Albany competitors place
By Kathy Thomson
Several Albany residents competed at the Western Heritage Classic in Abilene this weekend, and locals placed well in various events, including the Ranch Rodeo, Fiddler’s Contest, and Parade.
Ranch Rodeo
Matthews/Nail Ranch of Albany won the Championship at the 35th annual Western Heritage Classic’s Ranch Rodeo on Friday and Saturday, May 10-11.
The winning group gathered 113 points to win the title.
Tongue River Ranch of Dumont placed second with 104 tallies, Green Land & Cattle Company of Albany, who won the contest last year, took third with 78.5, and Swenson Land & Cattle Company of Stamford finished in fourth place with 60 points.
Colton Mayo from the Matthews/Nail Ranch won the Top Hand award.
Laramy Richardson, another Matthews/Nail team member, won Saturday’s ranch bronc riding.
Also competing for the Matthews/Nail were Bucky Nail, Kye Funston, Calan Wills, and Kris Hubbard.
Green Land & Cattle won the two-day average in calf branding, and team member Kolton Burnett claimed the two-day average in bronc riding.
Also on the Green Ranch team were Henry Green, Rex Green, Rodney Wilson, Zane Peters, and Klay Waters.
Fiddler’s Contest
Robbin (Westmoreland) Guinn, who plays the fiddle, teaches music at the local elementary school, and gives private lessons to several local youths, went to the WHC Fiddler’s Contest on Saturday, May 11 with several of her students.
Guinn placed first in the 31-59 years of age division.
“I started playing the fiddle with my grandfather, H.D. Westmoreland, when I was about eight years old,” said Guinn. “My cousin West Westmoreland continued my training. West used to play with Red Steagall and Mel Tillis.”
Two Albany High students, both of whom have taken music lessons from Guinn since they were in elementary school, played in the contest and topped out their age bracket.
Bryson Davis took first and Sidney Bartee was second in the 13-30 division.
Four students from Nancy Smith Elementary school competed in the 12 and under age group.
Connor Smith topped the division, placing first. Third grader Hunter Sutton placed fourth and his classmate Charli Trail took second. Charlee Patterson placed fifth at her first ever competition.
“They all did super,” said Guinn. “The little kids always surprise me; they play with such confidence. I was proud of them!”
Bartee and Davis have participated at the Red Steagall Swing Festival in the past, and all of the students played at Wild West Day in Albany last month, according to Guinn.
Smith, Sutton, Trail, and Patterson will play their instruments at the upcoming talent show scheduled to take place at Nancy Smith Elementary School at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22.
Joining them in the talent show will be four more of Guinn’s students. Second grader Emma Bell Smith and first grader Luke Smith will be playing fiddles. Patton Smith and Ben Russell will perform on their ukuleles.
The public is invited to the NSES talent show.
Parade
The WHC parade marched through downtown Abilene on Thursday, May 9.
Cliff Teinert won third place in the All Other Wagons category with his 1880’s army ambulance.
Former Fandangle cast member David Beard placed third in the Rubber Tire Vehicle division with a hay wagon.
WHC History
The Western Heritage Classic began in 1985, when area cowboys decided to compete to determine who was the best working ranch. The event has grown to include match horse races, a ranch horse competition and sale, the world’s largest bit and spur show, a chuckwagon cookoff, cowboy poets and singers, trade shows, and a children’s rodeo.
The 36th annual Western Heritage Classic will be May 7-10, 2020.
Rodeo Championship
1. Matthews/Nail Ranch. 3. Green Land & Cattle Company.
Top Hand - 1. Colton Mayo.
Friday Rodeo Results
Cow milking - 1. Matthews/Nail, 28.3. 8. Green Ranch 55.9.
Calf Branding - 3. Matthews/Nail 42.8. 5. Green Ranch, 45.5.
Team Penning - 2. Green Ranch, 69.3. 10. Matthews/Nail 150.9.
Bronc Riding - 3. Matthews/Nail, Kolton Burnett on Gingersnap, 79. 4. Green Ranch, Colton Mayo on Original Sin, 75.
Team Doctoring - 4. Green Ranch, 41.4. 8. Matthews/Nail 66.1.
Saturday results were not complete at press time.
Fiddler’s Contest
31-59 years - 1. Robbin Westmoreland Guinn.
13-30 years - 1. Bryson Davis. 2. Sidney Bartee.
12 years and under - 1. Connor Smith. 2. Charli Trail. 4. Hunter Sutton, 5. Charlee Patterson.
Parade Winners
Rubber Tires - 3. David Beard.
All Other Wagons - 3. Cliff Teinert.
