GUYMON, Okla. – There was a time in Tim Pharr’s life that the most important part of his rodeo career was trying to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Now at 39, priorities have changed. For Pharr, those involve his two sons, but he still loves to compete. He’s done pretty well so far this week at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo and leads tie-down roping with two performances remaining in the 2018 championship.
“Guymon has been pretty good to me,” said Pharr of Resaca, Ga. “(The lead) is pretty comforting. There are a lot of guys that are really tough coming behind me. I don’t foresee me winning first, but I feel like I’ll get a good check.”
That’s important. In rodeo, money not only helps pay bills, but dollars equal championship points. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the NFR. And with purses available in the sport today, anything can happen on any given day.
“I would really like to stay where I’m at in the average, because I haven’t won anything so far,” he said, referring to the payouts in each go-round. “Every time you show up to run a chance, you have a chance for a lot of money. Just one week could get you back in the middle of it.
Pharr has been close to earning a spot in Las Vegas for ProRodeo’s grand finale, finishing among the top 25 three times in the 2000s. Now he plans his rodeo schedule around his boys.
“It really depends on what they want to do,” he said with a smile. “When I was a kid, I really tried hard (to make the NFR) and fell short. Last year I had a great start out of the winter and fell short again. It’s a Cinderella story if I get it done, because my main goal is being a father. If it all fits in, it would make me the proudest guy on the planet.”
Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo
April 30-May 6
Results through the first performance
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tilden Hooper, 86 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo; 2. Leighton Berry, 75.5; 3. Will Martin, 75; 4. Jamie Howlett, 72; 5. (tie) Levi Nicholson and Mike Fred, 62; 7. Willie McKinney, 56.
Team roping: Third round leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.8 seconds; 2. Marcus Theriot/Cody Doescher, 6.4; 3. Ryan Jarrett/Tadd Sheets, 7.6; 4. Jason Thorstenson/Levi Lord, 8.9; 5. Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, 9.0; 6. Caleb Smidt/Mickey Gomez, 12.1; 7. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 24.3; no other qualified runs. Aggregate leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 24.1 seconds on three runs; 2. Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, 29.9; 3. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 41.4; 4. Ryan Jarrett/Tad Sheets, 14.8 seconds on two runs; 5. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 16.7; 6. Laramie Allen/Rosh Ashford, 17.3; 7. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins II, 17.7; 8. Jason Thorstenson/Levi Lord, 17.8.
Steer wrestling: Third round leaders: 1. Rowdy Parrott, 3.8 seconds; 2. 2. Jace Melvin, 4.09; 3. Dru Melvin, 4.2; 4. (tie) Marcus Theriot Wyatt Jurney and Cody Pratt, 4.3. Aggregate leaders: 1. Jace Melvin, 14.1 seconds on three runs; 2. (tie) Cody Pratt and Cody Devers, 14.4; 4. Aaron Vosler, 14.7; 5. Will Lummus, 15.1; 6. Clayton Hass, 15.2.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Jake Wright, 84.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo; 2. Ross Griffin, 84; 3. CoBurn Bradshaw, 81; 4. Jesse Wright, 80.5; 5. Cole Elshere, 79.5; 6. (tie) Shorty Garrett, Tyler Corrington and Dawson Jandreau, 79.
Tie-down roping: Third round leaders: 1. (tie) Jake Pratt and Caleb Smidt, 9.5 seconds; 3. Anthony Jordan, 10.7; 4. Clint Cooper, 10.9; 5. Timber Moore, 11.2; 6. Dakota Felton, 12.0; 7. Tim Pharr, 12.8; 8. Jace Melvin 15.2. Aggregate leaders: 1. Timber Moore, 35.1 seconds on three runs; 2. Jake Pratt, 35.9; 3. Anthony Jordan, 44.5; 4. Tyler Prcin, 53.3; 5. Cory Rowland, 69.2; 6. Caleb Smidt, 18.6 seconds on two runs; 7. Reese Reimer, 19.6; 8. Tim Pharr, 20.6.
Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Cierra Chapman, 17.46 seconds; 2. Sidney Forrest, 17.47; 3. Kylie Weast, 17.49; 4. Dona Kay Rule, 17.58; Ericka Nelson, 17.59; 6. (tie) Kelley Carrington, Cassidy Kruse and Tiany Schuster, 17.61; 9. Tammy Fischer, 17.62; 10. Kinsey Chandler, 17.64. Aggregate leaders: 1. Kylie Weast, 34.81 seconds on two runs; 2. Sidney Forrest, 35.10; 3. (tie) Cassidy Kruse and Tiany Schuster, 35.53; 5. Kinsey Chandler, 35.57; 6. Ericka Nelson, 35.60; 7. Ari-Anna Flynn, 35.62; 8. Tammy Fischer, 35.63; 9. Dona Kay Rule, 35.69; 10. Kelley Carrington, 35.73.
Bull riding leaders: 1. Cole Melancon, 89 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Chigger; 2. (tie) Trey Benton III and Laramie Mosley, 86.5; 4. Joe Frost, 86; 5. Corey Atwell, 83; 6. Dillon Tyler, 79.5; no other qualified rides.