What began as the desire to produce quality barrel races for the Central Coast of California, quickly grew into the large productions known as the Spurr Ranch Barrel Races in the quiet little town of Shandon, Calif. This weekend proved to be nothing short of amazing as 444 rider and horse combinations came together to participate in the $10,000 added 2013 Spurr Ranch Barrel Challenge presented by Nutrena SafeChoice paying out a total of $48,257. In conjunction with the Barrel Challenge, Spurr Ranch was host to the 2013 California Circuit Divisional Finals for the top twelve card holders, permit holders and juniors for the second consecutive year.
Friday evening, as the sun set and the temperature dropped, the competition heated up as 288 contestants raced against the clock in the $500 added open warm up race. When the dust settled well into the wee hours of Saturday morning, atop the 1D leader board was Bailey Nahrgang riding her 11-year-old mare Shes A Brisco, better known as Angel. Angel is an own daughter of Brisco County Junior and out of a daughter of Roll The Cash. Nahrgang’s time of 16.591 earned her $819 for their efforts. The pair has been teamed up since 2010 when Bailey bought the mare from trainer/competitor Carrie Thompson of Mississippi. Bailey would like to thank her dedicated sponsors Formula 1 Noni, Western Dove Tack & Jewelry and J.B. Dewar Fueling Services.
Saturday’s Barrel Challenge drew 419 competitors and began at a rapid pace as Angie Hardin of Cottonwood, Calif., and her horse, Smartys Real Rock, also known as Cajun, clocked a smoking 16.387 and held tightly to the lead for nearly 10 hours. However, when Kris Gadbois and her 7-year-old gelding CRCS Regaldash aka Snoop stepped into the arena, things were about to change.
Kris jockeyed the gelding to the fastest time of the weekend with a 16.326, and earned the top 1D check in the amount of $1,915. “Snoop took a step past the first, but the rest of the run felt spot on I wasn’t sure how the first barrel was going to affect our time,” said Gadbois. She had set a goal before her run to clock a 16.5, but Snoop obviously had a different plan in mind. Snoop was originally purchased from the Casner Ranch in Southern California by Danyelle Campbell. Kris purchased Snoop from Danyelle in January of 2012 and she has high hopes of rodeoing in the WPRA California Circuit this year on her permit and making a move towards the 2014 Rookie of the Year title.
The team’s first time to the Spurr Ranch proved to be one to remember. “I want to thank Spurr Ranch for the efficiency and professionalism of their races, along with the phenomenal ground they consistently provided throughout the day,” said Kris, “The 600-mile round trip from home in Escondido, Calif., was worth every minute and I cannot wait to return to the same arena for future races.” Gadbois’s time was also carried into the WPRA Finals, which she too won, taking home another hefty check and trophy saddle certificate compliments of the WPRA California Circuit and its great Director Marguerite Happy.
Kris would like to thank Danyelle for the opportunity to own a great horse like Snoop and the continued support she has shown for them both along the way. She has continued her winning ways using fabulous products including Formula 1 Noni, Renew Gold, Prime 90, Lameaway and Back On Track products.
As the weekend wrapped up, it was Mary Jo Camera of Turlock, Calif., and her five-year- old gelding Fairlea Lucky Gun who held the fast average time on two runs between Friday night and Saturday. She began rapidly on Friday night to win 6th in the 1D with her 16.745 aboard Lucky and then again on Saturday she sailed across the line with a 16.458, placing fourth. Mary Jo pocketed over $1,700 for her efforts. It was a sweet success for Mary Jo and Lucky who are most recently coming off an injury that occurred in a barrel racing accident earlier this summer, when Lucky slipped and Mary Jo injured her leg severely and was sidelined. We’re glad to see the duo return to their winning ways.
Spurr Ranch would like to congratulate all who joined in the 2013 Barrel Challenge. We would also like to thank the title sponsor of the Spurr Ranch Barrel Racing Productions, Nutrena SafeChoice accompanied by an extensive list of additional sponsors and fans of the barrel racing industry that have made this all possible.
Results are as follows (place, rider, horse, time and money won):
NOVEMBER 8
OPEN: 288 entries.
1D: 1st. Bailey Nahrgang, Shes A Brisco, 16.591, $816. 2nd. Cheri Graves, Too Smart To Shine, 16.642, $593. 3rd. Taylor Rogers, California Cool Ranger, 16.678, $519. 4th. Ann Scott, Fallin For Fame, 16.681, $445. 5th. Jandee Smart, BCR Stella Bella, 16.694, $371.
2D: 1st. Virginia McClintock, Nip It Now, 17.105, $714. 2nd. Danielle McCants, Snappy Mate, 17.119, $519. 3rd. Laura Rodrigo, Rakin Rebel, 17.121, $454. 4th./5th. (tie) Karla Sanchez, Missy Marquitas, 17.131, $357; and Shelby Tuck, Bullion Dollar bay, 17.131, $357.
3D: 1st. Jessica Bainer, T.F. Lucky Charm, 17.591, $561. 2nd. Kaitlyn McKemy, Big Bad N Blazin, 17.599, $408. 3rd. Taylor Anne Sanchez, Miss Buckskin Cuerro, 17.604, $357. 4th./5th. (tie) Craig Stritzke, Brookstone, 17.605, $280; and Sue Ellen Lauresen, LH Fabulous Wyn, 17.605, $280..
