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DENVER, (Jan. 25, 2015) — It’s been over 10 years since Bobby Mote won the bareback riding title at the National Western Stock Show, but judging by the way he rode here on Sunday, the veteran competitor can still ride any horse on the circuit and do it well.

Mote won the final round with a whopping 89-point score on C5 Rodeo’s horse named Virgil in front of a near capacity crowd in the Denver Coliseum. He came from behind to win the championship and $8,062. He placed deep in the second round and qualified for the U.S. Bank Championship Finals in a tie for eighth place. His total of 249 points was two points ahead of the men in second place, Tim O’Connel from Zwingle, Iowa and Steven Dent from Mullen, Neb.

The big winner here was two-time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier Meghan Johnson from Deming, N.M. She won the first and second rounds of barrel racing, placed fourth in the final round and earned a total $12,662 for her time of 45.95 seconds on three runs.

This year’s rodeo paid $474,750. Other winners were Beau Clark, from Belgrade, Mont., in the steer wrestling, Riley and Brady Minor from Ellensburg in team roping, Cody DeMoss from Heflin, La., in saddle bronc riding, Adam Gray from Seymour, Texas, in tie-down roping and Zeb Lanham from Sweet, Idaho in Bull Riding.

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Bareback Riding – Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 249, $8,062

Steer Wrestling – Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 3.6 seconds, $11,138

Team Roping – Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 16.1 seconds, $7,978

Saddle Bronc Riding – Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 249 points, $10,707

Tie-Down Roping – Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 25.5 seconds, $8,177

Barrel Racing – Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 45.95 seconds, $12,662

Bull Riding – Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 248 points, $11,195

 

DENVER, (Jan. 25, 2015) – The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

 

Bareback Riding: (final round) 1, Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 89 points on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil, $1,650. 2, Luke Creasy, Lubbock, Texas, 85, $1,240. 3, (tie) Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas; Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa; and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb.; 84 and $616 each. 6, J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 82, $250. (total on two) 1, Mote, 249, $5,914. 2, (tie) O’Connell and Dent, 247, $3,942. 4, Creasy, 245, $2,168. 5, (tie) Tutor and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 244, $1,183. 7, Vezain, 241, $768. 8, Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 240, $591.

 

Steer Wrestling: (final round) 1, Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 3.6 seconds, $1,450. 2, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 3.7, $1,200. 3, Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 4.4, $950. 4, Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.7, $700. 5, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 4.8, $450. 6, Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 5.2, $$250. (total on three) 1, Clark, 12.1, $6,248. 2, Adam Strahan, McKinney, Texas, 13.6, $5,433. 3, (tie) Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., and Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 14.1, $4,211. 5, Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 15.6, $2,988. 6, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 15.1, $2,173. 7, Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 15.2, $1,358. 8, Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 15.8, $543.

 

Team Roping: (final round) 1, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas, 5.3, $1,406. 2, Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore., and Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 5.4, $1,164. 3, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keefe, Mohall, N.D., 5.5, $921. 4, Cale Markham, Vinita, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins, II, Columbus, Kan., 5.6, $679. 5, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 6.0, $436. 6, Drew Gartner, Killdeer, S.D., and Paul Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., 6.3, $242. (total on three) 1, Minor and Minor, 16.1, $4,525. 2, Cooper and McKnight, 16.4, $3,935. 3, Dorenkamp and O’Keefe, 17.1, $3,344. 4, Markham and Hawkins, 17.9, $2,754. 5, Travis Bounds, Grand Junction, Colo., and Joe Roderick, Loma, Colo., 18.3, $2,164. 6, (tie) Crawford and Carroll; and  Gartner and Griemsman, 18.6, $1,278 each. (on two) 8, Caleb Schmidt, Bellville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 11.0, $393.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: (final round) 1, Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta, 86 points Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic from Hell, $1,650. 2, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 85, $1,250. 3, (tie) Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., and Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 83 and $750 each. 5, Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 77, $350. 6, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 76, $250. (total on three) 1, DeMoss, 249, $6,548. 2, Elliott, 246, $5,020. 3, Green, 243, $3,710. 4, Dent, 240, $2,400. 5, (tie) Scheer, and Ferley, 238, $1,309. 7, Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 237, $873. 8, CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah, 229, $654.

 

Tie-Down Roping: (final round) 1, Clint Nyegaard, Victoria, Texas, 7.6 seconds, $1,435. 2, Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 8.1, $1,188. 3, Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 8.3, $940. 4, Trevot Thiel, Greeley, Colo., 8.5, $693. 5, Michael Otero, Lowndesboro, Ala., 9.0, $445. 6, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 9.2, $247. (total on three) 1, Gray, 25.5 seconds, $6,218. 2, Nyegaard, 25.7, $5,407. 3, Schneeberger, 26.1, $4,596. 4, Otero, 26.2, $3,784. 5, Kissack, 26.3, $2,973. 6, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 26.7, $2,162. 7, Theil, 27.0, $1,351. 8, Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 27.6, $540.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: (final round) 1, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 15.34 seconds, $2,545. 2, Chloe Hoovestal, Helena, Mont., 15.42, $1,909. 3, Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 15.50, $1,272. 4, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.56, $636. (total on three) 1, Johnson, 45.95, $5,154. 2, Herrmann, 46.13, $4,418. 3, Hoovestal, 46.50, $3,681. 4, Taylor, 46.54, $3,190. 5, Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 46.65, $2,454. 6, Layna Kight, Ocala, Fla., 46.86, $1,963. 7, Kelley Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo., 46.89, $1,472. 8, Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., 47.11, $981. 9, Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 47.18, $736. 10, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 51.40, $490.

 

Bull Riding: (final round – two rides) 1, Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 87 points on C5 Rodeo’s Moe, $1,650. 2, Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 78, $1,250. (total on three) 1, Lanham, 248, $6,608. 2, Frost, 233, $5,066. (on two) 3, Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, 163, $3,744. 4, Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, 161, $2,423. 5, Rocky McDonald, Colonia Juarez, Mexico, 159, $1,542. 6, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 158, $1,101. 7, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 157, $881. 8, (tie) Kyle Jeppesen Loudon, Australia and Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 156, $330.

 

 

DENVER (Jan. 21, 2015) — Idaho and Utah were well represented at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Tuesday and Wednesday and now stand atop the leaderboard in the bull riding.

Tag Elliott from Thatcher, Utah, and Zeb Lanham from Sweet, Idaho are tied for first place in the overall standings with 161 points on two rides.

