Monthly Archives: December 2010

1. J.W. Harris, 89 points on Burch Rodeo’s Velvet Revolver, $17,512 2. Clayton Williams, 85.5 on Silverado Rodeos’ Black Mamba, $13,840 3. Corey Navarre, 84 on Bar T Rodeo’s Butch, $10,451 NO OTHER QUALIFIED RIDES

1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.62 seconds, $17,512 2. Jill Moody, 13.63, $13,840 3. Sherry Cervi, 13.70, $10,451 4. Benette Barrington, 13.79, $7,344 5. Brenda Mays, 13.84, $4,519 6. Sydni Blanchard, 13.86, $2,835

1. Trevor Brazile and Cody Ohl, 6.9 seconds, $15,676 3. Stran Smith, 7.4, $10,450 4. Jerrad Hofstetter, 7.5, $7,344 5. Fred Whitfield, 7.6, $4,519 6. Shane Hanchey, 7.8, $2,825

Much is made of D.V. Fennell’s age, but the reality is, the cowboy is in the best shape of his life. Still, he locks his hand into a rigging that’s strapped tightly to the best bareback horses. On Sunday night, Fennell suffered a pinch nerve in his neck, something that comes with the yanking every bareback rider takes on the backs of these tremendous bucking beasts. There’s a reason why they wear neck rolls that make NFL linebackers jealous. When I visited with D.V. before Monday’s fifth go-round, he was feeling better. But, he said, “I’m about to aggrivate it again.” D.V. bucked off Sankey Rodeo’s Gus, and he felt the burning sensation down his left arm. But it was better, he said. At least that’s what he told Dr. Tandy Freeman with the Justin Sportmedicine Team.

1. Jesse Wright, 89.5 points on Burch Rodeo’s Lunitic Fringe, $17,512 2. Cody DeMoss, 88.5 on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman, $13,840 3. Cort Scheer, 86 on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Congeniality, $10,451 4. Heith DeMoss, 85.5 on Smith, Harper & Morgan’s Painted Feather, $7,344 5. J.J. Elshere, 85 on Franklin Rodeo’s Blue Too, $4,519 6. Wade Sundell, 84 on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol Top Hat, $2,825

1. Will Lowe, 87 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Street Dance, $17,512 2. Kelly Timberman on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Forward Motion and Jason Havens on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Deuces Night, 86, $12,145 4. Wes Stevenson, 85.5 on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet’s Web, $7,344 5. Justin McDaniel, 85 on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Charlie, $4,519 6. Bobby Mote, 83 on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Fancy Free, $2,825

Everybody who has packed inside the Thomas & Mack Center tonight could see the best bareback horses in the business, and they felt them, too. It’s almost too difficult to describe when Steven Dent and Top Flight banged into the fence less than five feet away from me just minutes ago. There’s a lot of power in those kinds of animals, and it’s always awesome to watch. It’s also awesome to hear.

It’s been 14 years since Angie Meadors last played on the biggest stage in ProRodeo. Check out the quote in there about the differences from 1996-2010. It’s quite fitting. http://www.wpra.com/nfr_results_stories04.asp

LAS VEGAS – Ask any cowboy about the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and they’ll tell you about competing for world championships on the biggest name in rodeo. They’ll also tell you about big money and the best chance to make it. Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla., knows that as well as anybody. Two seasons ago, the 24-year-old bareback rider won $126,292 inside the Thomas & Mack Center en route to the 2008 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association bareback riding world championship. Through four go-rounds of ProRodeo’s championship event, McDaniel has earned $24,714, which is the fourth best earnings of all bareback riders. This is his time to make a significant living, and he knows it. Of course, it helps that he added another $3,672 on Sunday night with his 85-point ride on J Bar J Rodeo’s Bar Bandit, which tied McDaniel with another world champion, 2004 winner Kelly Timberman of Mills, Wyo. “That’s a good horse,” McDaniel said. “I didn’t get a good start, and after he went down the gate, he turned out pretty good. Luckily enough he was nice enough that I was able to get back into position and ride him pretty good.” McDaniel is in contention for his second world championship with six rounds remaining. He sits seventh in the world standings with $106,565, trailing leader Steven Dent by about $63,000. But that ground can be made up quickly with go-round winners earning $17,512 per night and nearly $45,000 going to each average winner, the contestants in each event with the best cumulative time or score through all 10 go-rounds. All this comes after the cowboy underwent back surgery this past February and didn’t compete from last December until early June this year. He entered the NFR with just less than $82,000 in earnings, something he picked up in less than four months. With the best bucking horses in Las Vegas for this competition, McDaniel said he’s had a lot of help staying healthy. “The Justin Sportsmedicine Team has been great,” he said. “I’ve had the chiropractor, Shawn Scott, work on me and keep my hips lined out. That’s really helped me out this week, but the Justin guys have helped me all year long. It’s great to have them with us all year, and they’ve been great this week, for sure.”

