The 39th annual Augusta Futurity ended Saturday, Jan. 20, in James Brown Arena with new champions in the 4-Year-Old Futurity Non-Pro and 5/6-Year-Old Classic Open finals night competitions.

RAY BALDWIN of Fort Worth, Texas, riding DONTT SAY A WORD, owned by Waco Bend Ranch, tied with KAITLYN LARSEN of Millsap, Texas riding LITE SWITCH, owned by Billy Martin, for Co-Champion of the Futurity Non-Pro event with a score of 215.5.

SASHA THOMPSON of Buffalo, Texas, riding THOMMO, owned by Craig and Sasha Thompson, placed as Reserve Champion with  214.5. 

BRETT McGLOTHLIN of Perrin, Texas, became Champion of the 5/6-Year-old Classic Open competition riding SOMETHINGTOBELIEVEIN, owned by Brett and Jody McGlothlin, to a score of 224.0.

Jody at the 2017 Augusta Futurity show placed as Reserve Champion on the same horse in the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro competition.

TATUM RICE of Weatherford, Texas, placed as Reserve Champion in the 2018 5/6-Year-Old Classic Open event riding HASHTAGS, owned by Hashtag Ventures LP, to a score of 221.5.

The largest cutting horse event east of the Mississippi River offered a total purse of $510,881 which includes $40,000 in Stallion Stakes Incentive money with the 550 entries coming from 23 states as well as Canada and Italy. Texas had the most entries with 140 while Georgia placed second with 95 and South Carolina placed third with 63.

During the eight day event, champions were crowned in eight main categories. There also was a winner of the Area 18 Youth Scholarships competition featuring 11 contestants from Georgia and South Carolina.

The Mercuria/NCHA Open and Non-Pro competition also returned to the Augusta show with the prize money and accumulated points attracting riders from Texas and other states.

Special events also added to the excitement and fun of the show including NCHA members only Non-Pro and Open cutting, Western theme vendors, the Stallion Stakes Incentive program and Wrangler Family Fun Fest held indoors for the first time this year.

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE WINNERS:

4-YEAR-OLD FUTURITY OPEN

CHAMPION:  CHUBBY TURNER of Weatherford, Texas, riding WANNA DUAL owned by J Five Horse Ranch Management, 220.0

RESERVE CHAMPIONS (TIE):  MATT GAINES of Weatherford, Texas, riding METALLIC DRIFTER owned by James Vangilder, 217.5

GABE REYNOLDS of Vine Grove, Ky., riding CR SISTER TUFF owned by Shawn & Lisa Minshall, 217.5

FUTURITY NON-PRO

CHAMPIONS (TIE):  RAY BALDWIN of Fort Worth, Texas, riding DONTT SAY A WORD,  owned by Waco Bend Ranch, 215.5

KAITLYN LARSEN of Millsap, Texas, riding LITE SWITCH,  owned by Billy Martin, 215.5

RESERVE CHAMPION: SASHA THOMPSON of Buffalo, Texas, riding THOMMO owned by Craig and Sasha Thompson, 214.5

5/6-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC OPEN

CHAMPION: BRETT McGLOTHLIN of Perrin, Texas, riding SOMETHINGTOBELIEVEIN, owned by Brett and Jody McGlothlin, 224.0

RESERVE CHAMPION: TATUM RICE of Weatherford, Texas, riding HASHTAGS, owned by Hashtag Ventures LP, 221.5

5/6-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC NON-PRO

CHAMPION: CADE SHEPARD of Summerdale, Ala., riding CHRISTY HUGHES, owned by Austin and Stacy Shepard, 222.0

RESERVE CHAMPION: JUDY ROGERS of Rockdale, Texas, riding PRETTE PRETTE PLEASE, owned by Jonathan and Judy Rogers, 216.5

4-YEAR-OLD UNLIMITED AMATEUR

CHAMPION: BARNEY MAC SMITH of Maryneal, Texas, riding SJR SMOOTH COWGIRL, owned by Smith, 218.0

RESERVE CHAMPION: DENNIS LEVERING of Cottontown, Tenn., riding WHISKEY DRINKIN GIRL, owned by Levering, 210.0

5/6-YEAR-OLD UNLIMITED AMATEUR

CHAMPION:  AMANDA STANDISH of Baton Rouge, La., riding CR IM COUNTIN STARZ, owned by Rhein and Amanda Standish, 219.0

RESERVE CHAMPION:  BARNWELL RAMSEY of Huntersville, N.C., riding BET SHEZA MARKA, owned by Ramsey, 217.0

$50,000 AMATEUR ANY AGE

CHAMPION: RHEIN STANDISH of Baton Rouge, La., riding COUNTIN ON STELLA, owned by Rhein and Amanda Standish, 220.5

RESERVE CHAMPION: KATIE FEHRMAN of Lincolnton, Ga., riding ATHENAMILLIONARE, owned by Fehrman, 219.0.

$35,000 NON-PRO ANY AGE

CHAMPION: KAYLYN HUGGINS of Barnwell, S.C., riding SWOOP THAT REY, owned by Huggins, 219.0

RESERVE CHAMPION:  MARY MICHAEL BRITT of Seven Springs, N.C., riding DONTREYONMYPARADESF, owned by Jason Britt, 217.0

MERCURIA OPEN

CHAMPION:  GAYLON WELLS of Sulphur springs, Okla., riding TIME TO HANGEM, owned by Victoria Johnson, 224.0

RESERVE CHAMPION:  PHIL RAPP of Weatherford, Texas, riding DON'T STOP BELIEVIN, owned by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, 220.0

MERCURIA NON-PRO

CHAMPION:  MADALHYN COLGROVE of Boligee, Ala., riding ONE CATTY CUPID, owned by Joel M. Colgrove Sr., 220.0

RESERVE CHAMPION:  LINDY ASHLOCK of Abilene, Texas, riding LITTLE MISS ONE TIME owned by Wes and Lindy Ashlock, 219.0

AREA 18 YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP CUTTING

CHAMPION:  KATHERINE QUEEN of Allendale, S.C., riding CLAYREYCIOUS owned by Skip and Elizabeth Queen, 221.0

RESERVE CHAMPION: JOEY VARNADORE of Appling, Ga., riding REYMINATE owned by Joey Varnadore, 218.0