ACBRA Finals Is Everything A Barrel Racer Wants

By Jeff Freitas
Special To Ropers Sports News

SALINAS, CA — Wow, what an awesome finals! The 2012 edition of the ACBRA Finals was held August 3-5 at the Salinas Sports Complex, home of the famous California Rodeo Salinas. Great weather, great ground, great competition, great payouts and a fabulous awards ceremony! What more could a barrel racer ask for.
A barrel race such as this could not go on without the help and generosity of many people. A huge thank you to Patti Silva and family for bringing in the water truck, Chris Nielsen Tractor Sales for the tractors and to Byran and Holly Smith for coming in a day early and working the ground.
The weekend started with a $500 added warm-up race Friday night, Dude Overton ran a smoking 17.409 to win it.
Our tractor drivers, Byran Smith, Duck Burgess and Cody Silva kept the ground great which made for a tough competition. The 1st go-round winners were Dude Overton on A Secret Inspiration winning the Open category, Erin Ricotti on Kiss My Star the under 7500, Kylie Mullen on Tuffy the under 3500, Jerri Mann on Nic N Shine the under 1000, and Sabina Andreini on Expecting Cash won the Junior division.
The 2nd go-round was won by Dude Overton again on A Secret Inspiration, winning the Open; Erin Ricotti on Kiss My Star the under 7500; Stacy Neeley on Mohican Sun the under 3500, Jerri Mann on Nic N Shine the under 1000;, and Sabina Andreini on Expecting Cash won the Junior division. The average winners were the same with the exception of the Under 3500 which went to Kylie Mullen on Tuffy.
Over $47,000 in cash was paid out and $15,000 in awards was given away. Each category had $3,600 added money (Junior division – $1,500) and the 4D sidepot had $4,500 added each day! Complete results can be found on the website at www.acbra.net under finals information.
High money winners of the Finals include: Dude Overton $3,046; Lacey Lockard $3,021; Charleen Ornellas $2,716; Erin Ricotti $2,668; Jerri Mann $2200; Bill Overton $2,054; Gayle Lewis $1,917; Lauren Pai $1,702; Juniors, Whitlee Burgess $786; and Sabini Andreini $762.
Saturday’s awards ceremony was fabulous thanks to Holly Harris, Vicki Andrus, Allison and Karen Sarale who helped set up the stuffed potato and ice cream sundae bars. Year end awards were beautiful, thanks to Tammy Hoskins for a job well done. Congratulations to the year-end saddle winners: Open Category, Lenas Sweet Jalapena, Stacey Freitas; Under 7500, Chex the Blue, Tammy Hoskins; Under 3500, Pullins Prime Possum, Jaime Tsuji; Under 1000, Yoda, Alexis Velazquez; Under 1000 rider, Katie Tossie on Ruby Snickle Fritz and Junior Division, Jesse Merdoc, Machaela Sinclair.
Bill and Dude Overton once again held cowboy church on Sunday, Kelsie Silva sang the National Anthem and did a fabulous job. Thank you also to Candy Forsberg for her help all weekend. Sunday’s race ended at 1:55pm and awards and checks were all handed out by 2:35pm thanks to our awesome staff of volunteers and board members.
Congratulations to Donna Cohn for winning the target award running an 18.494 both days. Donna won a beautiful wine barrel cooler made by Andy Harmon. Fast time clock made by Dani Haynes McAfeewas won by Dude Overton.
Congratulations also to Dana Scribner for selling the most raffle tickets (30), Dana won a breast collar made by Chris Rose.
Big Daddy Photography was on site taking photos all weekend. Photos can be found at www.bigdaddyphotography.net.
Thank you again to our sponsors: Chris Nielsen Tractor Sales, MY Chevrolet, Charlene Jespersen, Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic, Best Ever Pads and In-N-Out Burger. We could not have done it without them. Please take the time to thank the sponsors for their support of ACBRA.
Thank you to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds, RD Ranch, Park Pacifica, Lucky B Acres Arena, Quail Creek Ranch, Silva and Armendariz Productions, the Cohns, Hoskins, and Barlockers for hosting ACBRA prime races this past season.
Thank you to departing board members for volunteering their time to ACBRA:  Kendra Cohn, Lynda Alsip, Holly Smith and Kevan Taber. Your work for the association is greatly appreciated!