1. Kanin Asay, 88.5 points on Four L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Foolish Pride, $17,512 2. Cody Whitney, 87.5, Four L & Diamond S. Rodeo’s Mission Accomplished, $13,840 3. Bobby Welsh, 87, Four Star Rodeo’s Punchline, $10,450 4. Wesley Silcox on Diamond G Rodeo’s Komatsu Kitty and Clayton Williams on Silverado Rodeos’ Prime Suspect, 82, $5,931

1. Angie Meadors, 14.68 seconds, $17,512 2. Sydni Blanchard and Kelli Tolbert, 13.69, $12,145 4. Lindsay Sears, Lisa Lockhart and Christina Richman, 13.78, $4,896.

1. Cody Ohl and Clint Cooper, 7.1 seconds, $15,676 3. Stran SMith, 7.2, $10,450 4. Scott Kormos, 7.7, $7,344 5. Joseph Parsons, 8.4, $4,519 6. Jerrad Hofstetter, 8.5, $2,824

1. Wade Sundell, 85 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Party Shop, $17,512 2. Cody Wright on Cervi’s Street Smart and Jeff Willert on Frontier Rodeo’s Let ‘Er Rip, 84.5, $12,145 4. Jesse Wright, 81 on Calgary Stampede’s Gross Beetle, $7,344 5. J.J. Elshere, 79.5 Flying 5 Rodeo’s Broken Saddles, $ $4,519 6. Bradley Harter, 78.5 on Calgary Stampede’s Majestic Rocket, $2,825

1. Brady Tryan/Jake Long, 3.5 seconds, $17,512 2. Derrick  Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 3.7, $13,840 3. Turtle Powell/Broc Cresta, 3.8, $10,451 4. Travis Tryan/Rich Skelton, 3.9, $7,344 5. Britt Williams/Bobby Harris, 4.0, $4,519 6. Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, 4.3, $2,825

1. Kaycee Feild, 87 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Outa Sight, $17,512 2. Steven Peebles on Andrews Rodeo’s Cool Spot and Clint Cannon on Three Hills Rodeo’s Peaches & Cream, 86.5, $12,145 4. Steven Dent, 86 on Sankey Rodeo’s Broadway, $7,344 5. Kelly Timberman on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Satin Sheets and Justin McDaniel on J Bar J Inc’s Bar Bandit, 85, $3,672.

Everyone in rodeo knows Cody Whitney as a fun-loving cowboy. He smiles. A lot. And he likes to play pranks and tricks and keep everybody else smiling, too. The two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier is having a much better 2010 championship. Last year he earned just $17,416, less than a go-round winner earns this year. Through three rounds, Whitney has ridden all his bulls and had two second-place finishes. So far, he’s earned $27,680. Not too shabby.

1. Matt Reeves, 3.4 seconds, $17,512 2. Wade Sumpter, 3.6, $13,840 3. Ethen Thouvenell and Josh Peek, 3.9, $8,897 5. Nick Guy, 4.1, $4,519 6. Todd Suhn, 4.2, $2,825

Trell Etbauer is in Las Vegas tonight, even though he didn’t qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He’s here to receive his Linderman Award, given to the cowboy who excells in roughstock and timed events. While the all-around goes to the contestant who earns the most money in multiple events, the Liniderman is a better reflection of cowboy because winners must compete in at least three events on each end of the arena. Trell, the son of two-time world champion bronc rider Robert Etbauer, rides broncs, ropes calves and wrestles steers. Etbauer finished 20th in the all-around world standings, but he hopes to earn a spot in this field in all three events. That’s just the way winners think.

