THE 39TH ANNUAL POWAY RODEO

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 Story and Photos: Ron Logan
 
 
 
September 26, 2011 (Poway) – It was my conscious decison to get out of my comfort zone when I photographed my first rodeo – the 2011 Poway Rodeo. The rodeo grounds are just a couple miles from my home, and although it has taken me some time to warm up to the idea of residing in Poway, there are certain aspects of the city that are starting to grow on me. "Country living" is one of those aspects.
 
I am what you would call a greenhorn.
 
 
My knowledge of all things equine and bovine culd fit in a thimble. I was raised in the San Diego suburbs and spent my spare time playing soccer and cycling. I didn't have a dog or cat as a child, and hampsters don't really qualify as rodeo stock – well, I guess dogs and cats don't either. I earned my college degrees in photography and graphic design and have spent the vast majority of my last 20 years sitting in front of a computer in an air conditioned environment. I know plenty of people who grew up around horses, but I’m not one of them.
 

My first experience at the Poway Rodeo was good even though my first experience was parking my car. Unlike many of the events I've attended, the price of parking was not obscene. Five dollars is all it took to get me a spot not far from the gate. I'm used to paying 20 dollars to get a spot about a mile from the entrance of most venues. I'm currently nursing a soccer-related ankle sprain, so not having to walk a lot was a nice benefit.
 
As soon as I stepped out of my car I knew I was out of my element. My second experience was the smell. But, I have to admit, it wasn't bad, and after a few minutes I didn't even notice it. Regardless, the smell of a rodeo is far better than the smell of a city. Animals smell better than petroleum by-products and they don't increase my risk of cancer (as far as I know).
 
Entering the rodeo grounds felt much like going to the local fair. Similar people, albeit fewer baseball caps and far more Stetsons. The booths at the rodeo would be equally at home at the Del Mar fairgrounds. Walking on dirt felt good too, reminded me of hiking in the local mountains, which is far more enjoyable than any trek over asphalt.
 
I was given a brief behind-the-scenes tour by my host, Joe Biggers, and then escorted to the press photography area, which was right next to the main ring. 
 
For the next few hours I watched the events unfold right before my eyes, and in some instances, literally inches from my lens. There is nothing like watching an excited bull run past the photography pen with its horns brushing against the aluminum gate – the gate that protects the bull from those dangerous photographers. You could see in the bull's eyes that he was looking for a confrontation. 
 
The rodeo had three performances in two days. There was an evening rodeo on Friday, the Saturday daytime rodeo which I photographed, and another evening rodeo on Saturday night. The weather was beautiful, a little hot, but not "Poway hot." The sky was clear, the sun shone, and air was mostly still. It was very conducive to an enjoyable event. There was plenty to look at and everybody with whom I interacted was very polite. Estimated attendance over the two days was 7,500.
 
If you like the atmosphere of a small town fair, with the added excitement of beautiful animals and daring—even daredevil—competitors showing off their skills at roping, riding and more, then you will be right at home at the rodeo. There is plenty of red, white and blue, country flair, cowboys and cowgirls, leather and dust, cowboy boots and hooves to make any western enthusiast mighty content.
 
The Poway Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).  I enjoyed the event and would attend another because the opportunity for great photography is substantial, and the event itself if exciting and enjoyable. If you've never been, I suggest you catch the next one. It’s definitely something you will remember.
 
Here are the final results of the two days of rodeo action. For more information please visit www.PowayRodeo.com – and to view additional images from the event you can check out my photo blog at rgbdreams.tumblr.com.
 
 
 
Bareback Riding Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1 (two-way tie)
Caleb Bennett (#16)
Morgan, Utah
Score: 83.0
Draw: H3 Baby Doll SR
 
Place: 1 (two-way tie)
Josi Young (#255)
Kimberly, Idaho
Score: 83.0
Draw: 105 Smokey SR
 
Place: 3
Teddy Athan (#8)
Livermore, Calif.
Score: 78.0
Draw: V14 Wicked Ways JK
 
Place: 4 (two-way tie)
Morgan Heaton (#105)
Paradise, Utah
Score: 77.0
Draw: K4 CREE COUNTY SW
 
Place: 4 (two-way tie)
Tyson Thompson (#224)
Bradley, Calif.
Score: 77.0
Draw: 6X Six Shooter SR
 
Place: 6
George Gillespie IV (#84)
Placerville, Calif.
Score: 73.0
Draw: 598 Elvis SR
 
