Athan Crosses Circuit Title Off Bucket List
LANCASTER, Calif. – In June, bareback rider Teddy Athan won his hometown Livermore (Calif.) Rodeo for the first time.
On Oct. 18, Athan crossed another thing off his bucket list by winning the average title at the RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo with a score of 243 points on three head.
“I drew really good all three rounds,” said the 28-year-old Athan, who also was the year-end RAM California Circuit bareback champion in 2009. “It worked good and felt good all three rounds and it feels great to win the average. This is definitely something I’ve been wanting to do.”
Athan won his inaugural average crown at the RCCFR thanks to being the very model of consistency.
He won the first round with an 83-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Star Wars and was tops in the second round with an 81-point ride. Athan then clinched the average with a 79-point ride on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Gypsy Soul in round three.
“She felt real good and she bucked,” Athan said of Gypsy Soul. “The first two rounds I wasn’t nervous about anything. The third round it started getting in my head a little bit, but I was able to get the job done.”
By virtue of capturing the average crown, Athan qualified for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo which will be held March 25-28 in Kissimmee, Fla.
“I think it is going to be a lot of fun to go down there,” Athan said. “I’m just going to approach it as just another rodeo and see what happens.”
Athan hopes his wins at Livermore and the average title at the RCCFR will be catalysts for his 2015 season.
“(In 2015), I’m going to start rodeoing quite a bit more,” Athan said. “The last couple of years I’ve been fighting some injuries and I’ve just been sticking around home. I’ve been getting further and further away and by next year I will be going pretty good.”
Other winners at the $102,899 rodeo were steer wrestler Sterling Lambert (14.9 seconds on three head), saddle bronc rider John Redig (244 points on three head), tie-down roper Doyle Hoskins (28.5 seconds on three head), team ropers Case Hirdes and Matt Costa (20.7 seconds on three head), barrel racer Ann Scott (53.14 seconds on three runs) and bull rider Walker Greynolds (164 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA