August 7, 2001

First Champions of 2001 Show Crowned Dallas Cuts In Fort Worth, Keller In Cow Horse, Speedy Trio Takes Penning

Fort Worth, Texas - The first World Champions of 2001 were crowned last night inside the John Justin Arena during the AQHYA World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas. The show began Sunday and the first round of finals was held Monday night.

Dallas Logan of Kechi, Kansas, captured top honors in cutting aboard her 1988 black gelding Little Badger Tivio. Logan scored a 217.5 making her the first world champion of 2001. Kaci Ann Kizer of Pine Bluff, Arkansas took reserve honors with a score of 216. Kizer was aboard her 11 year-old-gelding Tinas Badger. Taking the third spot was Waterloo, Nebraska resident Edward Hunter Straub aboard Shortys High Brow, owned by Drs. M.J. & Sue Christensen.

Cee Nifty Cash, a 5-year-old brown mare ridden by Fayetteville, Tennessee resident Jessicah Keller smoked 14 other competitors, scoring a 420.5 in Working Cow Horse and taking home the World Champion belt buckle. Keller also rode Crews Girl, an 8-year-old daughter of Peppy San Dial to a third place finish in Working Cow Horse with a score of 415. Taking the reserve spot with a score of 417 was Gage Bredfeldt of Dodge City, Kansas. Bredfeldt was the 10-year-old gelding Bayberry Freckles.

In Team Penning, one of the fastest growing disciplines in American Quarter Horse competition, the team of Crecelius, Davis and Saggione penned three steers in blistering time of 30.190. Crecelius of Springfield, Tennessee, was riding 9-year-old Docs Smookin Jay; Davis, a resident of Auburn, Kentucky, piloted 19-year-old Jiffy Prescription; and Moken, Illinois resident Saggione rode 6-year-old Peppys Hickorysap.

Tuesday's competition includes preliminary competition for barrel racing, pole bending, stake racing, western riding and western horsemanship. Finals competition will be held for calf roping, breakaway roping, team roping (heading and heeling) and showmanship at halter. Horse bowl competition, which tests the knowledge of young people on the horse industry, AQHA rules and a variety of other related topics also takes place Tuesday.

Tuesday evening, AQHA Corporate Partner Wrangler will present a free concert with country music sensation Ricochet. The six-member group has earned the Academy of Country Music's "Top New Vocal Group of the Year," and is renowned for their six-part harmonies. The concert will take place at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in the Amon Carter Roundup Inn beginning at 8 p.m.

The AQHYA World Championship Show is the world's largest championship horse show for youth. Held annually in Fort Worth, Texas, the show will crown 30 champions throughout the week.

Complete coverage of the AQHYA World Championship Show, including photos and video recaps can be found at www.aqha.com. The show continues through Saturday, August 11.

For questions, photos or media assistance, contact AQHA's media relations room at 817-336-6923.