By Maggie Cassidy
The Molokai Dispatch
Noel Tancayo may be only 9 years old, but she’s no stranger to rodeos. The youngster won her ninth buckle at the 56th annual Makawao Rodeo during the July 4th weekend, placing first in the junior keiki barrel event and fourth in open wahine division.
“It’s actually pretty fun ‘cause you just experience riding a horse, and you feel like you’re falling off but you’re not,” she said.
Tancayo was one of four Molokai youth who participated in the rodeo, hosted by the Maui Roping Club at Oskie Rice Arena on Maui. The Friendly Isle was represented by Meleana Pa-Kala, 10; Jayden Tabilangan, 12; and Kapua Lee, 12. About 10 Molokai adults also competed, according to Molokai participant Sale Sproat.One of only six wahine who finished in the 19-second range in the open division, the 61-pound Tancayo made her mark among nearly 40 participants – and onlookers noticed.
“She’s this little tiny girl out there flying around the barrels,” said her mother, Sherry Tancayo. “She gets a lot of crowd reception.” Continue reading