Monthly Archives: March 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY – One of the drawing cards for elite cowboys competing in championship rodeos is the chance to test their talents with unbelievable animal athletes. For men who ride bareback horses, saddle broncs and bulls, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is a perfect place to showcase their abilities against many of the greatest bucking beasts in the business. They’ll take their shots during the three-day rodeo, set for April 4-6 at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. “We’ll have good horses there, and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Taos Muncy, a two-time world champion from Corona, N.M. “It’s going to be pretty good watching.” Muncy would love to win the saddle bronc riding national championship, one of the titles that has eluded him. But there are 24 contestants fighting for the prestigious titles in each event, and they’ll all go into battle on some of the greatest animal athletes in the game, including 26 that come from Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo. This is the first ProRodeo championship event for the two firms since Pete Carr purchased Classic Pro Rodeo last month. The herd features two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bareback Horses of the Year, Real Deal in 2005 and Big Tex in 2010. In 2011, four-time world champion Bobby Mote won the bareback riding national title after posting a 90-point ride on Big Tex. A year ago, two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Sam Spreadborough posted an 86-point ride on Big Tex to win the RNCFR’s saddle bronc riding title – the bay gelding continues to be one of the top saddle broncs in the game, having just guided Tyler Corrington to the San Antonio championship last month. “By buying Classic, Pete added a bunch of great horses to his mix,” Muncy said. “Pete’s just trying to make his program really good. It’s unbelievable that we’ll have that many good horses together. It’s going to be amazing.” Muncy isn’t the only RNCFR qualifier to think so. “You can’t ask for anything better than to show up at a rodeo and get on that caliber of horses,” said saddle bronc rider Jesse James Kirby, a three-time RNCFR qualifier from Dodge City, Kan. “It’s great that two great firms can come together like that and build a program that’s even bigger and better than it was.” In all, Carr owns more than 70 animals that have been selected to perform at the NFR, 31 of which bucked in Las Vegas this past December. “Pete obviously has the intent to have a real quality rodeo company,” said Mote, a 12-time NFR qualifier from Culver, Ore. “He wants to have the kind of horses that cowboys want to get on. I think having those two companies together is going to help some of the rodeos where need more depth in good horses.” That means a high quality show in each town Carr animals will perform. “From a cowboy’s standpoint, I think it’s good,” Mote said. “The fact that Pete is the one that is taking over is just going to increase the contestants’ odds when they enter a rodeo, which, in turn, is going to help the committees.” Animals from Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo at Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo Oklahoma City, April 4-6 Bareback Horses: Real Deal, Dirty Jacket, Alberta Child, Island Girl, Collins Pride, Cool Change, Outa Sight, Wise Guy, Lady’s Man, Good Time Charlie, Rocky, Disco and Ragin Angel. Saddle Broncs: Miss Congeniality, True Lies, Mike & Ike, Cool Runnings, Empty Pockets, Cowboy Cowtown, Gold Coast, Poker Face and Big Tex. Bulls: Morning After, Private Eyes, Missing Parts and The Warden.

Do you want a chance to win tickets to the 2013 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo? You’ll have your chance during the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for Thursday, April 4-Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. The RNCFR will be conducting social media trivia contests each performance, set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The questions will be posted on Twitter and Facebook pages for the RNCFR and the Lazy E Arena. Two NFR tickets, courtesy of Las Vegas Events, are the premier prize, but there are other items available for those who know their rodeo trivia. Winners must be in attendance at State Fair Arena when the question is posted and must provide the answer to the chosen representative in order to claim the prize.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Many special things that happened to Trey Benton III in 2012. He qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time. He was named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Bull Riding Rookie of the Year. He won the year-end title in the Texas Circuit. It was the latter that earned him the right to compete at the 2013 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. “I had an awesome rookie year, and this is awesome to be able to compete at this event,” said Benton, 21, of Rock Island, Texas. “I had a great year in Texas; I won close to $30,000 just in Texas. “Now we’ve just got to get that national title.” Now he’s part of the 24-man field that will test their mettle against the toughest bulls in in the business as they battle to earn ProRodeo’s National Championship. And for his part, Benton has already proven to be one of the elite cowboys in the game. Benton earned $117,400 last season, winning 10 rodeos; two of those were in his home circuit, in Mercedes, Texas, and Seguin, Texas. But he also earned good money at rodeos in San Angelo, Texas, and Austin, Texas. Those were big moves that helped him qualify for Oklahoma City. He suffered a torn ACL toward the end of last season but still competed at the NFR. This year, he’s down the money list, partly due to missing six weeks of competition after surgery to repair broken bones in his face. “I was itching to go and ready to go by the time I was cleared to ride,” he said. “As soon as I got back, one of my traveling partners got hurt, but other than that, I’ve been gunning to go hard. Now Benton hopes his outstanding rookie season rolls in an amazing sophomore campaign. He has a chance to make a significant point when he rides in Oklahoma City next week. “I know it’s going to be as competitive as any other,” he said. “There are always going to be great guys rodeoing. Professional rodeo is as good as it gets.”