4D: 1st. Summer Kutchera, Six Pack Of Bugs, 18.595, $459. 2nd. Judy Adams, Amidsummersdream, 18.600, $334. 3rd. Lauren Henslee, Emmys Red Rocket, 18.652, $292. 4th. Anneke Dobbe, Smarty C Starlight, 18.690, $250. 5th. Jaycie Branch, Rascal, 18.693, $209.
NOVEMBER 9
OPEN: 419 entries.
1D: 1st. Kris Gadbois, CRCS Regaldash, 16.326, $1,915. 2nd. Angie Hardin, Smarty’s Real Rock ‘Cajun’, 16.387, $1,613. 3rd. Ann Scott, Fallin For Fame, 16.452, $1,411. 4th. Mary Jo Camera, Farilea Lucky Gun, 16.458, $1,210. 5th. Brittney Barnett, Firewater Ellie, 16.565, $958.
2D: 1st. Jamie Montano, Dealin Flashy, 16.829, $1,676. 2nd. Linda Vick, AR Will He Tell, 16.835, $1,411. 3rd. Shannon Shade, Sixy Saity, 16.845, $1,235. 4th. Allie Hamner, Nic A Shay, 16.850, $1,058. 5th. Stevie Scott-Smith, Snit, 16.864, $838.
3D: 1st. Monica Pelosi, Dual Sport, 17.333, $1,317. 2nd. Lori Meneses, Chips Sizzlen Drift, 17.342, $1,109. 3rd./4th. (tie) Sara Caldwell, Harlans Redcorn, 17.343, $901; and Michelle Steagall, Plenty Of Jazz, 17.343, $901. 5th. Allie Hamner, Cheeto, 17.346, $658.
4D: 1st. Kate Spatafore, Peppys San Slinger, 18.329, $1,077. 2nd. Marguerite Happy, Mr. Little Big Shot, 18.332, $907. 3rd. Kylee Collmer, Riot, 18.347, $794. 4th. Jessica McBain, Rumble Gun, 18.3350, $680. 5th. Meg McNamara, Roscoe, 18.379, $539.
SIDE POT (average): Sponsored by Nutrena Safe Choice, 187 riders with a jackpot total of $2,718.
1D: 1st. Mary Jo Camera, Fairlea Lucky Gun, 33.203, $226. 2nd. Taylor Rogers, California Cool Ranger, 33.301, $174. 3rd. Angie Hardin, Smarty’s Real Rock ‘Cajun’, 33.543, $130. 4th. Caitlyn Wood, Spook Deville, 33.750, $104. 5th. Charlene Jespersen, NF Frenchmans Brucey, 33.753, $87.
2D: 1st. Gia Desimoni, Famous Scarlett, 34.205, $198. 2nd. Marguerite Happy, On The Money Rene, 34.249, $152. 3rd. Craig Stritzke, Smabasco, 34.329, $114. 4th. Monica Pelosi, Blantons Bar Belle, 34.385, $91. 5th. Dustie Rutherford, Sheza Camiesta, 34.397, $76.
3D: 1st. Corene Baldwin, Tiny Red Pepper, 35.230, $155. 2nd. Diann Griffin, Wild Thing, 35.276, $120. 3rd. Kelsey Hayden, Fish, 35.289, $90. 4th. Lauren Arnerich, Circle Bar Go Girl, 35.295, $72. 5th. David Lawson, Never Hit Seventeen, 35.313, $60.
4D: 1st. Suzanne Koch, Firewater Gold Rush, 37.208, $127. 2nd. Annette Anderson, Top Doll Barrossab, 37.289, $98. 3rd. Kim Brown, Chickabooming, 37.295, $73. 4th. Kristel Isling, SL Last Chance, 37.378, $59. 5th. Shannon Tucker, Tufs Leo, 37.398, $49.
SENIOR: 38 entries.
1D: 1st. Charlene Jespersen, NF Frenchmans Bruce, 16.686, $133.
2D: 1st. Marguerite Happy, On The Money Rene, 17.200, $120.
3D: 1st. Noel Cosca, Red Hot Howie, 17.719, $102.
4D: 1st. Kim Brown, Chickabomming, 18.849, $89.
YOUTH: 54 entries.
1D: 1st. Taylor Rogers, California Cool Ranger, 16.623, $184.
2D: 1st. Savannah Osuna, Ghost Rider, 17.276, $165.
3D: 1st. Katie Drosihn, Flickawood, 17.706, $141.
4D: 1st. Leslie Shepard, Lola, 18..926, $122.
See complete results at www.westcoastbarrelracing.com.
Kris Gadbois aboard her CRCS Regaldash aka Snoop, clocked the fastest time of the weekend and also won the Barrel Challenge. The great team picked up a check for $1,915. (Photo by Big Daddy Photography)
Mary Jo Camera riding “Fairlea Lucky Gun,” put together a two run total of 33.203 to win the average. (Photo by Big Daddy Photography)
