FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Judy Mayes

817-244-6188

Starring CD And Paul Hansma Takes Super Stakes Gelding Open Finals

Fort Worth, TX (April, 12, 2001)--Parker County resident, Paul Hansma, abroad Starring CD scored a 220 to win the NCHA Super Stakes Gelding Open Finals competition at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. The Gelding Open Finals champion is owned by Danny Motes of Weatherford, Texas. The winner's portion of the $49,438 purse was $10,631.

"It was the second cow that made it for me," said Paul, "I made a last minute decision to switch from a white to a black cow in the herd and that made the run." Hansma has over $2.2 million in NCHA lifetime earnings, while Starring CD has accumulated over $16,000 in NCHA lifetime earnings.

Reserved Champion in the competition was Phil Rapp and his mount Playin CDs with a score of 218. Playin CDs is owned by Rapp and his wife, Mary Anne. Phil is one of the top Non-Pro competitors with NCHA lifetime earnings of over $2 million. Playin CD has lifetime earnings of over $60,000.

Winston Hansma rode Smokin CD which is owned by the Bar H Ranche to a third place finish with a score 217.5 Fourth place honors went to Smart Lil Badger which is owned by the Flying M Ranch with Tag Rice abroad, finishing with a score of 215.5.

The top three finishers in the Gelding Open Finals were sire by top Cutting stallion, CD Olena.

The sport of Cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. "Cutting" horses specialized in their ability to separate or "cut" one cow from a herd of others, for branding, doctoring or shipping. The National Cutting Horse Association was formed in 1946 by a group of cowboys and ranchers, who wanted to promote cutting competitions, have standardize rules and preserve the cutting horse's Western heritage. Today, the Fort Worth based NCHA represents more than 12,000 members in 22 countries and oversees more than 1,400 NCHA-approved shows with more than $22 million in total prize money awarded annually.

The NCHA Super Stakes competition contines tomorrow with the finals of the Limited Open and Non Pro beginning at twelve noon.

For more information, please contact Judy Mayes at 817-244-6188, or visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com