California ACTRA Marks
30 Years Of Success
ACTRA California Chapter President Bob Blair (r) and Ryan Fowler
of Skyline Silversmiths (l) present saddles to the winners of the Super 7 Roping,
Pete Williams and Mike Nizzoli. (Off The Beaten Path Photo)
By Mike Sweeney
Special To Ropers Sports News
When the dust settled Sunday afternoon (Sept. 23) in Turlock at the California ACTRA Chapter Finals, the ACTRA Chapter had completed a year where they saw record memberships, record teams, a record Catastrophe Fund Auction income, unbelievable awards, fantastic cattle, great community support and a Chapter Board of Directors who worked tirelessly to make this year one to remember.
The total team count was 2,379, up 640 teams from last year. The All Girl drew 120 teams making that a great addition to the Finals. A big thank you to Mike Williams and Rabobank for the awards for this roping.
Over $150,000 in awards with $22,000 in added money, the roping payoffs were unbelievable. This year’s awards were outstanding and the 30th Anniversary Cactus Saddles with the Skyline Silver was stunning!
When you put together the awards, added money and entry fees you have a total payoff of $372,000, making a 125% payoff to Members at this year’s California Chapter Finals!
There is a long list of people to thank for this year’s record setting numbers. I would like to start with the Members and the Arena Operators, without whose support none of this would be possible. Next, the Board of Directors. Not only did they work hard to get a numbering system in place that works to make California Members competitive at the National Finals, the numbers never looked better. If that weren’t enough, they showed up in Turlock and helped to make the Finals run unbelievably smooth and efficient. How about a big pat on the back to the California Board of Directors.
Another great decision the Board made was to select Tommy Lee Livestock from Nevada to be this year’s cattle contractor. Tommy brought some of the best corrientes to California that we have seen in a long time. A big tip of the Resistol to Tommy Lee.
I would like to give a huge shout out to our California Chapter President Bob Blair, as he works tirelessly for many days to get everything set up and running smoothly by the time all of us get to Turlock. A big thank you to Teena Blair for getting the most up-to-date information posted on our Facebook page.
Once again the girls in the office and announcers did an outstanding job. Thanks to Shauna Fry, Wendy Stark, Cyndi Mitchell, Tonja Sweeney, Brenda Robbins and Vikki Sweeney. You ladies are the best of the best. A big thank you to Lee Legasey of Perfect Timing for all his professional help. Lee also doubles as one of our flaggers along with Billy Butler – great job guys! Thanks to Jim Waggoner and crew for hauling panels to Turlock and getting them set up.
A big thanks to Ellen St. Clair and her crew for an outstanding snack bar, and a thank you to all our vendors. We want to thank Bob Blach for handling the Pee Wee Roping, great job Bob!
The Catastrophe Fund Auction was the biggest ever. Kathy Roberts and her crew put together a very well organized event. Thanks Kathy and thanks to all of you buyers! Jackie Hicks volunteered to organize the Year End Awards, what a great job, Jackie! Red St. Clair set up the dance again this year and another great time was had by many. Jody Branco handled the stalls and RV parking. Jody has one of the most thankless jobs there is, but does it with a smile! Duane Green deserves a big pat on the back for getting us set up with the hotels in Turlock. Thank you to Richard Santos for the use of his water truck and help, to Elliott Roberts, the one-armed bandit, who couldn’t rope but drove the equipment to keep things going. Thanks to Wayne Hicks for all his help and expertise with the equipment.
We are thankful for our sponsors: Daryl Lewis of Pioneer Equipment, Earl Hall Ag, Terry Goddard, Carl & David Daniels Farming, the hotels in Turlock, Ropers Sports News and certainly last but not least the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, and the community of Turlock, who try to make us feel welcome.
I sure hope I haven’t missed anyone. It takes an army to put together something this size and make it run efficiently. I’m not sure that’s possible but we came mighty close.
Thanks to all and it’s time to get started on next year! We want to wish everyone the best of luck as they travel down the roping trail!
ACTRA California Chapter President Bob Blair (r) and Earl Hall (l) present saddles to the winners of the Century Roping, Shawn Howell and Danny Mullins. (Off The Beaten Path Photo)
ACTRA California Chapter President Bob Blair (c) presenting saddles to the #10.5 winners Brian Costa (l) and Troy Borges. (Off The Beaten Path Photo)
Average results are as follows; payoffs are per roper:
#8.5 Roping
Average: 1st. Jeff Brazil and Troy Borges, 31.98, $1,975. 2nd. Tanner Kent and Danny Leslie, 32.27, $1,625. 3rd. Russell Probert and Andy Holcomb, 34.18, $1,280. 4th. Rick Corum and Jake Rodriguez, 34.66, $935. 5th. Tristan Ruffoni and Jordan Ketscher, 35.27, $590. 6th. Wayne McCurley and Blake Hirdes, 36.38, $245. 7th. John Callahan and Brian Jacobs, 36.90, $145.
