PO‘IPU — Kristyn Vasconcelles is leaving for college next week and left the rodeo arena with a bang Sunday at the Kaua‘i All Girls Rodeo Association’s final event for the year. Kristyn, despite strong challenges from other cowgirls, was named
PO‘IPU — Kristyn Vasconcelles is leaving for college next week and left the rodeo arena with a bang Sunday at the Kaua‘i All Girls Rodeo Association’s final event for the year.
Kristyn, despite strong challenges from other cowgirls, was named the All Around Cowgirl for the 2008 season based on accumulating the highest point total for the six rodeos held during the year.
Marti Snyder, always a strong contender in the arena, made an even stronger showing during the Sunday event, capturing the first and second places in the 3D Barrels event on rides of 17.256 and 17.302.
That left Kristyn, the winner, finishing fourth in that event on a 17.820 go after besting Kelly Carveiro’s 17.689 go.
Snyder continued to hammer.
Kristyn set the pace in the Steer Undecorating event on a 2.29 first go, and Snyder responded with a 4.33 run. A penalty gave Kristyn an 11.62 second go for a 13.91 average giving Snyder hope in the event.
But despite a 4.00 clean second go, Snyder finished with an 8.33/2 average, falling short to Corinna Vasconcelles who wrapped up the Steer Undecorating on a 6.20/2 average (2.89, 3.31) relegating Snyder to second place, and Kristyn to third place.
But Kristyn already had the overall title locked in before the first event, Linda Antipala, the KAGRA secretary said.
The task lay ahead of Snyder who missed several events in the year that saw some events moving to the Kealia Arena.
Coralyn Murayama also made a strong attempt in Sunday’s events, but a dropped barrel in the day’s opening event gave her a no time, and a jump out of the box in the opening go in the Steer Undecorating produced a 14.94 go with the 10-second penalty.
Murayama rebounded with a 4.28 second go, but finished with a 19.22/2 average and fourth in the event.
Based on total points, Murayama was named the Reserve All Around Cowgirl for the year.
En route to the overall title, Kristyn got top honors in the First Division of Barrels and Pole Bending and second in the Steer Undecorating.
Reserve Cowgirl Murayama earned first place in the Third Division of Barrels and Second Division of Poles and third in the Steer Undecorating.
In addition to the top overall cowgirls, the cowgirls with the highest cumulative score in each event was awarded a 2008 trophy buckle. Second place winners earned engraved breast collars for their horses and third place winners earned pink-and-black competition boots for their horses.
The Cowgirl Challenge events included three divisions in barrel racing, three divisions in pole bending, steer undecorating, breakaway roping and dally team roping.
Kristene Sugai earned the Frank Medeiros Breakaway Roping Award for the fastest single time in Breakaway Roping.
KAGRA year-end standings
Barrel Racing
First division
1. Kristyn Vasconcelles, 2. Britni Braun, 3. Coralyn Murayama
Second division
1. Kim Medeiros, 2. Janine Hashitate, 3. Shan Mundon
Third division
1. Tammy Pu‘u, 2. Shantel Wong, 3. Nancy McMahon
Pole Bending
First division
1. Kristyn Vasconcelles, 2. Britni Braun, 3. Taylor Ludington
Second division
1. Coralyn Murayama, 2. Shan Mundon, 3. Hallie Cristobal
Third division
1. Tara Fernandez, 2. Kim Medeiros, 3. Nancy McMahon
Steer Undecorating
1. Corinna Vasconcelles, 2. Kristyn Vasconcelles, 3. Coralyn Murayama
Breakaway Roping
1. Britni Braun, 2. Tara Fernandez, 3. Marti Snyder
Dally Team Header
1. Tara Fernandez, 2. Taylor Ludington, 3. Rhonda Kaui
Dally Team Heeler
1. Shantel Wong, 2. Corinna Vasconcelles, 3. Joyce Miranda
