TEXAS NEWS • July 14 , 2011. The summer rodeo season is off and going and many Texas Circuit members are taking of advantage of the great June and July rodeos. Robyn Herring aboard Firewater on the Rocks is holding her position in the top 15 Pro Rodeo Standings with a big win at Reno, Nevada winning the first go, second in the second go and winning the average for $11,585.00. Unfortunately, Happy (Firewater on the Rocks) was diagnosed with pigeon fever after Reno and will take a few weeks to recover.

Brittany Pozzi added to her large lead in the Pro Rodeo standings with big checks and wins in Canada. Pozzi and Duke won the first round, short go and average at Wainright, first at High River, second at Airdrie and second in the first go at Ponoka. Brittany also won $10,500 in the first set at the invitational Calgary Stampede on Cosmo and will advance to Championship Sunday (July 17). Calgary does not count towards the Pro Rodeo Finals or the Canadian Rodeo Finals, but money won sure helps the pocketbook.

Rookie Lee Ann Rust and Harley have kept up their winning ways in Canada and the Northwest, winning Airdrie, Alberta Canada, placing at Hamel Minnesota, Kill Deer North Dakota, Mandan North Dakota and Sundre Alberta, Canada. Lee Ann has maintained her large lead in the rookie standings, is 11th in the Pro Rodeo standings, 16th in the Pro Tour Standings, 11th in the All American Standings and Texas Circuit Standings.

Tammy Fischer took advantage of Cowboy Christmas and jumped to 10th in the Pro Rodeo standings. I was fortunate to witness Tammy and Roundpen make the winning run at Cody, Wyoming. It was an amazing 16.79 run on a standard pattern at the last rodeo performance on July 4th, good for $8,548. In addition to the big win at Cody, Tammy pulled checks at St. Paul and Eugene Oregon, Red Lodge Montana and first at Benalto, Alberta Canada. Tammy will be competing at the Calgary Stampede this week, hoping to repeat her 2009 Stampede win of $100,000.

Cassie Moseley took advantage of Cowboy Christmas winning Pecos, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico, placing at Vernal Utah, 4th in the first go, 2nd in second go and 3rd in average at Prescott, Arizona.

Texas Circuit Member Mary Walker is on the mend from injuries and surgeries after her horse went down at the Crosby Texas rodeo in June.

Please note that when paying rodeo entry fees through the WPRA office, fees must be paid no later than the Tuesday following the rodeo. Fees paid late will be subject to a late fine and entry into further rodeos will be suspended until fees and fines are paid.

Reminder: The WPRA Board of Directors has approved 3 General Membership meetings for the remainder of 2011 during the following rodeos. Cheyenne WY, July 19th, Salinas, CA July 21 & 22 and Pendleton OR. The Board of Directors also meets at least monthly by teleconference, please let know me if you have information, questions or issues you would like me to bring up.

On a personal note, I am still staying out of the Texas heat. My husband Matt (steer wrestler) and I are at the Calgary Stampede for ten days. Matt has done well in the first set qualifying for Championship Sunday, July 17th. I'm hoping it goes as well for me and I get the chance to run on Championship Sunday.

Best of Luck and safe travels to everyone. Till next time…..

Savanah

June 15 , 2011. UPDATE regarding Mary Walker. We received a phone call from Mary's husband, Byron. Mary underwent 10 hours of surgery yesterday. She is doing well. She had many injuries. The prognosis is for a slow but full recovery. She will be out of commission for a while, as it will take a while to heal and then go through the necessary rehabilitation. Yet she is optimistic and setting competition goals for the future. Mary will remain in the hospital through the weekend. If you would like to get in touch or send a note, this is the information:

Memorial Hermann Hospital
6411 Fannin Street, Room C537
Houston TX 77030
713 704 4000 (Main number)

One friend mentioned she used the following florist and flowers got to Mary within hours, http://www.breensflorist.com/

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walker family.

June 14 , 2011. Our thoughts and prayers go out to WPRA member Mary Walker. Mary was injured at the Crosby, TX rodeo when her horse went down at the 3rd barrel. Mary is currently being hospitalized in Houston. We will provide more information to you, as it becomes available.

