Monthly Archives: December 2011

It’s been four nights since the final bull was bucked at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and the last image we can remember from the Thomas & Mack Center dirt was Shane Proctor being laid upon a backboard and hauled out of the golden yellow gates. While Proctor suffered a broken left arm that will require surgery, the injury isn’t nearly as severe as we first thought. That’s a blessing, but there were several over the 10 days of competition in Las Vegas. Whether it was Jhett Johnson, a cancer survivor, winning the team roping go-round on Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night or Seth Glause riding just his second bull at the NFR on opening day and posting the best bull riding score of the night or Jane Melby winning three rounds of barrel racing in her first NFR appearance. My schedule didn’t allow for many hot posts from behind the scenes, but I hope to make up for that very soon, but I’m blessed by all those great opportunities. Keep coming back, folks. Enjoy the ride.

LAS VEGAS – About an hour after his final run of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Jhett Johnson was sporting some new hardware. The shiny object glistened with silver, white and gold, a reflection of a fantastic 10 days in the Nevada desert for Johnson and his heading partner, Turtle Powell. The trophy hung on Johnson’s belt just below his belly, and it was for winning the average championship at the NFR. It was the first of two Montana Silversmiths buckles Johnson collected on Saturday night. Without the average title, the cowboy from Casper, Wyo., won’t be wearing the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle awarded to the year’s world champion. He and Powell clinched their first world titles on Saturday during the final night of the 2011 ProRodeo season. “It means everything,” said Johnson, who attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University on rodeo scholarships. “It means I rodeoed this long, and it wasn’t for nothing.” It also means his title has changed. “There is one world champion team ropers, and it’s me and Turtle,” Johnson said. “I’m champ of the world from now on.” If it weren’t for the challenges and rugged competition that come along with competing in ProRodeo’s grand finale, the reflection of a terrific NFR would be long-lived. The key to the $125,625 10 days in Las Vegas was starting strong and finishing smart. The cowboys placed in eight of 10 rounds, including two victories.  They closed out the title run with a 10-second 10th round, which reflected their status heading into the final night of competition. “It didn’t even have to be a clean run, and we’d win the average,” Johnson said of his thoughts before he and Powell walked their horses into the roping box. The tandem’s mindset, though, was to continue to press the issue. They moved from 12th in the world standings at the start of ProRodeo’s championship event to win the title. “We never backed off,” said Powell of Stephenville, Texas. “We kept going at them, and it worked out for us.” Saturday’s run ended a long day for the ropers, who knew quite well they had a chance to rope the most coveted prize in their sport, the gold buckles. “It’s been all day,” Johnson said Saturday night. “I have thought all day. It was hard to eat, just the anxiety. Once I got here and got my hands on my horse, my rope, talked to Turtle, then we could get down to business, but the day’s been hell.” The night was heaven, though. After visiting with media, Johnson, Powell and their families were whisked off in a limousine ride to the Mirage for the gold buckle presentation. That’s where Johnson took off his average trophy, handed it to his wife, Jenny, and fastened that world championship memento to his belt – his three sons, Kellan, Carson and Kress, will wear the three go-round buckles he has earned in his five trips to the NFR. Of course, winning his first world championship is a memory the Wyoming cowboy will carry with him wherever he goes, but there’s more to this title. The challenges Johnson and Powell faced in 10 nights in Las Vegas were nothing compared to the regular season. Powell’s good horse, Vegas, got sick in July and has been on the road to recovery ever since; Powell’s mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, and she’s been fighting the disease most of the year; and Powell and his wife, Molly, welcomed a son, Layne Edward, this year. While the latter was a tremendous blessing, it meant time away from the rodeo trail for the six-time NFR qualifier. “It’s just one more fairy tale deal,” Johnson said. “Like I told some guys earlier, it’s a private club that only Turtle and I are in. It’s been a lot for Turtle and I.” The two have been friends for a number of years, but they’ve only been roping together consistently the last two seasons. “It’s amazing, because Jhett and I have been friends for a long time,” Powell said. “He was in my wedding. He’s been a very special friend of mine, so to win it with him, it’s even better.” Johnson, 40, is looking at slowing down a little on his rodeo career. Though consistently he’s been one of the best in the game, the miles on the road traveling across the country and the time spent away from his home have taken their toll. “It ain’t time to quit; I’ll never quit,” Johnson said. “But I’d like to spend more time with my boys. If you want to go out on top, I guess I this is top.” Yes, it is.

