The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) and the National Western Complex of Denver, Colo., have reached an agreement to host the NCHA Western National Championships presented by 6666 Ranch in Denver, April 28-May 9, 2014. It has previously been in Reno, Nev., and Ogden, Utah.
“This is a great development for NCHA as it works to satisfy members who face long travel distances and geographic challenges like mountain ranges to reach the competition,” said NCHA Executive Director Jim Bret Campbell. “While NCHA did not solicit bids for the Western National Championships, interested parties were welcome to submit proposals. We appreciate the hard work by the committees representing Reno and Denver, who were the final contenders for the bid, and count it a compliment to our sport that both cities were eager to have the Western National Championships be a part of their event lineups.”
Campbell said the NCHA Executive Committee has established a plan to rotate the event between a Midwestern (Denver or similar) and a Western location over the next four years to address those challenges. In addition, the Executive Committee will continue to investigate hosting three national championship shows; however, the committee elected to rotate the shows on an annual basis in the short term to accommodate the greatest number of NCHA members.
NCHA members have until Nov. 10 to qualify to compete in the Eastern Nationals to be held in Jackson, Miss., and the Western Nationals. Qualification requires that an entry fee be paid and the rider rides to the herd in the event in which they wish to qualify. A total of $200,000-added is offered at each event, along with a significant prize package that includes RooHide saddles, Gist Silversmith belt buckles, Joey Jemison chaps, 5 Star Equine saddle pads and Platinum Performance and Lubrisyn products.
