Ryan Gray
Trevor Brazile
J.W.Harris
Luke Branquinho
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Diaz enjoys ‘biggest win’ at Justin Boots Championships
OMAHA, Neb. – Saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz had seen MJM Rodeo’s Little Stone on television many times over the years and was always impressed by what he saw. She was even better live.
The 16-year-old bay mare, a four-time veteran of the Wrangler NFR, carried Diaz to “the biggest win I’ve ever had,” on Saturday night at the $835,000 Justin Boots Championships in the Qwest Center.
Diaz, of Stephenville, Texas, earned a score of 86 points to edge J.J. Elshere by a single point to earn the $13,251 final-round prize and a total of $21,523 for the weekend.
“Guys dream of just being in this position, and I’m just blessed,” Diaz said. “It was a great rodeo, and I was happy to be here. I look at going to the NFR as a win, but as far as a single rodeo win, this is by far my best. I’ve dreamed of doing this since I was a little kid.”
Diaz can safely count this as a double win. He arrived in Omaha in 16th position and leaves safely in the top 10, assured of qualifying for the Wrangler NFR for a second time.
Not that the evening didn’t have its nervous moments for Diaz. There was a four-way tie for third place in the semifinals, and Diaz only made it into the four-man finals based on a tiebreaker. He had the second-best two-head average among those who ended up tied, and that got him the last seat in the finals.
That was all the opening Diaz needed, on a horse that took Chad Ferley to the victory stand in Omaha a year ago.
“She always looked like one that, if you stubbed your toe, she’d buck you off,” Diaz said of Little Stone, “but if you rode her well, you were going to win first. That’s what I needed tonight.
“I felt like it started really well. Right there in the middle, I quit lifting (on the rein) and she dang sure almost had her way with me, but I was thinking about all of that money and had to keep going at it.”
Apart from Little Stone, there were only two other repeating champions at Omaha – the biggest and smallest, who went to the victory stand to pick up their championship buckles.
Lindsay Sears won three of the four rounds – including the final in 13.85 seconds – to win at Omaha for the third consecutive year and take away a rodeo-best $32,787.
Two-time and reigning World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho also managed his repeat in truly dominating fashion, winning the semifinals in 3.6 seconds and then coming back to win the final with a 3.4-second run that was six-tenths faster than runner-up Josh Peek.
“I drew a steer that I had in the first round, and I really knew how the calf was going to behave,” Branquinho said.
Ryan Gray, who tied the bareback riding world record earlier this season with a 94-point ride in Eagle, Colo., produced a 92-pointer Saturday on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex to emerge from an all-star field and finish with $32,171 in total earnings for the weekend.
“I’d never been on that horse, but had seen him a lot,” Gray said. “They won the $50,000 in Houston on that horse, and Bobby (Mote) tied the arena record at the NFR last year with that horse.
“It’s a great horse, but I’d never been on him, so I didn’t know what to expect. I just went out there and rode him like I try to ride every horse, and that’s to stay close and build your ride. It was fun.”
Header David Key, one of the last competitors to get into the field for the Justin Boots Championships, came out of it in first. The pairing of Key and Brad Culpepper finished just sixth in the two-head average, but came on strong Saturday to finish second in the semifinals with 5.0-second run and win the finals in 5.6.
They each won $20,643.
J.W. Harris continued his season-long dominance of bull riding. A 91-point ride on Four L and Diamond S Rodeo Velvet Elvis in the Qwest Center, assured the reigning world champ of his 22nd win in a PRCA rodeo this season and kept alive his longshot hopes of breaking the regular-season earnings record in his event.
With $26,099 in Omaha, Harris has season earnings of $216,728 with the $500,000 Heartland ProRodeo Championships in Waco, Texas, next month still on his schedule. Matt Austin set the record of $228,766 in 2005.
Time-event hand Trevor Brazile expanded his lead in the tie-down roping world standings with a winning 7.2-second run in the finals.
