| By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent
MIAMITOWN, Ohio — Tough enough to wear pink? While Breast Cancer Awareness Month has found its way onto area high school playing fields, it’s also made its way into the arena of mounted shooters.
At last week’s Ohio-Indiana Border War/Grand Am in Miamitown, contestants gave up earth-tone colors in favor of pink, supporting the effort to battle breast cancer.
The hot, humid, 90-degree conditions had minimal effect on the 76 shooters and their trusty horses, who entered the ring one at a time during this two-day event and fired blanks at various stationary balloons under the pressure of a stopwatch.
The event (aptly titled Tough Enough to Wear Pink) was sponsored by the Cowboy Mounted Shooters Assoc. Members of the 1st Ohio Mounted squad faced off against the Indiana Rough Riders … and when the dust settled from the weekend competition, the 1st Ohio Mounted group held on to defend its annual title.
During Saturday’s competition, the Overall Cowboy was John Clark of Ohio. Reserve Cowboy went to Rick Deckena and Overall Cowgirl went to Adrianne Fowler, both of Indiana. The Reserve Cowgirl award went to Joyce McKinney of Ohio.
Hank Keyes, of the Northern Ohio Outlaws, won the ML-1 Division and a move-up buckle.
During Sunday’s competition, the Overall Cowboy award went to Eric Nelson of Ohio. Reserve Cowboy went to Bobby Ruwe, also of Ohio. Overall Cowgirl was Joyce McKinney and the Reserve Cowgirl award went to Amanda Porter of Ohio.
Lisa Gress, of the Northern Ohio Outlaws, won the L-1 Division and a move-up buckle.
The joint efforts of these cowboys and cowgirls netted more than $600 in donations to fight breast cancer. Members of the Dearborn County (Indiana) Ropes and Reins provided assistance in this competition. |
