(Courtesy photo)
The fourth and final event in a ranch sorting series took place recently at the Rodriguez Covered Arena located just south of San Benito. Dan Montemayor of Harlingen was the local organizer and the event was sanctioned by a national group called Ranch Sorting of America.
Ranch sorting is a popular equine sport practiced throughout Texas and the entire nation in which two mounted team members move ten collard calves in numerical sequence from one corral to another (both shaped into a figure eight) within 60 seconds or less.
Competitions are held weekly at the San Benito arena and Santa Rosa’s Cowboy Church. An annual competition is held in conjunction with the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes in March. Organizers say the competition is a great family sport for anyone who enjoys riding a horse, and it combines action, speed, fun and excitement for young and old, spectators and participants, alike.
At the recent competition, riders came from across the Rio Grande Valley and as far as Corpus Christi to try their luck and skills in five different sorting divisions.
In the first division of the day, the Open Draw, Joe Villafranca of San Benito and Russell Klostermann of Raymondville, won the Open Championship and cash.
In the Ranch Hand Class, Jose Luis Villafranca and Sharon Rodriguez, both of San Benito, took top honors, winning money and insulated tumblers. Boyd Davis, of McAllen, and Hayden O’Loughlin, of Santa Rosa, garnered First Place in the Advanced Sorters’ Division, taking home cash and insulated tumblers, as well.
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