Team ropers secure Bellville cash

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Clayton Van Aken, right, and Richard Durham stopped the clock in 4.8 seconds Saturday night to finish fourth in the team roping at the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. (PEGGY GANDER PHOTO)
Clayton Van Aken, right, and Richard Durham stopped the clock in 4.8 seconds Saturday night to finish fourth in the team roping at the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. (PEGGY GANDER PHOTO)

BELLVILLE, Texas – For only being their third rodeo of competing together, Clayton Van Aken and Richard Durham are doing quite well.

They have placed in two of three rodeos, including a 4.8-second run during Saturday’s final performance of the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. The tandem finished fourth in Bellville and pocketed $1,184 each.

“We had a good steer, and Clay did a good job of turning him for me so he was easy just to catch,” said Durham, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier in heeling from Henrietta, Texas. “Clayton ropes really good. He gets to them real fast and makes my job where I just need to catch.”

Van Aken, from Descanso, Calif., is leaning on his experienced partner through the beginning of this season – the 2017 regulars season concluded two weeks ago, so cowboys and cowgirls are already trying to earn their stripes for the 2018 NFR.

Durham has been around the game for some time. The 32-year-old Texan first began competing in ProRodeo 14 seasons ago. He qualified for ProRodeo’s grand finale in 2005 and ’09.

“I just didn’t want to break the barrier,” Van Aken said, referring to the rule about not allowing the steer a long enough head start; failure to do so would’ve meant a 10-second penalty added to their time. “If I do what I do, we’re going to win money because he’s going to catch.”

That’s a lot of confidence, but the young Californian has learned quickly what to expect out of Durham. The road to the NFR has changed since he last qualified; now money earned at year-end championships will count toward next year’s finale.

“With the All American Finals money and the circuit finals money counting for the world standings, we’re trying to get off to a good start to the season,” he said.

And, of course, it’s nice to earn money in Bellville, where he has competed a number of times through his career.

“I haven’t been here in several years,” Durham said. “In the past, I never missed it. It’s just a great rodeo, the committee is great, and it’s a great setup.

Austin County Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 12-14
Bellville, Texas
Bareback riding:
1. Anthony Thomas, 81 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rainmaker, $1,545; 2. Bill Tutor, 79.5, $1,170; 3. Taylor Broussard, 77, $77.5; 4. Blade Elliott, 75, $562; 5. Kirk St. Clair, $328; 6. Winn Ratliff, 79, $234.

Steer wrestling: 1. Jacob Talley, 4.0 seconds, $1,773; 2. Matt Reeves, 4.2, $1,542; 3. Morgan Grant, 4.3, $1,310; 4. Stan Branco, 4.6, $1,079; 5. (tie) Brandon Harrison and Dylan Schroeder, 4.9, $732 each; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 5.0, $385; 8. Jacob Edler, 5.3, $154.

Team roping: 1. Jake Orman/Will Woodfin, 3.9 seconds, $1,946; 2. Andrew Livingston/Twister Cain, 4.5, $1,692; 3. Tanner Green/Shawn Turner, 4.7, $1,438; 4. Clayton Van Aken/Richard Durham, 4.8, $1,184; 5. (tie) Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres and Tyler Waters/Caleb Anderson, 5.0, $804 each; 7. Quisto Lopez/Trey Carter, 5.5, $423; 8. (tie) Tee Luttrell/Corey Hendrick and Lee Kiehne/Rich Skelton, 6.1, $85.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Audy Reed, 84 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Tombstone, $1,805; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 80, $1,138; 3. (tie) Leon Fountain and Aaron Lide, 77, $821 each; 5. Dawson Hay, 76, $383; 6. (tie) Cort Scheer and Isaac Diaz, 75.5, $137 each.

Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Cooper Mathews, 7.7 seconds, $2,140; 2. Tanner Green, 8.1, $1,861; 3. Justin Smith, 8.6, $1,582; 4. Trenton Smith, 8.7, $1,302; 5. (tie) Clint Nyegaard and Jackson Massey, 8.9, $884 each; 7. (tie) Chantz Webster and Dennis Luetge, 9.1, $326 each.

Barrel racing leaders: 1. Alex Lang, 14.57 seconds, $2,326; 2. Cassidy Kruse, 14.67, $1,977; 3. K.L. Spratt, 14.74, $1,628; 4. Lisa Thornton, 14.75, $1,395; 5. Kelly Bruner, 14.84, $1,163; 6. (tie) Blythe Beshears and Kylan Shaw, 14.87, $698; 8. Kelley Carrington, 14.89, $465; 9. Shelley Morgan, 14.95, $407; 10. (tie) Robyn Herring and Tammy Fischer, 14.97, $320 each; 12. Fallon Taylor, 14.98, $233.

Steer roping: First round: 1. Garrett Hale, 8.9 seconds, $1,117; 2. (tie) Bryce Davis and Vin Fisher Jr., 10.2, $698 each; 4 (tie) Mike Chase and Ralph Williams, 10.4, $140 each. Second round: 1. Jim Locke, 9.5 seconds, $1,117; 2. Landon McClaugherty, $838; 3. Roger Branch, 9.7, $559; 4. Vin Fisher Jr., 10.0, $279. Average: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 20.2 seconds on two runs, $1,676; 2. Rocky Patterson, 21.0; $1,257; 3. Trevor Brazile, 21.7, $838; 4. Bryce Davis, 21.8, $419.

Bull riding: 1. Boudreaux Campbell, 85.5 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s No. 414, $1,871; 2. (tie) Travis Smith and Clayton Foltyn, 84.5, $1,219 each; 4. Sage Kimzey, 84, $680; 5. Dylan Vick, 82.5, $397; 6. Randy Myers, 80.5, $283.

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