Monthly Archives: February 2012

This is the 999th post on TwisTED Rodeo. There are a lot of things going on right now between RodeoHouston, Iron Cowboy III and the Timed Event Championship. If you are going to be at the Lazy E for the 28th annual Timed Event Championship, be sure to follow the Lazy E Arena (@LazyEArena) on Twitter or be a friend of the Lazy E on Facebook so you can keep track of news and information from the “Ironman Event of ProRodeo.” There will be trivia questions posted on Twitter and Facebook, and you’ll have a chance to win prizes. You might event have a chance to win some tickets to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 29-April 1 in Oklahoma City. The Timed Event Championship has been the playground for some of the greatest all-around timed-event cowboys in the history of ProRodeo. The unique event is a showcase of tremendous talent, and the challenge will feature five go-rounds spread over three days. It’s rugged, and it’s a test for even the best in the game.

Angie Meadors and Kollin VonAhn are dating. She’s a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, and he’s the 2009 world champion heeler. Oh, and this past weekend, they both laid claim to their respective titles at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo. VonAhn won $19,323, and Meadors collected about $1,000 less. Not a bad haul for the end of February. Meadors moved up to fifth in the world standings — it was her first paycheck of the 2012 season — while VonAhn is the top-ranked heeler. Those paydays can go a long ways in helping them back to Las Vegas in December. But one of the cool prizes they received, Meadors said, were $5,000 fuel cards. Since the two often travel the ProRodeo trail together, they have, essentially, $10,000 to use to get down the road. That’s the kind of perk one can win on.

GUYMON, Okla. – When Earl Helm first signed up on the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo committee, he thought he was just doing a little favor. In the eight years since, Helm has learned a lot more about it. “At first, they were asking for someone to help finding hay,” said Helm, in his first year as chairman of the volunteer committee. “The further I got into it, I saw how important it was for the community, for what the community was getting out of this rodeo. “Now it’s trying to get it to be the best show it can be. Every dollar that comes in to town for the rodeo gets turned over seven times approximately. That’s important for Guymon, for our community. That’s why I do this.” This is the 80th year for the annual celebration, with performances scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6. The competition begins with non-performance competition – known as slack in rodeo terms – taking place each day beginning Monday, April 30. Helm is just one of many community members who donate their time and talent to produce the annual event. A core group of directors works year-round, from raising money to produce one of the top ProRodeo events in the country. It’s all a reflection of what makes the rodeo such a special event in the community. “This year we were invited to Denver, because Guymon, Oklahoma, was picked to be one of the rodeos that was part of a new event called Colorado vs. The World,” Helm said of the competition held during the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo that featured winners from Colorado rodeos pitted in a competition with winners from other prestigious events, including Guymon, Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, Dodge City (Kan.) Round-Up, etc. “I felt like that was very honorable, and I’m thankful we were chosen to represent our community at an event like that.” The key ingredient is producing a high quality event, which is what happens in the Oklahoma Panhandle every May. But the week of rodeo is just the end result of a year of preparation. “Our work starts for the next year about a month after the rodeo is over,” Helm said. “It’s about 11 months of work, and that’s something I’ve seen over the years. When you first start out volunteering, it’s just that week of the rodeo. You help with get everything set up or help with slack, but that’s pretty much all you see. “The longer you’re in it and the more involved you get, the more you learn about what it takes. There’s a lot going on in the background that people don’t know about. When it gets closer to the end, then you’re meeting once a week to make sure everything is getting done.” It’s that kind of work ethic that helps make the Pioneer Days Rodeo one of the most successful annual events in the Oklahoma Panhandle. “You’re always looking for ways to improve, to find ways to make it better, the things you can change to do that,” he said. “This year we’re going to have a special deal on Wednesday night where we’ll serve calf fries and hamburgers to say thank you to our sponsors and to the timed-event contestants who will be here. This will take place after slack we have for all the calf ropers, steer wrestlers and team ropers. “We’ve been pretty blessed to have so many great sponsors who help us bring this to town. This doesn’t happen without them on our side.” Gathering sponsorships is one of the most important aspects of being a volunteer, primarily because it takes money to hire the contractors, pay bills and put up a big portion of the purse to draw the top contestants in the game. But all committee roles come into play by the time the first animal bucks on opening night, whether it’s handing concessions, sorting livestock or any of the other hundreds of tasks that come along. “Everybody’s got their own little thing they excel in and that they like to do, so that’s what makes it good for all of us, and, hopefully for the fans that come to the rodeo,” Helm said. Now it’s Helms turn to oversee all the activities involved. “It’s definitely an honor to be the chairman,” he said. “I think the honor of it is how much you grow personally through this time. You get humbled pretty quick, and there’s never anything wrong with that. “Through the years, we’ve had some great chairmen, and I believe I’m the one that’s blessed by that deal because of them. Through the years, we’ve had a fantastic group of people involved.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final biography of the 20 contestants who will be part of the 2012 Timed Event Championship, which takes place at noon and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif. When Kyle Lockett backs his horse into the chute, he knows the task at hand. In the Fabulous Lazy E Arena this weekend, it means being able to tackle a variety of tasks. He does it pretty well, too, and proved his excellence last March when he won the Timed Event Championship for the second. More importantly, Lockett handled the pressure that comes with battling for the title of this unique event, securing the buckle and the $50,000 first-place prize. Lockett, who has earned $206,500 in Timed Event money in his outstanding career, finished his three-day, 25-head run with 308.8 seconds to win the average. Everyone in the field knew he had it in him. Not only was he a regular fixture at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when he traveled the trail as hard as anyone, he’s proven his talent by top finishes inside this arena year after year. The first time Lockett left the Lazy E with the coveted title in 2005, he pulled off late-game heroics to upset Trevor Brazile, a six-time winner of this event and a 16-time PRCA World Champion. Lockett secured the coveted buckle on the final run of the weekend. But it was just one moment in a long list of great things he’s done inside the Lazy E, where Lockett has proven his mettle each year. This weekend marks a dozen trips to the Timed Event for Lockett, and he’s returned to California with Oklahoma cash most of the time. That’s as much of a testament to his talent as his two championships.

