Another year, another title for barrel racer Charmayne James

Victoria Sun

Friday, Dec. 8, 2000 | 9:49 a.m.

In 1994, Charmayne James' streak of 10 consecutive world champion barrel racing titles came to an end.

She earned her first title when she was a 14-year-old rookie in 1984.

"It's been a long time," James said, tracing her career. "It seems like just yesterday I was on (her horse) Scamper.

"At the beginning, I didn't think I could win it the first time. After the fifth time, I still didn't even think of 10. By the time you get to seven or eight, you think, 'well maybe I can get to 10' and it worked out that way."

Now 30, James has qualified for a record setting 17th National Finals Rodeo and is poised to win her 11th world title, provided she finishes the weekend strong.

James did not place in the seventh go-round of the NFR Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center after she knocked over a barrel. It was the second time this week she did not place. But she is still first in the world standings with $131,120.57, ahead of Kelly Yates who has $111,103.61.

"I'm very excited," James said. "I've worked really hard this year.

"That's my goal (the championship) and I'm trying not to let anything get in the way. But this is rodeo, there are horses and anything can happen. But I'm real optimistic that this is a good year. My horse is running good."

James has been competing on her horse, Cruiser, for the last three years.

She won all of her titles on another horse, Scamper, before she decided to retire him.

"It wasn't difficult at all," James said. "It was the right thing to do.

"I had won 10 world titles on him and wanted to get to 10 and quit. There was no doubt in my mind to take him off after that."

Since then, James has spent the last seven years trying to find a horse that will bring her as much success. Her best finish in the world standings has been fifth since puttting Scamper to pasture.

Before deciding to compete with Cruiser three years ago she had tried out five other horses.

"They're (world champion horses) not everywhere," James said. "They're hard to find.

"It's been a learning experience. I've learned a lot from riding all these different horses. And I probably wouldn't have done what I've done with Cruiser if I hadn't ridden all of these other horses."

James bought Cruiser nine years ago for $2,000, but wanted him to mature before she decided he was ready to compete.

It seems she has found another winner.

"He's got the right mentality for it," James said. "He's capable, he loves it.

"One thing Scamper taught me was, he loved to run barrels so I knew I had to do what it took to make Cruiser like it. When I got him, I just realized how great he was and I knew I had a shot."

Her competition should take heart, however, because James has already started thinking about a career in breeding horses when she is finished competing.

"Everybody is like 'Geez, how long is she going to rodeo?' " James said. "Well I'm kind of to the point where I see where I'm going to go and what I want to do.

"I'm not going to rodeo forever. It's been fun to have a horse that I can win on like this. The money is too good to not do it now.

"Hopefully when I'm done, someone will be here on a horse that I breed. I want to spend more time on my ranch and take care of the horses one day."