Elliot is a former college champion and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier. He scored 81 points here on Tuesday night, then came back to the Monday matinee performance and had the second highest score of the rodeo at 80.

Lanham’s success came during the Wednesday matinee performance when he scored 85 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s bull names Blue Denim. That also put the two-time NFR qualifier in a tie for first place in the second round of competition with Dustin Bowen, from Waller, Texas.

There are now seven bull riders who have been successful in both rounds so it looks like the top 12 that advance to the U.S. Bank Championship Finals on Sunday will all have two scores. Three more have that opportunity after Wednesday night’s rodeo including the 2011world champion Shane Proctor from Grand Coulee, Wash.

Proctor had the high-marked ride of the night when he scored 84 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Mud. That score puts him in third place in the first round and gives him the opportunity to overtake the lead held by Lanham and Elliott. Proctor will ride his second bull here at the Thursday morning performance.

Team ropers Jake Cooper from Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, from Wells, Texas, continued their bid for a National Western championship on Wednesday. They stopped the clock in 5.8 seconds Wednesday afternoon. That gave them a total time of 11.1 seconds where they are just one-tenth of a second behind the team in first place in the overall standings.

There are two rodeo performances in the Denver Coliseum on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

 

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DENVER (January 21, 2015) — The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

 

Tenth Performance —

 

Bareback Riding: 1, Justin Pelton, Halliday, N.D., 79 points on Calgary Stampede’s  Rebel Warrior. 2, Anthony Thomas, Kimberly, Australia, 76. 3, Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 74. 4, Chad Rutherford, Itasca, Texas, 72.

 

Steer Wrestling:  1, Coleman Kohorst, Okotoks, Alberta, 6.1 seconds. 2, Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 7.2. 3, Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho, 8.1. 4, Cameron Morman, Golden Valley, N.D., 9.5.

 

Team Roping: (three rimes) 1, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas, 5.8 seconds. 2, Clint Summer, Lake City, Fla., and Brad Culpepper, Sylvester, Ga., 6.6. 3, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 9.0.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Nat Stratton, Goodwell, Okla., 76 points on Cervi Championship’s Curtain Call. 2, Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta, 70. 3, LeRoy Eash, Fortine, Mont., 68. 4, Call Marr, Twin Butte, Alberta, 60.

 

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Bradley Bynum, Sterling, City, Texas, 8.6 seconds. 2, Clint Kindred, Oral, S.D., 9.0. 3, Mesquite Mahaffe, Sweetwater, Texas, 10.1. 4, Kelsey Garrison, Channing, Texas, 10.4.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kelly Tovar, Rockdale, Texas, 15.49 seconds. 2, Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 15.54. 3, Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 15.61. 4, Wendy McKee, Craig, Colo., 15.73.

 

Bull Riding: 1, Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 85 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Blue Denim. 2, Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, 80. 3, (tie) Jordan Handsen, Okotoks, Alberta and Kyle Jeppesen, Loudon, Australia, 78 each.

 

Tenth Performance —

 

Bareback Riding:  (two rides) 1, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 75 points on Cervi Championships’ Livin’ on a Prayer. 2, Bradnen Ferguson, Eaton, Colo., 70.

 

Steer Wrestling:  1, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., 5.6 seconds. 2, Orrin Michael Fontenot, Lake Charles, La., 6.5. 3, Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo., 9.4. 4, Sterling Lambert, Fallon, Nev., 14.8.

 

Team Roping: 1, Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore., and Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., 5.2 seconds. 2, Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 5.8. 3, Cody Owens, New Braunfels, Texas, and Dakota Shipp, Lincoln, Texas, 5.5. 4, Tye Hale, Faith, S.D>, and Tee Hale, White Owl, S.D., 6.9.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 80 points on Calgary Stampede’s Weary Joke. 2, CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah, 79. 3, Audy Reed, Spearman, Texas, 78. 4 Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta, 77.

 

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Jeremy Len Kempker, Eugene, Mo., 8.8 seconds. 2, Michael Otero, Lowndesboro, Ala., 9.0. 3, Bert Brunson, Terry, Miss., 10.3. 4, Jake Hamilton, Casper, Wyo., 10.9.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Hope Sickler, Pueblo, Colo., 15.43 seconds. 2, Victoria Williams, Kiln, Miss., 15.58. 3, Callahan Crossley, Hermiston, Ore., 15.75. 4, Megan Swint, Lithia, Fla., 15.75.

 

Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 84 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Muc. 2, Claeb Snaderson, Kissimmee, Fla., 80. 3, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 74.

 

Current Leaders —

 

Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, David Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 88 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Half Moon. 2, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 84. 3, (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., and Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, 83. (second round) 1, (tie) Kash Wilson, Gooding, Idaho, on Burch Rodeo’s Angel Dust, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, on Burch Rodeo’s Jim Dandy, 83 points each. 3, Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 82. 4, (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo.; J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo.; and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 81. (total on two) 1, David Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 167. 2, (tie) Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, and Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 164. 4, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 163. 5, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 160. 6, Morgan Heaton, Paradise, Utah, 159.

 

Steer Wrestling:  (first round) 1, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 3.9 seconds. 2, Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.5. 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.5. 4, (tie) Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, and Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 4.7 each. (second round) 1, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 3.8. 2, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.9. 3, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.4. 4, (tie) Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Seth Hardwick, Wheatland, Wyo.,  4.8. (total on two) 1, (tie) Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 9.9. 3, (tie) Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 10.0. 5, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 10.4. 6, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 10.5.

 

Team Roping: (first round) 1, (tie)  Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas; and  Caleb Smidt, Belleville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas; and Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas; 5.3 seconds each. 4, JoJo Lemond, Holland, Texas, and Josh Patton, Lubock, Texas, 5.5. (second round)  1, (tie) Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo., and J.W. Borego, Weston, Colo.; and Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.1 each. 3, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, N.D., 5.3. 4, J.B. and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 5.4. (total on two) 1, Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 11.0. 2, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas, 11.1. 3, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, N.D., 11.5. 4, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., and Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 12.5. 5, Mike Bacon, Boswell, Okla., and Kyle Horton, Stigler, Okla., 12.7. 6, Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore., and Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 13.2.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, (tie), Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., on Calgary Stampede’s Seargent Whitney and Ty Thompson, Wanblee, S.D., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Maple Leaf, 83 points each. 3, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82. 4, Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 81. (second round) 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 83 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Big Wig. 2, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82. 3, (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla.; and Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 81. (total on two) 1, (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., and Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 164. 3, Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 159. 4, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 155. 5, Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 152. 6, Dean Wadsworth, Ozona, Texas, 151.

