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 Scottsdale,
Ariz.-Janna Beam covered a lot of territory last week.
The Hallsville, Texas cowgirl and her hauling partner,
former NFR qualifier Angie Meadors, competed in Tucson
and Scottsdale, Ariz., as well as San Angelo, Texas.
"It was quite an adventure,"
Beam laughs. "I have never hauled that hard but
both Angie and I had a good week so that made it good."
Beam has been on a roll this season,
beginning way back in October. She and Willy, Perks
Advantage, have collected checks regularly to land in
the top 20 of the WPRA NFR standings and picking up
the average championship at the Texas Circuit Finals
Rodeo. But that was before last week.
In a whirlwind week, that concluded
with Beam competing at the Parada del Sol rodeo in Scottsdale,
Ariz., a northern suburb of Phoenix on Friday night
before making the all night drive back to San Angelo
for the short go. Beam not only captured the title in
Scottsdale, but also won the short go at San Angelo
in a time of 14.16 seconds on the way to $4,818 banked
in the West Texas town.
"It was one of those runs where
you don't remember anything, it was just fun,"
Beam says of her trip around the cloverleaf at WestWorld
in Scottsdale. "He was just working. He was very
honest and made a good run, I couldn't have asked for
a better run."
The run stopped the clock at 16.43
seconds, 15 one-hundredths better than second place
Haley Jochims. Now in its 52nd year, the rodeo had enormous
entries with 128 ladies paying fees and competing. The
result: a total purse over $10K and a huge $2,112 payday
for Beam for the win.
A stop along the All American ProRodeo
Series, points earned at Scottsdale will help Beam and
the rest of the winners earn a berth at the All American
Championships to be held in Waco, Texas in October.
As barrel racing had not been a part of the series (formally
the Heartland Series) in the past, Beam was unaware
that barrel racing would be back in Waco for 2010.
"I had not heard that,"
she says, "but that is a good deal."
Beam and Willy added nearly $7,000
to their bottom line to move into the top 20 of the
standings. Now taking a few days at home to rest, Beam
and Willy will be back in action at RodeoAustin.
"Angie and I didn't get into
Houston or San Antonio, so that really put a damper
on things," she says. "Now we are debating
about going to California for the Tour rodeos."
Before California, Beam and the
eight year old Willy will compete at the Dodge National
Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho. Beam is hoping
for a chance at the Wrangler NFR but is realistic about
the rodeo road.
"All I have is Willy,"
she says, "so I have to take care of my boy."
Beam is taking into consideration the miles and runs
when entering, understanding that she has no back-up
for Willy and that he is still young. In fact, Willy
went to his first rodeo just a couple of years ago and
Beam only entered him in 30 last year en route to the
Texas Circuit Finals.
"He won the first rodeo we
entered, at Conroe," she remembers. "I remember
thinking, just don't spoil me too bad but he has kept
doing well and it has worked out so far."
Beam has nothing but praise for
her partner, who was started on the barrels by her mom,
Paula Owens. "He is easy to deal with, he just
goes with the flow and takes care of himself and me."
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