CIRCUIT FINALS: CALIFORNIA BREAKAWAY ROPING TIME WELL SPENT George Makes Most of Opportunity, Wins Breakaway Average Title at California Circuit Finals By Joe Kusek R ylee George spent more time in the air the last two months of the rodeo season than she did in
the arena chasing calves. It was time well spent.
Taking full advantage of the opportunity presented, and with a little help from her friends, the 23-year-old college student won the California Circuit Finals breakaway roping title. George, of Oakdale, roped three calves in 8.1 seconds for the first big title of her young career. George jump-started her 2024 with $6,669 earned at Pauline Davis Pavilion in Red Bluff, California, Dec. 29-31. “Oh my, it’s huge,” said George who is pursuing her masters’ degree in ag science at Texas A&M Commerce. “It’s awesome. I was lucky enough getting into the Finals and winning it is even better.” Suzanne Williams, of
Rylee George roped three calves in 8.1 seconds to win the average tile at the California Circuit Finals Rodeo and punch her ticket to the NFR Open in July. She did so aboard the great horse Deputy, who used to be owned by the “King of the Cowboys” Trevor Brazile. Photo by Crystal Amen
Standish, California, was second in the average to leapfrog over Hanna Hundsdorfer of Visalia, for the year-end title. Williams, the women’s rodeo coach for Lassen Community College, was 8.5 seconds on three for $5,131. She came in trailing Hundsdorfer by $149.70. Both George and Williams earned berths in the lucrative NFR Open this July in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the first qualification for both. “The NFR Open, it’s a game-changer,” George said. “So much money can be won there.” George looped times of 2.1, 2.4 and 3.6 seconds. She won the first round and tied for first with Williams and Hundsdorfer in the second round. Fallon Ruffoni was 2.9 to win the third round. “Going into the Finals my goal was to win the average,” said George. “I knew if I made two solid runs, I could get the average. I was the last roper out. I knew what I had to be. My last throw, I just had to make sure I had a catch.” She rode Deputy, a 20-year-old sorrel gelding once owned by 26-time PRCA world champion Trevor Brazile. George purchased the horse, registered as Fantaz Popularresort, almost three years ago from Wyatt Imus of Texas. The horse, which helped Brazile win the all-around title in 2018, is out of Fanta Lena and sired by Popular Resortfigure. “Calf roping is very similar,” George said of the horse transitioning
events. “It didn’t take any adjusting for breakaway roping. “He scores well and stays back in the box until you tell him you want to go. Deputy reads calves really well.” Deputy also tracks other things. “He loves his cookies. If he knows you have some, he will find them,” George continued with a laugh. “We always keep some cookies in the trailer.” George traveled most of the summer with Cheyanne McCartney, who would go on to win the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping average in Las Vegas. Trying to qualify for the circuit finals in her home state, Geroge estimates she flew from Texas to California, “Five, six times,” she said in August and September. It is 1,692 miles from Commerce to her home in Oakdale. She rode a horse owned by fellow roper Liz Hirdes, of Turlock. “Liz ended up letting me use her horse halfway through the year,” said George. George finished 13th in the standings but Hirdes opened the door to Red Bluff. “Liz was pregnant and told me she wasn’t going to rope at the Finals,” said George. George has already laid out plans for 2024. “I plan to compete and earn enough money to get into the winter rodeos (for 2025),” said George. “And hopefully make my first NFBR.”
FEBRUARY 2024
WPRA NEWS 39
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