Area riders put their skills to the test at the Yates Center Barrel Race Friday.
The Woodson County Fairgrounds and Saddle Club Arena played host to more than a dozen area riders ranging in age but with one goal — taking home prize money.
“We had a good run. We used to go slower, now we go a lot faster,” said Gariston Tharp, who had the fastest time Friday evening for first place in the open competition and first in the Youth 1D Division.
“On my second run, I lost one stirrup going through the first barrel and on the second barrel I lost my other one. I just stayed balanced and rode like I would if I had my feet in the stirrups.”
Tharp opened the evening with a 16.674 run to best second place Maci Knight by just a few tenths of a second with Knight finishing in 16.719. Next to come were Kiersten Roush, Gibston Tharp, Aleigha Lyons and Lauren Schultz.
Later that evening, Madison Smith took first in the Youth 1D in 22.987 seconds while Stacy Scott took the Senior 1D title in 18.061 seconds.
Despite not having her feet anchored, Gariston took the overall prize with a 16.269 time in the open competition. She originally competed in the open 1D division. She edged second place 1D finisher Tyler Jumet, who struggled with his horse early but gained control after the first barrel for a 16.747 finish.
“Once she’s ready to go, I let her run,” Jumet said.
In the open 2D competition, Lyons edged Schultz by less than a second with a 16.864 run. Kista Doub took the 4D title in 17.853 seconds. Taylor Reed, who had the second-fastest time overall, took first in the open 5D competition. Reed attributed much of her success to luck and having a great horse.
“We all school with our horses quite a bit and get them running quite a bit, but it is a game of luck whether you have a good run that day,” Reed said.
For Reed, who also serves as the National Barrel Horse Association District 2 Director, credited officials at the Yates Center fairgrounds for making the evening a success. Due to a last-minute relocation, she thanked them for their efforts in making the event possible.
“Yates Center has a really nice ground and they do a great job of hosting,” Reed said. “The people are super easy to get along with and we really appreciate them squeezing us in. We really moved this race here at the last minute. They helped us out quite a bit.”
