Monthly Archives: March 2016

It took a bit of work, but with the help of a the ERA media relations, I was able to come up with the big money winners from this past weekend’s inaugural event in Redmond, Ore. Because the association is a points-based system, the results show points instead of dollars. It’s similar to the way the PBR used points to define its year-end champions; the difference would be that the PBR also has included financial earnings with its results. Thankfully, Holly DeLaune provided me with the payout list per placing; from there, it was just about matching the contestants that placed with their prospective earnings based on the list. The biggest money-earners from the two performances were bull rider Zack Oakes and team ropers Derrick Begay and Clay O’Brien Cooper, who pocketed $6,625 each. Begay and Cooper won Friday night, then finished as the runners-up Saturday. Oakes won on Night 2 after a second-place finish in the opener. Bareback rider Richmond Champion, who won the first round and finished in a tie for second with Kaycee Feild on Saturday, pocketed $6,313. In all, the ERA paid out $100,000 each night.

GUYMON, Okla. – Oklahoma has a strong and powerful rodeo history. From hosting the National Finals Rodeo to being the home of many world champions, the state is well known for its rodeo lore. Still, only this community in the heart of the Panhandle can boast of being home to Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame Rodeo. Fresh off its induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame last summer, the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo will show the world just why during four performances, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “We have an 84-year history that we’re very proud of,” said Jim Quimby, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “Every year we work very hard as a community to pull off the best rodeo in the state, in the country. “Being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is an incredible honor for us. We are very proud of our rodeo. We have a core group of people who work all year to put this on, but this is a community event. We wouldn’t have the kind of rodeo we have without our community.” It’s a rodeo that’s well-respected by the contestants that play the game. Nearly 1,000 cowboys and cowgirls make their way to the Oklahoma Panhandle every spring for the event. Virtually every world champion in recent history has played the game inside Hitch Arena, and they always look forward to returning. “The community really got behind this rodeo,” said Robert Etbauer, a two-time world champion from Goodwell, Okla., now serving as the rodeo coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. “The community’s the one that got the rodeo (to the hall of fame). Larry Jeffus and the rest of that committee … my hat’s off to them, because they did a heck of a job.” There have been a number of volunteers over the years that have held significant roles in the rodeo’s success. From Melyn Johnson to Ken Stonecipher to Earl Helm to Quimby and the countless others who have been part of the event’s success, it takes a small village for Pioneer Days Rodeo to continue to be a top-tier event for the contestants. Etbauer and other cowboys had a big hand in helping put the Guymon rodeo on the map in the early 1990s. He and others with ties to Texas County worked hard to help increase the purse, thereby making it a big event in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Prior to the early ’90s, Pioneer Days Rodeo had the smallest committee bankroll to make it eligible to be a PRCA event – local organizers raised $500 per event, which was then combined with contestants’ entry fees to make up the entire purse. Over the last two-plus decades, the local event boasts of one of the larger overall purses in the association. “It’s a rodeo that came from humble beginnings, just a $500 circuit rodeo,” said Bret Franks, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who grew up in Guymon. “It hasn’t always been a big celebration for the community. “The big deal was getting sponsors behind it. I remember Robert going around and knocking on doors, introducing himself. We all kind of did it in little ways, but Robert was the driving force for us contestants, a lot of us Panhandle State alumni.” It didn’t hurt that Etbauer was wearing one of his two world championship gold buckles while visiting with sponsors, but that was just the start. “It was our hometown rodeo, and we wanted to see the best for it,” said Etbauer, who, along with brother Billy, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2012 – they were joined a year later by youngest brother Dan as inductees into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma City. “We loved this community and liked our hometown rodeo. We wanted to do whatever we could.” There were a lot of big names who jumped on board. The Etbauers were joined by traveling partner Craig Latham, Franks and just about anyone who had ties to the Panhandle State rodeo team. Most were big names on the ProRodeo trail at the time. “We appreciate all those that voted,” Robert Etbauer said. “Those that voted are the committees and your peers, the people you rode in front of and got to know them through the years. It’s just fun to be thought of in that way.” Now Pioneer Days Rodeo is part of the grandest hall in the sport. “The town has grown so much in the last 10 years that it’s unbelievable,” Franks said. “There have been a lot of people that have gotten behind that rodeo and improved it. They have always tried to do whatever would set us apart and improve it, whether it was bringing in all the different contractors to roping muleys (hornless steers used in team roping). “They were doing things that were innovative and outside the box when we started. Now all the good rodeos are doing what we were doing then.” Maybe that’s just another big reason why Pioneer Days Rodeo will forever be enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame along with all the other greats in the game.

