Adele Brown and Lori Niesen were the All Girl winners and Adele
was the Lasso de Ladies high point champion.  (Richard Ruef Photo)

Lasso Del Ladies & Donnie Yandell Memorial Ropings

By Patti Parker – Special To Ropers Sports News

The Lasso Del Ladies Roping and 5th Annual Donnie Yandell Memorial was held May 12th-13th at the Red Dog Ranch in Yuba City, California.  The weather was amazing and the facility was incredible.  Dawn and Rick Lee have a great arena and this was the inaugural roping event.  The grounds were immaculate and Dawn and Rick both worked to keep everything in perfect condition before and during the ropings, thank you guys so much.  I also need to give a  big thank you to David Gee for his water truck and Brew for sending his great, Corriente steers.  My huge appreciation for Stan Branco’s professional attention to detail as our flagger and arena judge.  As they do every year, Doug and Judy Parker showed their great generosity and support, providing the electric eye.  
450 teams roped over the two days for an amazing prize line.  Our sponsors and donors were terrific.  A huge thanks to D Bar M Western Store and Jack Bassett for the coveted Donnie Yandell Memorial Roping caps, All Star Leather (Adele Brown and Erin Jasper) for all the wonderful hair-on breast collars, purses, saddle blankets and all their awesome awards, Denise Von Tour for the beautiful, tooled breast collars and halters, Terri Waters for the Bob Berg buckle and pendants, Shella and D.J. Dewhurst, Outback Clothing, Wrangler, Cactus Ropes, Elk Grove Milling, Boot Barn, Ray Bradley Feed and Barns, Ropers Sports News, Lizzy’s Feed and Tack, Sutter Orchard Supply, Donnie Applegarth, Steer Gear, Sullivan’s Western Store, Lynda Lance, Legacy Silver/Jeff Graham, Jodi Branco and Larry Williams and Brad McGilcrist.
Saturday started off with the Breakaway Roping, Adele Brown came out of the woodwork to win the first go and the average. Second in the average was Katie Lee, third Carrie Bartholmei and fourth was won by Sheanna Hoskins.  
The girls got in line for the next roping, as it was the All-Girl!  The first round was a good run of 9.44, by Vicky Benedetti and Jodi Branco (in her special roping attire).  When the dust settled the average winners were Sally DeMaria and Lori Niesen, second was Adele Brown and Wendy Frazier, third Sheena Goldman and Brea McGrew and fourth went to Vicki and Jodi.  Great roping girls.
Next we moved into the Mixed roping which was won in great fashion by Leann Reed and Steve Mitchell, second Adele Brown and Chris Meeks, Steve came back for third with Vicky Benedetti and Patti and Jim Parker took the fourth place.
We finished up Saturday with a Pick and Draw. Sam Orrison and Chris Meeks prevailed for the average, Larry Williams and Erin Jasper won the first round with a quick 7.7 and second in the average, third was won by the good team of Brent Morgan and Wendy Frazier.  
The All Around Girl Champion was Adele Brown who received the beautiful Bob Berg buckle, Wendy Frazier was second hi-point and received the wonderful hand-made quilt created by Jodi Branco, third hi-point, receiving a gorgeous Bob Berg pendant was Sheanna Hoskins.  
Sunday dawned bright and beautiful, Rick and David Gee had the arena in terrific shape and we started the day with the Century roping. The average was won by Leann Reed and Steve Mitchell, second went to Jim Parker and Scott Harvey and third was won by Robert McGrew and Steve Mitchell.  
Next we moved on to the All-Girl. Betty Gardner and Taylor Jacobson grabbed the first go.  The average was won by Adele Brown and Lori Niesen, second Sophia Fowler and Kelly Pile, third the tough team of Tammy Rodman-Alexander and Kelly Pile and fourth went to Becky Gardner and Sophia Fowler, a very multi-talented roper.  Thanks to all the girls who showed up to rope in this roping.  We ended up with over 50 teams and hope to have even bigger and better All-Girl ropings in the future.  
The first Pick and Draw had over 100 team, Larry Williams and Ty Morrill won the first round and the average.  Second in the average went to Doug Parker and Scott Harvey, third Doug Parker and Doug Young, fourth Fritz Morrill and brother Ty, fifth place was Sally DeMaria and Brian (Waterballoon) Larsen and sixth went to Adele Brown and Mark Dickinson.  What a great roping.
With the race for the hi-point awards heating up, we started the final roping of the day.  The last Pick and Draw was won by Larry Williams and Ty Morrill, second went to Doug Parker and Chris Meeks, third was Larry and Doug Parker, fourth place was Larry and Grant Strong and fifth place went to Ryan Mahon and Steve Mitchell.  
The race for the high point went down to the wire. In the end, Larry Williams was on a mission to defend his title and was successful, edging Ty out to win the #4 and over Henry Yellow Boy rifle.  Steve Mitchell was the #3 and under rifle winner.  The second hi-point ropers were Ty Morrill and Doug Young.  Ty received the beautiful Outback jacket and Doug received a numbered Buck Taylor water color print.  The 50 and over Hi-Point was Larry Williams, second went to Doug Parker, and third to Ty.  Hi-point girl and the beautiful Legacy Silver bracelet was won by Adele Brown, second was Kelly Pile receiving a Bob Berg pendant and third went to Leane Reed.  The amazing Gary Gist Champion Head Horse and Champion Heel Horse bits went to Leane Reed’s great sorrel gelding (heading) and Ty Morrill’s faithful paint horse (heeling).  The contest for the Champion Horses has always been close and this year we were able to give reserve awards as well.  Reserve Champion Head Horse went to Judy Parker’s good bay horse she raised and second was won by Cindy Mitchell’s excellent sorrel mare, ridden by Steve. Honorable mentions include Sophia Fowler’s good black mare and Doug Young’s nice black gelding.  We added some fun awards this year, it was determined, after some investigation that Doug Young was the oldest roper.  He received a custom wine rack (with wine) donated by Larry and Jo Williams and Brad McGilcrist.  The youngest roper was Kyle Mahon. We are honored that Kyle chose the Donnie Yandell Memorial has one of his first ropings, to enter.
Thank you to Richard Ruef, PRCA photographer who was on hand to take action photos. You can view your photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/rodeo_action or call him at (916) 645-5446.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who came out and supported the roping; the ropers, the sponsors, my friends and family, and the community.  We look forward to seeing you next year and hope to make even bigger and better for all of you!

