Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 24, 2005 Tara Finley of Mt. Vernon completed a 14.3-second barrel run at the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo on Sunday. Some 9,000 fans attended the three-day event. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Rounding it up at the rodeo By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune CENTRALPOINT— Italy Spratt’s family watched intently as her horse lurched forward, then rocketed round the barrels to victory Sunday. "They go from zero to sixty in nothing flat," she said later. The 46-year-old mother from Central Point, who came in first Sunday and second overall in barrel racing at the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo, had more than this victory to make her happy. "It was big deal today to do well locally," she said. "This is a new hometown crowd for me." Spratt recently married Steve Spratt and moved from Roseburg to Central Point and wanted to show her new family how serious she was about barrel racing. Advertisement "Because of that it was important for me to kind of prove that what I do with horses is on a little bit different level than they might think," she said. She was one of many contestants at the three-day rodeo that brought in about 9,000 fans. "It’s probably going to be a record," said Jackson County Expo Director Chris Borovansky, who said he would have an exact count later this week. Residents from all over Southern Oregon showed up to watch bull-riding, barrel racing, team roping, steer wrestling and other events. Roseburg resident Marilyn Williams, who has been coming since the ’80s, said, "It’s always a good rodeo." Like many onlookers, Williams seemed partial to the barrel racers; when asked about the bulls, she responded, "I don’t like them." And, for good reason. After bucking off the riders, the bulls angrily kicked at everything in their path, including the railings as they were carefully escorted out of the arena. Champion bull rider Jason Maddox, who is Spratt’s son-in-law, was disappointed that he got thrown off almost immediately from the back of a particularly ornery bull. "They’re the kind of bulls you don’t like to get on," said the 27-year-old Roseburg resident. "They call ’em eliminators." Italy Spratt’s 22-year-old daughter, Nataly, who was the national college barrel racing champion this year, is married to Maddox. Spratt’s other daughter, Jessica Tatone, 21, of Las Vegas, was the West Coast regional barrel-racing champion. Both her daughters have received college scholarships because of their racing skills. In addition, her daughter-in-law, Leanna Tatone, 29, of Roseburg is a cutting horse champion. Spratt, who only bought her horse in February, said she is usually buying horses for her two daughters, not herself. "This is the first horse I bought for me," she said, patting "Scooter" down after the race. "Everything’s for the girls to compete on." Scooter, she said, is a naturally fast horse, bred for the kind of speed and agility needed for barrel racing. "I want my horses to love it and crave it," said Spratt. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Rounding it up at the rodeo ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s