WILL ROGERS STAMPEDE WILL FEATURE CONCERTS WITH CODY CANADA AND THE DEPARTED, COODER GRAW AND ADAM HOOD CLAREMORE, Okla. – Any significant birthday deserves a party, and organizers at the Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo are planning a big one for this year’s event. “We’re literally setting the stage for our 70th anniversary,” said David Petty, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual Memorial Day weekend rodeo. “We want the whole community to come out and celebrate with us.” The rodeo is set for Friday, May 27-Sunday, May 29, at Will Rogers Stampede Arena. Local bands will kick off each performance by playing at 6 p.m. The rodeo will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by concerts in the arena. Tickets are on through the event’s website, www.WillRogersStampede.com, and include family packs and adult passes offered at a significant discount online. Gates will open at 5 p.m. Committee members are working to set up the stage area for the three shows, which will feature Texas Music/Red Dirt Music artists Adam Hood on Friday, Cooder Graw on Saturday and Cody Canada and The Departed on Sunday. “We really wanted to tailor these concerts to the music we know people around here will love and appreciate,” Petty said. “We’re excited to have these great artists coming to Claremore this year, and we want this to be the best show in the area that weekend.” Cody Canada and The Departed are no strangers to Oklahoma music fans. The four-piece band is built around Oklahoma music legends who have been entertaining the state’s rock, country and Americana fans for more than two decades. Canada and bass player Jeremy Plato are holdovers from Cross Canadian Ragweed, one of the premier bands to come out of Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Music scene; Ragweed sold more than a million albums between 1994 and 2010. They are joined by drummer Eric Hansen and guitarist/keyboardist Ross Smith, both veterans of the Texas Music genre. “To have Oklahoma music legends like Cody Canada and The Departed is a big deal to our rodeo,” Petty said. “They have a huge following across the country, but they’re legendary here in Oklahoma.” Cooder Graw was a top-flight band in the genre for years. The group recently reunited to begin touring again, and they’re bringing their show to Rogers County for Memorial Day weekend. “We spend a lot of time on the road back in the day doing 150-plus dates a year, and we needed some time away from the road and more time with our families,” front man Matt Martindale said on the band’s website. “It’s been a long time now, and I just can’t wait. I’m excited to see the guys, hang out with our old friends and reignite that part of our lives.” Living in Alabama hasn’t stopped Hood from excelling in the Texas Music genre. He will kick start the festivities following the first performance of the rodeo. He will be the first artist to take the new stage being created on the rodeo grounds. “We are building the stage on the east side of the arena in full view of the stands,” Petty said. “We’ll open the gates and let people get up close to all the acts to enjoy the show. We’ve been blessed to be the PRCA’s Small Rodeo of the Year the last two years, and we want everyone to enjoy this with us and see why we’re proud of the event we put on here in Claremore, Oklahoma.”

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – They are horseback in the arena more than any other cowboy at any given rodeo. As highly visible as the pickup men are, they’re at their best when they are virtually anonymous. Their roles are to be unseen, to allow the action of the competition dictate the performance and to showcase the athletes in the middle of a world-class contest. For Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Jeremy Willis and Josh Edwards fit those roles perfectly. “Working for Pete Carr Pro Rodeo has been a blessing,” said Willis, a former bareback rider who is still living his dreams on the rodeo trail. “Pete always hires really good people, then he trusts them to do what they do. “He buys and raises a lot of good horses, and he trusts you to handle them the way they need to be handled. It’s nice to be trusted with horses that are so valuable. It says a lot about how he feels about us.” Willis and Edwards will be a big part of the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo & Steer Show, set for 7:45 p.m. Thursday, March 24-Saturday, March 26. There they will showcase their true cowboy talents throughout every performance. “For me, picking up culminates all of the things I enjoy doing,” Edwards said. “I was a timed-event contestant for years, but I was raised on ranching and cattle. Picking up is a culmination of all things cowboy. “I like to train colts and start horses. I get to rope a little bit and catch broncs. I like the job requirements.” The requirements are many. In addition to their tasks during each performance, Willis and Edwards also care for their own horses as well as all the livestock that are part of the rodeo. From feeding to sorting, there are many segments to the preparatory work that takes place. Once the performances begin, they ensure the timing of the production and serve as a rescue squad for the cowboys in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding while also being protectors on horseback during bull riding. “Bareback riding and bronc riding are my favorite parts of the rodeo,” Edwards said. “We get to watch the horses buck, and we’ve got the best seats in the house.” The cowboys appreciate it, too. Both men have been selected to work some of the biggest events in the game. Willis has been selected to pick up at the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo three straight years and also has worked the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo; he was one of the finalists for the 2015 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Pickup Man of the Year. “That’s a pretty good feeling,” Willis said. “The best thing about it is knowing you’re appreciated, that the guys you’re trying to help appreciate what you’re doing.” Edwards also has been honored to work major events, including the 2014 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Getting selected to do the National Finals Rodeo is the biggest thing that’s happened to me as a pickup man,” Edwards said. “As a professional rodeo cowboy and a professional pickup man, there’s not a greater honor than that. “There are just as many proud moments as an individual; those are all the rodeos I love going to, the people I’ve met and working those high-caliber events. Without those events, I never would’ve gotten to showcase what I could do and ultimately be selected to work the National Finals Rodeo.” The tandem has worked together quite often through the years, and they’ve developed a rapport. “I know where he’s going to be and what he’s going to do without looking around,” Willis said of Edwards. “Our minds set everything the same way without talking or even strategizing. We can just read the situation and know where each other’s going to be.” That serves everyone involved and helps further cement Pete Carr Pro Rodeo as one of the top firms in ProRodeo. “Just like with any professional entity or organization, continuity is the large part of success,” Edwards said of the Carr crew. “You really get to know someone and how they work and how you work with them. You develop a working relationship, and that carries over to the rest of the year. “If you watch the guys that are really good at this, 85 percent to 90 percent is positioning. It’s reading the animals and anticipating where you need to be when the buzzer goes off to be in the right place.” Edwards and Willis are in the right place together inside the rodeo arena.