Helmets keep cowboys’ heads, faces intact

Tracye Dethero

As the High School and Wrangler Jr. High School Rodeo season come to an end, cowboys and cowgirls are heading off to the State Finals in Bishop and Plymouth respectively.

At the District Finals in Yreka, there were two young men who attempted their bull rides. Both wore helmets.

Detractors of the safety gear say that helmets cause blurred vision and disorientation when hitting the ground. But two young cowboys are better today only for wearing those helmets.

One bull rider was thrown into the metal bucking chute wall by his bull, face first. The connection of the helmet and the chute wall echoed across the arena.

For another cowboy, the situation was a bit different. This young man was bucked-off, hung-up, and dragged by his bull. Meanwhile the bull took out bull fighters on its way across the arena.

He ended up hitting the fence face-first and having his face and body dragged down the arena wall for approximately 30 feet. When he was finally free from his rigging, he lay against the wall with the bull fighter protecting as emergency personnel took a quick survey before he was able to get up and actually walk away.

Had either cowboy not been wearing this protection item in their events, they might not have been as lucky. This type of protective gear along with vest, chaps and mouth guard needs to be handy in a rider’s gear bag at events and worn when riding your bulls.

There was growth in all of the age groups in leaps and bounds in all of the events. For the ladies there was a lot of growth in the arena in the control over your horses, roping skills, and the times getting faster and more precise movements in the goat tying.

California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA) District One overall season standings

All Around Cowboy: Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 526 points.

Reserve All Around Cowboy: Dean Autry, Fort Jones 442.5 points.

3. Larry Ferreira, Fort Jones 433 points.

4. Laramie Collins, Weed 360 points.

5. Jordan Spears, Redding 348 points.

Rookie of the Year: Marshall Harmon, Palo Cedro.

All Around Cowgirl: Bliss Bidwell, Hat Creek 593.75 points.

Reserve All Around Cowgirl: Rylee Lamson, Corning 527.5 points.

3. Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 499 points.

4. Katie Lear, Anderson 422 points.

5.Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 414 points.

Rookie of the Year: Katy Andrews, Cottonwood.

Girls Cutting:

1. Evelyn Gray, Fort Jones 154.5 points.

2/3 Split. Ashley Taylor, McArthur 148 points.

2/3 Split Katie Lear, Anderson 148 points.

4.Jessica Vigil, McArthur 147 points.

5. Emily Andrini, Red Bluff 137 points.

Rookie of the Year: Bailey Miller, Red Bluff.

Boys Cutting:

1. Dean Autry, Fort Jones 234 points.

2. Cody Parker, Williams 138 points.

3. Laramie Collins, Weed 135.5 points.

4. Lane Wilson, Montague 82 points.

Rookie of the Year: None.

Barrel Racing:

1. Callie Anthony, Rd Bluff 154 points.

2. Bliss Bidwell, Hat Creek 145 points.

3. Katy Andrews, Cottonwood 135 points.

4. Rylee Lamson, Corning 127 points.

5. Jessica Andrews, Red Bluff 111 points.

Rookie of the Year: Katy Andrews, Red Bluff.

Bareback Riding:

1. Blaine Davies, Gerber 127 points.

2. Cody Higgins, Red Bluff 120.5 points.

3. Zack Brown, Red Bluff 115 points.

4. Travis Webb, Cottonwood 50 points.

5. Josh Scharer, Hornbrook 28 points.

Rookie of the Year: None.

Pole Bending:

1. Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 153 points.

2. Bliss Bidwell, Hat Creek 152 points.

3. Ashley Heinrich, Klamath Falls 108 points.

4. Cassie Armstead, Shasta Lake 101 points.

5. Morgan McCarley, Cottonwood 99 points.

Rookie of the Year: Katy Andrews, Cottonwood.

Bull Riding:

1. Jordan Spears, Redding 160 points.

2. Laramie Collins, Weed 127 points.

3. Gabe Perez, Orland 34 points.

Rookie of the Year: Gabe Perez, Orland.

Goat Tying:

1. Bliss Bidwell, Hat Creek 193 points.

2. Katy Fitzgerald, Litchfield 161 points.

3. Jenna Price, Orland 151.5 points.

4. Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 114 points.

5. Ashley Heinrich, Klamath Falls 104.5 points.

Rookie of the Year: Bailey Bidwell, Hat Creek.

Tie Down Roping:

1. Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 215 points.

2. Adam Andrini, Red Bluff 147 points.

3. Talon Chatham, Bella Vista 144 points.

4. Larry Ferreira, Fort Jones 112 points.

5. Frank Johnson, Etna, 93 points.

Rookie of the Year: Brady Carlon, Red Bluff.

Breakaway Roping:

1. Rylee Lamson, Corning 139.5 points.

2. Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 125 points.

3. Katie Lear, Anderson 121.5 points.

4. Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 98 points.

5. Kayla Johnson, Fort Jones 89 points.

Rookie of the Year: Bailey Bidwell, Hat Creek.

Saddle Bronc:

1. Dean Autry, Fort Jones 40 points.

2. Laramie Collins, Weed 20 points.

3. Cody Gonzalez, Litchfield 18 points.

Rookie of the Year: None.

Steer Wrestling:

1. Larry Ferreira, Fort Jones 195 points.

2. Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 188 points.

