PO‘IPU — Sandra Akita started the year hot by earning All Around Cowgirl honor at the Kaua‘i All-Girls Rodeo Association opener at the CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu, Sunday. Akita, the 2011 KAGRA All Around Cowgirl captured top honors in
PO‘IPU — Sandra Akita started the year hot by earning All Around Cowgirl honor at the Kaua‘i All-Girls Rodeo Association opener at the CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu, Sunday.
Akita, the 2011 KAGRA All Around Cowgirl captured top honors in two events while finishing runner-up in one event and fourth in another of the six events presented by KAGRA.
Her first top finish came in the 2D Barrels category where she won with a 19.268 go, edging out KAGRA secretary Kim Medeiros (19.414) and Eliza Vierra (19.500).
She added a first finish in the 3D Pole Bending event with a blazing 22.074 over Wendy Tannery (22.113) and Cheyanne Tannery (22.432), Wendy and Cheyanne racing mother against daughter.
Akita’s second finish came in the 1D Barrels division where she was edged out by Taylor Ludington (17.737) and settled for the runner-up spot at 17.886, getting past Cheyanne Tannery (18.144) who had just the day before topped her age group at the YMCA Youth Fun Run at the Kilohana Plantation.
Akita’s final honor was the fourth finish in the Steer Undecorating event where she dropped to the event’s Reserve All Around Cowgirl, Kristyn Vasconcelles. Kristyn stopped the clocks at a 4.97 average on two go’s while Akita finished with a 5.91 average on two go’s.
Marti Snyder topped the event on a 4.51 average on two go’s followed by Kim Medeiros at 4.62 average on two go’s, Medeiros getting the nod for Fast time in the event with a 1.72 go.
In earning the Reserve All Around Cowgirl honor, Vasconcelles topped the Breakaway Roping, the Goat Tying while finishing third in the 3rd D Barrels (21.357) and third in the Steer Undecorating (4.97/2).
Vasconcelles earned Fast time in the Goat Tying event with an 11.00 go toward her 22.69 average on two go’s, besting Hallie Cristobal, finishing her year with the Waimea High School girls soccer team as a solid defender, who clocked in with a 26.83 average on two go’s. Snyder (27.32/2), Medeiros (27.84/2) and Cora Murayama (30.23/2), the 2011 KAGRA Reserve All Around Cowgirl, rounded out the event leader board.
Vasconcelles also earned Fast time honors in the Breakaway event, stopping the clock at 3.53 en route to her top finish with an 8.62 average on two go’s. Wendy Tannery followed at 11.07 average on two go’s with Cora Murayama (11.20/2), Robin Medeiros (14.88/2) and Janine Wilson (15.64/2) topping the leader board of that event.
Vasconcelles rounded out her day teaming with Alexis Vasconcelles to finish third in the Dally Team Roping event on an 11.20 average on one go, that time earning the team Fast time honors for the event.
Cristobal teamed with Kim Medeiros to take the event with a 29.81 average on two go’s followed by Alexis Vasconcelles teaming with Britni Ludington Braun (54.02/2).
Gayle Thompson topped the 3rd D Barrels event with a 20.760 go followed by Debbie Bail (20.859), Kristyn Vasconcelles (21.357), Brianne Matsuyama (21.532) and Dena Souza (22.317).
Snyder topped the 2nd D Pole Bending on a 24.787 go followed by Ho‘olai Ludington (24.986), Shan Mundon (25.232) and Christina De La Fuente (25.841).
Kim Medeiros topped the 3rd D Pole Bending on a 26.100 go followed by Pat Hashimoto-Ferreira (26.269), Stephanie Barnum (27.335), Cristobal (27.491) and Nancy McMahon (27.810).
The public is invited to the next KAGRA rodeo scheduled for Feb. 12 at the CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu where the Grand Entry starts at 10 a.m.
There is no admission charge and a lunch wagon is available to satisfy lunch and beverage (non-alcoholic) appetites.
Visit www.kauaiallgirlsrodeo.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
