Rookie Ross Price rides Double J Rodeo’s Peak A Boo for 85 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead on opening night of the 80th Will Rogers Stampede.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)

 

CLAREMORE, Okla. – Ross Price just started riding bucking horses a few years ago when he was in high school.

Now, he’s in his inaugural year in the PRCA trying to spur broncs for a living. He didn’t look like the No. 12 man in the Rookie of the Year standings during Friday’s opening performance of the Will Rogers Stampede, riding Double J Rodeo’s Peak A Boo for 85 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead.

“That was a really fun little horse,” said Price, 21, of Sikeston, Missouri. “One of my buddies has been on it in Colorado, so I knew she was going to be pretty cool.”

Price will have to wait out the final two performances at RCB Bank Arena to see where he lands in the final tally, but he’s riding a wave of momentum. A week ago, he placed third in Franklin, Tennessee; more importantly, he kicked off the month by winning the bronc riding title in Springfield, Nebraska.

He actually leads the bronc busting standings in the Great Lakes Circuit, a region that features rodeos and contestants primarily in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.

“My goal this year is to win my circuit and possibly win the rookie title,” Price said. “That’s the plan.”

His swing of good fortune continued during his first trip to Claremore for the biggest event in town. The rodeo has been named the PRCA Small Rodeo of the Year six times, though it has grown in payout and is featured in the medium category these days. The key to success is in the cooperation between the city, the county and the volunteer committee, which put in extra work Friday.

Because of heavy rainfall Thursday and into Friday morning, the arena dirt had turned to a mud pit. Workers removed the wet soil and laid a drier track for the contestants and livestock. Cowboys and cowgirls took notice.

“We knew it was going to be a little muddy, but we weren’t scared of it,” Price said. “They did an amazing job and got it right for us.

“The rodeo was awesome; good energy.”

Will Rogers Stampede
Claremore, Okla
May 22-25
Bareback riding: 1. Kooper Heimburg, 79 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Sundance Kid; 2. (tie) Gauge McBride and Kash Martin, 78; no other qualified rides

Steer wrestling: 1. Ben Kilburg, 4.5 seconds; 2. Logan Mullin, 4.6; 3. Tucker Ravenscroft, 5.1; 4. (tie) Walt Arnold and Jake Holmes, 5.2 each; 6. Kaleb Summers, 5.3; 7. (tie) Chase Crane and Sam Shofner, 5.4.

Team roping: 1. Denton Parish/Joseph Harrison, 5.1 seconds; 2. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.4; 3. (tie) Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo and Jaxson Tucker/Cooper Freeman, 5.6 each; 5. (tie) Wheston Jones/Cordell Collins and Jake Clay/Whip Peterson, 5.9; 7. Justin Pruitt/Travis Holland, 6.5; 8. Peyton Holliday/Derrick Jantzen, 6.7; 9. Mason Stueve/Kingston Chang, 6.8; 10. Jay Crain/Jace Steenhoek, 7.3; 11. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayhman, 7.7; 12. Jeryn Ellerd/Caden Beatty, 8.1.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Price, 85 points on Double J Rodeo’s Peak A Boo; 2. Carson Bingham, 83; 3. Warwick Southern, 76; 4. Blaise Freeman, 74.5; 5. Lavern Borntreger, 74; 6. Tegan Smith, 73; 7. Tagg Bond, 72; 8. Cooper Thatcher, 69.

Breakaway roping: 1. Lari Dee Guy, 2.2 seconds; 2. Lauren Hopkins, 2.5; 3. (tie) Camden Crain, Mable McAbee and Abbie Williams, 2.6 each; 6. Hannah Giger, 2.7; 7. Kelsey Hallin, 2.9; 8. (tie) Marlee Quarles and Sydney Herrin, 3.0; 10. Brandi McDowell and Hanna Hughes, 3.1; 12. Maelee Wade, 3.4; 13. Baylee Lester, 3.7; 14. Tia Wallace, 3.9; 15. (tie) Rheagan Colton, Jenna Adams, Chenoa VandeStouwe and Kaydin Finan, 4.0.

Tie-down roping: 1. Pax Vogel, 9.7 seconds; 2. Wade Perry, 10.9; 3. Haze Wright, 11.5; 4. Zane Rempey, 12.2; 5 Mason Stueve, 12.7; 6. Bodee Boggs, 13.1; 7. Colton Greene, 14.1; 8. Roy Lee, 14.2.

Barrel racing: 1. Randi Holliday, 18.16 seconds; 2. Ashley Sanders, 18.25; 3. Andee Haden, 18.33; 4. Tiffany Teehee, 18.35; 5. Kim Squires, 18.51; 6. Suzanne Van Ness, 18.53; 7. Megan Stoll, 18.64; 8. Cacee Hendrick, 18.80; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 19.00; 10. Brandie Inman, 19.02; 11. Leslie Kinsel, 19.08; 12. Cari Titsworth, 19.09; 13. Gracen Harman, 19.13; 14. Molly Harper, 19.21; 15. Randee Hendrick, 19.23.

Bull riding: 1. Ethan Winckler, 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Revved Up; 2. Harrison Kalinka, 82; 3. Afonso Quintino, 76; no other qualified rides.