In an effort to create a bit of buzz by bringing in more
contestants, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show
&
amp; Rodeo will feature rough stock events sanctioned by the
California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association this weekend, after
organizers had seen reduced numbers in local contestants in recent
years past. Locals and weekend warriors can still compete in bull
riding and cowboy-style bronc riding on Sunday, although Friday and
Saturday will be a night for the pro riders in bareback, saddle
bronc and bull riding
— events that will still feature some local talent, including
Tres Pinos bronc rider Elliot French.
HOLLISTER
In an effort to create a bit of buzz by bringing in more contestants, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo will feature rough stock events sanctioned by the California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association this weekend, after organizers had seen reduced numbers in local contestants in recent years past.
Locals and weekend warriors can still compete in bull riding and cowboy-style bronc riding on Sunday, although Friday and Saturday will be a night for the pro riders in bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding — events that will still feature some local talent, including Tres Pinos bronc rider Elliot French.
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Using the CCPRA as a way of generating more contestants, Arena Director Mark Skow said organizers had been collecting questionnaire information during past rodeos, and the feedback was often the same.
“They want to see more bull riders and bucking horses,” Skow said. “Hopefully, they will be pleased with what we’re doing.”
The arena director said there are no plans to do anything similar in other events, as most other events are drawing enough contestants.
Although the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo has always been a locals-only performance, rodeo officials began opening up the rough stock events to out-of-county contestants four years ago.
“It just wasn’t drawing the numbers,” Skow said.
Organizers reserved 15 slots for local competitors, then opened the competition to those cowboys in the five adjacent counties — Monterey, Fresno, Merced, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara — to fill the remaining spots.
But even then, despite opening up the events to a larger geographical area, the rough-stock spots remained relatively unfilled.
“We opened it up several years ago to the five adjacent counties, and that didn’t help entries,” Skow said.
This year, for instance, eight bull riders and two bronc riders will compete during Sunday’s competition, according to Leon Mayou in the rodeo office.
As for Friday and Saturday, though, 12 bull riders, 11 bronc riders and four cowboys in the bareback event will compete. And the names aren’t exactly unknowns to San Benito County residents.
Saddle bronc contestants include Hollister’s Travis Carreirro, Tres Pinos’ Jeff Rianda, French and Monty Shaack, and Paicines’ John Flook, while locals in the bull riding event include Hollister’s Russell Baldwin.
Meanwhile, some of the top out-of-county competitors include Forrest Mallory of Paso Robles and Justin Lawrence of Woodlake, each of whom figure into the top six in the latest CCPRA saddle bronc standings; Cody Kiser of Carson City, Zack Brown of Red Bluff and Rhett Davila of Castro Valley, each of whom are listed in the top eight in the bareback standings; and Garrett Lange of Reedley and Leif Ferri of Willits, who both figure into the top 10 in CCPRA bull riding.
Skow is hoping news of the Saddle Horse Show spreads by word of mouth among the pro cowboys following this year’s competition, too, supplying next year’s show with an even better turnout.
“These guys are competing all year long for points. By coming to this rodeo, they’re gaining points for their year-end [competition],” Skow said. “So there is a little more incentive for them than there has been in the past.”
San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo
The CCPRA sanctioned rough stock events will be held Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bolado Park Fairgrounds.
Bareback: Cody Kiser, Carson City; Zack Brown, Red Bluff; Rhett Davila, Castro Valley; Leif Ferri, Willits.
Bull Riding: Chris Rocha, Manteca; William Morris, Reno; Cody Reich, Livermore; Randy Schaapman, Manteca; Joe Chamberlain, Newman; Garrett Lange, Reedley; Arturo Martinez, Gustine; Russell Baldwin, Hollister; Bo Bean, Gilroy; Leif Ferri, Willits; Colton Lyons, King City; Kenneth Restani, King City; Frank Aguilera, Newman; Charlie Rowe, Morgan Hill.
Saddle Bronc: Justin Lawrence, Woodlake; Greg Lewis, Atascadero; John Giacone, Kerman; Luke White, Roseville; John Flook, Paicines; Monty Shaack, Tres Pinos; Jeff Rianda, Tres Pinos; Elliot French, Tres Pinos; Darren Redelsperger, Tahachapi; Travis Carreirro, Hollister; Forret Mallory, Paso Robles.
