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  • RED BLUFF CROWNS CHAMPIONS

    RED BLUFF CROWNS CHAMPIONS

    Red Bluff, Calif. (April 19, 2015) – They are friends in and out of the rodeo arena, and when they win a little money together, well, that just makes the friendship that much better.

    Erich Rogers and Cory Petska won the 2015 Red Bluff Round-Up team roping title on Sunday with a time of 22.4 seconds on four runs.

    The team, ranked fourth in the nation, added a nice check of $3226 to their pocketbooks, and the money makes everything a little better. “It makes things a lot easier,” Rogers said. They’ve had a good winter so far, winning checks in Logandale, Utah, Tucson, Ariz., San Angelo, Texas, and Scottsdale, Ariz., among others.

    This is the third year they’ve been roping together, and it’s a good relationship. “He’s a good partner,” said Rogers. “He’s a good friend outside the arena, too. I hang out with him twenty-four/seven. I live with him at his place.” Petska and his wife live in Marana, Ariz.

    When the two paired up, Rogers, age 28, was relatively new to the pro rodeo world, and Petska, age 35, was the veteran. “It helped me as a roper. When I first started, I didn’t know where I was going, or what I was doing. I knew hardly anybody out here on the rodeo trail. Being around him and his previous (team roping) partners, they know quite a bit.”

    Petska, who has qualified for eleven Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, agrees. “We have a good chemistry together. We have fun in and outside the arena, and that makes rodeo fun. As soon as we get the flag (after their run is completed), we’re always grinning and talking.”

    Petska even cares for Rogers’ horses when he’s not home. “He takes care of my horses when I’m out goofing around, and he takes care of them like they’re his. He takes care of me pretty danged good,” Rogers said. “It’s been outstanding.”

    Rogers, who spends the off-season at his home in Round Rock, Ariz., has qualified for four Wrangler National Finals.

    Tyler Waguespack won the steer wrestling title at the Red Bluff Round-Up with a total time of 21.6 seconds on four head. It was the first time the 24 year old cowboy had competed at Red Bluff,  and it was at the urging of his good friend and fellow steer wrestler Jason Thompson. “My buddy Jason talked me into coming out here this year,” he said. “This is a great rodeo, and he got me hooked. I will be coming back.”

    Thompson, who worked as a hazer for Waguespack, rode the same horse that was used to haze for the 2014 Red Bluff steer wrestling champion Ty Erickson. The hazer’s job is to make sure the steer runs straight, giving the cowboy a chance to catch and throw him.

    Thompson’s family has owned that hazing horse since he was a colt, and he was trained by Thompson’s parents. In Thompson’s opinion, the horse is good, because “he’s a bigger, stronger, longer stride horse, and with these fresh cattle, I can hang back when I want to and go in and close the gap pretty easy for (the steer wrestler).”  Thompson, who lives in Benton, Ark., also competed at Red Bluff but did not win a check.

    Other Red Bluff champions include three bareback riders who each scored 82 points: Clint Laye, Cochrane, Alb., Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, S.D., and Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. Three saddle bronc riders also share the 2015 title: South Dakota cowboys Troy Crowser (Whitewood), Chuck Schmidt (Keldron), and Cort Scheer from Elsmere, Neb. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. won the tie-down roping title, and Ann Scott, Canyon Country, Calif., was the barrel racing winner. Bull rider Wesley Silcox, Santasquin, Utah, clenched his event with an 89 point ride on Friday night.

    The Sunday performance was the rodeo’s annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. A bonanza package was auctioned off during the rodeo and was won by Jan Sutherland and Les Shank.  The package included a custom-made Judd Miller Saddlery Chaps autographed by pro rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, a silver buckle and spurs designed by Skyline Silversmith, Justin Boots, Wrangler Jeans, a Resistol cowboy hat, a case of Purple Cowboy Wine, and a $200 gift certificate to the Boot Barn. The package, which sold for $31,000 was bought by Jan Sutherland and Les Shank. Wrangler donated another $2500 check to the cause. The monies raised go to breast cancer treatment at the St. Elizabeth Imaging Center.

    Next year’s Red Bluff Round-Up will be held April 15-17, 2016. For more information on the rodeo, visit RedBluffRoundup.com.

    Results, Red Bluff Round-Up, April 17-19, 2015

    Bareback Riding – 2015 Red Bluff Champions –  Clint Laye, Cochrane, AB, Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, SD and Jessy Davis, Power, MT

    1 tie Clint Laye, Cochrane, AB 82 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Black Ice, Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, SD 82 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Silver Tip and Jessy Davis, Power, MT 82 points on Growney Bros. Raggedy Ann; 4. Anthony Thomas, Kimberley, Australia 81; 5. Steven Peebles, Redmond, OR 80; 6. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, WY, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, IA and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, TX 79 each;

    Steer Wrestling 2015 Red Bluff Champion –  Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA

    First round: 1 Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB 4.5; 2 Jason Thomas, Benton, AR 4.6; 3 Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, ID 4.8; 4 Brad McGilchrist, Marysville, CA 5.1; 5 tie Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV and Nick Guy, Sparta, WI 5.3 each.

    Second round: 1 Olin Hanum, Malad, ID 4.4; 2 Clayton Morrison, Heppner, OR 4.7 3. (tie) Cole Fulton, Miller, SD and Ty Erickson, Helena, MT 5.1; 5. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 5.2; 6. Trevor Knowles, Mt Vernon, OR 5.3

    Third round:  1. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB 4.5; 2. Bray Armes, Ponder, TX 4.6; 3. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 4.8; 4. Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, LA 4.9; 5. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, CA 5.1; 6. Olin Hannum, Malad, ID 5.4.

    Finals: 1. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV 5.3; 2. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 5.7 seconds; 3. Clayton Morrison, Heppner, OR, 6.2; 4. (tie) Nick Guy, Sparta, WI and Ty Mitchell, 7.3 each.

     Average: 1. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 21.6 on four head; 2. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB 22.8; 3. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV 22.9; 4. Clayton Morrison, Heppner, OR 25.6; 5. Ty Mitchell, 26.1; 6. Olin Hannum, Malad, ID 28.0.

     Saddle bronc riding 2015 Red Bluff Champions – Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, SD, Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, NE

    1. (tie) Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, SD 83 points on Growney Bros. Rodeo’s Holy Hoppin Hell, Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD, 83 points on Flying Diamond Rodeo’s Handsome, and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, NE, 83 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Blackhawk Blaze; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, TX, Wade Sundell, Colman, OK and Spencer Wright, Milford, UT 80; 6. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, NM, Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. and Andy Clarys, 79 each.

    Tie Down Roping 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Blair Burk, Durant, OK

    First round: 1 Jesse Clark, Portales, NM 8.3 seconds; 2 Jared Ferguson, Cottonwood, CA 8.5; 3 JC Malone, Roy, UT 8.8; 4 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, TX 9.0; 5 Blair Burk, Durant, OK 9.4; 6 Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 9.6.

    Second round: 1 Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 8.1 seconds; 2 Randall Carlisle, Athens, LA 8.5; 3 Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 8.8; 4 tie Tyler Thiel, Greeley, Colo. and Timber Moore, Aubrey, L 9.1 each; 6 Cade Swor,, Winnie, TX 9.2.

    Third round: 1. Blair Burk, Durant, OK 9.7 seconds; 2. Tyson Durfey, Savannah, MO 10.1; 3 Monty Lewis, Hereford, TX 10.3; 4. Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 10.4; 5. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, UT 10.5; 6. Clayton Hass, Terrell, TX 10.7

    Finals: 1 Blair Burk, Durant, OK 10.0 seconds; 2. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, TX 10.2; 3. Clayton Hass, Terrell, TX 11.9; 4. Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 14.6.

    Average: 1. Blair Burk, Durant, OK 40.6 seconds on four head; 2. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, TX 41.4; 3. Clayton Hass, Terrell, TX 44.7; 4. Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 49.3; 5. Cade Swor, Winnie, TX 51.3; 6. Monty Lewis, Hereford, TX 30.2.

    Team Roping 2015 Red Bluff Champions – Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ (header) and Cory Petska, Marana, AZ (heeler)

    First round: 1. Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, OK/Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, OR 5.0 seconds; 2 Joel Bach, Mt Vernon, TX/BJ Campbell, Aguila, TX 5.3; 3  tie Case Hirdes, Turlock, CA/Jared Hixon, Bakersfield, CA and Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, AZ/Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, AZ 5.4 each; 5 Charly Crawford, Prineville, OR/Shay Carroll, La Junta, CO 5.5; 6 Luke Brown, Stephenville, TX/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, OK 5.6; 7 tie Garrett Rogers, Baker City, OR/Jake Minor, Ellensburg, WA and Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 5.8 each.

    Second round: 1 Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB/Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, BC 4.3 seconds; 2 Ty Blasingame, Ramah, CO/JW Borrego, Weston, CO 4.4; 3 Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, MT/Paul Eaves, Lonedell, TX 4.5; 4 tie Chant DeForest, Wheatland, CA/Bronc Boehnlein, Norco, CA and Manny Egusquiza, Jr/Marianna, FL/Monty Jo Petska, Turlock, CA and Jake Cooper, Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 4.6 seconds each; 7 Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 4.7; 8 tie Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, CA/Cody Cowden, Atwater, CA and Blake Hirdes, Turlock, CA/Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, CA 4.9 each.

    Third round: 1 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, WA/Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA 4.2 seconds; 2. Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, OK/Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, OR 4.4; 3.Turtle Powell, Stephenville, TX/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, TX 4.7; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill, Fallon, NV 5.1; 5. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ 5.2; 6. Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB/Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, BC 5.4; 7 (tie) Joel Bach, Mt Vernon, TX/BJ Campbell, Aguila, TX and Jake Cooper/Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 5.7 each.