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Great changes have been made to the main arena make the overall fan experience better at the Nacogdoches County Exposition and Civic Center. It will come in handy when the complex hosts the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo & Steer Show, set for 7:45 p.m. Thursday, March 24-Saturday, March 26. The highlight is a vendor area under the bleachers inside the arena that features a tin roof, wood fence backing and a cobbled, concrete flooring. “We have created a new venue for our vendors in order to place them in the center of the action at the rodeo,” said Anita Scott, the executive director for the expo and civic center. “We previously had the vendors inside the civic center away from the crowds. Now the attendees can browse and shop, and they will not miss a second of the rodeo.” That’s just a small portion of the experience fans can expect during the annual rodeo and steer show. As a key east Texas stop in rodeo, the event also will showcase top cowboys in the game, thanks in large part to the animal athletes and top-level production from Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo. “I think having the Pete Carr with us helps draw the bigger-named cowboys, and we are blessed to have him at the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo & Steer Show,” Scott said. “He’s got a great reputation, and the guys want to come and want to win this rodeo. If it says Pete Carr on it, they know it’s going to be good and it’s going to be the caliber they want and get them the scores they need in order to win.” That makes the Nacogdoches rodeo an important stop for the sport’s brightest stars. It’s part of the family-friendly entertainment that fans have come to expect. In addition to the world-class competition, the rodeo will also feature the comedy of veteran rodeo clown Rudy Burns. Having an established veteran entertainer like Burns is another feather in the cap of the organizers that produce the local rodeo. Scott and her staff are assisted in the preparatory work by the Nacogdoches Jaycees, and all were recognized last year by being nominated for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Small Rodeo of the Year. “For us to get that recognition was truly a miracle and an honor,” she said. “For our town, for our rodeo, to get that kind of recognition is priceless. When you look at the list of all the PRCA rodeos, it’s a huge list. The fact that we were among the best in the PRCA last year is amazing to me.” The rodeo committee was joined by other honorees that work the annual rodeo, including Sandy Gwatney, who was nominated as secretary of the year; Clay Heger, a bullfighter of the year finalist; Jeremy Willis, a nominee for pickup man of the year; Andy Stewart, the longtime announcer of the event who has been a finalist in his category for several years; and the Carr firm, which has four nominations over the last few years. “We’re blessed to have the best in the business here,” Scott said. “Pete is just a great guy. He and his entire crew are very involved and dedicated to our success.” It pays off for the fans, who get an enhanced experience because of the many modifications. “The announcer’s stand has been moved to ground level to allow Andy the best perspective during the event,” she said. “Our staff is always finding new ways to enhance the experience for rodeo fans.” That includes renovating the former announcer’s stand above the bucking chutes and turning it into a private party venue. “It was booked for all three nights of the rodeo within a week of announcing its availability,” said Scott, who noted that the opening night of the rodeo will be sponsored by Southern Power; in lieu of an admission charge, Southern Power requests a $2 donation to the Cushing ISD Angel Tree. The rodeo and steer show also will include the return of the Ultimate Tailgate Party, sponsored by Townsquare Media and Kicks 105. Winners of the ticket-giveaway will watch the performances from the tailgate of a RAM pickup truck bed mounted above the bucking chutes. “During the rodeo each night, we have four seats right above the bucking chutes,” Scott said. “People love it.” It adds to the flavor of the overall rodeo experience. Those changes might just be a key reason why the Nacogdoches rodeo was in line for rodeo of the year.

GUYMON, Okla. – There is much in this community to celebrate. With a population of more than 12,000, Guymon is the largest town in the Oklahoma Panhandle. It will get considerably bigger the first week of May for the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. In addition to the four world-class rodeo performances over the weekend, the week proceeding will be filled with the top cowboys and cowgirls in ProRodeo; they all will be battling for one of the most prestigious titles in the game. “The town basically triples in size that week,” said Jada Breeden, the executive director of the Guymon Chamber of Commerce. “We have studies that show we have a $7 million economic impact that week of the rodeo, including all of the Pioneer Days festivities that are part of our annual celebration.” The rodeo features nearly 1,000 contestants competing over eight days of competition, beginning Monday, May 2. Because Pioneer Days Rodeo always takes place the first weekend in May, the schedule works great for cowboys and cowgirls to make the region their home for the week. “They stay here, they refuel their vehicles here and they eat here, and that makes a big difference in this community,” said Jim Quimby, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “Rodeo is a big part of Guymon, and having an event like this in our community is special.” In fact, Pioneer Days Rodeo was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame last year and will forever be enshrined in the Colorado Springs, Colo., museum. That’s a pretty strong statement for the largest single event in the Oklahoma Panhandle every year. “Rodeo is our history, our heritage,” Breeden said. “There’s only been one time in the last 84 years that they didn’t have it, and it was because of World War II.” That legacy also includes many cowboys and cowgirls that have ties to Texas County, whether it’s because of their alumni status to Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s rodeo team or just carrying on a strong legacy that’s been part of the ranching lifestyle that is living in that part of the country. This has been the home to world champions like Robert Etbauer, Billy Etbauer, Tom Reeves, Taos Muncy, Jeffrey Willert, Rocky Patterson and Jhett Johnson. “By having rodeo competition for eight straight days, the contestants feel at home here and stay,” Quimby said. “They all have these specialized rigs that they live in when they’re rodeoing, so that makes it nice and convenient for them. “We have great community support, and, in turn, the cowboys and cowgirls recognize that and support this community while they’re here. It’s a big deal for our community.” That win-win situation is proof why Pioneer Days Rodeo is special for all involved.

