Popko wins CHSRA rodeo at Industry

Kerry Popko won both Pole Bending go-rounds as well as the average at the California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA) District 8 competition October 22 at City of Industry.

The Fallbrook High School junior had runs of 20.32 and 20.41 seconds for a two-run average of 40.73 seconds.

“I’m just really proud of my horse, that we accomplished what we did,” said Popko, who rode Banjo.

Popko had a California Junior Rodeo Association competition in Industry the day before but hit a pole and did not place. That five-second penalty took her out of a top-ten place at the CJRA rodeo but gave her a chance to evaluate her mistake for the following day.

“I realized that I had run it to go all out, to win it all out,” Popko said. “I needed to just go in and be safe with it. Sunday I changed my mindset.”

That made Popko’s time at the CHSRA rodeo a bonus. “It was a really fast time. I didn’t expect it to be that fast,” she said. “I was really proud of .”

Freshman Tyla Treasure had a time of 20.44 seconds on the first go-round to place second while 2005-06 District 8 champion Melanie Miller was third with a run of 20.63 seconds. Chantal Pena placed fourth with a time of 20.99 seconds.

Popko’s emphasis on avoiding a five-second penalty made her unconcerned about her slower time during her second run. “It felt faster to me. I was more confident going in, but I just wanted to keep them up,” she said.

Banjo was less hesitant. “He just whipped around it,” Popko said.

Treasure, Miller, and Pena all incurred five-second penalties in the second go-round for knocking down poles. Lexi Archibeck’s time of 21.11 seconds placed second while Samantha Smith was third with a run of 21.75 seconds.

Popko had also won both go-rounds at the September high school rodeo, giving her four consecutive go-round wins. “That’s good. Basically he’s getting older, but with his age he’s also getting consistency. He’s more reliable,” Popko said.

Banjo is now 14. The Popko family has owned him for the past four and a half years.

“He’s maturing a lot,” Popko said.

Archibeck’s two-run average of 43.37 seconds placed second. Smith was third with an average of 43.93 seconds while Karrie McCord was fourth with a time of 44.15 seconds in the average.

“I’m real happy that I’m getting first right now, and I’m hoping I can hold it,” Popko said.

The next CHSRA rodeo will be an interdistrict competition in Paso Robles November 11-12. “I’m excited for that one,” Popko said. “It will be a lot to look forward to.”