    Finals: 1. (tie) Riley Minor, Ellensburg, WA/Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA and Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 4.5 seconds each; 3. Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill, Fallon, NV 5.1; 4. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ 5.4; 5. Luke Brown, Stephenville, TX/Kollin Von Ahn, Blanchard, OK 6.5; 6. Jake Cooper, Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 8.2.

     

    Average: 1. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ 22.4 seconds on 4 head; 2. Jake Cooper, Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 24.5; 3. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 25.7; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill, Fallon, NV 25.8; 5. Luke Brown, Stephenville, TX/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, OK 28.5; 6. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, WA/Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA 28.7; 7. Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB/Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford,  BC 31.2; 8. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, TX/Mickey Gomez, Holland, TX 32.5.

    Barrel racing – 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Ann Scott, Canyon Country, Calif.

    First round: 1 Megan McLeod, Marsing, ID 17.18 seconds; 2 Romany Gordon, Kaufman, TX 17.23; 3 Callie DuPerier, Boerne, TX 17.29; 4 Andrea Cline, Springtown, TX 17.35; 5 Sammie Bessert, Grand Junction, CO 17.42; 6 Carley Richardson, Pampa, TX 17.43; 7 Ann Scott, Canyon Country, CA 17.47; 8 tie Kali Parker, Wendell, ID and Victoria Cook, Willows, CA 17.48 each; 10 Meghan Johnson, Deming, NM 17.52;

    Second round:

    1. Shelby Janssen, Coleman, OK 17.14; 2. Ann Scott, Canyon Country, CA 17.27; 3. (tie) Cindy Woods, Newburg, OR and Deb Guelly, Okotoks, AB 17.30 each; 5. Rachel Dice, Livermore, CA 17.32; 6. Pamela Capper, Cheney, WA 17.34; 7. Christina Richman, Glendora, CA 17.35; 8. Marty Warren, Deer Park, WA 17.36; 9. Erin Parsons, Marana, AZ 17.38; 10. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, OR 17.39.

    Average: 1. Ann Scott, Canyon Country, CA 34.74 seconds on two runs; 2. Erin Parsons, Marana, AZ 34.91; 3. Sammi Bessert, Grand Junction, CO 34.94; 4. Victoria Cook, Willows, CA 34.95; 5. Christina Richman, Glendora, CA 34.99; 6. Carley Richardson, Pampa, TX 35.00; 7. Rachel Dice, Livermore, CA 35.03; 8. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, OR 35.05; 9. Cindy Woods, Newberg, OR 35.06; 10. Romany Gordan, Kaufman, TX 35.07.

    Bull Riding 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah

    1. Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, UT 89 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Hash Tag; 2. Reid Barker, Comfort, TX 87; 3. (tie) Howdy Cloud, Kountze, TX, Cody Campbell, Summerville, CA and Steve Woolsey, Payson, UT 84 each; 6. Justin Rickard, Nuevo, CA 80; 7. Kaycee Rose, Clovis, CA 79; 8. Kody DeShon, Helena, MT 77.

     

    ** All results are unofficial.  For more information, visit RedBluffRoundup.com.  For complete rodeo results, visit ProRodeo.com.

     

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  • On the Trail with Bump Postlethwait

    On the Trail with Bump Postlethwait

    Just as the Buckeye tree plants its roots in Ohio, Bump Postlethwait, a natural-born cowboy from Byesville, plants his in rodeo. Born Raymond Postlethwait, or JP as his mom liked to call him, was given the name Bump when his dad heard the bump, bump sound of his heart beat while his mom was in labor. She passed away when he was only eight but, “The name’s stuck with me ever since.” Though raised in southern Ohio Bump now resides in Adrian, Mich. with his wife, Andrea and their four kids Chelsea, Haley, Hunter and Ayden.

    Following in the footsteps of a man he’s always admired, Bump took to rodeo at a young age watching his father. “I grew up around it, I wanted to be like him.” His father who placed 16th in the world at the RCA was one of Bump’s biggest supporters growing up and always helped him along the way. Starting at nine years old, Bump rode his first amateur bull then at fourteen he was doggin’ steers. He went to a clinic held by his friends who taught him how to bull dog and when he went to his first rodeo he placed. “I never really had to work at anything, never practiced much. I’ve just always been able to do it. If I wanted it I went and I did it.” The Buckeye Rodeo Company was a rodeo was where his dad went and where he grew up. Today, Bump competes in all three rough stock events: bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback as well as team roping and bull dogging.
    What started out as a fun, family affair soon turned into a job for Bump. He won all-around four years in a row in high school and did so well he qualified for a scholarship to Martin, Tenn. His rodeo career was doing well and as he continued to succeed he turned down the chance for the scholarship, “I was making good money and it was easier not to go to school.”

    It was while riding horses at a horse sale he met his future wife who was looking at horses to buy. In 2008 after dating a few years, Bump married Andrea and welcomed her four children as his own. “It’s hard when she’s not at the rodeo with me,” Bump explains. “She keeps the horses warmed up and ready for me. She makes my job a lot easier.” Andrea is his backbone and what he does couldn’t be possible without her support. As for his kids, “Hunter,” Bump says, “wants to go on with it more than the others.”

     

    Full story available in our May 1, 2015 issue. Read online!

     

  • Back When They Bucked with Dixie Mosley

    Back When They Bucked with Dixie Mosley

    Dixie Mosley of Amarillo, Texas, had a most unusual childhood. The third and youngest child of Monte and Opal Reger, Dixie was born in Buffalo, Okla., on October 3, 1930. Before her sixth birthday, she had travelled more of the U.S. with her family than most people of that era saw in a lifetime. The Reger family were rodeo entertainers, fulfilling rodeo contracts in the eastern half of the country, and travelling with an 18 foot Schult house trailer, several trick horses, and a longhorn steer in tow.
    It was Bobby the Longhorn Steer that propelled the Regers into their lifestyle of greasepaint faces and trick riding Death Drags. The Longhorn/Brahman cross had curvy horns measuring 8′ 6″, and at the time he was discovered by Monte Reger, the steer was known for his rank personality. But Reger saw potential in the tremendous bovine, and with dreams of leaving the farming life behind, he tamed Bobby. Soon, Reger was riding the steer like he was a trusty cowhorse, as were Dixie and her brother, Buddy, and sister, Virginia. Bobby and Reger even appeared in a movie, Wheels of Destiny, in Hollywood, and advertised for a barbecue chain in Burbank, Calif. But Bobby was best known for his iconic jumps, clearing a convertible with ease while directed on a lunge line by Reger.
    Though Reger had helped start the rodeo in Doby Springs, Okla., he had bigger dreams. Eventually, he was announcing for the Beutler Brothers and performing with Bobby in Colonel Jim Eskew’s Wild West Show. Eskew’s son, Jim Eskew, Jr., taught Dixie to trick ride and rope by the time she was five. She began performing alongside her brother and sister, riding a Shetland pony named Tom Thumb. Her brother, Buddy, was a rodeo clown, while Dixie and her sister represented the family in trick riding and roping. Their mother, Opal, occasionally took off her apron to perform the Quadrille – square dancing with horses – but she preferred to live outside of the spotlight. “She had more than a full time job looking after Dad and us three kids, feeding us and sewing all our clothes,” Dixie recalls. “She kept us together.”
    Dixie’s rodeo debut came in 1935 in Pittsburg. At five years old, she was a fearless performer. “I was never afraid of anything at a young age, and when you’re a teenager, you’re really not afraid!” says Dixie. She showed horses in western pleasure, and although she found nothing remarkable in her trick riding talents, rodeo spectators thought otherwise. As she grew, Dixie rode her family’s palomino American Quarter Horses that they bred, their fair coats reflected in the shining cars that Dixie jumped them over. Though the Regers stayed in their trailer or motels, they returned often to their home in Woodward, Okla., to “get cleaned up and go again,” according to Dixie. It was there that the family trained their show horses. They laid three 55 gallon drums down, placed two more on top, and finished with a heavy wooden door at the top to re-create the size of car Dixie jumped over, before practicing on the real thing.
    For all the excitement of living on the road, Dixie at times longed for what she calls a normal life. “I wouldn’t take anything for the life I’ve had, but sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like to have a different type of life,” Dixie says reflectively. “We had to be careful in the summertime to go swimming in the late afternoon. We didn’t want to take the chance of getting sunburned and not being able to ride the trick horse. Even rollerskating you had to be careful to not twist an ankle. We were being paid to be at the rodeo, and we couldn’t get hurt having fun!” Missing out on regular schooling was what Dixie regretted the most. Up until high school, she and her siblings were homeschooled by their mother, a box of curriculum from Calvert Correspondence School arriving once a year with schoolbooks. When she entered high school, she came to school several weeks late and left in May to accommodate rodeo season. Yet homeschooling had agreed with Dixie, and she was several grades ahead of children her age, entering high school when she was 12 and graduating  in 1946, when she was 16.
    In 1947, Dixie was clowning and performing in an all-girl rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, and the following year, the all-girl rodeo in San Angelo, Texas, was the birthplace of the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA). Dixie was a charter member, and later served as a contract representative and vice president for the association. In addition to trick riding and roping, she rodeo clowned for the GRA, the only woman in the area to do so. Dixie even rode several bulls and bareback horses, but the roping events like ribbon roping, breakaway, and calf roping, were what brought out her competitive side. “I’ve been bucked off and had horses fall with me, and I’ve never broken a bone,” says Dixie. “I’m real proud to be a charter member of what is now the WPRA. I met some wonderful cowgirls!” One of these cowgirls was the rodeo-renowned Tad Lucas, a bareback bronc rider and trick rider that Dixie created and performed several rodeo skits with. “She was a very nice lady, and she would do anything to help make the rodeo a better performance.”
    By 1953, Dixie was 23 years old and ready to make a bold move. She retired from rodeo. Her final performance in the public eye was the inaugural all-girl rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo. Following that, she married William Mosley in August of 1953. Bill was a cattleman, who served in both WWII and the Korean War, and was a friend of Dixie’s brother-in-law. “Growing up, I pretty much knew I didn’t want to marry a rodeo man,” says Dixie. “I think they are the most wonderful people in the world, but they’re always on the go! I wanted to stay home. Bill went back to college after he got out of the military, and I became a college wife. I got my PHT – Putting Husband Through,” she says with an infectious laugh.
    After finishing college, Bill and Dixie settled in Amarillo, Texas, where they still make their home today. With partners, they built a meat packing house, and Dixie lived the life she’d dreamt of as a child, becoming a full-time wife and mother and living in a house that wasn’t on wheels. Their children, Judy, Clay, and Paul, all grew up riding horses, but didn’t pursue rodeo. Once their children were grown, Bill sold the packing house and became a cattle inspector. He and Dixie travelled the U.S. extensively, some of Dixie’s favorite travels taking her to the annual induction ceremony for the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. She also attended Rodeo Clown Reunions held by Gail Woerner, where Dixie was the only female rodeo clown. Dixie herself was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1982 and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 2003. She was named the Pioneer Woman of the Year in 2004 at the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas. Bobby the Longhorn Steer, who started it all, also holds a place of honor, his head mounted in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
    Memories abound, and Dixie has no regrets. She concludes happily, “I’m glad it’s all worked out the way it’s worked out.”