Cody and Jesse Wright take sibling rivalry to great heights in bronc riding EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a story for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 29-April 1 in Oklahoma City. For more information, go HERE. OKLAHOMA CITY – For the bronc riding Wright brothers from Utah, there’s much more to family than the world of rodeo. That just happens to be the avenue by which they are best known. It’s also the arena by which they excel the most. Cody Wright is a two-time world champion (2008 and 2010) who won the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average two Decembers ago. Jesse Wright is a two-time national finalist who shattered the saddle bronc riding average record this past December. They’re just two of the siblings who are part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. They’re also two of the 24 qualifiers to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 29-April 1 at Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. This is ProRodeo’s National Championship, where the very best competitors in the sport earn the right to play for one of the largest purses in the sport, more than $525,000. “There’s a lot of money added, and they usually bring great horses to that event,” Cody Wright said. “They have a lot of money added there, and you have a chance to win that. It’s just as tough as any rodeo you go to. You just hope you draw right.” The event provides another prestigious championship event for rodeo-savvy Oklahoma City, the longtime host of the NFR and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. The 2012 event marks the second straight year the RNCFR is part of Oklahoma’s storied rodeo legacy, a place that knows what makes a true champion. The event pits the top cowboys and cowgirls from the 12 regional ProRodeo circuits against one another for the prestigious national title. Contestants will compete in seven traditional rodeo events: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding. Both Cody and Jesse Wright know a lot about the event. Cody is a seven-time qualifier, and Jesse has won the last two saddle bronc riding national championships. Even though big brother owns two Montana Silversmiths gold buckles, Jesse Wright is the man to in Oklahoma City. “I’ve had good luck, I guess,” Jesse Wright said. “I’ve drawn the right horses.” So what’s it going to take to win the coveted title for a third straight year? “I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing, staying positive, keeping in shape and practicing,” he said. “It’s panning out pretty good.” Yes, it is. In 2009, he was named the PRCA Resistol Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year. In 2010, he finished the regular season 16th in the world standings, then advanced to the NFR as an injury replacement. In Las Vegas that December, Jesse Wright won a go-round and placed in seven others, moving up fifth in the final world standings. This past December, he stepped it up a notch … or more. He won four go-rounds and placed in three others, earning $161,000 during his 10-night performance in the Nevada desert. It’s a distinct sign of great athletic talent, but Jesse Wright knows he can’t discount the lessons learned by his big brother. Cody Wright was 12 years old when his mother gave birth to his twin brothers, Jesse and Jake. Actually, Cody is the oldest of seven brothers – all but the youngest, Stuart, are saddle bronc riders in the PRCA. Now most of them travel the rodeo circuit together. It all adds up to a winning legacy. “It’s always good to go with family,” Jesse Wright said. “It makes it easier.” It helps, too, that Big Brother has qualified for the NFR each of the past nine seasons. Cody also has been a fixture at the RNCFR over the course of his career. “It’s always been a good rodeo, but last year in Oklahoma City I thought it was a real good rodeo,” Cody Wright said. “Any time you can qualify for the finals, it’s an honor. I feel lucky and blessed that I get to be one of them.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one of the stories presented as a blog for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. All the stories can be found HERE. Like every event, tie-down roping at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo will feature many of the greatest contestants in the discipline. From regular qualifiers like Bill Huber to world champions like Tuf Cooper, nine of the 24 cowboys have qualified to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Of those, three are from Oklahoma – Prairie Circuit winners Jerome Schneeberger and Hunter Herrin and Columbia River Circuit winner Blair Burk – and they’ll be competing in their home state from March 29-April 1 at Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Other NFR qualifiers include Cooper, Joseph Parsons, Matt Shiozawa, Nate Baldwin, K.C. Jones and Shane Hanchey. Jones has been a fixture at the Lazy E-produced Timed Event Championship, where he’s a four-time winner of that prestigious title. RNCFR tie-down roping qualifiers This list is subject to change Boe Brown Justin Scofield Blake Hirdes Ryle Smith Blair Burk Roger Nonella Carmine Nastri Tim Naylor Jared Kempker Bill Huber J.C. Crowley Dustin Bird K.C. Jones Jace Johnson Jerome Schneeberger Hunter Herrin Brad Hartt Shane Hanchey Tuf Cooper E.J. Roberts Matt Shiozawa Nate Baldwin Joseph Parsons Seth Hall

