Houston, Texas (February 19, 2000)- Meradas Little Sue owned by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt of Houston, clinched the National Cutting Horse Association Open World Championship Title during the third go-round of the 1999 John Deere World Championship Finals.

Ridden by trainer Kobie Wood of Stephenville, the duo scored a 227, tying for the highest score of the go-round with Smart Like Tachita. However, this first place go-round score and payout secured their lead over Play Who, owned by Lonnie and Barbara Allsup of Clovis, New Mexico, who is currently in second place for the World Title.

Meradas Little Sue and Play Who entered the finals with just over $12,000 between them. With only one night left to go in the finals, it is mathematically impossible for Play Who to take the lead. Meradas Little Sue added $3258 to their earnings for a total of $71,497.34. Play Who has total earnings of $54,519.81.

Smart Like Tachita, owned by Tom and Nancy Loeffler of San Antonio and ridden by Faron Hightower of Bluff Dale, advanced from their initial 9^th place standing to the 6^th place position with total earnings of $30,105.95.

Jim Cogdell of Tulia continued his quest to win the average of the John Deere World Finals in the Non-Pro division scoring an outstanding 229 for the highest score of the night aboard his gelding Work Smooth. Cogdell, who currently sits in third place in the overall standings, is also the lead for the average.

Three-time Non-Pro World Champion Debbie Patterson of Tecumseh, Oklahoma was the second highest scoring Non-Pro rider aboard Gun Smokes Wimpy during the third of four nights of competition. Less than two points separate Cogdell and Patterson for the average.

After a grueling year of hauling around the country and strenuous cutting horse competition, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Championship Title comes down to four nights at the John Deere World Championship Finals presented by Delta Air Lines, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the NCHA.

Obtaining a place in the World Finals is the dream of every weekend-cutter, and is the final pay-off to the long hours and hard work dedicated the sport after an arduous year of competing in many of the 1,400 NCHA approved shows held annually around the world.

The John Deere World Finals is a by-invitation-only event, where the top 15 non-professional riders and open division horses come together to compete for top money and the championship, promising fierce cutting competition as well as an exceptional display of athletic skill and agility.

As the final event of the NCHA point year, and having an added purse of $100,000, the results of the finals can be a determining factor in the naming of the year-end champions. Total money earned for the year is added to the money earned at the finals and the John Deere World Champion is then crowned in both the non-professional and open classes.

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