LAS VEGAS – After months of traveling across the country, Casey Colletti found a pretty good place to make a significant living. Colletti, a bareback rider from Pueblo, Colo., found a small fortune in a week and a half in the Nevada desert, and it wasn’t at the blackjack table at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. No, Colletti did his best work on the backs of the greatest bucking horses in ProRodeo during his first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “This is just awesome,” said Colletti, who attended Garden City (Kan.) Community College on a rodeo scholarship. “To have this kind of week here … I really never even dreamed about it.” Colletti placed in seven of 10 go-rounds on ProRodeo’s biggest stage, including the victory on the ninth night by riding Smith Harper & Morgan’s Jessie’s girl for 87.5 points. His final night might’ve been the busiest for the 25-year-old cowboy, who was matched against a fantastic horse, Lancaster & Pickett’s Top Flight. But the animal slipped to the ground, resulting in a 70.5 score and the option for a re-ride – in rodeo’s roughstock events, cowboys can take a re-ride if the animal does not perform well enough. So Colletti mounted Beutler & Son Rodeo’s South Point, and the result was 75.5 points, several spots out of the money. Still, Colletti had a pretty strong week, the fourth best among the 15 best bareback riders in the world, 13 of which have played on the biggest stage in ProRodeo before – Colletti and Oregon cowboy Brian Bain were the only two NFR rookies in the field. In all, the Colorado cowboy earned $82,644, including a check of $15,577 for finishing fifth in the average race with a cumulative total of 820 points through 10 rides. “To have a week like that is, really, unbelievable,” he said.

LAS VEGAS – Being a bull rider is tough business, but it’s a job Seth Glause takes to heart. Of course, it helps when you’re one of the best. Glause, of Rock Springs, Wyo., just finished his run at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the third time in four years, and he had the best 10 days in Las Vegas in his career. Glause, who attended Central Wyoming College and Oklahoma Panhandle State University on rodeo scholarships, rode three bulls, placing in the first, sixth and 10th go-rounds of ProRodeo’s championship event – actually, he won the first round with an 86.5-point ride, collecting the winner’s payday of $17,885 and securing a coveted Montana Silversmiths Go-Round Buckle. “I think I’m riding better at the finals than I have before,” he said. “I’m more comfortable.” It’s showed. In his previous two trips to the Nevada desert – in 2008 and 2010 – Glause rode just one bull. He tripled those figures this December and collected his greatest earnings, $30,000. But as one of the elite, qualifying for Vegas means intense challenges. Not only are the other cowboys part of the top 15 in the world standings, they’re going to be matched against the greatest bulls in ProRodeo for 10 nights. Even for the best in the world, it’s hard to stay atop 1,800 pounds of twisting muscle. L.J. Jenkins of Porum, Okla., won the NFR average with a cumulative score of 501 points on six qualified rides. Bobby Welsh of Gillette, Wyo., is the only other bull rider to hang onto six for the qualifying eight seconds, and he finished second in the aggregate. Only three cowboys in the history of the game have ridden all 10 bulls at the NFR, and it’s been 17 years since it happened the last time – Adriano Moraes won the average in 1994. Glause’s finals ride came Saturday night during the 10th round of the marathon event at the Thomas & Mack Center, when he matched moves with Burns Rodeo’s Kids Twist for 85.5 points. That was good enough for fourth place in the round, worth $7,500. “I think it went pretty good,” he said. “I think I could’ve ridden more bulls, but I’m pretty happy.”

