'Postcard' from the URA Rookie of the Year
Inside the 2009 United Rodeo Finals

by Hannah Riddle, posted Dec. 21, 2009

Besides writing for CAFNR Corner Post and busily attending school at Mizzou, I am a competitive barrel racer on a state and national level. My most recent adventure was at the United Rodeo Finals, Nov. 4 to 7, in Topeka, Kan.

The United Rodeo Association is a non-professional organization that sanctions rodeos in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan. In order to qualify for the finals, a competitor in each sport or event has to rank in the top 15. At the beginning of the year, hundreds start out to be one of those final 15.

Hannah Riddle, sophomore agricultural journalism student, competed in the 2009 United Rodeo Association Finals.   — Photo courtesy Fessler Photo

I was lucky enough and blessed this year to come into the finals sitting eighth. To be a rookie, you have to be in your first year of competing in the organization, less than 21 years of age and earn the most money out of the other rookies, first-year members, in your event.

My performance in the finals was maybe not the best it could have been. But the competition was steep, considering every single one of those women, including myself, could walk away with a win depending on the night.  

In barrel racing, you have seconds to make decisions — decisions that affect the seconds against the clock. Because barrel racing is a timed event, your decisions have to be as accurate and as effortless as possible in order to keep the time low. 

In the first go round of the finals, I think my nerves over shot my adrenaline and focus by far. My run was good, but I can’t tell you what I did. And this is never a good thing. My mom, and coach for many years, said, “Your run was good, but Barney (my horse) carried you through. You just were riding on nerves and trying too hard.”  

My mom was right; the first go round was not a winning night. I ran down the alley, and turned a tight first barrel, turned a tight second — wait, too tight, hitting the barrel. My time stopped the clock at 14.4 seconds. Although I was disappointed, I did not dwell on what had already been done. Plus, as a close friend, Stacie Coke, and fellow competitor told me after seeing I had tipped, said: “You’ll be fine. There is still a lot of money to be won.”

Round two was better, with a clean run, which means not hitting any barrels, and stopping the clock with another 14.4 seconds. Even though I had a good run, I wasn’t in the top four for the night, so I didn’t win any money. 

Finally the 3rd go-round was here, and time had flown. It seemed like I just got there, but we were hours away from the end of the finals. The last night I rode with all the finalists in the grand entry. It was basically a parade through the arena, while waving to the crowd. It was a good memory for me at the finals because I realized no matter how my finals went, I was still a finalist — I had made the top 15, and many would have loved to be in my shoes.

However, it was time for barrels. I ran eighth out of 15, because of my year-end position. I ended the final-round run with 14.3 seconds — a great run.
Following the performance, the awards were presented. I won Rookie of the Year in barrel racing, and with that a bag full of horse goodies. The rookie title is an honor to win. I felt very pleased with my performances over the season.

Overall, my first debut at the URA finals was a success. It had been a long summer. With over a hundred rodeos all over the Midwest, but it all worked out in the end. Hopefully, I’ll have more finals to attend, but overall I’m just thankful I get the opportunity to rodeo at the level I do.

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