Three Rivers Lions Roping

#2.5/Under high money saddle winner Luis Huerta, center.
Presenting are Jim Waggoner and Laurabelle Burns.

Three Rivers Lions Club Team Roping…

Thursday concluded with a One Over 40 Roping. The team of Sean Pascoe and Tris-tan Luther claimed the title, the championship buckles and $427 each. That night the Lions Club had a great tri tip dinner and dance up on the mezzanine.

Friday morning the Henry Mitchell Memorial roping started things off with 87 teams. This is always one of the best century ropings in the state. The team of Chuck Tarbell and Manuel Souza were the team that claimed the championship and the newly designed Wage buckles and $490 each for their efforts.

Next was the Mixed roping, another roping that is considered to be one of the best in the country. The team of Pam Wilken and Tommye Flenniken took home the Wage buckles and $591 each.

Friday concluded with the qualifying round of the Craig Thorn Memorial Calf Branding. Fifteen teams from all over California entered up. The top five teams would come back on Sunday afternoon to determine the 2011 Champions. This event is always very exciting and this year was no different.

Saturday morning kicked off one of the many weekend traditions. A #8.5 three-steer average would be combined with another three-steer on Sunday morning. These two ropings are combined together for a six-steer average, and the six-steer winners win beautiful Yellowhair buckles. The Saturday morning #8.5 three-steer winners were Luis Huerta and Ron Garcia.  They won $745 each and Wage championship buckles. Saturday afternoon after some junior barrel racing the #5.5 Roping got started. There were 348 teams entered. This roping is the same format, a three-steer Saturday, three-steer Sunday combined for a six-steer overall. The team picking up the Wage championship buckles on Saturday was Tyra James and Ryan Eaton, Jr.  They also picked up $870 each.  The evening concluded with the famous pork loin dinner provided by the Lions Club and a dance on the mezzanine.

Bright and early Sunday morning, Mark Burner held a beautiful church service. Besides the second half of the six-steer averages, there was an Easter egg hunt, pee wee roping, barrel racing, pig scramble and the  championship round of the Craig Thorn Memorial calf branding.  All these events are long standing traditions in Three Rivers, which has earned the name of the “Biggest Little Roping in the West.” The #8.5 Sunday three-steer winners were Bodi Dodds and Jeffery Larson, they won Wage championship buckles and $708 each.

The winners of the first three-steer average on Saturday were Luis Huerta and Ron Garcia and they came back to win the six-steer average. They not only won the beautiful Yellowhair buckles sponsored by Three Rivers Lions Club but also a total of $1,592 each and two buckles! Not bad for a $70 entry fee.

For the next couple of hours the arena would be filled with barrel racing, a pig scramble and the championship round of the Craig Thorn Memorial calf branding. The calf branding has been going on for 22 years and teams come from all over California for a shot at the title. This year was very diverse. Teams included National Finalist contestants, cowboys, cowgirls and one team of young cowboys who gave everyone a run for their money. In the end it was the team of Brent Lockett, Blaine Ketscher, Leroy Chico and Brett Dodds who will add their names to the championship trophy.

The weekend concluded with the second half of the #5.5 Roping. The Sunday three-steer winners were Tyra James and Ryan Eaton Jr, needless to say Tyra and Ryan won the six-steer average, so by winning both three-steers and the six-steer they pocketed a total of $2,598 each and three buckles, not bad for just $70 entry fees.

As the event ended there were a lot of anxious moments as Shauna Fry added up the winnings to see who was going to be the high money ACTRA members in the #2.5 and under category and the #3 and over category. With many of the ropers placing in both the 6 steers the money really added up. When it was all said and done it was Luis Huerta from Nevada winning the #2.5 and under Cactus saddle, Luis won $3,106. Coming in second was Ryan Eaton Jr, he picked up a beautiful Cactus breast collar.  Chelsea James ended up third and won a trophy halter from Cactus.

In the #3 and over category it was Tyra James; Tyra won $3,103 and a beautiful Cactus trophy saddle. Coming in second was Jeffery Larson, who won a trophy breast collar from Cactus, and coming in third was Ron Garcia winning a trophy halter from Cactus.

Congratulations to all the winners. A total of 174 places were paid out, $2,000 in added money, 31 buckles, two saddles, two breast collars, two halters over the four days. A prize line valued at over $14,000. No wonder this is the “Biggest Little Roping in the West.”

Another thing that you will see at Three Rivers that you don’t see at most roping events is a very nice program featuring past winners, sponsors, Gone but not Forgotten, Riders in the Sky and the history of this long running event. A big thank you goes to Nancy Brunson for this outstanding program. For more information about this event contact Lion, Tom Sparks at 559-561-0406 or by mail at Three Rivers Lions Club, PO Box 206, Three Rivers, Calif. 93271.

Thank you to the Three Rivers Lions Club for 61 years of hosting this outstanding event. Special recognition goes to the Lions Club president, Christine Burns and the Lions roping chairperson Laurabelle Burns and all the Lions Club members.