Jaycee Jacobsen and Ty Morrill roping at the Donnie Yandell Memorial
Roping. Ty’s faithful paint horse was named Best Heel Horse. (Richard Ruef Photo)

Results follow. The results from the Breakaway and the All Girl from May 13th were not available. Payoffs are per person.
Saturday, May 12th:
All Girl: 3 for $20, 40.5 teams.
1st. go: 1st. Vicki Benedetti and Jodi Branco, 9.44, $48. 2nd. Leane Reed and Marilyn Brown, 10.25 $32.
Average: 1st. Sally DeMaria and Lori Niesen, 46.02, $178. 2nd. Adele Brown and Wendy Frazier, 51.40, $133. 3rd. Sheena Goldman and Brew McGrew, 54.72, $90. 4th. Vicki Benedetti and Jodi Branco, 20.33 on two, $45.
Mixed Roping: 3 for $20, 33 teams.
1st. go: 1st. Chuck Baker and Erin Jasper, 8.22, $37. 2nd. Adele Brown and Chris Meek, 8.77, $25.
Average: 1st. Leane Reed and Steve Mitchell, 33.92, $140. 2nd. Adele Brown and Chris Meek, 35.71, $105. 3rd. Vicki Benedetti and Steve Mitchell, 39.25, $70. 4th. Patti Parker and Jim Parker, 21.85 on two, $35.
Handicapped Pick & Draw: 3 for $20, 21.5 teams.
1st. go: 1st. Larry Williams and Erin Jasper, 7.70, $40.
Average: 1st. Sam Orrison and Chris Meek. 2nd. Larry Williams and Erin Jasper, 7.70 on one, $76. 3rd. Brent Morgan and Wendy Frazier, 9.31 on one, $55.
Saturday, May 13th:
Century: 3 for $20, 27 teams.
1st. go: 1st. Doug Parker and Scott Harvey, 8.32, $52.
Average: 1st. Leane Reed and Steve Mitchell, 32.38, $129. 2nd. Jim Parker and Scott Harvey, 34.34, $99. 3rd. Robert McGrew and Steve Mitchell, 38.30, $71.
Handicapped Draw Pot: 3 for $25, 108 teams.
1st. go: 1st. Larry Williams and Ty Morrill, 7.01, $110. 2nd. Fritz Morrill and Ty Morrill, 7.39, $84. 3rd. Ryan Mahon and Katie Lee, 7.47, $61.
Average: 1st. Larry Williams and Ty Morrill, 24.21, $419. 2nd. Doug Parker and Scott Harvey, 25.13, $347. 3rd. Doug Parker and Doug Young, 25.70, $275. 4th. Fritz Morrill and Ty Morrill, 30.51, $202.
Handicapped Draw Pot: 3 for $25, 61 teams.
 1st. go: 1st. Larry Williams and Ty Morrill, 7.98, $86.
Average: 1st. Larry Williams and Ty Morrill, 31.72, $245. 2nd. Doug Parker and Chris Meek, 35.74, $204. 3rd. Larry Williams and Doug Parker, 37.17, $163. 4th. Larry Williams and Grant Strong, 38.56, $122. 5th. Ryan Mahon and Steve Mitchell, 40.92, $82.