Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

The Valley Girls Barrel Racing Association held its annual banquet in November, 2019, recognizing top competitors from the season. The association has been in existence since 1962.

In 2019, VGBRA competed in 24 events, four less than the previous year as there were not events in Dayton or Walla Walla Rodeo Arena, according to Judy Frazier, who presented the annual report.

The association had 87 members, including 23 open, 12 Honors, 11 Seniors, 9 Juniors, 15 Amateur and 14 Novice.

The 2019 Overall Champion is Nichole Kelly with 75 points. Karen Gleason is the Reserve Overall Champion with 48 points. Both won the same honors last year.

There were 32 members who received overall points, up four from last year. Open Champion Nicole Kelly 115 points, 18 races; Honors Champion Adelle Smith, 148.5 points, 23 races; Senior Champion Lauryn Riney 114 points, 18 races; Junior Champion Karlie Fischer, 131 points, 21 races; and Amateur Champion Tamara Morris 169 points, 23 races.

There were 14 Horses registered in the Novice, down three from last year. Jackie Culham, on Judges Magic Dragon, is the champion with 101 points, and runner up is Karen Gleason, on Mobetta Fame.

The VGBRA held 12 races in the Fairgrounds Expo building. Nicole Kelly ran the fastest Expo Valley time a 13.945 at Barrel Daze.

There were eight approved races at the Posse Grounds and Julie Williams ran the fastest valley time with a 17.426.

We had four races in the Don Johnson Arena and Shayla Currin clocked the fastest valley time with a 17.217.

Gold Card members include Charmaine Beck, Kelli Currin, Judy Poitras, Barbara Brown, Judy Frazier, Janie Maycumber, Rosie Gallaher, Bobo McMillan, Cindy Lane, Norma Kelly, Jackie Culham, Julie Williams, Debbie Kentch and Sue Ruzicka.

VGBRA's Open Rookie was Heather Lin Campbell; Honors Rookie was Tara Mahoney; Seniors Rookie and Champion was Lauryn Riney and the Amateur Rookie was Jordan Dove.

Maryanne Frazier and Debbie Stahl will move from Honors to open, Tamra Morris will be moving from Amateur to Open, and Karlie Fischer will move from Junior to Senior.

Our Youngest Member is Makayah Lawyer.

Barrel Daze was a success in 2019 with 132 entered in the futurity and 79 in the maturity, both numbers up from last year.

-Submitted photo

Honors Division 2019 included, from left, Champion Adele Smith; Judy Frazier, Reserve G.C.; Rosie Gallaher, 3rd place; Debbie Kentch, 4th place; Tara Mahoney, 5th place; and Maryanne Frazier, 6th place.

Kacey Gartner was the winner of the Carl Kock Award, presented annually to the Valley Girl with the fastest average time at Barrel Daze.

Past winners were: 2018-Nichole Kelly; 2017-Kim Smith; 2016-Shayla Currin; 2015-Julie Williams; 2014-Tommie Hoyecki; 2013-Karen Gleason; 2012-Cindy Lane; 2011-Michele Lyons; and 2010-Courtney Frazier.

Final race winners for 2019 were: Open: Jackie Culham; Honors: Debbie Kentch; Senior: Shayla Currin; Junior: Makayah Lawyer; Novice: Karen Gleason on Oliver Looks; and Amateur: Tamra Morris.

There were no applications for the VGBRA Scholarship this year. VGBRA members or member siblings, either graduated from high school or attending college are eligible for the annual scholarship. Apply by contacting Barbara Brown at Bordertown Feed in April.

In 2019, eight points went to race winners and awards were given to 50% of the members in each division, not to exceed 10 and no less than six in each division, but VGBRA continued to give six points to overall.