A big thank you to Jim and Karen Waggoner, who have produced this roping for 21 years. The time and effort that Jim and Karen put into this event to insure its success is unbelievable.

Thanks also to Mike and Vikki Sweeney for all of their help; Jack Stuhaan, Lawrence Tractor, and Wage’s Silver for the beautiful buckles.

Thank you, to Don Gatz and his crew of professionals. Don brought some really nice corriente steers that came from Tommy Lee of Nevada; these were the best set of roping steers that many of the ropers have seen in years. What can you say about the office staff of Shauna Fry, Wendy Stark and Brenda Robbins? They are the best of the best, great job ladies! We want to thank our flagger Billy Butler; Billy is fast becoming one of the best flaggers in California. Thank you goes out to Lee Legasey of Perfect Timing, Lee does some of the biggest ropings in the country, Bob Feist, RRI Roping, ACTRA National and Chapter Finals just to name a few. Thanks for the professionalism you bring to Three Rivers.

Another big thank you to Grandma Annette Rose, for her photography. Annette provides all the pictures of the winners for the papers as well as many action shots of the ropings. You can reach Annette by email at earphoto@gmail.com .

There are a number of sponsors that help make this roping what it is: Lawrence Tractor, Wage Silversmiths, Earl Hall Ag, J Bar T Western Products, Pacific Equine Arena Production, Porterville Chrysler Jeep/Dodge, Kathy Santos, Gilbert Williams Family, Circle N Stables, Jack Stuhaan and Gateway Lodge.

ACTRA saddle sponsors: VSI Inc/Tom Babb, Terry Goddard, Visalia Sales Yard/Don Brumley, Straight Up Productions/Jim Waggoner and Mike Sweeney.

Although this was a great weekend in many respects, there was a very unfortunate accident that put a dark cloud over the event. In a 4-wheeler accident in the parking lot, Nikki Peterson of Visalia lost her life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Peterson family. The ropers stepped up and opened their hearts and wallets to help the family out.

Results are as follows:

APRIL 21, 2011

ONE OVER 40: 4 for $35, 63 teams.

1st. go: 1st. Ron Darnell and Todd Hampton, 6.13, $141. 2nd. Ed Necochea and Todd Hampton, 6.39, $94.

Average: 1st. Sean Pascoe and Tristan Luther, 33.38, $427. 2nd. Mary Stubblefield and Tristan Luther, 33.65, $320. 3rd. Ed Necochea and John Chaves, 33.77, $213. 4th. Jim Eaton and Ryan Pascoe, 35.55, $107.

APRIL 22, 2011

CENTURY ROPING: 4 for $35, 87 teams.

1st. go: 1st. Barbara Kenney and Dusty Watkins, 5.92, $140. 2nd. Barbara Kenney and Tom Flenniken, 6.65, $108. 3rd. Pam  Wilken and Tarek Goddard, 6.-90, $78.

Average: 1st. Chuck Tarbell and Manuel Souza, 29.36, $490. 2nd. Barbara Kenney and Dusty Watkins, 32.99, $401. 3rd. Barbara Kenney and Tom Flenniken, 33.19, $297. 4th. Jim Eaton and Roy Garcia, 34.48, $193. 5th. Terry Goddard and Tom Flenniken, 35.64, $104.

MIXED ROPING: 1st. Pam Wilken and Jade Flenniken, 5.89, $199. 2nd. Tyra James and John Chaves, 6.55, $153. 3rd. Barbara Kenney and Tristan Luther, 6.93, $111.

Average: 1st. Pam Wilken and Tom Flenniken, 26.66, $591. 2nd. Mary Stubblefield and Dusty Watkins, 27.11, $506. 3rd. Barbara Kenney and Tom Flenniken, 28.28, $401. 4th. Tyra James and John Chaves, 29.82, $295. 5th. Breanna Linebarger and Brent Lockett, 33.96, $190. 6th. Sara Stark and Mike Jay, 34.57, $127.

APRIL 23, 2011

#8.5 ROPING (1st. three-steer): 3 for $35, 222 teams.

1st. go: 1st. Phillip Q. Selby and Lee Whitney, 6.19, $347. 2nd. Brett Dodds and Mark Lowry, 6.54, $260. 3rd. Mary Stubblefield and Rodney Rivera, 6.59, $173. 4th. Case Hirdes and Jeffrey J. Larson, 6.61, $86.

Average: 1st. Luis Huerta and Ron Garcia, 24.65, $745. 2nd. Mary Stubblefield and Rodney Rivera, 25.16, $608. 3rd. Mary Stubblefield and Ryan Eaton, 25.17, $470. 4th. Sara Stark and Steve Couto, 25.22, $333. 5th. Chuck Tarbell and Marty Williamson, 26.72 $194. 6th. Case Hirdes and Jeffrey J. Larson, 26.80, $53.

#5.5 ROPING (1st. three-steer): 3 for $35, 348 teams.