World champion bulldogger eager to test his skills in ‘Ironman Event of ProRodeo’ You can’t blame Dean Gorsuch for being a little anxious this week as he prepares to compete in the Timed Event Championship. You see, it’s the first time the 32-year-old cowboy is part of the elite field for the unique event, which features some of the greatest timed-event contestants in ProRodeo as they battle through the challenges of all five disciplines: tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping-heading, team roping-heeling and steer roping. “I’m really, really excited about it,” said Gorsuch, a two-time world champion steer wrestler from Gearing, Neb. “I’ve watched it for a long time, and ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be part of it.” The five rugged performances of the 2012 Timed Event Championship set for noon and 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 2; noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3; and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 4. The field consists of 20 outstanding all-around cowboys in the invitation-only championship that features a purse of $150,000, one-third of which will go to the man who has the best cumulative time at the conclusion of the three-day, five-round event. “They asked me last year to be a part of it, but I just wasn’t very prepared,” said Gorsuch, who will be joined by a who’s who of rodeo greats: Kyle Lockett, Landon McClaugherty, Josh Peek, Russell Cardoza, JoJo LeMond, Bryce Davis, Scott Snedecor, Chance Kelton, Clayton Hass, K.C. Jones, Daniel Green, Jimmie Cooper, Jim Ross Cooper, Steve Duhon, Chad Masters, Broc Cresta, Paul Tierney, Jess Tierney and Paul David Teirney. Those cowboys represent 11 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championships and 16 Timed Event titles. “I like to rope and do the other events, but like everybody, we all kind of specialize in something,” Gorsuch said. “I’m not trying to prove anything. I just like doing the other events. I love the bulldogging, and I feel like it’s the event for me. “I’m honest with myself to know that there’s a reason I don’t enter the rodeos in the other events, but I think I can compete. You don’t enter to lose.” The unique championship will pay out the top eight in the average and the top six in the fastest-round competition. Each round consists of contestants clocking times in each of the five events. That’s why it’s called the “Ironman Event of ProRodeo.” “I’ve practiced at it, especially lately,” Gorsuch said. “I roped calves in high school, and I’ve team roped some, plus I’m excited about the people that are helping me. “It’ll be fun, and it’ll definitely be a learning experience.” Families will enjoy all of the activities planned for the performances. Ticket prices are $37 for VIP, box seats $30, reserved bleachers $25 and general admission $20. Children 12 and under are free in general admission and VIP area. Group and multiple performance discounts are also available. Call (800) 595-RIDE for complete details. A portion of the proceeds from the 2012 Timed Event Championship will be donated to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Lazy E is proud to support this institution for western preservation! Tickets are available at all ticketmaster outlets, www.lazye.com, calling Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000 or by calling the Lazy E Arena directly at (800) 595-RIDE.  The 2012 Timed Event Championship is sponsored by Priefert Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, Pendleton Whisky, Wrangler, American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance, Cross Bar Gallery, Ram Trucks, John Vance Motors, Energy Force, R.K. Black Inc., Gist Silversmiths, Spin to Win Magazine, National Saddlery, Hot Heels, The Oklahoman, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, CSI Saddlepads, the Best Western Edmond, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites – Edmond. The 2012 Timed Event Championship is a Lazy E Production.  For more information on the Timed Event Championship or other Lazy E events, contact the Lazy E Arena, 9600 Lazy E Drive, Guthrie, OK  73044, (405) 282-RIDE, (800) 595-RIDE or visit www.lazye.com.

