WORTH THE TRIP Olson, Allen Tie For Win At Rapid City By Joe Kusek B obbi Olson and Kelly Allen have much in common. Both live in the same Texas community. Both have a passion for barrel racing. And for a few days in early February, the pair navigated the same icy roads to travel 1,100 miles north from Stephenville to Rapid City, South Dakota. The only differences were their traveling partners and what was packed in their rigs. Each had their reasons for competing in the same building. And fittingly, both had the same result.
On different nights at The Monument, Olson and Allen posted identical times of 13.08 seconds to win Rodeo Rapid City, Feb. 2-4. Each cowgirl pocketed $4,191. Olson also won in Rapid City in 2020 and 2018. “There is something special about Rapid City,” said Olson. The event also served as a mini reunion for her and her husband’s families. Olson, formerly Bobbi Grann, is from Sheyenne, North Dakota. Her husband Logan, a team roper, is from Flandreau, South Dakota. Bobbi and Logan Olson spend their winters in Stephenville and summers in the Dakotas. “We got to meet up with family. It was so much fun,” said Olson. The Olson truck included their young daughters Emersyn (2) and Ellie (three months). “My parents watched the kids. We had freedom at the rodeo,” Olson added with a laugh. “It’s challenging traveling with small children. It’s a whole new ballgame. “But the first challenge was to get back barrel racing.” Olson was pregnant in 2022 and did not compete. She started up again in December while her mother-in-law Marda Olson watched her children. “I couldn’t have done this without her,” Olson said. “It did take a while. It was a matter of balance and timing. It all came together in Rapid City.”
Olson was aboard DMO Fantastic Fiesta, better known as Hemi. The eight-year-old gray off the Olson ranch is out of Frenchman’s Onnahi by Fiesta’s Gotta Gun. “He was super soft and smooth,” Olson said of their run Friday night. “He ran so well it didn’t feel that fast. Then I saw the time. “We’re going to stay with the circuit rodeos this year. We’re excited. We know he is hitting his stride. He proved he can run against the good horses.” Allen entered Rapid City on a whim. Not competing at Fort Worth, she did not want to stay home. “I couldn’t just sit here and not go,” she said.“My computer is never more than three feet away when traveling.” Allen, who owns a spa in Fort Worth, went through a revolving door of potential travel partners. She was originally scheduled to go with Ari-Anna Flynn, who won Rapid City last year, but it overlapped with The American qualifying for Flynn. Jackie Ganter then traded with Flynn to go with Allen but qualified for the Fort Worth Finals. Allen’s father Kenny volunteered and drove to his daughter’s place the morning they left. “I was packing stuff at 6 a.m.,” Allen said. The pair also waited for the ice to melt before hitting the road. “There were a lot of ruts. This is the first time I drove to Rapid City. I kept thinking how stupid this is for one run.” It paid off for Allen and Cinco, a seven-year-old bay registered as Miss JB 165. Allen has owned Cinco, out of Shorease Famous and by The Money Depot, since the horse was two. “She loves the small pattern,” said Allen. “Because of the storm I had six days of no riding. We were going in rusty. I heard the time and thought, ‘Did I hear right?’ “We’re going to go out this summer. We’re going to go for the Finals as long as my horse is healthy and happy. “Rapid City was worth the trip.” Bobbi Olson finished in a tie for first at Rodeo Rapid City after stopping the clock in 13.08 seconds. This was Olson’s third time in the winner’s circle with previous visits in 2018 and 2020 when her last name was Grann. Photo by Clay Guardipee
Kelly Allen almost didn’t make the trip to Rapid City but thanks to her father, Kenny, who volunteered to travel with her she returned to Texas with some cash in her pockets and a new title added to her resume. Allen and her horse Cinco tied with Bobbi Olson after stopping the clock in a time of 13.08 seconds. Photo by Clay Guardipee
14 WPRA NEWS MARCH 2023
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