Monthly Archives: May 2012
A Stitch in time
Written on May 31, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The last time I’d visited with Christina Richman was during the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. That was two months ago, and she was caring for her rascally partner, a barrel horse named Stitch. Since then, the pair has done quite well. In fact, as her friend Sandy Gwatney termed it, Richman Continue Reading »
Don’t forget to pass the roll
Written on May 30, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Matt Bright got out of his pickup, stretched a bit, then walked back to open the door to his camper. That’s where he stopped. With his hand on the door, Bright’s head slumped a bit. He stormed back to the front of the truck, grabbed his phone and headed to the Will Rogers Roundup Club Continue Reading »
Sharing my passion for rodeo with others
Written on May 30, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
One of the great things I get to do in my job is take a rodeo neophyte and explain my passion for the sport. That happened last Thursday while announcer Scott Grover and I visited with Mike Collier during the Good Day Tulsa segment on Tulsa’s Channel 8 as we promoted the Will Rogers Stampede Continue Reading »
Keylon makes move toward first NFR qualification
Written on May 28, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Over his eight-year career, Jared Keylon has reached many of his goals while riding bareback horses. During Sunday’s final performance in Claremore, Keylon crossed another one on his list. The cowboy from Uniontown, Kan., matched moves with Rafter H Rodeo’s Roany Pony for 75 points to win the 66th edition of the Continue Reading »
Youthful Howell proving to be quite the veteran
Written on May 27, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Tie-down roper Will Howell is young, but he’s got the confidence of a crafty veteran. That was quite an advantage Saturday night during the second performance of the Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo, where Howell posted an 8.6-second run to move in to second place in the four-day rodeo. He’s the closest Continue Reading »
Bronc riders make move for the Claremore title
Written on May 26, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Jesse James Kirby wants to feel the bright lights of Las Vegas as a first-time saddle bronc rider at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Jacobs Crawley wants to return to ProRodeo’s championship event. They both made positive moves on Friday during opening night of the Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo, posting identical Continue Reading »
We’re rolling toward that summer run
Written on May 25, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The summer season is coming soon. Rodeos in the Prairie Circuit are in full swing. Congrats to Jeanne Anderson, who won last week in Abbyville. Next week is chocked full of rodeos in our region: Fort Smith (Ark.), Hugo, Ada, Bennington, Strong City, Licking (Mo.) and Conway (Ark). There will be lots of opportunities for Continue Reading »
The competition has begun
Written on May 24, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The 66th edition of the Will Rogers Stampede began Thursday morning with a full day of slack. I haven’t received any results yet, but here is a quick photo so you know it’s coming.
Loving care
Written on May 24, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Spending this past weekend on the Carr Pro Rodeo ranch gave me a new perspective of just what it takes to care for the amazing animal athletes that are part of our sport. Much of the heavy lifting belongs to the man in charge of the day-to-day operations; at Carr Pro Rodeo, that is Jeff Continue Reading »
Dreaming like cowboys dream
Written on May 21, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Scoot is a beautiful palomino who performs really well. Jeff Collins says you can head and heel on him, and he’s easy to work with. Ted is nearly 45 years old and hasn’t been horseback since he was 16. But I stepped up on Scoot like I meant business, even if I damn near overshot Continue Reading »
Plenty of high-flying action on tap for Claremore rodeo
Written on May 21, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rodeo is America’s original extreme sport, and every year its greatest athletes make their way to Rogers County to fight for the thousands of dollars in prize money available at the Will Rogers Stampede. This year marks the 66th anniversary of Claremore’s rodeo, and the producers of the annual event are making Continue Reading »
Oklahoma family ready to rodeo together
Written on May 15, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Many people associated with rodeo talk about the family atmosphere the sport fosters. None know that any more than the Poppino clan of Big Cabin, Okla.: Tana, Marty and Brodie. Rodeo is in their blood as well as their bloodline, and they travel the country chasing their gold buckle dreams. They also Continue Reading »
Bridgeport rodeo finds great success with Carr
Written on May 15, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
