Monthly Archives: April 2012
Rank riding in Pocatello
Written on April 13, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The Western Frontier Pro Rodeo has just begun, but the action is already hot in Pocatello, Idaho. The event is a silver-level rodeo on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour, and on opening night, the tie-down roping was over the top: Cory Solomon, 6.8 seconds; Shane Hanchey and Hunter Herrin, 7.3; and Trevor Brazile, 7.5. “That’s Continue Reading »
Latham a big part of rodeo, Panhandle communities
Written on April 12, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
GUYMON, Okla. – The rugged terrain of the Oklahoma Panhandle is home to row crops, sagebrush and livestock, and the weather can be as unyielding as any other place on Earth. Some will say it takes a special person to make things work around here, but the region once known as No Man’s Land is Continue Reading »
It’s a race to the finish
Written on April 12, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association action in the Central Plains Region returns from its month-long hiatus this weekend at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. It’s the first of three straight weekends the cowboys and cowgirls from programs primarily in Oklahoma and Kansas will battle to conclude the 2011-12 season. The Fort Scott (Kan.) Community Continue Reading »
Never underestimate the importance of money
Written on April 11, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The money won at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo a couple of weeks ago does not count toward the world standings, but it can sure help rodeo cowboys and cowgirls with the expenses they incur on the rodeo trail. That’s why total event earnings are an important statistic at an event like that. Nobody Continue Reading »
A true hall-of-famer
Written on April 10, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
When you consider the greatest names in any sport, you must consider how much influence they’ve had on the younger generation. Many of rodeo’s elite saddle bronc riders have considered one man their rodeo idol: Five-time world champion Billy Etbauer, one of the members of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012. Why? It’s Continue Reading »
Teel for Texas
Written on April 9, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Cody Teel is just 19 years old, but he’s quickly establishing himself as one of the greatest bull riders in the game already. He’s No. 1 in the PRCA world standings, having earned more than $55,500 so far this season. He’s also in the top 10 in the CBR standings. Oh, and this past weekend, Continue Reading »
Easter break
Written on April 9, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
TwisTED Rodeo has been low on the radar for about a week. It was time for a spring break of sorts; more, it was necessary to have some special time with my girls. That’s why posts have been done sparingly over the last few days and why Easter Sunday was a day off. But I’m Continue Reading »
Young buckers
Written on April 7, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The latest edition of ProRodeo Sports News included a wonderful feature on young bucking horses. What’s great about a piece like that is it shows the tremendous athleticism of these bucking beasts and the bloodlines that are a big piece of the development of these athletes. The story stands for just a few of the Continue Reading »
It’s a great Roundup
Written on April 7, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
I’d been around rodeo quite a bit the first time I walked onto the grounds of the Dodge City Roundup Arena in 1994, but I took a major step in my career on that acreage. I was still a wet-behind-the-ears journalist trying to take in everything the newspaper game had to offer while working at Continue Reading »
Richardson Bullish about Trip to RNCFR
Written on April 7, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Bryan Richardson is a three-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Even when he isn’t among the top 15 in the world standings, the Texan is always among the bull riding leaders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. It’s been six years since Richardson played on ProRodeo’s grandest stage. While everyone realizes how much Continue Reading »
Easter vacation
Written on April 6, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
This weekend we celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection, typically a time with family or others close to us. Typically, though, it’s not a time off the rodeo trail. Rodeo, as we know, is cyclical, meaning that seasons revolve around themselves. For instance, the 2012 season began in October, even though the 2011 season didn’t wrap until Continue Reading »
Re-ride stories
Written on April 6, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
One of the great things about being behind the scenes at a big event like the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is hearing the stories I can’t always report. Whether it’s about a late-night fight or an overserved cowboy, the tales are magnificent. Oftentimes they’re one-sided, so you have to take them for what they Continue Reading »
A hero and his cowboy meet again
Written on April 5, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Professional basketball used to have the slogan, “NBA action is fantastic.” The reality is that no other sport is more FAN-tastic than rodeo, because most of the cowboys and cowgirls who make their living on the rodeo trail understand the common man; they know how much much hard work goes in to paying for those Continue Reading »
Phifer paints with pictures
Written on April 3, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Over the past couple of years, I’ve gotten to know a little more about rodeo photographer James Phifer. He’s worked the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping and the Timed Event Championship. There’s a great reason he works these prestigious events, along with countless other events throughout the year: Continue Reading »
Rodeo’s elite dominates RNCFR finale
Written on April 2, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
OKLAHOMA CITY – It’s a cliché, but it’s true in ProRodeo: The cream rises to the top. No statement was more obvious than the final day of the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which crowned eight national champions on Sunday afternoon, seven of whom were part of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Two-time Continue Reading »
Pierce speeds to big payday at RNCFR
Written on April 1, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
OKLAHOMA CITY – Carlee Pierce and Rare Dillion have set the barrel racing world on fire over the last 12 months. The tandem upped the ante on Saturday night during the fourth performance of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, posting a 15.16-second run to win the second go-round and the two-run average title and Continue Reading »
Second round results
Written on April 1, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., on Southwicks Rky Mtn Rodeo’s Hard Times, and Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Lights, 82 points, $3,976; 3. Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., 81, $2,468; 4. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 80.0, $1,645; 5. (tie) Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, and Continue Reading »
Bitter rematch — and semifinalists
Written on April 1, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Reigning world champion bareback rider Kaycee Feild rode Bar T Rodeo’s Bitter Robin for 78 points on Saturday night, securing his spot in Sunday’s semifinals. The last time the two matched moves together was during the second round of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. That was worth 89 points and the go-round victory. Feild Continue Reading »