THE ANNUAL National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity kicks off on Tuesday and the official launch held last week at the Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) confirmed that many of the sport’s biggest names are headed to Tamworth.
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The Futurity will once again draw thousands of competitors from all over Australia and the world, including visitors from America, Canada, New Zealand and New Caledonia who will compete for the chance to take home a share of the $700,000 in money and prizes up for grabs.
This year, international competition will be at an all-time high, with the return of the popular Australia Versus USA Non Pro Cutting Challenge after 10 years.
Former Australian NCHA president and original creator of the popular Challenge, Ian Lavers, is “extremely pleased to see the Challenge coming back again”.
“This event was created back in 1990 and was first hosted in Phoenix, Arizona by our friends of the American NCHA,” he said.
“Since then we had alternated which country hosted it, and have made some amazing and long-lasting friendships in the process.
“Many of our Australian cowboys ventured across the sea to learn cutting way back in those days and they came back as well-known, established cutting trainers.
“They are the foundation of the Australian NCHA and what it is today.”
NCHA general manager Greg Sinclair spoke about the excitement of re-introducing the exciting Non Pro Challenge event.
“We are thrilled to be meeting these American competitors,”Sinclair said.
“The fact that they are making the special trip to come here to compete at our Futurity, flying 17 hours to represent their country, means it is going to be a very patriotic event.
“We have lots of sight-seeing and activities planned for them while they are here. We know they will love our beautiful region as much as we do.”
Tamworth Regional Council acting mayor Russell Webb said the Futurity was a key annual event at the AELEC.
“Tamworth is proud to be able to host the largest indoor equine event in the Southern Hemisphere,” Webb said.
“With more than 500 competitors set to take part in the NCHA Futurity, the event not only boosts the local economy but generates a great atmosphere in Tamworth and provides great marketing opportunities.”
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the NCHA Futurity brings many visitors from outside the region to Tamworth to compete within the “world-class AELEC facilities”.
“I am delighted the NSW Government has secured the Futurity for the next two years through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, ensuring the event continues to deliver significant benefits to the region’s visitor economy,” he said.
Other popular events returning to the NCHA Futurity this year include the Bull Ride and Rodeo, NCHA Select Cutting Horse Sale and the huge Country and Western trade display that fills out the AELEC every year.
The 2015 NCHA Bayer & Shadow Trailers Australia Futurity starts next Tuesday (May 26) and runs through to June 7.
