2013 AZ Fall Championship Begins Today, Watch Now On Live Feed!

By: Brittany Bevis

Earlier this year, many exhibitors were saddened to hear of the discontinuation of the Scottsdale Classic. The event drew top riders from across the nation to the idyllic desert WestWorld complex for fun in the sun, intense competition, and entertaining social events. While the era of the Classic has passed, the spirit of the show lives on through an innovative new format and impressive $300 all inclusive show fee.

The 2013 Arizona Fall Championship kicks off today in Scottsdale with a special event trail and western riding show that will start the inaugural event in style. Beginning at 8:00 am in the Equine Chronicle Arena is the Special Event Western Riding portion of the show. Meanwhile, over in Arena 5A, Special Event Trail will be taking place. The action will continue Thursday through Sunday with a full slate of AQHA classes which will culminate in a Championship Round with four judges for a total of six AQHA shows during the event.

A unique feature of this new show format is that all awards and added money will be paid out during the Championship Round. Overall Champions will receive a beautiful, embroidered, leather bomber jacket, and All Around Champions will take home a pair of Rod Patrick Boots, a Cinch shirt, and a pair of Cinch jeans. Embroidered outerwear will be given to those exhibitors placing second through fifth in all AQHA novice, youth, and select classes. Additionally, “Vendor Bucks” will be awarded in all AQHA classes for those placing first through sixth under each judge.

Judging this inaugural AZ. Fall Championship are Bruce Army, Elizabeth Baker, Tonya Brown, Brett Clark, Brian Dygert, Jessica Gilliam, Clay MacLeod, Russ Smith, John Tuckey, Jennifer Thompson, and Michele Pearson.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Fall Championship is the $300 all inclusive show fee which includes a stall, all eligible classes at six AQHA shows, option to participate in warm-up Western Pleasure and Hunt Seat classes, entry into the added money classes and NSBA futurities, and AQHA drug testing fees. Furthermore, there are no additional fees for the added money classes, and the prize monies will be paid out on the placings of the four judges in the Championship Round.

Added money classes are as follows.

• NSBA 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure $5,000 Added- Sponsored by Rusty Green Show Horses
• NSBA 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure – Limited Rider- $1,000 Added-Sponsored by Platinum Partners
• NSBA 3-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure $500 Added- Sponsored by Buddy Fisher Performance Horses
• NSBA 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure $2,000 Added- Sponsored by T & L Quarter Horses
• NSBA 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure – Limited Rider- $1,000 Added-Sponsored by Sabrina Janis
• AQHA Green Western Pleasure $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Mike Hawkins Performance Horses
• AQHA Novice Amateur Pleasure $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Nancy Chapman
• NSBA 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Kimberly Lloyd Wright
• AQHA Green Hunter Under Saddle $2,000 Added- Sponsored by Equine Mega Omega
• AQHA Amateur Horsemanship $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Evans Performance Horses
• 3-Year-Old Trail Futurity $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Sarah Faught Performance Horses
• AQHA Amateur Trail $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Campbell Show Horses
• AQHA Novice Amateur Trail $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Nancy Chapman
• AQHA Select Amateur Trail $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Campbell Show Horses
• AQHA Green Trail $2,500 Added- Sponsored by Jill Newcomb Performance Horses
• AQHA Junior Trail $2,000 Added- Sponsored by Dawning Performance Horses and Kelly McDowall Quarter Horses
• AQHA Green Western Riding $2,000 Added- Sponsored by Brendan Brown Performance Horses and Roberts Ranch
• AQHA Amateur Reining $2,000 Added- Sponsored by Cinch Jeans and Shirts
• AQHA Novice Amateur Reining $1,000 Added- Sponsored by Debbie Cooper Performance Horses
• AQHA Select Amateur Reining $1,000 Added
• Green Horse Reining $5,000 Added

If you can’t make it out to Scottsdale for this inaugural event, the show will be streamed live on HorseShowGlobal.com. Stay tuned for results and photos from the show.