2009 American West Finals Was a Success with Great Horsemanship and Barrel Racing

JAMIE COOK  REPEAT WINNER 2009 1D AVERAGE

The 2009 American West 4D Finals are now in the record books!  Riders competed for a grand total of $106,411 in payouts over the four days, October 14^th – 17^th, 2009.  A total of 1,899 entries were recorded for the four days of competition in the Open, Youth, Senior, American Cancer Society, and Appreciation Races.  NFR Competitors past and present were on hand for the four days of competition which added great excitement for the spectators watching the fast action.  Neil Merrill’s 2 Black Widows kept the ground in excellent condition from beginning to end for all the classes including the Pee Wees.

Major Sponsors were, Winnemucca Convention & Visitors Authority, The Winnemucca Inn, Cactus Tack, Plant Foods Incorporated Tack N Stuff, Silver Lining Herbs, ebarrelracing.com, The Racer’s Edge and Action Plus Photos.  Thank you too a great group of sponsors that made the event possible.

The American Caner Society received a check in the amount of $2,587 from American West 4D for the participation of riders in the Final’s ACS Races.  The rider’s participated in a ACS Sidepot for the benefit of American Cancer Society.  All the profits from this race were sent directly to the Western Division of ACS located in Reno, NV.  To date, $8,500 has been donated by AW4D to the American Cancer Society as a result of the ACS Sidepots.

A record breaking run for the Winnemucca Events Complex of 15.777 was set during the four days by Stacie Freitas on Lenas Sweet Jalapena on Friday’s Open competition.  The run was smooth as glass and brought excitement to that day’s event.  She was #13 on the draw position and held the lead until the last runner exited the building.

$77,821 Total Open Payout

1D Open Average Winners

A repeat by Jamie Cook, California,  from last year captured the Open 1D Average Title again this year riding her new mount, Especial Minniehuna.  Jamie Cook’s total time on four runs was 64.774 winning her a total of $2,191.  Jamie’s style of training and riding proved to be one of the best for the four days of Open competition.  Both she and Especial Minniehuna are poetry in motion to watch.

Lita Scott of Reno, NV riding Snit was the Reserved Open 1D Average winners when the action stopped.  Lita’s total time on four days of runs was 65.291 proving again her abilities as a rider and trainer.  Lita was the high money winner for the total four days with a take home of $5,938 riding four horses!

Jandee Scott riding BCR Stella Bella placed third in the 1D Average with a time on four runs, 65.562.  Jandee’s take home in the Open was $875.  Karla Probst traveling down from Idaho rode her great mount Miss Lucky Saint to win the 4^th Place in the Open 1D, total time of 65.641.  Karla’s take home for four days of competition was $2,401.  To round out the Fifth Place Average in the Open 1D was Marvel Murphy riding Cougar.  Marvel and Cougar’s total time on four was 65.905.  Marvel took home a grand total of $1,871 riding two horses in the Open.

2D Open Average Winners

Winnemucca, Nevada’s own Brittany Surrage riding CH Boogies Jet won the top spot in the 2D Average with a total time of 66.808.  Brittany took home a beautiful Masters Saddle plus other great awards for winning the 2D Average.

Janel Flook a talented rider from California and her mare Rios Winner stopped the clocks with a total on four of 66.832 winning Reserve Position in the 2D Open Average.  This young lady is one to watch in the coming months to progress very rapidly.  She and her mare are fun to watch turning the barrels as pros.

Stephanie Carlsen on Shadow Wink placed 3^rd in the Open 2D with a total time of 66.952.  Stephanie is a competitor from beginning to end once the competition begins and as one of the best support systems in place with her husband Casey close by.  She has three great gray horses all related and they all run barrels beautifully.  Stephanie’s take home for the Finals was a total of $1,340.

Fourth Place finisher, Sandra Inglis, from Oregon, riding Beauty’s Poco Deck had a total of 67.125 in the 2D Average.  Rusty, her husband is close by to assist Sandra whenever necessary and encourages her to be the best.  They are a partnership in action!

Jamie Cook not only one the 1^st place in the 1D Average but also the 5^th position in the 2D Average riding KS Cash N Fame.  The duo stopped the clocks with a total time of 67.222.  Obvious to the crowd in the grandstand watching, KS Cash N Fame will be a name to remember as they climb to the top of the leader board.   Jamie and her husband Kenny, train both riders and horses in the Northern California hills and team rope as often as possible.

3D Open Average Winners

First place finisher in the 3D Open Average went to Amanda Warr riding Selena with a total time of 69.032.      Amanda took home a total of $702.  Kathy Herseth from Arizona was the Reserved Winner in the 3D Open Average riding Kathy’s Cash.  Her total time for the four days was 69.087.  Washington’s Bailey Wallis and Skipa La Bar completed the four days with total time of 69.102 finishing 3^rd and Idaho’s Stacy McDaniel and Tommy were 4^th.  Lisa Wiggin and Jesse Merdoc finished 5^th in the 3D Average with total time of 69.121.

