Monthly Archives: March 2011

Kyle Hughes has been around ProRodeo for more than a decade, best known as a great all-around cowboy. On Friday night during the opening round of Super Series II at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the talented Colorado hand made a significant statement with a blistering 3.2-second run. The feat matched an arena record. More importantly, it gave Hughes the $2,000 first-place prize, a giant advantage in qualifying for the next level in the bracketed format. Two-time and reigning bulldogging world champ Dean Gorsuch posted a 4.0-second run to finish second and collect $1,000. Les Shepperson had a 4.4 to finish third, earning $500. Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer, coming off his first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, scored an 80.5 to win saddle bronc riding, followed by Tyler Corrington’s 78 and Josh Reynolds’ 75. Team ropers Ty Blasingame and Cody Hintz won the round with a 4.9, while Texan Scott Kormos won tie-down roping in 7.8 seconds. Second-generation bareback rider Kaycee Feild scored 85 points for the win, just two points ahead of Joe Gunderson. Bull rider Clayton Foltyn had an 86.5 to win the round, where just three cowboys earned qualified rides. Barrel racer Sherry Cervi, the three-time champion, rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 14.31 seconds. She finished 26/100ths of a second ahead of Jill Moody, who won the NFR average title in December. The race continues with Saturday’s second go-round of Super Series II.

The Timed Event Championship looks to have begun with a shotgun start during the first go-round Friday afternoon. Of the top six placers, two thirds have won this championship before. In fact, they account for 10 Timed Event titles. Kyle Lockett, the 2005 champion, leads the way after a 53.8-second opening round. His blistering time was assisted by a 4.8-second steer wrestling run, the second fastest of the competition – reigning champ Josh Peek scored a 4.5-second run, which helped him to a 58.8, third place overall heading into the second round that begins at 7:30 tonight. Six-time champion Trevor Brazile sits No. 2 in the race with a 54.5-second round. As is typically the case, the 14-time PRCA champion was consistent, with an 8.3 in heading, an 11.5 in calf roping, 7.5 in heeling, a 5.9 in bulldogging and a 21.3 in steer roping. Fourth place belongs to Clayton Hass, a first-timer in this championship, and two-time steer roping world champion Scott Snedecor, who each scored 62.9-second rounds. Daniel Green, who owns two Timed Event titles, sits sixth with a 64.8.

Bobby Mote is a world champion bareback rider who has put together a hall-of-fame career on the backs of bucking beasts. He’s hoping to add a few lines to his resume at the 2011 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 31-April 3 at Jim Norick Arena at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, where the top cowboys and cowgirls from the 12 regional ProRodeo circuits will compete for national championships and big money. “It’s always a good rodeo, and it’s a chance to win all that money and a chance at a Dodge truck,” said Mote of Culver, Ore. “Any time I get to compete against the top guys on the top horses, I get excited about it. Plus it’s something I haven’t won yet. I’d obviously like to win it.” Through his career, Mote has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo four times and walked away from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas with four gold buckles given to world champions, including the last two. But he’s also a regional cowboy, competing at rodeos close to home in the Columbia River Circuit. When you’re looking at a who’s who of ProRodeo, you know the competition will be fierce. Not only does the DNCFR host the top regional players who choose to stay close to home to compete, but it’s also home of the elite players in the game, those who are regular fixtures at the NFR. “I think the circuit system is really important for rodeo,” said Mote, one of many NFR qualifiers scheduled to compete for the national championships. “The circuit system gives guys the chance to come up through the ranks and get the experience they need, plus the National Circuit Finals gives the guys that are outstanding in their circuit the opportunity to go in front of a national stage and compete against the best.”

The Iron Man of ProRodeo is returning to the Lazy E Arena. The Timed Event Championship will feature 20 of the top cowboys in the sport competing in all five timed events, heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer roping and steer wrestling. It’s a grueling five-round affair that takes place at noon and 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, and noon Sunday. Each cowboy will compete in each discipline in each of the five go-rounds. But for a top prize of $50,000 to the average winner, there’s plenty of incentive for the best players in the game. And that’s reason to watch.