3. Dean Autry, Fort Jones 112 points.

4. Chad Bushnell, Red Bluff 86 points.

5. Laramie Collins, Weed 78 points.

Rookie of the Year: None.

Team Roping - Header:

1. Larry Ferreira, Fort Jones 126 points.

2. Katy Fitzgerald, Litchfield 97 points.

3. Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 89 points.

4. Justin Lee, Cottonwood 83.points.

5. Austin Alvernaz, Williams 79 points.

Rookie of the Year: Austin Alvernaz, Williams.

Team Roping - Heeler:

1. Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 126 points.

2. Blaine Ragan, Red Bluff 97 points.

3. Jordan Spears, Redding 89 points.

4. Shane Carlon, Red Bluff 83 points.

5. Cody Alvernaz, Williams 79 points.

Rookie of the Year: Cody Alvernaz, Williams.

CHSRA District One Rodeo Queen:

Brook Martin, Weed.

The top five cowboys and cowgirls in each event, will going on to compete at the State Level on June 15th to the 22st in Bishop.

CHSRA 2007/2008 Rodeo Wrap

The CHSRA District One Finals took place in Yreka May 2nd and 3rd at the Lillard Arena. District One will have 20 graduating seniors leaving the team. The final results are as follows:

All Around Cowboy: Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 78 points.

Reserve All Around: Dean Autry, Fort Jones 68 points.

3/4 Runner Up split: Larry Ferreria, Fort Jones 59 points.

3/4 Runner Up split: Laramie Collins, Weed 59 points.

5th Runner Up: Adam Andreini, Red Bluff 38 points.

All Around Cowgirl: Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 100 points.

Reserve All Around: Rylee Lamson, Corning 96 points.

3rd Runner Up: Katie Lear, Anderson 80.5 points.

4th Runner Up: Brandi Anthony, Red Bluff, 78 points.

5th Runner Up: Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 68 points.

Bareback Riding: 3 entered.

1. Cody Higgins, Red Bluff 133 points.

2. Blane Davies, Red Bluff 67/1 points.

3. Zack Brown, Red Bluff 66/1 points.

Bull Riding: 3 entered.

1. Laramie Collins, Weed 68/1 points.

Saddle Bronc: 4 entered, but the horses won.

Steer Wrestling: 7 entered.

1. Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 13.29 seconds.

2. Dean Autry, Fort Jones 20.40 seconds.

3. Larry Ferreira, Fort Jones 35.66 seconds.

4. Laramie Collins, Weed 37.37 seconds.

Tie Down Roping: 18 entered.

1. Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones 31.06 seconds.

2. Adam Andreini, Red Bluff 37.37 seconds.

3. Talon Chatham, Bella Vista 20.17/1 seconds.

4. Brady Carlon, Red Bluff 20.98/1 seconds.

5. Larry Ferreira, Fort Jones 21.51/1 seconds.

Boys Cutting: 4 entered.

1. Dean Autry, Fort Jones 145 points.

2. Cody Parker, Williams 126 points.

3. Laramie Collins, Weed 68/1 points.

Girls Cutting: 13 entered.

1. Emily Andreini, Red Bluff 141 points.

2/3 Split. Jessica Vigil, McArthur 139 points.

2/3 Split. Katie Lear, Anderson 139 points.

4/5 Split. Molly Jo Collins, Weed 138 points.

4/5 Split. Ashely Taylor, McArthur 138 points.

Pole Bending: 27 entered.

1. Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 42.648 seconds.

2. Bliss Bidwell, Hat Creek 43.572 seconds.

3. Morgan McCarley, Cottonwood 43.617 seconds.

4. Katie Lear, Anderson 43.897 seconds.

5. Stephanie Schauer, Redding 44.445 points.

Goat Tying: 18 entered.

1. Jenna Price, Orland 18.70 seconds.

2. Katy Fitzgerald, Litchfield 19.51 seconds.

3. Bailey Bidwell, Hat Creek 19.91 seconds.

4. Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 20.87 seconds.

5. Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 21.20 seconds.

Breakaway Roping: 23 entered.

1. Rylee Lamson, Corning 5.92 seconds.

2. Kendra Hemphill, Tulelake 7.33 seconds.

3. Brandi Anthony, Red Bluff 7.68 seconds.

4. Katie Lear, Anderson 9.82 seconds.

5. Callie Anthony, Red Bluff 24.51 seconds.

Barrel Racing: 33 entered.

1. Elizabeth Sousa, Montague 35.758 seconds.

2. Rylee Lamson, Corning 35.880 seconds.

3. Katy Andrews, Cottonwood 35.936 seconds.

4. Bliss Bidwell, Hat Creek 35.998 seconds.

5. Ashley Delphia, Red Bluff 36.090 seconds.

Team Roping: 22 teams entered.

1. Daniel Ferreira, Fort Jones and Larry Ferreria, Fort Jones 22.31 seconds.

2. Bailey Bidwell, Hat Creek and Brandi Anthony, Red Bluff 25.09 seconds.

3. Blaine Regan, Red Bluff and Katy Fitzgerald, Litchfield 27.35 seconds.

4. Marshall Harmon, Palo Cedro and Lane Wilson, Montague 41.27 seconds.

5. Brady Carlon, Red Bluff and Rylee Lamson, Corning 50.44 seconds.