By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
May 22, 2004
For the most part, people acknowledge royalty. Animals, on the other hand, may or may not.
Ashley Adams of Calhoun City is the reigning rodeo queen for the Mississippi High School Rodeo Association, having received that honor last June in Jackson.
At the Mississippi/Alabama Challenge High School Rodeo Friday night at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center, her horse knocked over a pair of barrels, costing her 10 penalty seconds and giving her the highest time of the evening in the barrel racing event.
Adams competes in several events at the rodeos and has a horse specifically trained for each event.
Adams competes in breakaway roping, barrel racing, cutting, and goat tying, but only competed in barrel racing Friday night.
Adams is a veteran of the high school rodeo circuit.
Adams plans to attend Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia this fall and compete on the rodeo team there.
Adams went to the High School National Finals last summer at Farmington, N.M., and competed in the national queen contest where she placed seventh out of 45 girls.
Fran Surles from Mississippi was the leader in barrel racing Friday with a time of 15.411 seconds. Carmen Woolven, also from Mississippi, was second with a time of 15.559 seconds. In third place was Alabama's Tristin Watson with a time of 15.667 seconds.
In other events Friday, Ross Dannheim of Mississippi led the bareback riding with 64 points. Matthew Smith, also from Mississippi, was second with 58.
Lucas Guilbeau from Mississippi was the night's only saddle bronc rider, turning in a score of 62.
Kelli Jackson of Mississippi took the first-night lead in breakaway roping with a time of 5.530 seconds. Morgan Adams, Ashley's younger sister, was second with a time of 13.577 that included a 10-second penalty. Third place belonged to Erika Johnson of Mississippi with a time of 16.947 seconds.
Blake Cavataio of Mississippi was the first-night leader in calf roping with a time of 12.142 seconds. Danny Pyles, also from Mississippi, was second with a time of 14.513 seconds. In third place was Colby Winborn of Mississippi with a time of 17.066 seconds.
Margiekate McDaniel grabbed the lead in pole bending with a time of 20.843 seconds. In second place was Christy Blaine at 21.047 seconds, while Kayla Sanchagrin was third with a time of 21.021 seconds. All three are from Mississippi.
In steer wrestling, Danny Pyles easily had the best outing of the night, turning in a time of 4.618 seconds. Orin Shorter was second at 12.914 seconds, while Rowdy Lee was third at 17.804 seconds. All three are from Mississippi.
Erika Johnson and Scott Johnson, both from Mississippi, were the only contestants in team roping not to draw penalty time as their 10.969 second showing easily led the field. In second place at 19.688 with a five-second penalty included was the team of Nathan Smith and Colby Winborn, both from Mississippi.
Kelli Jackson of Mississippi led the goat tying with a time of 12.633 seconds. Rachel Banks, also of Mississippi, was second with a time of 13.370 seconds, while Alabama's Tristin Watson was third with a time of 13.663 seconds.
The lone cowboy to complete the bull riding event was Lucas Guilbeau of Mississippi with a score of 73.
The three-day rodeo resumes tonight at 7:30 p.m.