S PORTS
www.hoodrivernews.com
Hood River News, Saturday, July 18, 2015
A7
Hood River mother and daughter ‘having
a blast’ in the Fort Dalles Days Pro Rodeo
Photos by Mike Weber
CRYSTAL BEAM, left, rides her horse, Shortcut, after competing in the barrel racing event of the the Fort Dalles Days Pro Rodeo Wednesday night. At right, Beam’s daughter, Josee, poses for a photo Wednes-
day night. Josee, who starts her freshman year at Hood River Valley High School this fall, was selected as the Fort Dalles Riders Association Queen.
By MIKE WEBER
For the News
Celebrating its 50th anniversary,
the Fort Dalles Days Pro Rodeo
kicked off with the opening round
of events that included Hood River
cowgirls Crystal Beam and her
daughter, Josee, on Wednesday at
Milt Tumilson Arena in The Dalles.
Beam competed in barrel racing
while riding her nine-year-old
quarterhorse Shortcut around the
three-barrel course while clocking
a pretty quick time of 18.87 sec-
onds.
“We’ve been traveling together to
many events this year, which has
been a great experience for Josee,
since it gives her something to do at
the rodeo,” said Beam, 35, who also
enters Jackpot Rodeo events
around the Northwest. “We’re on
the road nearly every weekend
traveling to rodeos with my hus-
band, Chad, and our six-year-old
daughter, Charlie. We’re having so
much fun and Charlie enjoys riding
her pony all over the rodeo facility
while we’re here. I have my own
cheerleading section here tonight
too with lots of family and friends
attending, so that’s really nice.”
Wednesday marked the 11th
rodeo Beam has competed in this
year. She recorded a season best
time of 17.90 at a rodeo earlier this
year in Scappoose.
“It’s really tough sometimes to
make money, because we pay a $121
entrant fee and only the top six rid-
ers in barrel racing get paid (usual-
ly $1,000 or more),” said Beam.
“We’re racing hard and trying our
best. If you don’t finish in the top
six though, you get nothing. We’re
fortunate to have a rodeo close to
home though, because it costs
money to tow a
big horse trail-
er like this to
other rodeos
around
the
Northwest.”
Chad
did
steer wrestling
for one season,
but he’s no
longer compet-
ing. The Beams
operate their
own business,
Beam Excavat-
ing in Hood
River. Chad did-
n’ t continue
competing in
rodeo because
of the high risk of injury involved
in the sport and he didn’t want to
jeopardize his career and get hurt,
which would make it difficult for
him to work.
Josee, who was selected as the
Fort Dalles Riders Association
Queen, participates in all four
days of the rodeo, which concludes
with Saturday’s final round of
events at 7:30 p.m. Josee, 14, rides
her 21-year-old white gelding quar-
terhorse Casper in the introduc-
tions at the beginning of the pro-
gram. Josee and Fort Dalles Pro
Rodeo Queen Carsen Cordell of
The Dalles also herd the calves and
steers out of the arena after the
do. It’s been one of the best rodeo
seasons I’ve ever had and it’s lots
of fun. I was very excited to earn
my selection as a Rodeo Queen
too.”
Josee suffered a head injury at
age six when she fell off her horse
and she was somewhat reluctant
and a little afraid to continue rid-
ing at that
point. Josee re-
covered from
the
injury
though
and
then took rid-
ing lessons to
i m p r ove h e r
horsemanship
ability. Josee
enjoys rodeo
tremendously
now, while ex-
per tly riding
CRYSTAL BEAM
around The
Dalles arena.
She’ll continue
her rodeo ca-
Photo by Mike Weber
reer while com-
peting in the
timed roping events.
Oregon High School Equestrian
“I’m having a blast, because Team meets throughout the year.
this is a really good experience
Crystal competed in the North-
for me,” said Josee, an incoming west Professional Rodeo Associa-
Hood River Valley High School tion (NPRA) event, which is the
freshman. “Someday, I’m hoping 15th of 31 rodeos on the Ore-
to travel to rodeos when I’m an gon/Washington circuit. The next
adult and I’m learning a lot, so I’ll event on the NPRA schedule is
know exactly what I can expect to July 23-25 at Longview, Wash. The
‘We’re racing hard and
trying our best. If you don’t
finish in the top six though,
you get nothing.’’
top 12 entrants in the standings
qualify for the NPRA Finals Sept.
25-26 in Prineville. Beam says her
goal is to make it to the finals this
year. Beam will enter her next
rodeo Aug. 14 in Tygh Valley.
