Leandra Spence and “Bruce” Are Champions At WCBRA Finals
By Jaime Hinton
Special To Ropers Sports News
Days before the first round of the West Coast Barrel Racing Finals, Diamond Bar Arena is hustling. Volunteers are stuffing contestant bags full of water bottles sponsored by Renew Gold, Ivercare Wormers donated by Farnam, Pyranha Fly Spray, Buck Fart n’ Run Horse Cookies, Craisins, Blue Diamond Almonds, Jack Links Jerky, Cowgirl Tuff certificates, salt blocks from Redmond Rock and more. Workers were busy in the fields building horse pens, setting out trash cans, organizing the facility for the onslaught of horses that were bound to roll in at any moment. Tractor drivers were watering and conditioning all three arenas and both UPS and Fed Ex trucks were rolling in and out of the facility like a relay team.
By Friday morning, Aug. 31, the parking lot is already three-quarters full, vendors line the driveway and contestants are swarming the office. Sherrie Jones and Janel Flook are greeting contestants and handing out loaded goodie bags and riders are busy getting the lay of the land and sizing up the big sandy arena where they will compete for $53,350 in added money and more than $30,000 worth of awards over the next three days. At 3 pm the barrel pattern is set and horses are cruising through exhibition runs, fine tuning what they hope will win them more money in one weekend than they’ve competed for all year. As the sun sets on Friday evening, a wine social is in full swing. Contestants, their family and friends, mill around the cook shack visiting with friends they don’t often see as competitors have traveled from all over the state and parts of Nevada for this event. There is a sense of camaraderie and excitement in the air, speculation about whose name will top the leader board and anticipation of great runs and great rewards. It was a beautiful night at Diamond Bar arena, the calm before the storm.
Saturday morning, cowgirls and cowboys are starched and pressed in western attire and anxiously awaiting the start of the first round of the Richest Race in the West. The minute the clock strikes eleven, announcer Taylor Nahrgang’s voice booms across the loudspeakers with an air of excitement and urgency. The first rider out, Shella Dewhurst, tests the ground and proves it fast laying down an early lead with a 17.841. An hour later, Nevada resident Lita Scott shut the clock off with a 17.337. The fence line was packed at draw number 121 when Alessandra Anton and VF Firin Red headed toward the gate. The young team didn’t disappoint when the score board lit up with 17.264. At draw number 186 people held their breath as Lita Scott jockeyed her second gun, Tulsa, to a 17.278, just a whisper off the leader and good enough for second in the first day of competition.
Day two of the Richest race in the West had spectators predicting a repeat of last year’s battle between Alessandra Anton and Lita Scott. The two had duked it out last year in a fight to the finish with Lita Scott narrowly taking home the 2011 Championship saddle in the inaugural West Coast Finals Race. And now, after the first round, things looked to be headed the same way for 2012. The day was off to a great start with the dynamic duo of Shannon Shade (Salinas, CA) and her beautiful black mare, Sixy Saity, taking an early lead with a 17.424. The run held the top spot all the way to draw number 202 when Oakdale resident Leandra Spence and her horse Bruce stopped the clock in 17.342.
As usual, at draw number 276, Lita Scott came into the arena wanting to win something and refusing to weaken. The crowd showed their appreciation for the Reno, Nev., cowgirl when she stopped the clock with the fastest time of the day and a go round win with a 17.267. At the close of the second day of competition, checks had been written for over $60,000 in payout and contestants are filing to the bleachers to watch the awards presentation for the Top 20 Riders for the year in the association standings. Bailey Nahrgang from Paso Robles, California had stomped the competition and run away with the Championship Saddle for 2012. The Cowgirl received a Crown C Championship Saddle, a Best Ever Saddle Pad, a 20X Resistol Cowboy Hat, a bronc halter from Jaco Brands, a year end jacket from Cowgirl Tuff Company, and a year’s worth of feed from West Coast Barrel Racing sponsor, LMF Horse Feeds and Jim Brem. The Top 20 Contestants received an assortment of prizes including Jaco Brands breast collars, bronc halters and headstalls, saddle pads from Best Ever, Resistol Cowboy Hats, Silver Lining Products and Apparel, Cowgirl Tuff Jackets, feed from LMF Horse Feeds, Farnam Horse Products and bags of Renew Gold.