ALVA, Okla. – There’s something in the water in Faith, S.D. There is a boatload of rodeo talent that originates in the tiny western South Dakota town, and much of it seems to find its way to Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The proof has been there for years, but it received a powerful explanation point this past weekend at the Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College rodeo. “We just migrate down here,” junior Tearnee Nelson said with a laugh. “It’s just the thing to do.” Several Northwestern cowgirls from Faith made their way to the championship round in Fort Scott, including three goat-tiers: Nelson, Shayna Miller and Katy Miller. They were joined by Laremie Allred of Kanarraville, Utah, and all four cowgirls collected points. When the dust cleared, Nelson earned the Fort Scott title, tying down two goats in a cumulative time of 14.6 seconds; she was just two-tenths of a second better than Shayna Miller, who finished second. Katie Miller, who finished second in the long round, and Allred, who placed sixth in the opening round, were a little slower than necessary on their second runs and failed to place overall. “We’ve been competing against each other for a long time,” Nelson said. “It’s cool to have three Faith girls in the short round.” Nelson also qualified for the short round in breakaway roping with a 3.0-second run to kick start her weekend in a six-way tie for third place in the first round. She was saddled with a no-time in the final round. “The short-go didn’t go quite as well as I wanted it to,” she said. The Northwestern women won the team title, earning 280 points in the process; they were 40 points better than the runner-up, Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Rangers women sit second in the Central Plains Region’s team standings behind leader Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “At Manhattan (two weekends before), we ended up third,” said Nelson, who credited coach Stockton Graves with providing the needed motivation for success in Fort Scott. “Stockton let us know that we needed to step up. We got our game-face on and wanted to win. We have a lot of talented girls on our team, so there’s no reason we shouldn’t be placing first or second at every rodeo.” Sarah Bynum of Beggs, Okla., placed second in barrel racing to add points to the Rangers women, while breakaway roper Cheyenne Jones of Tioga, Pa., finished third. The Northwestern men were led by a powerful contingent, which included several cowboys who had qualified for the championship round in steer wrestling. That included Maverick Harper of Stephenville, Texas, who won the all-around, also earning points in team roping, where he and partner Noel Hernandez of Pratt (Kan.) Community College finished second. The Rangers band of steer wrestlers included four who placed in the two-run aggregate. Brock White of Earlville, Iowa, finished second in the short round and second overall, while Laine Herl of Goodland, Kan., and Joby Allen of Alva, Okla., finished in a tie for third. Harper placed fourth. J.D. Struxness of Appleton, Minn., won the first round but failed to score a time in the short round. He also qualified for the final round in tie-down roping. While the Northwestern women sit No. 2 in the Central Plains standings, the men are third. The teams have four events remaining on the schedule to secure their spots at the College National Finals Rodeo, which takes the top two teams and the top three competitors in each event during its run, scheduled for mid-June in Casper, Wyo. “I just need to go out there and make my run, then let it play out the way it’s supposed to,” Nelson said, saying she leans heavily on her primary goat-tying mount, Hiko, a 12-year-old gray gelding. “My horse is really solid. If something happens, it’s my fault not his. He gives me an opportunity to win every rodeo.”

GUTHRIE, Okla. – At just 26 years of age, Paul David Tierney has found his calling at the CINCH Timed Event Championship. In just three days inside the Lazy E Arena, the Oral, S.D., cowboy made 25 runs in a record cumulative time of 267.9 seconds to win his second Timed Event title in three years. In all, he pocketed $113,000, nearly doubling his earnings from the previous four years in this unique competition. “That’s a lot of money, life-changing money,” said Tierney, who also won the title in 2014 and became just the second cowboy in the event’s 32-year history to earn the $100,000 prize for first place overall. “That feels pretty dang good right now.” In addition to his record run over the five-round, three-day affair, Tierney finished twice among the top six in the fastest-rounds portion of the competition. He added $10,000 by finishing second (48.5 seconds) and fourth (50.8), then pocketed another $3,000 for the record run. “Winning this feels great,” he said. “Just being able to compete in this is an honor, and to be able to win it is even better.” This title marks the sixth Timed Event gold buckle in the Tierney family. His father, Paul, was a four-time winner, earning his championships in 1987, ’91, 97 and 2000. The Tierney patriarch earned his first title before his youngest son was born, but the legacy has definitely been passed on. “It all just lined up this year,” Paul David Tierney said. In fact, it was a two-man race for most of the weekend between him and seven-time champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas. Tierney held just a 6.8-second lead heading into Sunday’s final go-round, but he expanded that lead after the second event, tie-down roping. After Brazile was saddled with a long time, the event was Tierney’s to lose. Brazile finished as the reserve champion and has pushed his Timed Event earnings to $779,000, the most ever. By finished second and fourth in the fastest rounds, Tierney matched round earnings with Trell Etbauer, who won the fastest-rounds competition with a 44.7-second run worth $10,000. It marked the first solid day for the Goodwell, Okla., cowboy since the Timed Event began Friday afternoon. “I drew some really good cattle today, so I knew I had a chance to set up a good round,” Etbauer said. “I’ve been sick all week, and I finally woke up this morning feeling a lot better. I guess I could think better, too. “This is an event I wait for every year.” So do all the other elite all-around timed-event cowboys in the game. RESULTS AVERAGE: 1. Paul David Tierney, 267.9, $100,000; 2. Trevor Brazile, 295.9, $25,000; 3. Dustin Bird, 361.5, $15,000; 4. Josh Peek, 367.7, $10,000; 5. Cody Doescher, 369.1, $7,500; 6. Rhen Richard, 388.7, $5,000; 7. JoJo LeMond, 416.8, $4,500; 8. Kyle Lockett, 427.6, $3,000. FASTEST ROUND: 1. Trell Etbauer, 44.7 seconds, $10,000; 2. Paul David Tierney, 48.5, $6,000; 3. Jess Tierney, 50.0, $5,000; 4. Paul David Tierney, 50.8, $4,000; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Dustin Bird, 51.1, $2,500 each. RECORD TIME: Paul David Tierney, fastest average, $3,000 TOTAL MONEY: 1. Paul David Tierney, $113,000; 2. Trevor Brazile, $27,500; 3. Dustin Bird, $17,500; 4. (tie) Josh Peek and Trell Etbauer, $10,000 each; 6. Cody Doescher, $7,500; 7. (tie) Rhen Richard and Jess Tierney, $5,000 each; 9. JoJo LeMond, $4,500; 10. Kyle Lockett, $3,000.