BELLE FOURCHE - Scanning the program of bareback contestants in Thursday night's performance of the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo in Belle Fourche reveals hometowns quite typical of most PRCA rodeo cowboys: Kyle; Vernon, Texas; Sugar City, Colo. and Weatherford ,Texas.

Until, Marseille, France. A misprint it is not.

Evan Jayne, a 27-year-old rodeo cowboy who now calls Huntsville, Texas home actually grew up in the south of France, a decidedly atypical rodeo upbringing.

"I grew up and lived there until the age of 16," said Jayne in nearly perfect English with a slight hint of Texas twang. "My father had a trick riding act that he performed at a variety of shows in France and Italy, including five or six rodeos a year.

"When I was 14 he asked me to help him in his act and I saw my first rodeo and I just fell in love with it."

Jayne's fascination with the sport would most likely have died there for the less determined, but Jayne does not fall among that lot.

"I was so skinny that people were afraid I'd get hurt," said Jayne. "But I told my mom that I had to find a way to be a rodeo cowboy. That was what I wanted to do, it was my dream, and she encouraged me to sign up as an exchange student, go to America and try it out. I came to America in 1995, and ended up with a rodeo family in Houston."

After trying most of the rodeo events, he felt that bareback best matched his personality.

Apparently it did, since Jayne went on to become the Texas high school bareback champion. He earned a full-ride scholarship to Sam Houston State. In 2002, Jayne took his dream to the professional level and jointed the PRCA circuit. Last year, he finished 23rd in the PRCA bareback world standings.

Not bad for skinny kid from Marseille, France.

In the money: Jayne posted a 74-point ride aboard a horse named Spotted Bird good enough for a third-place finish behind Jed Wilson, of Sugar City, Colo., who won the go-round with a 79-point ride.

High School Challenge: Dawson Jandreau, of Kennebec, last week's South Dakota High School saddle bronc champion, was the winner of another saddle bronc event - a high school Challenge of Champions between South Dakota and Wyoming.