    Story also available in our May 1, 2015 issue.

     

  • ProFile: Sharin Hall

    ProFile: Sharin Hall

    From RFD-TV’s The American, to the Diamonds & Dirt Barrel Horse Classic, barrel racer and trainer, Sharin Hall from Kingston, Okla., has burst into the spotlight, but she’s by no means a stranger to the barrel pen. As a lifelong competitor, Sharin, originally from Sunbury, Ohio, was born to turn three barrels. Her father, Jackson Hall, was a barrel horse trainer. Sharin’s mom was also into horses, so it was only natural their daughter would saddle up as quick as she could.
    Every cowgirl has that one horse who really lights the fire, and for Sharin, that horse was T’ Heck, a winning barrel horse of her father’s. She was 8 years old when she started running barrels on the horse. “I won on him until I was 13. I basically learned how to ride and sit right on a horse, and then when I was 16 my mom bought my first horse to train for myself,” Sharin said.
    Since that first training project, Sharin has learned how to help shape different horses, while allowing for their individuality, and she’s made a career out of the skill. “I’ve learned that not every horse is the same, and you have to adapt sometimes to their style and their way of doing things, all the while asking for what I want.”
    Initially, Sharin’s grandmother stressed a college education, but Sharin quickly realized that a 9-5 desk job wouldn’t be something she could do long term, so she practiced cosmetology at first. “I did that for 10 years and rode my own horses, and then when I was 28 I got a phone call and got a job offer in Oklahoma training horses, so I took the job,” she said, eventually branching out into her own full time training business that’s still thriving today.
    It’s a profession where the biggest challenges are, in some ways, also the rewards. “The challenge has been when you pour your heart and soul and everything you have into a horse and develop it into a winner, and it gets sold or it goes back home, you separate from something that you love and created into a winner,” she said but added, “I love it though when they go on to win, that is probably the most satisfying thing that I experience in what I do.”
    Over the years, in addition to her training program, Sharin has competed in multiple futurities and pro-rodeos. She has a strong faith in God, and remains close to her family. Sadly, Sharin’s father passed away in December of 2011.
    In 2013 she organized an annual memorial barrel race in Ardmore, Okla., in his honor.
    To balance the difficulties of saying goodbye to horses she’s trained, Sharin is starting to ride more of her own horses these days, such as the breakout star of the Diamonds and Dirt, a mare named Bulleva Sharin co-owns with attorney Brad Oesch. They bought Bulleva in Oklahoma City. It didn’t hurt that the Bully Bullion breeding in the mare appealed to Sharin. “I picked her and just loved the way she felt, it was a good fit. We’ve just gotten better and she’s gotten better and more confident to the point of winning the slot race. It was my first slot win. It was really special to be on something I part owned, and I just feel very blessed,” Sharin said of her win at Diamonds & Dirt, where she and Bulleva took home over $110,000.
    This year also brought success when it came to RFD-TV’s The American. Sharin, riding a client’s horse, Streaking Ta Fame, whom she trained, was the only qualifier to make the final-four in the Shoot Out round, where she ended up third. In the long go, she ran the second fastest time of the entire rodeo against the world’s fiercest competition.
    “It’s really a lifetime experience. I think that the American is a golden opportunity for someone who is not able to be on the road and rodeo all year. It’s a great opportunity to be able to run at that money,” she said.
    Sharin plans to continue to rodeo on some of her mares and young horses this year, as well as continue down the futurity trail with Bulleva.
    It’s that don’t stop attitude that embodies Sharin, explained her apprentice Stevie Ann Tucek, who previously traveled and trained with NFR barrel racer June Holeman and chronicled her tales of inspiration for the rodeo world.
    Now, Stevie is finding inspiration in Sharin. “Sharin has amazing will power and drive and gives 110 percent all the time. I believe her having this mindset, faith, and hard non-stop 18-hour days, is what has gotten her to where she is, and where she is going.” Stevie said and added, “She is a great teacher and has passed down some of her techniques that I will cherish and apply in my career for a lifetime. She has a gift, and she knows what she wants from life: to live it to the fullest, and make herself better each day. We could always use more Sharin Halls in this field.”
    And if Sharin has anything to do with it, that field is only going to get faster.

  • Roper Review with Scot Brown

    Roper Review with Scot Brown

    Scot Brown and Clayton Moore
    Scot Brown and Clayton Moore

    Not many ropers have a week like Scot Brown enjoyed at the World Series of Team Roping Finals at the South Point last December. Scot, a #9 heeler and #6E header from Orange Grove, Texas, was entered up at the finals, thanks to one of his sponsors. Scot and Josh DeBord, won 6th in the #15, earning each man $20,000.
    Getting nothing done in the #12 and #13 was not devastating for Scot, who still had a $20,000 check in his pocket. In his last and final roping, the #11, Scot was scheduled to head for one of his sponsors, who ultimately couldn’t make the trip. Brown replaced him with Clayton Moore, a #5, who he had practiced with the week before back in Texas.
    The team drew three good steers for an average of 22.90, making them high team back. A short round steer that ran, along with a late start, caused the team to be 9.5 at the back end, but well under the 11.9-seconds needed to keep the lead. Brown and Moore split first place prize money of $288,000, in addition to $6,000 for a rotation fast time.
    “At the end of the run, the flagger, Brooks Bearden, rode up and told me that Clayton legged,” says Brown. “He was joking, but I didn’t even care. I told him, ‘That’s okay, we won second or third.’”
    Brown, 37, stays busy running his business, Absolute Terra Services and Maintenance. He started the herbicide business in 2007. ATS sprays and kills weeds for commercial farmers and oil well pads, among other businesses. In 2010, the business was expanded and added mowers, seeding, and mulching services.
    “Even though it’s a lot of work and responsibility, I enjoy owning my own business,” says Scot. “It enables me to spend more time with my family.”
    Brown and his wife, Michelle, have four children, three sons and a daughter: Spencer, 16, Jackson, 15, Makayla, 8 and Brooks, 4. Michelle teaches online for Waldon University.
    As a business owner with a large family, there’s not a lot of spare time for the practice pen.
    “I’ve been very fortunate,” explains Brown. “I’ve been able to ride good horses and rope with some of the best ropers in the world. My mental game is probably my strongest asset in the roping pen. I thrive on pressure. In the #15, at the World Series Finals, we came from 21st call back where we had to be 6.2 to take the lead and we were 6-flat. I just love that kind of pressure.”
    This May 8th & 9th, Brown will produce the 4th Annual Colton Rusk Memorial roping. This roping is held in memory of Colton Rusk, a Marine who was killed in Afghanistan. The proceeds are donated for scholarships. The first year it was held, in 2012, this roping raised $30,000. Each of the last two years the event has raised $100,000.
    “I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” says Scot. “Not only honoring Colton’s memory, but being able to help kids afford an education is amazing.”
    Scot is sponsored by Fast Back Ropes, Total Thru Tubing and Noble Outfitters.
    COWboy Q&A

    How much do you practice?
    I don’t get the opportunity to practice as much as I’d like due to running my business. I always practice before an event.
    Do you make your own horses?
    I used to when I was younger. Now I don’t really have time.
    Who were your roping (rodeo) heroes?
    Clay O’Brien Cooper
    Who do you respect most in the world?
    My dad.
    Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
    My family.
    If you had a day off what would you like to do?
    Spend time with my kids.
    Favorite movie?
    Tombstone, Lonesome Dove
    What’s the last thing you read?
    Lone Survivor
    How would you describe yourself in three words?
    Motivated, easy-going, hardworking
    What makes you happy?
    My family.
    What makes you angry?
    Lazy people.
    If you were given 1 million dollars, how would you spend it?
    I’d pay off bills, take my family on a vacation and invest the rest.
    What is your worst quality – your best?
    My worst quality is procrastination. My best quality is being happy go lucky.
    Where do you see yourself in ten years?
    I hope that the business I’m building continues to grow and be successful, allowing me to spend more time with my family.