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Jess Tierney wants to win the CINCH Timed Event Championship in the worst way. It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen this year. “You want to win the average, and that’s why you come,” said Tierney, who has roped, tied and wrestled 20 head in a cumulative time of 333.8 seconds and is way off the pace of 219.4 set by his younger brother, average leader Paul David Tierney, the 2014 champion. “When things don’t go your way, you’ve got to block it out and perform that day. They give money away in the rounds, so hopefully that (time) wins something.” That approach worked well for Jess, who posted a 50.0-second round during the fourth performance Saturday night at the Lazy E Arena. If that time holds out through Sunday’s final go-round, Jess Tierney will pocket $10,000 for that feat. “You’ve got to look forward to each day and your chance for money that day,” he said. The Timed Event has become somewhat of a family tradition for the Tierneys. Their father, Paul, has earned four championships (1987, ’91, ’97 and ’00). In addition to his 2014 title, Paul David Tierney was the runner-up in 2013 and 2015. He’s in great position to add a sixth Timed Event title to the family’s trophy case. “It’s great to be here with my brother,” said Paul David Tierney, who has an 8.8-second lead over seven-time and reigning champion Trevor Brazile. “We’ve both got advice for each other, and he’s really good to have here.” They also have a strong affection for this championship, now in its 32nd year. “This event is something our family’s been a part of forever, and I hope we’re always part of it,” Jess Tierney said. “This is one event I look forward to all year, and we work on it all year long. Whether we come here and do good or not, we’re going to be working on it when we come home. “As this event has grown, it has created Timed Event cowboys. For 20 years, they have grown up getting ready for this event.” Paul David Tierney and Brazile seem to be in their own little battle for the coveted title – Brazile is 71 seconds faster than the third-place cowboy, Cody Doescher of Oklahoma City. It will all be decided during the final performance, set for 1 p.m. Sunday. That’s just the way it ought to be. RESULTS Average Leaders: 1. Paul David Tierney, 219.4 seconds; 2. Trevor Brazile, 228.2; 3. Cody Doescher, 299.2; 4. Dustin Bird, 301.8; 5. Kyle Lockett, 306.1; 6. Josh Peek, 309.3; 7. Rhen Richard, 312.9; 8. Cash Myers, 328.6. Fastest Round Leaders: 1. Jess Tierney, 50.0 seconds; 2. Paul David Tierney, 50.8; 3. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Dustin Bird, 51.1; 5. Kyle Lockett, 51.6; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 52.2.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – If anybody in this year’s CINCH Timed Event Championship field has a bigger smile than Dustin Bird, it might be Paul David Tierney. After three rounds of a back-and-forth battle with seven-time champion Trevor Brazile, Tierney heads into Saturday night’s fourth round with a 1.6-second lead. He also owns the fastest round time, capitalizing on his 50.8-second third go-round. “I’m really enjoying it,” Tierney said of his race with Brazile. “He keeps pushing you and doesn’t let up; that’s the best part. It drives you to just keep doing what you do, and it’s back-and-forth with him.” It has been fun. Tierney has roped, tied and wrestled 15 animals in a cumulative time of 165.0 seconds. He and Brazile are nearly 50 seconds better than the field, led by the No. 3 man in Bird, who posted a 51.1 Saturday afternoon to make a run with two go-rounds remaining in the “Ironman of ProRodeo.” “I just want to slow down and get them down no matter what,” Bird said, pointing out that he has yet to take a 60-second marking, the equivalent to a no-time in this unique championship. “I’ve been long in a few events, and that’s what’s kept me down a little. I just keep going and never get done. “You back in (the timed-event box), see the start and go out and make the best run you can. At the end of the game, you’re better off than you thought.” It takes a considerably different mindset than the typical rodeo cowboy deals with in most competitions. Take the National Finals Rodeo, where speed is a necessity. “At the NFR … you go fast every time and throw caution to the wind,” said Bird, now in his fifth year competing in the Timed Event. “Here it’s about getting everything down and not make any mistakes. The less mistakes you make, the better off you’ll be.” Tierney knows that well. Not only did he watch his father, Paul, win four Timed Event crowns, he earned this championship two years ago. In addition, he was the runner-up in 2013 and 2015. He knows that being consistent is vital in this grueling challenge. “It’s the most important thing,” Tierney said. “You can’t change it up and try to go faster; you just try to be smooth and do your job. “You take care of your stuff and don’t worry about what’s going on around you. I’m just taking care of my business.” It’s a winning formula.   RESULTS Average Leaders: 1. Paul David Tierney, 165.0 seconds; 2. Trevor Brazile, 166.6; 3. Dustin Bird, 214.4; 4. Kyle Lockett, 221.5; 5. Rhen Richard, 222.5; 6. Cody Doescher, 230.8; 7. Josh Peek, 231.5; 8. Cash Myers, 243.1. Fastest Round Leaders: 1. Paul David Tierney, 50.