By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
The stands were overfilled, and more than double the fans were standing, as mutton bustin’ at the Clark County Fair was a massive hit last week.
“It was a great success,” said Mutton Bustin’ Event Coordinator Randall Dalley. “We added two events this year and filled them all up.”
Even though the fans were “over-crowded” it was all about the kids, Dalley said.
“It was fun!” Saturday’s Champion Loretta Brooks of Logandale said.
When asked about the feeling of winning, she simply replied “Good.”
Dalley said all qualifying rounds were filled up with competitors and they even snuck a few in off of the “standby” line.
“All of the kids had fun,” Dalley said. “Some of them overcame their fears. Some of them didn’t. But they got to experience it and that is what it is all about.”
Qualifying rounds were held each day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. with the top five scorers moving on and competing in the daily championship round at 5 p.m.
Each of the 167 riders were 4-7 years old and under 60 lbs.
Wednesday started out a little rough as the sheep were being “sheepish” and laying down. Re-rides were occurring often. But it picked up and the stands were filled with shouts of acclamation as rides continued on down into the far side of the arena. The cheers continued on throughout the week, growing in quantity and loudness.
The crowds cheered especially loud for the kids who held on or suffered a wooly wreck. But all of the kids were smiles by the end, proudly displaying their competitor placard numbers and “Wrangler” patches.
Some showed off their western glitz while others displayed their own cultural apparel and glamour. Birdie Tuiaki wore a Hawaiian print dress and wowed the crowd with an impressive ride placing in the top 10 for Saturday.
Four-year-old America Delarosa of Las Vegas won the 1 p.m. qualifying round on Sunday with a score of 87.5, riding from one end to the other end of the arena.
The highest score of the week went to Logandale’s Memphis Adams with a score of 96 during the Thursday 1 p.m. session.
The champions all had a good luck totem as each winner had some sort of significant unique item to help spur their fortunes. Wednesday’s Champion Hunter Winward had a red Cowboy hat on. Brooks on Saturday had “Glitter Power” with glitter in her hair.
Even the kids who lost were all smiles as they displayed their money they won and wore the mantle of riding a wooly beast.
“You have to hang on, dig your heels in and squeeze and ride,” said Sunday’s Champion Elise Marquis, closing out the year’s competition with a bit of advice to all riders next year.
The champions of each day included:
Wednesday: Hunter Winward
Thursday: Tayte Webb
Friday: Diesel Adams
Saturday: Loretta Brooks
Sunday: Elise Marquis
“It’s about the kids and we want them to have fun. It is really all about them,” Dalley said.
