SPORTS
Three locals to compete in championship
Montague County will have three competitors headed to the Mike and Sherrylynn Johnson’s Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship in Tulsa, OK. this weekend.
Sixteen-year-old Bowie native Andy Shae Nored and 15-year-old Nocona residents Tomi Womack and Charli Snow are all competing in the 19-and-under barrel racing at the event in a field numbering more than 80.All three had to finish in the top three at qualifying events this year to qualify. This event usually takes place in Las Vegas, but because of COVID-19 it is being held in Tulsa.
With all of the uncertainty and constant reshuffling and rescheduling of events, it was a ride for some competitors to qualify this year.
“It was definitely a setback for some rodeos,” Nored said. “As soon as everything started opening back up we started trying to get qualified. It was definitely way different than last year.”
Even after qualifying, Womack and Nored had different issues with their horses in the lead up to this event. “The horse I qualified on got hurt four months ago,” Womack said. “It’s been pretty chaotic trying to find a replacement. Luckily one of my mom’s great friends let me borrow a horse I am riding now.”
“This year we have had issues getting my horses sound,” Nored said. “Especially my barrel horse, we have been having some trouble with him. The past couple of weeks I have been getting him back to how he was in June.”
Despite this being one of the biggest rodeos for all three competitors, the important thing is to treat it like just any other rodeo.
“My mindset is always to go in there and make a clean run,” Snow said. “I try not to care who is there or what it’s for. Just go out there and be one with my horse.”
No matter what, all three are grateful for the opportunity to get to compete against the best barrel racers from all over while thanking family, friends and in some cases sponsors for helping support them. The event starts on Dec. 10 and ends Dec. 14. Barrel racing will be on Dec. 11th and Dec. 13th. The video livestream for the rodeo will play on the Johnsonsportline Youtube channel.
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.
The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.
To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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