 

Tie-Down Roping: (first round) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.0. 2, Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 8.3. 3, (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Justin Brinkerhoff, Corrine, Utah, 8.4. (second round)1,  Blake Deckard, Wagoner, Okla., 7.2. 2, Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.6. 3, Lane Livingston, Stephenville, Texas, 7.8. 4, (tie) Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah, and Michael Perry, Bandera, Texas, 7.9. (total on two) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 16.3. 2, (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 18.2. 4, Cody Lawrence, Pleasanton, Texas, 18.5. 5, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 18.6. 6, Bradley Bynum, Sterling City, Texas, 18.7.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: (first round) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.25. 2, Carlee Pierce, Edmond, Okla., 15.30. 3, Shelby Janssen, Coleman, Okla., 15.37. 4, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 15.39. (second round) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.14. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.38. 3, (tie) Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, and Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 15.40 each. (total on two) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 30.39. 2, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 30.79. 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 30.93. 4, Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 31.04. 5, Kelly Tovar, Rockdale, Texas, 31.06. 6, Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 31.10.

 

Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Guthrie Murray, Miami, Okla., 88 points on Cervi Championship’s Bawl Baby. 2, Kody Lostroh, Ault, Colo., 87. 3, Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 84. 4, Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 83, (second round) 1, (tie) Brock Russell, Rye, Colo., on Diamond S’s Sandi’s Dream and Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Blue Denim, 85 points each. 3, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 81. 4, (tie) Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, and Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, 80.(total on two) 1, (tie) Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, and Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 161. 3, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 158. 4, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 157. 5, Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev.,  and Kyle Jeppesen Loudon, Australia, 156.

 

 

 Nashville, Tenn. – One of rodeo’s legendary champions is coming out of retirement to compete in RFD-TV’s $2.5 million rodeo, The American presented by Polaris Ranger, on March 1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

At 52 years old, Pro Rodeo Hall-of-Famer Ote Berry will be competing in one of the most physically demanding events – steer wrestling. He climbed back into the saddle in 2014 after nearly a decade of retirement specifically to accept an exemption invitation to The American. The rodeo is the first to invite retired legends and up-and-coming kids to compete against the best rodeo athletes in the world for a share of millions of dollars. Berry astounded fans inside Cowboys Stadium last year by nearly qualifying for the top-four finals. The standing ovation he received has become an iconic moment in professional rodeo.

“I’d have loved to have some 50-year-old man come try to beat me back in my prime,” said Berry. “It’s an amazing concept. I said last year that I wanted to go back to The American even if it meant untying calves or working on the crew. The atmosphere was so electric it just made me glad to be in the building. I doubt there was a person there who didn’t think it was the greatest one day of rodeo we’ve ever seen in the history of the sport.”

Berry turned pro in 1982. He qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo in 1985 and won his first world championship that same year. During a career that spanned a quarter-century, he qualified for the NFR 13 more times and won three more world titles in 1990, 1991 and 1995.

“We’re honored to have Ote join us on March 1 as one of our exemption athletes,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of RFD-TV Events. “He’s always been a great ambassador to the sport of rodeo and to the state of Oklahoma. The fact that he’s coming out of retirement to compete proves that The American is about the fans and the athletes.”

Berry is the fifth rodeo celebrity to accept an exemption into the event, joining eight-time world champion team ropers Speed Williams and Rich Skelton, 11-time world champion barrel racer Charmayne James and eight-time world champion tie-down roper Fred Whitfield. The American takes over the home of the Dallas Cowboys for the second straight year with the collective cash prize package coming to an unprecedented $2.5 million.

Tickets for the American Semi-Finals at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Feb. 18-22, are available for $40 per single day or a three-performance package of $100, not including taxes. They can be purchased at the Cowtown Coliseum box office, at stockyardsrodeo.com, or americanrodeo.com

Tickets for RFD-TV’s The American, presented by Polaris Ranger, and the Iron Cowboy VI are on sale at the AT&T Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations and at americanrodeo.com.  Prices for each event range from $20 to $150, not including taxes.

 

DENVER (Jan. 20, 2015) — Jake Cooper and Tyler McKnight had a good night at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Tuesday.

With Cooper heading and McKnight heeling, they stopped the clock in 5.3 seconds to move into a three-way tie for the lead in the first round of team roping. Cooper, from Monument, N.M., and McKnight from Wells, Texas, are tied with Texans Caleb Bennett and Mickey Gomez as well as Utah’s Rhen Richard and Kory Koontz also from Texas.

Cooper and McKnight started roping together last spring after the big building rodeos had come to a close.  They are hoping to cash in early this season at rodeos like Denver and qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). They finished in the top 30 last year so the talent is definitely there.

“I think we have a good style together,” Cooper said of their roping. “I turn him (McKnight) a lot of steers and he likes to throw really fast.”

Hopefully that will work for them again at the Wednesday matinee performance when they rope their second steer. With a solid run, they will be back here Sunday for the U.S. Bank Championship Finals where the lion’s share of prize money will be paid.

World champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor from Whitesboro, Texas, also has a chance to advance to Sunday’s finals. She took her great mare Baby Flo around the cloverleaf pattern in 15.43 seconds. That is currently fifth in the first round. She will be one of the first barrel racers to compete here Wednesday and will be looking for an even faster time.

So far, through eight performances there are only four riders that have ridden two bulls. After Tuesday night’s rodeo, five more have that opportunity including former college champion and NFR qualifier Tag Elliott from Thatcher, Utah. He rode Cervi Championship’s Gunsmoke for 81 points which is also currently fifth in the first round.

There are two rodeo performances in the Denver Coliseum on Wednesday at 1:30 and 7 p.m.

 

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DENVER (January 20, 2015) — The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

 

Ninth Performance —

 

Bareback Riding: 1, Buck Lunak, Cut Bank, Mont., on Calgary Stampede’s Hurricane Terry, 73 points. 2, (tie) Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., and Chad Rutherford, Itasca, Texas, 72 each. 4, Cavan Wrzesinki, Boulder, Mont., 68.

 

Steer Wrestling:  1, Jon Ragatz, Beetown, Wisc., 5.4 seconds. 2, Monty Eakin, Pecos, Texas, 5.6. 3, (tie) Tanner Brunner, Ramona, Kan., and Clayton Morrison, Heppner, Ore., 5.7.