Ryan Gray isn’t scheduled to compete at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for another 10 days. The six-time bareback riding qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo hasn’t been on a bucking horse since the second night of the 2010 championship, when he was bucked off, then stepped on and suffered a lacerated liver. But I suspect Gray was pretty tickled when he learned of Wednesday’s third performance of RodeoHouston, where traveling partners Jason Havens, Bobby Mote and Steven Dent advanced out of Super Series 1 of the bracketed format. Havens won the second and third go-rounds, then added $4,000 for being No. 1 in the average for a total earnings of $8,500. Mote scooted in with $4,750, followed by Justin McDaniel with $3,000 and Dent at $1,000 – Dent actually tied with Micky Downare in earnings, but the Nebraska cowboy advanced because he beat Downare by a point in the average. Cody Ohl topped the list of tie-down ropers with $6,500, followed by Jerrad Hoffstetter at $2,750, Jake Pratt at $2,625 and Timber Moore at $2,500. Kelsey Parchman and Michael Jones took $14,000, the lion’s share of the prize money in team roping, followed by Charly Crawford/Russell Cardoza with $12,500, Keven Daniel/Caleb Twisselman at $5,000 and Tommy Edens/Cody Doescher at $3,000. Oklahoman Sean Mulligan earned $5,500 to advance in steer wrestling, followed by Clayton Morrison, $4,500; Billy Bugenig, $2,750; and Olin Hannum, $2,500. Meanwhile, 2007 world champion Taos Muncy pocketed $6,750 to lead the way in saddle bronc riding, followed by Jesse Bail, $5,500; Chad Ferley, $2,000; and Isaac Diaz, $1,750. Ferley won the third go-round to earn his spot in the next round. Luke Kelley was the only cowboy in the field of eight to ride all three bulls. He placed in all three rounds, including wins in Rounds 2-3, and won the average, earning $8,500. He moves on with Clint Craig, $4,250; Ardie Maier, $2,000; and Reece Cates, $1,500. Minnesota cowgirl Jane Melby pulled in the biggest barrel racing paycheck, earning $7,000. She will be joined in the next round by Kassie Mowry, $2,750; Brittany Pozzi, $2,500; and Kenna Squires, $2,000, the same amount earned by Tammy Whyte, but Squires advanced by scoring better in the three-run aggregate. Super Series II will take place over the next three days and will feature world champions Sherry Cervi, Luke Branquinho, Dean Gorsuch, Nick Sartain, Kollin Von Ahn, Ryan Jarrett and Fred Whitfield.

With one round to go in RodeoHouston’s Super Series I, there are some competitors with some work to do if they want to advance to the next level of the bracketed format. But some great hands secured their advancement during the second round Wednesday night, including saddle bronc rider Jesse Bail, who finished second in the round with a 79-point ride. He finished just behind 2007 world champion Taos Muncy, who won the round with an 83. That gave Bail $3,000 in just two nights of work, while Muncy has pocketed $2,500. The top money-earners in each of the five Super Series advance to the next level. Meanwhile, 2006 champ Chad Ferley was bucked off Wednesday night and is at the bottom of the series standings. The tightest race is the barrel race, where three ladies sit atop the standings with $2,000 in earnings. Two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi has finished second both nights, while Kenna Squires ran a 14.30 on Wednesday to win the round. They’re tied with first-night winner Jane Melby. Sabrina Ketcham has added two third-place finishes for $1,000 and fourth in the standings. One of the biggest names so far in the competition is a relative unknown, steer wrestler Clayton Morrison, who won the first two rounds and has secured $4,000. Olin Hannum has pocketed $1,500, and Tommy Cook $1,000, so it’s still up in the air as to who else might move on. The tandem of Charly Crawford and Russell Cardoza scored a 6.1-second run to win Wednesday night, their second straight go-round victory. Each man has earned $4,000. Kyle Parchman and Michael Jones have pocketed $2,000 each and sit second. Six-time champion Cody Ohl, who won the first night of tie-down roping competition, added another $500 paycheck Wednesday with his third-place finish. His $2,500 secures Ohl a place in the next round. But he’s just $500 ahead of Timber Moore, who won Wednesday’s round. Traveling partners Bobby Mote and Jason Havens are tied atop the bareback riding standings with $2,500. Mote split the opening night with Justin McDaniel, while Havens finished third. Meanwhile, Havens won Wednesday’s performance and finished third Tuesday. Out of the mix right now is 2004 world champion Kelly Timberman. Reigning CBR champion Luke Kelly is atop the bull riding leaderboard, the only cowboy to have ridden two bulls. He’s pocketed $2,500, $2,000 of which came Wednesday with his round-winning 83.5-point ride.

The opening night of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo featured an explosive start to 20 days of competition. In fact, the top two bareback riding scores make up the last three world championships and five overall. Four-time champ Bobby Mote, who has won the last two gold buckles, and 2008 titlist Justin McDaniel spurred their horses for 82 points to win bareback riding in the opening round of Super Series I. They each earned $1,500, while Jason Havens, who had an 81, pocketed $500 for third place. Each contestant will have three tries in each of the five Super Series, so every cowboy and cowgirl who was in Tuesdays’ field will compete again Wednesday and Thursday. The top money-earners in each event in each Super Series advance to the semifinals in the bracketed format. Six-time world champion Cody Ohl posted an 8.7-second run to win tie-down roping and the $2,000 first-place check, while the tandem of Charly Crawford and Russell Cardoza scored a 5.8 to win team roping. North Dakotan Clayton Morrison won steer wrestling in 4.5 seconds, while Clint Craig’s 88 won bull riding; Jane Melby rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 14.03 seconds to win barrel racing. A trio of Oklahoma Panhandle State rodeo team alumni finished 1-2-3 in saddle bronc riding, with Jesse Bail earning the top prize with 83.5. Jeff Willert, the 2005 world champion, had an 81.5 to finish second, while Taos Muncy, the 2007 world champ, scored 80.5 for third. Now we can see why this series is super.

