Eli Lord finishes his record-setting 3.1-second run during Thursday’s first performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo.
(PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES)
GOODING, Idaho – Before he even backed into the timed-event box, steer wrestler Eli Lord knew he needed to be fast just to catch a paycheck.
He then posted the fastest run of the rodeo, grappling his steer to the ground in 3.1 seconds, establishing a new Andy James Arena record; Californian Stan Branco was 3.2 seconds four years ago.
“This is a very tough rodeo,” said Lord, 32, of Sturgis, South Dakota. “The start is a double-edged sword, especially on a slow steer like that. You can’t go too fast, obviously, because even if you get out of the barrier, sometimes you catch up so fast that you’re not able to get behind the horns and catch the steer.
“You have to give yourself enough time so the steer is out in front of you, but you can’t be off the barrier to win. You had to be 3.9 to even win a check here. If you miss the barrier just a little bit, then you’re running down the arena and are 4.1, and you don’t win anything.”
The barrier is the starting line for the timed events. Cattle receive a head start, so a barrier rope is placed at the front of the box. Once the steer reaches the appropriate distance, the barrier will release. If a cowboy crosses the line too early, then the string holding it to the chute will break, and the contestant is assessed a 10-second penalty.
“The start is really important,” he said.
So is his horsepower. He has that with a 15-year-old mare he calls Bambi.
“She’s been great and has been getting better all year long,” Lord said. “I feel like now she’s dialed in a lot more than she was when I started the year. Everything’s been feeling great here the last couple of weeks. It maybe hasn’t transitioned into winning a lot of money yet, but hopefully it turns around here when we’re out here in the Northwest for a few more weeks.”
Every positive move in the cash-flow is important with just five weeks remaining on the ProRodeo season. Sure, he’s within range of advancing to his first National Finals Rodeo, but only the top 15 advance to the year-end championship. He is about $8,700 out of the 15th spot on the money list, and there are a lot of high-paying rodeos remaining on the schedule.
He’s also less than $20,000 out of the top 10. That kind of cash can be earned with just a handful of great runs. If his record isn’t broken over the final two nights of the Gooding Pro Rodeo, Lord should pocket better than $5,000.
“This rodeo has been getting better every year,” he said. “I’ve been rodeoing for about six years now, and every year I come, this rodeo is better. The hospitality is great. The money is great. They switched things around to help us get here. Everything they do really accommodates the cowboy, and we appreciate that.
“Every year, they’re going to get all the guys that rodeo all year just for those reasons. The money is the biggest thing, but it’s all the other stuff when you show up that is also nice.”
Gooding Pro Rodeo
Aug. 19-22
Bareback riding: 1. Leighton Berry, 91 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Clayton Biglow, 88.5; 3. Luke Thrash, 87; 4. (tie) Jayco Roper and Carson Hildre, 84.5; 6. Jacob Lees, 84; 7. R.C. Landingham, 81.5; 8. (tie) Tristan Hansen and Roedy Farrell, 81.
Steer wrestling: 1. Eli Lord, 3.1 seconds; 2. J.D. Struxness, 3.3; 3. (tie) Riley Duvall, Mike McGinn and Ringo Robinson, 3.5; 6. Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.6; 7. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Dalton Massey and Justin Shaffer, 3.7; 10. (tie) Jace Melvin and Travis Munro, 3.8; 12. Will Lummus, 3.9; 13. (tie) Nick Guy, Ty Allred and Chance Howard, 4.0;
Team roping: 1. Brye Crites/Ross Ashford, 4.3 seconds; 2. Jaxson Hill/Jessen James, 4.6; 3. Haven Meged/Zack Jongbloed, 8.0; 4. Ashton Parker/Tom Simpson, 17.1; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ben Andersen, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool; 2. Stetson Wright, 86.5; 3. (tie) Rusty Wright and Logan Hay, 85.5; 5. Q Taylor, 85; 6. (tie) Brody Cress and Cooper Thatcher, 83; 8. (tie) Ryder Wright, Brody Wells and Caleb Brangham, 82.5.
Breakaway roping: 1. Macy Young, 2.1; 2. Erika Frost, 2.2; 3. (tie) Haiden Thompson, Jacee Currin and Josie Goodrich, 2.3; 6. (tie) Kadin Jodie and Maklee Larsen, 2.4; 3; 10. (tie) Josey Murphy and Millie Greenwood, 2.6; 12. (tie) Jayce Blake, Timber Allenbrand, Karrigan Graves and Beau Peterson, 2.7.
Tie-down roping: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 7.5 seconds; 2. Tom Crouse, 8.4; 3. Bryce Derrer, 8.5; 4. Haven Meged, 8.6; 5. Tyler Calhoun, 8.7; 6. (tie) Beau Cooper and Hunter Herrin, 8.9; 8. (tie) Luke Potter and Britt Bedke, 9.0; 10. Zack Jongbloed, 9.2; 11. Cash Hooper, 9.4; 12. Zaine Mikita, 10.0; 13. (tie) Logan Bird and Quade Hiatt, 10.2; 15. Dylan Hancock, 10.7.
Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Otero, 16.54 seconds; 2. Tayla Moeykens, 16.73; 3. Anita Ellis, 16.77; 4. Taylor Baize, 16.78; 5. Sydney Graham, 16.81; 6. Katelyn Scott, 16.92; 7. Emma Smith, 16.96; 8. Andrea Busby, 16.97; 9. (tie) Megan McLeod-Sprague and Makenzie Mayes, 16.99; 11. Stevi Hillman, 17.01; 12. Haylee Moosman Woodward, 17.07; 13. (tie) Caitlyn White and Shy-Anne Jarrett, 17.09; 15. Kim Squires, 17.10.
Bull riding: 1. Hudson Bolton, 90 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Howdy Rowdy; 2. Tristan Mize, 89.5; 3. Luke Mackey, 88; 4. (tie) Roscoe Jarboe and Colton Coffman, 86.5; 6. (tie) Cimarron Rucker, Dakota Adams and Tristen Hutchings, 86.