Cash Kerner is no stranger to success.
At the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo on April 21-23, the 100 Mile House based bareback rider won the top prize in the Bareback event, taking home $553.76 for his winning ride on Zohan.
“It was a horse that I’d gotten on in the past, a couple of years before, and didn’t do so well on,” says Kerner. “I drew him again and I was happy about that. He was just nice, he came out and went straight away from the shoot and everything just kind of came together for me.”
Kerner scored an 83 on the ride. The second place riders scored 79 points each.
The Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo is the first rodeo of the year on the British Columbia Rodeo Association (BCRA) circuit, and, if past success is any indication, Kerner is in for a good year again this year.
Kerner has won the indoor bareback riding competition more than once in Williams Lake and is the defending BCRA season leader and finals winner.
Kerner has won the BCRA finals 9 times, he says, and the Pro-West Rodeo Association finals twice.
He says his goal is a repeat of last year - to end as season leader and finals winner, as well as finish at the top of the Pro-West circuit and the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association.
“I like getting on good horses and I just really enjoy doing it,” he says.
When he’s not rodeoing, Kerner trains horses at the 105 Mile arena.
Still, he prepares during the week and before the shoot opens for his rides.
“I get on my spur board during the week, and other than that I just stay in shape and get in the right mindset mentally before I ride. I also pray before I ride as well,” he says.
100 Mile House also represented in the Team Roping category at the Williams Lake Indoor.
The team of Ty Lytton (of 100 Mile House) and Aaron Palmer (of Savona) placed second with a time of 7.1 seconds, bringing home $811.68 each. Lytton also competed in the same event with Tim Terepocki of Cache Creek, finishing in ninth place with a time of 12.3 seconds and taking home $106.80 each.