Top 20 Riders for 2012:
1. Bailey Nahrgang, Paso Robles. 2. Katy Varian, Parkfield. 3. Betty Grohl, Jamestown. 4. Charlene Jespersen, Hanford. 5. Cheri Graves, Atascadero. 6. Shelby Stansbury, Oakdale. 7. Randee Hedrick, Atascadero. 8. Drew Kermeen, Sonora. 9. Pamela Scheer, Ceres. 10. Julie Martin, Paso Robles. 11. David Lawson, Santa Rosa. 12. Lauren Pai, Lincoln. 13. Jerri Mann, Bakersfield. 14. Lita Scott, Reno, Nev. 15. Jere Kleinpeter, San Luis Obispo. 16. Chris Rose, Chowchilla. 17. Sandy Wall, Waterford. 18. Stacy Hampton, Chowchilla. 19. Dreux Clark, San Luis Obispo. 20. Brittney Barnett, Bakersfield.
Monday morning people are crunching numbers, crossing fingers and praying the combination of the two will end up with their name on a certificate for a Crown C Saddle and an average Championship. At 9 a.m. the gates crack and the last go round is underway. Lita Scott and Julie lay down the law at draw number 36 to take the lead with a 17.493. She was answered by Leandra Spence and Bruce at draw 84 with a 17.456. Year-end Champion Cowgirl Bailey Nahrgang, brought her A game and smoked a 17.349 riding Shes A Brisco and holding the lead all the way until Chowchillas Stacy Hampton navigated her power house bay gelding, Big Ticket into the arena at number draw 302. Always electric to watch, the pair smoked a 17.303 winning the last go round and a check for $1250.
As the last rider rode out of the arena, number crunchers were busy, calculators were smoking and people gathered in masses to hear the final results. Competitors were mourning knocked over barrels as they eyed the award lineup proudly displayed on tables. When the dust settled, it was Leandra Spence and Bruce who would take home the 1D Championship. The duo was 52.236 on three collecting an average check for $800 along with a Crown C Trophy saddle and other awards. The 2D Championship was won by Arroyo Grande Cowgirl Rachel Dewar and her horse Joker. Claiming the 3D championship, from Brentwood, California was barrel racing trainer Shelley Holman and Ultimately Sharp and the 4D Crown C was taken home to Lincoln, Calif., by barrel racer Lindsay Derobertis and Color Me Like a Bully.
West Coast Barrel Racing wrote checks for over $107,000 in payout in just three days. The event was truly something members, producers, sponsors and barrel racing fans could be proud of. Shane Parson worked triple time in his usual fashion to produce ground that was even, fast and beyond anyone’s expectations throughout the entire race. His facility was put to the test, and as people have come to expect, he and his wife, Kim Parson pull out all the stops to make sure people are taken care of and expectations exceeded.
West Coast Level Producers were on hand to help including; Sherrie Jones (Jones Ranch Arena Morro Bay, CA), Jerri Mann and Michelle Sullivan (JBS Bakersfield), Dave Spurr, Missy Tuck, Taylor and Bailey Nahrgang (Spurr Ranch, Shandon, CA), Tina Daries (Salinas, CA), Amanda Stallins, Skip and Sherry Hagemeier (MREC Lincoln, CA), Holly Harris (Salinas, CA) Lita Scott (Reno, NV), Vickie Sabin (King City, CA), Katy Varian (V6 Ranch Parkfield, CA), Spring Krogue (Circle D Horsemen Vacaville, CA), Lance and Lyndee Stairs (Stairs Ranch Hanford, CA), Charleen Ornellas (C-N Arena Lemoore, CA). New producers Jed and Kari Folks from Rancho Del Salinas got their hands dirty, driving tractors, setting barrels and being anywhere else help was needed. Josi Appling worked the gate for over 1000 competition runs, remembers people’s names, and helps when a horse won’t head toward the arena and the entire time, kept a smile on her face. WCBRA would like to extend a HUGE Thank you to both Josi and her mother, Kathi Appling, for all the help they provide at Diamond Bar Arena!