By Chaney Latham Oklahoma Panhandle State University MANHATTAN, Kan. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s Josh Griggs outscored every other roughstock cowboy at the Kansas State University rodeo on Sunday, Feb. 19. The sophomore from Frazier, Colo., posted an 86-point ride during the short go-round to clinch the bull riding title in Manhattan and joined senior saddle bronc rider Justin Hegwer as Panhandle State event champions. Hegwer, an industrial technology major from Rifle, Colo., scored 79 points in the short round to seal the first-place finish. Many OPSU vests colored the arena on short round, including bareback rider Ryan McIntyre, who qualified for the championship round with a 76 on his first-round horse. In the saddle bronc riding, five of the top 10 cowboys to qualify for Sunday’s round were Aggies. Joe Harper was the runner-up in the first go with a 79 and finished fourth in the two-ride aggregate. Preston Kafka finished fourth in the first round with a score of 74, and Whit Peterson and Kafka took fifth and sixth place, respectively, in the cumulative. Daniel Kraft also made it back to the championship round. Eight of 10 bull riders hit the dirt, but Griggs and teammate Wyatt Gregg made it through with qualified rides. Gregg posted a 77 to finish just behind Griggs in the aggregate. Panhandle State’s Dixon Winn qualified for the short round but failed to in the final round. He also qualified for the short-go in tie-down roping; he and teammate Joe Frost finished in the fifth and sixth spots overall. Dixon roped his first calf in 10.3 seconds, and then roped and tied his second calf in 11.9. Frost posted a 10.6 in the first round and a 14.1 in the championship round. Weston Taylor was the only steer wrestling qualifier for the Aggies. While he tied with Bacone College’s Austin Mason for the long-round win, Taylor had a little tough luck in the final round; still he managed to finish in 7.9 seconds and gather some points. Team roper Cody Larsen partnered with Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Casey Warnock to earn a spot in the final round. The tandem finished fourth place in the two-run aggregate. Frost and Tad Bryant also qualified for the short round. Kaylee Moyer earned a spot in the finals in both goat-tying and breakaway roping. She had a 6.4-second goat-tying run in the long round, but the goat got up in the short round, resulting in a no-time. She had a 2.9-second run in the opening round, then posted a 3.0 to finish fifth in the aggregate. The Aggies have their shortest road trip of the season this coming weekend at the Garden City (Kan.) Community College Rodeo. The season wraps April 26-28 as OPSU hosts the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo. For results and more collegiate rodeo information, visit collegerodeo.com.

GUYMON, Okla. – The Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo celebrated good fortune this past weekend with Jetti Lorenz’s coronation as Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen 2012. Lorenz, 17, of Texhoma, Okla., was crowned the 2011 Miss Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo last May. She will now represent the state as she travels the rodeo circuit. “Growing up on a ranch and with a mother involved with rodeo, it was only a matter of time before I would be given the opportunity to get into the business,” Lorenz said on the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma website. Lorenz, the daughter of Lana Lorenz, competed in the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen Pageant last June in Oklahoma City. “I think it’s a big deal to us to see someone from around here win this kind of award,” said Earl Helm, chairman of the Pioneer Days Rodeo committee. “We’ve learned a lot, and I think we’ve learned a lot recently that can really help us with our queen program. “We’re awfully proud to have a great young person from here in Texas County represent our state like this.” Lorenz will also be on hand during the 2012 Pioneer Days Rodeo, which is celebrating its 80th year in operation. Rodeo competition will take place daily beginning Monday, April 30. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “God gave me a loud voice to tell people about Him, and He also blessed me with the ability and good horses,” Lorenz said. “So I put the two together and, as long as I’m alive, people will hear from me at one rodeo or another.”

Steven Dent made a big move in the bareback riding world standings with his win in San Antonio, all while winning $17,030. But he won’t catch the standings leader, Wes Stevenson, who also added another rodeo victory to his resume this weekend. Stevenson rode Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket for 87 points to win the short go-round and average titles at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo. Stevenson added $7,000 and moved his season earnings past $34,000. He joins steer wrestler Olin Hannum, team ropers Tate and Dakota Kirchenschlager, saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell, tie-down roper Cory Solomon, barrel racer Brittany Pozzi and bull rider Nevada Newman as winners in San Angelo. The short round in Tucson, Ariz., takes place today.

