Paula Wood, NCHA’s Non-Pro World Champion in 1993, marked 229 Wednesday night to win the second round of the Mercuria Energy NCHA World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas. Wood, who had shown fewer times than any of her fellow Top 15 contestants at the end of the regular season, rode eight-year-old Donas Cool Cat, by High Brow Cat.
“I never rode a horse any better than her,” said Wood, a Non-Pro Hall of Fame rider with career earnings of $1.5 million. “That horse makes you think you’re invincible. She’s just so athletic and gritty. I’ve ridden her for awhile and we know each other, so that makes a big difference, too.”
Wood’s score was a high mark for her career, and it gave her an 11.5-point lead over Wade Rust for the World Finals show title. In the World Champion’s race, Elizabeth Queen picked up $1,282 on Sister CD to stretch her lead to $9,765 over seven-time World Champion Mary Jo Milner who is breathing down her neck in second.
Here’s a look at the second round of the Non-Pro World Finals:
| Score |
Rider | Home | Horse | Earned | 2009 $ |
| 229.0 | Paula Wood | Stephenville, TX | Donas Cool Cat | $6,410 | $48,096 |
| 222.0 | Wade Rust | Gordon, TX | Aljerita Annie | $5,128 | $36,077 |
| 221.0 | McKenzie Mullins | Gordon, TX | Belles N Bullets | $3,846 | $41,747 |
| 219.0 | Dan Hansen | Weatherford, TX | Neverey | $3,077 | $29,973 |
| 215.5 | Steve Norris | Colorado Springs, CO | Freckles Royally Doc | $2,564 | $30,730 |
| 214.0 | Joe Howard Williamson | Archer City, TX | NutN Buta Houndog | $2,051 | $39,730 |
| 211.0 | Elizabeth Queen | Lipan, TX | Sister CD | $1,282 | $80,422 |
| 211.0 | Kate Gaughan | Las Vegas, NV | Instant Again | $1,282 | $33,131 |
| 210.0 | Julie Hansma | Weatherford, TX | Al Poocino | $30,313 | |
| 198.0 | Mary Jo Milner | Southlake, TX | Show Biz Ben | $70,656 | |
| 197.0 | Karen Hansen | Weatherford, TX | Woody Be Lucky | $27,619 | |
| 189.0 | Kathy Boone | West Columbia, TX | OneSmartOne | $28,475 | |
| 60.0 | Jessica McMakin | Sour Lake, TX | Lenas Star Acre | $24,971 | |
| 0.0 | Don Boone | West Columbia, TX | Lights on Hickory | $29,497 | |
| 0.0 | Janet Westfall | Los Olivos, CA | Jeeps Posi Traction | $27,781 |