Monthly Archives: December 2011

1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 7.4 seconds, $17,885; 2. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, and Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 7.5, $12,404 each; 4. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.7, $7,500; 5. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 7.8, $3,750 each.

1. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 3.8 seconds, $17,885; 2. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.0, $14,135; 3. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 4.1, $10,673; 4. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 4.3, $7,500; 5. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 4.6, $4,615; 6. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 5.3, $2,885.

1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night, $17,885; 2. Kaycee Field, Payson, Utah, 88, $14,135; 3. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 87,$10,673; 4. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, and Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 86.5, $6,058 each; 6. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 86, $1,442 each.

1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif, 3.5 seconds, $17,884; 2. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 3.7, $14,135; 3. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 3.9, $10,673; 4. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.0, $7,500; 5. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.1, $3,750 each.

The Calgary Stampede’s Rapper Margie didn’t have a very good trip on Monday night. Jason Havens gets a re-ride. We’ll await that to post the results from bareback riding, but Ryan Gray leads with a magnificent 90-point ride on Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night.

LAS VEGAS – There’s a reason cowboys are finding their way to the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino every day of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The MGM Grand is the Home of Champions, and the resort is playing a big-time host to ProRodeo’s biggest names. Not only that, but the resort is offering unheard of amenities to guests in town for the rodeo and those just wanting to be part of the hottest place on The Strip during rodeo’s championship event. Trevor Brazile is a veteran of the game and the record-holder for most all-around world titles in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association history. In fact, he just clinched his ninth all-around title – his 16th world championship overall – during Sunday afternoon’s fourth go-round. The MGM Grand is home to Brazile and his family during their stay in the City of Lights, just as it has been for years. “The MGM is great, and the people there really make you comfortable,” said Brazile, of Decatur, Texas. As the 10 days of competition continues at the Thomas & Mack Center, the festivities at the MGM Grand continue to grow. The NRS Shopping Experience began Sunday at the Marquee Ballroom and will take place daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for the duration of ProRodeo’s championship event. “It’s really fun for all who come, because it’s different than so many of the big shopping experiences all over town during the NFR,” one shopper said Sunday afternoon. “There’s different stuff than the other trade shows, some unique gifts. “Probably what I liked most is that it was more spread out and not so cramped. It gave me plenty of room to shop.” That turned out to be a nice benefit for the shopper, also a guest at one of the MGM Grand properties. “I’d been to several other trade shows, and the NRS was the best experience I had,” she said. “It offered something for everyone, from cool trailers and trucks, to roping things for the guys to cute jewelry and clothes for the girls. I hope the MGM keeps this up.” Of course, the MGM Grand is known for being a great host to some of the greatest events to hit Las Vegas, and Monday’s American Country Awards will be presented live on Fox from the MGM Grand Garden Arena beginning at 8 p.m. Easter, 5 p.m. Pacific. It’s hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, the only awards show that gives fans the chance to vote on their favorite artists. With it’s proximity to the NFR action at the Thomas & Mack Center, the MGM Grand has become the place to be with the best After Party in Las Vegas. For those who don’t have tickets to rodeo’s Grand Finale, the Hollywood Theatre will have a live feed (doors open at 5:30 p.m. Pacific), but the big celebration kicks off at 9 p.m. at the Gold Buckle Zone. Live music from Annabelle Road and Western Justice and plenty of other exciting things await those who want to celebrate with the top cowboys and cowgirls in the game. Texas comedian Rodney Carrington will perform 10 o’clock nightly at the Hollywood Theatre. The MGM Grand is host to the Miss Rodeo America pageant, which has a number of activities taking place all week long. The pageant’s fashion show will begin at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hollywood Theatre. All the MGM contestants – including Brazile and other world champions like bull riders J.W. Harris and Wesley Silcox; bareback riders Will Lowe and Bobby Mote; barrel racers Lindsay Sears and Brittany Pozzi and many more that are part of this year’s championship – will be available during an autograph session beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday. The festivities will wrap Saturday, Dec. 10, with the official Trevor Brazile After-Party, with a performance by the Eli Young Band at the Gold Buckle Zone. “The MGM is a great location, not just for the NFR but because it’s right off the strip,” said Jason Miller, the 2007 world champion steer wrestler who has won $49,000 in just four days of competition. “If you need anything, it’s right there at the MGM.”