In January 2011, some friends of mine were heading to the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver, and their little cowboy, Cade, wanted to meet some big cowboys. I looked at the roster of contestants who would be competing at the Denver Coliseum that performance to see if any of my friends could help this little rodeo fan live to be a lifetime rodeo fan. When I saw the name of Chet Johnson, I knew my search had ended. Chet and two of his great friends and awesome cowboys, Cort Scheer and world champion Chad Ferley, met with Cade Hemphill and his family before the rodeo that day. On Saturday night, Johnson picked up one of the biggest wins of his career, clinching the saddle bronc riding title at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo with an 86-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Knight Rocket. In all, Johnson won $19,077, third most of all competitors. That will put him in the top 10 in the world standings. More importantly, it’s another win for a cowboy who suffered a serious injury less than two years ago, when he was kicked in the back of the head by a bucking horse near Salt Lake City. He sustained three skull fractures, bleeding and swelling on the brain and a fractured right eardrum. He came back to rodeo less than six months later. Chet is a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, and I look for him to return to that stage soon. He hasn’t played there since 2008, but the good guys always make a comeback. 2012 San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo champions Bareback Riding – Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., $17,030 Steer Wrestling – Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., $17,112 Team Roping – Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., header, $19,323 Team Roping – Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla., heeler, $19,323| Saddle Bronc Riding – Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., $19,077 Tie-Down Roping – Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $17,358 Women’s Barrel Race – Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., $18,340 Bull Riding – Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, $16,475

The last semifinal of the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo was completed last night, and the finale will have a distinct NFR flair. Team roper Kaleb Driggers has had a great couple of weeks of competition. He and Jade Corkill lead the group with $7,860 in earnings, and just a week ago, he teamed with world champion heeler Jhett Johnson to win the Mike Cervi Memorial Team Roping. Congratulations to all the finalists. San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo Finals Qualifiers Bareback Riding: 1. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, $5,158; 2. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., $4,913; 3. (tie) Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., $3,930 each; 5. Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas, $3,685. Steer Wrestling: 1. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, $4,913; 2. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., $4,667; 3. Alex Robertson, Bend, Ore., $4,421; 4. Ben Shofner, Jasper, Texas, $4,176; 5. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., $3,930. Team Roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., $7,860; 2. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., and Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla., $6,878; 3. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn., and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., $5,404; 4. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas, and Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., $4,421; 5. Shane and John Philipp, Washington, Texas, $4,421. Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., $5,532; 2. Cody Angland, New South Wales, Australia, $5,895; 3. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., $5,158; 4. J. J. Elshere, Hereford, S.D., $4,421; 5. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, $3,439. Tie-Down Roping: 1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $5,649; 2. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, $5,404; 3. Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, $4,667; 4. (tie) Jeremiah Peek, Pueblo, Colo., and Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, $3,684. Barrel Racing: 1. Savanah Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, $6,386; 2. (tie) Carlee Pierce, Woodward, Okla., and Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, $5,404; 4. (tie) Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., and Robin Montague, Bandera, Texas, $5,281. Bull Riding: 1. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., $5,649; 2. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, $4,421; 3. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, $3,930; 4. (tie) Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah, $3,684.

Paul Tierney, Oral, S.D. It’s been 27 years since Paul Tierney walked into the Fabulous Lazy E Arena to show off the all-around skills that had made him famous. It’s been 25 years since he won the first of four Timed Event Championship titles. That was in March 1987, when Tierney was one of the biggest names in ProRodeo. You see, he won the Tie-Down Roping World Championship in 1979. A year later, the South Dakota cowboy ended Tom Ferguson’s six-year reign as all-around champion and became the second PRCA cowboy to surpass $100,000 in single-season earnings. For all that, Tierney was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. His likeness appears in the museum with the greatest names who have ever competed in the sport. His likeness also appears in the Lazy E Arena’s Roper’s Cantina, where champions are displayed. In addition to that magical 1987 Timed Event, Tierney won the elusive and prestigious title in 1991, 1997 and 2001, becoming the only cowboy in the event’s history to have earned the title in three decades. Next weekend, Tierney will compete against his two sons, Jess and Paul David, both of whom excel in ProRodeo now. Jess Tierney qualified for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping last November, and Paul David Tierney was one of the top 25 all-around cowboys last season. Now Paul Tierney will make history again. Retired from competition, he sneaks into this field as an injury replacement for Trevor Brazile, who was injured about a week before the Timed Event begins. But he gets to make history by competing with two talented sons. That’s a great bonus.

Cody Custer is a world champion bull rider, a man who won the 1992 PRCA gold buckle. He’s also an amateur team roper who is scheduled to compete at the inaugural Timed Event Championship Pro-Am Team Roping, set for 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, the day before the Timed Event Championship. The competition will pit 20 amateur heelers and 20 amateur headers with their professional partners, cowboys who are part of the Timed Event competition. Custer paid his $250 entry fee and will have the opportunity to rope with the greatest timed-event cowboys in the game. That means Custer can be teamed with any of the professionals, guys with whom he shared rodeo arenas for years. That just makes it another big reason to be on hand to watch the pro-am.

