Nix and Reyl Metallic Rebel Take Home Big Win at Inaugural NCHA National Circuit Championships

Riding Reyl Metallic Rebel (Metallic Rebel x Reyl Smart Dot x Dual Rey), William (Monty) Nix clinched the 2024 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Non Pro National Circuit Championship in the Watt Arena at Will Rogers Memorial Center on Sunday, April 14, 2024. With a score of 221 in the finals, Nix led by two points and earned over $8,000.

A true family affair, Nix, his wife and children all love the sport of cutting and travel to shows together. In fact, they originally bought Reyl Metallic Rebel for his wife, Madeline.

“My kids are hauling trying to make the top 15 this year, so we came out here a week early, went to Whitesboro to let them show and I brought that gelding out here. I originally bought him for my wife, but she didn’t click with him like I did, so I just started hauling him,” Nix said. “We all compete as a family. I have to thank Madeline, my kids (Maddy, Clay and Tag), Jessie Pritchard and my mother and father in law (Becky and Clay Collins). We couldn’t do it without the Lord or our entire team. Somebody’s got to stay and look after the ranch while we haul the kids up and down the road.”

Nix does not take winning the National Circuit Championships lightly, as these are the events they have the opportunity to compete at throughout the year in South Carolina.

“We are from South Carolina, and the circuit finals really mean something to me, because we don’t have enough shows on the East Coast to really go hard for the world. So, this is like the next opportunity,” Nix said. “It’s great for us. This is probably the biggest win I’ve ever had.”

Riding into the arena, the Blackville, South Carolina duo went into Sunday’s competition ready to do their job, despite not being quite as good as Nix knew was possible in the go rounds. However, the 5-year-old red roan gelding came out ready to show off his skill as seventh in the working order out of twelve.

“In the go rounds, he was alright, but I hadn’t shown him in two or three weeks. When we were working him for the finals that morning, he was back where he needed to be. I knew if I got three good cuts, I had a chance,” Nix said. “My second cow was a gray horn cow that we knew was going to be pretty quick, just not sure how quick. After that second cow finally let me off, I knew I had a pretty good shot at it if I could get a decent third cow. Everything worked out, and riding out, I knew I had a good run.”

National Circuit Reserve Champion

Two points behind the winning team, Kate Gaughan Banuelos and Metallistic (Metallic Cat x Jaebers Angel x Smart Little Jaebar) scored a 219 in the finals to finish reserve. Two and a half points behind the second-place team with a 216.5, Todd Quirk and Reystylin Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Rey N Style x Dual Smart Rey) finished third. Both second and third places took home over $6,000.

William Nix on Reyl Metallic Rebel * Photo by Seth Petit