The 2012-2013 Board of Directors are: President/Membership Secretary Stacy Neeley; Vice President/Arena Scheduler Cammy Schneider; Secretary Eryn Greenfield; Treasurer/Awards Chair Tammy Hoskins; Pointskeeper Mary Doughty; Website, Newsletters, Mass Email Stacey Freitas; Arena Specialist Michelle Silva. Contact information for board members may be found on the website. Contact any board member with positive suggestions you may have to better the association and remember that all board members are volunteering their time for this non-profit organization, all monies made are invested back to the membership.
Your new board is hard at work and getting geared up for the 2012-2013 season which begins Sept. 4. Membership forms may be found online and we are very excited to announce that members will not be required to pay any sponsorship fee with this year’s membership. A kick-off race is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. at Lucky B Acres, Hilmar. We will be doing a drawing for all members who pay their membership before the race.
Please have your favorite arenas/producers contact Cammy Schneider at cschneider@acbra.net to schedule their race with ACBRA.
Here’s to a great 2012-2013 season! Until next time, ride hard and have fun!
ACBRA FINALS
FRIDAY, AUG. 3, 2012
OPEN 4D WARM-UP RACE
1D: 1st. Dude Overton, Cash To Class, 17.409, $367. 2nd. Lauren Pai, Badger Poco Scamp, 17.579, $291. 3rd. Michelle Silva, Leo, 17.635, $216. 4th. Michelle Silva, Patato Chip, 17.859, $140. 5th. Dude Overton, A Secret Inspiration, 17.860, $65.
2D: 1st. Erin Ricotti, Kiss My Star, 17.976, $321. 2nd. Chris Rose, Jewell, 18.022, $255. 3rd. Jerri Mann, Nic N Shine, 18.029, $189. 4th. Stacey Freitas, Lenas Sweet Jalapena, 18.065, $123. 5th. Lisa Busick, Chili Pepper, 18.111, $57.
3D: 1st. Kellen Shade, Reme, 18.411, $252. 2nd. Rayanne Currin, Frenchmans Cheetah, 18.415, $200. 3rd. Susan Pieterouiski, Shining Your Bells, 18.438, $148. 4th. Jaime Tsuji, Pullin Prime Possum, 18.441, $96. 5th. Tammy White, Brody, 18.457, $44.
4D: 1st. Erin Ricotti, Reflect N Rock 15, 19.558, $206. 2nd. Michelle Silva, Lexi, 19.672, $164. 3rd. Jody Emeterio, Opie, 19.688, $121. 4th. Carrie Kevie, Gemma, 19.711, $79. 5th. Maeiah Demontigny, JoJo, 19731, $36.
SAT, AUG. 4, 2012
OPEN CATEGORY
Average on 2 runs: 1st. Dude Overton, A Secret Inspiration, 35.043. 2nd. Lauren Pai, Badger Poco Scamp, 35.299. 3rd. Billy Overton, Cash To Class, 35.304. 4th. Gayle Lewis, Taking All Bets, 35.345. 5th. Chris Rose, E Bar Docs Mace, 35.577. 6th. Stacey Freitas, Lenas Sweet Jalapena, 35.578. 7th. Dreux Clark, Cielo Bonito, 35.675. 8th. Kendra Cohn, Folks Jack Cash, 35.708. 9th. Laura McClure, Frosty Credits Red, 35.855. 10th. Charlene Jespersen, NF Frenchmans Brucey, 36.093.
7500 CATEGORY
Average on 2 runs: 1st. Erin Ricotti, Kiss My Star, 35.813. 2nd. Charleen Ornellas, Shes Smokin Andi, 36.033. 3rd. Melissa Perry, Nu To You, 36.308. 4th. Lacey Lockard, Wrangler Rivets, 36.312. 5th. Brittany Knaps, Big Sur, 36.383. 6th. Dana Luther, Cooper, 36.903. 7th. Tammy Hoskins, Paycheck, 37.318. 8th. Savannah Robertson, Layla, 37.404. 9th. Kiki Yaron, Oh Corolla, 37.415. 10th. Lori Mandarich, MM Prefontaine, 38.093.
3500 CATEGORY
Average on 2 runs: 1st. Kylie  Mullen, Tuffy, 35.825. 2nd. Cheyenne Horer, Talenas Fuel, 36.188. 3rd. Mary Hodson, Chocolate San Cookie, 36.517. 4th. Tracy Loveless, Boogie, 36.066. 5th. Jessika Willoughby, Real Ginuwine, 36.661. 6th.  Donna Cohn, Smoken Renegade, 36.988. 7th. Gayle Lewis, Make Mine A Double, 37.004. 8th. Rebecca Carter, Jet N Ready, 37.103. 9th. Brittany Nielsen, Red Marns Miss Tens, 37.269. 10th. Nancy Rico, Seze Lenas Pride, 37.497.
1000 CATEGORY
Average on 2 runs: 1st. Jerri Mann, Nic N Shine, 35.727. 2nd. Jennife Hall, Sweet Country Cash, 36.426. 3rd. Amanda Glenn, Rosie, 36.735. 4th. Lacey Lockard, Rocking Secret, 37.473. 5th. Amy Odom, Smokin Miss Cash. 6th. Mary Hodson, Palleos Sugar Pop, 37.505. 7th. Becca Fullenwider, Pepto Bueno, 37.518. 8th. Bailey Kropp, Tied Up In Meetings, 37.613. 9th. Laura Rodrigo, Rakin Rebel, 37.789. 10th. Missy Rankin, Tex, 37.965.

Charleen Ornellas

Kendra Cohn, 2012 ACBRA President