The San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo is winding down to a close to its 2012 season. Just two more days remain, and the last five qualifiers to Saturday’s finale will be learned tonight. A lot of money has been won over the last couple of weeks, and that’s just part of the excitement. I’ve been able to keep up with the goings-on thanks to Steve Kenyon with ProRodeoLive. He does an excellent broadcast, and he puts listeners right into the middle of the action. Congratulations to the finals qualifiers, and good luck to the remaining 80 competitors ready to battle it out for the final spots for tomorrow’s championship. San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo Finals Qualifiers Bareback Riding: 1. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, $6,878; 2. (tie) Morgan Wilde, McCammon, Idaho, and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., $6,141; 4. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, $4,421; 5. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, $4,176. Steer Wrestling: 1. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., $5,895; 2. Curtis Casssidy, Donalda, Alberta, $4,912; 3. (tie) K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas; Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb.; and Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., $3,930. Team Roping: 1. Justin Yost, Mount Morris, Pa., and Bucky Campbell, Benton City, Wash., $6,386; 2. Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D., and Cody Doescher, Oklahoma City, $5,895; 3. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, $3,930; 4. (tie) Caleb Mitchell, Mason, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas; and Nick Rawlings, Stephenville, Texas, and Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., $3,439 each. Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, $5,404; 2. (tie) Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., and Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, $5,158; 4. Cody Martin, Eagle, Colo., $4,421; 5. Sterling Crawley, College Station, Texas, $3,684. Tie-Down Roping: 1. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $4,913; 2. (tie) Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash., and Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $4,421; 4. (tie) Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas, and Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $3,439. Barrel Racing: 1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, $6,386; 2. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., $5,895; 3. (tie) Andrea Cline-Herron, San Antonio, Texas, and Jane Melby,  Backus, Minn., $4,422; 5. Kenna Squires, Fredonia, Texas, $3,930. Bull Riding: 1. (tie) Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas, and Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., $5,404; 3. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., $4,667; 4. (tie) Patrick Geipel, Elbert, Colo., and Beau Brooks, Strathmore, Alberta, $4,421.

Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas How many cowboys come to the Timed Event Championship for the first time and excel? Not many. But Landon McClaugherty did just 12 months ago, finishing fourth in the average at the 2011 Timed Event. He scored well and finished strong, earning a 25-head cumulative time of 366.3 seconds. That’s more than respectable, especially considering the competition. McClaugherty, a 2009 qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, is tremendously talented with a rope. If his performance at last year’s Timed Event wasn’t enough, the Texas cowboy stepped it up a notch throughout the 2011 PRCA season. You see, McClaugherty won all-around titles at eight ProRodeos, including prestigious ones in Dodge City, Kan.; Abilene, Kan.; and Lovington, N.M. To top it off, he finished in the top 45 in three major PRCA categories: The all-around, steer roping and tie-down roping. He knows the test involved in this weekend’s competition, and he’s ready for it.

Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. Josh Peek is a proven winner, a six-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and five-time competitor in this invitation-only Timed Event Championship. Just two years removed from the title he earned in this arena, the Colorado cowboy has earned $87,000 in his four previous trips to this majestic rodeo palace. Sure, $58,000 came with his 2010 title, but the other $29,000 proves he is a contender every time he nods his head. Last March, he left the Lazy E Arena with a $7,500 check for finishing fifth in the average. Still, he had a solid 2011 campaign in the PRCA, where he won 13 rodeo titles, eight of which were all-around championships. But he didn’t get to play for the biggest pay in ProRodeo, the NFR. In 2009, he won the all-around title in Las Vegas, finishing fifth in the average in both tie-down roping and steer wrestling. He’d like to return to ProRodeo’s grand finale, but he’s got some other business to tend to first. The 32-year-old cowboy would like to have his name listed among the greats in the game, whether it’s in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame or as a multiple winner of the Timed Event. The latter can be accomplished this weekend. That’s just one of the many reasons the 25 runs made in this arena will be magical.

Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. Russell Cardoza is starting to get the hang of this thing. The Oregon cowboy was a Timed Event Championship rookie two seasons ago when he finished 11th in the average. Last March, he left Oklahoma with $10,000, half for finishing sixth in the average, and half for having the third fastest go-round. That’s solid improvement. The goal, of course, is to win the title this weekend, but Cardoza surely will settle for making more Lazy E money. It is, after all, the main reason rodeo cowboys compete. Cardoza is a two-time heeling qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2009-10) who just missed playing on ProRodeo’s grandest stage last December – he finished 18th in the final world standings, and only the top 15 in each discipline earn the right to play in Las Vegas. At the 2009 NFR, Cardoza and partner Charly Crawford earned more than $64,000, placing in six go-rounds and finishing third in the average. He knows what it takes to win cash in a hurry, which is a nice benefit to doing well this weekend.

