Blazing saddles
Clinton’s barrel racing tradition rolls on
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Sierra Brown carries the Stars and Stripes to open Saturday’s Volunteer Riding Association event at Jaycee Park. - Tony Cox
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Allison Laws rides Warrior during the VRA’s July pole-racing event. - Tony Cox
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Sybil Fielden and Waitin - Tony Cox
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Amanda McLean and Addi - Tony Cox
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Ridley McLean and Rebbie - Tony Cox
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Caroline Bostic and Riley - Tony Cox
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Brooklyn Ryder and Roanie - Tony Cox
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Kyle McLean and Mac - Tony Cox
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Presley Gardner and Fancy - Tony Cox
The Clinton Barrel Races have been a spring, summer and fall staple in the community since 1964, when the Volunteer Riding Association first began hosting the timed rodeo event.
“They’ve been doing this since before I was around,” said VRA spokesperson Leigh Ann Whiteaker. “We’re here every first Saturday of the month from April through October.”
Barrel racing is a fast-paced, co-ed sport where riders compete against the clock, weaving around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern.
“You can turn right once and left twice or left once and right twice,” Whiteaker said. “If you have a horse, you can race. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gaited horse or not.”
The races feature divisions for all ages, including pee-wee (10-and-under), youth (11-18), adult (19-39), masters (40-and-over), and an open division for all ages.
The club is run by volunteers and supported by local sponsors, including John Johnson of Tazewell’s Water Wheel Sales, which makes belt buckles.
“Jim does our belt buckles for our kids,” Whiteaker said.
“We’re all volunteers, and we really emphasize our youth program,” he said.
“We have a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer,” Whiteaker said. “We also have a cakewalk and that’s $2 and somebody gets a big cake. Our vice president, Raina Sharpe, makes the cakes and they’re delicious and she does a great job and we put the money back into our youth program. We really emphasize our youth program.”
The Volunteer Riding Association holds monthly pole and barrel racing events at the horse arena at Jaycee Park.
The next event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 2 p.m.
More dates and information about the Volunteer Riding Association can be found on the organization’s Facebook page.