1st. go: 1st. Bill Dayton and Frank Roth, 6.26, $462. 2nd. Kenneth Ellison and Rick Mueller, 6.38, $367.

Average: 1st. Tyra James and Ryan Eaton Jr., 26.95, $870. 2nd. Carl D. Smith and Luis Huerta, 27.38, $756. 3rd. Chelsea James and Jared Bailey, 28.98, $643. 4th. Ross Iverson and Jenna McCarthy, 31.25, $529. 5th. Terry Summers and Terry Goddard, 32.10, $416. 6th. Cindy Williamson and Shyan Souza, 32.45, $302. 7th. Tyra James and Tanner James, 32.49, $189. 8th. Scott Erickson and John P. Souza, 33.18, $76.

APRIL 24, 2011

#8.5 ROPING (2nd. three-steer): 3 for $35, 211 teams.

1st. go: 1st. Bodi Dodds and Jeffrey J. Larson, 5.08, $330. 2nd. Lane Lowry and Mark Lowry, 5.35, $247. 3rd. Zane Denio and Danny Reese, 6.20, $165. 4th.-5th. (tie) Kenneth Ellison and Manuel Souza, 6.67, $82; and Chuck Tarbell and Manuel Souza, 6.67, $82.

Average: 1st. Bodi Dodds and Jeffrey J. Larson, 20.02, $708. 2nd. Kyle Mittel and Josh Avila, 21.48 $577. 3rd. Chuck Tarbell and Terry Atkins, 22.56, $447. 4th. Tyra James and Ryan Eaton, 22.61, $316. 5th. Lane Lowry and Mark Lowry, 23.52, $185. 6th. Luis Huerta and Ron Garcia, 24.97, $51.

#5.5 ROPING (2nd. three-steer): 3 for $35, 309 teams.

1st. go: 1st. Robert Borba and Phillip Q. Selby, 6.44, $410. 2nd. Chelsea James and Bret Neyman, 6.57, $325. 3rd. Wade Koontz and Brian Blaswich, 6.63, $241. 4th. Caz Kevie and Brandon Pettit, 6.68, $156. 5th. Caz Kevie and A.J. Kevie, 6.83, $72.

Average: 1st. Tyra James and Trevor Carrasco, 27.43, $772. 2n. Josue Madrigal and Trevor Carrasco, 27.83, 4671. 3rd. Chelsea James and Bret Neyman, 30.44, $570. 4th. Elliott Elkins and Mike Jay, 30.99, $470. 5th. Elliott Elkins and Scott Ritchie, 31.36, $369. 6th. Jane Peltzer and Tim Peltzer, 31.60, $268. 7th. Ross Iverson and Josue Madrigal, 31.71, $168. 8th. Don Crowder and Zane Denio, 31.80, $67.

#8.5 ROPING (6-steer): 222 teams.

Average: 1st. Luis Huerta ad Ron Garcia, 49.62, $847. 2nd. Case Hirdes and Jeffrey J. Larson, 51.90, $691. 3rd. Chuck Tarbell and Marty Williamson, 54.45, $535. 4th. Sean McRoberts and Mike Jay, 57.80, $380. 5th. Sean McRoberts and Tanner Watt, 63.68, $221. 6th. C.R. Scott and Rodney Rivera, 66.10, $61.

#5.5 ROPING (6-steer): 222 teams.

Average: 1st. Tyra James and Ryan Eaton Jr., 43.80, $956. 2nd. Jouse Madrigal and Trevor Carrasco, 65.93, $832. 3rd. Carl D. Smith and Luis Huerta, 70.47, $707. 4th. Sam McKee and Tanner Peters, 79.59, $582. 5th. Cindy Mallory and Mark Mallory, 79.63, $457. 6th. Laine Dearmore and J.T. Prather, 261.55, $333. 7th. Jane Peltzer and Manuel Souza, 271.22, $208. 8th. Nic Cannella and Dave Cannella, 284.33, $83.

Other winners ­—

Pee Wee Barrels: 1st. Kayla Lundgren, 2nd. Katelynn Borgas, 3rd. Alysa Blaswich.

Junior Barrels 11 & Under: 1st. Aubrey Cardoza, 2nd. Seth Sweeney.

Junior barrels 12- 16: 1st. Shakota Sloan, 2nd. Julia Cardoza.

Pee Wee Roping 5 & Under: 1st. Wyatt Rose, 2nd. Ross Rivera, 3rd. Teran Warden, 4th. Gavin Eaton.

Pee Wee Roping 6-8: 1st. Nolan Scott, 2nd. Mason Brown, 3rd. Alysa Blaswich, 4th. Makayla Lundgren, 5th. Ranch Alviso.

Pee Wee Roping 9-12: 1st. Clayton Vincent, 2nd. Joshua Flores, 3rd. Kyler Chico.

Open Barrels: 1st. Jere Kleinpeter, 2nd. Abby Peltzer, 3rd. Haylee Hunsdorfer, 4th. Haylee Hunsdorfer.