GUYMON, Okla. – For as long as Taylor Rankin can remember, he has taken part in the annual trail drive from Elkhart, Kan., to Guymon for Pioneer Days. In fact, this year’s drive will mark the 23rd time in Taylor Rankin’s life that he has been horseback for the cross-country ride. He’s just 22 years old. Yes, he was just a month and a half shy of his first birthday the first time he sat in the saddle with his mother, Melinda Rankin, one of the organizers of the Point Rock Riders. She’s been taking part in the annual trail drive since 1985, when she and her husband, Troy, rode together for the first time as newlyweds. They will return to Texas County during the two-day drive from May 2-3 to again be part of the Guymon Pioneer Days celebration, including the community’s championship rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. “This is our only family vacation,” said Rankin, who, with Troy, has been one of the organizers for the past two decades. “We take the time off from work for this and our county fair. You get to just sit and relax, and you get to visit with your neighbors that you don’t get to see much throughout the year.” They also continue a longstanding tradition for those from Morton County, Kan. The first drive took place in 1948, organized by group called the Elkhart Trail Riders. The drive features a varied size group, from a few dozen to as many as 250 people participating. The Point Rock Riders leave Elkhart on Thursday morning, stopping a few hours later for lunch at an area farm. From there, they will continue the trek southeast, stopping for the night in a ranch’s pasture northwest of Guymon. When the Rankins first began the trail ride nearly three decades ago, many participants utilized tents to sleeping in the back of horse trailers during the campout. Now a number utilize RVs and more comfortable accommodations. “I think it’s an important part of the Western lifestyle,” Melinda Rankin said. “It’s family oriented, and we want to keep it that way. Whether you’re enjoying a nice, pretty day or fighting the dirt blowing, you enjoy yourself and your time on the ride. “We’ve been rained on, ridden through sleet and snow. The wind’s blown 60 miles an hour. Usually it’s so dry that time of year, we’re just spitting dirt the whole time, and there have been plenty of times when we’ve all had sunburns. But no matter what, we’re going to go.” Part of it is the legacy that was created 65 years ago when the Elkhart Trail Riders rode to Guymon to be part of the Pioneer Days Parade. “It’s just who I am,” Melinda Rankin said. “It’s tradition, and you get to shut off what’s going on at home and just being a group. We’re a family. We’re all close. There are several people that come from other towns, but still they belong. “We have a common thing; we like to ride, and we love our animals. This is where we can leave work and go do what we love for a few days.” The group votes on the Point Rock Riders queen, king, prince and princess each year, and those are the younger members who lead the group along the Pioneer Days Parade route. The riders try to arrive in Guymon around 11 a.m. Friday, then they will take in many of the Pioneer Days festivities. They will gather at the Texas County Activity Center for the annual Rotary Club Barbecue. They will take in the carnival, the mercantile and rodeo, while also being a major piece of the parade. “We get rooms every year, and most of us stay in Guymon all weekend,” Melinda Rankin said. “It’s something we all look forward to every year.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – A year ago, Matt Shiozawa walked into State Fair Arena just a few months removed from winning the tie-down roping average championship at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He parlayed that momentum into a solid run through the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, then turned on the heat during the final round to win his second National Championship – he also won the title in 2008. In all, the Chubbuck, Idaho, cowboy left the Sooner State with more than $12,500. Now Shiozawa returns to Oklahoma City for the sixth straight time in his career. He brings quite a pedigree to the RNCFR, which has five performances set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. He will be joined by 23 other top-level tie-down ropers representing the 12 ProRodeo circuits from all over the country. The field includes some of the top weekend warriors in the game, cowboys who excel at rodeos closer to their homes. But the pack also includes several cowboys who have been regulars at the NFR: Oklahoman Hunter Herrin, Utahan Jake Hannum, and Texans Adam Gray and Scott Kormos. And that’s what makes ProRodeo’s National Championship such a special event. It’s a true showcase of tremendous talent, of men who know the fortitude it takes to compete at a top-level event. Tie-down ropers rely on tremendous roping ability coupled with outstanding horsemanship. Compare the skills to a long-range shooter in the NBA: The top 3-point shooter in the association makes around 45 percent of his attempts; a tie-down roper must be accurate, all while chasing a running calf while atop a speeding horse. If a cowboy is less than 90 percent accurate, he’ll go home broke. The best of the best will compete at the RNCFR. That’s why so many are so excited to be part of this historic event, and why they want to win that elusive National Title.

Mike Donnell is passionate about his business. He represents rodeo contestants, trying to help clients obtain sponsorships that are a vital part of the sport. Donnell has penned a two-part series for Rodeo Fame magazine discussing the role of a sponsorship agent in rodeo. He owns Donnell Rodeo Promotions, which has been representing contestants and associations for a decade. “I actually contacted the editors of the magazine a year or so ago to discuss their interest in an article on the contestants I represent,” Donnell said. “We began discussing my role in the sport, and they asked if I would write an article about it, so I agreed.” The first of the two stories will appear in the spring 2013 edition. In the articles, Donnell will attempt to answer five questions: 1) What four options do rodeo contestants have in adding sponsors? 2) What can an agent provide a contestant to attract sponsors? 3) How does an agent market a contestant’s availability and value to prospective sponsors? 4) How should an agent-contestant representation agreement be structured? 5) What should the relationship be between an agent and other sponsors a contestant may already have? “I hope others with experience in the sport will read the story and realize that if they follow these guidelines, they, too, could serve as agents,” said Donnell, who acknowledged the article might provide opportunities to represent more contestants. “We have a lot more talented contestants than we have agents to represent them.”

