Charmayne James

Charmayne James ( https:/.../charmaynejamesheadshotnew_lg.jpg)

            My hero is Charmayne James. She is my hero because what she has achieved is beyond great. Charmayne James has won the National Finals Rodeo is Las Vegas 11 times in a row, which I think is pretty amazing. At the age of 14 is when Charmayne won her first world title and then continued to hold the title 10 years after. I think most people at the age of 14 would feel very intimidated to compete at such a high level of competition at such a young age, but this did not seem to stop Charmayne from chasing her dreams. She qualified for the NFR 19 times and was the first Women's Professional Rodeo Association member to earn the coveted #1 back number at the National Finals Rodeo.

Charmayne James story begins in Clayton New Mexico, where she learned to ride and train horses and proved that with a little grit and determination anything is possible. Charmayne would help her father on a small feedlot and cattle marketing operation.  Her father told her that she could rodeo if she paid her own way. At this feedlot is where she discovered Scamper. She bought Scamper as a rank 6 yr old feedlot horse for $1200 and trained him to be a barrel horse. Although not knowing what would come to be of Scamper, Charmayne had the ability to see a potential champion within Scamper. Once Scamper was all trained up she hit the Pro Rodeo circuit. For Scamper to become a successful horse and basically as famous as his owner was not hard. He was inducted into the horse hall of fame and at one round at the NFR Scampers bridle fell off in the middle of their run and they still won the round!!!

Charmayne James and Scamper at the NFR. (home.mesastate.edu/.../champs/charmayne.jpg)

It's truly amazing how one person could have succeeded just as much as Charmayne James has. To give you a little taste of all her victories, I will share just some of her winnings from when she was 14. She was awarded Rookie of the Year - Women's Professional Rodeo Association, Dodge Truck Series Champion, Leading Money Winner in Professional Rodeo including Men & Women, Turquoise Circuit Champion, 1988 Calgary Olympics, Sierra Circuit Champion, Copenhagen/Skoal Series Champion, Crown Royal Season Winner, and Inducted into National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. The list of awards and world titles goes on and on. Charmayne made her last NFR appearance in 2002 at the age 32. In 1994 her amazing horse Scamper went into semi-retirement, but she still rides him in a non competitive venue.

Charmayne has continued to keep her reputation polished, although she hasn't been to the NFR in almost 10 years. Riding is still a part of her daily lifestyle whether it's at a competitive or non competitive level. Being as busy as she is, Charmayne has now started a breeding business with a cloned horse to Scamper called Clayton. Clayton is now into his third year of breeding and has some very promising offspring. Charmayne also has a husband and son to take care of and goes all over the U.S.A and Canada to teach barrel racers of all ages and skill levels how to become successful and be the best that they can be. If you don't have the privilege to attend one of her clinics, Charmayne has many books out there that share her strategies to become a better rider and horse trainer.

Charmayne James and Clayton (www.foretravel.com/img/newsphotos/CJ_news_web.jpg ())

Charmayne James is a true hero to me because she has proved that with determination and a strong will to never give up on your dreams that they will come true. She is capable of seeing the good things that most people would ignore. There will only ever be one Charmayne James, she's an outstanding barrel racer and one day I hope to maybe become just as legendary as she is.