Corkills enjoyed 2006 as rodeo rookies

Bailey and Jade Corkill each made a big splash in the rodeo arena during 2006.

The brother and sister tandem probably achieved a first for siblings - each won a rookie of the year honor.

Bailey, who is now a sophomore at Churchill County High School, won all-around rookie cowgirl honors at the National High School Rodeo finals in Springfield, Ill., in late July.

During the week-long rodeo, Bailey flirted with first place, but near the end of the week, the Fallon native was beginning to pull way from her nearest competitor.

Bailey competed in more than two events at nationals. She was a team and breakaway roper and pole bender.

"She's pretty talented, and she was not intimidated," said her mother, Mitzi Corkill, in describing her daughter's approach to the events in Springfield. "I thought she would be nervous, but she was not scared."

Bailey said team roping with her partner, Dakota Eldridge of Elko, helped her in the standings.

Jade discovered in December that he won the PRCA's Resistol Rookie of the Year as a heeler in team roping. By winning the award, Corkill won more money heeling at 60 PRCA rodeos during the year than any other first-year cowboy.

Jade recently completed his first year as a rookie after turning pro one year ago. He and his partner won the 2005 World Junior Team Roping Championship in the finals of 2005.

Although he did not qualify for this year's National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, he said he has many good years ahead of him.

Both Bailey and Jade Corkill have been involved with rodeo since they could walk. They both competed in junior rodeo together, and each has competed in the state high school finals and the Silver State International Rodeo.