 

Team Roping: 1, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas, 5.3 seconds. 2, Cory Kidd, Statesville, N.C., and Chase Tryan, Lipan, Texas, 6.1. 3, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 9.5. 4, Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, ARiz., and Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 14.0.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Call Marr, Twin Butte, Alberta, 80 points on Calgary Stampede’s Witless Margie. 2, Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta, 73. 3, Logan Hullinger, Davis City, Iowa, 71. 4, Nat Stratton, Goodwell, Okla., 70.

 

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Briddger Chytka, Curtis, Neb., 8.1 seconds. 2, Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 8.4. 3, Jayce Johnson, Hemingford, Neb., 12.8. 4, Ace Slone, Cuero, Texas, 16.4.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 15.43 seconds. 2, Kelly Tovar, Rockdale, Texas, 15.57. 3, Ronnie Will, Silt, Colo., 15.62. 4, Laura Lambert, Wiggins, Colo., 16.0.

 

Bull Riding: 1, Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, 81 points on Cervi Championship’s Gunsmoke. 2, Kyle Lowden, Australia, 77. 3, Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 76. 4, Will Morris, Reno, Nev., 73.

 

Current Leaders —

 

Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, David Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 88 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Half Moon. 2, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 84. 3, (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., and Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, 83. (second round) 1, (tie) Kash Wilson, Gooding, Idaho, on Burch Rodeo’s Angel Dust, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, on Burch Rodeo’s Jim Dandy, 83 points each. 3, Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 82. 4, (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo.; J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo.; and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 81. (total on two) 1, David Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 167. 2, (tie) Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, and Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 164. 4, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 163.

 

Steer Wrestling:  (first round) 1, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 3.9 seconds. 2, Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.5. 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.5. 4, (tie) Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, and Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 4.7 each. (second round) 1, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 3.8. 2, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.9. 3, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.4. 4, (tie) Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Seth Hardwick, Wheatland, Wyo.,  4.8. (total on two) 1, (tie) Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 9.9. 3, (tie) Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 10.0.

 

Team Roping: (first round) 1, (tie)  Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas; and  Caleb Smidt, Belleville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas; and Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas; 5.3 seconds each. 4, JoJo Lemond, Holland, Texas, and Josh Patton, Lubock, Texas, 5.5. (second round)  1, (tie) Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo., and J.W. Borego, Weston, Colo.; and Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.1 each. 3, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, N.D., 5.3. 4, J.B. and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 5.4. (total on two) 1, Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 11.0. 2, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, N.D., 11.5. 3, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., and Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 12.5. 4, Mike Bacon, Boswell, Okla., and Kyle Horton, Stigler, Okla., 12.7.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, (tie), Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., on Calgary Stampede’s Seargent Whitney and Ty Thompson, Wanblee, S.D., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Maple Leaf, 83 points each. 3, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82. 4, Call Marr, Twin Butte, Alberta, 80. (second round) 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 83 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Big Wig. 2, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82. 3, (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla.; and Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 81. (total on two) 1, (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., and Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 164. 3, Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 159. 4, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 155.

 

Tie-Down Roping: (first round) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.0. 2, Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 8.3. 3, (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Justin Brinkerhoff, Corrine, Utah, 8.4. (second round)1,  Blake Deckard, Wagoner, Okla., 7.2. 2, Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.6. 3, Lane Livingston, Stephenville, Texas, 7.8. 4, (tie) Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah, and Michael Perry, Bandera, Texas, 7.9. (total on two) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 16.3. 2, (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 18.2. 4, Cody Lawrence, Pleasanton, Texas, 18.5. .

 

Women’s Barrel Race: (first round) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.25. 2, Carlee Pierce, Edmond, Okla., 15.30. 3, Shelby Janssen, Coleman, Okla., 15.37. 4, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 15.39. (second round) Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.14. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.38. 3, (tie) Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, and Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 15.40 each. (total on two) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 30.39. 2, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 30.79. 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 30.93. 4, Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 31.10.

 

Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Guthrie Murray, Miami, Okla., 88 points on Cervi Championship’s Bawl Baby. 2, Kody Lostroh, Ault, Colo., 87. 3, Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 83, 4, (tie) Tustin Day, Lupton, Ariz., and Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., 82. (second round) 1, Brock Russell, Rye, Colo., 85 points on Diamond S’s Sandi’s Dream. 2, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 81. 3, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 80. 4, (tie) Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., and Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., 78. (total on two) 1, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 158. 2, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 157. 3, Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 156. 4, Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 155.

 

 

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 14, 2015) — Cooper Davis had a lot to smile about at the National Western Stock Show on Wednesday night, $22,125 reasons actually.

Davis won the Professional Bull Riders’ Denver Chute-Out after riding three bulls for a total score of 253.5 points. The Jasper, Texas, cowboy was one of 90 riders to compete at the Touring Pro Division Finals in the Denver Coliseum. He had his first bull on Monday night, and was among nine riders who lasted eight-seconds. That advanced him to Wednesday night’s semi-finals where he rode a bull named Little Tex owned by Diamond S from Weatherford, Texas. He scored 85 points on that bull for a third place finish.

That ride also qualified him for the finals where he entered in fifth place. Davis scored 89 points on Monty Samford’s Dr. Lector and it was all over but the waiting. There were four riders left that included the reigning world champion, Brazilian Silvano Alves. Alves was the only one of the four to make it to the whistle, but his 86-point effort put him in second place, just 2.5 points behind Davis.

“It’s awesome to ride in front of a crowd like this,” Davis said. “This is a real confidence builder for my 2015 season. Riding against guys like Silvano and winning tells my I’m on the right track.”

Davis, was the 2013 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year and he qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that same year. This year his focus will be on the PBR where he can have more time at home as he is about to become a daddy.

Total payoff for this year’s Denver Chute-Out was $53,223. A near capacity crowd was on hand to watch all of the action. The bulls once again dominated the cowboys as there were 12 out of 45 possible rides.

Thursday night the National Western Stock Show will host the Cinch Super Shootout Rodeo which pits contestants from top rodeos against each other in a tournament style format.

 

DENVER, Colo., (Jan. 14, 2015) — The following are results from the Professional Bull Riders Denver Chute-Out Touring Pro Division Finals at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

 

First round: 1, (tie) Kaique Pacheco, Itatiba, Brazil, on Greg Talbert’s Compact and Timmy Vaughan, Tonganoxie, Kan., on Greg Talbert’s Pretty Boy, 88 points and $3,087 each. 3, Valdiron de Oliveira, Aparecida do Goia, Brazil, 87.5, $1,764. 4, Carlos Garcia, Hammondsport, NY, 87, $882.

