Jace Henry gambled that his 6-year-old mare Starbert Opinion was equal to the task of heading and heeling in Saturday's National Team Roping Horse Association event in Abilene.

The 20-year-old Arkansas roper won the Non-Pro Heading class, winning $1,020. Henry came back later during the windy, dusty day in the Taylor County Expo Center Covered Outdoor Arena and won $1,125 for first place in the Amateur Heeler class.

Henry is classified as an amateur with the NTRHA because he has not won more than $25,000 in his roping career. A roper can opt to rope up to another classification but cannot drop down into a lower classification.

Henry's proud of the horse. He bought her as a 2-year-old and has raised and trained her. He said he's had some inquiries about the sale of the mare but isn't ready for that.

Henry has been riding just about all his life. He tried his hand at saddle bronc riding in high school but would rather reach out with a rope.

He is excited about the possibilities of the NTRHA and hopes to take his mare to the 6 and 7-year-old Futurity in June in Denver, Colo. A Futurity for 5-year-old horses will be held in Tulsa next April.

Kevin Hancock of Fallon, Nev. probably won the long distance award for the NTRHA weekend. And he plans to make the trip to Rancho Murieta, Calif. next weekend.

He won the Non-Pro Heading and Heeling classes in Glen Rose with his 5-year-old Gelding paint horse Dox Tommy Tucker.

He is a welder when not on the road showing his horse or roping in local events. Fallon is about an hour's drive east of Reno, Nev.

He has $3,100 to show for his first trip to Abilene.

Saturday results

Non-Pro Header (rider, hometown, horse, score, money)

1. Jace Henry, Mount Vernon, Ark., Starbert Opinion, 534.54 points, $1,020; 2. Mark Northcutt, 527.53, $680; 3. Kevin Hancock, Fallon, Nev., Dox Tommy Tucker, 527.53; 4. Tommy Houston, Bluff Dale, Sky Chief, 523.84; 5. Bruce Nixon, Kingbury, Faithful Fox, 516.27; 6. Cary Chambers, Tuttle, Okla., Bossy Lil Bonita, 270.1.

Non-Pro Heeler (rider, hometown, horse, score, money)

1. Kevin Hancock, Fallon, Nev., 541.0 points, $1,560; 2. Randy Lewis, Abilene, Shorty, 523.03, $1,040; 3. Klancey Breaux, Mount Vernon, Ark., Tee J Tari Misty, 513.98; 4. Cary Chambers, Tuttle, Okla., Bossy Lil Bonita, 267.72; 5. Mark Northcutt, Dennis, Smokin Roach, 260.57; 6. Farren Carpenter, Inola, Okla., Zan Jack Showdown, 259.94; 7. Randy Lewis, Abilene, Lenas Red Peppy, 0.0.

Amateur Header (rider, hometown, horse, score, money)

1. Dave Kontz, Wolfforth, Brennas Nifty Harley, 532.13 points, $1,312; 2. Jennifer Albright, Dennis, Bucks Little Zero, 530.26, $787; 3. Bruce Nixon, Kingsbury, Faithful Fox, 528.35, $525; 4. Dale Drulinger, Cross Plains, Sky Fury, 528.31; 5. Herman Rose, Pettus, Zans Willy Drifter, 519.78; 6. Jace Henry, Mount Vernon, Ark., Starbert Opinion, 519.26; 7. Julio Ochoa, Justine, Bar Lenas Last, 507.02; 8. Robyn Fox, Santa Anna, Cody Bracket, 492.82; 9. Rick Sherwood, Wilson, LDL Ozzie, 485.3; 10. Tommy Houston, Bluff Dale, Sky Chief, 459.45; 11. Thomas Hicks, Abilene, Zippo King Royal, 266.33; 12. Jennifer Albright, Dennis, Wamps Two Timer Boy, 265.8; 13. Cary Chambers, Tuttle, Okla., Bossy Lil Bonita, 0.0.

Amateur Heeler (rider, hometown, horse, score, money)

1. Jace Henry, Mount Vernon, Ark., Starbert Opinion, 531.44 points, $1,125; 2. Broan Buchanan, Dennis, Playin Quixote, 527.05, $750; 3. Klancey Breaux, Mount Vernon, Ark., Tee J Tari Misty, 623.91; 4. Cary Chambers, Tuttle, Okla., Bossy Lil Bonita, 271.94; 5. Farren Carpenter, Inola, Okla., Zan Jack Showdown, 265.85; 6. Jake Lowery, Silver City, N.M., Rileys Ripped Zipper, 254.21; 7. Kenny Hague, Hamilton, Playgirl On Deck, 0.0.