Monthly Archives: December 2010

1. Shane Hanchey, 7.6 seconds, $17,512 2. Trevor Brazile, 8.1, $13,840 3. Tuf Cooper and Tyson Durfey, 8.5, $8,897 5. Fred Whitfield, 8.9, $4,519 6. Scott Kormos and Jerome Schneeberger, 9.3, $1,412

1. Cody DeMoss on Burch Rodeo’s Friendly Fire and Heith DeMoss on Diamond G Rodeo’s Marla’s Rose, 87.5, $15,676 3. Wade Sundell, 87 on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Dancer, $10,451 4. Cody Wright, 86 on D&H Cattle’s Lipstick & Whisky, $7,344 5. Bradley Harter, 83 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Robins Nest, $4,519 6. Sam Spreadborough on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Big Jet and Cort Scheer on Bar T Rodeo’s Round Robin, $1,412

LAS VEGAS – The burning down his left shoulder and arm is painful, and D.V. Fennell winces every time he completes a bareback ride at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “It hurts, there’s no doubt about it,” said Fennell of Neosho, Mo., a two-time qualifier to ProRodeo’s championship. “That horse hit me pretty hard right out of the chute, and he hurt me. It’s one thing to know when you’re about to get punched in the jaw, then you can keep fighting, and that’s what happened in the ride.” Fennell is talking about the Classic Pro Rodeo horse Lady’s Man, an animal that used a strong kick to aggravate a pinch nerve in the bareback rider’s upper back. Still, the Utah-born, Oklahoma-raised cowboy kept “punching” back at the bucking horse with his spur lick, the motion bareback riders use, spurring from the animal’s neck to the rigging that’s strapped to the bronc’s back. “That’s just what you’ve got to do,” Fennell said. “I can’t back down.” The 81-point ride finished in a tie for sixth place in the go-round and was worth $942. It marked just the second time in a week Fennell has earned a paycheck at the NFR – he placed sixth in Saturday’s third go-round and has earned $3,766. With three rounds remaining in this year’s finale, there are plenty of opportunities to add to that total. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to do something special,” Fennell said. “There’s definitely no quit in me, and this thing’s not going to end without me winning a go-round.” Confidence is a good thing, especially when it’s in the middle of a championship.

1. Brady Tryan/Jake Long, 3.9, $17,512 2. Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, Ty Blasingame/Cody Hintz and Keven Daniel/Caleb Twisselman, 4.0, $10,545 5. Travis Tryan/Rich Skelton, 4.3, $4,519 6. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 4.6, $2,825

1. Luke Branquinho, 3.3 seconds, $17,512 2. Trevor Knowles, 3.4, $13,840 3. Cody Cassidy, 3.5, $10,451 4. Dean Gorsuch, 3.7, $7,344 5. Nick Guy and Ethen Thouvenell, 4.1, $3,672

1. Cody Wright, 88.5 on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Sand Man, $17,512 2. Wade Sundell, 86 on Burch Rodeo’s Holy Hoppin Hell, $13,840 3. Jesse Wright, 85.5 on Sankey Rodeo’s Surprise Party, $10,541 4. Taos Muncy, 84 on Calgary Stampede’s Knife Money, $7,344 5. Cort Scheer, 83.5 on Korkow Rodeo’s Vidalia, $4,519 6. Cody DeMoss, 82 on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Miss Rodeo, $2,825

1. JoJo LeMond/Cory Petska, 3.9 seconds, $17,512 2. Brady Tryan/Jake Long, 4.0, $13,840 3. Chad Masters/Jade Corkill, 4.4, $10,451 4. Charly Crawford/Russell Cardoza, 4.9, $7,344 5. Luke Brown/Martin Lucero, 5.7, $4,519 6. Turtle Powell/Broc Cresta, 8.8, $2,825

1. Luke Branquinho, 3.5 seconds, $17,512 2. Wade Sumpter, 4.0, $13,840 3. Nick Guy and Curtis Cassidy, 4.1, $8,897 5. Dane Hanna, 4.2, $4,519 6. Billy Bugenig, 4.8, $2,825