Lucia and his Cowboy Monkey will be featured act at National Circuit Finals OKLAHOMA CITY – The long list of world champions coming to Oklahoma City the first weekend in April is being overshadowed by one of the most popular “cowboys” in rodeo. Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey will be the featured performer during the 2013 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, with five performances set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. “It’s pretty amazing to be asked to work an event like that,” said Tommy Lucia, one of the top showmen in rodeo and Whiplash’s handler. “I’m very privileged to be part of it because it has the best cowboys and cowgirls and the best livestock in rodeo. “It’s second to the National Finals (Rodeo) as far as the contestants and livestock that will be seen.” Lucia should know. He’s worked some of the biggest events in the sport, including the NFR. “I’ve been in the PRCA over 40 years,” Lucia said. “In fact, I clowned the National Finals when it was in Oklahoma City.” Lucia has done much in his lifetime, from riding bulls and bareback horses to working as a bullfighter and rodeo clown. That was all before he became one of the most sought-after specialty acts in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association – he has been recognized as one of the best in the business, and Lucia was recognized as the PRCA’s Entertainer of the Year three straight times, from 2003-05. But that’s nothing compared to the daily tasks he has of working with animals, including one of the most popular stars in rodeo. “My feeling is God has a purpose for me, and animals fit into that,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate. I have animals that are above the norm, and we put on an excellent show for audiences of all ages. I know our success is due to God, because we have a monkey that is so well loved by millions of people. I like to see my animals perform and do well and see that the spectators enjoy it.” The act centers on Whiplash riding a Border collie as the tandem rounds up wild Barbados sheep and pens them. “We’ve performed in front of stars of all sorts at all kinds of events,” Lucia said. “He’s got a way of affecting the audience, because he rides in a way that shows he likes it. Our dogs are top working dogs, and I’m imported many of them from Scotland. The show we put on is of highly skilled animals. “I’m more of a prop for them.” It works, and it sounds like a great fit for ProRodeo’s National Championship, which features the top contestants in each event from the 12 circuits. The competition will be a showcase of extraordinary talent, from the very best weekend warriors in the country to the sport’s most renowned champions; all will by vying for a purse of more than $550,000. When you combine that athletic talent with the tremendous entertainment featuring Lucia, Whiplash and concerts from Thompson Square (on Friday evening) and Chris Cagle (Saturday), it makes for an amazing opportunity for fans looking for the perfect show in central Oklahoma. “I think there’s just so much for the spectators that they’ll be able to enjoy the entire rodeo,” Lucia said.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Saddle bronc riding is considered the classic event in rodeo. It’s the first thing most folks think about when they hear the word “rodeo” – it brings out the image of breaking a wild horse. There’s a reason why it stands as a symbol and why it’s prominent in the logo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The men who do it well showcase true athleticism, and they’ll put on quite a show during the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. “We’ll have good horses there, and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Taos Muncy, a two-time world champion from Corona, N.M. “I’d really like to win it someday. I’ve been second there three times, so winning it is one of my goals.” It’s admirable. Muncy has reached the pinnacle in his chosen event, the first time in 2007 just six months after he won the collegiate bronc riding title while studying at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He won his second championship in 2011. Now he’s ready to stake claim on ProRodeo’s National Championship. “It’s always a tough event,” Muncy said of the RNCFR. “You’ve got guys that are going down the road full time, but there are some guys in there that don’t go as hard, but they can dang sure beat you any time.” Jesse James Kirby has yet to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but this marks the third time he’s competed at the national circuit finals. “You get to compete against the top guys and get on some of the best bucking horses,” said Kirby, the year-end Prairie Circuit champion from Dodge City, Kan. “You get a shot for the bonus of a ($20,000) voucher for a Ram truck, and you can win some good money to help you through the rest of the spring. “When you get on top-notch horses that go to the NFR every year, it just makes you that much better and gives you a taste of what it’s like throughout the year. It’s a good one to have on your resume.”

GUYMON, Okla. – Each spring, tie-down roper Jerome Schneeberger makes his way to the Oklahoma Panhandle to compete at one of his favorite rodeos. Schneeberger, an 11-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Ponca City, Okla., is a two-time champion of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. He expects to make it three this year when the rodeo takes place April 29-May 5 at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. But he’s got more to do than any other competitor in the field. You see, Schneeberger will serve as one of three pickup men at the annual rodeo, now in its 81st year. In addition to handling many of the behind-the-scenes duties that help make the rodeo happen, he will join Matt Scott of Cody, Wyo., and Jeremy Hight of Carthage, Texas, to assist cowboys who ride bucking horses and bulls for a living. “It feels good to me that someone calls me to pick up, especially a rodeo like Guymon,” Schneeberger said. “Maybe I’ll get a chance to work the NFR.” Pickup men are mostly recognized in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding, where they ride alongside the bucking beasts at the end of a ride to help the cowboys get off their mounts unscathed. It takes a special sort of cowboy to handle the tasks, one who understands livestock, is a great horseman and can rope better than many who actually compete. “When you have someone good to pick up with, it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I enjoy the lifestyle. I enjoy the work. I’ve always enjoyed being around it ever since I was a kid.” This will be the first time for all three cowboys to work the Guymon rodeo. Scott has been picking up in some form or fashion for the last decade, while Hight began the job just four years ago. Nonetheless, they’ve got a good handle on what it takes to do the job well. “I started doing it so I had something to fall back on when I was done riding broncs,” said Scott, 30. “I got to where I enjoyed it more than I did riding broncs, so I just went from there. In 2005, I quit riding broncs and went to picking up all the time.” Hight has never ridden broncs; not on purpose, anyway. “I grew up around some amateur rodeos, but I never did really rodeo. I was more of a cowboy, working at ranches,” he said. “I went to Texas A&M and stayed down there for five or six years working for big ranches. I came back here (to Carthage), because my grandfather has a little ranch. I’ve been working with that and picking up.” Now he’ll get to work one of the most prestigious rodeos in the land, one that has been recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association as rodeo of the year. “Guymon is one of those places you hear about, a place you want to go,” Hight said. “You want to pick up at good rodeos and work with good committees. That’s what makes it fun, because you’re going to see a 90-point bareback ride or a 90-point bull ride. “Those are fun places to go, and I have the best seat in the house.” The pickup men might be the most important cowboys in the arena throughout a rodeo, but it’s best that they’re not recognized. Their primary tasks are to keep cowboys as safe as possible while also helping with the overall production. They knew the necessity of getting the animals out of the arena in quick fashion after each ride and run. That’s why they’re a valuable piece of the puzzle for well-produced rodeos. Pickup men are in the arena from start to finish, but if all goes well, they’re hardly seen by fans. “It’s a big arena, and it’s a long week, so I know it’ll take some horses to get through it all,” Schneeberger said. “I know it’ll be a lot of work. I’m not opposed to that at all. I just hope the weather is nice.” No matter the conditions, the rodeo will go on. All three pickup men know they have an important job to perform. “It’s a big deal for me to work one of the bigger rodeos like Guymon, which has a lot of history behind it,” Scott said. “It’s a big honor for me.”

