Beth Hitchcock of Hollister, Calif., and Sadie Grant of Santa Maria, Calif., each scored Automatic Advancements to the American Contender Tournament (ACT) West Regional Semi-Finals in breakaway roping on August 4 at the California’s Riche$t All Girl Roping at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos, Calif.

Hitchcock stopped the clock in 2.85 seconds in round one for fourth, then followed up with the fastest time in the short go of 2.95 seconds. Hitchcock’s aggregate time of 14.41 seconds was good for third overall. Grant was right behind Hitchcock in fourth with a cumulative time of 14.63. Grant also topped the 17-and-Under Incentive. In addition to entering the American Contender Tournament qualifier and notching their respective spots in Las Vegas in January, these ladies banked $2,979 and $2,195, respectively, in the California’s Riche$t Breakaway aggregate in addition to go-round and incentive earnings.

Hitchcock also earned Top Money Earner honors thanks to the $4,600 she won in both the Breakaway and Team Roping. She was awarded a complimentary breeding to Wyatt and Lacy Bourdet’s standout sire Isaac Starlight.

Since its inception in 2015, California’s Riche$t All Girl Breakaway and Team Roping, founded by Danielle Porteur and American Rodeo Million-Dollar Contender Bonus winner Jackie Hobbs Crawford, has become a symbol of determination and achievement on the West Coast. Teton Ridge Sports is proud to partner with premier events like the California’s Riche$t to bring the American Contender Tournament qualification opportunity to athletes across the United States and abroad.

The American Contender Tournament West Regional Semi-Finals will take place January 9-11, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the South Point Arena. In 2024 this premier event paid out $314,325 and saw the top 5 athletes in each standard rodeo discipline advance to the $360,000-added American Contender Tournament Finals.

The American Contender Tournament is the pathway to rodeo’s richest day at The American Rodeo, which is slated for April 12, 2025, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The first tournament bracket happens at local qualifying rodeos or jackpots all across the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Canada.