Kendrick wins state barrel racing title
Published in the Oct. 11, 2006 issue of The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle
By Al Camp
Chronicle staff
Diane Kendrick, who is more used to making a serpentine line around
barrels, will be making a beeline to Reno, Nev., to compete in the American West
Barrel Racing Finals later this week.
Kendrick and husband Jerry took off from their ranch near Riverside Sunday,
Oct. 8, for nationals. Kendrick will receive a saddle at nationals for finishing
first in the standings this season for Washington.
The barrel racing finals start Oct. 11 with a $90,000-added purse.
Kendrick (26,346 points) finished well ahead of second-place Pamela Cravens
(18,549) in 4-D standings, though Kendrick said she didn't think her title was a
done deal until the season ended Sept. 4.
Cravens, Pasco, competed in 40 events compared to 34 for Kendrick. Though
Kendrick won the title for Washington, she competed all across the nation for
her points. She returned from Arizona in August to hold her breath the final
weeks of the season.
"I made the ones that I went to count. I went to the big ones," said
Kendrick, who said the season ran from Sept. 5, 2005, to Sept. 4, 2006.
She also wanted to limit the stress on her two horses.
"My whole plan was I kind of wanted to see if I could win (the state title)
but did not want to run my horses into the ground," said Kendrick. "I went to
the ones with a lot of added money."
When she returned from Arizona in August she held her breath, hoping
Cravens would not catch her in the final weeks.
Cravens had been gaining ground before Kendrick competed at Winnemucca Days
in Nevada July 23, where she amassed 4,895 points. That was her biggest event of
the season.
"I knew I had to hit a home run down there and I did," said Kendrick of her
Nevada racing.
Cravens did not race at the event.
She also picked up 4,720 points at Washington Classic April 22 in Moses
Lake and 3,900 points at Strobel's July 4th Races in Scappoose, Ore.
"I breathed easier on the fourth of September when the season was done,"
said Kendrick. "I thought I had enough points, and didn't think she could catch
me but I was not certain."
After the American West Finals, Kendrick heads to Guthrie, Okla., for the
Barrelnanza Finals Nov. 9-12.
Several other competitors from Washington, including Becky and Bailey
Wallis of Okanogan, will join her.
Besides cash and a saddle, the winner will receive a new Dodge truck.
If Bailey Wallis, 12, wins the truck, Kendrick said, "I'm sure her mom will
enjoy driving it."