After qualifying on top in the go-round, Josh Townsend and Pettys Little Lizzy marked 223 Wednesday to win the $10,000 Novice class, the first title awarded at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Eastern National Championships in Jackson, Mississippi. The show continues through March 15.

Bred by Dee and Vicki Merritt, Pettys Little Lizzy is an 8-year-old mare by Lizzys Gotta Player out of Petty Little One, by Smart Little Uno. She’s owned by Doug Adamson Jr. of Durant, Oklahoma.

Townend showed her in several aged event finals earlier in her career, and took her to the AQHA World Show finals two years in a row. The mare’s win will take her earnings over $55,000. She was also a $10,000 Novice finalist at the Eastern Nationals last year.

He marked a 220 to lead the go-round at Jackson, and his 223 in the finals gave him a half-point lead over Skip Queen on TGI Playtime, by One Time Pepto.