 

Second round: 1, Brady Sims, Holt, Mo., 88 points on D & H Cattle Company’s Earl Sports, $3,528. 2, Tanner Byrne, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, 86, $2,646. 3, Cooper Davis, Jasper, Texas, 85, $1,764. 4, Silvano Alves, Pilar de Sul, Sao Palo, Brazil, 83.5, $882.

 

Third round: (three rides) 1, Cooper Davis, Jasper, Texas, 89 points on Monty Samford’s Dr. Lector, $3,041. 2, Cody Nance, Paris, Tenn., 87, $2,281. 3, Silvano Alves, Pilar de Sul, Sao Palo, Brazil, 86, $1,521.

 

Overall winers: (on three) 1, Cooper Davis, Jasper, Texas, 253.5, $17,564. 2, Silvano Alves, Pilar de Sul, Sao Palo, Brazil, 251, $12,241. 3, Cody Nance, Paris, Tenn., 238.5, $6,919. (on two) 4, Reese Cates, Monticello, Ark., 168, $4,790. 5, Tanner Byrne, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, 166, $3,726. 6, Carlos Garcia, Hammondsport, NY, 164.5, $2,661. 7, Fabiano Vieira, Perola, Parana, Brazil, 159, $2,129. 8, Valdiron, de Oliveira, Aparecida de Goia, Brazil, 151.5, $1,597. (on one) 9, (tie) Brady Sims, Holt, Mo.; Timmy Vaughn, Tonganoxie, Kan.; and Kaique Pacheco, Itatiba, Brazil, 88 points and $532 each.

 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Walt White owns eight International Professional Rodeo Association tie-down roping world championships.

He won’t win No. 9 this year, but he is still happy to be part of the field at International Finals Rodeo 45, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Jim Norick State Fair Arena.

“I’m just going to have fun and try to win as much money as I can,” said White, 43, of Ochelata, Okla., the 15^th ranked tie-down roper. “I’m going to try to go out with a bang. I haven’t won the IFR average since the first one I was at; I think it would be cool to win the average at the last one.”

White figures this will be his last appearance at the IFR. He’s made more than a dozen trips to Oklahoma City for the championship over the years, winning gold buckles in 1992, ’93, ’95, ’97-2000 and ’03.

“I’m going to be the oldest one there this year,” White said of the tie-down roping field of 15 contestants. “It’s time to slow down. Except for the All-Region Finals (in Lexington, Ky.), Marshfield (Mo.) is the furthest one I went to. I didn’t go more than four hours from the house.”

While White is slowing down, Chance Hays is just getting started. This week marks his second qualification to the IFR – he also earned the trip in tie-down roping two seasons ago – and sits 13^th in the world standings.

“It means a lot for me to make the IFR,” said Hays, a Bristow, Okla., cowboy who also makes his living as a Western artist. “I’m from Oklahoma, and having the finals in Oklahoma City and getting to compete against other talent from all over is an honor.”

That talent is quite capable. Four-time reigning world champion Justin Thigpen of Waycross, Ga., leads the race for the gold buckle with more than $20,000 in earnings. He owns a $3,500 lead over Canadian Cody Mousseau of Aylmer, Ontario.

Neither White nor Hays has a shot at the world title, but they have as good a chance as any roper in the game to win the coveted average title.

“My goal is to make the best runs I can make and see how much I can win,” Hays said. “I got a real late start this year. I’m riding a young horse this year, but next year I’ll have my good horse back, and I’m going to try to win the world championship.”

Both titles are something breakaway roper Jenna Lee Hays has her eyes on. The Weatherford, Okla., cowgirl is fourth in the world standings but is about $5,000 behind leader Amanda Stewart of Mt. Ulla, N.C. This is just the fourth IFR that has featured breakaway roping, which is just fine for Hays.

Of course, it helps that the IPRA has financial support from a variety of sponsors, Love’s Country Store, RAM Trucks, Tener’s, Graham’s, Oxbow Tack, OG&E, Langston’s, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Harrison Manufacturing.

“I think it’s really exciting that they’ve added breakaway roping,” said Hays, who is an assistant coach for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team in her hometown of Weatherford. “It’s something that all the breakaway ropers really look forward to, to have an association like that to put breakaway roping in their finals.”

This marks the third time in four years she has qualified for the IFR.

“When the season starts, my goal is to make the IFR,” Hays said. “The roping gets pretty fast there. My goal when I get to the IFR is that I focus more on the average than the rounds. I’m more focused on being consistent. I won a round and the average in my first qualification.

“Just being consistent is the key. I just try to rope every calf the same. It doesn’t matter if he’s fast or slow; you just have to do the same things every run to have success.”

Finding a way to be successful inside Jim Norick Arena is the target of every contestant in the field of 126 cowboys and cowgirls. They’ve earned the right to be in Oklahoma City this week, and now they want to show everyone why.

 

 

 

 

DENVER, Colo. — It was a duel between traveling partners that highlighted the fourth annual National Western Stock Show Rodeo Super Saturday.

Action started at the morning performance with contestants representing rodeos across North America in the World performance. A different group competed in the matinee rodeo for rodeos in Colorado including the National Western.

The best four from each of those rodeos advanced to the Showdown round on Saturday night and in tournament style winner-take-all action, the best World contestant and best Colorado contestant duked it out for a $10,000 check.

In the bareback riding, R.C. Landingham, from Pendelton, Ore., won the World performance with an 87 point ride representing the “Daddy of ‘em All” at Cheyenne, Wyo., to be a favorite in the Showdown. The top winner out of the Colorado performance was Nick Gutzwiler from Cheney, Wash., who represented Colorado Springs. Landingham was a spectator at that performance cheering on his traveling partner Clint Laye from Ponoka, Alberta who rode for the Larimer County Fair Rodeo in Loveland.

Laye placed third to be among the top four that advanced to the Showdown. That resulted in one of the most dramatic endings of the evening. Laye was 82 points, one point ahead of Landingham. So, Laye got to choose which bucking horse he would ride first and he picked a horse he was very familiar with, Calgary Stampede’s Unfortunate Carma.

“I think he can be 90 points on that horse,” Landingham commented at the time, and he didn’t miss the mark by much. Laye finished the night with an 89-point ride to win an $8,000 check. The duo had trouble getting here when their van broke down so regardless who won, the money has already been spent on auto repairs.