It was a magical final night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Of the nine disciplines that awarded Montana Silversmiths gold buckles in Las Vegas, seven came down to the final ride or final run of this year’s championship — only Trevor Brazile’s ninth all-around title and Kaycee Feild’s first bareback riding championship were clinched earlier in the week. That made Saturday’s round final round a lot of fun. Click HERE to see some behind-the-scenes fun.

53rd annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev. December 10, 2011 Tenth round Bareback riding: 1. Kaycee Field, Payson, Utah, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night, $17,885; 2. (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 86, $12,404 each; 4. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 85.5, $7,500; 5. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 85.0, $4,615; 6. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 83.5, $2,885; 7. (tie) Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., and  Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 82 each; 9. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 80.5; 10. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 75.5; 11. (tie) Brian Bain, Culver, Ore.; Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas; Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore.; Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, and Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., NS. Average: 1. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 860.5 points on ten head, $45,865; 2. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 833.5, $37,212; 3. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 827.5, $29,423; 4. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 824.0, $21,635; 5. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 820.0, $15,577; 6. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 817.5, $11,250; 7. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 803.5, $7,788; 8. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 775.5, $4,327; 9. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 736.5 on nine head; 10. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 713.5; 11. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 640.5 on eight head; 12. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, 542.5 on seven head; 13. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 485.0 on six head; 14. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., 380.0 on five head; 15. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 329.0 on four. World standings: 1. Kaycee Field, $319,986 (single-season record); 2. Will Lowe, $235,134; 3. Bobby Mote, $180,672; 4. Steven Dent, $161,924; 5. Casey Colletti, $155,672; 6. Ryan Gray, $137,257; 7. Cody DeMers, $115,285; 8. Clint Cannon, $112,226; 9. Brian Bain, $108,200; 10. Steven Peebles, $100,972. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., and Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas, 3.6 seconds, $16,010 each; 3. (tie) Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., and Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.0, $9,087 each; 5. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 4.1, $4,615; 6. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.7, $2,885; 7. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., 5.0; 8. (tie) Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., and  Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 5.7 each; 10. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 13.5; 11. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho, 13.9; 12. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 14.0; 13. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 14.9; 14. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 17.5; 15. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., NT. Average: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 41.9 seconds on 10 head, $45,865; 2. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 50.1, $37,212; 3. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 50.7, $29,423; 4. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 53.5, $21,635; 5. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 54.3, $15,577; 6.  Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 56.6, $11,250; 7. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 71.8, $7,788; 8. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 40.8 on nine head, $4,327; 9. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 43.0; 10. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., 57.8; 11. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., 62.5; 12. Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas, 67.7; 13. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 56.0 on eight head 14. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., 37.6 on seven head; 15. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho, 41.6. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $234,518; 2. Shawn Greenfield, $178,420; 3. Jason Miller, $177,455; 4. Trevor Knowles, 167,860; 5. Dean Gorsuch, $141,857; 6. Billy Bugenig, $125,107; 7. Jake Rinehart, $124,123; 8. Mickey Gee, $96,747; 9. Casey Martin, $93,496; 10. Olin Hannum, $93,059. Team roping: 1. (tie) Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., and Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., 3.6 seconds, $16,010 each; 3. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 3.8, $10,673; 4. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas, 6.9, $7,500; 5. Matt Sherwood, Pima , Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 8.6, $4,615; 6. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 10.0, $2,885; 7. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 11.2; 8. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 20.2; 9. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas; Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar  de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz.; Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas; Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas; Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.; Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., and Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., NT. Average: 1. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 57.5 seconds on nine head, $45,865 each; 2. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas, 72.4, $37,212; 3. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 79.7, $29,423; 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, 48.1 on eight, $21,635; 5. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 56.5, $15,577; 6. Matt Sherwood, Pima , Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 40.1 on seven, $11,250; 7. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., 46.8, $7,788; 8. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 53.8, $4,327; 9. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 35.4 on six head; 10. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., 21.3 on five head; 11. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 25.8; 12. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, 36.1; 13. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar  de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 46.0; 14. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 32.9 on four head; 15. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 32.2 on three head. World standings (headers): 1. Turtle Powell, $195,407; 2. Clay Tryan, $189,649; 3. Matt Sherwood, $159,706; 4. Chad Masters, $150,013; 5. Trevor Brazile, $144,751; 6. Jake Barnes, $139,760; 7. Derrick Begay, $134,043; 8. Erich Rogers, $132,236; 9. Brady Tryan, $129,061; 10. Luke Brown, $122,334. World standings (heelers): 1. Jhett Johnson, $197,112; 2. Travis Graves, $189,649; 3. Cory Petska, $170,472; 4. Jade Corkill, $152,976; 5. Patrick Smith, $144,751; 6. Walt Woodard, $139,775; 7. Kory Koontz, $135,070; 8. Cesar de la Cruz, $134,043; 9. Jake Long, $129,061; 10. Martin Lucero, $122,334. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Eight Ball, $17,885; 2. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 86.5, $14,135; 3. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 84, $10,673; 4. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D., 83.5, $7,500; 5. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 82.5, $4,615; 6. Taos Muncy, Corona,  Continue Reading »