With earnings of $20,731 in the tie-down roping and another $5,808 in team roping, Brazile pushed his season all-around total climbed to $253,901 as he seeks to win his record-tying seventh all-around gold buckle.
David Key and Brad Culpepper
Justin Boots Championships
Qwest Center, Omaha, Neb.
Sept. 25, 2009
Bareback riding: Semifinals: 1. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 86 points on J Bar J Rodeo's Faded Charm, $7,040; 2. (tie) Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 81, $3,520 each; 5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 74; 6. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 68; 7. (tie) Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, and Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., NS. Finals: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 92 points on Classic Pro Rodeo's Big Tex, $13,251; 2. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 89, $9,939; 3. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 87, $6,626; 4. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 85, $3,313. Total event earnings: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., $32,171; 2. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., $19,121; 3. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, $16,865; 4. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., $16,626; 5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, $8,976; 6. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., $4,077; 7. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., $2,552; 8. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, $1,672; 9. D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo., $880; 10. (tie) Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., $293 each.
Steer wrestling: Semifinals: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.6 seconds, $7,040; 2. (tie) Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., and Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 3.7, $4,400 each; 4. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 3.8, $1,760; 5. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 4.3; 6. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 6.4; 7. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 13.2; 8. Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 13.6. Finals: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.4 seconds, $13,251; 2. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 4.0, $9,939; 3. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.1, $6,626; 4. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 14.3, $3,313. Total event earnings: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., $31,731 2. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., $23,138; 3. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, $17,424; 4. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., $13,578; 5. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., $6,305; 6. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, $4,400; 7. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, $2,992; 8. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., $2,640; 9. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., $880; 10. Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, $440.
Team roping: Semifinals: 1.Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, 4.3 seconds, $7,040 each; 2. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Brad Culpepper, Ashburn, Ga., 5.0, $5,280; 3. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 5.1, $3,520; 4. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 6.1, $1,760; 5. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., 10.2; 6. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, 10.5; 7. (tie) Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, and Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., NT. Finals: 1. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Brad Culpepper, Ashburn, Ga., 5.6 seconds, $13,251 each; 2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 14.5, $9,939; 3. (tie) Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, and Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $24,194; 2. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Brad Culpepper, Ashburn, Ga., $20,643; 3. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, $16,720; 4. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, $10,208; 5. Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, $8,448; 6. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, $5,808;
7. (tie) Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., and Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., $3,784 each.
Saddle bronc riding: Semifinals: 1. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., on Powder River Rodeo's Wyoming's Miss Congeniality, and Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., on Barnes PRCA Rodeo's Cat Power, 86 points, $6,160 each; 3. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, JJ Elshere, Quinn, S.D., Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., and Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 84, $1,320 each; 7. (tie) Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., and Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, NS. Finals: 1. Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, 86 points on MJM Rodeos' Little Stone, $13,251; 2. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 85, $9,939; 3. Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., 83, $6,626; 4. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 77, $3,313. Total event earnings: 1. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., $26,658; 2. Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, $21,523; 3. Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., $17,625; 4. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., $12,201; 5. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., $10,296; 6. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., $6,336; 7. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., $5,808; 8. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., $2,200; 9. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, $880.
Tie-down roping: Semifinals: 1.Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.3 seconds, $7,040; 2. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 7.4 , $5,280 3.(tie) Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, and Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 7.7, $2,640 each; 5. Kody Curry, Buna, Texas, 7.8; 6. (tie) Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., and Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, NT. Finals: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $13,251; 2. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 7.5, $9,939; 3. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.8, $6,626; 4. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 10.7, $3,313. Total event earnings: 1. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., $28,449; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, $20,731; 3. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, $13,810; 4. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, $11,145; 5. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $8,976; 6. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $7,744; 7. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, $4,840; 8. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, $4,400; 9. Kody Curry, Buna, Texas, $2,992; 10. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $440.