Laye and Landingham are a group of bareback riders that call themselves the “flow riders.” They have let their hair grow out in support of Landingham’s mother who has cancer and are eventually going to donate it to Locks of Love.

The steer wrestling championship was won by the narrowest of margins. Casey Martin from Sulphur, La., was the first to go. He was a Wild Card invitee for the Colorado group and stopped the clock in 4.02 seconds. Then Clayton Hass from Ennis, Texas, knew he needed to step it up. He won the event for Rodeo Austin in Texas by stopping the clock in 4.01.

Other event winners here were Cort Scheer from Elsmere, Neb., in the saddle bronc riding for the National Western Stock Show, Shali Lord from Lamar, Colo., in the barrel racing for Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and Sage Kimzey from Strong City, Okla., in the bull riding for the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days. They each won $8,000.

Sunday’s events will showcase the rich cultural heritage of neighbors to the south with the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

The following are results from Super Saturday, Colorado Versus the World rodeo, Jan. 10, 2015

World Performance – (contestant, hometown, rodeo represented)

 

Bareback Riding: 1, R.C. Landingham, Pendleton, Ore., (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 87 points, $1,000. 2, Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., (North Platte, Neb.) 85, $700. 3, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, (San Angelo, Texas) 83.5, $600. 4, Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D., (Dodge City, Kan.) 83, $500.

 

Steer Wrestling: 1, Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., (Fort Worth, Texas) 4.18 seconds, $1,000. 2, Clayton Hass, Ennis, Texas, 4.47, (Austin, Texas) 4.47, $700. 3, Morgan Grant, New Waverly, Texas, (Calgary, Alberta) 5.5, 600. 4, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, (Guymon, Okla.) 5.57, $500.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Rusty Wright,, Milford, Utah, (San Angelo, Texas) 85 points, $1,000. 2, (tie) Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore.(Austin, Texas) and  Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., (Houston, Texas) 81.5 and $650 each. 4, Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, (Dodge City, Kan.) 81, $500.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Sabrina Ketcham, Yeso, N.M., (San Angelo, Texas) 15.56, $1,000. 2, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 14.67, $700. 3, Jean Winters, Texline, Texas, (Calgary, Alberta) 15.84, $600. 4, Jessica Miller, Panguitch, Utah, (Austin, Texas) 15.97, $500.

 

Bull Riding: Three Rides: 1, Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 87.5, $1,000. 2, Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo., (Austin, Texas) 82, $800. 3, Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., (Guymon, Okla.) 72, $700.

 

Colorado Performance – (contestant, hometown, rodeo represented)

 

Bareback Riding: 1, Nick Gutzwiler, Cheney, Wash., (Colorado Springs) 87.5, $1,000. 2, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., (Denver) 87, $700. 3, Clint Laye, Ponoka, Alberta, (Loveland) 85.5, $500. 4, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., (Wild Card) 83, $500.

 

Steer Wrestling: 1, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., (Greeley) 3.98, $1,000. 2, Austin Courmier, Oakwood, Texas, (Denver) 4.33, $700. 3, Casey Martin, Sulphur, Okla., (Wild Card) 4.67, $600. 4, Aaron Vosler, Cheyenne, Wyo., (Elizabeth) 4.73, $500.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., (Denver), 85.5, $1,000. 2, (tie) Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, (Estes Park) and Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., (Loveland) 83 and $650 each. 4, Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D., (Denver) 82, $500.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kim Schulze, Larkspur, Colo., (Greeley) 15.40, $1,000. 2, Bennette Little, Ardmore, Okla., (Wild Card) 15.52, $700. 3, (tie) Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, (Denver) Jane Melby, Burneyville, Okla., (Denver) 15.60 and $550 each.

 

Bull Riding: 1, Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah, (Pueblo) 84 points, $1,000. 2, Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., (Denver) 81.5, $700. 3, Jarrod Craig, Hillsboro, Texas, (Estes Park) 81, $600. 4, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Colo., (Greeley) 80.5, $500.

 

Showdown – Colorado Vs. The World —

 

Bareback Riding: (semifinals)1.Clint Laye, Colorado, 82, $1,000. 2, R.C. Landingham, World, 81, $1,000. (champion) 1, Laye, 89, $8,000. 2, Landingham, 84.

 

Steer Wrestling: (semifinals) 1, Clayton Hass, World, 4.04, $1,000. 2, Casey Martin, Colorado, 4.57, $1,000. (champion) 1, Hass, 4.01, $8,000. 2, Martin, 4..02.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: (semifinals) 1, Rusty Wright, World, 88.5, $1,000. 2, Cory Scheer, Colorado, 83, $1,000. (champion) 1, Scheer, 87, $8,000. 2, Wright, 80.

 

Women’s Barrel Race: (semifinals) 1, Mary Walker, Colorado, 15.51, $1,000. 2, Shali Lord, World, 15.52, $1,000. (champion) 1, Lord, 15.75, $8,000. 2, Walker, 20.62.

 

Bull Riding: (semifinals) 1, Sage Kimzey, World, 90.5, $1,000. 2, Bobby Welsh, Colorado, 89, $1,000. (final round no rides, champion given by time ridden) 1, Kimzey, 6.13 seconds $8,000. 2, Welsh, 3.26 seconds.

 

 

January 6, 2015 – (Colorado Springs, CO) – The National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals is moving to the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., beginning in 2016.

“We are extremely proud to be selected as the host facility for the NLBRA Finals and look forward to growing our partnership,” said Dan Wall, general manager of Lazy E Arena. “We are excited to welcome NLBRA and its members into the Lazy E family.”

The change in venues comes after an 11-year run at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, Colo. The NLBRA found a home in Pueblo beginning in 2004 and brought 545 youth rodeo contestants that year. Since the inaugural year, the event has grown to nearly double the contestant base, with nearly 1,000 youth rodeo contestants competing in 2014.

“Moving the NLBRA Finals to Pueblo was a positive for the NLBRA,” executive director Kimber Solberg said. “The Pueblo community provided an opportunity for the NLBRA to produce a quality Finals for many years; however, since moving to Pueblo in 2004, the NLBRA contestant membership base has grown by 33 percent and some of our needs have changed.”

The 2015 NLBRA Finals will be July 20-25, 2015, in Pueblo. It will move to the Lazy E from 2016-2020

Although the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo is relocating, the NLBRA is working with Pueblo and four other communities across the United States to host NLBRA Qualifier Rodeos, where the goal is to have 300-400 contestants competing in a three-day rodeo event.