LAS VEGAS – Sometimes things just go your way. That was the case for team ropers Jhett Johnson and Turtle Powell on Sunday during the fourth round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. They got a late start on a fast-running steer, caught the animal in 8.0 seconds, but suffered a 5-second penalty with one hind leg snagged. Still, the tandem placed sixth in the round and collected a check for the fourth straight night of ProRodeo’s championship event. Powell, a six-time NFR qualifying header from Stephenville, Texas, had to chase the steer past the middle of the arena, which isn’t conducive to the blazing times typically needed to earn money in the go-rounds. Once the steer was caught, Powell turned the animal for Johnson, a heeler from Casper, Wyo., making his fifth appearance in Las Vegas. Johnson attempted to tangle the steer’s two hind legs in his rope, but the attempt was along the arena fence. That cost the tandem precious time. But the fourth round wasn’t one for the record books, to say the least. Just six of the 15 teams in the field had a time, and only two teams – Luke Brown and Martin Lucero and Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith – scored clean runs, meaning no penalties; the other four teams who had qualified times roped just one leg and suffered the penalty. Still, Powell and Johnson are second place in the average race with a four-run cumulative time of 25.6 seconds. They trail Brazile and Smith, the average leaders and reigning world champions, by about five seconds, so that penalty has come into play in the aggregate. Johnson and Powell have had a fantastic NFR. They’re the only team to have placed in each of the first four rounds. In the process, they have collected an event-best $43,702 each.

LAS VEGAS – Most people in Oklahoma would love to make $20,000 over the course of a few weeks. Stockton Graves has earned $20,192 in just four days of wrestling steers at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but he’s not satisfied. Graves, 33, of Newkirk, Okla., has placed in each of the first four go-rounds in ProRodeo’s grand finale, stopping the clock in 4.3 seconds (tied for fifth in Round 1), 3.9 seconds (tied for fourth in Round 2), 4.6 seconds (sixth place in Round 3) and 3.9 (four place in Round 4). “I’m not disappointed, but, yeah, it’s time to pick it up and start winning some firsts and seconds,” said Graves, who grew up in Ponca City, Okla. “I can’t complain, because there are a lot of guys who haven’t won anything, but I didn’t come out here to just win fourth and fifth.” This is rodeo’s championship event, and at the conclusion of its 10-day run, the world champions will be crowned in each event. Only the top 15 in the world standings at the conclusion of the regular season earn the right to play for the biggest pay in the sport, a purse of $6 million. Go-round winners will earn $17,885 each night. Sunday’s round was quite tough for the best wrestlers in the world. It wasn’t easy to get a clean run, meaning everything from the release off the horse to grappling the bovine to the ground goes smoothly. The steers used in year’s championship seem to be a little tougher than years past, Graves said. “You don’t want something bad to happen, but on the other hand, it’s something you can’t control,” said Graves, who just two weeks ago was announced as the rodeo coach at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. “You bulldog and do what you can do, then just see what happens. “It’s been a very close bulldogging every night. I’ve been 3.9 twice and placed at the bottom, but I’ve been here when 3.9 didn’t place at all. After seeing all three pens of steers we have here, I think 3.9 is going to place pretty regularly, though.” What is making it so tough? “I think the steer are fresher,” he said, noting that these animals haven’t been run in competition as much as some steers. “They’re by no means big, but they do try a little more. Maybe the less runs that are on them is why they do try a little more, but I think that’s better than running worn out steers that know what’s going on. “These guys are the top 15 in the world. Everybody bulldogs great; that’s why they’re here. You just keep running at them every night and try to win money.”

