Corpus Christi, Texas-A familiar name found its way to the top of the leader board at the Buc Days Pro Rodeo in Corpus Christi, April 22-25. But while the name West is more known for topping the bull riding, in Corpus Christi it was Michelle West, and not her husband, two time PRCA World Champion Bull Rider Terry Don, who bested the competition.
"I always teased [my family] that someday I would be known myself, not just as 'Terry Don's wife,'" jokes West. With the season she has put together so far, West is not far from stardom all on her own. Riding her 10-year-old gelding, JL Treasured Smash, West beat the WPRA's best in the tiny confines of the American Bank Center, posting a time of 13.23 seconds for the win and collected a gaudy $5,104 check in the process.
"I am really excited," West gushed. "I don't think it has sunk in yet."
With her big win on the beach in south Texas, West moved into the top 25 of the WPRA NFR standings. But don't expect to see her making a big run for the NFR any time soon.
"I can't really do the road thing," she laughs. West finds it hard to leave her family to hit the rodeo trail full time; youngest son Trey is still in school. Chance, her oldest boy is 20. She knows the road well after 20 plus years of marriage to one of the sport's best bull riders.
"I just have one horse," West explains, "so I try to pick his places and not overdo it too much. The road is tough and I just don't want to be gone that much. Everyone dreams about qualifying but it would have to be by God's grace and winning big at the right places, not from pounding up and down the road for me to get there."
But West did set a goal for the 2010 season: to qualify to the Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo. The cowgirl lives in Henryetta, Okla., part of the Prairie Circuit, but designated the Southeastern after discovering that the conditions in the southeast were better suited for her horse. A solid paint who belongs to West's mother, Irish (named because he was born on St. Patrick's Day) likes clay and sand and his owner prefers the warmer climate for winter rodeoing.
"We went to 17 rodeos last year, Irish is still just learning about rodeos," West says. "He has really matured on the road this year."
West is well on her way to her goal, leading the Southeastern Circuit with nearly $10K won thus far. Her only obstacle to a SECFR berth is the rodeo count. Competitors must compete in a minimum number of rodeos within the circuit, along with winning enough money, to be eligible to compete at the circuit finals. With tough economic conditions, several rodeos have been cancelled or elected not to have WPRA barrel racing, reducing the number of rodeos for West to compete in.
West gives a lot of credit to her partner, Irish. "He is very, very honest. He would never intentionally hit a barrel." His free running style has helped her place deep at the winter building rodeos in 2010.
West had never before been to Corpus Christi, though Terry Don made it a regular stop during his rodeoing days. "It's a lot different than hauling with a bull rider," West laughs, pointing out the lack of the comfort of hotel rooms and tribulations of finding safe parking spots for the horses at night. When Terry Don went to Corpus Christie, he jumped on a plane.
"I knew about the parking-we ended up four blocks away and had to cross a lot of traffic," West says. "I knew it was on the beach. I thought I was prepared." With an infectious laugh, West explains the difficulty in finding a spot to warm up your horse and her fear that she was not ready when her name was called.
It may not have been the warm up she wanted but apparently it was enough for Irish. The gelding navigated his way through the tight pattern with no wasted effort in the turns. West even had to pick up a leg to keep from taking the plus five for knocking a barrel over.
"I hit a barrel to win Beaumont, so when he was turning the first so tight, I was thinking, I'll set it up if I have to, even if I end up on the wrong side of the second, but I am not knocking this barrel over! By the third, I was just thinking-drive, drive, drive."
Despite the penalty in Beaumont, it could well have been the run that convinced West to take her first trip to the Buc Days Pro Rodeo. Other cowgirls described the tiny set-up and sticky ground at Beaumont as very similar to Corpus Christi, convincing West to enter up.
"I thought it sounded like a good place to go for me," she says. "It worked out really good!"
Now in its 72nd year, the Buc Days Pro Rodeo is geared toward raising money for local causes. The Buc Days Commission's mission is not only to provide great entertainment, but provide scholarships for area students, a total of $60K in 2009. For more information, visit them on line at www.bucdays.com.
Barrel racing: 1. Michelle West, 13.23 seconds, $5,104; 2. Jennifer Barron, 13.26, $4,083; 3 Charlotte Cunningham, 13.34, $3,318; 4. Mandy Smith, 13.38, $2,552; 5. Jean Winters, 13.39, $2,042; 6. (tie) Janna Beam and Stacey Grimes, 13.41, $1,404 each; 8. Brittany Pozzi, 13.44, $1,148; 9. Shelley Morgan, 13.46, $1,021; 10. Linda Stewart, 13.49, $893; 11. Kendra Dickson, 13.50, $766; 12. (tie) Kay Blandford, Brooke Catalani and Layna Kight, 13.51, $510 each; 15. (tie) Sherri Dean and Maegan Reichert, 13.55, $128 each.
