NCHA News

Langston Pattillo’s 222-point score aboard High Stylin CD, on the first day of the Metallic Cat NCHA Summer Spectacular Classic Challenge Non-Pro go-round, held through the last day of first go-round competition, and was never topped. But four riders on the last day of the 137-rider go-round gave spectators a “finals worthy” thrill with four 220-point scores in near succession, during the last set of the day.

Carly Chiarelli and Olive Martini laid down the first 220-point score, as fourth to work in the 14-rider set. Next came Chelsea Tatum, seventh to work on Bobs Smart Rey; followed by Julie Jarma, ninth to work, riding Hott Heels; and Paula Wood, eleventh to work, aboard Open first go-round winner Cool N Hot.

Carly Chiarelli and Olive Martini LTE $116,986, by Metallic Cat, won the 2018 NCHA Classic Challenge Non-Pro Limited with 222 points. Chiarelli, who lives in Poolville, Tex. and is the NCHA earner of $307,643, also won the 2009 NCHA Classic Challenge Amateur riding Lil Peppys Advantage LTE $130,973. 

Six-year-old Olive Martini, who placed third under Megan Miller in the 2017 NCHA Derby Non-Pro, is a half-sister to Miss Martini Play, the dam of Copaspepto LTE $417,440 and Stylish Martini LTE $361,920, among 11 earners of over $1.1 million out of Miss Martini Play. 

Chelsea Tatum and 6-year-old Bobs Smart Rey LTE $150,515, by Dual Rey, have won six major limited age events and placed second in four others, including 2019 Non-Pro Limited championships in the Breeders Invitational; the NCHA Super Stakes Classic; and the Arbuckle Mountain Classic. Tatum, the NCHA earner of $145,915, is from Overbrook, Okla.

Among her many limited age event championship wins, Julie Jarma has claimed the 2012 and the 2104 Brazos Bash Classic Non-Pro titles on SS Blacks Lil Kitty and Shortful, respectively, as well as the 2014 Abilene Spectacular Classic Non-Pro on SDP Hydriven Hicapoo; the 2008 NCHA Derby Amateur with Crazy Rey; and the 2010 Cattlemen’s Derby Amateur on Short Scootin. Jarma, who lives in Whitesboro, Tex., is the NCHA earner of $432,884.

Five-year-old Hott Heels LTE $73,520, by Hottish, most recently placed as 2019 Breeders Invitational Open reserve champion under Lloyd Cox, and qualified with Cox for Thursday’s Classic Challenge Open Finals.

Paula Wood, Stephenville, Tex., the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $2,476,719, is one of the sport’s all-time leading non-pro money earners. An NCHA Non-Pro World Champion and many times Non-Pro World Championship contender, Wood won the 2012 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro on Donas Suen Boon $425,911, a mare she bred, and a half-sister to 2018 NCHA Horse of the Year Cool N Hot LTE $320,143.

Cool N Hot, sired by Hottish, won four major Open championships in 2018, including the NCHA Super Stakes under Kobie Wood, Paula’s husband. Earlier this year, Paula Wood showed Cool N Hot to win the Abilene Spectacular Classic Non-Pro title.

The Summer Spectacular Classic Challenge Non-Pro continues on Wednesday with the second go-round, featuring 68 riders who qualified with 213 points or higher from the first go-round.