Announcer Boyd Polhamus tweeted today directly to ProRodeo.com that there are great storylines at rodeos in San Angelo, Texas, and Tucson, Ariz., which are taking place. He’s right. In fact, those stories need to be told just as much as the ones that we’ve been telling about San Antonio. Of course, it’s much easier to tell the stories if the storytellers are presented information. The primary focus of Rodeo Media Relations is to present those storylines to the storytellers, whether they be newspapers, radio stations, TV stations or websites. Rodeos like San Angelo and Tucson would be served to have an outlet like this that reaches all levels of coverage — from local media to national rodeo outlets. San Antonio has Susan Kanode, the 2007 winner of the PRCA Media Award for Excellence in Print Journalism. Susan is excellent at providing content and results from each performance at a rodeo like San Antonio. She personifies Excellence in the title of the award, and her program of on-site media direction is what led me to create Rodeo Media Relations. The primary difference between the two entities is in pre-event promotion, but the reality is that Susan and I work very well together. I’m able to report the goings-on in San Antonio, Fort Worth and Denver because of what she does. Most importantly, Susan and I care about the sport of rodeo. That’s the primary reason you want quality media relations on your team. We get those storylines to the storytellers. Both Tucson and San Angelo have great websites, and Tucson has done an excellent job in updating the site with results. The San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, however, has posted results from just two of five performances – just the second and third performances, which took place last Friday night and Saturday afternoon. There is nothing from the opening performance last Thursday or the shows that took place Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. It’s hard for the storytellers to reach out to the audiences without the proper tools. If you want the proper tools in today’s society, your best bet is to have Rodeo Media Relations on your team.

JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas JoJo LeMond was in position to win his first Timed Event Championship title just 12 months ago. Sitting second after the 24th run, LeMond struggled in the final run of the long weekend. Wrapping up the five rounds of competition, LeMond posted a 51.4-second steer roping run and fell all the way to seventh place. But that’s OK, because the Texas cowboy was trying to win the coveted championship; still, he earned $4,500. LeMond is electric. If his exploits last March weren’t enough, he made a strong case for such in 2010, when he blasted an 8-year-old record for fastest heading run. LeMond’s 4.5 was more than a half second faster than the mark established by B.J. Campbell. He also owns the heeling record, a 4.9-second run accomplished in 2009. LeMond is a three-time heading qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. While competing with Cory Petska in the 2010 NFR, LeMond roped more than $42,000; the tandem won the fifth and sixth go-rounds and placed in another. The 1999 team roping champion in the Texas State High School Rodeo Association (with Colby Schneeman), LeMond has a way of making things happen in the arena. Of course, that’s why we watch.

ALVA, Okla. – Trey Young knew competing in the Central Plains Region would be one of the toughest aspects of his college rodeo career. He lives for the challenge. “I’m from South Dakota, and I came down here because this region is tougher,” said Young, of Dupree, a community of about 1,300 in northwest South Dakota. “You get better by roping against better people.” He’s doing pretty well. This past weekend, Young posted the best cumulative score, finishing with a two-run cumulative time of 18.6 seconds to win the Kansas State University Rodeo in Manhattan, Kan. “He’s just a good kid, a 4.0 student,” said coach Stockton Graves, a Northwestern Oklahoma State Univeristy alumnus who took over the coaching duties at his alma mater last November. “I think that win really helped him out with his confidence.” Young is one of two Northwestern cowboys who won their respective disciplines in Manhattan, joining team roping-heeler Dustin Searcy of Mooreland, Okla. Roping with his heading partner, Cale Markham of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, the tandem split the victory with Parker Warner of Coffeyville and Tyler Worley of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M – both teams finished in 12.3 seconds. Searcy leads the region standings with 385 points. He also won the title at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University rodeo last fall. The win moves Young into the top five in the circuit. That’s a nice place to be this time of year for the sophomore, who has five more rodeos the rest of the spring season to move up the standings. “On my first run, I just wanted to go out there and make it back to the short-go,” he said of his finish in Manhattan. “The long-go is the toughest, because you’ve got so many guys to go against. You just want to make the best run you can make and not beat yourself. “The short round is a little easier because there are only 12 to go against. I drew pretty good calves. It’s pretty neat to win that rodeo. It’s a cool arena in that little barn, and it can get pretty loud in there.” While Young and Searcy were the top finishers, Northwestern had several cowboys and cowgirls who scored points, including steer wrestler Kyle Irwin (second); headers Brett Christenson (third), Casey Warnock (fourth) and Travis Cowan (tied for sixth); saddle bronc rider Cody Burkholder (third); tie-down roper John Howell (fourth); barrel racers Clara Morris (second) and Alexis Allen (tied for sevnth); breakaway ropers Jenna Hampton (fifth) and Kate Hansen (eighth); and goat-tiers Dusta Kimzey (second), Lauren Barnes (seventh) and Cari Cable (eighth). The Northwestern men finished fifth at K-State, and the women finished eighth. “We just need to kind of sharpen thing sup a little bit,” Graves said. “I feel like it was a pretty good rodeo with just a few weeks of practice. The women’s team needs to focus a little, but that’ll all come in time.” The teams have five rodeos remaining on the schedule, with the next one scheduled for March 2-4 in Garden City, Kan. There’s still time to finish the region in the top two, qualifying the teams for the College National Finals Rodeo. “That would be great and would dang sure be a successful year,” Graves said. “To finish in the top two with me coming in halfway in the season would be very successful in my mind. “These kids have that kind of finish in them. We just need to take it to that level.” The key ingredient is for each member of the team to handle their business through the remaining two months of the season. “You have to take it one rodeo at a time,” Young said. “You want to make it back to as many short rounds as you can, because that’s where the points are.”