West Stevenson rode Classic Pro Rodeo’s Wise Guy for 88.5 points on Tuesday night to win the sixth go-round. When the veteran bucking horse leaped into the air and showed off, the crowd inside the Thomas & Mack Center went nuts. They actually helped the ProRodeo officials with their addition. Wes rode the horse well, but the horse didn’t really do what it needed to in order to account for half of an 88.5 score. It jumped in the air, but the kick wasn’t there. It didn’t move forward. It was wild. It was Western. But the horse didn’t meet the criteria needed, and the score was about five points to many. Clint Cannon rode J Bar J’s Freckled Doll for 87 points. That should have won the sixth round.

1. Wes Stevenson, 88.5 points on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Wise Guy, $17,512 2. Clint Cannon, 87 on J Bar J Inc.’s Freckled Doll, $13,840 3. Justin McDaniel on Brookman Rodeo’s Good Times, Kelly Timberman on Calgary Stampede’s Coconut Roll and Kaycee Feild on Sankey Rodeo’s Thunder Monkey, 84, $7,348 6. Dusty LaValley on JS Rodeo’s Stop Debt and Jason Havens on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Centennial, 82.5, $1,412

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is moving its television coverage to GAC, the country music network. After years with the ESPN family of networks, Commissioner Karl Stressman and others with the association found another avenue to highlight their marquee events. The PRCA pays for its coverage – unlike NASCAR, the NFL and other major sports associations – and there are going to be a lot of benefits to making the switch. Years ago, the Wrangler NFR was showcased on ESPN, then ESPN2. Now it’s on the reduced format on ESPN Classic, with no airings on the main network. And if ESPN bosses think other programming needs to be in place, the rodeo gets bumped. Many rodeo fans have been left out in the cold, so to speak. GAC doesn’t offer the households of ESPN, but it’s not too far off Classic. And the country music entertainment is more of a fit for rodeo. Its time buys are also much more affordable, and GAC will promote rodeo, something the ESPN family of networks didn’t do very well. It’s a good move. And during Tuesday’s news conference in Las Vegas, I liked hearing these words from the PRCA administrators: There are great stories in ProRodeo, and we need to tell them. You see, I agree totally. That’s why I created this site. Now we just need to get more mainstream publications, broadcasters and websites to help tell those stories, too. What do you think?

LAS VEGAS – Cort Scheer is 24 years old, and already he’s proven to be one of the best saddle bronc riders in ProRodeo Nothing’s changing this December as he competes for the first time in the sport’s grand finale, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. On Tuesday night, he rode the Korkow Rodeo horse Vidalia for 83.5 points, good enough for fifth place in the sixth go-round and a check worth $4,519. In all, the feat moved his NFR earnings to $22,314 and his season earnings to nearly $105,000. “Shoot, this is something I’ve dreamed about all my life,” said Scheer, the seventh-ranked bronc rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “I think I can ride better, but that’s the way things go. We’ve still got a few more days to make it work, though.” The 10-round marathon is a test of the cowboys’ skills and fortitude. Playing on the biggest stage in the sport has its own challenges, but doing so on the backs of the toughest horses in the game is the biggest. Scheer has placed in three go-rounds, but he bucked off his third-round bronc. Still, he sits seventh in the all-important average race with 407.5 cumulative points on the five qualified rides. But it doesn’t get any easier. For Wednesday’s seventh go-round, Scheer has been matched through the blind draw with Bar T Rodeo’s Round Robin, a horse that Australian Sam Spreadborough rode for just 74.5 points, well off the pace to reach the pay window; only the top six contestants in each go-round earn a check. “They are all great horses here,” Scheer said. “A guy just has to go out and make the best ride possible. That’s all I can really take care of.”

