AAdams 15BBedited

Austin Adams & Pur Tee Top 4-Year-Old Non-Pro in Abilene

AAdams 15BBeditedAustin AdamsDespite the cold temperature and chances for icy conditions, competitors attended the Abilene Spectacular, held Jan. 3-11 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene, Texas, and brought the heat.

In the first and second go-rounds of the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro, Austin Adams, of Poolville, Texas, and Pur Tee continued to stay near the top, marking scores of 215 and 214, respectively. In order to make it to the finals, competitors needed to have a combined score of 427. That wasn’t a problem for Adams and the 4-year-old mare; they were in the clear with a solid 429.

Entering the 9-entry finals as the last draw, Adams and Pur Tee left nothing to chance. They marked a 220 and took the top spot, earning the Championship as well as an $11,000 paycheck.

“This was my first Non-Pro Championship and it was a lot of fun,” Adams said after he picked up his awards. “I believe [Pur Tee] is a very talented horse and I’d like to have a good year on her. She is just really accurate and she felt really good.”

The 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Reserve Championship went to Mary Ann Rapp, of Weatherford, Texas, and Tuned Up To Drive. As the second-to-last team to work in the finals, the duo marked a 218.5 and received a $9,500 paycheck.

5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro

LittleMissOneTime LAshlock 15BBeditedLindy Ashlock & Little Miss One TimeLindy Ashlock and Little Miss One Time might’ve had a slow start in the first go-round of the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro, but the duo picked it up in the second go-round earning scores of 214 and 219, respectively. Their combined score of 433 secured them a spot in the finals.

The duo drew fifth in the 12-entry finals and continued to kick things up a notch. After working their last cow, they marked a sweet 225 setting the bar high for the remaining contestants. In fact, no one could touch Ashlock and Little Miss One Time. The duo had a 4.5-point lead on their competitors and earned the Championship along with a $13,000 paycheck.

“It was awesome. This mare has been really special for a long time, so it feels good whenever I do well on her,” Ashlock said. “My first cow was a black cow and she was pretty soft but good. The second cow, we called her crazy face, we knew she would be a little more cow, so we tried to get her up and away from the herd and [Little Miss One Time] was a lot quicker and right in the middle. Then my third cow was a black cow as well and she was just enough to finish it off.”

Paula Wood, of Stephenville, Texas, and Dona Suen Boon entered the arena following Ashlock and earned the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Reserve Championship, and an $11,000 check, with a score of 220.5.

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