Bowen on his way to Nationals

June 20, 2011

Bowen.jpg [1]

Chase Bowen of Bishop scored a 60 on his final ride Friday night in the CHSRA qualifying round for the national association’s finals next month in Wyoming. Bowen’s total after three rounds was 200, just 18 points below Casey Meroshnekoff, the 2010 national bareback champion. Photos by Deb Murphy

Bishop bareback rider Chase Bowen rode his way into the National High School Rodeo Association finals Friday evening.
Bowen scored two 67s in his first rounds during the California High School Rodeo Association state finals held at Tri-County Fairgrounds. On the final, short go Friday evening, he held on for the required 8 seconds scoring 60 for a total of 200 ponits.
Bowen finished second to Casey Meroshnekoff, 2010 national bareback champion who finished the competition with a total of 218 points.
Bishop’s Bodie Kruse qualified for the short go in team roping with header Timothy Robison, placing in the top 15 with a 22.25 and 23.61 in their first and second rounds.
The team’s 26.87 time Friday night was good enough for 10th place but only the top five teams advanced to the nationals.
Haley Oney finished in mid-field in both barrel racing and pole bending.
Her times around the barrels in the first two rounds were 18.563 and 18.938; in pole bending, 25.670 and 24.846.
Emily Cleland competed in goat tying and finished with times of 13.60 and 11.31.