Barrel racing: Semifinals: 1. Kelli Tolbert, Hinckley, Utah, 13.81 seconds, $7,040; 2. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 13.91, $5,280; 3. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 14.09, $3,520; 4. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 14.35, $1,760; 5. P.J. Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 14.61; 6. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 19.04; 7. Danyelle Campbell, Beaumont, Calif., 19.16; 8. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, 24.36. Finals: 1. Lindsay Sears, Nanton Alberta, 13.85 seconds, $13,251; 2. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 16.54, $9,939; 3. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 19.02, $6,626; 4. Kelli Tolbert, Hinckley, Utah, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Lindsay Sears, Nanton Alberta, $32,787; 2. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., $18,210; 3. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., $11,730; 4. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, $10,208; 5. PJ Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., $8,624; 6. Kelli Tolbert, Hinckley, Utah, $7,040; 7. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, $5,808; 8. Danyelle Campbell, Beaumont, Calif., $3,168; 9. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, $2,640.
Bull riding: Semifinals: 1. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., 89 points on Four L and Diamond S Rodeo's Foolish Pride, $7,040; 2. (tie) Brad Pierce, Baird, Texas, Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., J.W. Harris, May, Texas, Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev., Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas, and Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, NS. Finals: 1. J.W. Harris, May, Texas, 91 points on Four L and Diamond S Rodeo's Velvet Elvis, $13,251; 2. (tie) Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., and Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., NS. Total event earnings: 1. J.W. Harris, May, Texas, $26,099; 2. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., $12,672; 3. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., $9,680; 4. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., $8,976; 5. Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas, $6,512; 6. (tie) Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, and Brad Pierce, Baird, Texas, $3,080.
 J.J.Elshere won the second round on Beutler & Son’s Painted Desert with an 89-point ride and won the average with 170 points, three better than five-time World Champion Billy Etbauer. |
Lee Graves
Hunter Herrin
J.J. Elshere
Ryan Gray
J.W. Harris
Rich Skelton |
Graves 'on top of the world' after two rounds of Justin Boots Championships
OMAHA, Neb. – Steer wrestler Lee Graves says he feels like he’s “on the top of the world,” which seems only fair. After two nights’ work at the Justin Boots Championships he is on top of the world.
After winning both rounds at the Qwest Center in identical times of 3.3 seconds – and the two-head average – Graves has earned $17,421, pushing him past Jake Rinehart atop the PRCA World Standings by more than $15,000.
“When it’s your time, it’s your time,” Graves said, “and when you get in these grooves, you’ve just got to ride it out as long as you can. Don’t change anything and just back in there and win as much as you can.
“I’ve been on both ends of it and been where you can’t make a right turn or do anything right, but I’m just lucky my horse (Jessie) is working great.”
Graves was at that other end of things a year ago when he tore the patella tendon in his right knee in Tucson, Ariz., an injury that put him out of action for eight months. The 2005 world champion finished the season 65th with earnings of $17,565 – just $140 more than he’s won in two days on the banks of the Missouri River.
Graves was the only competitor to win both preliminary rounds and leads the top eight finishers into Saturday’s semifinals, where all scores and times are erased. The top four survivors from the semifinals then move on to the finals later in the evening, where again the scores are all wiped clean. The winner of the finals is the Justin Boots Championships champion.
“I’m just here trying to win something,” the Calgary, Alberta, cowboy said. “I wanted to set myself up to finish the regular season to say, ‘Hey, what a great year.’ Everybody (at the top) is just juggling positions, and we’re all good friends who all get along. There are no rivalries whatsoever, so it’s pretty cool. I’ve won what it pays to win a go-round (at the Wrangler NFR).”
Blaine Linaweaver and Rich Skelton, roping together in Omaha because their regular partners did not make the original entry cutoff, were the fastest team Friday night with a time of 4.3 seconds and won the average in 9.9 seconds on two head.
“Blaine gave me a good shot,” Skelton said. “He was trying really hard and got out of the barrier, turned the steer around and gave me a good shot. It was a great team effort.”
South Dakota saddle bronc rider J.J. Elshere arrived in Omaha in 13th place, uncertain whether he could hold on and qualify for his third Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Two days and $15,400 later, he’s feeling a little more certain.
Elshere won the second round Beutler & Son’s Painted Desert with an 89-point ride and won the average with 170 points, three better than five-time World Champion Billy Etbauer.
