Article courtesy WCRA with modification from Barrel Horse News
London Gorham was born into rodeo. Her ProRodeo Hall of Fame grandfather Phil Lyne is a world champion all-around cowboy, tie-down and steer roper who won the 1972 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average at both ends of the arena in the tie-down roping and bull riding.
At the World Champions Rodeo Alliance Rodeo Corpus Christi, the 14-year-old from Cotulla, Texas, ran a 15.374 to win the qualifying round on 2011 mare Fortunes Flame (Tres Fortunes x Ahsome Blossom Flame x Mr HG Flame).
Photo by Kendra Santos
“My grandpa is the most kind, humble person ever,” London said. “My aunt (Samantha Lyne Mauney) and mom (Phil and Sarah’s daughter, Amanda) are my biggest supporters. I come from a family full of horse people, and I’ve learned all about handling pressure from them my whole life. When it’s all said and done, my goal is to be the greatest barrel racer of all time.”
London and “Wanda” set the pace as very first barrel racers on the dirt at Rodeo Corpus Christi in the qualifying round.
“It’s a lot to be very first out, because you don’t know what you have to do and don’t know how the ground’s going to be,” London said. “It’s also nice to know before you run whether it’s going to be super salty or not. I had no idea what I had to do, so I just went for a smooth run, because the last run I made on Wanda was literally a wreck.”
London accomplished her mission of moving on to the performances at American Bank Center thanks to Wanda, who’s been one of London’s favorite four-legged friends since 2018. However, London plans to make a horse change.
“I do not plan to ride Wanda at the building in town. I’m going to ride my 5-year-old, ‘Homeboy,'” London said of her gelding Runnin With Wings (JL Dash Ta Heaven x Nicki Nick Bar x Colonel Azucar), a graduate of trainer James Barnes’ futurity program. “I’ve only run him 10 times, and he’s just so fun, big-hearted and consistent. Why not have fun with it? Homeboy’s so honest and mature. He does not act his age. I’m so excited to run my baby over at the other building. He’s the sweetest thing ever, and I love him.”
Like people, horses come complete with their own personalities.
“Wanda’s so mean,” London said with a laugh. “She only likes my mom. My mom’s her person. Wanda’s very tough and talented, but she bites me when I’m not on her back.”
Gorham’s other rodeo-specific goals include winning The American and the National Finals Rodeo. The American is a possibility now, but she’ll have to wait four more years to be old enough to turn pro at 18 and even be eligible to qualify for the NFR.
“I just try to stay calm and be consistent,” London said. “There’s always another rodeo. I love the WCRA for lots of reasons. The ground’s always good, the rodeos pay great and it’s always a salty race. But as soon as I turn 18, I’ll hit the road and be gone. All I want to do is go to the NFR and win it.”
Florida’s Britta Strain won the Rodeo Corpus Christi breakaway roping average today with 5.45 seconds on two head to advance to the performances. Kerstin Freeman of Cooper, Texas, came out on top amongst Division Youth breakaway ropers in the year-end DY race as well at Rodeo Corpus Christi with 6.49 on two calves. She also finished fourth in the overall average and advanced to the performances at the American Bank Center.
Arizona’s Kialyn Armstrong is the year-end DY barrel racing buckle winner, and Texas cowgirl Jordyn Koonsman was tops amongst WCRA DY barrel racers with a 15.709-second run at Rodeo Corpus Christi. She is also advancing to American Bank Center with the best in the business.
