AYSA's State Cup and Final Four Tournaments Return to Decatur in May

The Alabama Youth Soccer Association’s (AYSA) Division I State Cup Preliminaries (U13-U14 girls and boys), Division II State Cup (U11-U13 girls and boys), and Division I Final Four (U13) returns to Decatur, Alabama in 2013. The Division I State Cup Preliminaries and Division II State Cup will take place May 3-5, 2013 with the Division I State Cup Final Four following May 10-12. All tournaments will take place at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex.

Decatur has played host to the youth soccer tournaments since 2007, excluding 2011 when the city of Decatur withdrew from hosting because of the devastation and hotel demand from the April tornado outbreak. Previous tournaments have produced an economic impact of over $220K for the city of Decatur, bringing in athletes and their families who stayed in local hotels, made purchases in gas stations and convenience stores, and dined in restaurants over the course of two weekends.

The Division I tournament is a top level qualifying event with winners advancing to regional tournaments where an invitation to the US Youth Soccer National Championships – the crown jewel of competitive youth soccer - is on the line. The Division II tournament decides which teams are Division II state champions and will represent Alabama in the USYSA Regional III President’s Cup which will also take place in Decatur June 6-9, 2013.  

AYSA is the governing body for all soccer clubs in Alabama who qualify to participate in these events. For more information on the State Cup tournaments, visit the AYSA’s website at www.alabamayouthsoccer.org.

The Jack Allen Recreation Complex contains 10 international size lighted fields with laser-graded certified sports turf and a computerized irrigation system. With the additional fields located in Point Mallard Park, Decatur has quickly become known nationally as a top rated soccer tournament location. For more information on the Jack Allen Recreation Complex, visit www.decatursports.com. 

42nd Annaul Racking Horse Spring Celebration Set for April 24-27

The second largest Racking Horse Show in the United States returns to Decatur April 24-27, 2013 at the Morgan County Celebration Arena. Featuring different classes and divisions of Racking Horses, the Spring Celebration is expected to attract entries from over 25 states competing for honors, as well as over $30,000 in prize money.

The competition begins each night at 6 p.m. with the Grand Champion to be announced on Saturday evening. On Friday, children are invited to participate in the “Stick Horse” class. This event allows children to bring their own stick horse for friendly competition in the arena. Every participant receives a ribbon. On Saturday, there will be a horse sale beginning at 10 a.m. in the Sale Barn.   

General admission Wednesday through Friday is $6 per person, Saturday is $10 per person, and free for children 6 years old and under. The Morgan County Celebration Arena located at 67 Horse Center Road (off Highway 67 East) in Decatur.

For additional information on the racking horse breed and a current show schedule, contact the RHBAA at 256.353.7225 or visit its website at www.rackinghorse.com.

About the Racking Horse Breeders Association of America (RHBAA)

The purpose of RHBAA is to collect, record and preserve the pedigrees of Racking Horses, to publish a register or studbook, and other such matters pertaining to the breeding, exhibiting and sales of Racking Horses. With the formation of RHBAA in 1971, the Racking Horse has grown in popularity. Today, there are over 80,000 racking horses registered with the RHBAA, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Decatur, Alabama. The Alabama Legislature proclaimed the racking horse as the “Official State Horse for the State of Alabama” on October 5, 1975.