter and Smart Lil Scoot moved straight to the top at the 2002 National Cutting Horse Association Summer Cutting Spectacular. After leading the way into the Classic/Challenge Open finals with the high combined score after the first two go-rounds, the returning Super Stakes Classic/Challenge team found victory again this afternoon in the Summer Spectacular Classic/Challenge Open.

Smart Lil Scoot, owned by S& S Farms of Shreveport, Louisiana, is a stallion sired by Smart Little Lena. Professional golfer Hal Sutton is one of those "S's." Smart Lil Scoot's sporting background does not stop there, either. Trainer and rider Roy Carter was a professional bull rider before he got serious about training cutting horses. As the favorites going into today's finals, the pair had their work cut out for them, but met the challenge with a crowd-pleasing work the judges awarded with 224.5 points. The Champions received a check for over $46,000 in addition to arms full of awards from NCHA sponsors.

The 2002 Summer Cutting Spectacular Reserve Champion was Starlight Angelina, ridden by Terry Clifford. The Grays Starlight stallion is owned by Julie Christensen of Burbank, California. Clifford and Starlight Angelina were the first to walk into the herd in the finals class of 34, and held the lead with 220 points until Smart Lil Scoot's work as 32^nd in the Classic/Challenge Open.

The 2001 Summer Cutting Spectacular four-year-old Champion Nu I Wood and rider/trainer Matt Gaines tied for third place with Hfl Haidas Hickory and Tim McCloud with 219.5 points each. Nu I Wood is a Zack T Wood mare owned by Crystal Creek Ranch of Aledo, Texas. Hfl Haidas Hickory is a gelded son of Haidas Foxy Lady, owned by Dub & Christy Leeth of Cleburne, Texas.

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.