(Fort Worth, TX) — Representatives from 52 NCHA affiliate clubs made their way to beautiful Ogden, Utah, to compete at the 2001 Chevy Trucks / NCHA Western National Championships. After 9 days of cutting at the Golden Spike Arena, the Northwest Cutting Horse Association was on top of the heap with 1,575 points. American Quarter Horse Association Regional Representative Clark Parker was on hand to make the check presentation on behalf of the AQHA, and NWCHA President Harland Radomske was the gracious recipient of a check for $7,500 and an AQHA trophy in recognition of the affiliate's achievement.

Jeff Hooper, the Executive Director of the National Cutting Horse Association, gave his utmost approval of the new program. "We feel the inaugural AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge has been a tremendous success. We give a lot of the credit to the show's growth to the AQHA and the Affiliate Challenge program. If gives people another great reason to participate because they can help their NCHA affiliate organization earn significant cash awards."

Portions of the American Quarter Horse Association's $27,000 were distributed to the top ten placing affiliates. From first place through tenth, they were: 1 - Northwest CHA with 1,575 points for $7,500; 2 - Idaho CHA with 1,245 points for $5,000; 3 - Arizona CHA with 1,205 points for $4,000; 4 - Montana CHA with 1,010 points for $3,000; 5 - Utah CHA with 955 points for $2,500; 6 - Canadian CHA with 935 points for $1,000; 7 - Pacific Coast CHA with 775 points for $1,000; 8 - Central Utah CHA with 665 points for $1,000; 9 - South Dakota CHA with 595 points for $1,000; 10 - Wyoming CHA with 575 points for $1,000.

In a continuing trend, entries for the 2001 Chevy Trucks / NCHA are up 6 percent from last year's numbers. At final count, this year's Ogden, Utah, cutting will host 631 entries, as opposed to last year's 595. In addition to the overall increase in entries the NCHA has been experiencing as a whole, one new program developed by the NCHA and the American Quarter Horse Association has added a whole new level to competition at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships. The program is called the AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge, and it was designed to provide greater structure and a "team" concept to the NCHA National Championships. The Western Nationals were held April 27 - May 5 at the Golden Spike Arena in Ogden, Utah.

The nature of the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships is traditionally competitive, yet fun for the whole family at the same time. The AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge program enhanced that spirit by awarding points for both participation and excellence of performance.

The NCHA and Horsecity.com have developed an interactive, educational site about the sport. Visit and learn more at www.horsecity.com/NCHAcutting/nchacutting.shtml. For more information about the sport of cutting, the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships, the AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge, or the National Cutting Horse Association, please contact the NCHA at 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.