Time to Cowgirl Up!
Local Cutting Horse Rider Competing at World’s Largest Rodeo
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
WYOMING – Jaime Lynn Lucas, a recent home school graduate from the Crockett area has earned a position on the Texas National High School rodeo team and will be traveling to Gillette, Wyo., to compete in the 69th annual National High School Finals Rodeo in the cutting horse competition, during the week of July 16 – July 22.
“Featuring more than 1,750 contestants from 43 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia, the NHSFR is the world’s largest rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $200,000 in prizes, NHSFR contestants will for more than $350,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named an NHSFR World Champion,” a press release from the National High School Rodeo Association stated.
Jaime, the daughter of James and Stacy Lucas, recently won the NCHA Denver Nationals Senior Youth Finals with 218 points aboard five-year-old gelding Doc Holirey.
After her title in the Senior Youth Finals on Saturday, June 24, Lucas made the $2,000 Limited Rider Finals and brought home the Reserve Championship buckle for her second place finish on Sunday, June 25.
Following a brief break over the Fourth of July, Lucas and her mom traveled to Wyoming for the NHSFR competition.
“I’m really excited about this,” Lucas said prior to registration and check-in for the event.
When asked how she got involved with rodeo and cutting horses, she said her family had been involved in rodeo and she naturally gravitated towards it.
“I’ve been doing this since I’ve been about six years old. This is the probably the biggest event I’ve ever been to,” she explained.
As to her recent performance the Denver competition, Lucas said the victory in the Senior Youth Finals was not only exciting but “… one of my bigger wins.”
Lucas was also questioned about the key to her success.
“Probably, just having a good mental game and always going in with a good attitude. You can’t get too worked up and even if the horse is in a bad mood you have to try and level it out. Developing a good relationship with the horse takes time, but it really depends on the horse,” Lucas said.
“I hope this excites people and helps to get it going a little bit more back home,” she said.
To earn the NHSFR World Championship title, “… contestants must finish in the top 20 – based on their combined times/scores in the first two rounds – to advance to Saturday evening’s final round. World champions will then be determined based on their three-round combined times/scores,” the NHSRA press release stated.
Her first round of competition was scheduled for Tuesday morning, July 18. As of press time, Lucas was in a three-way tie for first place with a score of 149. Lucas’ second round ride is scheduled for Thursday evening, July 20.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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