Douglas Rich from Herrick, IL finished #7 in the first go-around in the Boys Chute Dogging event at the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Gallup, N.M. , July 1. Douglas was one of 139 contestants in Boys Chute Dogging.

Douglas also finished 21st in the Team Roping with partner Cole Gibson of Petersburg, Illinois. The Team Roping event had 128 teams.

Douglas was also 2nd in the 2nd go-around of the Boys Break-a-way Calf Roping. He was placed 17th in the average of Chute Dogging and 3rd with partner Jesse Haynes, Abingdon, in Ribbon Calf Roping with two more performances to complete the 2nd go-around.

The top 20 contestants in each event after 2 go-arounds or after they competed twice were to be in the Finals on Saturday evening, July 4.

The 2009 Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals had contestants from 41 states in the US, 5 Canadian Providences and Austrailia.

The 2009 Wrangler National Junior High Rodeo Finals was held in Gallup, New Mexico from June 28 through July 5, 2009. The Illinois Wrangler Junior High Rodeo team had 14 contestants from throughout the state competing in Gallup, New Mexico. Each contestant must qualify to attend the National Finals Rodeo by finishing in the top 4 at the Illinois Wrangler State Finals held May 17 & 18 at Hopedale, Illinois. The Illinois contestants are competing against 816 cowboys and cowgirls from 41 states, 5 Canadian Providences and Australia.

The Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Association includes contestants in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. These contestants in a few years will compete in the Illinois High School Rodeo Association’s competitions and possible at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Springfield, IL in 2012 and 2013.

The Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Association is a division of the National High School Rodeo Association. In 2009 the Wrangler Division is holding it’s 5th National Finals Rodeo.

The Illinois Junior High Rodeo Association has sent contestants to the National Finals since the first year of the Junior High Rodeo Division’s existed. Contestants from Illinois live in Abingdon, Berwick, Carlinville, Glenarm, Herrick, Marseilles, Mulberry Grove, Oblong, Petersburg, Raymond, Roseville, Virden and Walton.

In Gallup the contestants compete in 11 different events. The contestants will participate in 2 go-arounds or compete in each of their events twice. The top 20 contestants in each event will then compete in a final round to determine the champions.