By Tracey Scott
Special To Ropers Sports News
BISHOP, CALIF. – It has been 12 years since CHSRA made the move to Bishop as the location for the High School State Finals. No one could have predicted how positive and well received this move turned out to be. The community and the CHSRA families always look forward to this week and the great memories to be made.
The 2016 State finals did prove to be another great memory. All Around Champions, Brushton Minton, District 1 and Andee Poole, District 6 topped the competition with a terrific week of events. The new Miss CHSRA Queen is Bailee Poole, District 6 and the team competition went to District 6 as well.
One of the highlights of the week was the addition of Reined Cow Horse to the schedule. Becoming an official event in 2015, CHSRA hosted this year’s Finals along with all the other events in Bishop this year. It was exciting to watch this new event and many locals came to enjoy it on Monday after a rainout of the originally scheduled Sunday performance. Although rain in Bishop in June was a huge surprise, especially when it was enough to affect the arena conditions, it was no surprise that the Tri County Fair staff did an excellent job, along with the donated Black Widow Drags provided by The Rowdy Rose and with the help of some state officers and volunteers all got the week back on track by Monday.
The week also included a huge special rodeo and a very successful Tough Enough to Wear Pink event. The Eastern Sierra Cancer Alliance is always the recipient of the donations and matched the gate proceeds CHSRA collect. This year the crowd’s generosity proved to be the largest donation ever of over $2,000.
There was fishing, river floating, biking, hiking and lots and lots of great timed and judged runs. 2016 was truly a fantastic Finals.
Special thank you to the Tri County Fair Staff, the Bishop Chamber of Commerce and its members, Larry Smith of Photofast, 321 Action Video and all our directors, volunteers and officers.
And as always, we could not have done it alone. Thanks goes to our State Finals sponsors: Cactus Ropes, Cactus Gear, Cactus Saddlery, Heel-O-Matic, Resistol, Les Schwab, Platinum Performance, Hesston Rodeo The Rowdy Rose and Black Widow drags. Chute Sign sponsors, Allen Outdoor, Inyo Mono Body Shop, KIBS Radio, McDonalds, Bishop Veterinarian, Boot Barn, Ropers Sports News, Zack Ranch, and Bishop Mule Days.
Trailer sponsors: City of Bishop, Paiute Palace Casino, Alpers Family, Eastern Sierra Community Bank, Thomas Petroleum, Coso Operating Company, Alpine Signs, Batchelder Enterprises, Dewey Pest Control, County of Inyo, Symons Ambulance Service
Buckle sponsors: Tom’s Place Restaurant and Resort, Jess McMurtrie, Tri County Fair, Chuck and Mary Kilpatrick, Bill and Marilyn Carter and Family, Sizie Wolfersberger, Bud and Jerri Moody and Family, Jim and Donna Tatum, Gist Buckles, Dick and Dianne Schalberg, Bishop Lions Club, Dr. Craig London DVM and Mrs. Carmon London
Memorial buckles: Bud Cashbaugh sponsored by Jim Cashbaugh, Slim Tatum, sponsored by ST Ranch, Tatum family, Tracy Webster, sponsored by Danny Webster family, Garrett Spoonhunter, sponsored by Allan Garage Doors, Mike and Michele Allan, Leroy McKellips sponsored by Bardonnex family, El Ranchito Restaurant and Rick and Mary Pucci
Welcome dinner sponsors: Inyo County, City of Bishop, Link Stanley and crew, McDonalds, Carson City Costco, Coca Cola High Sierra Distributing, Farmer Brothers, Tri County Fair, Erick Schats Bakery, Mammoth Brewing Co.
Lodging sponsors: La Quinta Inn, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Creekside Inn.
Our new year starts this month and memberships will be sent out. Check our website, chsra.com or facebook, California High School Rodeo to get info and be a part of next year!
National qualifiers are:
All Around Cowgirl: Andee Poole. Reserve All Around Cowgirl: Giana Cianfichi. All Around Cowboy: Brushton Minton. Reserve All Around Cowboy: Chance Ruffoni. Rookie All Around Cowgirl: Macey Minton. Rookie All Around Cowboy: Grant Peterson. Miss CHSRA 2016-17: Bailee Poole, CHSRA #6.
TIE DOWN ROPING: 1. Jade Church D6. 2. Cole Dodds, D6. 3. Cayden Cox, D7. 4. Quentin Anseth, D3. STEER WRESTLING: 1. Brushton Minton, D1. 2. Grant Peterson, D5. 3. Dillon McNaney, D4. 4. Ethan Usher, D7. BAREBack: 1. Karson Montijo, D6. 2. Tristan Naccarato, D4. SADDLE BRONC: 1. Cameron Messier, D5. 2. Reed Neely, D6. 3. Caden Grisedale, D6. 4. Karson Mebane, D6. BULL RIDING: 1. Levi Gray, D1. 2. Bodie Vaughan, D1. 3. Zachary Harrison, D3. BOYS CUTTING: 1. Jason Andersen, D4. 2. Riley Bishop, D4. 3. Chance Ruffoni, D7. 4. Taite Stickler, D7. TEAM ROPING: 1. Steel Humphry and Cody Stewart, D1. 2. Gianna Cianfichi and Quintin McWhorter, D2. 3. Travis Kent and Wyatt Hansen, D5. 4. Zach Varian and Chance Ruffoni, D7. BARREL RACING: 1. Lacey Geiger, D9. 2. Allison Inderbieten, D9. 3. Shelby Bates, D3. 4. Erin Ramsey, D9. BREAKAWAY ROPING: 1. Darbie Pond, D7. 2. Kassidi Hofman, D5. 3. MacKenzie Parker, D8. 4. Andee Poole, D6. POLE BENDING: 1. Kathryn Varian, D7. 2. Andee Poole, D6. 3. Kelsey Cadwell, D5. 4. Kristen Loverin, D1. goat tying: 1. Andee Poole, D6. 2. Emma Swift, D3. 3. Makenna Kramer, D7. 4. Masey Minton, D1. GIRLS CUTTING: 1. Kaitlyn Andersen, D4. 2. Taylor Strohl, D6. 3. Sarah Nance, D7. 4. Molly Sparrowk, D3. reining cow horse: 1. Josie Ferrante, D7. 2. Clay Gorden, D1. 3. Camille Canby, D7. 4. LaRae Luis, D7.