Dilkon's Robbins wins breakaway title

It was just another day with the horses about three weeks ago when Debbie Robbins got a call that would give her a second world champion title.

Robbins, a breakaway roper with the All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association, was filled in as a qualifier for the International Indian Finals Rodeo held last weekend.

The three contestants in front of her had all committed by wild card or with other associations and that left Robbins to represent the AIRCA.

"It was two or three weeks before the rodeo that they called and I said, 'Sure, I'll rodeo,'" Robbins said.

She took a chance and roped a 4.8 in the last round that gave her another IIFR world champion ladies breakaway title. She also won in 2008.

"It really doesn't change," she said. "It's something you try to accomplish every year, sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. I was fortunate enough to make it this year. It all seemed to work out."

The first two rounds were tough but a small mistake by another roper opened the gate for Robbins' victory.

"It was tough until the third round, after April Willie broke out then it just kind of opened it out," Robbins said. "All I had to do was catch my last calf without breaking out. This win just told me that all my practice paid off."

Robbins was proud of how her horse Mel performed.

Robbins grew up in Dilkon, Ariz., with a large family of seven brothers and one sister. Her father Danny Robbins taught her everything she knows about horses. But her mother, the late Margaret Robbins, taught her what she knows about life.

Debbie cares for the family's horses full time and rodeos on the weekends. She said she and her brothers enjoy rounding up their cattle.

Her roping career didn't start until around 1990.

"When I started, we'd been roping here at home," she said. "That first time I did it it kind of gets a hold of you. You just got to let it take you as far as it will let you.

"I pretty much do this full time," she said, "jackpot or rodeo. Then I just ride horses here at home for my family. They work so I'm here at home riding their horses for them."

Her niece Sharon Alcott said her aunt's loyalty to the animals make her deserving of the win.

"She's a hard worker," Alcott said. "She puts her animals first, she's very dedicated and she's a good role model for my kids - and I have five kids, they look up to her.

"When I do go out there she's roping every day," she said. "Every weekend she's roping. This win for her was a long time coming, it seems like."

Alcott said Debbie lost her mother just over a year ago and hadn't seemed to find her rhythm. But with this win, she definitely can get back on track.

"I think her mom was her biggest fan," Alcott said. "She won many rodeos before but I think this one is going to get her back into the game."

Debbie's humble character keeps her from making excuses. She would rather focus on the more positive things.

"I'm very proud of her," Alcott said. "She knows where she comes from. Her father is her supporter, her biggest supporter right now. She gets a lot of her skills from her father but she gets a lot her strength from her mother."

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