“This is my last rodeo (of the 2009 regular season),” Elshere said, “so I really needed to try to make a move here because the rest of the guys still have some to go to. So, I really needed this one.
“I’ve drawn phenomenally well here. They were good-to-ride horses, good to spur and they bucked, and that’s exactly what I needed.”
Like Elshere, tie-down roper Hunter Herrin used a second-round win to earn the two-head average with a time of 14.7 seconds. The $14,784 he’s earned thus far has moved him from 10th in the PRCA World Standings to fourth, trailing only Trevor Brazile, Clint Robinson and Tuf Cooper.
“I had a calf I had the other day in practice,” Herrin said, “and hands down, it was the best one in the bunch. I was not real sure how the calf was going to run tonight, but I knew if I got out of the barrier and messed up, it would be my fault.”
Ryan Gray’s 89-point ride on J Bar J Rodeo’s First Light was two points better than PRCA World Standings leader Clint Cannon in the second round of the bareback riding. They were also 1-2 in the average, with Gray holding a four-point advantage.
An incredible road odyssey that took bull rider Cody Whitney from Pendleton to Albuquerque, N.M., Abilene, Texas, El Paso, Texas, Asher, Okla., Texarkana, Ark., to Omaha – with a variety of drivers – ended with a big payday on the floor of the Qwest Center.
Whitney won the second round with an 88-point ride on Rafter H Rodeo’s Crazy Train that paid him $5,808, and with a third-place finish in the average behind J.W. Harris (167 points on two head) and Bobby Welsh (164), Whitney had earned $9,152.
“Our vehicle broke down in Pendleton with all our clothes and stuff in it,” Whitney said, “and we had to find a way to get down the road. From Pendleton, we caught a ride with a barrel racer in her half-million dollar rig, which was kind of cool. But she made us drive, which wasn’t.”
That ride got him to Albuquerque, where he hitched a ride with fellow bull rider Howdy Cloud to Abilene. In El Paso, he and travel partner Corey Navarre borrowed a vehicle to get to their homes in Oklahoma. Another travel partner, Austin Ambrose, picked up Whitney at his Asher home to take him Texarkana. Navarre drove his truck over to Arkansas for the trip to Omaha.
“When you rodeo, you do whatever you have to do to get there,” Whitney said.
Sue Smith of Blackfoot, Idaho, won the second round with a time of 13.91 seconds, but failed to qualify for the semifinal round. She could not overcome having knocked over a barrel in Thursday’s first round.
Lindsay Sears backed up her first-round win with a second-place finish Friday to win the average race by a little over two-tenths of a second over Jordon Peterson.
Justin Boots Championships
Qwest Center, Omaha, Neb.
Sept. 25, 2009
Bareback riding: Second round: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 89 points on J Bar J Rodeo's First Light, $5,808; 2. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 87, $4,400; 3. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 85, $3,168; 4. (tie) Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, and Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 82, $1,672 each; 6. (tie) Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 79, $293 each; 9. (tie) Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., and Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, 78; 11. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 77; 12. D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo., 76. Average: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 172 points on two head, $5,808 2. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 168, $4,400 3. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 162, $3,168 4. (tie) Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., and Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., 161, $1,672 each; 6. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 159, $880; 7. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 158; 8. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 157; 9. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, and Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 156; 11. (tie) Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., and D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo., 155
Steer wrestling: Second round: 1. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 3.3 seconds, $5,808; 2. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 3.4, $4,400; 3. (tie) Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., and Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.6, $2,640 each; 5. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 3.9, $1,232; 6. (tie) Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., and Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, 4.5, $440 each; 8. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 5.2; 9. (tie) Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 5.3; 11. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 13.4; 12. Joey Bell Jr, Athens, Texas, NT. Average: 1. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 6.6 seconds on two head, $5,808; 2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 7.2, $4,400; 3. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 7.7, $3,168; 4. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 9.1, $2,112; 5. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 9.2, $1,232; 6. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 9.5, $880; 7. (tie) Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 11.4; 9. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 17.8; 10. Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, 18.7; 11. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., 3.6 on one; 12. Joey Bell Jr, Athens, Texas, 13.5.