It’s been four seasons since Chet Johnson last qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It’s about time he returns to the year-end finale as one of the top 15 saddle bronc riders in the game. He deserves to be in that field, and on Sunday and Monday, he proved it. Johnson, of Gillette, Wyo., placed in all three go-rounds of Bracket 5 at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo and earned$4,667 in just two days of work. Most importantly, it places Johnson into the semifinals of the bracketed format. Congratulations to Chet and all the others who advanced. Bracket 5 Semifinalists Bareback Riding: 1. (tie) Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, $3,930 each; 3. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., $2,948; 4. Dustin Smith, Rome, Ga., $2,702. Steer Wrestling: 1. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., $4,177; 2. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., $2,702; 3. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., $1,965; 4. Tommy Cook, McAlester, Okla., $1,474. Team Roping: 1. Caleb Mitchell, Mason, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, $3,439; 2. David Key, Stephenville, Texas, and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $2,457; 3. (tie) Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont., and Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D.; and Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., $1,965. Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., $4,667; 2. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, s.D., $2,948; 3. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., $1,965; 4. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., $1,719. Tie-Down Roping: 1. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, $5,404; 2. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., $2,456; 3. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $1,965; 4. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas, $1,474. Barrel Racing: 1. Jane Melby, Backus, Minn., $4,421; 2. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., $3,439; 3. Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas, $3,193; 4. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, $2,211. Bull Riding: 1. Beau Brooks, Strathmore, Alberta, $3,930; 2. Ryan Shanklin, Rocksprings, Texas, $1,965; 3. (tie) Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., and Shawn Proctor, Tooele, Utah, $1,474 each.

Bryce Davis, Abilene, Texas The first time Bryce Davis played on the Timed Event Championship stage, he finished in last place. That was two years ago. Last year, the Texan made up for it, just as everyone in the arena suspected. He posted a five-round, 25-head time of 380.4 seconds to finish eighth in the average, which was worth $3,000. Davis – who was just 5 years old the first time his father, Jim, won the first of two Steer Roping World Championships in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association – is the third generation of his family to qualify for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. His grandfather, Merle Davis, qualified for the first finale in 1959. Bryce Davis knows what it means to perform well in the Fabulous Lazy E Arena. He won the average at the steer roping finals in 2009 and hasn’t missed an NFSR since. What else would you expect from a man with a champion’s pedigree?

Scott Snedecor, Uvalde, Texas The last time Scott Snedecor left the Lazy E Arena, he did so as the event champion, winning the average title at the 2011 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping last November. He’d like to repeat the feat this weekend. Of course, so would the other 19 competitors in this incredible field. Snedecor’s advantage comes in the two gold buckles he’s earned by winning the 2005 and 2008 PRCA Steer Roping World Championships. At last year’s Timed Event Championship, Snedecor finished the weekend in 403.7 seconds, good enough for ninth place. While his score was better than half the field, he finished just out of the money. That doesn’t happen very often. Snedecor earned the Texas High School Rodeo Association’s team roping title in 1992, then earned the team roping championship at the 1995 College National Finals Rodeo. It’s proof of his winning nature, something that can come in quite handy this in this unique event.