Neighbor: Smith rides in land of Lincoln

Staff

Published Friday, July 21, 2000

Features Editor

July 20, 2000 10 PM

Going into the National High School Finals Rodeo, Patrick Smith is sitting pretty. He hopes he'll still be sitting that way after two go- rounds in the bareback riding championships, which will be held in Springfield, Ill. next week.

Patrick is the Alabama State High School Rodeo Finals bareback riding champion and will head to Springfield today

holding the top bareback

riding spot on the Alabama High School State Rodeo team.

Last year,

Patrick was a member of the state rodeo team that competed in Gillette, Wyo. but was the fourth rider on the four-man bareback riding team This year, he's sitting in the top spot and he likes it up there.

"Being in the number one spot going into nationals doesn't really mean you have a better chance than anyone else," Patrick said. "The number four rider has just as good a chance as you do, but being in the number one spot gives me confidence that I didn't have last year. I just like where I'm sitting this year."

Patrick didn't go into the state rodeo finals holding the top spot. He earned it in the finals competition in Montgomery and, knowing he can ride under pressure, has also given him added confidence.

"In Springfield, I'll be riding against the best bareback riders in the country," he said. "Last year was my first year to compete against riders like that. It was a new experience for me and I was the fourth bareback rider on our team and I just really didn't have that much confidence in myself."

Patrick might have been in awe of his competition last year, but this year he has more of an "aw shucks, I can ride, too" attitude.

"The best riders come from the West because out there, rodeo is like football is to us,"

he said. "They grow up with it and their parents and grandparents probably did, too. They are all good riders and I'm just proud to get an opportunity to compete with them. I've worked hard to get myself physically and mentally prepared for the rodeo and I believe I'm as ready as I can be."

Patrick said it will take three near-perfect rides and the luck of the draw to win the national bareback riding championship.

"The judges give points for the rider and the horse and, if you get a bronco that doesn't give you a good ride, you can have the best ride of your life and still not score high because of the bronco. So, a lot depends on you and a lot depends on the bronco. To win, you've got to score high on both."

Patrick said his goal is to make the top 20 and get that third ride.

"Just getting to the national finals is great and I'm going to go and have a good time and not put a lot of pressure on myself," he said, "but I'm going to do my very best to get in the top

20."

More than 1,600 cowboys and cowgirls from 41 states, four Canadian provinces and Australia will be competing in the national high school rodeo. Four members from each team will compete in each event, so Patrick said he will be competing with 184 other bareback riders for the title.

"That's why making the top 20 would be a big thing for me," he said.

Patrick said all members of the team support each other.

"When I'm not competing, I'll be watching my teammates," he said. "There will be a crowd of people from Alabama along with us and knowing that people in the stands are rooting for you makes you really concentrate and try to do your best."

However, there is more to the world's largest rodeo than ridin' and ropin'.

Every night after the last rodeo event, there is a dance and there are several stage shows featuring well-known entertainers during the week.

"But one of the best things is getting to meet rodeo stars that we've heard about and read about," Patrick said. "No matter how much you think you know about riding, there is twice as much that you don't know. I like to be around other bareback riders, especially those who have made names for themselves, and listen to them and learn from them because I want to be the best bareback rider I can be. I'd like to earn one of

the college scholarships that will be available at nationals. I want to be on a college rodeo team but my next goal after nationals, this year, is to have a good rodeo season my senior year and be back in Springfield next summer to take one more ride for the national championship."  

 

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