RUNNING SHOES AND TRAIL RIDES SIGNAL THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUSTON
LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO™ — FEB. 27, 2016 — HOUSTON — FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE —Hundreds of thousands of spectators excitedly gathered at the 2016 Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo™ Downtown Rodeo Parade to cheer on runners and watch trail riders celebrate
Western heritage, Saturday, Feb. 27.
The 29th annual ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run officially kicked off the Downtown Rodeo Parade with
more than 10,000 total participants in the wheelchair race, 10K race, 5K fun run/walk and costume
contest. Each year, all entry fees from the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run are donated to the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund. Since 1988, ConocoPhillips has contributed more than
$4.8 million to the Show, providing college scholarships to Texas high school students.
ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run winners:
10K Overall Male – Abbabiya Simbassa – 29:59
10K Overall Female – Mary Davies – 34:13
10K Masters Male – George Sturrock – 33:06
10K Masters Female – Peggy Yetman – 36:53
Wheelchair – Ramiro Bermudez – 27:48
5K Overall Male – Gabriel Lara – 16:08
5K Overall Female – Leslie Lamacchia – 19:28
Costume contest winners:
Best Dressed – Elise Nellsch
Most Spirited – Jose Lopez
The Downtown Rodeo Parade commenced at 10 a.m. and was led by grand marshal Tom Herman,
University of Houston head football coach. Herman led thousands of floats, trail riders and marching
bands along the parade route that began at Bagby and Walker streets. Spectators lined the route to
admire the decorative floats, rustic wagons and spirited marching bands. Parade floats were judged
in a variety of categories along the route, which concluded at Lamar and Bagby streets.
The 2016 Downtown Rodeo Parade winners:
Float Awards
Sweepstakes – Houston Airport System
Theme – Houston Community College
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Originality – Fiesta Mart
Most Beautiful – La Michoacana Meat Market
Chairman’s Award – Goya Foods
President’s Award – Trailblazers Committee
Trail Rides at Memorial Park
More than 2,700 trail riders traveled across the state of Texas, from as far away as the borders of
Louisiana and Mexico, to Houston on Friday, Feb. 26. Representing 13 different trail rides, riders
traveled a combined total of 1,800 miles on horseback to Memorial Park and participated in the
Downtown Rodeo Parade on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The participating trail rides were: Los Vaqueros Rio Grande, Mission, Northeastern, Old Spanish,
Prairie View, Salt Grass, Sam Houston, Southwest, Southwestern, Texas Cattlemen’s, Texas
Independence, The Spanish and Valley Lodge.
Each trail ride was judged on appearance, authenticity and overall Western spirit. The 2016 Trail Ride
winners are:
Safety Award – Northeastern Trail Ride
Spirit Award – Texas Independence Trail Ride
Spirit Award – Valley Lodge Trail Ride
Division 3 Award (average 50 riders during the week) – Valley Lodge Trail Ride
Division 2 Award (average 100 riders during the week) – Prairie View Trail Ride
Division 1 Award (average 200 riders per day) – Salt Grass Trail Ride
The longest trail ride, Los Vaqueros Rio Grande, began its 386-mile journey to Houston on Feb. 6.
Sam Houston and Texas Cattlemen’s were the two shortest trail rides, both traveling 70 miles and
leaving Feb. 20 and 23, respectively, to participate in the Downtown Rodeo Parade.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports
education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentations. Since its
beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $400 million to the youth of Texas. For more
information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2016 Show will run March 1 – 20.
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