ALVA, Okla. – Jared Thompson is experiencing a dose of tunnel-vision right now. With three rodeos remaining in the 2012-13 season, Thompson sits in third place in the steer wrestling standings in the Central Plains Region. Only the top three contestants in each event in the circuit qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo, a destination that shines brightly in Thompson’s mind. “I’d settle for staying where I am in the standings now, but I’d prefer to move up a spot,” said Thompson, a senior from Everly, Iowa. Thompson moved up a spot from fourth after winning the Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College last weekend. He scored a 5.1-second run to finish fifth in the long round; his 5.2 placed in a tie for third in the short go-round. His cumulative total of 10.3 seconds was half a second faster than the runner-up, Blair Jones of Fort Hays (Kan.) State University. “Some of those steers were really good, but some of them weren’t,” he said. “It moved me up and keeps me alive for the college finals.” Thompson was the leading force behind the Northwestern men’s second-place team finish in Fort Scott. Only the top two schools in the region qualify their entire teams for the college finals, which will take place in Casper, Wyo., in June – two men’s teams and two women’s teams. “We really have stepped up our men’s team the last couple weeks,” Thompson said. “If we’d been performing like this in the fall, we’d be winning the region.” Thompson has stepped up his game, too. After missing the spring season a year ago because of an injury, the Iowa cowboy has returned to the top of the game. His win in Fort Scott is the second victory this season – he also won the first rodeo of the season in Colby, Kan. “I’d like to get 300 more points over the last three rodeos,” he said, pointing to high finishes in the last few events of the season. “Winning all three would make me happy, but I’d be happy with getting those points and moving up another spot in the standings.” Northwestern had eight men and two women make the championship round in Fort Scott, including two team roping tandems. Ethan McDowell and Chase Johnson finished second as one of three teams to have qualified times on two runs. They finished with a cumulative time of 14.6 seconds, while Travis Cowan and Brice Buzzard were fourth, having stopped the clock in 6.8 seconds in the first round. Thompson was joined in the steer wrestling short round by Ryan Domer, while tie-down ropers Clayton Kolb and Jess Woodward earned points for the team; Kolb finished his two-run aggregate in 19.7 seconds to place third. The women were led by goat-tier Trisha Price, who finished second with a cumulative time of 15.5 seconds, and breakaway roper Jessica Koppitz, who finished in 6.2 seconds on two runs. The women remain in second place in the Central Plains team standings with three rodeos remaining on the schedule. They will compete next April 11-13 at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo in Weatherford, Okla.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Spencer Mitchell has a rare distinction heading into the 2013 edition of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. Mitchell, a header from Colusa, Calif., is one of just three champions who can defend the titles they earned last April at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, joining tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa and barrel racer Brittany Pozzi. “It’s a great rodeo, it pays well and it’s prestigious,” said Mitchell, who was a late replacement for Riley Minor, who had suffered an injury earlier in the season and wasn’t able to compete with his brother, Brady Minor. “Last year I got in on a deal, and this year Russell Cardoza and I did real well in our circuit and did real well in our (California) Circuit Finals.” Mitchell earned around $10,000 last April, earning little money prior to the final run. They got through the opening two go-rounds without a paycheck, then were solid in the eight-team semifinals to qualify for the final round, which featured the top four teams. That’s where they dominated, posting a run in 3.7 seconds to win the lion’s share of the money and a $20,000 voucher for a Ram pickup. “I held off on getting anything most of the year, then (Ram Rodeo representatives) brought me a new truck right to the NFR,” said Mitchell, a two-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Erich Rogers, a two-time NFR qualifier from Round Rock, Ariz., took care of business with heeler Nick Sarchett in the Turquoise Circuit. They’ll make trip to Oklahoma City, which is something to which Rogers has grown accustom – he’s qualified each of the last four seasons for the RNCFR. “It’s a smaller version of the NFR,” Rogers said. “It’s a fun building to be in when you consider the Wrangler (National) Finals used to be at it. It’s fun to be in there and compete at a rodeo in that building. The ground is usually good, and the set-up is fast.” That’s just the way the greatest ropers in the game like it.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Kyle Lockett has chased the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championship before. Now he focuses on staying closer to home and competing at marquee events. It’s that attention to detail that brings the seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier to central Oklahoma just a few times a year, each time for some of the most prestigious events in his sport. He’ll return to the area the first weekend in April to compete for ProRodeo’s National Title at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. “It’s a great honor and a great chance to win a lot of money,” said Lockett of Visalia, Calif., who was in the metro area last weekend for the Timed Event Championship at the Lazy E Arena. “There are not a lot of teams, because they only take two teams from each of the (12) circuits. But there’s a bunch of money and a voucher for a (Ram) pickup, so that’s a good deal.” Lockett is a two-time winner of the annual Timed Event, which features all-around cowboys who compete in all five timed-event disciplines: heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer roping and steer wrestling. But Lockett is best known as a heeler. It’s how he earned all those trips to the NFR in Las Vegas, competing there for the last time in 2005. It’s also how he will return to the RNCFR, roping with header Marcus Battaglia. Lockett also competes inside State Fair Arena each fall during the annual USTRC World Championships, so he’s familiar with the surroundings and the history of the building that was home to the NFR when it first moved to Oklahoma City in the 1960s. He’s also familiar with the RNCFR – he also qualified in 2005 and 2007 when the event took place in Pocatello, Idaho. “It’s a great place to have the (Ram) Finals,” Lockett said. “It’ll be fun to rope in that building.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The field of barrel racers who will compete at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is filled with experienced cowgirls, those who have played on this stage before and those that have been part of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. From two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas, to regional standouts like Nancy Hunter of Neola, Utah, it’s a solid list of veterans competing for ProRodeo’s National Championship, set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. “I’m very excited to be able to compete in Oklahoma City,” said Carlee Pierce, the 2012 reserve world champion from Stephenville, Texas. “This is a big deal for us, and I always love being able to compete inside that building.” Pierce is one of six NFR qualifiers who will race their talented horses around the cloverleaf pattern during the three days of outstanding competition. She will be joined by Pozzi; Christina Richman of Glendora, Calif.; Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D.; Christy Loflin of Franktown, Colo.; and P.J. Burger of Pauls Valley, Okla.             Loflin earned her first trip to the NFR last year and qualified for the RNCFR by winning the Mountain States Circuit. She plans to ride her great horse, Movin’, an 8-year-old sorrel mare that missed competing at the NFR while recovering from an injury – the horse is expected to be back to running by the end of this month.             “She loves the pen at Oklahoma City,” Loflin said. “She’s done well at the BFA derbies, and she was the AQHA reserve champion there.             “I’m really excited to run her there.”             So are the other 23 cowgirls who will race for one of the most coveted titles in the sport. Veteran racers to run for National Title