Team roping: Second round: 1. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.3 seconds, $5,808 each; 2. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 5.4, $4,400; 3. Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, 5.7, $3,168; 4. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 6.0, $2,112; 5. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Brad Culpepper, Ashburn, Ga., 6.2, $1,232; 6. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., 6.7, $880; 7. Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 14.1; 8. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla./Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla., Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, Shane Philipp, Washington, Texas/Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., and JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas/Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., NT. Average: 1. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 9.9 seconds on two head, $5,808; 2. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 10.3, $4,400; 3. Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, 11.1, $3,168; 4. (tie) Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., and Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 12.2, $1,672 each; 6. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Brad Culpepper, Ashburn, Ga., 15.8, $880; 7. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, 4.1 on one; 8. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, 5.0; 9. Shane Philipp, Washington, Texas/Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., 6.7; 10. Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 14.1; 11. (tie) Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla./Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla., and JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas/Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., NT.
Saddle bronc riding: Second round: 1. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 86 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.'s Painted Desert, $5,808; 2. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, and Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., 85, $3,784 each; 4. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., 83, $2,112; 5. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 80, $1,232; 6. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 78, $880; 7. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 77; 9. (tie) Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, and Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 76; 11. (tie) Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., NS. Average: 1. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 170 points on two head, $5,808; 2. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., 167, $4,400; 3. Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, 163, $3,168; 4. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 161, $2,112; 5. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., 158, $1,056; 7. (tie) Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, and Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 155; 9. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 153; 10. Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 149; 11. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 86 on one; 12. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., 73.
Tie-down roping: Second round: 1. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.2 seconds, $5,808; 2. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 7.8, $4,400; 3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 8.6, $3,168; 4. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 8.8, $2,112; 5. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 9.0, $1,232; 6. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Kody Curry, Buna, Texas, 9.5, $440 each; 8. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 10.0; 9. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 10.6; 10. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 11.8; 11. Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 17.1; 12. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, NT. Average: 1. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 14.7 seconds on two head, $5,808 2. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 16.6, $4,400; 3. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 17.1, $3,168; 4. (tie) Kody Curry, Buna, Texas, and Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 17.4, $1,672; 6. (tie) Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, and Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 17.8, $440 each; 8. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 19.5; 9. Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 27.4; 10. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 7.8 on one; 11. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, 8.4; 12. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.5.
Barrel racing: Second round: 1. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 13.91 seconds, $5,808; 2. Lindsay Sears, Nanton Alberta, 13.95, $4,400; 3. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, 14.08, $3,168 4. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 14.14, $2,112 5. (tie) Danyelle Campbell, Beaumont, Calif., and P.J. Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 14.17, $1,056 each; 7. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 14.21; 8. Mattie Little, Ardmore, Okla., 14.23; 9. Kelli Tolbert, Hinckley, Utah, 14.27; 10. Rachael Ross, Murrieta, Calif., 14.31; 11. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 14.45; 12. Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 19.36. Average: 1. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 27.82 seconds on two runs, $5,808; 2. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, 28.05, $4,400; 3. P.J. Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 28.13, $3,168; 4. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 28.25, $2,112; 5. Danyelle Campbell, Beaumont, Calif., 28.32, $1,232; 6. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 28.33, $880; 7. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 28.42; 8. Kelli Tolbert, Hinckley, Utah, 28.45; 9. Rachael Ross, Murrieta, Calif., 28.69; 10. Mattie Little, Ardmore, Okla., 28.87; 11. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 33.04; 12. Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 33.54.
