Popko wins Junior Rodeo at Hesperia

Kerry Popko won the Pole Bending event at the California Junior Rodeo Association competition September 16 in Hesperia.

Popko had a time of 20.54 seconds. Allison McMillan placed second with a run of 21.14 seconds.

“Banjo was on that day and he hauled. He knew what he wanted to do,” Popko said of her horse. “He stayed off all the poles and I just had a good run.”

Popko had finished 11th, one position out of any points, at the previous CJRA event. “I just had to make up for that,” she said.

Popko, who is a junior at Fallbrook High School, is also on the Warriors’ volleyball team. That and her academic load limit her riding practice, which may have been to her advantage. “I used to ride him a lot more than I do now,” she said. “It tired him a bit.”

Popko rode Banjo on September 12 before giving him three days off until the rodeo. “I figured out that if I keep him away for some time it will make him want to do it more,” she said.

Popko entered the Hesperia arena seeking a clean run. “It’s never an easy run when you get in there,” she said.

Banjo went wide on the first pole, but he was able to make up the time. “He pretty much was on the spot where I wanted him to be,” Popko said.

The next CJRA rodeo will take place October 21 in the City of Industry. That will be followed by the CJRA finals, and Popko has a chance of being on top of the Pole Bending standings following the three-day finals. “I’m looking forward to the finals,” she said. “Maybe all these buckles will add up to a saddle.”