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Tie Down Roping Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1
Scott McCullouch (#158)
Solvang, Calif.
Time: 8.4
 
Place: 2
Scott Kormos (#128)
Teague, Texas
Time: 8.5
 
Place: 3
Joseph Parsons (#182)
Marana, Ariz.
Time: 8.9
 
Place: 4
Blake Hirdes (#109)
Turlock, Calif.
Time: 9.6
 
Place: 5
John McGill (#160)
Le Grande, Calif.
Time: 10.5
 
Place: 6
Cody Collins (#41)
Galt, Calif.
Time: 11.1
 
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Saddle Bronc Riding Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1
Alex Wright (#246)
Milford, Utah
Score: 85.0
Draw: 951 Saddle Tramp SR
 
Place: 2
Tyrell Smith (#256)
Great Falls, Mont.
Score: 84.0
Draw: 1H Cowtown JK
 
Place: 3
Ad Bugenig (#29)
Ferndale, Calif.
Score: 80.0
Draw: 573 SMOKE RING SW
 
Place: 4
Kaleb Asay (#7)
Powell, Wyo.
Score: 79.0
Draw: 8X Moccasin SR
 
Place: 5
Jake Wright (#247)
Milford, Utah
Score: 78.0
Draw: L54 KICKCIN KAYLEE SW
 
Place: 6 (three-way tie)
Darin Redelsperger (#189)
Tehachapi, Calif.
Score: 74.0
Draw: 640 Buck Shot SR
 
Place: 6 (three-way tie)
Townsend Prince (#186)
Livermore, Calif.
Score: 74.0
Draw: F51 Amanda SR
 
Place: 6 (three-way tie)
Shelby Terry (#222)
Bear River, Utah
Score: 74.0
Draw: N50 TOO GOOD SW
 
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Steer Wrestling Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1
Stan Branco (#25)
Chowchilla, Calif.
Time: 3.7
 
Place: 2
Luke Branquinho (#26)
Los Alamos, Calif.
Time: 4.6
 
Place: 3
Clayton Morrison (#172)
Cavalier, N.D.
Time: 5.2
 
Place: 4
Wyatt Smith
Rexburg, Ind.
Time: 5.9
 
Place: 5
Kacey Kenny (#125)
Queensland, Australia
Time: 10.6
 
Place: 6 (two-way tie)
Baylor Roche (#197)
Thatcher, Utah
Time: 13.8
 
Place: 6 (two-way tie)
Matt Deskovick (#258)
Ramona, Calif.
Time: 13.8
 
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Mutton Bustin
 
Results not available at press time.
 
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Team Roping Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1
Riley Minor (#169) / Brady Minor (#168)
Ellensburg, Wash. / Ellensburg, Wash. 
Time: 5.4
 
Place: 2 (two-way tie)
Ed Necochea (#177) / Dennis Watkins (#233)
Lakeside, Calif. / Bakersfield, Calif.
Time: 6.2
 
Place: 2 (two-way tie)
Travis Xavier (#249) / Mike Monighetti (#171)
Shandon, Calif. / Los Alamos, Calif.
Time: 6.2
 
Place: 4
Kelson Robinson (#196) / Brian Roundy (#201)
Salina, Utah / Richfield, Utah
Time: 6.4
 
Place: 5
Marcus A. Battaglia (#15) / Kyle Lockett (#141)
Ramona, Calif. / Visalia, Calif.
Time: 6.6
 
Place: 6
John Christman (#36) / Juan Crismas-Clark (#53)
Alpine, Calif. / Campo, Calif.
Time: 8.7
 
Place: 7
B.J. Campbell (#31) / Caleb Twisselman (#228)
Bishop, Calif. / Santa Margarita, Calif.
Time: 10.2
 
Place: 8
Justin Wood (#245) / Jared Hixon (#110)
Clovis, Calif. / Bakersfield, Calif.
Time: 11.0
 
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Barrel Racing Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1
Dolli Lautaret (#134)
Kingman, Ariz.
Time: 17.17
 