1. Cody Wright, 88 points on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Spanish Pair, $17,512 2. Jesse Wright, 87.5 on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Sundance, $13,840 3. Wade Sundell, 84 on Calgary Stampede’s Luxurious Bubbles, $10,451 4. Scott Miller, 80 on Harvey Northcott Rodeo’s Get Smart, $7,344 5. Cody DeMoss, 79.5 on Three Hills Rodeo’s Prom Nite, $4,519 6. J.J. Elshere, 78.5 on Sankey Rodeo’s Soduku, $2,825

LAS VEGAS – If you ask Justin McDaniel, he’ll gladly tell you he likes to ride the toughest bucking horses in the business. No, it’s not a disease. It’s a passion. It’s what defines a champion. On Saturday night during the third go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, McDaniel, the 2008 world champion bareback rider from Porum, Okla., spurred Outlawbuckers Rodeo’s Ols Tubs Ross River for 84.5 points to finish in a tie for second place. He added $12,145, marking his NFR earnings at $21,043 – in three nights in Sin City, McDaniel has moved his season earnings to $102,893. “That’s the kind of pen I like,” said McDaniel, 24, referring to the “eliminator” bareback horses. “I think the ranker the horses, the better chance I have. I seem to win more on those kinds of horses. Everyone gets nervous, but really, those are just the best horses in the world that we win on all year.” Obviously that’s true. McDaniel shared the third-round win a year ago on the back of another eliminator, and Olds Tubs Ross River’s stumble might have cost McDaniel the round victory Saturday night – on the 100-point scale, judges mark half the score on the horse and half on how well the cowboy rides and spurs in time with the animal; the bronc’s stagger might’ve meant a point or two less from the judges. “I’ve had him before at Puyallup and won second on him in the four-man round,” McDaniel said. “He’s a strong horse. He didn’t have his day because he slipped there, but he got really strong when we got over off the wall. “I like the ones that test you. Those are the horses that separate the men from the boys.” McDaniel has ridden three horses for a cumulative total of 250 points, which puts him in a four-way tie for second place in the all-important average race – at the end of the 10-day event, the contestant in each event with the best cumulative time or score will win nearly $45,000. And while some contestants took a more conservative approach to riding the rankest horses in the business on Saturday night, McDaniel showed off the form that helped him win the coveted gold buckle two seasons ago. “That’s just my spur lick,” he said, referring to the spurring motion from the horses’ neck to the handle of his rigging. “I’m not looking to just get by one; I’m trying to win the round every time I go out there.” That’s just the way cowboys do it.

LAS VEGAS – D.V. Fennell is a ProRodeo veteran who plied his trade on the backs of every kind of bareback horse in the business. On Saturday night during the third go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, his experience paid off when the Neosho, Mo., cowboy rode the Beutler & Son Rodeo horse Killer Bee for 81 points to finish sixth. It marked the first paycheck of this year’s championship, but Fennell believes it’s just the start of something good. “A roll has got to start somewhere, so I think this is the night,” said Fennell, born in Utah and raised in southeast Oklahoma who lived in Stroud, Okla., for several years. “I used an old champ’s routine on that horse. I knew it was a good one, but I knew it’d take a little while for him to get started, so I just waited until he really got to bucking, and then we went at it.” The third-round NFR bareback horses are called the eliminators, so just riding through the storm is sometimes an accomplishment. “Shoot, those are the horses that’ll yank the tar out of you, but it’s a cowboy test,” said Fennell, who was part of rodeo teams at Vernon (Texas) College and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “You’ve just got to grit your teeth and bear down. The best thing you can do is just go at ’em.” Fennell remains No. 15 in the world standings, and the $2,825 check he earned Saturday night didn’t change his place on the money list. But it did provide a splash of momentum. “The thing about the finals is that it’s 10 head, 10 days, 10 times to win that money,” Fennell said. “You get a chance to nod your head for $17,000 every night. That’s what you work for all year, to get yourself in that position. “Now we just need to do it.”

1. Kanin Asay, 91 points on Wild Card Rodeo’s Pocket Change, $17,512 2. Cody Whitney, 90.5 on Burns Rodeo’s Kid Twist, $13,840 3. J.W. Harris, 88.5 on Andrews Rodeo’s Body Works, $10,450 4. D.J. Domangue, 87.5 on Cervi & Guidry Rodeo’s Multi-Chem Comet’s Surprise, $7,344 5. Seth Glause on Cervi & Guidry’s Red Brand Amy’s Pet and Dustin Elliott on Burns Rodeo’s Full Throttle, $3,672

1. Sherry Cervi, 13.65 seconds, $17,512 2. Lindsay Sears, 13.75, $13,840 3. Jill moody, 13.83, $10,450 4. Kelli Tolbert, 13,84, $7,344 5. Sydni Blanchard, 13.96, $4,5190 6. Brenda Mays and Christina Richman, 14.06, $1,412

1. Tuf Cooper, 6.9 seconds, $17,512 2. Clif Cooper and Scott Kormos, 7.3, $12,145 4. Ryan Jarrett, 7.6, $7,344 5. Shane Hachney, 8.0, $4,519 6. Stran Smith and Fred Whitfield, 8.3, $1,412