  • Josh peaks at the right time in Kissimmee

    Josh peaks at the right time in Kissimmee

    KISSIMMEE, Fla. – When Josh Peek was asked what he was going to do next after winning the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo he said – what else? – that he was taking his family to Disney World in neighboring Orlando. Of course they were going there anyway. It’s been planned for weeks. But it’s nice to make the trip when you have a newly-issued check for $18,171 in your pocket and knowing you’ve just gone and done something historic.

    Peek, of Pueblo, Colo., won the RNCFR steer wrestling title Saturday night with a time of 4.8 seconds, earning a buckle that will go in the trophy case as a nice companion piece to the RNCFR tie-down roping bauble he won a year ago at the 2014 RNCFR in Guthrie, Okla. It’s an achievement matched only by Ty Murray, who won the National Circuit Finals saddle bronc riding in 1993 and came back to Pocatello, Idaho, the following year to win the bull riding.

    “This is a complete blessing,” Peek said. “To win RNCFR titles in back-to-back years, in different events … that’s just amazing. You couldn’t write a better outcome than that.”

    Just sixth in the two-head average, Peek found another gear in the final performance of this $749,316 rodeo. He won the semifinal round in 4.1 seconds and then won the finals in 4.8 seconds as the last man out of the box.

    It was deceptively tricky ground, because Eli Lord and Aaron Vosler already had no-times and defending RNCFR champion Kyle Irwin was on the board with a 13.9 (including a 10-second broken barrier) and, as Peek said, “sometimes it’s easier to be under 3.9 than it is to be under 13.9. You want to make a solid, businessman’s run and just not make any stupid mistakes by being too careful.”

    Ironically, Peek didn’t earn a dime in his tie-down roping title defense, but that $18,171 in the steer wrestling easily gave him the all-around title over the only other multi-event contender, Zach Kilgus.

    Peek wasn’t alone in the history-making realm on Saturday night, as Marty Yates continued a weekend-long assault on the RNCFR tie-down roping record with a run of 6.9 seconds to win the finals over Jerome Schneeberger by seven-tenths of a second. Schneeberger had started the run on Friday night when he tied Matt Shiozawa’s record of 7.3 seconds (2008, 2010). Jesse Clark dropped the mark to 7.2 during the Saturday matinee performance, and Yates then blew it away in the four-man round.

    The other champions at the Silver Spurs Arena were bareback rider Steven Peebles (88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Flaxey Lady), team ropers Drew Horner and Buddy Hawkins II (4.6 seconds), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Goin South), barrel racer Carmel Wright (16.42 seconds) and bull rider Joe Frost (72 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Double Play).

    Peebles’ win in the bareback riding gave the Columbia River Circuit five wins in that event in the last six years and fellow Oregonian Austin Foss gave the circuit a 1-2 sweep by riding for 86 points.

    “The tradition started with Clint Corey and it’s awesome to be a part of that with guys like Bobby Mote, Ryan Gray, Brian Bain and Austin,” Peebles said. “It’s great to have your name on the board next to theirs.”

    Texas won the team title with $108,557, just edging out the Wilderness Circuit ($104,779), with Montana third ($92,665). It was the second win in three years for Texas and the Lone Star State now has a record 12 titles in the event’s 29-year history.

    Event winners each received a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new RAM Truck and a Polaris RANGER utility vehicle in addition to their winnings.

    Highlights from the RNCFR will be televised on CBS Sports Net; see ProRodeo.com/TV for the telecast schedule.

     

    RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo

    Kissimmee, Fla., March 25-28

    All-around cowboy: Josh Peek, $18,171, steer wrestling and tie-down roping.

    Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross, $6,182; 2. Joe Gunderson, 80, $4,683; 3. Jessy Davis, 79, $3,372; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Micky Downare and Austin Foss, 78, $1,499 each. Second round: 1. Kaycee Feild, 84 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Sadie’s Gal, $6,182; 2. Casey Breuer, 80, $4,683; 3. (tie) Austin Foss and Jessy Davis, 79, $2,810 each; 5. (tie) Bill Tutor and Caleb Bennett, 78, $1,124 each; 7. Caine Riddle, 77. 8. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Seth Hardwick, 76 each. Average: 1. Kaycee Feild, 162 points on two head, $6,182; 2. Tim O’Connell, 159, $4,683; 3. Jessy Davis, 158, $3,372; 4. Austin Foss, 157, $2,248; 5. Joe Gunderson, 154, $1,311; 6. (tie) Seth Hardwick and Steven Peebles, 153, $1,124 each; 8. Micky Downare, 151. Semifinals: 1. Steven Peebles, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal, $7,493; 2. Austin Foss, 84, $5,620; 3. Kaycee Field, 81, $3,747; 4. Jessy Davis, 80, $1,873. Finals: 1. Steven Peebles, 88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Flaxy Lady, $7,493; 2. Austin Foss, 86, $5,620; 3. Kaycee Feild, 82, $3,747; 4. Jessy Davis, 80, $1,873. Total event earnings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $21,355; 2. Austin Foss, $17,796; 3. Steven Peebles, $15,455; 4. Jessy Davis, $13,300; 5. Tim O’Connell, $10,865; 6. Joe Gunderson, $5,995; 7. Casey Breuer, $4,683; 8. Micky Downare, $1,499; 9. (tie) Bill Tutor and Caleb Bennett, $1,124 each; 11. Seth Hardwick, $468.

    Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Wade Steffen, 4.5 seconds, $6,182; 2. Beau Clark, 4.6, $4,683; 3. Tooter Silver, 4.9, $3,372; 4. Josh Peek, 5.2, $2,248; 5. Austin Manning, 5.6, $1,311; 6. Aaron Vosler, 5.7, $937. Second round: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.3 seconds, $6,182; 2. Jacob Shofner, 4.6, $4,683; 3. (tie) Sterling Lambert and Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $2,810 each; 5. Beau Clark, 4.8, $1,311; 6. Baylor Roche, 5.2, $937. Average: 1. Beau Clark, 9.4 seconds on two head, $6,182; 2. Aaron Vosler, 10.4, $4,683; 3. Jacob Shofner, 10.9, $3,372; 4. Wade Steffen, 11.0, $2,248; 5. Austin Manning, 11.2, $1,311; 6. Josh Peek, 12.0, $937; 7. Kyle Irwin, 12.7; 8. Eli Lord, 13.6. Semifinals: 1. Josh Peek, 4.1 seconds, $7,493; 2. Eli Lord, 4.5, $5,620; 3. Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $3,747; 4. Kyle Irwin, 4.8, $1,873. Finals: 1. Josh Peek, 4.8 seconds, $7,493; 2. Kyle Irwin, 13.9, $5,620; 3. (tie) Eli Lord and Aaron Vosler, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Josh Peek, $18,171; 2. (tie) Beau Clark and Aaron Vosler, $12,176 each; 4. Wade Steffen, $8,430; 5. Jacob Shofner, $8,055; 6. Kyle Irwin, $7,493; 7. Stockton Graves, $6,182; 8. Eli Lord, $5,620; 9. Tooter Silver, $3,372; 10. Sterling Lambert, $2,810; 11. Austin Manning, $2,623; 12. Baylor Roche, $937.

    Team roping: First round: 1. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, 4.9 seconds, $6,182 each; 2. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens; Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, and Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 5.0, $3,434 each; 5. (tie) Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost and Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.2, $1,124 each. Second round: 1. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, 4.2 seconds, $6,182 each; 2. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.0, $4,683; 3. Quisto Lopez/Joe Mattern, 5.1, $3,372; 4. Clint Gorrell/Levi O’Keeffe, 5.2, $2,248; 5. Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, 5.3, $1,311; 6. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.8, $937. Average: 1. Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, 10.3 seconds on two head, $6,182 each; 2. Drew Horner, Plano/Buddy Hawkins II, 10.4, $4,683; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 11.0, $3,372; 4. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 11.3, $2,248; 5. Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens, 11.5, $1,311; 6. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, 14.2, $937; 7. Garrett Rogers/Brent Falon, 14.5; 8. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, 15.2. Semifinals: 1. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 4.7 seconds, $7,493; 2. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.7, $5,620; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 6.6, $3,747; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, 11.7, $1,873. Finals: 1. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.6 seconds, $7,493; 2. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 4.8, $5,620; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 9.1, $3,747; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, $22,479 each; 2. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, $18,795; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, $12,925; 4. Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, $10,977; 5.Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, $8,055; 6. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, $6,182; 7. Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens, $4,746; 8. Quisto Lopez/Joe Mattern, $3,372; 9. Clint Gorrell/Levi O’Keeffe, $2,248; 10. Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost, $1,124; 11. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, $937.

    Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s, $6,182; 2. Wade Sundell, 83, $4,683; 3. Jeff Willert, 81, $3,372; 4. Jesse Wright and Taos Muncy, 80, $1,780 each; 6. Cody Taton, 79, $937. Second round: 1. Wade Sundell, 85 points on Sutton Rodeo’s South Point, $6,182; 2. Zeke Thurston, 82, $4,683; 3. Jeff Willert, 81, $3,372; 4. Ben Londo, 80, $2,248; 5. (tie) John Redig and Bradley Harter, 78, $1,124 each. Average: 1. Wade Sundell, 168 points on two head, $6,182; 2. Jeff Willert, 162, $4,683; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 161, $3,372; 4. Ben Londo, 156, $2,248; 5. Zeke Thurston, 154, $1,311; 6. (tie) Coburn Bradshaw, Ryan Mackenzie and Heith DeMoss, 152, $312 each. Semifinals: 1. Heith DeMoss, 83 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Spade, $7,493; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 81, $5,620; 3. Ben Londo, 80, $3,747; 4. Ryan Mackenzie, 78, $1,873. Finals: 1. Heith DeMoss, 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Goin South, $7,493; 2. Ryan Mackenzie, 85, $5,620; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 82, $3,747; 4. Ben Londo, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, $18,920; 2. Wade Sundell, $17,047; 3. Heith DeMoss, $15,299; 4. Jeff Willert, $11,427; 5. Ben Londo, $8,242; 6. Ryan Mackenzie, $7,805; 7. Zeke Thurston, $5,995; 8. (tie) Jesse Wright and Taos Muncy, $1,780 each; 10. (tie) Bradley Harter and John Redig, $1,124 each; 12. Cody Taton, $937.

    Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Rhen Richard, 7.8 seconds, $6,182; 2. (tie) Jesse Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 8.0, $4,028 each; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, 8.3, $2,248; 5. Marty Yates, 8.4, $1,311; 6. Jared Kempker, 8.8, $937. Second round: 1. Jesse Clark, 7.2 seconds (breaks RNCFR record of 7.3 held by Matt Shiozawa, 2008, 2010; Jerome Schneeberger, 2015), $6,182; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, 7.3, $4,683; 3. (tie) Ryle Smith and Blair Burk, 7.9, $2,810 each; 5. Seth Hopper, 8.0, $1,311; 6. Riley Pruitt, 8.4, $937. Average: 1. Jesse Clark, 15.2 seconds on two head, $6,182; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, 15.6, $4,683; 3. Seth Hopper, 16.9, $3,372; 4. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Marty Yates, 17.3, $1,780 each; 6. Riley Pruitt, 17.4, $937; 7. Jared Kempker, 19.7; 8. Ryle Smith, 20.3. Semifinals: 1. Marty Yates, 8.2 seconds, $7,493; 2. Jared Kempker, 9.9, $5,620; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 10.0, $3,747; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, 14.6, $1,873. Finals: 1. Marty Yates, 6.9 seconds, $7,493; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, 7.6, $5,620; 3. Jared Kempker, 8.3, $3,747; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 8.5, $1,873. Total event earnings: 1. Jerome Schneeberger, $19,108; 2. Marty Yates, $18,077; 3. Jesse Clark, $16,391; 4. Ryan Jarrett, $11,427; 5. Jared Kempker, $10,303; 6. Rhen Richard, $6,182; 7. Seth Hopper, $4,683; 8. (tie) Ryle Smith and Blair Burk, $2,810 each; 10. Riley Pruitt, $1,873.

    Barrel racing: First round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 16.44 seconds, $6,182; 2. Lindsay Kruse, 16.45, $4,683; 3. Natalie Foutch, 16.49, $3,372; 4. Nancy Hunter, 16.53, $2,248; 5. Carmel Wright, 16.54, $1,311; 6. Cheyenne Schnelle, 16.59, $937. Second round: 1. Sarah McDonald, 16.27 seconds, $6,182; 2. Pamela Capper, 16.41, $4,683; 3. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, and Nancy Hunter, 16.57, $2,810 each; 5. Kassidy Dennison, 16.59, $1,311; 6. (tie) Lindsay Kruse and Sarah Griffin, 16.71, $468 each. Average: 1. Sarah McDonald, 32.97 seconds on two runs, $6,182; 2. Lisa Lockhart, 33.01, $4,683; 3. Nancy Hunter, 33.10, $3,372; 4. Pamela Capper, 33.15, $2,248; 5. Lindsay Kruse, 33.16, $1,311; 6. Carmel Wright, 33.36, $937; 7. Kassidy Dennison, 33.38; 8. Sarah Griffin, 33.48. Semifinals: 1. Pamela Capper, 16.30 seconds, $7,493; 2. (tie) Carmel Wright and Sarah McDonald, 16.47, $4,683 each; 4. Kassidy Dennison, 16.63, $1,873. Finals: 1. Carmel Wright, 16.42 seconds, $7,493; 2. Sarah Mcdonald, 16.45, $5,620; 3. Pamela Capper, 16.47, $3,747; 4. Kassidy Dennison, 16.49, $1,873. Total event earnings: 1. Sarah McDonald, $22,667; 2. Pamela Capper, $18,171; 3. Carmel Wright, $14,424; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $13,675; 5. Nancy Hunter, $8,430; 6. Lindsay Kruse, $6,463; 7. Kassidy Dennison, $5,058; 8. Natalie Foutch, $3,372; 9. Cheyenne Schnelle, $937; 10. Sarah Griffin, $468.

    Bull riding: First round: 1. Mike Adams, 84 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Footloose, $6,182; 2. Joe Frost, 76, $4,683; 3. Bart Miller, 74, $3,372; 4. Josh Frost, 69, $2,248; no other qualified rides. Second round: 1. Aaron Pass, 85 points on Smith, Harper and Morgan Rodeo Company’s Back Woods Bandit, $6,182; 2. Daniel McAllister, 80, $4,683; 3. Josh Frost, 79, $3,372; 4. (tie) Joe Frost and Parker Breding, 78, $1,779 each; 6. (tie) Dylan Vick Hice and Lon Danley, 72, $468 each. Average: 1. Joe Frost, 154 points on two head, $6,182; 2. Josh Frost, 148, $4,683; 3. Aaron Pass, 85 on one, $3,372; 4. Mike Adams, 84, $2,248; 5. Daniel McAllister, 80, $1,311; 6. Parker Breding, 78, $937. 7. Bart Miller, 74; 8. (tie) Dylan Vick Hice and Lon Danley, 72. Semifinals: 1. No qualified rides. Finals: 1. Joe Frost, 72 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Double Play, $7,493; 2. (tie) Mike Adams, Aaron Pass and Josh Frost, NS. Total event earnings: 1. Joe Frost, $20,138; 2. Josh Frost, $10,303; 3. Aaron Pass, $9,554; 4. Mike Adams, $8,430; 5. Daniel McAllister, $5,995; 6. Bart Miller, $3,372; 7. Parker Breding, $2,716; 8. (tie) Dylan Vick and Lon Danley, $468 each.

    Team standings: 1. Texas, $108,557; 2. Wilderness, $104,779; 3. Montana, $92,665; 4. Columbia River, $77,585; 5. Prairie, $74,120; 6. Badlands, $47,769; 7. Mountain States, $47,488; 8. California, $38,121.

    Total payoff: $749,316. Stock contractors: 4L & Diamond S Rodeo, Barnes PRCA Rodeo, Cowtown Rodeo, Klein Brothers Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, MJM Rodeo, Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo, Sutton Rodeo, Three Hills Rodeo and United ProRodeo. Rodeo secretary: Carole Martinez. Officials: Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Cliff Overstreet and Glenn Sullivan. Timers: Amy Muller and Mary Borgen. Announcers: Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney. Specialty act: Troy Lerwill. Bullfighters: Lucas Littles and Josh Rivinius. Clown/barrelman: Dennis Halstead. Flankman: Various. Chute boss: Gerry Byrn. Pickup men: Jeremy Willis and Shawn Calhoun. Photographers: James Phifer and Mike Rastelli. Sound: Benje Bendele.

  • First Frontier cowboy leads RNCFR bull riding

    First Frontier cowboy leads RNCFR bull riding

    KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A lot of young men from the Northeast are in Florida this week for the annual rite of extreme behavior that is spring break. Not a one of them is going home with better memories or demonstrable reason for pride than Pennsylvania bull rider Mike Adams.

    The recent graduate of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades showed plenty of trade craft in riding Footloose of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo string for 84 points and the first-round win at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo worth $6,182.

    “I have high expectations for myself,” Adams said, “so this doesn’t shock me. I had a good bull and I made it work. He went out around to the left and got me over his head, but I sat up and got (centered) again. I didn’t feel real comfortable out there, but I hope I looked comfortable.”

    The judges seemed to think so. His 84-point score was eight points better than 2014 Reserve World Champion Joe Frost in second place, and was one of only four qualified rides in 24 tries in Silver Spurs Arena over the first two nights of this national championship event.

    To understand how utterly unexpected this win might seem to the casual rodeo fan, a little background is in order.

    Adams, 22, didn’t start rodeoing until 2010, just before he turned 18. He went to one of the Cowtown Rodeos that the Harris family has been running for more than 50 years in Pilesgrove, N.J., and just decided that bull riding was something he wanted to try.

    There was no family background here – father, Dale, is a carpenter and mother, Sue, is a school aid. More than that, his family wasn’t openly dubious about this change in sports from baseball, football and lacrosse to something more, well, life threatening.

    “They didn’t really try to talk me out of it,” Adams said, “but they weren’t for it either. That’s for sure. They were just trying to be good parents.”

    Adams learned the basics of bull riding by going to a small practice facility called the Luck of the Draw in Woodstown, N.J., and another practice pen about 90 miles from his home in Oxford, Pa., which had sessions every Monday.

    “And I was there every Monday,” Adams said, “When Gary Leffew held a bull riding school in Grantville (Pa.) I went to that. I went to his school a couple of times. A First Frontier rider named Jason Power really helped with the mental side of bull riding, and I just kept working to get better.”

