Alamosa Round-up begins with Mutton Bustin’, Valley barrel race

Ruby Day had the top score in the four-year-old mutton bustin’ with 82 points (Courtesy photo by Phillip Kitts).

ALAMOSA – The 2022 Alamosa Round-up got underway on Thursday with a the Mutton Bustin’ and the Valley Barrel Race.

The Mutton Bustin’ began with the four-year-olds. Ruby Day had the best score of 82 points, followed by Azaraiah Pacheco and Gianni Lamont both with 81. Jamison Davis was fourth with 80 ½.

These four will compete again in the Friday night performance.

In the five-year-old division, Bexton Baines finished first with 93 points, followed by Reb Dunn with 91, Neveah Martinez with 89, and Easton Lopez with 87 1/2.

These finalists will also compete again in the Friday night performance.

Next was the six-year-olds and they were led by Kaysen May with 96 points. Miguel Pacheco was second with 90, followed by Rylee Fresquez and Jalissa Burrola both with 89 ½.

These four will compete again on Saturday night.

The Mutton Bustin’ concluded with the seven-year-olds and they were led by Eiljah Garcia with 98 ½ points, followed by Harley Day with 97 ½, John E. Kissel with 93, and Emery Schmittel with 92 ¾.

These four will also compete again on Saturday.

There were a total of 64 mutton busters – 21 four-year-olds, 14 five-year-olds, 12 six-year-olds, and 17 seven-year-olds.

There were a total of 22 racers in the valley barrel racing with the Top 10 to return to compete again on Friday and Saturday.

The top time was 18.70 seconds set by RaeLynn Bouet on Juneau. Jill Francis had a time of 18.77 on Amigo, Tanaye Maez had a 19.07 on Danny, Baily Bishop had a 19.22 on Brenda, and Gracie Wilson had a time of 19.28 on Whimpy.

Rounding put the Top 10 were Addy Malouff in 19.31 on Newt, Rose Mary Egolf with a 19.51 on Maxine, and Kody Gray with a 19.55 on Tekee. Jill Francis qualified for a sec ond time in 20.12 on Echo, and Kendra Yund had a time of 20.27 on Reba.

The PRCA portion of the rodeo begins with the slack today at 10 a.m. The first performance is tonight at 6 p.m. and the rodeo concludes Saturday beginning at 6 p.m.