IPRA member, Tina Hamilton at the 2015 IPRA Pryor, OK rodeo – Way Out West Photography
story by Lily Weinacht
Breakaway roping had a loyal follower in Tina Hamilton long before it caught on through much of the rodeo world. The 45 year old from McAlester, Okla., first won the event in 1996, the inaugural year that breakaway roping was offered in the CRA. As the event’s popularity grew, Tina quit barrel racing and made breakaway roping her lone event, qualifying for the IFR the last two years, with firm plans to make another trip to the Oklahoma City State Fair Arena in 2016.
Tina was raised in the arena, competing in all of the girls events in the NLBRA from the time she was eight until she was 18, winning the NLBRA World All-Around Cowgirl title in 1988. She additionally rodeoed with the KHSRA before attending Northwestern Oklahoma State University through the NLBRA’s Wrangler Scholarships, as well as a full ride rodeo scholarship. She qualified for the CNFR in breakaway roping in 1992. “My folks all rodeoed and influenced me a lot, and they worked hard for me to rodeo,” says Tina. “My grandparents had a motor home and a two horse trailer, and they hauled me and my sister all over, while my parents ran a feedlot and provided us with plenty of horses. I think that’s given me the drive all these years to continue rodeoing, plus the support of all my friends!”
Although Tina and her husband, Bradley, have lived in Oklahoma since the early ‘90s, she didn’t join the IPRA until 2011 when they began offering breakaway roping, about the time Bradley retired from tie-down roping. He is a three time IFR qualifier, while his dad was the 1981 IFR tie-down roping champion. Tina and Bradley now compete in the WSTR together, also team roping with several of their neighbors. Bradley and his partner have qualified for the WSTR Finale X in Las Vegas, Nev., this December.
Tina and Bradley live on the outskirts of McAlester with their four-year-old son, Wayton. “He goes to ropings with us and rides his pony, Trigger, or his big horse, Smoky,” Tina explains. “He loves to rope goats, and he’s good chute help as long as you don’t let him around the hot shot!” she adds with a laugh. While Bradley is the equipment manager for the Pittsburgh County Conservation District, and Tina is an explosive operator for the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, the husband and wife are also starting their own herd of cows. The Hamilton’s place is home to nearly every farm animal but pigs, according to Tina, as well as her two rodeo horses, Strawberry and Blaze. “Blaze is my backup head horse, and Strawberry is my main roping horse – he’s just recovering from a lung infection,” says Tina. “I didn’t get to ride him at the IFR this year, so my friends Budge and Samantha Herbert let me borrow one of their horses. Strawberry can be a little claustrophobic in the roping box, but he works good.” Tina is also training another breakaway horse to take Strawberry’s place someday. She has trained nearly all of the horses she’s rodeoed on throughout the years, a skill that she takes great satisfaction in.
The Hamiltons spend much of their family time in the arena, the place where many of Tina’s future goals reside. “My main goal is to make it to IFR 46, and I’m also looking to qualify for the WSTR finale, which is thanks to my sponsors, Oxbow Tack, and P and P Trailer Sales.” she says. “I also want to thank the IPRA for adding breakaway roping to the association. I think it will continue to grow in popularity!”
story by Lily Weinacht
