Four Southwest winners at CCA Finals
The CCA Finals concluded on Saturday evening with four Southwest competitors emerging as event champions in Swift Current.
Maple Creek’s Logan Resch earned her first Finals title in Junior Girls Barrel Racing. She placed second in the final performance in 12.96 seconds to close out the championship.
“It’s very overwhelming and I’m very excited and very happy. There’s lots of emotions,” said Resch.
Resch entered the Finals in second spot in Junior Girls Barrel Racing. “My season was filled with ups and downs, but every rodeo season is. I was very happy with my season. I had lots of success, so it was good.”
This was her third appearance at the Finals in Swift Current as she secured her first championship saddle.
“I focused a lot on me and my horse and how I rode. I just made sure I was focusing on me and not the competition. I just took it one run at a time.”
Maple Creek’s James Perrin placed second in the final performance with a 71.5-point ride to close out the title in Junior Boys Steer Riding.
Consul’s Monty Koopman won the first title of the evening when he tied for top spot in Bareback to clinch his first Finals championship.
“I don’t even know how to describe it. I’ve been doing this so long and it’s the first time ever. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. It probably hasn’t sunk in, it won’t sink in until tomorrow I’m guessing,” said Koopman, who entered the Finals in seventh spot in the Bareback season standings.
Koopman rode Indian Dancer to clinch the win on Saturday.
“I really didn’t know the horse at all. I seen him out two nights ago and he looked good. All I did tonight was just relaxed a little bit, not worried about what’s going on, what’s going to happen. I just basically went back to basics and did my part best as I could and it all came through.”
Koopman has been riding Bareback for 21 years and has qualified for the Finals on 14 occasions. He had been runner up before but had never won the Finals.