#10.5 Roping
Average: 1st. Brian Costa and Troy Borges, 25.39, $2,280. 2nd. Pete Corwin and Matt Costa, 25.49, $1,875. 3rd. Jesse Townsend and Dusty Watkins, 27.36, $1,475. 4th. Tanner Brumley and Tristan Luther, 27.81, $1,080. 5th. Marv Barton and Allen Gill, 28.05, $680. 6th. Michael Tighe and Clayton Cowden, 28.26, $280. 7th. Hank Brown and Joey Acevedo, 28.73, $165.
Open
Average: 1st. Blake Hirdes and Mike George, 23.38, $1,655. 2nd. Blake Hirdes and Kyle Lockett, 23.97, $1,240. 3rd. Daniel Green and Kyle Lockett, 23.98, $825. 4th. Cody Snow and Cody Cowden, 28.83, $410.
Century
Average: 1st. Danny Mullins and Shawn Howell, 32.61, $1,740. 2nd. Pam Wilken and Dusty Watkins, 34.47, $1,420. 3rd. Mike Boyle and Shawn Howell, 35.06, $1,100. 4th. Thomas Martinus and Frank Roth, 35.82, $775. 5th. Sean Pascoe and Denny Watkins, 35.96, $450. 6th. Mike Boyle and Paul Mullins, 37.13, $125.
Super 7
Average: 1st. Mike Nizzoli and Pete Williams, 31.54, $2,605. 2nd. Dale Horn and Matt Costa, 31.86, $2,265. 3rd. Mike MacKenzie and Dusty Worsham, 31.89, $1,925. 4th. Richard Haller and Joe Yanez, 33.50, $1,585. 5th. Ryan Hageman and Danny Fleming, 34.66, $1,245. 6th. Richard Haller and Val Ericson, 36.69, $905. 7th. Jeff Brazil and Case Hirdes, 36.70, $565. 8th. Ken Anderson and Gary Ellis, 38.07, $225.
#5.5 Roping
Average: 1st. Kenneth Ellison and Mike Clark, 32.31, $3,185. 2nd. Mike Sweeney and Jim Hanner, 35.18, $2,825. 3rd. Mike Nizzoli and Travis Britton, 35.43, $2,470. 4th. Tom Tee Lewis and Danny Fleming, 35.89, $2,115. 5th. Dale Horn and Travis Carter, 37.59, $1,760. 6th. Debra Belich and Dale Benevides, 39.51, $1,405. 7th. John Flook and Ralph Rianda, 40.09, $1,050. 8th. Cody Golding and Chance Ruffoni, 40.81, $695. 9th. Chuck Tarbell and Wade Garrison, 41.30, $335. 10th. Stephanie Lawrence and Aulani Patricio, 42.25, $75.
All Girl Roping
Average: 1st. Sandy Perez and Summer Tex, 28.21, $875. 2nd. Sophia Fowler and Judy Parker, 29.08, $715. 3rd. Karen Deller and Joy Perezchica, 31.71, $555. 4th. Kellie Mackin and Jamie Morrison, 32.76, $395. 5th. Toni Morrison and Julie Blach, 41.68, $230. 6th. Karen Deller and Laurie Turner, 42.80, $65.
#4 Roping
Average: 1st. Chase Hayhurst and Bruce Hayhurst, 48.39, $2,755. 2nd. Trevor Gonzales and Moses Gonzales Sr., 48.66, $2,445. 3rd. John Ceglia and Wyatt Naccarato, 49.39, $2,140. 4th. Robert Litton and Stacey Brooks, 49.70, $1,830. 5th. Mike MacKenzie and Tom Ledford, 49.91, $1,520. 6th. Lisa Potts and Mike Potts, 51.49, $1,215. 7th. Bruce Elliott and Marvin Ghan, 55.57, $910. 8th. JoAnn Porter and George Porter, 57.50, $600. 9th. John Pereira and Clinton Eastman, 57.59, $290. 10th. Krystal Criner and Denise VonTour, 57.97, $65.
#3 Roping
1st. Todd Franklin and Kristin Hall-Stein, 48.07, $2,130. 2nd. Savannah Santos and Nicole Cooper, 59.71, $1,850. 3rd. Lisa Potts and Brea McGrew, 68.23, $1,575. 4th. Armando Fagliano and Garret Roen, 137.74, $1,300. 5th. Randy Parola and Marc Fanning, 140.25, $1,020. 6th. Thomas Rosas and Ken Anderson, 145.79, $740. 7th. Joe Jenkins and Allen Lorscheider, 149.97, $460. 8th. Donna Cohn and Kyle McDevitt, 153.48, $185.
ACTRA California Chapter President Bob Blair (c) presenting saddles to the #8.5 winners Jeff Brazil (l) and Troy Borges. (Off The Beaten Path Photo)
Sandy Perez and Summer Tex were the winners of the All Girl Roping. Presenting are Ryan Fowler (l) and Bob Blair. (Off The Beaten Path Photo)
Chase (l) and Bruce Hayhurst proudly display the saddles thsy won in the #4 Roping, as Bob Blair looks on.
ACTRA California Chapter President Bob Blair (r) and Ryan Fowler of Skyline Silversmiths (l) present saddles to the winners of the #5.5 Roping, Kenneth Ellison and Mike Clark.
(Off The Beaten Path Photo)