LAS VEGAS – Matt Sherwood’s been around the team roping game a long time, so he knew the odds were against his 10.5-second run making any money Sunday during the fourth go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Sometimes the odds work in the player’s favor, even in Las Vegas. Sherwood and his partner, Cory Petska of Marana, Ariz., finished the day in fifth place, earning checks worth $4,615 each – only the top six times and scores earn money at the NFR. “I was a little late, and that steer we had ran a little more than I was expecting,” said Sherwood, a two-time world champion header from Pima, Ariz. “When I looked at that time, I was pretty sure there was no way we were going to win any money, but then things fell apart.” Yes, they did. How bad was it? During Saturday’s third round, a 4.6-second run finished sixth. On Sunday, Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith settled for 4.7 seconds to earn second-place round money. Good fortune sometimes follows those who work hardest, and that’s definitely the case with Sherwood and Petska. The team has placed in three of four go-rounds and earned $28,558 just before the midway point of the 10-night marathon, where ProRodeo’s world champions will be crowned. Sherwood has moved up one spot to third place in the heading world standings, while Petska is the No. 2 heeler. The goal, of course, is that elusive world championship, and it takes consistency over the course of the regular season; that plays a big role in how the game is played on ProRodeo’s biggest stage, where go-round winners earn a check for $17,885 each night. Sherwood and Petska are veterans – this is Petska’s ninth trip to the NFR, while Sherwood has earned the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle awarded to world champions in his two previous qualifications to Las Vegas. The two are fourth in the average race with a four-run cumulative time of 19.1 seconds. They’re most important task is to collect as much money in the go-rounds as possible – in rodeo, dollars not only help pay bills but also are the points that determine championships; the contestant in each event with the most money won through the conclusion of the NFR will be crowned world champion. Still, there’s a $45,865 payout awaiting the roper with the top cumulative time when the 10th round is complete. Petska is $5,000 behind heeling leader Travis Graves, while Sherwood is about $16,000 behind Clay Tryan. Of course, one go-round win for the Arizona tandem might make a big difference in just one night.

Two down, two to go. Trevor Brazile won his 16th world title and second of the 2011 campaign, clinching his ninth all-around championship less than a month after winning his third steer roping title. He remains in contention for the tie-down roping and team roping-heading Montana Silversmiths gold buckles.

53rd annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev. December 4, 2011 Fourth round Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., on Three Hills Rodeo’s Peaches & Cream, and Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, on Harry Vold Rodeo Company’s Hypnotic, 87 points, $16,010 each; 3. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 83.5, $10,673; 4. (tie) Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 83, $6,058 each; 6. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 82.5, $2,885; 7. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 82 each; 9. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, 81.5; 10. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., 80.5; 11. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 79.5; 12. (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 78.5 each; 14. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 77; 15. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 75.5. Steer wrestling: 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 3.3 seconds, $17,885; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 3.5, $14,135; 3. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.8, $10,673; 4. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., 3.9, $7,500; 5. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 4.0, $4,615; 6. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 4.2, $2,885; 7. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 5.1; 8. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 5.2; 9. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 5.5; 10. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho, 6.2; 11. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 11.9; 12. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., 13.9; 13. Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas, 14.0; 14. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., 18.0; 15. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 18.4. Team roping: 1. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 4.3 seconds, $17,885 each; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, 4.7, $14,135; 3. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, 9.3, $10,673; 4. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 9.8, $7,500; 5. Matt Sherwood, Pima , Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 10.5, $4,615; 6. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 13.0, $2,885; 7. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 18.8; 8. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar  de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 18.9; 9. (tie) Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif.; Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas; Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.; Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga.; Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M.; Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., and Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., NT. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 89.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Eight Ball, $17,885; 2. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 85.0, $14,135; 3. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 81.0, $10,673; 4. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 76.5, $7,500; 5. (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah; Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.; Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La.; Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D.; Ty Atchison, Jackson, Mo.; Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D.; Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., NS. Tie-down roping: 1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 7.3 seconds, $17,885; 2.    Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 7.4, $14,135; 3. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.6, $10,673; 4. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.7, $7,500; 5.     (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., and Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.8, $3,750 each; 7. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 8.2; 8. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 8.6; 9.    (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 8.8 each; 11. (tie) Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, and Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 9.5 each; 13. Jerrad Hofstetter, Portales, N.M., 9.7; 14. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 14.9; 15. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 18.9. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.81 seconds, $17,885; 2.        Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 13.90, $14,135; 3. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 13.95, $10,673; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.99, $7,500; 5. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 14.00, $4,615; 6. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 14.11, $2,885; 7. Jody Sheffield, Ogden, Utah, 14.12; 8. Jane Melby, Backus, Minn., 14.16; 9. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 14.21; 10. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 14.22; 11. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 14.25; 12. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 14.28; 13. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., 14.31; 14. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 14.46; 15. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 19.87. Bull riding: 1. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 88.0 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Bailey Hou, $17,885; 2. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 84.0, $14,135; 3. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 73.0, $10,673; 4. Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., 68.5, $7,500; 5. (tie) Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash.; Jacob O’Mara, Prairieville, La.; Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah; Clayton Foltyn, El Campo, Texas; Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas; Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo.; L.J. Jenkins, Porum, Okla.; Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla.; Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, and Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., NS.