Shane Proctor won the bull riding world championship with $238,249. He suffered a badly broken arm in a wreck on his last ride, according to one of the media room workers.

Not only did Kaycee Feild set a new average record in bareback riding with 860.5 points through 10 rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but he won (or shared the win) on six nights. He earned $179,327 the past week and a half in Las Vegas. Because of that, he was named the Ram Top Gun Award and a new pickup. Yeah, Kaycee’s had a good NFR.

Canadian Lindsay Sears won the NFR average and the world championship. It’s her second title.

Tuf Cooper, one of three sons of legendary roper Roy Cooper, has won the world title in tie-down roping. Matt Shiozawa won the average.

Saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy of Corona, N.M., won a Montana Silversmiths gold buckle for the second time in his career. He also won the world title in 2007.

Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson won the team roping world championships, also winning the average title. It’s been a great finals for both cowboys.

Luke Branquinho won his third world championship in steer wrestling.

Casey Colletti was awarded a re-ride after his horse, Lancaster & Pickett’s Top Flight, slipped to the ground. Kaycee Feild is winning the round with an 87 on Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night. Colletti will lead off saddle bronc riding.

We’re just a few minutes away from the final round of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There are some outstanding races still to be decided, and it’s going to come down to the last run of the last night before we know. This is the way it should be, isn’t it. It provides a perfect backdrop to the challenge these contestants have faced all season long.

