JUST GETTING STARTED Cianfichi Clinches Breakaway Title at Inaugural Rookie Roundup By Josie Fladager T hree swings and a bell-collar catch in 3.4 seconds was what it took for Gianna Cianfichi to win the Cowboy Channel Rookie Roundup presented by Resistol in Fort Worth, Texas on April 30. After a heart-breaking miss in the semifinal round, the spot
in the final round of four came from a tie-breaker: the fastest time from the first round. Cianfichi had tied in that round but had a higher placing in the standings, so she got the spot. As a result, she took advantage of her second chance. Cianfichi quickly refocused to back into the box for her third run ever inside the legendary Cowtown Coliseum. Being first out in the finals, Cianfichi waited through three more ropers to find out she had finished on top. “I did not expect this to happen. It’s super exciting,” Cianfichi told Amy Wilson with the Cowboy Channel at the event. With Nu GI Joe, or “Chase,” Cianfichi’s old faithful, she knew she could trust him in an unfamiliar set-up. The 21-year-old sorrel gelding, trained by family friend Rodd Hagge, has been with Cianfichi since she was in middle school and she knew he would do his job so she could focus on her roping. “I knew I’d have the best chance bringing him out there because I had never been in Cowtown and I had heard it was a tricky set-up. I knew I would have the most confidence on him,” she recalled. For Cianfichi, the event was something special. Getting to go behind the scenes of the Cowboy Channel studios, going through media training, and signing autographs made the event one she will not soon forget. Another aspect that stood out to her was the chance to get to know her rookie class. “To have all the rookies in one place was pretty special because we’re normally in all different places and it’s unusual that you get to be
in one place and you kind of get to know everyone,” noted Cianfichi. Cianfichi has been riding and competing since she was a kid, but she did not start roping right away. When she was 5 years old, she won the state championship for Western Pleasure in the lead line class. Her father grew up roping and passed his passion on to his children. Gianna’s brother learned first and she was not far behind, beginning to rope when she was about 9 years old and taking lessons from Buzz Bozzini. Outside of rodeo, Cianfichi is an engineer for the Stockton Water District in her home state of California, mostly doing project management and designs for agricultural and municipal purposes. She works with farmers and ranchers to help them efficiently use their water resources and the city of Stockton for their water supply. The week after the Rookie Roundup, she transitioned to a mostly remote position which she hopes will give her more freedom to travel and make more summer rodeos. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for Cianfichi. Between rodeoing, working, and planning her wedding, she has had her hands full. She will be marrying Kelly O’Day, an agricultural shop and conceal carry teacher, May 27th and will move to Ferndale, California. The honeymoon is planned for December, and she plans to continue rodeoing the next weekend after the wedding, hitting Clovis, N.M., Perryman, Utah, and Santa Maria, California. For the rest of the rodeo season, Cianfichi’s goal is to enter as many rodeos as she can through the summer. Gianna Cianfichi thought she had let a great opportunity slip through her loop during the semifinal round at the inaugural Cowboy Channel Rookie Roundup presented by Resistol. But luck was on her side, and she won a tie-breaker to get into the final round. She wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip through. She won the round and the title stopping the clock in 3.4 seconds. Photo by Kenneth Springer
Gianna Cianfichi was joined in the winner’s circle at the Cowboy Channel Rookie Roundup by Tom Glause (PRCA), Ricky Bolin (Resistol Hats) and Patrick Gottsch (Cowboy Channel). Photo by Kenneth Springer
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12 WPRA NEWS DECEMBER 2021 12 WPRA NEWS JUNE 2022
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