Posted February 26, 2006

Six NRCHA World Champions Named

The National Reined Cow Horse Association honored the final six of eleven 2005 World Champions February 24. The deciding finals classes took place during the 2006 NRCHA Bayer Legend™ Celebration of Champions at the Lone Star Arena in Stephenville, Texas.

On Friday, Richard Winters of Ojai, California, earned the Limited Open Hackamore World Championship. It became a family event on Sunday when daughter, Sarah Winters won the Youth limited on Another Plan (A Master Plan x My Dually). Sarah, 16, and Richard qualified the same three horses for the World Show.

The Non Pro Limited Champion was from Alabama. Paris Wixon, of Hope Hull, topped the field with a 434.5 on Shine De Chex (Shining Spark x Summer Chex). Paris and the gelding she calls Brownie made it to the World Show last year but the championship eluded them when Paris had a problem with her lead changes. She traveled to Tucson, Arizona, last spring and won the Non Pro Limited class during the NRCHA Stakes, just to prove that she could master the lead changes. With her confidence renewed, Paris came back to Stephenville to win the sought-after World title. .

Patty Ralls, of Lindsay, Texas, posted a 444 to win the Non Pro Hackamore World Championship on Chromium Cowboy (A Chic In Time x Marvelous Miss). Cowboy and Patty won the Non Pro Hackamore World Championship last year and also topped the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro at the NRCHA Stakes.

Californian Mark Matson is the new Open Hackamore World Champion on Smart Little Whizard (Whizard Jac x Smart Blonde Chic) owned by Loren and Debi East of Bountiful, Utah. Mark celebrated his 35th birthday yesterday and confirmed that an NRCHA World Championship was the perfect birthday present. He has worked with Smart Little Whizard since she was a 2-year-old and although she was bred to be a reiner, he knew she would make a top-notch reined cow horse.

In the Non Pro Bridle, Tammy Hays rode Shine Smartly (Shining Spark x Smarty Dressed) to a score of 442 to win the World Championship. Tammy’s husband, Shawn, earned the Open Two Rein Reserve World Championship with Shine Smartly yesterday and the couple hopes to continue the mare’s training with hopes of taking her to the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman in the future.

Ken England traveled from Florida to win the Open Bridle Championship riding Start Me A Tab (Tangys Classy Peppy x War Land Missie) for owner of Tom Warriner of Ocala, Florida. This is Ken’s first trip to the World Show and he and the stallion also made the Limited Open Bridle Finals. Ken dominated the competition with a 445-point run to win the class by six points.

For complete results from the NRCHA World Championship Show, please visit www.nrcha.com. The Celebration of Champions will conclude Sunday with the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman Finals beginning at 9 am.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bailey Hats, Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Reno Hilton, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.