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Dustin Bird, 51.1; 4. Kyle Locket, 51.6; 5. Landon McClaugherty, 52.2; 6. Cody Doescher, 52.8.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – The keys to Trevor Brazile’s great success in the rodeo arena lies in his amazing work ethic and the talent of his equine partners. He showed it Friday at the Lazy E Arena during the first two go-rounds of the CINCH Timed Event Championship, but that’s nothing new for the Decatur, Texas, cowboy. No other cowboy in the event’s 31-year history has won this championship more than Brazile, who owns seven titles. He roped, tied and wrestled 10 head of livestock in 108.3 seconds and holds a 5.9-second lead over the No. 2 man, Paul David Tierney of Oral, S.D., heading into the third go-round, which begins at noon Saturday. “The second round went good,” said Brazile, who has earned more than $750,000 in his Timed Event career. “I think it was pretty right on to the first round, other than my bulldogging; I didn’t do very good the first time.” His 51.1-second score on Friday night pushed him to the fastest round time, just a half second ahead of Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif. In the Timed Event, the best cumulative time through all 25 runs earns the biggest paycheck, $100,000. The top eight aggregate scores are paid according to place, but the six fastest rounds also earn money – $10,000 for the fastest round. Still there are plenty of hiccups that come the way of the “Ironman of ProRodeo.” Brazile, one of the most veteran cowboys in the field, understands how to overcome the grueling challenges that face everyone over the three-day championship. “You just make a plan and execute,” said Brazile, a 23-time world champion in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “It’s about executing. Once you know what (animal) you’ve got, you just perform.” That’s easier said than done, but the Texan is the only cowboy competing at the Lazy E Arena this weekend that has qualified for the National Finals in four of the five timed-event disciplines. The only event in which he doesn’t regularly compete is steer wrestling, but he typically manages his runs fairly well. “One thing my dad’s always told me here, and I’ve watched it happen, is the ones you take for granted are the ones that bite you,” said Brazile, who owns gold buckles in steer roping (6), tie-down roping (3) and heading (1). “It’s happened to me in the past. I just try not to take any one event for granted, whether it’s my strong suit or not.” It shows, year in and year out. The 2016 CINCH Timed Event Championship is sponsored by CINCH, Priefert Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, Montana Silversmiths, ABI Equine, Cavender’s, American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance, Nutrena, Bloomer Trailers, MacroAir, National Saddlery, Cross Bar Gallery, Ram Trucks, John Vance Motors, Western Horseman Magazine, Spin to Win Magazine, Guthrie CVB, Made In Oklahoma Coalition, Pendleton Whisky, Smarty Roping Dummies, CSI Saddlepads, Sherwin-Williams, the Best Western Edmond, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites – Edmond. The 2016 CINCH Timed Event Championship is a Lazy E Production. For more information on the CINCH 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 Average Leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 108.3 seconds; 2. Paul David Tierney, 114.2; 3. Daniel Green, 145.3; 4. Jim Ross Cooper, 153.8; 5. Kyle Lockett, 157.7; 6. Cody Doescher, 157.9; 7. Jess Tierney, 159.1; 8. Rhen Richard, 160.8. Fastest Round Leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 51.1 seconds; 2. Kyle Locket, 51.6; 3. Cody Doescher, 52.8; 4. Paul David Tierney, 55.9; 5. Trevor Brazile, 57.2; 6. (tie) Josh Peek and Paul David Tierney, 58.3.

PAST WINNERS LEAD THE PACK AFTER ROUND 1 OF THE CINCH TIMED EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP GUTHRIE, Okla. – The first round of the CINCH Timed Event Championship is always a mixture of first-run jitters and gaining confidence. Paul David Tierney of Oral, S.D., understands that as well as anybody. Not only is he a veteran in the “Ironman of ProRodeo,” he is the 2014 champion; he’s also a two-time runner-up, having finished as the reserve champ in 2013 and 2015. “I’m not even concerned about the first round right now,” said Tierney, the son of four-time CTEC champion Paul Tierney. “I just want to keep being smooth and wait until the end to see how it all plays out. “Making sure you get the steers and calves down is the key in the first couple rounds, that and to see what the steers and calves are doing. You want to be sure you get out on the barrier and make a smooth run, then work from there on them.” Tierney posted a solid 55.9-second opening go-round, highlighted by a 7.9-second heading run, an 8.2 in heeling and a 5.0 in steer wrestling. He holds a 1.3-second lead over the No. 2 man, Trevor Brazile, the reigning champion from Decatur, Texas, that owns a record seven Timed Event titles. Just behind him is 2010 titlist Josh Peek of Pueblo, Colo. Two-time winner Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif., sits fourth, while three-time titlist Daniel Green of Oakdale, Calif., is seventh; that makes all five former champions that are in the field among the top eight after the first round. The contestants will utilize the few hours between Rounds 1-2 to rest their horses and prepare for the evening performance inside the Lazy E Arena. It takes consistent all-around cowboys to excel in this unique event in which all 20 competitors will make runs in all five timed-event disciplines: heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping. “I like doing all the events, but I’m not too competitive in the bulldogging or steer roping right now,” Tierney said. “This is a fun opportunity for me to get to do them all.” It’s also a grueling test of 25 runs over just three days. The biggest incentive is the $100,000 payout to the cowboy that finishes the five-round affair with the fastest cumulative time. It’s a challenge for the cowboys and the animals they use. That’s why it’s the “Ironman.” RESULTS 1. Paul David Tierney, 55.9 seconds; 2. Trevor Brazile, 57.2; 3. Josh Peek, 58.3; 4. Kyle Lockett, 71.2; 5. Brodie Poppino, 73.8; 6. Dustin Bird, 76.8; 7. Daniel Green 79.1; 8. Rhen Richard, 79.8.

