Lindy BurchA full crowd filled the stands at the El Rancho Futurity on Sept. 14 in anticipation of the Mercuria/National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Series of Cutting finals in Rancho Murieta, Calif. Through all the high scores being posted in the Open finals, it was Louellas Cat and Lindy Burch who bested the competition and took the Championship.
Lindy Burch, of Weatherford, Texas, scored a first-go 221 aboard Louellas Cat. In the finals, they beat their score by six points, and took the Championship with an astounding 227. The win came with $9,387. Burch definitely isn’t a stranger to the winner’s circle, especially at the El Rancho Futurity. She also won the Mercuria Open finals in 2012, and after her recent finals win, she said it felt like she was defending her Championship.
The Mercuria Open Reserve Championship went to ARC Ruby Playgunia and Weatherford, Texas, trainer Matt Budge. They marked a 224 in the finals to earn $7,833.
Non-Pro
Dual Lights and Kylie Knight RiceWith a massive crowd cheering them on, Weatherford, Texas, rider Kylie Knight Rice and Dual Lights won the Mercuria Non-Pro with an impressive score of 228. They bested their previous first-go score by four points, and earned $10,764 in prize money.
Donna Flannigan, of Livermore, Calif., won the Mercuria Non-Pro Reserve Championship with a 222. The Reserve title came with $8,478.