Place: 2
Sierra Dawn Thomas (#223)
Roy, Utah
Time: 17.24
 
Place: 3
Sammi Bessert (#18)
Loma, Colo.
Time: 17.49
 
Place: 4
Ann Scott (#206)
Canyon Country, Calif.
Time: 17.64
 
Place: 5
Stephanie Langdon (#133)
Mira Loma, Calif.
Time: 17.69
 
Place: 6
Katy Varian (#231)
Parkfield, Calif.
Time: 17.70
 
Place: 7
Sherrylynn Johnson (#121)
Henryetta, Okla.
Time: 17.77
 
Place: 8 (three-way tie)
Julie Martindale (#152)
Winchester, Calif.
Time: 17.80
 
Place: 8 (three-way tie)
Cambria Fetherston (#70)
Riverside, Calif.
Time: 17.80
 
Place: 8 (three-way tie)
Kimberlee Boddy (#21)
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Time: 17.80
 
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Jr. Barrel Racing
 
Place: 1
Avielle Lehman
Age: 13
Murrieta, Calif.
Time: 17.80
 
Place: 2
Kelcie Reoh
Age: 15
Escondido, Calif.
Time: 18.30
 
Place: 3
Caliegh Copeland
Age: 10
Escondido, Calif.
Time: 18.69
 
Place: 4
Nicole Graham
Age: 17
Fallbrook, Calif.
Time: 19.34
 
Place: 5
Rylee Lawson
Age: 13
Valley Center, Calif.
Time: 19.44
 
Place: 6
Megan Norling
Time: Age: 16
Phoenix, Ariz.
Time: 19.59
 
Place: 7
Alana Banderet
Age: 15
Phoenix, Ariz.
Time: 19.70
 
Place: 8
Molly Agee
Age: 12
Poway, Calif.
Time: 19.86
 
Place: 9
Rachel Green
Age: 17
Poway, Calif.
Time: 20.08
 
Place: 10
Faith Bennett
Age: 14
San Diego, Calif.
Time: 20.78
 
Place: 11
Rylee Cooper
Age: 7
Escondido, Calif.
Time: 20.90
 
Place: 12
Caitlyn Yafuso
Age: 14
Poway, Calif.
Time: 21.75
 
Place: 13
Heston Lehman
Age: 10
Murrieta, Calif.
Time: 22.21
 
Place: 14
Dylan Lawson
Age: 11
Valley Center, Calif.
Time: 22.26
 
Place: 15
Sierra Stenger
Age: 9
Poway, Calif.
Time: 23.59
 
Place: 16
McKayla Brown
Age: 12
Lakeside, Calif.
Time: 24.87
 
Place: 17
Masyn Powers
Age: 8
Escondido, Calif.
Time: 25.36
 
Place: 18
Melanie Bourne
Age: 14
Poway, Calif.
Time: 25.37
 
Place: 19
Natalia Bradley
Age: 8
Ramona, Calif.
Time: 25.56
 
Place: 20
Ellen Carlander
Age: 13
Escondido, Calif.
Time: 27.86
 
Place: 21
Jenna Gritt
Age: 13
Oceanside, Calif.
Time: 28.82
 
Place: 22
Madison Berry
Age: 15
Valley Center, Calif.
Time: 32.80
 
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Bull Riding Go-Round 1 Results
 
Place: 1 (two-way tie) 
Juan Crismas-Clark (#53)
Campo, Calif.
Total Score 79.0
Draw: -32 Oh/No 2 SR
 
Place: 1 (two-way tie) 
Sonny Murphy (#175)
Tremonton, Utah
Total Score 79.0
Draw: 156 Witchita Red SR
 
-----------------------------------------------------
 
Bull Riding Go-Round 2 Results
 
Place: 1 
A.J. Hamre (#97)
Chico, Calif.
Total Score 83.0
Draw: 125 Fast Freddy SR
 
Place: 2 
Corey Rickard (#192)
Nuevo, Calif.
Total Score 77.0
Draw: 956 Varsity SR
 
Place: 3 
Sonny Murphy (#175)
Tremonton, Utah
Total Score 65.0
Draw: 315 L.Z. SR
 
-----------------------------------------------------
 
Bull Riding Aggregate Results
 
Aggregate Place: 1 
Sonny Murphy (#175)
Tremonton, Utah
Aggregate 144.0 / 2
 
Aggregate Place: 2 
A.J. Hamre (#97)
Chico, Calif.
Total Score 83.0 / 1
 
Aggregate Place: 3 
Juan Crismas-Clark (#53)
Campo, Calif.
Total Score 79.0 / 1
 
Aggregate Place: 4
Corey Rickard (#192)
Nuevo, Calif.
Total Score 77.0 / 1
 
 

 


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