    Despite the fact that Adams never felt like he had a natural gift for the sport, he has progressed rapidly. Since his first Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in 2011, he has qualified for the RNCFR each of the last three years and is now in position to become the first bull rider from the First Frontier Circuit to ever win this rodeo.
    “That’s the plan,” Adams said.

    The other first-round winners at this edition No. 29 of the RNCFR were bareback rider Tim O’Connell (83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross), steer wrestler Wade Steffen (4.5 seconds), team ropers Rob Webb and Dan Webb (4.9 seconds), saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley (84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s), tie-down roper Rhen Richard (7.8 seconds) and barrel racer Lisa Lockhart (16.44 seconds).

    In addition to Adams, Steffen, Richard and Lockhart all had their winning efforts on the Thursday night session that completed the first round. The second round begins Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. (ET) performance.

    The tournament-style RNFCR format determines the national circuit champions in each event. All 24 qualifiers from the 12 circuits compete in the two preliminary rounds of the rodeo. The top eight contestants from each event advance to the semifinal round, with all previous scores and times thrown out. The top four move on to the final round, a sudden-death competition that determines the national circuit champion in each event.

    Because the top four contestants begin that final round with a clean slate, each one has an equal opportunity to claim an RNCFR title.

    Event winners each receive a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new RAM Truck and a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle in addition to their winnings.

    Wrangler Network is airing live webcasts of the rodeo’s first four performances and, after the event, highlights from the RNCFR will be televised on CBS Sports Net; see ProRodeo.com/TV for the telecast schedule.

     

    RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo

    Kissimmee, Fla., March 25-28

    Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross, $6,182; 2. Joe Gunderson, 80, $4,683; 3. Jessy Davis, 79, $3,372; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Micky Downare and Austin Foss, 78, $1,499 each.

    Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Wade Steffen, 4.5 seconds, $6,182; 2. Beau Clark, 4.6, $4,683; 3. Tooter Silver, 4.9, $3,372; 4. Josh Peek, 5.2, $2,248; 5. Austin Manning, 5.6, $1,311; 6. Aaron Vosler, 5.7, $937.

    Team roping: First round: 1. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, 4.9 seconds, $6,182 each; 2. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens; Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, and Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 5.0, $3,434 each; 5. (tie) Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost and Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.2, $1,124 each.

    Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s, $6,182; 2. Wade Sundell, 83, $4,683; 3. Jeff Willert, 81, $3,372; 4. Jesse Wright and Taos Muncy, 80, $1,780 each; 6. Cody Taton, 79, $937.

    Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Rhen Richard, 7.8 seconds, $6,182; 2. (tie) Jesse Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 8.0, $4,028 each; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, 8.3, $2,248; 5. Marty Yates, 8.4, $1,311; 6. Jared Kempker, 8.8, $937.

    Barrel racing: First round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 16.44 seconds, $6,182; 2. Lindsay Kruse, 16.45, $4,683; 3. Natalie Foutch, 16.49, $3,372; 4. Nancy Hunter, 16.53, $2,248; 5. Carmel Wright, 16.54, $1,311; 6. Cheyenne Schnelle, 16.59, $937.

    Bull riding: First round: 1. Mike Adams, 84 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Footloose, $6,182; 2. Joe Frost, 76, $4,683; 3. Bart Miller, 74, $3,372; 4. Josh Frost, 69, $2,248; no other qualified rides.

    Total payoff: $749,316. Stock contractors: 4L & Diamond S Rodeo, Barnes PRCA Rodeo, Cowtown Rodeo, Klein Brothers Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, MJM Rodeo, Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo, Sutton Rodeo, Three Hills Rodeo and United ProRodeo. Rodeo secretary: Carole Martinez. Officials: Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Cliff Overstreet and Glenn Sullivan. Timers: Amy Muller and Mary Borgen. Announcers: Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney. Specialty act: Troy Lerwill. Bullfighters: Lucas Littles and Josh Rivinius. Clown/barrelman: Dennis Halstead. Flankman: Various. Chute boss: Gerry Byrn. Pickup men: Jeremy Willis and Shawn Calhoun. Photographers: James Phifer and Mike Rastelli.

  • Idaho ropers look to weave web of RNCFR glory

    Idaho ropers look to weave web of RNCFR glory

    KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Rob and Dan Webb had a good night at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo March 25 – even putting themselves in position to make a little history – and they were fairly certain their dad, Kirk, didn’t get to see any of it on the WranglerNetwork.com webcast.

    “You can bet he was out feeding the cattle,” said Dan Webb, with a grin, “taking care of the farm’s 400 mother cows. Our mom (Stevia) might have watched us, but dad was pretty sure to be out there working.”

    That’s how it has always been on the Webb farm in Wendell, Idaho. Work comes first. Rob and Dan learned their work ethic and how to rodeo from their dad, a nine-time RNCFR qualifier. Even if Kirk’s not watching, he’s present in their every run.

    It’s part of the reason that Rob, 26, and Dan, 31, have become the best team roping pair in Idaho and are now in position to make a run at becoming the first team in Wilderness Circuit history to win a title at the RNCFR. They took the first-round lead on Wednesday night with a 4.9-second run.

    There is reason for the Webb brothers to draw extra inspiration from their dad these days. He had a really bad horse wreck a couple of years back and ended up in a coma. The first weeks were rough. Doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it.

    “But now he’s back driving and working,” Dan said. “It’s been great.”

    The Webb brothers feel like they were born into their rodeo life. They live across a hay field from each other in Wendell, practice their roping on a regular schedule while balancing farm work, developing Rob’s fencing company and other endeavors.

    “I was probably in middle school when we started roping together full time,” said Rob Webb, “and we’ve just stayed with it.”

    They had their best year in 2014 when they finished second at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo and split a round at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. Rob finished No. 47 among headers in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, and Dan was No. 56 among heelers.

    They won the Wilderness Circuit year-end title and the RAM Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo.

    Other first-round leaders to come out of Wednesday night’s performance at the Silver Spurs Arena were bareback rider Tim O’Connell (83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross), steer wrestler Beau Clark (4.6 seconds), saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley (84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s), tie-down ropers Ryan Jarrett and Jesse Clark (8.0 seconds), barrel racer Lindsay Kruse (16.45 seconds) and bull rider Joe Frost (76 points on Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Nutcase).

    Crawley is the defending champion and is trying to join Jesse Wright (2010-11) as the only cowboys to win back-to-back saddle bronc riding titles in the 29-year history of this rodeo.

    The tournament-style RNFCR format determines the national circuit champions in each event. All 24 qualifiers from the 12 circuits compete in the two preliminary rounds of the rodeo. The top eight contestants from each event advance to the semifinal round, with all previous scores and times thrown out. The top four then move on to the final round, a sudden-death competition that determines the national circuit champion in each event.

     

    Because the top four contestants begin that final round with a clean slate, each one has an equal opportunity to claim an RNCFR title.

    Event winners each receive a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new RAM Truck and a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle in addition to their winnings.

    Wrangler Network is airing live webcasts of the rodeo’s first four performances and, after the event, highlights from the RNCFR will be televised on CBS Sports Net; see ProRodeo.com/TV for the telecast schedule.

    RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo

    Kissimmee, Fla., March 25-28

    Bareback riding: First round leaders: 1. Tim O’Connell, 83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross; 2. Joe Gunderson, 80; 3. Jessy Davis, 79; 4. (tie) Micky Downare and Austin Foss, 78 each; 6. Andy Carter, 74

    Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Beau Clark, 4.6 seconds; 2. Tooter Silver, 4.9; 3. Josh Peek, 5.2; 4. Austin Manning, 5.6; 5. Jacob Shofner, 6.3; 6. Eli Lord, 8.3

    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, 4.9 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 5.0; 3. (tie) Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost and Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.2 each; 5. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, 5.4; 6. Ty Blasingame/J.W. Borrego, 5.8

    Saddle bronc riding: First round leaders: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s; 2. Wade Sundell, 83; 3. Jesse Wright, 80; 4. Cody Taton, 79; 5. (tie) Jeremy Meeks and Jace Angus, 78

    Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jesse Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 8.0 seconds each; 3. Riley Pruitt, 9.0; 4. Blake Ash, 12.1; 5. Ryle Smith, 12.4; 6. Josh Peek, 15.4

     

    Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Lindsay Kruse, 16.45 seconds; 2. Cheyenne Schnelle, 16.59; 3. Mary Walker, 16.65; 4. (tie) Ann Scott and Sarah McDonald, 16.70 each; 6. Sarah Griffin, 16.77

    Bull riding: First round leaders: 1. Joe Frost, 76 points on Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Nutcase; no other qualified rides

    Total payoff: $749,316. Stock contractors: 4L & Diamond S Rodeo, Barnes PRCA Rodeo, Cowtown Rodeo, Klein Brothers Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, MJM Rodeo, Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo, Sutton Rodeo, Three Hills Rodeo and United ProRodeo. Rodeo secretary: Carole Martinez. Officials: Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Cliff Overstreet and Glenn Sullivan. Timers: Amy Muller and Mary Borgen. Announcers: Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney. Specialty act: Troy Lerwill. Bullfighters: Lucas Littles and Josh Rivinius. Clown/barrelman: Dennis Halstead. Flankman: Various. Chute boss: Gerry Byrn. Pickup men: Jeremy Willis and Shawn Calhoun.

