History of the Greater Columbia Barrel Racing Association

(GCBRA)

The Greater Columbia Barrel Racing Association (GCBRA) originated in 1975 when a group of mothers from Umatilla Sage Riders got together and decided to have a night out with friends and away from the kids and chores, to run barrels. It all began when one evening, at the home of Phyllis Mayes of Hermiston, the group of ladies met and the barrel club got underway. Some of the early member included: Phyllis Mayes, Nita Proctor, Claudia Hamms, Linda Severns, Eileen Osborne, Jean Barbouletos, Dency Paluso, Shirley Bartlett, and more. Tony Osborne, Eileen’s husband officiated the racers as he flagged their runs night after night at the Umatilla Sage Riders grounds.

The group didn’t have any money those first few years for year end awards, but Eileen Osborne recalls how they awarded the winners with a picture, sketched by member, Linda Severns. Linda drew and framed pencil sketches of all the champions. Eileen said she won one of those first place sketches on her great horse, Penny Reed in 1975. She said Linda sketched the picture of her riding Penny Reed and it was awarded to her for first place. Eileen also stated that Linda made all the awards that first year because there was no money funded for year end prizes, and that the club didn’t charge any membership fees nor did they charge the gals to run each night. Although the awards were small, Eileen thought that they were nice. All first place winners received recognition with a year end picture award that was framed and signed by Linda for the riders’ accomplishments. 

Another early member, Nita Proctor, recalls one of her best memories of the club when in 1976, she won the Best Sportsmanship award which was a mini saddle with the initials HABRA engraved on its side. She also recalls all of the ladies meeting for the year end awards’ banquet at the Blue Bucket Restaurant in Umatilla, Oregon. Nita remembers winning several other awards on her horse L-Bar such as a breast collar while running at the Sage Riders grounds.  These awards meant a great deal to Nita and are still displayed in her home, today.  Nita ran for many years besides her daughters, Pat, Mary Ann, and Theresa and enjoyed the nights out with the ladies.

Carol Steagall, another old time member, recalls riding several of her great horses Chip, Howdy, and Comanche (Her son, Rocky’s barrel pony) and bringing home a buckle, blankets, and several other awards that still adorn her living room. She remembers the good times she had competing with the ladies and running at the Sage Riders grounds.

When more and more ladies joined the group and came to play, HABRA then branched out and began running at the Hermiston Fairgrounds where they later began charging membership fees along with race night fees to fund awards.  These fees were used for bigger and better year end awards and challenged the ladies to the competition. 

Later HABRA got changed to EOBRA (Eastern Oregon Barrel Racing Association) when it branched out to include riders of all ages and levels outside the Hermiston area. This new endeavor allowed members’ kids to compete and learn the fundamentals of barrel racing along with novice riders and horses to make it more of a family affair.

Later EOBRA became known as the Greater Columbia Barrel Racing Association (GCBRA), to include members from Washington and surrounding areas along the Columbia River. Thus GCBRA was born and still exists today under the present name.

And as member, Katrina Wrightson says, “It’s kind of ironic that GCBRA is back at the Umatilla Sage Riders to rebuild where they first started; you know it’s true what they say. Get back to your roots to find strength.” Katrina competed for many years on her great horses and continued the tradition with her children, Kelsey and Cash, with her mom, Tiny by her side.

Today, GCBRA is a family club where members of all ages and gender compete and ride at many different levels.  Riders compete in Open, Novice, Teen, Junior, and Pee Wee classes.  They meet twice a month and run for year end awards such as saddles, monogrammed tack, and more. GCBRA has come a long ways since the early days of HABRA, but is still a night out from home and away from the chores for family and friends.  It is a chance to get together twice a month to enjoy good company with people who share the same interest in the sport of “Barrel Racing.”

Written and Researched by Theresa Proctor-Reece, daughter of Nita Proctor and also a long time member of HABRA and GCBRA, who ran in the early days on her horses “Sugar, Big Red, Danzy Bay, and later on Willie and Bunny. Today Theresa competes on her horse, Reeces Bunny Biankus beside her daughter, Whitley Reece.