Popko, Graham win events at Camp Pendleton junior rodeo

Fallbrook’s Kerry Popko and Bonsall’s Marissa Graham won events at the California Junior Rodeo Association competition July 30 at Camp Pendleton’s rodeo grounds.

Popko, who competes in the Senior Girls division, won the Pole Bending buckle. Graham, who is in the Junior Girls division, won the Breakaway Roping at the rodeo.

Popko, who rode Banjo, had a time of 21.20 seconds in the Pole Bending. The second-place cowgirl, Bobbi Kushner, had a time of 22.03 seconds.

“It was really slow grounds, I thought, that day. It was really deep,” Popko said. “I kept it really clean and it ended up working for me.”

The points for the first-place finish moved Popko from tenth to fifth in the season standings. “I really needed that,” she said. “I needed to move up.”

Popko also competed in the Barrel Racing and placed tenth.

Graham rode Sooner for the Breakaway Roping event and had a winning time of 3.2 seconds. Jordan Berry’s second-place time was 3.8 seconds. Graham’s sister, Amy, was third with a run of 4.0 seconds.

Marissa Graham also placed third in the Barrel Racing event at Camp Pendleton.