Below is a list of events the NSCA has approved for Championship competition and their descriptions.  2011 NSCA Rulebook Arena Race: All Age Groups. Rider mounted at starting line, races to pole pending pole centered on turning line, makes a left or right turn around stake and races back to finish line. Disqualification for steadying pole with hand. Barrel & Stake: 12-15, Adult Divisions.  At signal, rider races to barrel centered in lane 30 feet from start/finish line, which contains three stakes. Contestant picks up one stake and races to second barrel centered on turning line and deposits stake, continuing until all stakes are placed in second barrel and races across finish line. Rider must keep barrels to right or left at all times. Hitting horse with stake disqualifies rider. Wooden stakes, 5 feet long, full round, 1 to 1 ¼ inches in diameter and of a light weight to be used. Disqualification for dropping a stake outside of barrel. If a contestant accepts the position of the stakes and a stake falls out of the barrel after the ready light signal is given, they will be disqualified. Barrel & Stake - Graduated: Under 8, 8-11. Same rules as Barrel & Stake, however, only one stake is used for Under 8; 2 stakes for 8-11. Figure 8 Stake Race: All Age Groups. A pole bending stake is centered on the turning line with a second stake set 60 feet toward the start/finish line and centered in the lane. At signal, contestant races to stake on turning line, making a left or right hand turn, races to second stake and makes opposite turn, then returns to stake on turning line, repeating first turn, then races across finish line. Flag Race: All Age Groups. A flag is placed in a gallon can of sand and centered on a 30 gallon barrel which is centered on turning line. At signal, contestants race around barrel picking up flag and return across finish line with flag in hand. Flag to be white 9 inches square attached to stick 18 inches long. Flag to be set straight up in center of can. Disqualification for knocking over barrel or can. Flying W Race:  All Age Groups. Place two pole bending poles, 90 feet apart, centered in arena on turning line. Place one pole in the center of the arena 60 feet from the turning line. Rider will run to first pole on either side of arena and make a right or left turn toward center of arena, proceed to center pole make a turn in opposite direction of first turn, continue to pole on opposite side of arena from first pole and make a right or left turn towards fence and on to start/finish line. Rider will be disqualified for not completing the pattern, touching pole with hand, or knocking over pole. Half Eight: All Age Groups. First pole centered on turning line, a second pole is set 6 feet back toward start/finish line. At signal, contestant rides between the poles before crossing turning line, make a left or right hand turn, and races back across finish line. Disqualification for all four feet of horse crossing turning line before going between poles. Keg Race: All Age Groups. Course of six kegs 25 feet apart, centered in lane –last keg set on turning line. Rider passes first keg to left or right and weaves kegs, turns last keg and returns, weaving back and across finish line. Disqualification for jumping keg with all four (4) feet of horse. Kegs to be uniform in size. Key Race: All age Groups. Two pole bending stakes covered with a 4 inch by 5 foot red sock are placed on the turning line 5 feet apart – 12 ½ feet from each stake to the lane divider line. Tow more stakes are placed 10 feet back toward the start/finish line, also 5 feet apart. These stakes are to be in line with the stakes on the turning line. At signal, contestant races between the stakes, across the turning line, turns and reverses course back between the stakes to finish line. All stakes to be red covered. Pole Bending: All age Groups. Each contestant shall have a line of six poles, 5 feet high, and 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter. Bases to be a maximum of 15 inches in diameter. Total weight of pole and base not to exceed 16 pounds. All poles and bases to be set 21 feet apart, centered in lane, with a distance of 60 feet from the start/finish line to the first pole. Last pole to be centered on the turning line. At signal, contestants race to last pole first, make a left or right turn, weaving through poles and back again, then race back across finish line. Disqualification for steadying poles with hand. Polo Turn: All Age Groups. At signal, rider races to pole centered on turning line, makes a complete circle (one and a half revolutions) around pole, then returns back across finish line. Rider may turn to either right or left. Scurry Race: 8-11, 12-15, Adult Divisions. A 1 ½ to 3 inch diameter pipe 15 feet in length and supported at each end by standards 12 to 18 inches high is centered in lane 40 feet from start/finish line. A second and third jump are set toward the turning line with 40 feet between the jumps leaving a distance of 45 feet from third jump to a barrel centered on the turning line. At signal, contestant races to first jump and proceeds to cross first, second and third jump, makes a left or right turn around barrel on turning line and reverses course, crossing all three jumps and racing across start/finish line. Horse must cross jumps with all four feet. Speed Barrels: All Age Groups. Three Barrels centered in lane (50 feet between barrels) last barrel to be centered on turning line. At signal, contestant weaves barrels, through and back. Contestant may start weave on either left or right of first barrel. Straight Barrels: All Age Groups. Three Barrels centered in lane (55 feet between barrels) last barrel to be centered on turning line. At signal, contestant races to first barrel and proceeds to circle barrels to the left or right, heading toward turning line, turns last barrel and reverses course, circling barrels to opposite direction on return trip. Disqualification for turning barrels in wrong direction. Tomahawk Race: All Age Groups. A barrel, open end up, is centered in lane 30 feet from start/finish line with a second barrel, closed end up, centered on turning line. A 15 inch white garden hose (tomahawk) with a red mark 6 inches from the end of the tomahawk is placed on top of barrel on turning line, extending 6 inches from edge of barrel. At signal, contestant races to second barrel, picks up tomahawk and races to first barrel, depositing tomahawk into barrel. Disqualification for dropping the tomahawk. Contestant must keep barrels to either right or left at all times. Two Barrel Flag: All Age Groups. Two 30 gallon barrels per lane, two (2) 5 foot wooden poles (1 to 1 ¼ ”diameter) with colored flag on one pole and different colored flag on the second pole. Flags to be 9 inches square. Approximately 1 to 2 inches of dirt will be placed in the bottom of first barrel. Contestant will raise right or left arm when coming into arena indicating what side of barrel from which they will pick up stakes. All stakes will be set in the same fashion from bottom edge of barrel to opposite top rim. At signal, contestant races to first barrel centered in lane, 30 feet from start/finish line, picks up stake with a colored flag and races to second barrel centered on turning line, deposits stake into barrel and picks up second stake with a different colored flag, then races back and deposits second stake into first barrel and races across start/finish line. Rider must keep barrel to right or left at all times. In the event of a contestant breaking the first stake, a re-ride will automatically be awarded (contestant may not elect to keep their time). If the second stake breaks when contestant deposits it to final barrel, the portion remaining in the barrel must be the full diameter of the stake to be considered a qualified ride. Disqualification for dropping stake with flag.