June 6 , 2011. In my first update as Texas Circuit Director, I want to say thanks to everyone that supported my nomination and election. I am learning fast what a big job and responsibility serving as a circuit director is and I have a whole new appreciation for my predecessors. I look forward to working with the other circuit directors and officers.

The first directors' meeting was held May 21-22 in Colorado Springs. I was not able to attend in person, but did participate via conference call. It's hard to schedule a meeting that everyone can attend, I had committed to the Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada (invitational rodeo) well before I had been elected director. Hopefully, timing will be better for the next meeting and I will be able to attend in person. I did meet with our new WPRA President, before I hit the road. Jimmie and I talked about circuit director responsibilities and some of the concerns, questions and input I have gotten from WPRA members. This was my first opportunity to meet Jimmie Munroe in person, it was a real pleasure. I feel very confident with her at the WPRA helm.

Congratulations to Texas Circuit member Robyn Herring aboard Firewater on the Rocks. The team cashed circuit checks in March at Nacogdoches, Glen Rose and Goliad, in April at Beaumont, Lufkin, Athens, Helotes and Longview, in May at Jasper, Crockett, Vernon and San Augustine. They also ventured across the state line and picked up checks at DeRidder, Louisiana and Claremore, Oklahoma. Robyn is currently 13th in the Pro Rodeo Standings, 2nd in the All American standings and third in the Texas Circuit.

Another Texas circuit member who is hot is current rookie leader Lee Ann Rust. Lee Ann and her horse Harley have been winning from Texas, to California to Canada including picking up her first pro rodeo buckle at Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada. Lee Ann is currently 12th in the Pro Rodeo Standings, 8th in the Pro Tour Standings, 6th in the All American Standings, 9th in the Circuit as well leading the rookie standings with $23,920.59 by an impressive $12,620.45 margin over the second place rookie.

A couple of circuit changes to keep in mind. The Texas Circuit finals will drop from 15 to the top 12 qualifiers. The Circuit finals will still be three go rounds, but rather than performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 2011 Circuit Finals Rodeo will have one performance on Friday and two on Saturday.

Circuit membership dues are $30.00 and are payable separate from WPRA membership dues.

The following circuit members agreed to serve as spokeswomen, Tammy Fischer, Martha Wright, Cassie Moseley, Lisa Anderson and Maegan Reichert.

Please let me know of any questions, concerns or suggestions. The WPRA board of directors will be meeting at least once per month by teleconference and I appreciate member input to pass along at board meetings.

On a personal note, I am going to miss some great circuit rodeos in June and July. I am traveling with my husband Matt and hitting rodeos further west, the northwest and Canada. I hate missing the Texas circuit rodeos, but must say I'm not missing the heat.

Good Luck to Everyone and be safe! Till next time….
Savanah

April 25, 2011. With deep sadness we are reporting Byron and Mary Walker's son, Reagon, was killed in an automobile accident. We extend our sincerest sympathy to the Walker family.

4X State High School Champion
Reagon Lynn Walker
July 16, 1989 - April 23, 2011
He rode to the Streets of Glory on Saturday at 12:30 pm. To welcome him there were his grandpa - Whitey Bob Walker, brother - Benjamin Walker, grandpa - Danny Lynch, uncle - Benny Walker, and great-grandparents - Bob & Barbara Walker.

Reagon leaves behind his beloved Solemate Kaitlyn Larsen, mother- Mary Walker, father- Byron Walker, 2 grandmothers- Mickey Walker & Marty Warren, uncle- Danny & Debbie Lynch, 3 aunts- Liz & Kenneth Nolen, Patricia & Lex Hayes and Teddie & Chris Duval, cousins- Chris Lynch, Kim Hermus, Patty Lynch, Little Lex Hays, Keith Hays, Taylor Dobbs, Jewel Duval, and many other cousins. He also leaves behind God-parents Mike & Cindy Blasingame, Mark & Lesa Wallace, and Rip & Cheryl Helton, as well Kaitlyn's Parents Billy Martin & Kris Larsen, as fellow cowboys and friends too numerous to count.

Reagon is the most decorated Texas High School Cowboy ever, with 2 All-Around, 2 Steer Wrestling Titles, and a Reserve Championship in Cutting. He attended Weatherford College on a rodeo scholarship and was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association. He qualified for the All-American ProRodeo Series Finals twice and qualified for the PRCA Texas Circuit Finals in 2010, winning 2nd. Reagon competed in every event in rodeo as well as Cutting in high school, with Steer Wrestling and Team Roping being his favorites. He was also a member of the Ennis Lions Varsity football team where he started in as many as 5 different positions on Defense.

