Popko wins go-round at CJRA finals, finishes third for year

Kerry Popko incurred five-second penalties in two of the three Pole Bending go-rounds at the California Junior Rodeo Association finals November 24-26 at the Riverside Rancheros arena, but she won the second go-round and still finished fourth in the average to end up third in the final season standings.

“It was really disappointing,” Popko said. “I guess I didn’t concentrate hard enough. I didn’t push myself as much as I should have.”

Popko had entered the CJRA finals second in the Pole Bending standings, and since she started the rodeo only 59 points behind first-place Rio Clawson she had a c...