The ProRodeo Sports News - April 19, 2019

“Had we not been entered, they would’ve had one bareback rider,” St. Clair said. “It really helps to make a show if more guys are competing. It was a great experience for all of us.” At their annual meeting, committee members in the Columbia River Circuit searched for a way to boost numbers. Kenny Haworth has been the bareback riding event director in the circuit for four years. At a question- and-answer session with committees his first year, Haworth, who also competes, was asked how to increase entries. “I was shy and didn’t know what to say,” Haworth said. “So, I said, ‘Pay our entry fees.’” Haworth and fellow bareback rider Austin Foss got together with Stacey Dowton, Trishanne Beckner and Allison France – the Rodeo Dumb Girls, as they call themselves. What they came up with was the idea to encourage committees in the circuit to pay the entry fees for bareback riding permit holders. The committees also give each permit holder a $25 gas card. The first year, 12 rodeos took part in what was dubbed the Columbia River Bareback Series. The rodeo count in the series is up to 15, with the Omak Stampede sponsoring a rifle to the year-end winner. The group is also trying to put mentors in place to help young riders

St. Clair came back early from injury to claim the

series.

CIRCUIT COUNT

Haworth has seen his idea bloom with St. Clair and Pool both making the circuit finals for the first time. “It was pretty cool seeing them at the circuit finals,” Haworth said. “They both had more confidence than at the start of the year because they got to keep rodeoing. That helped them start winning more.” St. Clair knows his days of being on his permit are limited. But he stayed on it this year knowing he could rodeo for free at some places within his circuit. “Shoot, because of this permit series, I’m doing my final permit year,” St. Clair said. “Normally, I would’ve gone to my card, but I was able to do one more year of it. I’m not going to miss out on free entry fees at that many circuit rodeos.” Haworth is excited by what the program has accomplished, so far. He’s hoping it continues to grow. “I think it’s going to keep developing into something more, I hope it will, at least,” Haworth said. “It’d be nice if we all got paid to go to rodeos.”

The number of bareback riders who competed by circuit in 2018. Montana ................... 37 Texas ........................ 37 Southeastern ............ 33 Wilderness ............... 29 Mountain States ........ 25 Prairie ....................... 24 California .................. 23 Columbia River ......... 22 Great Lakes ............... 21 Turquoise .................. 19 Badlands ................... 16 First Frontier ............... 8

understand the sport and bridge the gap between deciding if they want to compete and understanding how to. As Dowton put it, the goal was to help the permit holders who might be low on travel funds during the summer and early fall when the regular season is nearing conclusion and the Columbia River Circuit is in full swing. “Maybe they were going all spring and were a hurting a little bit (from small injuries), but they can come up to the Northwest,” Dowton said. “They can start Memorial Day weekend and hit our circuit and hit 15 rodeos where they don’t have to pay entry fees, possibly fill their card and for sure go down the road.” Haworth has talked about the program to permit holders outside of the circuit, some on the other side of the country. And the response has been great. “Some kids down south are planning on going over to the Columbia River to stay for the summer,” Haworth said. “They can go to more rodeos and only have to pay for half of them.” WINNERS ALL AROUND St. Clair won the bareback series last season. He and Cauy Pool battled neck and neck down to the wire.

Roseanna Sales photo Bareback rider Kirk St. Clair kneels after a ride at the RAM Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Yakima, Wash., Jan. 13.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/19/2019

ProRodeo.com

33