At the end of finals last year, we asked the question; “Could we beat the $36,000 we added in 2011?” The answer? Heck yes. We knocked it out of the park. The 2012 Richest Race in the West was an unbelievable success. From volunteers like Berta Richardson and Drew Kermeen (who stuffed over 350 contestant bags), announcer Taylor Nahrgang who rocks the best music, keeps the crowd entertained and the race moving, timer Billy Webb all the way from Jackson Mississippi, our fearless photographer Gene McFerran who sticks with us the ENTIRE race and even late into the night for awards, the tractor drivers, the volunteers, amazing sponsors and the dozens of people who played a part in the mass preparation and completion of this race; West Coast Barrel Racing would like to extend the biggest, deepest, from the bottom of our hearts with every ounce of everything we have to give – thank you 10,000 times over!
Results to 10th place are as follows (place, rider, horse, time and money won). Complete results can be found at ww.westcoastbarrelracing.com
SAT., SEPTEMBER 1
1D: 1st. Alessandra Anton, VF Firin Red, 17.264, $1,257. 2nd. Lita Scott, Tulsa, 17.278, $898. 3rd. Jaime Hinton, The Goob, 17.299, $718. 4th. Lita Scott, Julie, 17.337, $673. 5th. Caitlyn Wood, Spook Deville, 17.421, $628. 6th. Leandra Spence, Bruce, 17.438, $584. 7th. Pam Wilken, San Tessa, 17.476, $539. 8th. Stacy Hampton, Big Ticket, 17.510, $494. 9th. Stevie Mae Smith, Snit, 17.515, $449. 10th. Diane Williamson, GBA Impressive Command, 17.554, $404.
2D: 1st. Shelby Tuck, Bullion Dollar Bay, 17.777, $1,131.2nd. Betty Grohl, Boomer, 17.790, $808. 3rd. Chris Rose, Cool Jewel Dun It, 17.802, $646. 4th. Michelle Steagall, 17.828, $606. 5th. Gypsy Watson, Sheza Red Nic Road, 17.834, $566. 6th. Cheyenne Hattesen, Spanky, 17.836, $525. 7th. Shella Dewhurst, Top Time Dude, 17.841, $485. 8th. Annie Spurr, Travel Boogie, 17.842, $444. 9th. Katy Varian, Amigo, 17.844, $404. 10th. June Ruse, Cowgirls Gone Wild, 17.864, $364.
3D: 1st. Cathy Vallerga, Patron, 18.268, $964. 2nd. Kimberlee Boddy, Sweet Lady Escape, 18.277, $688. 3rd. Shakoda Hodge, Black, 18.299, $551. 4th. Betty Grohl, Beacon, 18.301, $516. 5th./6th. Carrie Kevie, Sounds of Jet, and Jeri Mann, Nic N Shine, 18.317, $465. 7th. Sandi Acosta, Barpassers Gold Rose, 18.318, $413. 8th. May Ann Gillis, Heaven’s Lil Playboy, 18.325, $379. 9th. Laura Stadtler, Star, 18.336, $344. 10th./11th Doreen Drummond, Amar Dinero and Shealynn Day, Merada, 18.341, $293.
4D: 1st. Dana Luther, Cooper, 19.267, $838. 2nd. Sydney Mayer, 19.271, $599. 3rd. Amanda MacInnes, Drifters, 19.285, $479. 4th. Jane King, Bert, 19.295, $449. 5th. Randee Hedrick, Long Legs, 19.302, $419. 6th. Susan Mann, Vinnie, 19.313, $389. 7th. Rhonda Gomes, Trixie, 19.319, $359. 8th. Stevie Mae Smith, Maddy, 19.322, $329. 9th. Stella Phillips, Haypatch Trail, 19.355, $299. 10th. Kim Brown, Sizzlin Contender, 19.358, $269.
SUN., SEPTEMBER 2
1D: 1st. Lita Scott, Richard, 17.267, $1,257. 2nd. Leandra Spence, Bruce, 17.342, $898. 3rd. Erin Ricotti, Kiss My Star, 17.410, $718.4th. Shannon Shade, Sixy Saity, 17.424, $673. 5th. Jaimie Hinton, The Goob, 17.425, $628. 6th. Caitlyn Wood, Spook Deville, 17.482, $584. 7th./8th. Stevie Mae Smith, Snit and Lita Scott, Tulsa, 17.515, $517.9th. Amanda Stallins, Tivios Custom Gage, 15.538, $449. 10th. Rya Smith, Little Darlin, 17.562, $404.
