ARIZONA RIDERS MEET WITH SUCCESS AT THE NCHA WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OGDEN, UTAH by Cheryl Lenox

Patsy Chamberlain after a challenging ride off in the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro class finishes Reserve Champion on Bits N HickoryPatsy Chamberlain after a challenging ride off in the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro class finishes Reserve Champion on Bits N Hickory

Kim Chamberlain should be smiling after winning Championship titles in the $50,000 Amateur and Non-Pro classes on Pegis Play Pretty

Drew Dunham returned to Ogden on Tari Pines For You to defend his 2000 championship title winning Reserve Champion for 2001

The NCHA Chevy Truck Western National Cutting Championships was held in Ogden Utah on April 27th to May 6th. Arizona was well represented by the following qualifying exhibitors: Scott Raftery, Jim Simpson, Bill Murphy, Dan Manning, Cheri Raftery, Chris Johnson, Kim Chamberlain, Norma Hanks, Shelley Bird, Cathi Cox, Terri Smith, Larry Cox, Bob De Phillips, Heather Raftery, Nina Hardin, Bill Ray, Dave Schuff, Patsy Chamberlain and Al Dunning.

In the Junior Youth class Heather Raftery made the finals on her horse Shortys Reward and ended up tying for 6th/7th place with a score of 210.5. Heather made the Arizona contingent proud as she carried the Arizona flag in the NCHA Youth parade of states.

Kim Chamberlain made the finals on Jae Bar Trick in the Senior Youth class and ended up 12th in the finals. Kim was having a great run, but lost a cow in the last 2 seconds and had to settle for a score of 205!

Drew Dunham, returned to defend his 2000 championship title on Tari Pines For You owned by Robert C Norris. He had an outstanding ride in the finals of the $10,000 Novice Horse class and ended up Reserve Champion with a score of 223. Bill Murphy, riding Smart Haida Lena owned by Russ Koppes also made it to the finals finishing in 15th place with a score of 212.

$3,000 Novice Horse rider Scott Raftery, riding Tell Me Ima Fox owned by Andy Val made the Finals and finished in 24th place. Scott also made it to the finals in the Open division on Shortys Reward finishing 15th in that class.

In the $2,000 Rider Class Arizona was represented by Larry Cox riding Riolena Man. Larry qualified for the finals and made all of us extremely proud when he took home 3rd place with a score of 214.5 (it took two teenage girls to beat him!!!). It was said that Larry got that extra half point that made the difference due to screams from the Arizona crowd! Larry received a beautiful belt buckle. Norma Hanks took home 12th place on Carl Crawford, which earned her a premium check (this was after her horse pulled a "hi ho, Silver" routine at the In-Gate!!).

In the $10,000 Amateur class Bill Ray, riding Smoke a Peppymint, finished 8th in the Finals with a 208.5 ride. Bob DePhillips also made it to the Finals on Peppys Hoo Do and finished in 12th place, which earned him a premium check. Nina Hardin made it to the finals on Smart Power Playboy, finishing 23rd.

Dave Schuff rode in the $20,000 Non-Pro class on Peppy Go Lightly and qualified for the Finals, finishing in 12th place, for a nice premium check..

$10,000 Novice/Non-Pro rider Patsy Chamberlain, on Bits N Hickory, gave everyone a thrill in the Finals as she rode to Reserve Champion after a ride-off with another tying score of 218.5.

Kim Chamberlain returned again to wow the crown with her 1st place victory riding Pegis Play Pretty to a 225 score in the $50,000 Amateur class. This win followed her win in the 1st Go Round with a score of 224!! As if this was not enough, Kim returned to ride in the Non-Pro class and again proved unbeatable as she took 1st place riding Pegis Play Pretty to a score of 223 (talk about consistent!!!). In an interview after her ride Kim gave credit to Al Dunning and Don Dodge for her successes. Kim said of the cutting legend Don Dodge, "Don is the master!". Patsy Chamberlain, Kim's Mother, tied for 7th/8th in the Finals of this class on Dickery Starlight, with a score of 214.5. Chris Johnson, on Oaks Bar Gold, finished 11th for a premium check.

One alarming moment of the show was when Bill Murphy had a new turnback horse fall on him in the parking lot. Bill was found, unconscious with the horse still on top of him, by a passing friend and taken to the hospital. Bill ended up with a broken nose, several broken ribs, and a nasty laceration around his left eye. Fortunately, by the time the show was over on Saturday, Bill was well on the road to recovery and able to help drive his rig home to Phoenix. We certainly all wish him a continued quick recovery!!

Cathi Cox said, "I think I can speak for most of the Arizona cutters in saying that, all in all, it was a wonderful trip, and we should all be very proud of the showing accomplished by our Arizona cutters." Congratulations to everyone who rode for Arizona in Ogden!