Kristyn Vasconcelles earned the All-Around Cowgirl honors for 2013 by just five points. The Kauai All Girls Rodeo Association announced its overall winners at its recent year-end banquet with the highest point-total for the year earning All-Around Cowgirl honors and
Kristyn Vasconcelles earned the All-Around Cowgirl honors for 2013 by just five points.
The Kauai All Girls Rodeo Association announced its overall winners at its recent year-end banquet with the highest point-total for the year earning All-Around Cowgirl honors and the second highest number of points earning the Reserve All-Around Cowgirl.
Vasconcelles ended the year with 241 points, edging out Kim Medeiros, the KAGRA secretary, who finished the year with 237 points.
Marti Snyder finished in third place with 195 points followed by Cora Murayama ending in fourth place on 182.5 points.
“It was another battle for the saddle with the same two girls coming within single digit of a tie,” said Medeiros, in an email. “The first time this happened was last year, and now, with the same situation taking place for the second year, you can see how hard everyone worked.”
Medeiros said that from the May rodeo, the leaders were practically tied with no more than three points separating them for the three final rodeo events of the year.
“It not only came down to the last rodeo, but the absolute final event,” Medeiros said. “Even then, neither of us knew who won until after the rodeo when the final points were added up.”
Vasconcelles, in earning All-Around Cowgirl honors, finished tops in the Steer Undecorating events, earning 51 points. She placed first in the 2nd D of the 3D Pole Bending event for 34 points, and topped the Breakaway Roping event for 43 points. She was named top Heeler in the Dally Team event for 62 points and rounded out her winnings with a third place finish in the 1st D of the 3D Barrel Racing event for 42 points.
Medeiros owned the Goat Tying event with a first finish for 58 points, following that with a second finish in the 1st D of Barrel Racing for 43 points, and a second finish in the Steer Undecorating for 51 points.
Joining the overall cowgirls, other notables included Cheyanne Tannery taking first in the 1st D of Barrel Racing (55 points), and first in the 1st D of Pole Bending (50 points).
Nancy Mcmahon (32 points) topped the 2nd D of Barrel Racing followed by Coryssa Silva (28 points) and Sierra Medeiros (25 points).
Christie Castillo (37 points) placed first for the 3rd D of Barrel Racing followed by Tami Yamamoto (31 points) and Tammy Puu (24 points).
Cora Murayama, finishing fourth overall, topped the Header of Dally Team with 67 points followed by Alexis Vasconcelles (58 points) and Karen Akita (47 points).
Britni Ludington-Braun (47.5 points) filled in the second spot in the Heeler position below Kristyn Vasconcelles with Trish Lorenzo (45 points) getting third.
Following Medeiros in the Goat Tying event was Marti Snyder (42 points) in second and Cora Murayama (38 points) in third.
Behind Kristyn Vasconcelles and Medeiros for the third spot in the Steer Undecorating was Marti Snyder (41 points).
Following Cheyanne Tannery in the 1st D of Pole Bending, Sandra Akita (28 points) and Wendy Tannery (27 points), Cheyanne’s mom, filled in second and third places, respectively.
Taking second and third behind Kristyn Vasconcelles in the 2nd D of Pole Bending was Nancy McMahon (29 points) and Coryssa Silva (27 points).
Bongo Lee topped the 3D of Pole Bending with 41 points followed by Christie Castillo and Kapua Sugai tying with 26 points apiece.
Following Kristyn Vasconcelles in the Breakaway Roping was Marti Snyder and Cora Murayama who finished tied at 35 points each.
The Kauai All Girls Rodeo Association operates with more than 40 members under the nonprofit status of the YMCA of Kauai.
KAGRA offers six rodeo events throughout the year where visitors and residents are invited to view cowgirls in arena action at no charge.
Visit www.kauaiallgirlsrodeo.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