I love my camera, but I know there are limitations. One is that the lenses I have don’t allow much light, so it’s very difficult to shoot much action in a building like the Thomas & Mack Center.  So I did a few things differently on Saturday night, so take a look HERE. And don’t forget that the rodeo begins today at 12:45 p.m. Pacific.

LAS VEGAS – Through three go-rounds, Stockton Graves has stayed away from the limelight on the biggest stage in ProRodeo. On Saturday night, Graves secured his third straight paycheck at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, scoring a 4.6-second run. That was good enough for sixth place in the third round and a check worth $2,885. That moved his NFR earnings to $12,692. Not only that, but Graves also is fifth in the all-important average race with a three-run total of 12.8 seconds. Graves, who two weeks ago was announced as rodeo coach at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, is competing on ProRodeo’s grandest stage for the seventh time in his career. He missed last season, finishing the 2010 season 22nd in the final world standings – only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the NFR. Now the Newkirk, Okla., cowboy is hoping to make up for lost ground in 2011. That might just happen if he can remain consistent and keep his nerves as calm as possible. “You see guys go, and they’re way too excited and make mistakes,” Graves said. “I’ve been too pumped and went too fast. I just came in and tried to just be relaxed and do what I need to do to win.”

LAS VEGAS – Jhett Johnson makes no bones about the fact that he’s had several partners during his team roping career. In fact, Johnson, a heeler from Casper, Wyo., is competing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the fifth time, and he’s competing with his fifth header, Turtle Powell. But Johnson has taken plenty of lessons from every cowboy that has come across his path. “My last partner told me that it’s easier to keep winning than it is to start winning, and there’s a lot of truth to that,” said Johnson, 40, a cowboy who attended college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. Johnson and Powell placed for the third time in three go-rounds of ProRodeo’s grand championship, putting the exclamation point with a 4.1-second run to share the third-round victory with Georgia ropers Kaleb Driggers and Brad Culpepper. All told, Johnson and Powell have had a magnificent start to this year’s grand finale. “You’re roping against a lot of good people, so stuff has to go your way,” Powell said. It has so far. The tandem tied for second place in the first two rounds and now leads the average race with a three-run cumulative time of 12.6 seconds. Oh, and the two have earned $40,817 in just three nights in Las Vegas. “You can’t back off,” Powell said. “You have to keep making the same run, and hopefully we just stay hot.” Powell is competing at the NFR for the sixth time, but he’s roped with Johnson for a number of years; it’s just been the past couple of seasons the veteran ropers joined forces. But that camaraderie is showing grand results so far. “It’s one of the luxuries of being together for two years and off and on for our whole careers,” Johnson said. “We make the run we make, and days it wins and days it places.” So far, their runs are working very well. “I’m not feeling pressure, but I want to keep roping as sharp as we have,” said Johnson, who promotes his home state of Wyoming while on the rodeo trail. “I guess that’s the pressure … to keep this edge and to keep this momentum.”

