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All-Around Cowgirl honors at the 2010 International Finals Youth Rodeo went to an Oklahoma competitor, while a young man from the Lonestar State took the All-Around Cowboy title Saturday at Shawnee’s Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
Ceri McCaffery, of Wayne, competed in five events over the past week to edge herself into the top spot. McCaffery fell just short of the money in Monday’s first-round runs through barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying, but took third in pole bending and second in breakaway in the second round.
McCaffery was sixth in the overall average in barrel racing heading into Saturday’s final performance, and was second in the overall average in breakaway roping and third in goat tying.
In her third year at Shawnee, McCaffery also competed in team roping.
McCaffery has been involved in rodeo “ever since I could walk,” she said, and doesn’t consider any one event her favorite. She just wants to compete.
McCaffery attributes her successes to “a lot of practice,” and the fact that she trains her own horses. She brought four horses with her this year to share the workload, and believes all of the time she and her horses put in together makes them a tight-knit team.
McCaffery rides the same horse in the team roping and goat tying events, but rides three different horse in each of the other three events. She didn’t fare well in last year’s IFYR, she said, because “I didn’t bring my good horses.”
McCaffery plans to return next year for one last run through the IFYR. She does plan to go to college, but is unsure of the profession she will choose. She is certain, however, that she wants to give professional barrel racing a try.
Some of McCaffery’s prior accomplishments in the sport include a High School Nationals win two years ago, as well as All-Around Rookie of the Year honors.
McCaffery’s total winnings at the 2010 IFYR were more than $6,180. That money, she said, will be split between college funds and more entry fees for future rodeos. She and her family left Shawnee Saturday for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo.
Competing in calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling, Bryce Barney of Carthage, Texas, was named this year’s All-Around Cowboy. Barney earned more than $4,360 for his efforts.
Barney took third in the first round of the calf roping event, then he won the short go before finishing second overall in the average in Saturday’s finals.
This was Barney’s third year to compete in Shawnee, and he plans to make a return visit in 2011 for his last year of eligibility for the IFYR. In 2009, Barney took third in calf roping, which he said is his favorite event.
He eventually hopes to take it the professional level.
“That’s the plan,” he said with a grin.
Barney has been involved in rodeo for “as long as I can remember,” he said.
“It’s definitely a family tradition,” he said.
Barney’s older brother, Spence, competed in the IFYR from 2003 to 2006.
Although he didn’t make the cut for the NHSFR in Gillette, Barney plans to spend the rest of his summer competing in amateur pro events.
“And, I’m going to take a week of vacation, hopefully, before school starts,” he said with a laugh.
The competition and the money are his favorite parts of coming to Shawnee, Barney said, and his winnings will go toward fuel for the truck to get him to other rodeos. He plans to go to college, and will probably major in agribusiness, he said, before hopefully going on to his professional calf roping stint.
His words of advice to aspiring calf ropers — “Work, work, work hard, and don’t give up. That’s all you can do.”
All-Around Cowgirl honors at the 2010 International Finals Youth Rodeo went to an Oklahoma competitor, while a young man from the Lonestar State took the All-Around Cowboy title Saturday at Shawnee’s Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
Ceri McCaffery, of Wayne, competed in five events over the past week to edge herself into the top spot. McCaffery fell just short of the money in Monday’s first-round runs through barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying, but took third in pole bending and second in breakaway in the second round.
McCaffery was sixth in the overall average in barrel racing heading into Saturday’s final performance, and was second in the overall average in breakaway roping and third in goat tying.
In her third year at Shawnee, McCaffery also competed in team roping.
McCaffery has been involved in rodeo “ever since I could walk,” she said, and doesn’t consider any one event her favorite. She just wants to compete.
McCaffery attributes her successes to “a lot of practice,” and the fact that she trains her own horses. She brought four horses with her this year to share the workload, and believes all of the time she and her horses put in together makes them a tight-knit team.
McCaffery rides the same horse in the team roping and goat tying events, but rides three different horse in each of the other three events. She didn’t fare well in last year’s IFYR, she said, because “I didn’t bring my good horses.”
McCaffery plans to return next year for one last run through the IFYR. She does plan to go to college, but is unsure of the profession she will choose. She is certain, however, that she wants to give professional barrel racing a try.
Some of McCaffery’s prior accomplishments in the sport include a High School Nationals win two years ago, as well as All-Around Rookie of the Year honors.
McCaffery’s total winnings at the 2010 IFYR were more than $6,180. That money, she said, will be split between college funds and more entry fees for future rodeos. She and her family left Shawnee Saturday for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo.
Competing in calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling, Bryce Barney of Carthage, Texas, was named this year’s All-Around Cowboy. Barney earned more than $4,360 for his efforts.
Barney took third in the first round of the calf roping event, then he won the short go before finishing second overall in the average in Saturday’s finals.
This was Barney’s third year to compete in Shawnee, and he plans to make a return visit in 2011 for his last year of eligibility for the IFYR. In 2009, Barney took third in calf roping, which he said is his favorite event.
He eventually hopes to take it the professional level.
“That’s the plan,” he said with a grin.
Barney has been involved in rodeo for “as long as I can remember,” he said.
“It’s definitely a family tradition,” he said.
Barney’s older brother, Spence, competed in the IFYR from 2003 to 2006.
Although he didn’t make the cut for the NHSFR in Gillette, Barney plans to spend the rest of his summer competing in amateur pro events.
“And, I’m going to take a week of vacation, hopefully, before school starts,” he said with a laugh.
The competition and the money are his favorite parts of coming to Shawnee, Barney said, and his winnings will go toward fuel for the truck to get him to other rodeos. He plans to go to college, and will probably major in agribusiness, he said, before hopefully going on to his professional calf roping stint.
His words of advice to aspiring calf ropers — “Work, work, work hard, and don’t give up. That’s all you can do.”