Bull riding: Second round: 1. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., 88 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock Co.'s Crazy Train, $5,808; 2. Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas, 87, $4,400; 3. (tie) Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., and Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, 82, $2,640 each; 5. J.W. Harris, May, Texas, 77, $1,232; 6. (tie) Brad Pierce, Baird, Texas, Jake Wade, Alamo, Nev., Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., Shawn Hogg, Odessa, Texas, Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev., Zack Oakes, Elk, Wash., and B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis., NS. Average: 1. J.W. Harris, May, Texas, 167 points on two head, $5,808; 2. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 164, $4,400; 3. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., 88 on one, $3,168; 4. Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas, 87, $2,112; 5. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., 85, $1,232; 6. (tie) Brad Pierce, Baird, Texas, and Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, 82, $440 each; 8. (tie) Jake Wade, Alamo, Nev., Shawn Hogg, Odessa, Texas, Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev., Zack Oakes, Elk, Wash., and B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis., NS
Brazile and Smith dominate team roping field at Justin Boots Championships
Trevor Brazile and heeler Patrick Smith, had the night's fastest time of 4.1 seconds, and with earnings of $5,808, Brazile moved into third place in the PRCA World Heading Standings and within about $4,000 of second-place header Kelsey Parchman, who did not qualify to compete in Omaha.
Cody DeMoss on Beutler & Son's Black Gold |
OMAHA, Neb. -- Team roping is the only one of Trevor Brazile's events in which he has not won a gold buckle as world champion. He took one small step toward rectifying that Thursday night in the opening round of the Justin Boots Championship at the Qwest Center.
Brazile and heeler Patrick Smith, who owns the gold buckle dated 2005, had the night's fastest time of 4.1 seconds, and with earnings of $5,808, Brazile moved into third place in the PRCA World Heading Standings and to within about $4,000 of second-place header Kelsey Parchman, who did not qualify to compete in Omaha.
"Everything went awesome today – we drew a good steer, and made a good run on him," Brazile said. "We roped aggressively, and that helped everything come together.”
For tie-down roper Blair Burk of Durant, Okla., the evening's business was all about securing a spot at the $5.75 million 2009 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and his win in the first round moved him off the bubble, from 15th all the way to 10th in the tightly-bunched field.
Burk, 36, who is a 13-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR, had a time of 7.1 seconds to edge five-time World Champion Tie-Down Roper Cody Ohl by a tenth of a second.
"Tonight I was riding for Las Vegas, and I had to come through," Burk said. "It was tough not to make it last year. It's a bad feeling, I can tell you that. I had a really good calf tonight, and when you get those good opportunities you need to take advantage."
All three performances of Justin Boots Championships to air on ProRodeoLive.com
ProRodeoLive.com, the Internet voice of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, will provide complete live coverage of all three performances of the Sept. 24-26 Justin Boots Championships from Omaha, Neb. |
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Reigning World Champion Bull Rider J.W. Harris continued his dominating season with a 90-point ride on Beutler & Son's Aches and Pains, moving his season earnings to just shy of $200,000.
Harris has won 19 rodeos outright and shared in two other wins as he bids to become the first bull rider to win back-to-back world championships since Blue Stone in 2001-02.
"That was a good bull. I’ve had him twice – I got a 90 on him the first time and drew him again at the Finals," Harris said. "I was excited to draw him again tonight."
Three-time World Champion Bareback Rider Will Lowe overcame perhaps the strongest top-to-bottom field at the Qwest Center, winning the first round with an 84-point ride on Mosbrucker Rodeo's Moon Blast. Lowe edged reigning World Champion Justin McDaniel and Ryan Gray by a point.
All 12 competitors in the field are in the Top 15 of the world standings with four world champions – Lowe, McDaniel, Kelly Timberman and Bobby Mote – plus current standings leader Clint Cannon.
"That horse was a handful. I knew I had to hurry and keep my eye on the ball," Lowe said. "This is sure one of my favorite rodeos – this is as good as the action gets."
Cody DeMoss, of Heflin, La., thought his ride could have been better, "but the judges liked the ride" enough to award him 86 points and first place in the saddle bronc riding. His $5,808 check moved him into third place in the PRCA World Standings, moving ahead of his younger brother, Heith, for the first time all year.
"I’ve won here twice and hope to be able to do it again," Cody DeMoss said.