The rodeo atmosphere is cer-
tainly a unique and fun outdoor
summer activity that family mem-
bers and friends attend to watch
the action from the grandstands
while cheering for their favorite
cowboys and cowgirls. Crystal’s
parents, Howard and Connie An-
derson of The Dalles, watched her
compete along with other family
members as well.
Crystal grew up in The Dalles
and always attended the rodeo
with her family. She began horse-
back riding at age 10 while being
encouraged to par ticipate in
rodeo by her parents and they
bought the first horse for Crystal
when she was 15. The Beams own
a total of seven horses now.
H o o d R ive r c ow g i rl C a rl i
Achziger was also one of the 40
registered barrel racing entrants
Wednesday, but she was unable to
compete, while recovering from
injuries she sustained last week-
end. Achziger was bucked off her
horse while riding in a stable in
Hood River and then was hospital-
ized in Portland while getting
treatment for the injuries.
SPORTS BRIEFS
Swim team racks up personal bests at 12U champs
Five girls from the Hood River Valley Swim Team competed in the Speedo Oregon Swimming
12U Swimming Championships this past weekend in Albany. Sarah Arpag, age 11, was the high
point for the team, scoring 26 points and finishing second in the 400-meter freestyle (5 minutes,
8.6 seconds), second in the 200m freestyle (2:23.25), second in the 50m freestyle (30.75), third in
the 50m backstroke (36.13), third in the 100
freestyle (1:06.33), as well as fourth in the 100
backstroke (1:19.10) for the Osprey. Marina Cas-
taneda, 9, also placed in the top 8 with a second-
place finish in the 50m breaststroke (47.33), third
place in the 100m breaststroke (1:46.87) and 15th
place in the 50m freestyle (39.94). Skyla Hollowell,
9, placed 13th in her first state meet in the 50m but-
terfly (46.29). Shea Kasenga, 11, finished 18th in
the 100m breaststroke (1:40.36) and 19th in the
50m breaststroke (47.09). Thea Smith, 10, swam to
12th in the 100m freestyle (1:21.38) and a 14th-place finish in the 200m freestyle (3:03.26). All
except one swim were a personal best time for these girls. Next up for the HRVST is Senior Sec-
tionals at Mt. Hood Community College this weekend. Pictured in the photo from left to right:
Skyla Hollowell, Marina Cataneda, Shea Kasenga, Sarah Arpag, Thea Smith.
Pickleball team grabs medals at Oregon Games
Hood River pickleball players traveled to
Beaverton last weekend to play in the Oregon
Games Pickleball Tournament and all six players
were able to come home with medals. Pictured
from left to right are Therese Franger, Nancy
Clement, Chris Smith, Elizabeth Whelan, Robin
Panzer, and Mitch Panzer. For those who don’t
know the game, pickleball can roughly be ex-
plained as a cross between ping pong and tennis.
The sport is seeing increasing popularity in Hood
River, where pickleball courts opened last month
near Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.
Photo by Ben Mitchell
SEASON FINALE
The Carson Oilers had their last game of the season on Monday, a doubleheader against Scap-
poose in Hood River. After dropping the first game 11-1, the Oilers nearly came away with what
would have been their first win of the season after jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the early in-
nings of the second game. Unfortunately, Scappoose would eventually tie the game and then
rally big in the final inning to win 10-3. Coach Terry Bryant said his team played some great in-
nings of baseball this season, noting the squad faced off against much older teams throughout
the summer. Above, Oilers pitcher Dakota Kurahara winds up on the mound during Game Two
of the doubleheader.
Babe Ruth 13U All Stars win state, head to regionals
The Dalles Babe Ruth 13U All Stars have had quite the season, winning the district champi-
onships and most recently the state championships after defeating West Linn, 10-9, in extra in-
nings. The team, of which four members are from the Hood River 13U team, is now heading to
Meridian, Idaho for the regional tournament, but need some funds to help get them there. For
those who wish to make a donation, checks can be sent to 3550 Cedar Drive, Hood River, OR
97031, with checks made out to Luis Jimenez, team manager. Those interested can also go to Pa-
cific NW Credit Union at 1004 Pacific Avenue on the Heights and make a donation to the account
for Luis Jimenez, titled Babe Ruth. If the team is able to win regionals, the boys will have the op-
portunity to play at the Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown, N.Y. The team’s roster consists of
Nolan Ryan, Jaunluis Jimenez, Dominic Smith, Sam Thalhofer, Ben Nelson, Josh Johnson, Caden
Mathiesen, Dallas Seufalamua, Connor Baughn, Colton Baughn, Zack Anderson, Aidan Hicks,
Caden Cummings, Jose Ruis, coaches James Baughn and Dane Nelson, and Manager Luis Jimenez.