2D: 1st. Amy Von Tour, Bully’s Dreamer, 17.767, $1,131. 2nd. Cheyenne Hattesen, Spanky, 17.773, $808. 3rd. Stacey Bigelow, Can’t Pay The IRS. 17.793, $646. 4th. Lyndee Stairs, Fire Water Slidin, 17.794, $606. 5th. Shelby Stansbury, MP Drifitin On A Sugar High, 17.804, $566. 6th. Chris Rose, E Bar Docs Mace, 17.822, $525. 7th. Rachel Dewar, Joker, 17.835, $485. 8th. Katie Dugo, MK Tiger ID, 17.849, $444. 9th. Rayanne Currin, Frenchmans Cheetah, 17.849, $404. 10th. Rebecca Wright, Zeros Hombre Chico, 17.857, $364.
3D: 1st. Aimee Barragan, Cookie, 18.267, $964. 2nd./3rd. Cheryl Gomes, Quincy Zan, and Zarina Szeflin, Hannah, 18.271, $620. 4th. Amy Cook Thirsty, 18.283, $516. 5th. Kirsty Monschein, I’m Espeical Too, 18.287, $482. 6th. Sandi Acosta, Barpassers Gold Rose, 18.299, $447. 7th. Jeri Mann, Nic N Shine, 18.301, $413. 8th. Kelly Lopez, Driftin For Cash, 18.304, $379. 9th. Amy Slye, Happy, 18.309, $344. 10th. Lisa Cresta, Espuela Katywood, 18.330, $310.
4D: 1st. Katelyn Abshire, Elenor, 19.268, $838. 2nd. Joyce Combs, Sammy, 19.275, $599. 3rd. Lynn Novi, R U Serious, 19.289, $479. 4th. Cheryl Gomes, CR Little Red Rodeo, 19.297, $449. 5th. Sis Buttrey, Pringles, 19.310, $419. 6th. Tiare Ferguson, Woodrow Cadillac, 19.317, $389. 7th. Tena McMurtrey, Santee Bid, 19.339, $359. 8th. Kristel Ising, SL Last Chance, 19.362, $329. 9th. Carrie Kevie, Stairways Gemma, 19.363, $299. 10th. Cynthia Konda, Tiny, 19.382, $269.
MON., SEPTEMBER 5
1D: 1st. Stacy Hampton, Big Ticket, 17.303, $1,250. 2nd. Bailey Nahrgang, Shes A Brisco, 17.399, $893. 3rd. June Rust, Cowgirls Gone Wild, 17.366, $714. 4th. Leandra Spence, Bruce, 17.456, $670. 5th. Allessandra Anton, VF Firin Red, 17.476, $625. 7th. Michelle Steagall, 17.511, $536. 8th. Lita Scott, Julie, 17.493, $581. 9th. Vonnie Nunes, Hawk, 17.545, $447. 10th. Amanda Stallins, Tivos Custom Gage, 17.550, $402.
2D: 1st. Charleen Ornellas, Shesa Smokin Dandy, 17.809, $1,125. 2nd. Cheryl Gatz, Bacon, 17.819, $804. 3rd. Diane Williamson, GBA Impressive Command, 17.821, $643. 4th. Terrie Graves, Peppy, 17.822, $603. 5th. Randee Hedrick, Scratched Wrangler, 17.848, $563. 6th. Lacey Lockard, Wrangler Rivets, 17.849, $522. 7th. David Lawson, Rosebuds Jet, 17.856, $482. 8th./9th. Kim Quinn, Lillie, and Sadie Fontes, Tucker, 17.875, $422. 10th. Rayanne Currin, Frenchmans Cheetah, 17.878, $362.
3D: 1st. Tammy Hoskins, Chex The Blue, 18.305, $959. 2nd. Laurie Nichols, Boss, 18.310, $685. 3rd. Megan Smith, Fannie Mae, 18.323, $548. 4th. Kayla Foster, Boogie Blue Tie, 18.328, $514. 5th. Shealynn Day, Peppy, 18.338, $479. 6th. Eryn Greenfield, Smoke Like Me, 18.347, $445. 7th. Kellie Romine, Miss N Delight, 18.356, $411. 8th. Lisa Cresta, Espuela Katywood, 18.360, $377. 9th. Debbie Haskins, White Tie N Blue Jeans, 18.382, $342. 10th. Steve Quinn, Checka, 18.388, $308.
