Ropers hit J Arena in full force

By JEFF CASPERSEN, Jr./The Daily Journal

UKIAH — Ropers were out in full force at Burke Hill Road’s J Arena Saturday, partaking in the facility’s third annual team calf-roping competition.

With jackpot cash awards and loads of prizes at stakes, ropers battled burdensome heat and each other in one of Northern California’s largest privately run roping competitions.

“We do this because there’s not a lot of roping in the area,” J Arena owner Briana Jenney explained. “It’s a chance for people to come out here and win lots of really nice awards and prizes.”

The day’s most coveted prize was a $1,200 saddle. That went to the roper who pooled the most cash throughout the course of the day. Other prizes included belt buckles, t-shirts, gift certificates, to name a few. Prizes were donated by Mendocino County Farm Supply and The Tack Room.

Competition began at 9 a.m. and lasted into the late afternoon. Somewhere between 60 and 70 teams participated in all, with many individuals switching partners throughout the day. Individuals paid money to enter the various categories of competition and their placement in those events dictated the amount of money they won back. The sum of the entry fees reincarnates as the jackpot prize money.

The concept of team roping is simple. The actual process and skill needed to tackle the objective is anything but. Horse-bound partners work together, corralling and chasing down calves, one responsible for roping the calf’s head and the other its back legs. Thus, the former is dubbed a header and the latter a heeler. Placement in the roping competition is determined by the amount of time it takes successfully rope the calf.

One of the day’s top competitors, 16-year-old Santa Rosa High School student Broc Cresta, is a seven-year roping veteran. At press time, the young phenom was battling it out for the prized saddle with 10-year veteran Connie Hiatt, a resident of Boonville.

”My family’s big into this and I’ve been doing it my whole life,” Cresta said of his affinity for roping. On average, Cresta attends roughly 20 or 25 such competitions a year. He hopes one day to make the Professional Rodeo Association circuit.

“I’ve just got to keep practicing,” he added. “As soon as you turn 18, you can go to the professional rodeos. I’ve got to keep working at it.”

Cresta recently returned from Farmington, N.M., where he competed in the National High School Rodeo Association Finals. There, teamed up with Spencer Mitchell, Cresta nabbed a prestigious third overall in team roping competition.

Hiatt’s accolades are even more impressive. Having logged time in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, she knows a thing or two about competing at elevated levels. Hiatt has competed all over the country and consistently appears at the Women’s National Finals Rodeo in Forth Worth, Texas. Not only does she appear, but Hiatt typically finishes high in the WPRA’s big event.

“Two years ago, I broke my leg before the nationals and competed with a cast on my leg,” Hiatt recalled. “I ended up in the top 10 in heading and calf-roping.”

That was back in 2001. Her grittiness and competitive spirit showed in the ring Saturday, where, at press time, she stood in the lead with one event remaining.

With so many positive storylines and a wealth of solid competition, it’s no wonder J Arena proprietor and Ukiah native Briana Jenney takes pride in holding the event each year. Jenney’s been in charge at the arena for four years now, purchasing it with the help of a friend.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted this place,” noted Jenney, who also offers horse boarding, riding lessons, training and clinics at the ranch. “I want to get people involved with the equine industry and give them a chance to compete. For anyone interested in horses, this is a place that’s pretty welcoming.”