FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANOTHER TITLE FOR BONELLI AND ‘FLO
She’s back! And once again she’s collecting checks. Sandy Bonelli and her record-setting mare, Shakin Flo, cover girls on the Summer Cutting Spectacular program as last year’s Classic/Challenge Open champion will be back on the cover again next year. Why? On Friday, July 21, the pair performed another winning run, this time in the 2000 Classic/Challenge Non-professional division.
Since Bonelli drew 3rd out of the 34 finalists vying for the title, she set the pace for the cutting almost from the start. Bonelli cut 3 cows with plenty of sting for Shakin Flo, and the pair worked their first and second cow in with brisk, precision-style movements. When Bonelli returned to the herd for her 3rd cow, 40 seconds remained on the clock.
It was that spectacular moment when Bonelli put her hand down on her 3rd cow that makes a cutter shake his head in awe. With 16 seconds left on the clock, Shakin Flo performed her famous quiver in anticipation of the cow’s next move, almost daring her to take a step toward the herd. The judges rewarded the run with a brilliant score of 225 to seal their victory in stone.
Bonelli has a string of championships. Among her NCHA titles are the 1997 Futurity Champion, the 1998 Super Stakes Non Pro Champion, 1999 NCHA Super Stakes Classic Non pro Champion, the 1999 NCHA Classic Challenge Open Champion and the NCHA Classic Challenge non-pro reserve champion.
For the new star in her crown, Bonnelli won a check for $16,344, a Gist trophy champion buckle, a Cowboy Tack Handwoven blanket, a Stetson Hat Certificate and a Jim Reno Limited Bronze.
Past non professional world champion Paula Wood and Pappion Cat drew 6th in the second bunch of cattle and performed their own superior work, coming the closest to upsetting Bonelli’s lead with their score of 222. Wood took home a check for $15,627.00, Cowboy Tack stirrups and the Gist reserve championship buckle.
The 34 finalists were the top-marking horses from 151 entries in the non-professional Classic/Challenge go round. They were vying for a part of the $211,610 purse.
The NCHA Summer Spectacular, a go-round and finals event for 4, 5 & 6 year-old horses, kicked off July 13 at the Fort Worth Will Rogers Coliseum. During the 18-day show, which will end July 30, over 1000 competitors will compete for more than $1,200,000.
In the first week of competition, competitors showed 5 &6 year old horses. Four-year-old horses, with open competitors, non-professional competitors and amateur competitors showing them will be featured July 22-July 30. Daily go-rounds are free beginning each morning at 8:00 a.m. The ticketed finals performances on July 29 and July 30 are only $5.00 for general admission and $8.00 for reserved seating.
For more information on the NCHA and The Summer Spectacular, call (817) 244-6188 or visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com.