11. Trell Etbauer Just looking at his horsepower, you can see that Trell Etbauer is a horseman. He also is one heck of a cowboy, something that has been passed down through the Etbauer clan. Though they made their names in saddle bronc riding, Robert, Billy and Dan Etbauer have been all-around cowboys all their lives. That legacy has been passed on to the next generation, which includes Trell. He is the son of Robert, a two-time world champion bronc rider. Growing up primarily in Goodwell, Okla., Trell Etbauer is prolific in numerous rodeo disciplines. Not only is he a four-time Linderman Award winner for excelling in both timed and roughstock events, he also has transitioned quite well into an all-around timed-event cowboy. He’s shown it to thousands over the years during the CINCH Timed Event Championship. In fact, he’s been in contention for this coveted gold buckle. Over the course of his tenure inside the Lazy E Arena for this unique competition, Etbauer has pocketed $6,500. It might be the perfect year for the Oklahoma cowboy to add to that. 12. Clayton Hass The steer wrestling world championship race is regularly one of the most contested events in ProRodeo, and Clayton Hass was right in the middle of it in 2015. Hass entered the National Finals Rodeo this past December as the No. 1 bulldogger in the game. While in Las Vegas, the Texas cowboy placed in four go-rounds, and he made the most of them. He won the third and sixth go-rounds, then placed in the seventh and eighth rounds. Through the 10 days in the Nevada desert, Hass pocketed $79,000 and pushed his season paycheck to $184,296. He finished fifth in the world standings. That’s not too bad for a cowboy making just his second appearance at the NFR. Over the last several years, Hass has refined his all-around game inside the Lazy E Arena during the CINCH Timed Event Championship. The results have shown brightly in both the CINCH TEC and in ProRodeo. He finished sixth in the 2015 all-around world standings. Hass has some unfinished business left over from 10 days in Las Vegas. He’d love nothing more than to wrap it up in a nice bow at the “Ironman of ProRodeo.” 13. Cody Doescher When Cody Doescher was a little boy growing up in the Oklahoma City area, he knew he wanted to be a cowboy. He’s living his dreams, and all that remains are the gold buckles that are awarded to world champions. Those coveted trophies are earned, and there’s no greater place to start the process than inside the Lazy E Arena at the CINCH Timed Event Championship. Through the Timed Event’s 32-year history, no Oklahoma cowboy has ever earned its championship. Doescher would like to change that this weekend. He regularly competes in multiple disciplines and travels with fellow Timed Event competitor Clayton Hass, his team roping partner this season. Doescher has had success all along the way, including a 2011 victory in the $50,000 round at RodeoHouston while roping with Tommy Edens. As a youngster, he won the National Junior Team Roping Championship in 2006 and claimed the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association’s team roping titles in 2007-08. And as he’s shown over the last two Timed Events, he can handle just about any challenge in front of him. He’s up for it again. 14. JoJo LeMond For several years, JoJo LeMond has become a CINCH Timed Event Championship fan favorite, and there are plenty of reasons for it. The West Texas cowboy showcases some amazing overall talents while also shining his brilliant personality on the Lazy E Arena crowd. Throw in his affection for going fast, and there are sorts of incentives for fans to stand on their feet when he prepares for the competition. He is a six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, having earned 2014-15 trips to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. He returned to the NFR this past season after finishing 16th in the heading world standings, then became an injury replacement for seven-time world champ Jake Barnes. In Las Vegas this past December, LeMond and Barnes’ heeling partner, Junior Nogueira, made a serious run at the world title. They placed in eight go-rounds and finished third in the NFR average, pocketing more than $117,400 each. LeMond finished seventh in the final world standings. He also placed second in the NFSR average and finished sixth in the steer roping standings. He finished the season with combined earnings of $261,281 to finish second in the all-around. It’s all the proof anyone needs to see why he’s a fan favorite and why he will be in the mix until the final run of the CINCH TEC in 2016. 15. Dustin Bird Dustin Bird took advantage of his northern Montana home and ventured into Canada a little more in 2015. It paid off with a big victory in Grand Prairie, Alberta, with fellow Montanan Chase Tryan. The tandem also finished second in Leduc, Alberta, and collected more than $3,500 in the process. Both events were dual-sanctioned, meaning money earned there counted toward qualifications for both the National Finals Rodeo and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. Bird had four other championships in 2015, including an all-around title in Augusta, Mont. Though he didn’t quite qualify for either the NFR or CFR, he fared well enough throughout the year, finishing the season 28th in the world standings. Making his fourth straight appearance in the CINCH Timed Event Championship, Bird is excited to see what these three magical and rugged days bring to him. The test is real, with 25 runs over three exhausting days. Bird knows the test, and the passing grade comes in the form of a big paycheck. 16. Cade Swor Cade Swor always finds himself among the very best in any competition in which he competes. Take the fourth go-round at this past National Finals Rodeo. The Texas tie-down roper had placed on opening night of the  Continue Reading »