“Over the years, we’ve built a strong bond with Pueblo,” Solberg said. “I can only compare it to a child going off to college. It’s hard to let them go, but you know it’s the best move. And like kids going off to college, you don’t lose them, the relationship just changes. The NLBRA certainly intends to keep Little Britches Rodeo alive and well in Pueblo, Colorado.”

The Lazy E Arena opened its doors in December 1984 in time for that season’s National Finals Steer Roping to coincide with the National Finals Rodeo, which took place in downtown Oklahoma City. The grand plan orchestrated by then owner E.K. Gaylord III was that the two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association championships take place at the same time in the same metropolitan area, and the plan worked … for one year.

Since its inception, the building has hosted world champions, world championships and personalities galore. The main arena floor is 440 feet-by-160 feet, making it the largest indoor rodeo arena in the world and home of the Timed Event Championship.

“This is the only indoor arena that allows us, the NLBRA, to produce our finals with three arenas running simultaneously for the viewing audience,” Solberg said.

In October 2013, the property was purchased by the McKinney Family from Midland, Texas. The Family has committed to maintaining the Lazy E as the world’s premier Western entertainment facility. Many updates and renovations are taking place at the arena, which will only enhance the lure of the Lazy E.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Eleven months ago, tie-down roper Trenton Johnson was just getting out of hip surgery that saw him on crutches for eight weeks.

He spent four months going through physical therapy for a repaired hip labrum and a hip microfracture, then he handled the rehabilitation himself while taking care of the business of healing his body. Being on the sidelines because of injury is no place for a world-class athlete to be, but that’s just where Johnson was through much of the 2015 rodeo season.

“I rehabbed on my own for a little while, then I went to three rodeos after the Fourth of July,” said Johnson, 26, a three-time International Finals Rodeo from Centerville, Kan. “Then I got hurt again, so I took two more weeks off.”

He returned to action the final weekend of July and spent next seven weeks on a frantic travel schedule in hopes of returning to the International Professional Rodeo Association’s championship event. It all comes to fruition next week during IFR 45, set for Friday, Jan. 16-Sunday, Jan. 18, at Jim Norick State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City.

“I went pretty hard and was able to accomplish that,” said Johnson, who won tie-down roping titles in Kellyville, Okla.; Haskell, Okla.; Freemont, Ohio; North Washington, Pa.; Charlotte, Mich.; and St. Tite, Quebec, the last of which is the largest regular-season event in the IPRA. “It was good to do good at St. Tite. Without that, I don’t think I could’ve made the IFR.”

That two-month run paid off to the tune of more than $8,600. He rolls into Oklahoma City as the No. 12 tie-down roper in the standings – only the top 15 contestants in each event earn the right to compete at the IFR. He’s had considerable success inside State Fair Arena before, winning the average title during the 2011 championship.

“I’d have to say winning the average at the IFR was my biggest accomplishment so far,” he said. “It was a big roping, a good roping. There were a lot of guys there that roped good. I still wear that buckle today. It was a big win for me, and I’m proud of it.”

He should be. It’s an amazing honor and one he’d like to repeat during this year’s finale. In order to win that title, he’ll have to rope and tie all four calves in a faster cumulative time than the other 14 ropers in the field. That fits perfectly in Johnson’s wheelhouse.

“I’m more of an average roper,” he said. “I’m more consistent than trying to go fast. I try to be a well-rounded roper, but I do feel more comfortable making an average run.”

That’s something he’s learned over the years of roping. Raised on a ranch in eastern Kansas, he is one of two sons born to Jim and Pam Johnson. He and older brother Tyler began roping as youngsters.

“Dad brought home a couple of roping horses,” Trenton Johnson said. “He built us an arena, and we started team roping.”

He also started roping calves with a breakaway rope until he got into junior high. Upon turning 14, he started roping and tying down calves. He started putting in the work to be successful as a sophomore in high school, working with neighbor Wade Wilson and Wilson’s son, Cole.

“My dad raised cows for as long as I can remember,” Johnson said. “He roped a little bit, mostly for fun, and gave my brother and me an opportunity to rodeo. Along the way, I met a lot of people who helped us, and that includes Wade Wilson.”

The Johnson brothers learned a lot roping with the Wilsons. He won the tie-down roping and team roping championships in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association in 2007. That helped Trenton Johnson earn a rodeo scholarship to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, where he qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in both tie-down roping and steer wrestling in 2009 and 2011.

He’s found success in every area of rodeo in which he’s competed, including the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He aspires to qualify for the PRCA championship, the National Finals Rodeo, and battle for that organization’s world championship.

Of course, it’s the mettle of any true competitor to place themselves among the greatest in the game. It helps to surround oneself with greatness, which is something else Johnson has done most of his life. This past October, he married the former Ayla McCoy, whose uncles, Jet and Cord, own a combined 10 IPRA world championships.

“She comes from a strong rodeo family, and we met at Northwestern,” said Johnson, who began dating his wife in 2009. “She now works for Miller International, which is Cinch.”

Together, they bring a strong pedigree to Oklahoma City for the IFR. They’ll also bring Boone, an 11-year-old sorrel gelding.

“I’ve had him since 2011,” he said. “He’s consistent. He’s a powerful horse. He does everything good, and he’s honest. He understands roping, and he likes his job.”

So does Trenton Johnson. That’s why he’s chasing his gold-buckle dreams.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s capital city is much different than it was in January 1991.

There’s an NBA franchise in town, and the 89ers became the RedHawks and are now the Dodgers. Gary Gibbs was in his third season as coach of the Sooners football team, Eddie Sutton was running the Oklahoma State basketball program and Bryant Reeves was a senior at Gans (Okla.) High School.

The downtown landscape has changed dramatically, rising into the heavens. But one thing has remained constant: The International Finals Rodeo is a January staple, now in its 25^th year in Oklahoma City. IFR 45 is scheduled for Jan. 16-18 at the Jim Norick State Fair Arena.

“I actually didn’t qualify for the IFR the last two years in Tulsa,” said Dale Yerigan, general manager of the Oklahoma City-based International Professional Rodeo Association and an 11-time steer wrestling world champion. “When I found out that the IFR was moving to Oklahoma City and that the money was going to increase, that’s one of the things that helped me make the decision to focus on rodeoing in the IPRA.”

