Busy times for EIRA: youth series concludes, INFRers punch tickets to Vegas Sports by Beverly Bidney - September 7, 2018 EIRA Rodeo Queen Madisyn Osceola opens the EIRA kids rodeo Aug. 18 with the American flag. (Beverly Bidney photo) BIG CYPRESS — Young cowboys and cowgirls spent the summer competing in the Eastern Indian Rodeo Association’s summer kids rodeo series at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena. Ada Bruisedhead takes a tumble during the youth pony riding event. She was shaken up but competed in her next event, calf riding. (Beverly Bidney photo) The final rodeo on Aug 18 wrapped up the summer competition and by the end of the day, the competitors were adorned with buckles, confidence and perhaps a few bumps and bruises. About 52 kids ages 4 to 17 participated in three rodeos on June 30, July 28 and Aug. 18 in Big Cypress and Brighton. Events were designed to prepare them for more adult rodeo events and included pole bending, dummy roping, mutton busting, pony riding, calf riding, bull riding, breakaway roping and barrel racing. “We need more bareback riders in the EIRA,” said emcee Moses Jumper as he announced the pony riding event, in which kids rode bareback and tried to hang on for six seconds. At the end of the day, the final points and winners were announced. Later, on the EIRA Facebook page, Secretary Melissa Gopher gave a shout out and thanks to EIRA officers Lisa Osceola, Mackenzie Bowers and Moses Jumper as well as all the directors, volunteers and parents who made the summer series a success. EIRA Open Summer Kids Rodeo Champions Pole Bending, age 9 to 11 – Avery Savoie Pole Bending age 13-17 – Cyiah Alvia Dummy Roping age 3-6 – Brace Miller Dummy Roping age 7-9 – Stetson Stokes Mutton Busting age 4-6 – Brace Miller Youth Pony Riding age 7-9 – Trenton McCleland Pony Riding age 10-12 – Summer Gopher Jr Bareback Riding age 14-17 – Kirk Griffin Calf Riding age 7-10 – Trenton McCleland Jr Bull Riding age 14-17 – Myron Billie Jr Breakaway Roping age 10-17 – Ashlynn Collins Barrel Racing age 4-8 – Talen Jumper Barrel Racing age 9-12 – Kamryn Hoffman Barrel Racing age 13-17 – Cyiah Alvia INFR Qualifiers for Las Vegas (from regional final) BAREBACK RIDING Jacoby Johns – Tour Jaylen Baker – EIRA STEER WRESTLING Bryton Edmundson Dayne John’s TIE DOWN ROPING Jobe Johns Naha Jumper LADY’S BREAKAWAY ROPING Trina Bowers-Hipp Ahnie Jumper TEAM ROPING HEADERS Josh Jumper Justin Gopher TEAM ROPING HEELERS Naha Jumper Ed Harry LADY’S BARREL RACING Ashley Parks Mackenzie Bowers BULL RIDING Kdawg Smedley INFR Jr. BARRELS Jaleel Wilcox INFR Jr. BREAKAWAY Canaan Jumper INFR Jr. BULLS Norman Osceola Justin Gopher Jr. Iverson Huggins gives it his all to hang on the the sheep during the mutton busting event, but his efforts didn’t earn him the title. (Beverly Bidney photo) Myron Billie competes in the junior bull riding event. (Beverly Bidney photo) Kirk Griffin displays some acrobatics as he attempts to last six seconds on the back of this bull. (Beverly Bidney photo) EIRA Jr. Rodeo Queen Cyiah Avila competes in pole bending event. She won the competition and earned a championship buckle. (Beverly Bidney photo) Share on Facebook Share Share on TwitterTweet Share on Pinterest Share Share on LinkedIn Share Share on Digg Share
