The ProRodeo Sports News - April 19, 2019

RAM CIRCUIT SPOTLIGHT COLUMBIA RIVER

Roseanna Sales photo A couple of bareback riders on their permits qualified for the Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Yakima, Wash., after having their entries paid for at 15 rodeos in the circuit. Rodeo for Free

Program in circuit covers entry fees for bareback riders on permit

BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI T wo years ago, bareback rider and permit holder Kirk St. Clair went to 12 rodeos in the Columbia River Circuit. Because of entry fees and the knowledge he would be competing against the best ProRodeo cowboys in the world, he couldn’t afford to go to more. In 2018, thanks to a program put on by the Columbia River Circuit in which bareback riders had their entry fees covered at 15 circuit rodeos, St. Clair went to 44 PRCA rodeos. He finished fourth in the circuit and 18th in the PRCA | RAMPermit Standings. He also went and competed at rodeos in Texas and didn’t get drawn out at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round- Up. Heck, he even got his preference in Pendleton. And because his rodeo count increased, his skill level increased. At the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Ore., in March, he finished fourth. “To be in the middle of Clayton Biglow andWyatt Denny and Steven

Peebles and R.C. Landingham and those guys, it feels good to be going on your permit and placing with those guys,” St. Clair said. IMPROVING RODEO Last season, only four circuits had fewer bareback riders competing than the Columbia River Circuit, which had 22. In general, bareback riding numbers are declining. So rodeo committees have attempted to develop ways to get more bareback riders to their rodeos. A lack of competitors can lead to a brief performance in the event. Last year, at the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo in July, St. Clair and several other permit holders were drawn out to give preference to card holders. But by the time the first perf rolled around, everyone but Steven Dent had withdrawn on opening night in St. Paul. So, St. Clair and four permit holders had their entries paid for and competed.

ProRodeo.com

32

ProRodeo Sports News 4/19/2019