LAS VEGAS – Shhh … Casey Colletti is dreaming, and it’s pretty good. Colletti, a bareback rider from Pueblo, Colo., competing in his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, won Friday’s ninth go-round with an 87.5-point ride on Smith Harper & Morgan’s Jessie’s Girl pocking $17,885 in the process. He has placed seven times in nine nights and earned $67,067. “It’s just unreal,” said Colletti, who attended Garden City (Kan.) Community College on a rodeo scholarship. “It’s like a dream, and I don’t want to wake up.” He’s got one more round to go and a significant amount of money on the line on Saturday night. In addition to the go-round payouts, a large check in the average is on the line for the most consistent bareback riders in the 10 nights of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center. He’s ridden well so far; he wants it to continue on the final night. “I’d seen Royce Ford have her at Ogden (Utah) this year, and he was 89 points on her,” Colletti said of Jessie’s Girl. “I just loved her since that day. This is really a good place to have her. She felt phenomenal. What bareback riders dream of is that horse. It was just fun to show off and have a blast. Best day ever.” The ride propelled Colletti to third in the average with a nine-round cumulative total of 744.5 points. The money moved him to fourth place in the world standings with $140,185, moving up from 10th. “It’s pretty wild,” he said. “I never dreamed I’d place in seven of nine rounds.” As he’s slept, though, his thoughts have always been part of this field – only the top 15 in the world standings at the conclusion of the regular season earn the right to compete in Las Vegas. It’s the home of the elite contestants in ProRodeo. “I’ve dreamed about this forever,” he said. Colletti is No. 2 in bareback riding earnings so far, and he trails only Kaycee Feild (first) and Bobby Mote (second) in the aggregate race – Mote is a four-time world champion, and Feild clinched the 2011 Montana Silversmiths gold buckle on Friday. “Kaycee Feild has been riding tough all week,” Colletti said. “My hat’s off to that guy, he is a machine and, gosh, he’s hard to beat. It ended up working good for me, anyway.” He’s been saying that throughout the NFR, with good reason.

LAS VEGAS – Friday’s run wasn’t the fastest for Jhett Johnson and Turtle Powell at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It didn’t count for the biggest go-round check. But when the team ropers stopped the clock in 5.0 seconds, it might’ve been the most important run of this year’s championship event at the Thomas & Mack Center. You see, Johnson, of Casper, Wyo., and Powell, of Stephenville, Texas, are in a race for their first world championship with one round to go on Saturday night. Powell is No. 2 in the heading world standings with $146,657 in 2011 earning, just $13,679 behind leader Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont. Johnson is third with $148,361, about $11,850 behind Travis Graves. The big difference will come at the end of Saturday night’s 10th go-round, when the average payouts are tabulated. Johnson and Powell are No. 1 in the average with a cumulative total of 47.5 seconds on eight qualified runs. Reigning world champions Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith are second in the aggregate but well off the pace in the world standings. Through nine nights of ProRodeo’s grand finale, Powell and Johnson have earned $76,875 each. They’d love to make more. If they remain first in the average through the 10th round, they’ll add $45,865. That, likely, will help them earn the first Montana Silversmiths gold buckles in their established careers.

Not sure why Jacob O’Mara didn’t take his re-ride, but as soon as I find out, I’ll try to let you know. 1. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., 90.5 points on Robinson Pro Rodeo’s RMEF Bugle, $17,885; 2. Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas, 89, $14,135; 3. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 87, $10,673; 4. L.J. Jenkins, Porum, Okla., 84.5, $7,500; 5. Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo., 83, $4,615.

1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.79 seconds, $17,885; 2. Jody Sheffield, Ogden, Utah, 13.82, $14,135; 3. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 13.88, $10,673; 4. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.90, $7,500; 5. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 13.98, $4,615; 6. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 13.99, $2,885.

1. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 87 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Cimarron Jack, $17,885; 2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., and Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82, $12,404 each; 5. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 67, $4,615; no other qualified rides.

1. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 7.6 seconds, $17,885; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 7.7, $14,135; 3. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.1, $10,673; 4. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 8.6, $7,500; 5. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 8.8, $4,615; 6. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 9.2, $2,885.

The back judge in saddle bronc riding gave reigning world champion Cody Wright a free roll, meaning the cowboy didn’t have to have a mark out over the horse’s shoulders when the animal’s front feet hit the ground. Without the free roll, missing the mark out is a disqualification, which is what everybody thought had happened. But the judges conferred, and he was rewarded with an 82. With that, we’re waiting on the changes in the results before I can post.

1. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 3.6 seconds, $17,885; 2. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 3.7, $14,135; 3. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, and Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 3.8, $9,087 each; 5. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 3.9, $4,615; 6. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 5.9, $2,885.

1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., and Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 3.6 seconds, $14,231 each; 4. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 3.8, $7,500; 5. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.0, $2,500 each.