JUNIORS TIGHTEN CINCH AND COME CUTTIN’!
When Courtney Sokol rode to the herd in the Junior Finals Tuesday afternoon, she had winning on her mind. Courtney, the daughter of cutting horse trainer Corky Sokol and his wife Sandy of Brenham, Texas, drew 8th out of the 19 horses making the Junior youth finals. The draw placed her next to last in the first bunch of 9 horses, but drawing that late in a bunch of cattle didn’t bother Courtney.
Riding Dox Time N Again, a gelding owned by Gary Janacek, Courtney showed she cuts with a heart of steel. For 2 ½ minutes she and the gelding moved with lightning-quick speed holding 3 different cattle that didn’t have a chance at returning to the herd. The run, earning a whopping score of 225, blistered her competition and would have challenge any open cutter.
Prior to Courtney’s run, James Alan Carter and Patrick Stull marked scores of 220, with Carter’s score later upgraded to a score of 221. Neither of those scores, however, commanded 2nd place. The reserve champion was still to come in the 2nd bunch of cattle.
Drawing 3rd in the 2nd bunch, Justin White, son of trainer Jon White and his wife Ellen of Chappell Hill, Texas, also came to cut. Showing Shaboon, the family’s 18-year-old gelding, Justin performed a dazzling run that earned him a score of 221.5 and the reserve championship title.
The youth even started on Sunday, July 16 when a total of 75 junior youth, ages 13 years and under competed in the first go-round of the 2000 John Roberts and Cole McGee Memorial Scholarship Cutting. The highest scoring 19 youths competed Tuesday, July 18 in the finals.
For her outstanding run, Courtney won a gift certificate for a pair of Tony Lama boots, a Gist Champion trophy buckle sponsored by Allsups Convenience Stores, $1000 scholarship sponsored by Kelly Scharr, a gift certificate for a Stetson hat and an M.L. Leddy’s saddle sponsored by Horsemen for Christ.
White, as reserve champion, won a gift certificate for a pair of Tony Lama boots, a Gist belt buckle sponsored by Gist and an $875.00 scholarship and those placing 3rd through 10th earned scholarships ranging from $750-$250. All finalists from 3rd –19 won belt buckles donated by the John Roberts and Cole McGee Memorial Fund.
The junior youth cutting was a part of the John Roberts and Cole McGee Memorial Scholarship Cutting and Convention held during the 18-day NCHA Summer Spectacular. The Summer Spectacular, now under way at the Fort Worth Will Rogers Coliseum, will continue through July 30. Daily go-rounds are free beginning each morning at 8:00 a.m.
Other divisions still to compete during the Summer Spectacular include the 5 & 6-year-old non-pro and amateur competition, the 4-year-old open, non-pro and amateur competition, the Sooner Trailer/NCHA Day Workoff, and the Sponsors Cutting. 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.
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