OKLAHOMA CITY – The last time Steven Peebles rode a bucking horse, it was Dec. 15 during the 10th go-round of the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He scored 85.5 points on the PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year, Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night, and finished in a tie for third in the round. He won more than $7,700 that night and finished the NFR with nearly $40,000 in earnings. The next time he locks himself to a bucking horse will be during the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for April 4-6 at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, with performances planned for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6. He’ll battle 23 other top bareback riders all fighting for to be crowned this year’s national champion. “I’m pretty excited that my first one back will be in Oklahoma City,” said Peebles, a four-time NFR qualifier from Redmond, Ore. Pebbles had an injured hip repaired shortly after the NFR concluded, and his body needed months away from the rugged competition to mend. He’s gone through the rigors of rehabilitation, and he’s hoping it pays off handsomely. In addition to winning the prestigious national title, winners in each event earn a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a Ram truck. “It’s awesome, and I’m pretty dang excited about it,” said Peebles, who qualified for the championship by winning the average title at the Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo last fall. “You have a chance to win a voucher for a new truck and a ton of money. It’s a title I always wanted to put my belt on. “It’s a huge rodeo for us, and it would be awesome to win.” He’ll have his hands full. In addition to getting on the toughest bareback horses in the game, Peebles will test his talent against many of ProRodeo’s elite, from world champions like Kaycee Feild and Bobby Mote to other NFR qualifiers like Joe Gunderson, Jessy Davis, Casey Colletti, Jared Keylon, Wes Stevenson, Clint Cannon and Caleb Bennett. “There are a lot of good guys right in there, so it’s not going to be an easy title to win,” said Peebles, who last qualified for the RNCFR in 2009, prior to its move to Oklahoma City. “It’s going to be pretty awesome to compete there, to get to ride out of the same chutes as the guys that rode at the NFR back when it was in that coliseum. That’s just an awesome feeling. “I’m excited to get back to riding again, and I’m really glad I get to do it there.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – Being a steer wrestler takes technique, talent and dogged determination. Being one of the best in the country takes something just a little more, and 24 men will get to see if they have it during the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. Performances are planned for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Each cowboy earned the right to compete for ProRodeo’s National Championship by finishing at or near the top of their respective areas through the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s circuit system, made up of 12 geographic regions. To qualify for Oklahoma City, they either won the 2012 year-end or the average championship of their respective circuit finals. “It’s a pretty exclusive field,” said Stockton Graves, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Newkirk, Okla. “I’m just glad I made it back and glad it’s in Oklahoma City, which is close to my hometown. I have a chance to run at good money and maybe a Ram pickup.” Winners in each event earn a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a Ram truck, a valuable commodity Graves knows something about; he won the title seven years ago. More importantly, he realizes just how elite this group of qualifiers is. Among the 24 steer wrestlers who will ride into State Fair Arena, there are dozens of NFR qualifications and six gold buckles. These are stalwarts in the game, from world champions like Luke Branquinho, Dean Gorsuch and Jason Miller, to NFR regulars like Todd Suhn and Graves. “It’ll be like a mini-NFR,” said Graves, who focuses his attention as rodeo coach at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State University. “I’ve slowed down considerably, because my focus is Northwestern. I’m still going to try to go to all the big rodeos and make it to my circuit finals and try to get back to Oklahoma City every year. “If things work out in the winter and I have a chance to make the NFR, I’ll still chase it, but my first priority is Northwestern.” And that’s just another reason why competing at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City is so important to one of ProRodeo’s greatest steer wrestlers. That’s why he’s happy it’s in the Midwest and why he’s excited to be part of this exclusive field.

ProRodeo’s elite cowboys, cowgirls are ready to battle for National Championship OKLAHOMA CITY – The stars are aligning for a magnificent spring week to kick off April in Oklahoma’s capital city. From concerts by Thompson Square and Chris Cagle to the hottest action from the biggest and brightest luminaries in professional rodeo, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is packing quite a punch during its run from April 4-6 at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City – performances are set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. That type of party is just what’s been ordered for springtime in the Sooner State. “I think what’s going to draw people to the Ram finals is that the format is different than most rodeos,” said Bobby Mote, a four-time world champion bareback rider from Culver, Ore. “The format is more exciting. “Plus fans will still get to see the top cowboys in the nation go against a lot of the top stock. This is not your average rodeo. This is a big event for us, and I think fans will realize that.” This is ProRodeo’s National Championship, where cowboys earn the right to compete by how well they performed in their home circuits. For instance, Mote earned the right to compete in Oklahoma City by winning the year-end championship in the Columbia River Circuit, which is made up of rodeos and contestants primarily in the Northwest United States. “It’s exciting for us because we’re getting a chance to win around $30,000 and a voucher for a Ram pickup,” said Mote, who has qualified for the RNCFR 10 times in his storied career. “The group of guys you compete against is a little different, but there are still a lot of the top guys in rodeo. Plus you’re getting on good stock.” How big is this championship? The last time Mote competed inside State Fair Arena, he won the coveted championship. Because of the event’s relationship with Ram Trucks, the winners in all eight categories of competition will win a $20,000 voucher toward the use of a new vehicle in addition to the thousands of dollars available in the purse. That’s why NFR qualifiers and world champions alike are happy to be part of this prestigious competition. A year ago, for example, two-time world champion barrel racer Brittany Pozzi outran a pack of top-ranked cowgirls to win the title. She returns this year to defend her title, but so do team roping-header Spencer Mitchell and tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa, all of whom have competed multiple times at the NFR. In addition to Pozzi and Mote, world title winners scheduled to compete at the RNCFR are two-time reigning bareback riding champion Kaycee Feild, three-time and reigning steer wrestling winner Luke Branquinho, 2007 steer wrestling champ Jason Miller, two-time saddle bronc riding titlist Taos Muncy and reigning world champion bronc rider Jesse Wright, who owns two national titles. The field also includes dozens of NFR qualifiers as well as part-time cowboys and cowgirls who qualified by performing so well in the circuit.

