NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
Junior named state champion in Georgia High School Finals Rodeo
Jun 25, 2004 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Mary Owens began riding in 1997, and after a visit to Canada’s Calgary Stampede in 2000, knew she wanted to concentrate on competing in rodeos. It was the right decision. Owens, a junior at Darlington School, was recently named state champion in the barrel racing and breakaway roping events at the Georgia High School Finals Rodeo, held June 4-6 in Perry.
According to Owens, there are a total of 33 rodeos during the Georgia High School Rodeo season, and riders get points for placing at each rodeo. Winners receive 10 points for first place, nine for second, etc. At the end of the season, the contestant with the most points in each event is named state champion.
Last year’s state winner in barrel racing, Owens said she was excited to claim the title again this year. “[I] had to come from behind to win, so that felt good,” she said. “In breakaway, I had to change horses mid-year due to an injury. This was a challenge. When I was able to hang on to first place and win breakaway as well as barrels, it seemed too good to be true. There was some stiff competition this year, and to be No. 1 is an accomplishment I am proud of.”
Owens said she has been hooked on barrels since 1998. “I watched a barrel race and knew then that it was an event I wanted to try. I like the speed and racing against time,” she said. “Before competing in rodeos, I ran barrels at barrel races. Once I began breakaway roping in 2002, my focus turned to competing at rodeos where I could enter both events.”
Owens explained that barrel racing involves running a cloverleaf barrel pattern as quickly as possible without knocking over a barrel. Doing so results in a five-second penalty. “A good time depends on the size of the barrel pattern,” she said, adding that times can range from 12 to 17 seconds.
As for breakaway roping, Owens said in order to be competitive, your time must be in the three-second range. “In breakaway roping, one end of the rope is tied to the saddle horn,” she said. “Once the calf leaves the chute, you rope him around the neck, pull the slack out of the rope and the rope breaks away from the saddle horn. Once the rope breaks away, the clock stops.”
Owens trains by riding every day and taking roping lessons once a week at the Lightning P Ranch in Resaca, Ga. “To be successful, you must be focused, consistent, a quick thinker, use instincts developed during practice and have some good luck, too,” she said.
As state champion in two events, Owens will compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo. July 19-25. According to a June 9 article in the Rome News-Tribune, Owens competed in the national rodeo last year [in Farmington, N.M.], but her barrel horse, Beau, was injured on the trip and she had to borrow an unfamiliar horse. This year will be her first time to compete in the roping event at the national level.
“The top four contestants in each state in each event qualify for nationals,” said Owens, who was named the Georgia High School Rodeo Association’s Rookie Cowgirl of the Year last year for finishing fourth for the year in all-around cowgirl points. “To prepare, I am keeping my horses in shape by exercising them daily and participating in local rodeos,” she said.
Owens served as student president of the GHSRA for 2003-2004. She has also been a member of the Wrangler All-Star Team for the past two years, winner of the 2004 Silver Hill Rodeo in breakaway roping, qualifier for the 2003 National Cowboys Association Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping and a three-time qualifier for the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Championship (qualifying for the finals in 2003). Also in 2003, she was named Georgia National Barrel Horse Association Teen Champion.
“I want to continue to rodeo for as long as I can,” said Owens. “I hope to rodeo in college, competing in collegiate rodeo.”
GHSRA is a self-supporting, non-profit organization affiliated with the National High School Rodeo Association, which is comprised of 39 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia. For more information, please visit the GHSRA website at www.ghsra.com
According to Owens, there are a total of 33 rodeos during the Georgia High School Rodeo season, and riders get points for placing at each rodeo. Winners receive 10 points for first place, nine for second, etc. At the end of the season, the contestant with the most points in each event is named state champion.
Last year’s state winner in barrel racing, Owens said she was excited to claim the title again this year. “[I] had to come from behind to win, so that felt good,” she said. “In breakaway, I had to change horses mid-year due to an injury. This was a challenge. When I was able to hang on to first place and win breakaway as well as barrels, it seemed too good to be true. There was some stiff competition this year, and to be No. 1 is an accomplishment I am proud of.”
Owens said she has been hooked on barrels since 1998. “I watched a barrel race and knew then that it was an event I wanted to try. I like the speed and racing against time,” she said. “Before competing in rodeos, I ran barrels at barrel races. Once I began breakaway roping in 2002, my focus turned to competing at rodeos where I could enter both events.”
Owens explained that barrel racing involves running a cloverleaf barrel pattern as quickly as possible without knocking over a barrel. Doing so results in a five-second penalty. “A good time depends on the size of the barrel pattern,” she said, adding that times can range from 12 to 17 seconds.
As for breakaway roping, Owens said in order to be competitive, your time must be in the three-second range. “In breakaway roping, one end of the rope is tied to the saddle horn,” she said. “Once the calf leaves the chute, you rope him around the neck, pull the slack out of the rope and the rope breaks away from the saddle horn. Once the rope breaks away, the clock stops.”
Owens trains by riding every day and taking roping lessons once a week at the Lightning P Ranch in Resaca, Ga. “To be successful, you must be focused, consistent, a quick thinker, use instincts developed during practice and have some good luck, too,” she said.
As state champion in two events, Owens will compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo. July 19-25. According to a June 9 article in the Rome News-Tribune, Owens competed in the national rodeo last year [in Farmington, N.M.], but her barrel horse, Beau, was injured on the trip and she had to borrow an unfamiliar horse. This year will be her first time to compete in the roping event at the national level.
“The top four contestants in each state in each event qualify for nationals,” said Owens, who was named the Georgia High School Rodeo Association’s Rookie Cowgirl of the Year last year for finishing fourth for the year in all-around cowgirl points. “To prepare, I am keeping my horses in shape by exercising them daily and participating in local rodeos,” she said.
Owens served as student president of the GHSRA for 2003-2004. She has also been a member of the Wrangler All-Star Team for the past two years, winner of the 2004 Silver Hill Rodeo in breakaway roping, qualifier for the 2003 National Cowboys Association Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping and a three-time qualifier for the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Championship (qualifying for the finals in 2003). Also in 2003, she was named Georgia National Barrel Horse Association Teen Champion.
“I want to continue to rodeo for as long as I can,” said Owens. “I hope to rodeo in college, competing in collegiate rodeo.”
GHSRA is a self-supporting, non-profit organization affiliated with the National High School Rodeo Association, which is comprised of 39 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia. For more information, please visit the GHSRA website at www.ghsra.com
