Avila Leads World’s Greatest Horseman After the Herd Work, Bridle Finalists Determined

Stephenville, TX - February 24, 2005 - The second-annual NRCHA World Championship Show continued Thursday, February 24, with preliminaries in the Non Pro, Novice Non Pro and Youth Bridle. The World’s Greatest Horseman finals kicked off Thursday evening with the final 10 competing in the Herd Work. Both events are part of the Bayer Legend™ NRCHA Celebration of Champions, which runs through Saturday, February 26, at the Lone Star Arena in Stephenville, Texas.

Nelle Murphy topped the 33-entry Non Pro Bridle preliminaries with a 149.5 riding her talented gelding Bald N Shiney. Other Non Pro Bridle Finalists include: Justin Wright and Mia Gunna Smokum, owned by Walter Wright; Paul Bailey and Dry N Play, owned by Paul and Amy Bailey; Supersonics, owned and ridden by Jennifer Unzicker; No Fat Chics, owned and ridden by Patty Ralls; William Cowan with Cowan Ranch’s Quick Little Cutter; Terry Forst and the Stuart Ranch’s Seven S Genuine Zan; Amy Bailey and Genuine Cross Tie, owned by Paul and Amy Bailey; Jo Anne Carrollo riding Plan To Win, owned by Jim and Jo Anne Carrollo; and Tequila Slide, owned and ridden by Tisha Wilhite.

Non Pro finalists Dry N Play, Seven S Genuine Zan and Genuine Cross Tie also qualified for the Novice Non Pro Bridle finals. They are joined by: Sure A Lenas Jewel, ridden and owned by Jesse Ross; Designer Colonel and Peppys Texas Slide, ridden and owned by Kathryn Klesper; Smart Little Coach, ridden and owned by Stefanie LeGrande; Wright Smart Olena, ridden and owned by Jerry Lee Barger; Harleys My Chic, ridden and owned by Barbara Bergin Nader; and Okie Pokie Letters, ridden and owned by Kayla Irby.

Kalyla Irby also qualified for the Youth Bridle finals, riding both Okie Pokie Letters and Capitol Trouble. She is joined by Mr Mini Macho, ridden and owned by Carter Metcalf; Kylie Knight and Capitol Trouble, owned by Kevin Knight; Justin Wright and Mia Gunna Smokum; Katrina Buss riding Tuxskeeto for Lise Buss; Cute N Cashy, ridden and owned by Gusti Buerger; Kelsey Irby riding Capitol Call for Kayla Irby; TF Montalena, owned and ridden by Paige Eldemiller; and Nin Dee Niner, owned and ridden by Katrina Buss.

In the run for World’s Greatest Horseman, Bob Avila topped the field of 10 finalists with Rhodes River Ranch’s Light N Fine. Avila and the 6-year-old stallion (Grays Starlight x Lenas Fine Freckle) scored a 148 in the herd to lead by two points. World’s Greatest finals continues with the reining and steer stopping Friday evening beginning at 7 p.m.

NRCHA World Championship competition continues at 8 a.m. with the Open Two Rein finals followed by the finals in the Novice Non Pro Bridle, Non Pro Limited, Limited Open Hackamore, Limited Open Bridle and Youth Bridle, as well as the Youth Limited prelims. World Champions will be honored at a brunch Sunday morning during the NRCHA World Championship Awards Banquet at City Limits in Stephenville, Texas.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the 56-year-old 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 Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy, 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.