  • BALLOT NOMINATIONS – Rodeo All-Star Weekend

    BALLOT NOMINATIONS – Rodeo All-Star Weekend

    Denver, Colo. – The stars of rodeo return to Denver for the ultimate pro rodeo competition, Rodeo All-Star Weekend, April 17 – 18.  Rodeo All-Star features three tournament style rodeo performances where all seven rodeo events will highlight the very best cowboys and cowgirls competing for prize money and bragging rights.  New this year is a Rodeo All-Star Concert featuring top country, husband and wife duo, Thompson Square, presented by Pepsi.   Thompson Square will light up the All-Star Concert stage Friday, April 17th following the first of three pro rodeo performances.

     

    Rodeo All-Star Weekend celebrates the sport and the athletes of rodeo with an All-Star festival feel.  The weekend offers three All-Star rodeo performances, the first-ever Rodeo All-Star Run, the popular Lunch with Champions, Murdoch’s Mutton Bustin, mechanical bull and the Murdoch’s Fashion Showcase.

     

    Rodeo All-Star management proudly announces two returning presenting partners, Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply and Cinch Jeans & Shirts for this one of a kind event.

    Rodeo All-Star representatives recently announced the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR) has added Rodeo All-Star Weekend to the 2015 PBR Touring Pro Division schedule.  Some of the top bull riders in the world will now compete at the 2015 Rodeo All-Star Weekend.

     

    Rodeo and sports fans across the country are being asked to nominate their favorite rodeo contestant to get a spot on the Rodeo All-Star Fan Voting ballot presented by Cinch Jeans.  The 2015 Nomination & Fan Voting rules are as follows:

    BALLOT NOMINATIONS – Rodeo fans, friends and family can nominate their favorite rodeo contestant for a chance to be on the Fan Voting ballot.   Nominations open March 11 and close March 20. This is the only chance to submit names for the Fan Voting ballot. During this week fans can nominate one contestant in each event, once per day through the Facebook contest.   At the end of the week, the six contestants in each event with the most nominations will secure a spot on the Fan Voting ballot.

    IMPORTANT DATES : Ballot Nominations run from March 11-20, 2015, Nominees will be  announced Sunday, March 22, 2015.  Official Fan Voting opens on Monday, March 23, 2015.

    FAN VOTING:  Fans will vote for their favorite rodeo contestant listed on the Fan Voting ballot.  The Fan Voting ballot category for bull riding will feature PBR Touring Pro cowboys.  The contestant with the most votes during Fan Voting will receive a check for $1000.  In each event, the two contestants with the most votes during Fan Voting will be invited to compete at Rodeo All-Star. Voting is limited to 1 vote per day, per event, per Facebook user.

    Fans that vote will automatically be entered to win a FREE pair of jeans from CINCH. Winners will be randomly selected via the voting app and there will be a total of six chances to win. Winners will be announced along with the Fan Voting updates, every two days.

    IMPORTANT DATES:  Official Fan Voting opens on Monday, March 23rd and runs through Friday, April 3rd at midnight.  Winners will be announced on Saturday, April 4th, 2015.

    Tickets to the 3rd annual Rodeo All-Star Weekend, April 17-18, 2015 are on sale now at rodeoallstar.com, the National Western Box Office, King Soopers locations, or by phone at 1-866-464-2626.

     

  • Brazile Claims Seventh Title

    Brazile Claims Seventh Title

    March 8, 2015 / Guthrie, Oklahoma – Trevor Brazile is the most decorated cowboy in ProRodeo history.

    On Sunday afternoon, he added another prestigious championship to his trophy case, winning the Timed Event Championship of the World for a record seventh time. In the process, he pocketed $116,000 – most came in the form of the average title, which paid $100,000 for the first time ever; the rest he earned by having the two fastest go-rounds of this year’s competition.

    “This is the event of the purist in my events,” said Brazile, who scored a 43.7-second second round Friday night and a 45.8 Saturday night. “I’ve always loved it. It means a lot just because of everything entails. It’s 25 head. It’s a fun contest.”

    He utilized a steady approach to claim the top prize, outdistancing runner-up Paul David Tierney by 25 seconds.

    “You’ve got a game plan when you come here,” he said. “I try not to back off too much. I try to be efficient, but not overly protective.

    “I’ve had a two-hour hiatus from here. Coming back, you always question it. I felt like I could do it still, but until you come and do it, you never know.”

    He knows very well. Over his nearly two decades of competing in the “Ironman of ProRodeo,” Brazile has earned $751,500.

    “Not just the money has made it better,” he said, referring to the winner’s payout doubling from $50,000. “I think it added more excitement and obviously there was more on the line, but I think this is the most even set of stock they’ve had. I think that helped keep it even throughout.

    “This is probably the closest field I’ve seen. As a whole, it was keeping the pack together due to the quality of stock that was here. It let a guy do his job. There weren’t as many eliminators here as there has been.”

    Still, the top players in this game were challenged.

    “It was tough,” said Tierney, the reigning champion who has finished among the top two each of the past three years. “Everybody roped good, and having Trevor come back and being able to compete against him was good. He’s got to come back next year so we can have it out again.”

    He was one of two Tierneys to finish atop the standings. Older brother Jess, a four-time qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, placed third. Between them, the Tierneys collected $42,000. That’s pretty good for the sons of ProRodeo legend, Paul Tierney, a four-time Timed Event champion.

    “This is just a great event, and you get to go up against guys like Trevor, K.C. Jones and Daniel Green,” Jess Tierney said. “It’s the best event all year. I hope I can be like dad and come here until I’m 60.”

     

    RESULTS
    AVERAGE: 1. Trevor Brazile, 290.7 seconds on 25 runs, $100,000; 2. Paul David Tierney, 305.6, $25,000; 3. Jess Tierney, 331.4, $15,000; 4. Josh Peek, 364.8, $10,000; 5. Clay Smith, 373.1, $7,500; 6. Kyle Lockett, 381.0, $5,000; 7. Erich Rogers, 384.0, $4,500; 8. Russell Cardoza, 407.5, $3,000.
    FASTEST ROUND: 1. Trevor Brazile, 43.7, $10,000; 2. Trevor Brazile, 45.8, $6,000; 3. Kyle Lockett, 48.7, $5,000; 4. Russell Cardoza, 51.1, $4,000; 5. Erich Rogers, 51.6, $3,000; 6. Jess Tierney, 52.8, $2,000.
    TOTAL MONEY: 1. Trevor Brazile, $116,000; 2. Paul David Tierney, $25,000; 3. Jess Tierney, $17,000; 4. Josh Peek and Kyle Lockett, $10,000 each; 6. Clay Smith and Erich Rogers, $7,500; 8. Russell Cardoza, $7,000.

     

  • Price, Riemer split million-dollar bonus at second American

    Price, Riemer split million-dollar bonus at second American

    Price, Riemer split million-dollar bonus at second American

    ARLINGTON, TEXAS.; March 1, 2015 – A young relatively unknown pair of cowboys – a bareback bronc rider and tie-down roper – bested the world’s top-ranked athletes on March 1 to split more than $1 million at RFD-TV’s The American, presented by Polaris Ranger.

    “Words can’t express what this can do for my life,” said 24-year-old Reese Riemer of Stinnett, Texas, who tied his calf in 7.25 seconds to edge three-time world champion Tuf Cooper. “When I threw my hands up and looked at the clock – I’ll remember that moment the rest of my life.”

    After nearly doubling in size in just its sophomore year, RFD-TV’s The American attracted a crowd of 42,563 into AT&T Stadium despite a winter ice storm, and again offered the most money ever paid at a rodeo in one day. The payoff includes a $1 million bonus to any “underdog” who can out-ride or rope the top 10 rodeo athletes in the world.

    Earlier in the evening, Taylor Price of Huntsville, Texas, had scored 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s bronc Show Stomper to defeat a bareback riding field that included defending world champion Austin Foss. Riemer and Price had paid a $500 fee and advanced through The American Semi-Finals for the chance to compete against the sport’s elite. Other event champions each earned $100,000, with runners-up taking home $25,000.

    “They just keep raising the bar,” said roping superstar Trevor Brazile, who repeated as RFD-TV’s The American all-around champion. “I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner next. For Reese to have won $600,000 in one day, that just provides endless opportunities.”

    Price and Riemer each earned $600,000 plus nearly $50,000 in prizes that included a new Polaris Ranger. The rodeo also paid out $500,000 through its semi-finals and a week earlier and raised another half-million dollars via an innovative new sponsor auction.

    Following are official results from RFD-TV’s The American, presented by Polaris Ranger.

    Bareback Riding: Preliminary Round: 1. Taylor Price, Huntsville, Texas, 89 points; 2. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 87.5; 3. Brian Bain, Powell Butte, Ore., 86.25; 4. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 87.75. Final Round: 1. Taylor Price, Huntsville, Texas, 89 points on Frontier’s Show Stomper, $100,000 plus $500,000 bonus; 2. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 87.5, $25,000.

    Team Roping: Preliminary Round: 1. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.06 seconds. 2. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 4.19. 3. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.36. 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Tex., 4.38. Final Round: 1. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.52 seconds, $100,000; 2. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.11, $25,000.

    Steer Wrestling: Preliminary Round: 1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.08 seconds; 2. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.1; 3. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.24. 4. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 4.47. Final Round: 1. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.19 seconds, $100,000; 2. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.19, $25,000 (tie-breaker determined by aggregate on two).

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Preliminary Round: 1. Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 87.8 points; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 87.8; 3. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.3; 4. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 86.3; Final Round: 1. Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 90.75 points on Frontier’s Medicine Woman, $100,000; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 87.25, $25,000.

    Tie Down Roping: Preliminary Round: 1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 6.98 seconds; 2. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 7.12; 3. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 7.25; 4. Cole Bailey, Okmulgee, Okla., 7.3. Final Round: 1. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 7.59 seconds, $100,000 plus $500,000 bonus; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.38, $25,000.