LAS VEGAS – The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will get a little interesting when Justin McDaniel is happy with his riding. McDaniel, of Porum, Okla., has placed in five of six go-rounds, earned $36,672 and has the best cumulative score of 504 points. Yet, the 2008 world champion bareback rider just shakes his head as he leaves the arena at the Thomas & Mack Center, still itching to spur a bucking beast to the best of his ability. “The truth is, I’m having a good week,” said McDaniel, 24. “But I know I can ride better, and if you want to win the world title, you’ve got to ride your best every time.” A lot of people would take his performance and run with it. But McDaniel has a lot of expectations, something that comes from grinding through six months away from the rodeo arena while recovering from a back injury so bad that it required surgery. The hunger that developed in that time led him to a phenomenal four-month stretch that saw the Oklahoman earn $81,850, which led to his fourth straight qualification to ProRodeo’s championship event. “It’s nice to look at the way things have lined out this week, but I’m not happy with my riding,” he said. “To win a gold buckle, I’ve got to do better than that.” McDaniel owns the 10-round average record 859 total points, which happened two seasons ago when he left Las Vegas with that coveted gold buckle, the wearable trophy that goes to every world champion. He’s a little off the pace to surpass that mark, but with four rounds remaining on the toughest bucking horses in the business, he’ll have a good shot. He’s also got an eight-and-a-half-point lead over the No. 2 man in the average, 2004 world champion Kelly Timberman of Mills, Wyo. “This is a good starting point, so I’ll just go out there and let it roll,” McDaniel said. “I expect to win, and that’s the mindset I have every time I nod my head.”

Brenda Mays won the sixth go-round, but Sherry Cervi was the big winner Tuesday night. With her $10,451 third-place round earnings, Cervi passed the $2 million mark in career earnings. That’s something to be proud of. But as the world standings leader, Cervi wants to leave Las Vegas with her third world title. With four rounds remaining, that’s well within her grasp.

1. J.W. Harris, 89.5 on Klein Brothers Rodeo’s Fast Lane, $17,512 2. Wesley Silcox, 88.5 on Corey and Horst Rodeo’s North Star, $13,840 3. Clayton Williams, 87 on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Black Gold, $10,451 4. Cody Whitney, 86.5 on Cervi & Guidry Rodeo’s Vitalix Hot Diggity Damn, $7,344 5. Corey Navarre, 85.5 on Silverado Rodeos’ Prime Suspect, $4,519 6. Bobby Welsh, 85 on Andrews Rodeo’s Black Cat, $2,825

1. Brenda Mays, 13.80 seconds, $17,512 2. Jill Moody, 13.84, $13,840 3. Sherry Cervi, 13.85, $10,451 4. Lisa Lockhart, 13.87, $7,344 5. Kelli Tolbert, 13.98, $4,519 6. Brittany Pozzi, 13.99, $2,825

Not sure why they didn’t buck the bronc before bull riding, so we’re still waiting.

The top rookies in ProRodeo were honored Monday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Ace Slone, all-around and tie downr oping Dylan Werner, overall and bull riding Matt Garza, heeling Kaden Richard, heading Ty Breuer, bareback riding Cody Moore, steer wrestling Lindsey Ewing, barrel racing Gannon Quimby, steer roping Troy Crowser, saddle bronc riding Troy is one of many great bronc riders from the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo program, three of whom are competing at this year’s NFR: Cort Scheer, Taos Muncy and Jeff Willert — the latter world champions. Troy, though, is still competing in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association while trying to make a living in ProRodeo.

LAS VEGAS – Miss Congeniality has been named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s saddle bronc riding horse of the year two times. On Monday night during the fifth round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Cort Scheer of Elsmere, Neb., got his chance to match moves with the outstanding Powder River Rodeo bucking mare. It paid off to the tune of $10,541 for the first-time NFR qualifier. “I’ve seen that horse a couple of times this year, and I was dang sure happy to have drawn her,” Scheer said, referring to the computerized match system that pits cowboy vs. animal. “She’s definitely one of the best horses out there, and I was happy with her. She dang sure bucked.” That’s part of the game at ProRodeo’s championship. The top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the NFR, and the top animals are selected by the cowboys that ride them throughout the year. Miss Congeniality has been to the NFR several years and won the year-end halter in 2005 and 2007. But she’s not the only great bucking horse in Vegas. Scheer has been tested through the first half of the championship, and his talent and mindset will be further challenged over the remaining five rounds. “I haven’t been too impressed with my markout,” Scheer said, referring to bronc riders starting the ride with their feet over the points of the animal’s front shoulders, something that sets the rhythm of the spurring motion for the every cowboy that rides a bucking horse. “I feel like I could be riding better, so we’ll just go out there and keep working on it.” Monday’s ride was the second time Scheer has placed at this year’s NFR – he’s already earned $17,794. “Shoot, I’m having the time of my life,” he said. “This is what you dream of when you rodeo.”

