Nov. 28, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Chloe Gray and Kyla Thurlow will compete in the 2007 Adequan North American Affiliate Championships scheduled to take place during the 2007 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from November 22 to December 1, 2007.

Gray (Tampa, Fla.) and Thurlow (Pompano Beach, Fla.) will compete against more than 1,000 entries from Canada, the United States and Mexico. Gray will compete on her own horses in the North American Affiliate Championship Youth 14-18 class. Thurlow will compete in the North American Affiliate Championship Rookie class.

NRHA members qualify for the Adequan North American Affiliate Championships through their respective Regional Affiliate Finals competitions. Each Regional Affiliate Finals will send its four highest placing riders to the Championships in Oklahoma City. Gray and Thurlow qualified at the Eastern Regional Affiliate Finals in Clemson, S.C., the weekend of Sept. 21-23. It is the third time that Gray will advance to the North American Affiliate Championships and the first time for Thurlow.

Gray and Thurlow have competed in reining in every competition for South Carolina this season and are two of only three freshmen to compete in all six competitions. Each has posted the high score for South Carolina in reining twice, with Thurlow’s 74.5 against South Dakota State earning her MVP honors for the event. Gray concluded the fall season with three wins, tying for the most of the fall season in reining.