Tucson women's rodeo not what it used to be

No longer a novelty, the event features top athletes who are serious about their sport despite low prize payouts.

EVAN REN
Citizen Correspondent
Feb. 17, 2001

Women's professional rodeo is no longer considered a novelty - it's serious competition.

And when the 76th annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros opens with the Tucson Women's Championship Rodeo tomorrow at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, several of the nation's top cowgirls will be vying for $23,000 in prize money.

Sponsored by the Tucson Rodeo Committee, the second-year event kicks off a full week of rodeo activity in the Old Pueblo, including the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade Thursday and the Tucson Men's Rodeo Wednesday through Feb. 25.

One of 30 such competitions on the Professional Women's Rodeo Association tour, the Tucson Women's Championship Rodeo has already established itself as one of the top female competitions in the country.

The recipient of the 2000 PWRA "Rodeo of the Year" award, the Tucson venue has doubled its prize money from a year ago, making it the highest-paying regular-season event on the women's circuit.

While the Tucson prize fund still pales in comparison to the payouts on the men's tour, event chair Nancy Jane Henson-Hunter sees the days of women's rodeo being viewed as an amusing sideshow drawing rapidly to a close.

"The women who enter these events are in top shape," said Henson-Hunter. "They are very good at their sport, and they take it very seriously."

More than 200 cowgirls from all over the country will compete this weekend, in bareback riding, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway and bull riding.

Among the top competitors will be 2000 PWRA all-around champion J.J. Hampton from Stephenville, Texas; 2000 runner-up Dede Crawford of Ben Wheeler, Texas; and Kim Williamson of Queen Creek, Ariz., who leads the 2001 all-around standings.

Hampton, who began competing in junior rodeos at age 4, has 16 PWRA world championships to her credit in calf roping, team roping, and breakaway.

"Most of the people involved with men's rodeo respect me and what I do," said Hampton. "It's only the people who really don't know much about the sport who don't show respect."

Williamson, who won the 2000 world team roping championship as a heeler for Patti McCutcheon of Alma, Ark., sees the women's circuit as a viable product that needs only the right marketing approach. "It has endless potential and just needs a little more direction," she said.

Copyright © 2001 Tucson Citizen