The best horserace at the 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the actual horserace, the ladies competing under the banner of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. On Monday night, Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., posted the fastest run at this year’s championship so far, a 13.62. But it was just one-hundredth of a second faster than Jill Moody of Letcher, S.D. http://www.wpra.com/nfr_results_stories05.asp

1. JoJo LeMond/Cory Petska, 3.6 seconds, $17,512 2. Keven Daniel/Caleb Twisselman, 3.7, $13,840 3. Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, 3.8, $10,451 4. Travis Tryan/Rich Skelton and Chad Masters/Jade Corkill, 4.0, $8,856 6. Charly Crawford/Russell Cardoza, 4.7, $2,825

1. Ethen Thouvenell, 3.7 seconds, $17,512 2. Dean Gorsuch, 3.8, $13,840 3. Cody Cassidy, 3.9, $10,451 4. Trevor Knowles, 4.1, $7,344 5. Dane Hanna, 4.3, $4,519 6. Nick Guy, 4.4, $2,825

LAS VEGAS – A year ago, Justin McDaniel was in so much pain at the halfway point of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, he couldn’t sit. Still, the Porum, Okla., cowboy gritted his teeth to finish the 10-round championship. Fast forward to 2010, where McDaniel has placed in four straight go-rounds and pocketed $29,234 – not too shabby for five days of work on the nastiest horses in ProRodeo. On Monday night during the fifth go-round in the Thomas & Mack Center, McDaniel spurred the Classic Pro Rodeo horse Good Time Charlie for 85 points, which was good enough for fifth place and a check worth $4,519. “I’m feeling great,” said McDaniel, the 2008 bareback riding world champion. “I should’ve ridden that horse a little better, but I feel really good.” McDaniel earned the right to compete in Las Vegas with a spectacular end to the 2010 regular season, which saw him earn $81,850 in less than four months – injuries that mounted in 2009 added up to a back injury that required surgery in February and left him on the shelf for six months. “The reality is I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have the support from my friends and my sponsors this season,” McDaniel said, noting his relationship with Ariat, WW Livestock Systems, Carr Pro Rodeo and James Hodge Ford in Muskogee, Okla. “They gave me the support I needed when I couldn’t compete, and then they were there for me when I could. “That helped me a lot with my confidence. Jack Hodge isn’t just a sponsor but also a friend, who was there with me every day in my rehab. He motivated me and ran every mile with me. That means more to me than he knows.” The payoff is coming at ProRodeo’s grand finale. McDaniel has ridden five horses for a cumulative score of 420 points, giving the cowboy the lead in the all-important average race where the winner earns $44,910 at the conclusion of the NFR. McDaniel is ahead of the No. 2 man, world standings leader Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb., by just a point. “I don’t even think about that,” he said. “My goal is to win every round, and I haven’t won one yet. I think I can ride better than I’m doing. It’s been a great week, but there’s always room for improvement.” Spoken like a champion.

Only three bull riders rode the qualifying eight seconds during the “eliminator” round Monday night, with two-time reigning world champion J.W. Harris leading the way with an 89-point ride on Burch Rodeo’s Velvet Revolver. Clayton Williams finished second with an 85.5, and Corey Navarre’s 84 was third. Harris pocketed $17,512 for the victory, while Williams added $13,840 and Navarre $10,451. But the Wrangler NFR pays six places, so what happens to the rest of that money? While the place money counts toward the world standings, the three bull riders split the remainder of the go-round prize pool, which was just less than $5,000 each. Anybody else want to make a $5,000 in one night?