BRIDGEPORT, Texas – Folks in Wise County, Texas, know a thing or two about rodeo. After all, some of rodeo’s best live right there in the 923-square-mile region. Those educated fans got to see quite a high quality show last weekend during the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo. From newcomers like barrel racer Stevi Hillman Continue Reading »
Standings leaders eager to qualify for Duncan
Written on May 14, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
DUNCAN, Okla. – Hunter Herrin has been one of the best tie-down ropers in ProRodeo much of his eight-year career. After winning the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo and placing at the Chisholm Trail Stampede in Duncan, Okla., the first weekend of May, he’s surged into the lead in the Prairie Circuit’s tie-down roping standings. Continue Reading »
Becoming eligible
Written on May 12, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
Steer roper Chad Decker of Stephenville, Texas, will remember the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo for a long time. You see, Decker is competing on his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association permit, and permit-holders aren’t eligible to become card-carrying members of the association until they earn enough money in the trying-out stage of competition. Decker finished Continue Reading »
World champions walk away with Guymon titles
Written on May 10, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
GUYMON, Okla. – The Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo has been the place where champions play. In 2012, Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena was better known as the place where champions win. Of the 10 disciplines, five winners from this year’s event own gold buckles that are awarded to world champions. As always, this year’s championship Continue Reading »
Animals drawing big names to Bridgeport rodeo
Written on May 10, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
BRIDGEPORT, Texas – The greatest cowboys know they have earned that status by testing their skills on the greatest animals in ProRodeo. That’s one big reason why some of the biggest names in the sport will be in Bridgeport this weekend for the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Continue Reading »
MGM Deuces Night steals show at Guymon rodeo
Written on May 10, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
GUYMON, Okla. – The newest pen of Carr Pro Rodeo bucking bulls made a statement, but MGM Deuces Night stole the show at the 2012 Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. “When I heard callbacks for this rodeo, I was screaming out loud and running around like a little girl,” Vezain said of the great Carr Pro Continue Reading »
Panhandle reflections
Written on May 9, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
The Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo means more to me than being just a great event; it’s also about seeing old friends and sharing my passions. I’ve been to that awesome rodeo eight of the last 10 years; I’m tied to it for many reasons, and I’m proud of that. For the 2006 Pioneer Days Continue Reading »
Rodeo reaches out to Carr to help improve its event
Written on May 8, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
BRIDGEPORT, Texas – The organizers of the local rodeo have one thought in mind: Make the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo the best it can be. To that end, the volunteers who donate their time, talent and energy into producing the annual event reached into the metro area to help take the rodeo to the Continue Reading »
Dirty Jacket is a bareback rider’s dream
Written on May 7, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
BRIDGEPORT, Texas – A great bucking horse has something special, something that makes it stand out above most of the others. Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket is one of those outstanding bucking horses, a fixture at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which features the greatest animal athletes each season. But it’s more than that, really. Continue Reading »
Vezain wins Guymon on MGM Deuces Night
Written on May 6, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
GUYMON, Okla. – To say bareback rider J.R. Vezain was excited about his match-up with MGM Deuces Night might be a great understatement. “When I heard callbacks for this rodeo, I was screaming out loud and running around like a little girl,” Vezain said of the great Carr Pro Rodeo horse, which was one of Continue Reading »
Elshere picture perfect with 87 at Guymon rodeo
Written on May 6, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
GUYMON, Okla. – Sometimes a photograph can tell a great story. Saddle bronc rider Cole Elshere relied heavily on a photo of the Powder River Rodeo horse Lipstick & Whiskey, and it paid off on Saturday night during the third performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. The Faith, Continue Reading »
Ferley takes love for the game to No. 1 in Guymon
Written on May 5, 2012 at 12:00 am, by Ted
GUYMON, Okla. – The accolades are great, and the gold buckles are awesome, but that’s not why Chad Ferley competes in rodeo. “I’m just out here to make as much money as I can and get on good bucking horses,” said Ferley, the 2006 world champion saddle bronc rider from Oelrichs, S.D. “If you get Continue Reading »