It’s a good thing he did. Yerigan won IPRA gold in 1985-86, then regained that championship form in Oklahoma City. Clarence LeBlanc won the 1990 championship at the conclusion of IFR 21 in January 1991, and Yerigan took over the IPRA’s bulldogging world for nine straight years after that, winning the titles for the 1991-1999 seasons – because the IFR is in January, champions care crowned for the previous calendar year; the 2014 champs, for example, will be crowned in a few weeks.

“In the 1990s, I had a streak of winning world titles, and a lot of that was because of the move to Oklahoma City,” he said. “The future was one of the things that helped me make my decision and my focus. It was easier on my family to rodeo together.”

As the IPRA general manager, he shares his time through the weeks between business at the office and his home in Pryor, Okla., which is about 155 miles northeast of the IPRA office.

The 1991 IFR took place in what used to be the Myriad, now the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. It moved to Jim Norick Arena shortly thereafter and has had a long run in that storied facility at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. In 2004, the IFR took place inside the Ford Center, which is now Chesapeake Energy Arena.

“The move back downtown to the Ford Center was sponsor-driven, but it was a new facility, and you hope it sparks some new interest in your event,” Yerigan said. “Now they host an NBA franchise, which is no small fete in mid-America.

“We’re glad to be back at the fairgrounds, and I believe it’s the best facility for us. We want to grow there.”

Growth has been steady, and it comes with the help of key sponsors like Love’s Country Store, RAM Trucks, Tener’s, Graham’s, Oxbow Tack, OG&E, Langston’s, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Harrison Manufacturing. Of course, it also helps that fans have come to expect a strong production from the annual January showcase.

“Like most of rodeo, we’ve changed some over the years,” Yerigan said. “The competition part of it is still based on the same things it was founded on, which goes back to ranch competitions. We preserve that really traditional part of it. Us, along with most rodeos, have tried to update with the times with the kind of music and the lights we use.

“Rodeo’s a little bit louder than it was 25 years ago, but people have come to expect that. We try not to go too overboard. We try not to make it a rock concert but try to step it up and liven it up. Production has become faster, and we want to see things quickly.”

At the IFR, the competition is mixed with excellent production to make for a night of family-friendly entertainment.

“We have whittled this down to the top 15 that come compete,” he said. “You get to see the same 15 compete every performance for four performances. Whether it’s Friday night or Sunday afternoon, you get to see the top level of competition.

“When you come to the IFR, the cream will rise to the top. The 15 contestants in each event have earned their way to be there. You’re going to see the top level competition.”

It’s something fans have come to expect over the last 25 years. It’s just as it should be.

 

World Champion Bull Rider Lane Frost left an impression on the rodeo world and beyond. Before that, Lane’s father Clyde and Uncle Joe competed. Clyde was at the very first National Finals Rodeo held in Dallas in 1959.

These days, the name has once again taken its familiar place at the top of Pro Rodeo standings with brothers Joe and Josh Frost.

“We spent all our time ranching and riding horses, so for us, the only sport we knew was rodeo,” explains Joe Frost, 22. He was named after his grandfather.

The brothers grew up in Randlett, Utah on the family ranch where their dad Shane, Lane’s cousin, raises cattle and is a rep for Superior Livestock Auction. Their mother, Lisa, works for the school and water board. Joe and Josh are close with their family and have two siblings, Jate, 13 and Jacelyn, 10, who compete in junior rodeo.

Shane competed in All-Around events, and he taught his sons to do the same. They have an arena steps from their back door with roping and bucking chutes, so practice was always a part of the Frost game plan.

Now, all of that practice is paying off.

Joe went into the 2014 NFR sitting No. 11 and left No. 2 in the world. He won two rounds of the 10-round marathon.

This year he was also awarded the Linderman Award for his All-Around achievements in bull riding, tie-down roping and steer wrestling and won the bull riding championship at the College National Finals. He and Josh are both students on the college rodeo team for Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

For Josh, 19, who got on his first calf around the age of 4 to prove to a reluctant Joe that he was braver, the year has been a successful effort to qualify for the Wilderness Circuit Finals in tie-down roping and bull riding. The brothers finished first and second in the circuit for both All-Around and bull riding.

Josh, who was on his permit this year, explains he was having a rough couple of months going into the summer and even went home to work the ranch and spend time in the practice pen before a winning streak at the Pro-rodeos after the Fourth of July. That streak pushed Josh to the No. 1 spot in permit standings in bull riding for the year.

Having his brother leading the way has helped Josh navigate his first year in the PRCA, but the two also help each other in the way of friendly competition.

“There’s a lot of competitive edge there. I think we make each other better, and it helps me a lot just having him,” Josh says.

Joe echoes this sentiment. “Not very many people can handle me and him, because we’re pretty hard on each other,” he laughs and adds, “but we get along really good.”

Joe, who calls the NFR a dream come true, went to 81 rodeos this season leading up to Vegas. He takes pride in the work and hauling it takes to qualify.

“Making the NFR and winning a world title, there’s a lot more that goes into it than just riding bulls,” Joe says.

Josh explains that competing against guys he’s looked up to is a humbling experience.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I always knew this was what I wanted to do. Now that I’m out there doing it, sometimes I just can’t believe it.”

For Joe, seeing fans’ reactions has an impact.

“There are little kids coming back there behind the chutes. They’re so excited to be at the rodeo. They didn’t care that I got bucked off. It’s great to be involved in something so many people want to be a part of.”

Carrying on the family tradition of rodeo is a strong theme for the brothers. Joe is quick to say his first hero was his dad. “Dad was a cowboy, and I just wanted to be just like him.”

They credit their family for their support of their rodeo careers.

That’s whom Joe honored at his buckle presentations after his round wins at the NFR.

“The first one, I gave that belt buckle to my dad. He’s been my number one hero my entire life, and he’s taught me everything I know. [The second] one will go to Craig Latham, my rodeo coach,” he says.

Joe wears patches supporting Latham’s fight against cancer.  “These patches are support for him and his family and the people in Goodwell, Oklahoma.”

Though Josh had finals to take at school and couldn’t be out in Vegas the whole time, great-uncle and aunt Clyde and Elsie Frost, Lane’s parents, were there rooting Joe on.

“To us, it’s just a thrill,” Elsie says of the fact that rodeo has continued in their family. “We’re very proud of Joe and Josh.”

She adds that the rodeo world should keep an eye out for their younger siblings too.

After all, it’s tradition.