NCHA World Finals Awards winners PG Heavily Armed and James Payne
The awards for this year's NCHA World Finals will be presented at three ceremonies at this year's show. Previously, all winners were honored at one ceremony at the conclusion of the event. Last year, PG Heavily Armed and James Payne were celebrated as the World Finals Open Champions. • Photo by Molly Montag.

NCHA World Finals Awards to Be Presented Nightly

Winners at this year’s 7 Ranch National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Finals will be recognized during multiple receptions during the show. The association says changing the NCHA World Finals awards is part of its commitment to recognize weekend cutters.

The association announced on its NCHA World Finals Facebook page that award winners and champions of this year’s World Finals will be honored during a total of three ceremonies – an awards ceremony and reception on Dec. 5, an awards ceremony and reception the afternoon of Dec. 7 and a final celebration off all things weekend cutter on the evening of Dec. 7.

That’s a change from the way NCHA World Finals awards were presented and its champions were honored in the past. Previously, all winners were honored at one ceremony at the conclusion of the show.

Celebration Of The Weekend Cutter

The final ceremony on Saturday night — named the Celebration of the Weekend Cutter — will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Round Up Inn at Will Rogers Memorial Center. The event is designed to honor the achievements of all NCHA World Finals champions, as well as celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of weekend cutters.

In addition, the awards for the Non-Pro and Open world champions, whose finals are scheduled for earlier that evening, will be official by then and able to be presented at the ceremony.

Everyone — World finalists, friends, family and well wishers — is invited to experience live entertainment, food and enjoy the ceremony.

Free Food & Fun

The awards ceremonies in Watt Arena will be complimented by receptions with free food in the NCHA Hospitality Room, as well as happy hours with free wine and beer. World championship awards also will be on display.

The World Finals show, which is held in conjunction with the NCHA Futurity, runs Nov. 29-Dec. 7 at the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the conclusion of a year-long effort by the finalists.; only the top 15 money-earning competitors in each division qualify to participate in the World Finals. 

Last year, PG Heavily Armed and James Payne won the Open World Finals Show Championship. The Non-Pro World Finals went to Elizabeth Quirk, who rode her mare, Cat Sheree, during the finals at Will Rogers.

Celebration Schedule

The 2019 World Finals celebration schedule, according to the NCHA:

* 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5 in Watt Arena: Celebratory refreshments to honor the champions in the $25,000 Novice; $35,000 Non-Pro; $5,000 Novice Non-Pro and $2,000 Limit Rider. Happy hour starts at 5 p.m.

* 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 in Watt Arena: Celebratory refreshments to honor the champions in the $5,000 Novice; $50,000 Amateur; $25,000 Novice Non-Pro and the $15,000 Amateur. Happy hour starts at 2 p.m.

* 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 in the Round Up Inn: The Celebration of the Weekend Cutter will honor all NCHA World Finals champions, and celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of the weekend cutters. In addition, the final champions to compete at the show — Open and Non-Pro, which concluded earlier that evening — will receive their awards.

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