(Fort Worth, TX) — What could be better than winning a class at the 2002 National Cutting Horse Association Summer Cutting Spectacular? Well, if you are a youth competitor and you happen to earn the winning score in the National Youth Cutting Horse Association Scholarship Cutting, a $2,500 scholarship is the answer.

This year's Senior Youth Champion is Hilary Hightower of Bluff Dale, Texas. Hilary is the daughter of Faron and Sumer Hightower. Hilary, 15, won the junior youth scholarship at the Summer Cutting Spectacular in 1999, and has been in the NCHA Youth Top Ten since 1997. She has been riding horses and cutting for 11 years. Today, she rode Jack Ruby owned by Mary Cavanaugh of Parker, Texas to a score of 225 points and the win.

Tatum Rice of Spearman, Texas, earned the reserve champion title and a $2,250 scholarship with a 223.5-point work on his favorite cutting horse, Jazzy Olena. Tatum, 16, is the son of Boyd and Halee Rice, and has been riding horses and cutting all of his life.

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.