RODEO NEWS

Wimberly Wins Barrel Racing Title at Historic Rodeo Bowl in Big Spring

By Ted Harbin

There’s something about the desert climate that is attractive to Shayna Wimberly.

She was raised in Arizona – a graduate of Wickenburg High School – and moved to Big Spring, Texas, two years ago to attend Howard College on a rodeo scholarship. The dry, arid region is not only appealing, but it also offers opportunities.

She took advantage at a “hometown rodeo” of sorts, winning the barrel racing title at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, which took place June 19-21 at the historic Rodeo Bowl, a stadium built in 1950 into the crusty dirt on the east side of Howard County’s seat. During the Friday morning slack, she rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 15.68 seconds to claim $2,327 and a new buckle, the first year the wearable trophy has been offered in the 91 years of the rodeo’s history.

“That horse has been running really well the last couple of weeks,” Wimberly said. “We’ve placed at (Texas rodeos in) Coleman and Weatherford, and then on Wednesday (June 18), we won the jackpot in Stanton. I really felt like she’s been getting her air built up just getting to run her a lot. I felt like she was dialed in and ready for that run, so I just trusted her.

“I rode her because the bowl has white (concrete) walls, and the barrels were right on it. I saw a lot of girls were hitting barrels, and I just thought, ‘Keep riding, keep riding.’ I just rode hard and kept kicking, and she just worked really well.”

There’s an interesting tale about Acey, who isn’t yet registered. By Slick by Design, she’s out of mare named Chica, which was owned by Wimberly’s aunt in New Mexico. Aunt Melissa died a few years ago, and Wimberly’s grandmother purchased the filly. The young cowgirl started Acey on the barrel pattern, then spent last year seasoning the mount.

“My Aunt Melissa and I were really close, so every time I ride Acey, I just feel like my aunt’s always there with me,” Wimberly said. “I just have a really close bond with Acey. I started her my freshman year when I got here for school. I was the first one to take her to a jackpot, and I just kept riding her, taking her to amateur rodeos and college rodeos.”

Since her grandparents live in Big Spring, it was the natural course of things once she received the scholarship offer. Being able to watch the 6-year-old black mare develop has been a blessing. Now that Wimberly has graduated from the two-year institution, she will have Acey with her as she transfers to Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, in time for the fall semester.

This was her first time to run barrels at the ProRodeo in Big Spring; she was in the breakaway roping field a year ago while she was still trying to get Acey ready for the heavy lifting. She had run the pattern at the college rodeos in the bowl the last two seasons, so she knew a little more about what to expect.

“The Big Spring ground is always amazing because of our tractor guy,” she said of Zach Herrin, a team roper who is husband to barrel racer Liz Herrin; he is also a member of the Big Spring rodeo’s volunteer committee. “He’s awesome, and he was the same at the college rodeo, too. That arena probably has one of the best grounds in ProRodeo.”

Breakaway roper Lindsey Baker found her way to the west Texas community of Alpine a few years ago after graduating from college at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. She’d competed in the same region as Howard County, so she is familiar with the arenas in this neck of the woods. Her run of 2.2 seconds provided Baker her first title in the Rodeo Bowl. She pocketed $2,645.

“I’ve always wanted to do good in the Rodeo Bowl, so this is exciting for me,” Baker said.

The win was just as important to Wimberly, who is still competing on her WPRA permit. She’s filled the earnings necessary but put off buying her card until she was sure her black mare was ready.

“I knew she was going to be good, but I didn’t know she was going to be good so quickly,” she said. “When I filled my permit in April, I decided to get a permit extension and save my rookie card, so I didn’t really have any plans to go anywhere.

“Now, I’m kind of changing my mind, so I’m not exactly sure what my next steps are going to be. I’m probably going to start doing some traveling here soon.”

A great horse will help cowgirls make those kinds of decisions.

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