Kandace Stone, Dublin, Tex., rode Laneys Gotta Player, by Lizzys Gotta Player, to a 222-point win in the NCHA Eastern Nationals $50,000 Amateur Finals, on Saturday, March 14. Katelyn Grace Lawson, Cookesville, Tenn., earned the reserve title with 218 points aboard Boonbay Cat, by High Brow Cat, while Mark Timothy Simpson placed third with 217.5 points, riding Superey, by Dual Rey.
Stone, the NCHA earner of $51,032, and Laneys Gotta Player LTE $34,391 had placed in last year’s NCHA Western Nationals $35,000 Non-Pro and $50,000 Amateur Finals, as well as in the NCHA Classic Challenge 5/6 Amateur Finals. Earlier this week, Laneys Gotta Player also placed fifth with Ben Roberson in the NCHA Eastern Nationals Open Finals, and fifth in the $5,000 Novice.
Seven-year-old Laneys Gotta Player, bred by EE Ranches of Texas, is out of Catalaney, a half-sister to Cat Ichi LTE $238,691, among 17 earners of more than $1.4 million out of Laney Doc $221,332, by Doc Quixote.
Katelyn Grace Lawson, the NCHA earner of $20,361, first showed as a finalist at Jackson in 2014, riding Cats Quick Pick LTE $88,039 in the $2,000 Limited Rider Finals. Since then, she has been a finalist 10 times, including last year, when she showed Boonbay Cat as a finalist in the $35,000 Non-Pro, the $15,000 Amateur, and the Senior Youth. In addition to the $50,000 Amateur reserve championship, Boonbay Cat LTE $64,461 also carried Lawson as a finalist in this year’s Senior Youth LTE $64,461.
Bred by Painted Springs Farm, Boonbay Cat was trained and shown successfully in limited age event competition for them by Brad Mitchell. The 10-year-old gelding is out of Boonbay Smash LTE $125,510, also trained and shown by Mitchell.
In addition to the $50,000 Amateur Finals, Mark Timothy Simpson, Dry Ridge, Ky., also showed his gelding  Superey in this week’s NCHA Eastern Nationals $35,000 Non-Pro and $5,000 Novice/Non-Pro Finals. Seven-year-old Superey LTE $91,756 also placed seventh in the $25,000 Novice Finals with Matt Williams. Mark Simpson is the NCHA earner of $22,589.
Trained by and shown successfully in Open limited age event competition by Wesley Galyean, Superey also earned money as a 4-year-old Non-Pro for Kristen Galyean, and as a 5/6-year-old Amateur under Von Sutten. Bred by Cross Timbers Cutting Horses, Superey, is a full brother to Lil Rattler LTE $338,873, among 22 NCHA money earners of over $1.4 million, out of NCHA Futurity Open champion Highbrow Supercat LTE $364,690.
Check here for complete results from the 2019 NCHA Eastern National Championships.