4D Open Average Winners

This group of riders were the closest of all to have ties in their total times.  Only a fraction of a 1000^th separated the five individuals placing in the top five.  Jessie Vega riding Alamitos Moon Deck was 1^st in the 4D with a total time of 70.793.  Close on her heels was Sheila Johnson-Carter and Judge Me Cagey with a time of 70.913 in 2^nd position.  Joey Vandorn and Freckles Peake stopped the clocks with a time of 70.930 for third place 4D Average and Lita Scott riding Pittses Sir Doc was only 4/1000^th behind with total time of 70.934.  Oregon’s own Shirley Martin riding Hitch Hike Ta Fame was 71.173 in 5^th 4D Average Placing.

5D Open Average Winners

Riding a young horse to win the 1^st Place position in the 5D Average was Brey Anne Rogers on DSB Miss Dixie Roya.  She had a total time of 72.947.  Brey Anne soon to be a newly wed is a full time nurse and has one of the best Pee Wee competitors around.  Julie Wahlen on Reno captured the Reserve position in the Open 5D Average with a total time of 73.116.  Newly wed, (during the Finals at Winnemucca) Carolee Rex was the 3^rd place finisher in the 5D Average riding Fishers Chief, big paint gelding just starting the barrel pattern.  From Round Mountain, NV Nancy Helming and Ditz placed 4^th in the four day average with a time of 73.765.  Leona Maes and Woodstock finished out the winners in the Open Average to represent Utah in 5^th place.  Upon completion of the 2009 American West Finals Leona will retire Woodstock from major competition.  A rest well deserved for her mount.

FOR COMPLETE RESULTS AND MONIES WON VISIT WWW.AW4D.COM FOR DETAILS.

Top  High Money Winners

$4,278 Total Youth Payout

1D Youth Average Winners

1^st Haillie Taylor/Picabo I.C.U.             Time:  67.680

2^nd Hailey Wallis/Skipa La Bar              Time: 69.102

3^rd Hailie Taylor/Whiz Of A Bundle  Time: 69.225

2D Youth Average Winners

1^st Charlene Howell/Dazzle Jess            Time: 69.728

2^nd Jessi Vega/Alamitos Moon Deck     Time: 70.793

3^rd Jessi Vega/Partee Harty Hickory    Time: 71.199

4^th Grace King/KC Misty Ann             Time: 71.559

4D Youth Average Winners

1^st Connor White/MS Foxy Remarks   Time: 77.217

2^nd Shelby Cotter/Angel                       Time: 78.222

3^rd Hailey Strom/Daisy                        Time: 80.065

$5,114 Total Senior Payout

1D Senior Average Winners

Karla Probst/Miss Lucky Saint             Time: 65.641

2^nd Sheri Reel/EZJ Wrangler                 Time: 66.189

3^rd Curtis Fitzgerald/Rockheart Red      Time: 66.658

4^th Sandra Inglis/Beauty’s Poco Deck    Time: 67.125

2D Senior Average Winners

1^st Angie Quintana/Keep Comin On             Time: 67.720

2^nd Raylene Naveran/Montanas Sharp Kid   Time: 67.762

3^rd Suzanne Koch/Lil Sugar Bit            Time: 67.791

4^th Carolyn Jensen/Rollin Dr. Nick                Time: 67.958

3D Senior Average Winners

1^st Carolyn Jensen/Jettin Ta Fame         Time: 70.038

2^nd Sherry Rice/Mia Striking                 Time: 70.101

3^rd Candy Butler/Pecos             Time: 70.382

4^th Julie Wahlen/Way To Streak                        Time: 70.724

4D Senior Average Winners

1^st Sue3 O’Brien/Blue Angel Jet            Time: 74.235

2^nd June Talcott/Churchill Cash Time: 74.779

3^rd Nancy McMahon/Mattie                 Time: 76.465

4^th Sheila Hill/Tracing Doves                 Time: 78.080

Tractor Drivers, Marvin Short and Paul Buckley of Idaho made sure the ground was superior for the first runner to the last during all four days.  Many thanks to the Winnemucca Events Complex staff and management who made sure all the details were taken care of.  The gate pullers, barrel setters, Mom’s Dad’s Sisters, Brothers, and Grandparents alike worked hard to make sure the event ran as smooth as it did.  Hat’s off to all of the staff and volunteers that made sure the littlest of details were taken care of to make it one of the best and premier events of the year in Barrel Racing.