A solid combination of the two Rs and the three Rs is standing Merville's Lucas Falconer in good stead.
With the two Rs – roping and riding – Falconer finished off his high school rodeo year (and career) with a sixth place in calf roping and ninth in team roping. He qualified for nationals again but did not attend as he is preparing to attend Odessa College in Texas.
Falconer will be on the school rodeo team and taking welding courses. And that's where the three RS – reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic – come in. Falconer received numerous scholarships from the college and high school rodeo and, along with bursaries won at G.P. Vanier, he has his first year of college paid for.
Recently at the B.C. Team Roping Association finals in Quesnel, Falconer teamed with another local young man, 10-year-old Logan Cullen, to win the #9 division.
The duo won saddles and a sizable chunk of change. Falconer also teamed with Ray Theobald to place second in #9 team roping, and in total collected $6,600, a saddle, breast collar and a buckle. Along with a saddle, Cullen pocketed $2,000 and became one of the BCTRA's youngest winners.