HOUSTON – The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is host to hundreds of the top rodeo athletes in the world every March. Tana Poppino of Big Cabin, Okla., is one of those, earning her credentials to compete inside Reliant Park from March 7-9 through her three qualifications to ProRodeo’s grand finale, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. And she loves competing in RodeoHouston, where she will race around the cloverleaf pattern for a chance at the biggest regular-season events in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. “It’s always a great rodeo with a lot of great action,” said Poppino, a former marketing executive who transitioned from a part-time rodeo cowgirl to a full-time barrel racer in 2003. “It’s always fun to compete in an arena like Reliant Stadium. “But what’s really fun to me is the fact that they have the best Cowboy Church. It’s great for me to be part of that, and it’s an experience I take with me all year long.” Raised in southeastern Colorado, Poppino graduated from Panhandle State University, where she was part of the rodeo team. She and her husband, Marty, have raised their son, Brody, around rodeo; they’ve also shared their love of God. “My faith is a very important part of my life,” she said. “I am who I am because of my faith.”

HOUSTON – To watch Matt Sherwood compete, one realizes his focus and extreme athletic talent. But deep in his chest beats the heart of a champion, from his two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association team roping-heading world titles to the way he carries himself and handles the challenges life hands him. That’s why Sherwood’s faith is so important to him and his family; it’s the guiding force to the way he lives his life, in and out of the rodeo arena. He will carry it with him when he competes Tuesday-Thursday during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s first Super Series of the 2011 campaign. “I don’t share my faith a whole lot,” said Sherwood, a devout Mormon from Pima, Ariz., who ropes with Travis Woodard of Stephenville, Texas. “I have standards I try real hard to live by that our outlined by our church. Faith means a lot to me and my family. The only things you take with you are your knowledge and the relationships you have on this earth. “For me as a father, it’s my job to teach my children those values. If my kids don’t make it to what I call the celestial kingdom, what else matters? There’s no success that can make up for failure at home.” There are a number of challenges rodeo cowboys face just competing for their livelihood while battling for those coveted world championships. There are no guarantees in rodeo, where combatants must pay a fee in order to compete. Only the very best in each competition earn a paycheck. Cowboys will travel more than 100,000 miles in a given year chasing their gold buckle dreams. “My challenges aren’t your challenges,” said Sherwood, who with his wife, Kim, has seven children ages 7 to 17. “How you deal with defeat or success defines you.”

There are three things that are a must for rodeo cowboys who hit the road chasing their gold buckle dreams: grit, determination and the means to get from one rodeo to another. Bareback rider D.V. Fennell might have just added the final touch to the coveted, yet elusive, world championship in his partnership with James Hodge Ford of Muskogee, Okla. The sponsorship agreement provides the two-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the resources he needs to make a third straight trip to ProRodeo’s grand finale. “I’m pretty dang proud to be part of HodgeFord.com,” said Fennell, 37, of Neosho, Mo. “Jack Hodge has been awesome to work with, and he’s taken great care of me. It’s just an honor to work with somebody that goes out of their way for you, the way Jack’s done for me. I really appreciate that guy.” This isn’t the first foray into ProRodeo for Jack Hodge, owner of the Muskogee dealership. In fact, he’s had an established partnership with Fennell’s traveling partner, 2008 bareback riding world champion Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla. Over the past year, he’s seen how the partnership with an elite cowboy can help get word out about the dealership. “D.V. and Justin are two of the greatest guys you’ll ever meet, and it just so happens they’re two of the best bareback riders in rodeo,” Hodge said. “They’re the kind of people I like working with, and it’s something we’ve built our brand around since my dad opened his first dealership in Idabel (Okla.) 41 years ago. “I’ve gotten to know D.V., and I’m excited to have him and Justin carrying the HodgeFord.com brand to every rodeo they go to, including the National Finals Rodeo. That’s great exposure.” Hodge was born in Idabel, which is in the southeastern corner of Oklahoma. That’s a familiar neck of the woods for Fennell, who was born in Utah and raised just 20 miles from Idabel. “You’re not going to find too many people that are better than Jack and Eric Norris,” Fennell said, referring to the State Farm Insurance agent in Neosho. “Eric’s been with me a long time and has been a true friend. Even though this sponsorship with Hodge Ford is new, I know Jack and know what he’s about. “I want to give back to them more than they’ve given to me, and the best way I can do that is go out and win that gold buckle.”