ALVA, Okla. – College rodeo is quite a bit different than a typical rodeo. Contestants not only battle for individual titles, they also strive to finish atop the tournament as a team. Think wrestling instead of football or basketball, where individual success leads to team victory. Each cowboy and cowgirl battles for personal honor and, in the process, accumulates points that count toward the team standings. When it is all added together, the outcome is a big victory. Such is the case with the Northwestern Oklahoma State University men’s rodeo team, which won the Garden City (Kan.) Community College rodeo last weekend. Eleven Rangers qualified for the all-important championship round, and two cowboys left western Kansas with coveted titles – tie-down roper Travis Cowan and all-around champion Jess Woodward. “I’m just glad I was able to get points to help win the team trophy,” said Woodward, a junior agriculture business major from Dupree, S.D. “I think it will help us a lot in confidence. We’ve got four rodeos left, and it should help us get the points to be in the top two at the end of the season and qualify for the college finals as a team.” The 575 points earned the Northwestern men their first team title of the season, 150 points ahead of runner-up Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Woodward earned 175 points: 60 for placing fifth in tie-down roping and 115 for placing second in steer wrestling. Cowan, of Highmore, S.D., earned 120 points for finishing in a tie for first. The Rangers also earned points by having several others in the short go-round: tie-down roper Trey Young, fifth; steer wrestlers Clayton Kolb, fifth, and Jared Thompson, eighth; and team ropers Collin and Ryan Domer, second, Ethen McDowell and Chase Johnson, fourth, and heeler Dustin Searcy, who placed fifth with Trey Harmon of Western Oklahoma State College. “I drew really good and didn’t mess them up in the long round,” said Woodward, who also competes in team roping. “I didn’t draw as good in the short round but did what we could do. “We had a good set of cattle, and nobody on our team really made any mistakes.” The team title moves the Northwestern men to sixth in the Central Plains Region standings heading into the final run of rodeos for the 2012-13 season; the teams will compete at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College beginning Friday, March 8. The women’s team is second in the region. Breakaway roper Jessica Kippitz was the highest placing ranger in Garden City, placing second. She was joined in in the final round by breakaway roper Jessica Miller, seventh; goat-tier Kodi Hansen, third; and barrel racer Clara Morris. “We’re just trying to make the college finals, not only as a team, but as an individual as well,” Woodward said.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – With a crack in his voice and tears in his eyes, Daniel Green talked to his wife, Shawnda, who was home in Oakdale, Calif. “We did it,” he said. “I love you so much. I miss you. I wish you were here to see this.” On Sunday afternoon, Green clinched his third Timed Event Championship title in the 17 years he’s been competing at this unique competition. He finished the rugged 25-run contest with a cumulative time of 313.6 seconds to claim the top prize. In all, he’ll leave the Lazy E Arena with $52,000. “Mission accomplished,” said Green, 40, who also won in 2002 and 2008. “It wasn’t perfect by any means. Many times it’s not, but that’s the Timed Event Championship. It’s adapt, adjust and overcome. It’s the guy that perseveres, and I just kept my mind set. These kids were coming in here and roping fast, and I just kept solid. I’ve been here enough to know.” Green worked through the last of the five-round competition in 76.0 seconds, his slowest round of the weekend. But it secured the coveted title and the $50,000 top prize – he also added $2,000 for finishing eighth in the fastest-round aspect of the contest. Green’s 313.6 was 30.3 seconds faster than the runner-up Paul David Tierney, the son of four-time world champion Paul Tierney from Oral, S.D. – the youngest of the three Tierneys in the mix earned $25,000. “It feels awesome to win that kind of money,” Paul David Tierney said, explaining that’s the largest check he’s received in competition. “That’ll make things a lot easier now.” The top timed-event cowboys in rodeo are invited to compete in the challenge, which just concluded its 29th year. Each competes in all five disciplines, team roping-heading, team roping-heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping. Over the course of the three days, contestants will compete in 25 runs. Money is paid out in aggregate, paying the cowboys with the top eight cumulative scores, and also in the fastest rounds. Trevor Brazile is the only six-time winner in Timed Event Championship history. He placed third in this year’s event, earning $15,000 for that feat. But he also posted the fastest go-round, completed in 44.3 seconds during the third performance. “Usually if things are going good, I’m not trying to get that,” said Brazile, who has earned the $10,000 top round prize six times in his career. “If things are going good, then I’m just being steady.” That was the key for Green. Not only did he claim his third title, he was one of three past champions to finish in the top four of this year’s event: Brazile in third, and five-time titlist K.C. Jones of Burlington, Wyo., in fourth. “If I beat the course, then not all of them are going to beat me,” Green said. “I’ve never been beat by someone here if I feel like I beat the course. The course is the toughest competition.” The 2013 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, Transwest-Cimarron Trailers, Western Horseman Magazine, R.K. Black Inc., Gist Silversmiths, Spin to Win Magazine, National Saddlery, Hot Heels, Resistol Hats, Stallion Oil, Precision Drilling, Swire Oilfield Services, Rodeo Video, CSI Saddlepads, the Best Western Edmond, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites – Edmond. The 2013 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. FINAL RESULTS AVERAGE: 1. Daniel Green, 313.6 seconds on 25 runs, $50,000; 2. Paul David Tierney, 343.9, $25,000; 3. Trevor Brazile, 352.4, $15,000; 4. K.C. Jones, 354.1, $10,000; 5. Jess Tierney, 361.7, $7,500; 6. Russell Cardoza, 362.6, $5,000; 7. Trell Etbauer, 364.8, $4,500; 8. Erich Rogers, 375.1, $3,000. FASTEST GO-ROUND: 1. Trevor Brazile, 44.3 seconds, $10,000; 2. Kyle Lockett, 46.5, $6,000; 3. Clayton Hass, 49.6, $5,000; 4. Clay Smith, 50.1, $4,000; 5. Jess Tierney, 50.5, $3,000; 6. Daniel Green 51.0, $2,000. BONUS: Jade Corkill, 4.3 seconds in heeling, $3,000. OVERALL MONEY: 1. Daniel Green, $52,000; 2. Paul David Tierney and Trevor Brazile, $25,000; 4. Jess Tierney, $10,500; 5. K.C. Jones, $10,000; 6. Kyle Lockett, $6,000; 7. Russell Cardoza and Clayton Hass, $5,000; 9. Trell Etbauer, $4,500; 10. Clay Smith, $4,000; 11. Erich Rogers and Jade Corkill, $3,000.

