Young athletes from Williams Lake and Riske Creek received top honours at the BC Little Britches Rodeo Association’s (BCLBRA) year-end banquet that took place in Kamloops on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The youth were each awarded an all-around cowgirl/cowboy award for the season that ran from June until the middle of August. They will each receive an all-around saddle from Masters Saddlery.
For the senior girls, Reese Colgate of Williams Lake is the all-around cowgirl and won the season champion buckle for pole bending and fast-time buckle. She also earned the most combined points in barrel racing, poles, breakaway roping, goat tying and steer riding.
Her mom, Susan Colgate, was very proud, noting Reese’s competitiveness and dedication to her horses.
“She’s worked really hard and spends a lot of time with her horses.”
Reese, who just turned 12, has been riding since she was seven. This is her third year in Little Britches.
“It’s nice to see her be recognized with an award like that,” said Susan.
For the senior boys, Tanner Loring of Riske Creek is the all-around cowboy and won the stakes, breakaway and steer riding for the year, as well as the highest score in steer riding. He earned the most combined points in chute dogging, skate racing, goat tying, breakaway roping and steer riding. He was also titled with the sportsmanship award and took home the Keith Pozzobon Memorial Buckle, which is given to the person with the fastest breakaway run. His time was 3.4 seconds.
Tanner, now 13, has been riding since he was two and joined the BCLBRA in 2017. His mom, Shelly Loring, said Tanner’s goal was to win the all-around saddle this year.
“He tried hard and worked hard, had ups and downs, so it was pretty cool to see him accomplish his goal,” said Shelly.
Shelly also noted how amazing it was to see all three kids, Reese, Rino and Tanner, win the all-around champions award, as last year, the same trio were the reserve all-around champions.
“It was very exciting for all three of them.”
Rino Poffenroth of Riske Creek is the all-around cowboy for the junior boys, with combined points for stake racing, goat tail tying, dummy roping and steer riding. He earned buckles for the season leader in stake racing and dummy roping and the fast time buckles for stake racing and goat tail tying. He also earned the longest catch buckle in dummy roping.
Caterina Poffenroth attended the event with her son, Rino, and said it was a great event with lots of camaraderie from the kids, noting the BCLBRA as a great place for kids to kick-start their rodeo careers.
“They learn the ropes in the sport of rodeo and the cowboy way of life. Caring for their horses plays a huge part and to learn at such a young age sets them up for success.”
Rino, now 10, started with the BCLBRA when he was seven.
“Rino was on a horse before he could walk,” said Caterina, who said with Rino’s dad as a cowboy, he was bred for it.
“He has grown so much in his sport and in his horsemanship. It’s been amazing to watch.”