Back No. 1. Trevor Brazile No other cowboy in rodeo history has accomplished more than Trevor Brazile. In addition to his seven CINCH Timed Event Championship titles, he is a 23-time world champion in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, having earned titles in steer roping (6), tie-down roping (3) and heading (1). Of course, he owns a record 13 all-around gold buckles. Last year, Brazile became the first cowboy in CINCH TEC history to have earned more than $100,000 in a single year. In fact, he pocketed $116,000 last March and pushed his Cinch TEC earnings to $751,500. His 2015 season was simply magical. Between the CINCH TEC and ProRodeo, Brazile earned more than $630,000. He also added more steer roping and all-around titles and was within reach of his third Triple Crown – earning three PRCA gold buckles in a given season. He is one of just two men in ProRodeo history to have earned NFR qualifications in all four roping disciplines, joining Dale Smith. Though he has qualified most often as a header, Brazile earned his first team roping qualification as a heeler in 1998. The Cinch TEC allows him the opportunity to showcase all his roping talents along with some excellent work in steer wrestling. “This is the event of the purist in my events,” he said. “I’ve always loved it. It means a lot just because of everything entails. It’s 25 head. It’s a fun contest.” He loves this competition because of the challenges he faces. That’s what makes him a champion. 2. Paul David Tierney Only 12 men in the history of the CINCH Timed Event Championship have earned this coveted crown. Two of those men share the same name: Paul Tierney and Paul David Tierney, the latter of whom added to the family’s gold buckle legacy in 2014 when he staked claim to the coveted championship. The elder, the family’s patriarch, also is a two-time PRCA world champ. Paul David Tierney grew up inside the Lazy E Arena, playing in the back pens while his father was adding CINCH TEC credentials. Over the last three years, Paul David has created his own legacy, pocketing $110,000 in that span. In addition to winning the 2014 championship, he was the reserve champion in 2013 and 2015. Those titles are significant for Paul David, because it proves that he’s an amazing all-around cowboy who not only excels in all timed-event disciplines but also knows how to handle the challenges that come his way through the world-class competition that is the “Ironman of ProRodeo.” In 2015, he finished 18th in the PRCA all-around world standings and won 13 event titles, including six all-around crowns. He added team roping titles with his partner, header Levi Tyan. It’s just further proof of the pedigree Paul David Tierney brings to this unique championship. 3. Jess Tierney Jess Tierney can taste that gold buckle. He’s been incredibly close to both the CINCH Timed Event Championship title and to the PRCA’s steer roping world championship. It just hasn’t happened yet for Tierney, who comes from the first family of South Dakotans competing in the “Ironman of ProRodeo” over the years. His father, Paul Tierney, is a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee. Jess Tierney has proven that the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. He has been a regular in the CINCH TEC field; moreover, he has found his way to the pay window often over the years. The 2015 campaign was magnificent for Tierney. Last March he finished third in the average and earned $17,000 in three days. This past November, he made a run for the world title at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. He finished third in the world standings, earning more than $97,000. Now he’s more ready than ever to make the CINCH TEC title his own. 4. Josh Peek  Can you believe it’s been six years since Josh Peek last won the CINCH Timed Event Championship? Neither can he. The positive cowboy knows what it takes to win. When he won the CINCH TEC in 2010, he was just a few months removed from winning the all-around title at the 2009 National Finals Rodeo. In 2015, Peek finished fourth in the CINCH TEC average, pocketing $10,000. In ProRodeo, he earned more than $80,000 in both steer wrestling and tie-down roping , finishing 10th in the final all-around world standings. His biggest run of the season came in the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, where he won the steer wrestling and all-around crowns. He also won the 2014 tie-down roping and all-around titles when the national championship took place inside the Lazy E Arena. Over the years, Peek has pocketed $112,000 at the CINCH TEC. He’s also done pretty well in ProRodeo. Take 2015, for example; he earned 18 event titles, including eight all-around championships. It all adds up to Peek being a contender for that $100,000 first-place prize at the CINCH TEC. 5. Clay Smith Clay Smith isn’t the new kid on the block anymore. In 2013, Smith was a late replacement for CINCH Timed Event Championship legend Jimmie Cooper. He quickly proved he has all the skills necessary to competing in the “Ironman of ProRodeo.” In 2014, he battled through the rigors of the unique championship to finish in a tight race for the overall championship with eventual winner Paul David Tierney. Smith finished as the reserve champion. He returned a year ago to finish fifth in the average. In his three years competing in the CINCH TEC, the 24-year-old Oklahoman has pocketed $36,500. He is well suited for the challenges that face any of the 20 athletes in this field: 25 runs over five rounds conducted in just three days of world-class competition in all five timed-event disciplines in rodeo. Smith’s 2015 was a breakthrough season. He and heeling partner Paul Eaves qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, where they placed in four go-rounds and pocketed more than $34,000 over 10 days in  Continue Reading »