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B.C. Interior boys ride on to U.S. High School Rodeo Finals

Marty Hastings / Kamloops This Week
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Marty Hastings / Kamloops This Week

Lincoln Yarama has been there before, but the U.S. National High School Rodeo Association Finals have not lost their lustre.

“It’s just such a big arena and, with all the flashing lights and all the competition, I’m looking forward to roping down there,” said Yarama, who will begin Grade 12 at Chase secondary in September.

Yarama, his mother and grandfather, along with horse Wally, hit the dusty trail on Wednesday. They left the Chase area en route to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where the U.S. finals will be held from Sunday to July 21.

The 16-year-old cowboy will compete in two events: Calf roping and team roping.

He earned his spot in calf roping by finishing first in that discipline at the B.C. High School Rodeo Finals in Merritt in June, a result that helped him secure the all-around boys’ title.

He also qualified for U.S. nationals in steer wrestling, but is opting out of that category.

Yarama will partner with Fallyn Mills of Pink Mountain in team roping. Mills has been a dominant force in the female division in B.C. and ran away with the all-around title at provincials.

Team roping is the only event at U.S. nationals in which boys and girls compete together.

“You have to be good at roping, have good horsemanship, be really athletic and able to jump off your horse and flank and tie the calf,” Yarama said. “You have to be smooth and consistent and try not to be too fast. You start bobbling if you do that.”

More than 1,500 athletes from 43 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces, Australia and Mexico will throw down at what is billed as the largest youth rodeo in the world. Cash prizes and scholarship dollars are up for grabs.

“So far, I have already achieved probably $6,000 in scholarships from going to these high school rodeos,” Yarama told Black Press. “That’s the whole point of high school rodeo, is to get scholarships. People want you on their rodeo team for college rodeo, right? I plan on going down south to Wyoming or Oklahoma or something like that.”

The 2018 event will mark Yarama’s sixth U.S. nationals appearance, with the first three being in the junior high division in grades 6, 7 and 8.

Owen Perry of Monte Creek and Ryan Roberts of Williams Lake won the B.C. team roping championship to qualify for U.S. nationals. Justin Mitchell of Heffley Creek won the bull riding event at provincials and qualified to compete in Wyoming.

Valleyview secondary student Carson Payton and his team roping partner Kash Sigouin of Barriere secondary round out the contingent of local cowboys heading to nationals.

Reaching U.S. nationals is an accomplishment in itself. Winning or placing is a tall task.

“Every state has their top five in every event,” Payton said. “Also, it’s not just the states. Canada and Australia are there and Mexico is new this year.

“Texas, they have a huge team and they are tough. Basically, anyone from down south is tough.”

Payton, who will be in Grade 11 when the next school year begins, agreed with Yarama’s assessment of what makes the U.S. nationals so special — the atmosphere.

“Just the crowd and roping and the lights and having fun and meeting new people,” said Payton, who had just crossed the border on the 18-hour trek to Rock Springs when he spoke to KTW.

“You go down there, you’re on TV … the crowd is outstanding. Your team cheers for you. It’s amazing.”

Payton made the trip south with horse T-Bone. Sigouin will ride Roany. They, along with many of their B.C. teammates, will head north after U.S. nationals and make way for the Nicola Valley.

Merritt will play host to the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals from July 27 to July 29.

“They’re a big deal,” Payton said. “It’s pretty tough because it’s all of Canada.”