LAS VEGAS – Jacob O’Mara was thrown off his first bull during the first round of his first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He hasn’t hit the ground early since, and on Saturday night during the third go-round of ProRodeo’s championship event, O’Mara matched moves with the bull Big Iron for 88.5 points for the best score on the night and a winner’s paycheck of $17,885. “That bull … I’ve been watching him go all year, and I couldn’t wait to see him next to my name,” said O’Mara, 20, of Prairieville, La. “I’ve been waiting for it all year, and just having him here at the finals with as much excitement as there is here, it couldn’t have worked out any better. It’s awesome.” So is O’Mara’s appearance through the NFR’s first three nights of the 10-round marathon. He finished third in the second round, and has earned $28,557 so far. He leads the all-important average race with the best cumulative score – he’s ridden two bulls for 174.5 points and leads the race to the NFR average title by five points over Wyoming cowboy Bobby Welsh. “I’m happy, but there’s a long road ahead,” O’Mara said. “We’ve got seven rounds left. Praise God it’s went this good so far, and just keep the ball rolling. “It’s just awesome to be here and be this successful and just being able to fulfill my dreams.” O’Mara has moved up one spot to third place in the world standings, yet still trails leader Shane Proctor by more than $67,000. But this is the richest rodeo in the world, with a $6 million purse. O’Mara has a chance to make a significant amount over the course of his 10 nights in the City of Lights. “I’ll just try to take care of business,” O’Mara said. “I’ll do what I know how to do and have fun. I don’t want to get to thinking too much.” The Louisiana cowboy has been one of the hottest bull riders going over the last few months, winning the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., and the All American ProRodeo Finals in Waco, Texas. Even though he was bucked off that first bull on Thursday night, he realizes nerves might’ve had something to do with it. “It had to be first night jitters, because that’s a bull I should ride, or anybody should ride, any day of the week,” he said. “I’m just glad I got that out of the way and can just keep the ball rolling this week.”

1. Jacob O’Mara, Prairieville, La., 88.5 points on Four L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Big Iron, $17,885; 2. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., 88, $14,135; 3. Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla., and J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 87.5, $9,087; 5. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 85.5, $4,615; 6. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 83.5, $2,885.

1. Jane Melby, Backus, Minn., 13.83 seconds, $17,883; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 13.99, $14,135; 3. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., and Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.00, $9,087 each; 5. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 14.01, $4,615; 6. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 14.02, $2,885.

1. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 7.6 seconds, $17,885; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.8, $12,404; 4. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 7.9, $7,500; 5. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 8.0, $4,615; 6. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 8.4, $962 each.

1. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Tip Off, $17,885; 2. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 85, $14,125; 3. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., and Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 83, $9,087 each; 5. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 82.5, $4,615; 6. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 80, $2,885.

1. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., and Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., 4.1 seconds, $16,010 each; 3., Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 4.4, $10,673; 4. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., and Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 4.5, $6,058 each; 6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., 4.6, $2,885.

1. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 3.5 seconds, $17,885; 2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.8, $14,135; 3. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., and Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.4, $9,087 each; 5. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.5, $4,615; 6. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., 4.6, $2,885.

Kaycee Feild is riding outstanding. He’s a phenomenal bareback rider, the son of a five-time world champion, Lewis Feild. But he didn’t deserve the win Saturday’s third go-round. The round should’ve been won by Steven Dent, who rode the horse of the year, Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage, for 89.5 points. I give Kaycee credit for his ability, but he became the first bareback rider since John Edwards in 1969 to win the first three go-rounds of the NFR. But Kaycee didn’t deserve the win; I’m not sure he should’ve placed higher than fourth. If the judges keep this up, the PRCA should just give Kaycee his first gold buckle right now.

1. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 90.5 points on Mosbrucker Rodeos’ Magic Wars, $17,885; 2. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 89.5, $14,135; 3. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 85, $10,673; 4. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 84.5, $7,500; 5. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 82, $4,615; 6. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 80, $2,885.

Scotty Lovelace is recognized as one of the stock contractors who has a bunch of great bareback horses. Guys like Lovelace and Pete Carr have established a fantastic herd. Lovelace, owner of Classic Pro Rodeo, told me tonight that his great horse, Big Tex, will likely move over to saddle bronc riding for the 2012 season.  Big Tex was the 2010 Bareback Riding Horse of the Year. “I want to see if he can win the halter over there, too,” Lovelace said.