Following scoring change, local bronc rider Elliot French
narrowly advances to final day at California Rodeo in Salinas for
first time in pro career
SALINAS
For local bronc rider Elliot French, competing in Sunday’s championship round of the California Rodeo has been a bit of a dream.
After all, the Tres Pinos resident lives just 40 minutes away from the Salinas Sports Complex but had never qualified toward the short go of the Salinas rodeo, where many of San Benito County’s most famous cowboys and cowgirls have made a name for themselves in years past.
“I’ve dreamt about it for a long time,” French said of being able to compete on Sunday.
Dreams tend to be over at a moment’s notice, of course, right when you least expect it.
In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, French advanced to the final round of the California Rodeo last weekend for the first time in his pro career, finishing with a two-go score of 153. The local bronc rider finished out of the money — Rusty Allen of Utah earned first with 170 points — but did finish in the short go at Salinas, which didn’t appear would happen earlier in the day.
After recording an unofficial score of 77 on Friday night in Salinas, a score that would have fallen just short of qualifying the local bronc rider toward Sunday’s go, French’s score was changed to a 78 on Saturday when the score was made official, vaulting the 25-year-old into Sunday’s Day of Champions.
French didn’t find out of the scoring change until Sunday at noon, however, leaving little time to prepare.
“I just found out about an hour before the rodeo started,” said French, who called the PRCA at noon to confirm his placement. The rodeo started at 1:15 p.m., with the saddle bronc event scheduled for 2:39 p.m.
“I was pumped. It could have been a lot worse,” French added. “But it could have been better.”
After narrowly making Sunday’s cut, French needed to score a 92 in order place first overall, and an 85 in order to find a top-four spot. But while riding “River Rat,” a horse that didn’t appear to provide much bucking action for the fourth-year cowboy, French was only able to record a 75.
“I didn’t get to see it buck, but a couple of guys mentioned that it wasn’t something that you can win in a short round with,” French said. “But at the same time, I’m not gonna say it wasn’t partly my fault, either.
“You can always do better. And with that type of horse, you have to have a perfect ride.”
Sunday’s ride culminated an otherwise wild turn of events that began on Friday night, when French unofficially recorded a 77 while atop “Spice Girl.” He slowly realized over the course of the weekend that he’d have to wait another year in order to have another chance at the short go — his 77 wasn’t going to cut it.
“The top 12 go on to Sunday. I knew 77 was in there somewhere, but I knew it’d be pretty tight,” French said. “When I was back in Tres Pinos. I found out 77 wasn’t going to make it back, so I didn’t even call.”
Some of French’s fellow bronc riders did, however. Paicines resident John Flook phoned French’s traveling partner Darin Redelsperger, who then called French himself to tell him of the last-minute news: At some point on Saturday, French’s score of 77 was changed to a 78, giving him just enough to make the cut toward Sunday’s short go.
No time for dreaming.
“It was just enough,” French said.
“I couldn’t even breathe for an hour before this deal, I was so excited,” he added. “It was actually probably better because I didn’t have to think about it for two days.”
It’s said that anything can happen in rodeo on a Sunday, and French’s final day at the 100th Annual California Rodeo certainly stays true to that adage.
Sunday’s appearance was a shining point for the local bronc rider this season, who is 12th in the California Circuit. French struggled earlier this season while trying to break in a new saddle.
“I was worrying about it too much. It was more mental than anything,” he said of the new saddle, which was a different style than his previous one. “It’s made me more determined, though. I’m not gonna quit like this.
“I’m just gonna make it through this year, stay in the California Circuit for the most part, keep my qualifications up, and go for it toward the end of the year.”
French wasn’t the only local performer who competed on Sunday. Billy Aviles and Allan Renz took second place in the wild cow milking event on Thursday night to advance to Sunday, but fell short in the championship round, while Scott and Alex Naccarato also competed in the event.
Becky Ford and Sydnee Masuen were both flag-bearers during the parade entry. Ford also competed in the Centennial Sprint Horse Race, while Hollister’s Brittany Slaton, Miss California Rodeo 2009, was in attendance with incoming 2010 queen Brittany Voss, as well as Queen Megan Ford, a Hollister resident representing District 4.
In rough stock, Tres Pinos’ Jeff Rianda competed in saddle bronc on Thursday, while John Flook did the same on Saturday, when he recorded a 72.
“I just kind of missed a couple of jumps right at the start,” Flook said on Saturday after riding “Head Light.”
“The horse was real nice, but you’ve got to draw one of those good buckers.”
Following his eight-second ride, Flook, 32, walked off the arena floor with a noticeable limp after suffering a sprained ankle at the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo. A two-time defending saddle bronc champion at Bolado Park, Flook said the injury had little effect on his ride Saturday.
“He bucked good, though,” said Flook, who’s ranked 14th in the circuit. “I should have rode him better.”