AVERAGE: 1. Daniel Green, 313.6 seconds on 25 runs, $50,000; 2. Paul David Tierney, 343.9, $25,000; 3. Trevor Brazile, 352.4, $15,000; 4. K.C. Jones, 354.1, $10,000; 5. Jess Tierney, 361.7, $7,500; 6. Russell Cardoza, 362.6, $5,000; 7. Trell Etbauer, 364.8, $4,500; 8. Erich Rogers, 375.1, $3,000. FASTEST GO-ROUND: 1. Trevor Brazile, 44.3 seconds, $10,000; 2. Kyle Lockett, 46.5, $6,000; 3. Clayton Hass, 49.6, $5,000; 4. Clay Smith, 50.1, $4,000; 5. Jess Tierney, 50.5, $3,000; 6. Daniel Green 51.0, $2,000. BONUS: Jade Corkill, 4.3 seconds in heeling, $3,000. OVERALL MONEY: 1. Daniel Green, $52,000; 2. Paul David Tierney and Trevor Brazile, $25,000; 4. Jess Tierney, $10,500; 5. K.C. Jones, $10,000; 6. Kyle Lockett, $6,000; 7. Russell Cardoza and Clayton Hass, $5,000; 9. Trell Etbauer, $4,500; 10. Clay Smith, $4,000; 11. Erich Rogers and Jade Corkill, $3,000.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Daniel Green twice has been the Timed Event Championship leader heading into the final day of competition. Both times, in 2002 and 2008, Green left the Lazy E Arena with $50,000 for winning the unique event dubbed the “Ironman” Event of ProRodeo. “That’s what I’m drawing all my strength from … that I’m going to go complete the job,” said Green, 40, of Oakdale, Calif. “Funny things happen here, but my mind frame is to finish this thing off.” Green’s 20-run cumulative total of 237.6 seconds leads runner-up Trell Etbauer of Goodwell, Okla., by 26.1 seconds. Five-time champion K.C. Jones of Burlington, Wyo., sits third with 273.2 seconds. “I came here to stay solid the whole way through and to rope every steer,” Green said. “Nothing’s changed just because I’m now in the lead.” Green posted a 53.6-second round on Saturday night, the fourth-fastest of the fourth go-round. Clayton Hass of Terrel, Texas, scored a 49.6, moving into third place in the fastest round competition. Six-time champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, is No. 1 with 44.3, while two-time champ Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif., is second with a 46.5 – both were posted during the third round earlier Saturday. While the lion’s share of the $150,000 prize pool is paid out through the top eight cumulative scores, the contestant with the fastest round time will earn a $10,000 when the championship concludes Sunday afternoon. The Timed Event Championship is a true test of the top all-around cowboys in rodeo. Not only must they handle all five disciplines, but they must be able to handle any challenges. That includes being able to different horses throughout the competition. “When I was a kid, I’d jump on anything and just ride anything,” Green said. “I think it helps me to just get by. At the same time, the horse has to be good or they’re really hard to get by, especially in these conditions. “The course is the biggest competition here. Trevor Brazile has his six titles here and 17 gold buckles, and K.C. Jones has his five Timed Event Championships. But more than that, the course is the toughest competitor any of us face. You beat the course, you win big … maybe not always first, but you win big.” The 2013 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 . RESULTS AVERAGE LEADERS: 1. Daniel Green, 237.5; 2. Trell Etbauer, 263.4; 3. K.C. Jones, 273.2; 4. Paul David Tierney, 275.4; 5. Dustin Bird, 279.5; 6. Trevor Brazile, 294.9; 7. Russell Cardoza, 296.7; 8. Jess Tierney, 297.4. FASTEST ROUND LEADERS: 1. Trevor Brazile, 44.3 seconds; 2. Kyle Lockett, 46.5; 3. Clayton Hass, 49.6; 4. Jess Tierney, 50.5; 5. Daniel Green 51.0; 6. K.C. Jones, 51.8. ROUND 4: 1.  Clayton Hass, 49.6; 2. K.C. Jones, 51.8; 3. Clay Smith, 52.4; 4. Daniel Green, 53.6; 5. Paul Tierney, 56.7; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 77.3.

1. Dustin Bird, 204.1; 2. Daniel Green, 212.8; 3. Trell Etbauer, 222.8; 4. Trevor Brazile, 225.1; 5. Erich Rogers, 226.0; 6. Kyle Lockett, 230.8; 7. Russell Cardoza, 231.2; 8. Jess Tierney, 231.7. Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity to line out all 19 places.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – The Timed Event Championship is a rugged endurance test for even the most experienced cowboys in the unique competition. Typically it’s a great measuring stick for the newcomers. But 2013 might just be a changing of the tide, so to speak. Of the top eight cowboys in the 15-run aggregate, three are first-timers, including the top two: leader Trell Etbauer of Goodwell, Okla., and Dustin Bird of Cut Bank, Mont. “I’m just taking a good throw and making sure everything’s set up well and trying not to be fast,” Etbauer said after the third round Saturday afternoon, in which he has a cumulative total of 175.7 seconds, just 2.4 seconds ahead of Bird – the other first-timer near the top of the leaderboard is Erich Rogers of Round Rock, Ariz., whose 189.5 sits sixth. The key is to take a different approach to the Timed Event than cowboys typically use while competing on the rodeo trail. Consistency is the key through the five-round contest, in which cowboys must rope or wrestle 25 animals over three days. Each round is made up of single runs in all five timed-event disciplines: team roping-heading, tie-down roping, team roping-heeling, steer wrestling and steer roping. “When you back in the box and nod your head at a normal rodeo, you want to go out there and be as fast as you can and win every time,” said Etbauer, the son of two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Robert Etbauer and the nephew of five-time titlist Billy Etbauer. “Coming here, I think it’s best to back in there and make sure you have everything set up and go through the steps and just take your time. “It’s a little hard to do, but we’ll just see if we can keep doing it.” Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, knows that’s the method to the Timed Event madness. In his career, Brazile has won this championship six times and holds this prestige up there with his 10 all-around gold buckles in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The 17-time PRCA World Champion posted the fastest run of this year’s event with a 44.3-second round; it was the second fastest go-round in the 29-year history of the Timed Event Championship, second only to Brazile’s record run of 43.5 seconds in 2006. “Just knowing you have to be 13.0 … as a steer roper, I feel like I should’ve gotten that record,” said Brazile, who owns three steer roping world championships, three tie-down roping titles and a heading gold buckle. He’s just one of two men to have qualified for the National Finals in all four roping disciplines. Though he doesn’t wrestle steers very often, his fast round included a 4.0-second steer wrestling run, tying Clayton Hass for the fastest of this year’s event so far – both occurred Saturday afternoon. Two-time Timed Event champion Kyle Lockett posted the second-fastest round so far with a 46.5. The 2013 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 . RESULTS AVERAGE LEADERS: 1. Trell Etbauer, 175.7; 2. Dustin Bird, 178.1; 3. Jess Tierney, 182.5; 4. Daniel Green, 184.0; 5. Paul David Tierney, 193.7; 6. Erich Rogers, 189.5; 7. Russell Cardoza, 200.6; 8. Trevor Brazile, 201.4. FASTEST ROUND LEADERS: 1. Trevor Brazile, 44.3 seconds; 2. Kyle Lockett, 46.5; 3. Jess Tierney, 50.5; 4. Daniel Green 51.0; 5. Dustin Bird, 52.2; 6. JoJo LeMond, 52.9. ROUND 3: 1. Trevor Brazile, 44.3 seconds; 2. Kyle Lockett, 46.5; 3. Dustin Bird, 52.2; 4. Paul David Tierney, 53.6; 5. Russell Cardoza, 57.3; 6. K.C. Jones, 57.5.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – The second round of the Timed Event Championship featured fast times, wild runs and possibly a season-ending injury to a reigning world champion. Two-time winner Daniel Green came through Day 1 of the three-day, five-round “Ironman” Event of ProRodeo atop the leaderboard, scoring a cumulative time of 112.4 seconds through 10 runs. He also posted the second-fastest round so far on Friday night with a 51.0, just half a second behind Jess Tierney. “It’s good to have a good first day because you build confidence from there instead of having to start over,” said Green, who has competed in the Timed Event every year but once since 1995. “I feel like the first round that everything went good but the steer wrestling. This round, everything went great except for the steer roping. It didn’t go that bad, but we’ll take it. It’s in the books.” Meanwhile, two-time and reigning PRCA World Champion header Chad Masters is likely out of the competition. Members of the Lazy E Sportsmedicine crew reported that he suffered a serious knee injury while trying to wrestle his steer Friday night. Because of his solid finish to opening day, Tierney moved into a tie for second place with Trell Etbauer. Both men stand at 115.8 seconds, just a 10th of a second ahead of Landon McClaugherty. “The rounds have never been my deal here,” Tierney said. “I knew tonight I had some really good steers. I told my partner if we could get through those first three events, then I’d have the chance at the round with the steer I had in bulldogging. I’m pretty stoked.” McClaugherty is having one of his strongest runs at the Lazy E since he’s been part of the competition. “I feel pretty confident,” he said. “The only thing I need to do different is break the barrier right there. Just stay aggressive and keep roping.” Like many, McClaugherty loves the competition, primarily because it takes a solid all-around cowboy to excel. “This is lots of fun,” he said. “This is the best event there is.” It’s also one of the most prestigious. Remaining performances are noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. “It’s just the ultimate cowboy event for a timed event guy,” Green said. “The biggest competition here is the course. You get some momentum going, and that helps.” The 2013 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 . RESULTS AVERAGE LEADERS: 1. Daniel Greeen, 112.4 seconds through two rounds; 2. Trell Etbauer and Jess Tierney, 115.8; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 115.9; 5. Dustin Bird, 125.9; 6. JoJo LeMond, 127.1; 7. Erich Rogers, 130.2; 8. Spencer Mitchell, 137.3. FASTEST ROUND LEADERS: 1. Jess Tierney, 50.5 seconds; 2. Daniel Green 51.0; 3. JoJo LeMond, 52.9; 4. Clayton Hass, 54.5; 5. Spencer Mitchell, 55.5; 6. Trevor Brazile, 55.8. ROUND 2: 1. Jess Tierney, 50.5 seconds; 2. Daniel Green 51.0; 3. JoJo LeMond, 52.9; 4. Spencer Mitchell, 55.5; 5. Landon McClaugherty, 58.0; 6. Paul David Tierney, 62.2. ROUND 1: 1. Clayton Hass, 54.4 seconds; 2 Trevor Brazile, 55.8; 3. Trell Etbauer, 57.7; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 57.9; 5. Mike Outhier, 58.4; 6. Dustin Bird, 60.3.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Clayton Hass has learned a few things in his years of competing at the Timed Event Championship. He’s hoping all those lessons pay off by the time the five-round competition concludes Sunday afternoon. For now, though, he’ll continue to focus on the tasks at hand. Maybe that’s why he holds the lead after the first round of this year’s “Ironman” Event of ProRodeo. “It’s a marathon here,” said Hass, 29, of Terrel, Texas. “It’s going to be up and down all weekend long. If you have a bad run, just keep doing what you do and it’ll come back to you.” Hass finished Friday afternoon’s round 54.4 seconds to lead the pack consisting of 20 of the greatest all-around cowboys in the sport. He put together solid times in all five events of this rugged contest: 8.1 seconds in heading, 15.1 in tie-down roping, 9.4 in heeling, 4.7 in steer wrestling and 17.1 in steer roping. Hass leads Trevor Brazile by 1.4 seconds – Brazile owns six Timed Event titles and 17 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championships, including 10 coveted all-around gold buckles. “We had a good day today and just made some good practice-pen runs,” Hass said. “My first few years of coming here, I just tried to coast. I’ve learned over the last couple of years just to do what I do, rope my roping and just go at it like that. I’m just going to take each event one step at a time and go with it.” The 2013 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. RESULTS 1. Clayton Hass, 54.4 seconds; 2 Trevor Brazile, 55.8; 3. Trell Etbauer, 57.7; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 57.9; 5. Mike Outhier, 58.4; 6. Dustin Bird, 60.3; 7. Daniel Green, 61.4; 8. Kyle Lockett, 63.9. Hass Holds the Lead after First Go-Round