LIHU‘E — Kim Medeiros, the Kaua‘i All Girls Rodeo Association secretary, was named the KAGRA All Around Cowgirl for 2012 during its recent awards banquet.
Kristyn Vasconcelles filled in the Reserve All Around Cowgirl by just three points after Medeiros garnered 200 points in the overall standings and Kristyn finished with 197 points.
“This year’s All Around race was the tightest we’ve had since we started the association in 1999,” Medeiros said in an email. “A winner was not determined until the overall points were tallied following the end of the last rodeo.”
Medeiros topped the Goat Tying overall standings with 51 points, challenged by Kristyn Vasconcelles at 46 points and Cora Murayama challenging just four points back at 42.
Medeiros also topped the Steer Undecorating event with 51 points, just four points ahead of Kristyn Vasconcelles, who finished second at 47 points and Rhonda Refamonte getting third with 41 points.
Medeiros also topped the Bounty Steer category with 58 points, just a digit ahead of runner-up Britni Ludington-Braun, who ended with 57 points.
The KAGRA secretary also marked a second place in the Heeler category with 68 points below Ludington-Braun who topped that category with 76 points. Ho‘olai Ludington filled in the No. 3 position with 40 points.
Medeiros also marked a third place in the Third D of 3D Pole Bending, tallying 28 points, four points behind KAGRA President Debbie Bail, who ended in the runner-up spot on 32 points.
Top honors in the 3D of Pole Bending finished in a tie between Brianne Shaw and Shan Lara, each cowgirl ending the year with 34 points.
Top honors in the First D of Pole Bending went to Cheyanne Tannery, a Kaua‘i High School student, who tallied 47 points, staying six points ahead of Sandra Akita who graduated high school in June and left for college.
Akita ended the year with 38 points with Cheyanne’s mother, Wendy, getting the No. 3 spot with 28 points.
Marti Snyder topped the 2D of Pole Bending with a year-end 39 points followed by Ho‘olai Ludington getting 24 points and Cora Murayama ending with 19 points.
Cora Murayama topped the Breakaway Roping event with 50 points followed by Kristyn Vasconcelles at 37 points and Alexis Vasconcelles rounding out the leaders at 29 points.
Sandra Akita topped the First D of the 3D Barrel Racing event with 43 points, staying four points ahead of Taylor Ludington, who ended at 39 points and Cheyanne Tannery in the No. 3 position with 37 points.
Rosanne Shimogawa filled in the top spot in the 2D of Barrel Racing with 44 points followed by Shan Lara at 29 points. Ho‘olai Ludington and Nancy McMahon tied at the No. 3 position with 27 points apiece.
Debbie Bail topped the 3D of Barrel Racing with 41 points followed by a tie for second place between Dena Souza and Brianne Shaw, both cowgirls nailing 34 points. Pat Hashimoto-Ferreira filled in the No. 3 position with 27 points.
Alexis Vasconcelles topped the Header position in Dally Team Roping with a dominant 72 points followed by Cora Murayama at 36 points and Rhonda Refamonte at 31 points.
KAGRA was started in 1999 when 11 Kaua‘i cowgirls had a vision to provide an opportunity for women to compete in the sport of rodeo — not just a single event barrel race injected during a men’s rodeo.
Starting at the Waipa arena on the North Shore, the ladies competed mostly for fun with candy bags as prizes, states its website.
The organization strengthened and grew in its second year, the majority of the rodeo events being moved to the CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu and being sponsored by the YMCA of Kaua‘i.
Today, the 2012 year was the 13th for KAGRA with women competing in six major events for trophy buckles and All Around Award Saddles.
In addition to competing in the rodeo arena, KAGRA members turn out for community events, including the annual Koloa Plantation Days parade and providing the colors during the Grand Entry of the Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo. 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.