Reagon's love of excellent horses was lifelong, and it always showed in his horsemanship. He loved ANY competition that involved quality horses including cutting horses. It was his renewed passion for cutting horses that led to his meeting Kaitlyn, who is a World Class cutter herself. Under the direction of Kaitlyn's father, Billy Martin, and mother, Kris Larsen, Reagon was returning to the cutting show ring. Kaitlyn and Reagon were traveling to a National Cutting Horse Association event when the Lord called Reagon to Glory.

Even now, Reagon is touching the lives of countless people through organ donation. He will be greatly missed by the thousands of friends and family who had the pleasure of hearing his laugh and seeing his smile.

Kaitlyn loves flowers, and a Reagon Walker Foundation is being created at this time with details to be posted on FaceBook soon.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 26, at the Knights of Columbus Hall on I-45 in Ennis, Texas, under the direction of Keever's Mortuary. Visitation at Reagon's Home in Ennis 6-8 Monday.

Click here to read more about Reagon.

April 13, 2011. 2011 Texas Circuit Dues...
TO: All Texas Circuit Members
FROM: Johnny Van Court, President
Mike Mathis, Vice-President
DATE: April 11, 2011
SUBJECT: 2011 Texas Circuit Finals

The 2010 TEXAS CIRCUIT FINALS had some positive results. The Texas Circuit continued to produce a finals that added $7000 per event plus annual sponsor and dollar monies which still has us as one of the top circuits in the system. Thanks to a new partnership with our presenting sponsor and several event reps procuring saddle sponsors, we were able to leave Waco with our finances in tact.

However, our attendance is still weak, and this has prompted the Waco Committee (our partners) to ask for changes for the 2011 Finals. The most significant of these is to reduce our qualifiers from 15 to 12 and to host the 3 performances - Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening. The Waco Committee was adamant about these changes, and since they bear the bulk of financial responsibilities, the Circuit Board was compelled to consider their request. The Board has concerns about these changes, but voted (not unanimously), to go along with Waco for a one year contract.

The Texas Circuit is more solvent than our State or National Government, but we still need your help to stay that way. We would like to add that no one draws a salary or compensation of any kind from the Circuit. We are all volunteers. Our 2011 dues are due and payable,and are needed to offset administrative cost and provide additional help for our Finals. Please remit your dues of $30.00.

Thank you for your help, and good luck in 2011.
Click here for 2011 Dues Form.

April 11, 2011. 2011Required Participation

8.8.2. Forty Percent (40%) 15 Rule
8.5.2.1. In order to satisfy the 40%/15 rule, a contestant must comply with the following:
1.) If the contestant’s principal place of residence is within her designated circuit, said contestant must compete in either 40% of the rodeos within that circuit (based on the total number of rodeos during the previous rodeo year which held the particular event for which the contestant seeks to become a CR contestant) or 15 rodeos with that event within the circuit, whichever is less or;
2.) If the contestant’s principal place of residence is not within her designated circuit, said contestant must compete in either 40% of the rodeos within the circuit (based on the total number of rodeos during the previous year which held the particular event for which the contestant seeks to become a CR contestant) or 15 rodeos with that event within the circuit, whichever is greater (provided that, if there are less that 15 rodeos with a particular event in a circuit during a rodeo year a nonresident must satisfy this rule if she competes in 100% of the rodeos with that particular event in the circuit during that rodeo year).

January 18, 2011. IMPORTANT INFORMATION About Rodeo Co-approvals! Unlike the PRCA, co-approved rodeos DO NOT count in your circuit rodeo count. They have not and do not. Co-approval rodeo money does count toward your circuit rodeo money. Rodeos up to $5000 added money (the $5,000 is an increase over prior years) may be co-approved with neighboring circuits if the circuit's boundary is within 150 miles.

These rules were added to help the smaller rodeos draw contestants. The WPRA feels you should support your own circuit if you are going to compete at your finals. (A percentage of payoff is held back to go into the circuit finals money)

Please support your circuit and the rodeos it co-approves.