    Barrel Racing: Preliminary Round: 1. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.632 seconds; 2. Sharin Hall, Kingston, Okla., 14.644; 3. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.695; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.819. Final Round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.726, $100,000; 2. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.979, $25,000.

    Bull Riding: Preliminary Round: 1. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 90.5 points; 2. Jason Malone, Pleasonton, Texas, 85; 3. Cody Nance, Paris, Tenn., 83.75; 4. Silvano Alves, Pilar Do Sul, Brazil, 0.Final Round: 1. Silvano Alves, Pilar Do Sul, Brazil, 88.25 points on Gene Owen’s Raven Flyer, $100,000 [no other rides].

  • Vieira repeats as PBR’s Iron Cowboy

    Vieira repeats as PBR’s Iron Cowboy

    ARLINGTON, Texas – Despite the ice storm that brought Dallas to a halt Saturday, nearly 30,000 fans at AT&T Stadium watched Joao Ricardo Vieira earn his second consecutive Iron Cowboy title during the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy, powered by Kawasaki Strong, part of the elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS).

    Vieira went 3-for-3 on the night, being the only rider to cover his bull in the third round. His 88.5-point ride on Crack The Whip (J.A.R.S. Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen) sealed his victory and won him more than $194,000.

    As the first of four PBR Majors, Iron Cowboy offered increased prize money with a total purse of $250,000 and increased PBR world points at 1 ½ times.

    The 2013 PBR Rookie of the Year earned 900 event points with the win, launching him into the Top 10 of the PBR world standings where he sits at No. 5. With his second Iron Cowboy title, Vieira has earned almost $250,000 inside AT&T Stadium.

    North Dakota native Stetson Lawrence earned a second-place finish with a total of 168.8 points. He first earned 93.8 event points with a tie for first place in Round 1 and later earned an additional 75 event points for placing third in Round 2. Lawrence lasted just 2.57 seconds atop Lane’s Magic Train (Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team) during his final out of the night in Round 3.

    Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team rider Tanner Byrne was the only additional rider to make it to the final round of competition, placing sixth overall in the event with 90 event points from his second-place finish in Round 2. Byrne was bucked off of Boot Jack (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Jerry Brown) in 1.82 seconds in the final round to end his night.

    Jared Allen’s Air Time earned the Salem Nationalease High-marked Bull award in Arlington with a bull score of 46.75 points out of 50 by tossing veteran bull rider Kasey Hayes in 4.21 seconds.

    Although Air Time surpassed him, Asteroid (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo) posted the second-highest bull score of the event with 46 points in his last out on the BFTS. The 2012 World Champion Bull, who unseeded the three-time PBR World Champion Bull Bushwacker to earn his title, totaled 49 buckoffs in 53 outs he made during his BFTS career.

    CBS Television Network will broadcast the final two rounds of competition on Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m. ET.

    For more information and behind-the-scenes details about the Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy powered by Kawasaki Strong, read Behind the Chutes by Justin Felisko on www.pbr.com.

    The Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy powered by Kawasaki Strong was the ninth of 27 stops on the 2015 PBR Built Ford Tough Series schedule. The 19-state tour will culminate with the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas on Oct. 21-25 when the 2015 PBR World Champion, the bull rider who earns the most PBR world points during the 2015 season, will be crowned and receive the coveted $10,000 World Championship belt buckle and $1 million bonus.

    Next on the 2015 BFTS is a stop in California at the Save Mart Center in Fresno on March 7-8 for the Fresno Invitational. The event takes place at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 7 and 2 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 8. It will be televised on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.

    Fans can also watch every ride each weekend live online at PBR.com/live.

    The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network – the home of the PBR – and networks around the world. BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer.

    Professional Bull Riders – Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy powered by Kawasaki Strong
    Arlington – AT&T Stadium
    Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
    1. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 85.5-90.5-88.5-264.50-900 Points.
    2. Stetson Lawrence, 87.5-85-0-172.50-168.75 Points.
    3. L.J. Jenkins, 87.5-87.50-93.75 Points.
    (tie). Douglas Duncan, 87.5-87.50-93.75 Points.
    (tie). Rubens Barbosa, 87.5-87.50-93.75 Points.
    6. Tanner Byrne, 84.25-86.75-0-171-90 Points.
    7. J.W. Harris, 86.75-86.75-22.5 Points.
    (tie). Nathan Schaper, 86.75-86.75-22.5 Points.
    9. Eduardo Aparecido, 86.5-86.50
    (tie). Bryan Titman, 86.5-86.50
    11. Lachlan Richardson, 86-86
    12. Mike Lee, 85.75-85.75
    13. Kasey Hayes, 84.75-84.75
    14. Silvano Alves, 83.75-83.75
    15. Guilherme Marchi, 83-83
    16. J.B. Mauney, 81.75-81.75
    Matt Triplett, 0-0
    Reese Cates, 0-0
    Kaique Pacheco, 0-0
    Valdiron de Oliveira, 0-0
    Shane Proctor, 0-0
    Ben Jones, 0-0
    Cody Nance, 0-0
    Ryan Dirteater, 0-0
    Fabiano Vieira, 0-0
    Dave Mason, 0-0
    Renato Nunes, 0-0
    Stormy Wing, 0-0
    Bonner Bolton, 0-0
    Sean Willingham, 0-0
    Brady Sims, 0-0
    Cooper Davis, 0-0
    Alexandre Cardozo, 0-0
    Austin Meier, 0-0
    Robson Aragao, 0-0
    Tyler Harr, 0-0
    Skeeter Kingsolver, 0-0
    Jay Miller, 0-0
    Neil Holmes, 0-0
    Dakota Louis, 0-0

    2015 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series World Standings         
    (Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5’s, PBR World Points, Total Winnings)
    1. Matt Triplett, 13, 2, 7, 2,090.000, $130,401.00
    2. Silvano Alves, 13, 2, 6, 1,330.000, $100,141.22
    3. Reese Cates, 12, 2, 4, 1,297.500, $90,031.72
    4. Kaique Pacheco, 17, 7, 7, 1,277.500, $79,866.40
    5. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 9, 1, 1, 1,170.000, $212,323.33
    6. J.B. Mauney, 9, 0, 2, 930.000, $63,836.67
    7. J.W. Harris, 9, 1, 2, 917.500, $58,103.33
    8. Nathan Schaper, 11, 0, 3, 887.500, $45,242.86
    9. Valdiron de Oliveira, 14, 0, 6, 840.000, $58,268.82
    10. Chase Outlaw, 13, 0, 4, 810.000, $50,136.07
    11. Stetson Lawrence, 9, 0, 2, 748.750, $44,850.00
    12. Guilherme Marchi, 10, 1, 1, 695.000, $47,781.19
    13. Shane Proctor, 9, 0, 2, 625.000, $29,061.67
    14. Ben Jones, 20, 3, 9, 522.500, $52,084.22
    15. Cody Nance, 13, 0, 3, 510.000, $36,153.38
    15. Ryan Dirteater, 11, 0, 1, 510.000, $26,658.33
    17. Tanner Byrne, 11, 0, 2, 490.000, $33,741.57
    18. Fabiano Vieira, 10, 0, 2, 485.000, $34,142.24
    19. Kasey Hayes, 10, 0, 1, 447.500, $25,903.33
    20. Dave Mason, 14, 4, 7, 360.000, $27,934.35
    21. Eduardo Aparecido, 10, 0, 1, 352.500, $21,278.33
    22. Renato Nunes, 11, 0, 1, 350.000, $22,487.80
    23. L.J. Jenkins, 13, 0, 2, 303.750, $18,886.86
    24. Stormy Wing, 10, 0, 1, 285.000, $17,155.00
    25. Bonner Bolton, 11, 2, 4, 282.500, $21,902.70
    26. Brady Sims, 12, 0, 2, 275.000, $21,763.92
    26. Sean Willingham, 13, 0, 1, 275.000, $16,928.33
    28. Bryan Titman, 15, 2, 3, 245.000, $21,940.05
    29. Douglas Duncan, 7, 0, 1, 228.750, $12,417.86
    30. Cooper Davis, 15, 1, 7, 227.500, $34,638.91
    31. Rubens Barbosa, 11, 0, 6, 221.250, $14,576.67
    32. Alexandre Cardozo, 15, 3, 5, 205.000, $22,081.25
    33. Lachlan Richardson, 17, 1, 4, 190.000, $15,065.93
    33. Mike Lee, 11, 0, 0, 190.000, $12,780.00
    35. Austin Meier, 19, 1, 4, 165.000, $16,886.73
    36. Robson Aragao, 18, 0, 6, 162.500, $18,653.53
    37. Tyler Harr, 17, 1, 4, 160.000, $19,207.08
    38. Jay Miller, 11, 1, 3, 140.000, $16,018.12
    38. Skeeter Kingsolver, 15, 1, 1, 140.000, $11,695.00
    40. Cody Heffernan, 9, 1, 5, 135.000, $11,207.69
    41. Neil Holmes, 10, 1, 3, 120.000, $11,941.75
    42. Jordan Hupp, 8, 1, 2, 100.000, $7,841.71
    42. Riley Blankenship, 4, 1, 3, 100.000, $7,958.80
    42. Clint Johnson, 8, 1, 3, 100.000, $8,587.49
    42. Dallee Mason, 4, 0, 2, 100.000, $9,250.00
    42. Chris Lowe, 3, 1, 2, 100.000, $8,854.60