2011 Augusta Futurity Wrap-Up

PHIL RAPP Futurity Open Champion riding SMOOTHE BYE DESIGN

4-YEAR-OLD NON-PRO NICHOLAS JOHNSON, 215.0, riding ITCH MY STYLIST CAT, owned by Lisa and Jamie

32nd ANNUAL AUGUSTA FUTURITY
ATTRACTS 283 ENTRIES
FROM 17 STATES
 AND AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL AND CANADA

 AUGUSTA, Ga. — The 32nd annual Augusta Futurity ended Saturday, Jan. 29, in James Brown Arena with PHIL RAPP of  Weatherford, Texas,  winning the top Futurity Open title riding SMOOTHE BYE DESIGN to a score of 221.5 and earning $11,321.

The stallion is owned by Smoothe Bye Design Ltd.  The win marked Rapp’s 11th Augusta Futurity championship and his fourth Futurity Open championship.

In the same night, NICHOLAS JOHNSON of Benson, N.C., captured the Futurity Non-Pro title riding ITCH MY STYLISH CAT to a score of 215.0 and earning $11,441.  The mare is owned by Lisa and Jamie Johnson.

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The largest cutting horse event east of the Mississippi offered a total purse of $363,859 with contestants coming from 17 states as well as Australia, Brazil and Canada.  Georgia and South Carolina tied for having the most entries from a single state with each having 51.  Texas placed second with 47.

The show also saw its second international champion when Filipe Resende Barbosa of San Paulo, Brazil, won the $100,000 Amateur 4-Year-Old category riding Calm Cool Smooth to a score of 214.0.

“In many ways, we’ve had one of the better shows we’ve ever had,” said Show Manager Pete May.  “It was a compact show [with the main action in four days]. It was fun.  We had great runs, great riders and great cattle.

“We were all disappointed --- as well as everybody with the economy being what it is --- that not as many cutters participated this year but that is happening with shows all across this country. We just have to get through these tough times until the good times come back.  But the show was great!”

During the event, Augusta Futurity champions were crowned in eight main categories.  There also was a winner of the Area 18 Youth Scholarships competition featuring contestants from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Detailed coverage can be found at augustafuturity.com and HorseCity.com. 

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE WINNERS:

4-YEAR-OLD FUTURITY OPEN

CHAMPION: PHILL RAPP, Weatherford, Texas, 221.5, riding SMOOTHE BYE DESIGN, owned by Smoothe Bye Design Ltd.
RESERVE CHAMPION:  AUSTIN SHEPARD, Summerdale, Ala., 216.5, riding ACATBEQUICK, owned by Elizabeth Brumbaugh. 

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4-YEAR-OLD FUTURITY NON-PRO

CHAMPION: NICHOLAS JOHNSON, Benson, N.C.,  215.0, riding ITCH MY STYLIST CAT, owned by Lisa and Jamie Johnson.
           RESERVE CHAMPION: ARMANDO COSTA NETO, Binhal, Brazil, 214.0, riding SMOOTH DOX, owned by Armando Costa Filho.
   
5/6-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC OPEN

          CHAMPION:  SAM SHEPARD, Verbena, Ala., 228.0 riding DEES MR CHARLES, owned by Edley Hixson.
          RESERVE CHAMPION: PHIL RAPP, Weatherford, Texas, 221.0, riding DONT LOOK TWICE, owned by Waco Bend Ranch.

5/6-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC NON-PRO

          CHAMPION: RAY BALDWIN, Fort Worth, Texas, 220.0 riding CATLIKE KIT, owned by Baldwin.
RESERVE CHAMPION:  JASON McCLURE, Hayesville, N.C., 219.0, riding TAMA BOON, owned by McClure.

$100,000 AMATEUR 4-YEAR-OLD

          CHAMPION: FILIPE RESENDE BARBOSA, San Paulo, Brazil, 214.0, riding CALM COOL SMOOTH, owned by Barbosa.
          RESERVE CHAMPION:  JIMMY HOLLOWAY, Carrollton, Ga., 210.0, riding WILD ARISTO CAT, owned by Shannon and Jimmy Holloway.

$100,000 AMATEUR 5/6-YEAR-OLD

          CHAMPION:  HARRISON PERRIN, Houston, Texas, 217.5, riding WIN A KITTY, owned by Harry Perrin.
RESERVE CHAMPION:  DOUG IRVIN, Hollidaysburg, Penn., 216.0, riding TRAVALIN TR, owned by Wendy and Doug Irvin.

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$50,000 AMATEUR ANY AGE

          CHAMPION:  ZACHARY KNOWLES, Springfield, Tenn., 219.0, riding GLOWS, owned by Craig Knowles.
          RESERVE CHAMPION: DOUG IRVIN, Hollidaysburg, Pa., 216.0, riding REY BANS, owned by Wendy and Doug Irvin.

$35,000 NON-PRO ANY AGE:

          CHAMPION:  HARRISON PERRIN, Houston, Texas, 218.5, riding GENUINE BET, owned by Harry Perrin.
          RESERVE CHAMPION: SUSAN DUNNE, Clinton, N.C., 216.0, riding OH CAY STARLIGHT, owned by Dunne.

AREA 18 YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS

          CHAMPION:  CHISHOLM CLARK, Fountain Inn, S.C., riding SWINGING TIL FIVE, 221.0
          RESERVE CHAMPION: NICOLE SUTTON, Cleveland, Ga., riding TENINOS LITTLE REBEL, 220.0

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