4D: 1st. Katie Price, Bad Girl Chick, 19.303, $834. 2nd. Joyce Combs, Sammy, 19.323, $595. 3rd. Janel Flook, Jewel of The County, 19.329, $476. 4th. Stevie Mae Smith, Maddy, 19.396, $447. 5th. Melissa Rankin, Tex, 19.402, $417. 6th./7th. Heather Nemeth, Jake, and Brittney Barnett, Playboy, 19.403, $372. 8th. Linda Nemeth, Solanos Royal Rita, 19.412, $327. 9th. Ranveig Magden, Gay Gay, 19.454, $298. 10th. Cindy Jorge, Gemini, 19.460, $268.
Average results are as follows:
1D: 1st. Leandra Spence, Bruce, 52.236, $800. 2nd. Jaime Hinton, The Goob, 52.356, $720. 3rd. Alessandra Anton, VF Firin Red, 52.377, $600. 4th. Stacy Hampton, Big Ticket, 52.389, $400. 5th. Lita Scott, Julie, 52.500, $400. 6th. Caitlyn Wood, Spook Deville, 52.751, $320. 7th. Erin Ricotti, Kiss My Star, 52.751, $240. 8th. Lita Scott, Richard, 52.755, $160. 9th. Shannon Shade, Six Saity, 52.807, $140. 10th. Vonnie Nunes, Hawk, 52.900, $120.
2D: 1st. Rachel Dewar, Joker, 53.779, $720. 2nd. Sage Massey, Oli, 53.847, $648. 3rd. Gypsy Watson, Busy Jet O Lena, 53.886, $360. 4th. Angelina Carrion, Gunni, 53.866, $450. 5th. Sherrie Jones, Streaker Shoot Six, 53.886, $360. 6th. David Lawson, Rosebuds Jet, 53.949, $288. 7th. Lacey Lockard, Wrangler Rivets, 53.951, $216. 8th. Kelly Kutchera, You Could Be A Star, 53.989, $144. 9th. Savannah Robertson, Lola, 54.010, $126. 10th. Michelle Steagall, Specific Prospect, 54.079, $108.
3D: 1st. Shelley Holman, Ultimately Sharp, 55.259, $614. 2nd. Morgan Dewar, Colonel Trigger, 55.277, $552. 3rd. Sami Jo Morisoli, GW Miss N Buck, 55.324, $460. 4th. Laurie Riolo, Wanda Pay Cash, 55.375, $383. 5th. Megan Ehlers, Johnny Is Quick, 55.398. $307. 6th. David Lawson, Gay Bar Plastic Money, 55.435, $245. 7th. Amy Slye, Happy, 55.442, $184. 8th. Steve Quinn, Checka, 55.621, $123. 9th. Lori Mandarich, Awesome, 55.625, $107. 10th. Christane Anton, HR Docs Fancy Firewater, 55.637, $92.
4D: 1st. Lindsay Derobertis, Color Me Like A Bully, 58.239, $533. 2nd. Mandy Trammell, BW Special Dancer, 58.283, $480. 3rd. Katelyn Abshire, Elenor, 58.307, $400. 4th. Stella Phillips, Haypatch Trail, 58.452, $333. 5th. Melissa Rankin, Tex, 58.453, $267. 6th. Jennifer Dyer, Maggie, 58.534, $213. 7th. Tiare Ferguson, Woodrow Cadillac, 58.898, $160. 8th. Karen Moon, Wain, 58.917, $107. 9th. Pat Robertson, Arriba, 59.513, $93. 10th. Taylor Merrill, Tannar, 59.619, $80.
For complete results go to www.westcoastbarrelracing.com.
WCBRA Overall Year-End Champion was Bailey Nahrgang riding “She’s A Brisco.” (Capture Photography)
Mia Bernardi and Londyn Brazil participated in the Youth Division at the WCBRA Finals. (Capture Photography)