The steer wrestling round went to 2005 World Champion Lee Graves of Calgary, Alberta, with a time of 3.3 seconds. Reigning World Champion Luke Branquinho was second in 3.6 seconds.
Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alberta, won the first round of the barrel racing in 13.87 seconds, finishing nine-tenths ahead of runner-up P.J. Burger, of Pauls Valley, Okla.
Blair Burk |
JW Harris Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.'s Aches and Pains |
Lee Graves |
Will Lowe on Mosbrucker Rodeo's Moon Blast |
Trevor Brazile |
Justin Boots Championships
Qwest Center, Omaha, Neb.
Sept. 24, 2009
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 84 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo's Moon Blast, $5,808; 2. (tie) Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., and Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 83, $3,784 each; 4. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., 82, $2,112; 5. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 81, $1,232; 6. D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo., 79, $880; 7. Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, 78; 8. (tie) Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 77; 10. (tie) Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 76; 12. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 72
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 3.3 seconds, $5,808; 2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.6, $4,400; 3. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 4.0, $3,168; 4. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 4.2, $2,112; 5. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 4.3, $1,232; 6. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.4, $880; 7. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.6; 8. Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 6.1; 9. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 7.5; 10. Joey Bell Jr, Athens, Texas, 13.5; 11. Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, 14.2; 12. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., NT
Team roping: First round: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, 4.1 seconds, $5,808 each; 2. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 4.9, $4,400; 3. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, 5.0, $3,168; 4. Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, 5.4, $2,112; 5. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., 5.5, $1,232; 6. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 5.6, $880; 7. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas/Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 6.2; 8. Shane Philipp, Washington, Texas/Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., 6.7; 9. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Brad Culpepper, Ashburn, Ga., 9.6; 10-12. Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla./Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla.; Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev.; and JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas/Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., NT
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 86 points on Beutler & Son's Black Gold, $5,808; 2. (tie) Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., and J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 84, $3,784 each; 4. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 81, $1,672 each; 6. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 79, $880; 7. Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, 78; 8. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 77; 9. Cody Wright, Millford, Utah, 76; 10. (tie) Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D.; and Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 73
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 7.1 seconds, $5,808; 2. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 7.2, $4,400; 3. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.5, $3,168; 4. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 7.6, $2,112; 5. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 7.7, $1,232; 6. Kody Curry, Buna, Texas, 7.9, $880; 7. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, 8.4; 8. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 8.8; 9. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 9.0; 10. Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 10.3; 11-12. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, NT
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Lindsay Sears, 13.87 seconds, $5,808; 2. P.J. Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 13.96, $4,400 3. (tie) Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, and Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 13.97, $2,640 each; 5. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 14.04, $1,232 6. Danyelle Campbell, Beaumont, Calif., 14.15, $880; 7. (tie) Kelli Tolbert, Hinckley, Utah, and Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 14.18; 9. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 14.19; 10. Rachael Ross, Murrieta, Calif., 14.38; 11. Mattie Little, Ardmore, Okla., 14.64; 12. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 19.13
Bull riding: First round: 1. J.W. Harris, May, Texas, 90 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.'s Aches and Pains, $5,808; 2. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., 85, $4,400; 3. (tie) Brad Pierce, Baird, Texas, and Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82, $2,640; 5. (tie) Jake Wade, Alamo, Nev.; Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla.; Shawn Hogg, Odessa, Texas; Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev.; Zack Oakes, Elk, Wash.; Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas; Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah; and B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis., NS
The Justin Boots Championships in Omaha will consist of 2 go-rounds, back-to-back, with a semifinals and finals. Omaha will be a three performance rodeo with the first and second go-round held during the first and second performances respectively.
The third and final performance will consist of both the semi-finals and finals go-rounds. The top 8 contestants (8 teams) in each event at the conclusion of the 2nd go-round will advance to the semifinals. At the conclusion of the semifinals the top 4 contestants (4 teams) in each event will advance to the finals.
The contestant (team) in each event that has the fastest time or highest score will be considered the 2009 Justin Boots Championships and Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Champion, in that event.
For more information about this event, including ticket sales, please visit http://www.rivercityroundup.org.
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