Monthly Archives: November 2012

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo begins in less than three weeks, so the prep work for the championship has begun. I’m conducting interviews and writing advance stories, doing research and taking notes. When I arrive in Las Vegas, there is much work to do; from promoting Rodeo Media Relations, TwisTED Rodeo and some of the big pieces of the NFR puzzle, my two weeks in Sin City will be swamped. That’s the way it should be. My business is to promote rodeo, and there’s no better place to do that than at the sport’s marquee event. I’ve found a valuable source in Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the monthly magazine for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. It’s a publication for which I write on a monthly basis, and given that I will be providing the nightly updates for the association’s website, WPRA.com, throughout the 10 go-rounds. This month’s magazine features biographical snippets on each of the 15 girls who will compete in Las Vegas. I want to be as familiar as possible with each of the cowgirls, most of whom I’ve visited with several times over the last four-plus years. But it’s great to have that kind of information at my fingertips prior to my arrival at the Thomas and Mack Center. My hope is that all this homework pays off quite well and that you enjoy every piece of information I can provide you over the next month or so.

The 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will be the first since 1997 that 16-time world champion Trevor Brazile has not qualified in calf roping. Now Brazile is just a one-event NFR qualifier – technically it’s two events, since he competed earlier this month at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Rodeo, where he won better than $30,000 over the 10 go-rounds at the Lazy E Arena; still, go-rounds in Las Vegas will pay somewhere near $18,000, so one contestant could surpass that in just two rounds. Brazile now has a $103,000 cushion in the race for the Montana Silversmiths all-around gold buckle over the No. 2 cowboy, Steven Dent, who earned the bulk of his $144,465 in qualifying for the NFR in bareback riding – he added about $3,700 in bronc riding. Another bareback rider, Bobby Mote, is No. 3, while heeler Russell Cardoza is fourth. There are no multi-event NFR qualifiers this year, so nobody has that particular edge. But a $100,000 lead isn’t safe in Las Vegas, where several contestants annually earn a lot more than that – reigning bareback riding world champion Kaycee Feild won $141,639 last December; if Dent or Mote has a similar finale, it could disrupt Brazile’s nine all-around titles in the last 10 years. But the likelihood of that happening is slim. Nobody outworks Brazile, and now he’s focusing on one event. I suspect him and partner Patrick Smith will run a few thousand steers until they leave for Las Vegas, then they’ll run a few hundred more. For those reasons, I give Brazile the big advantage to hold on to that coveted all-around world title. In addition, I think he’ll leave Las Vegas with his second heading gold buckle, earning world championship Nos. 17 and 18 this season. He’s that good, but more importantly, he’s that driven.

RodeoMediaRelations.com has undergone a facelift. Thanks to the brilliance that is Corey Brown, the site is energized and outstanding. Brown owns 4B Web Design, and I’ve worked closely with him for several months. With the opportunity to make the Rodeo Media Relations website first class, I took it. The reward is awesome. The site is easy to maneuver, and gathering information about my business is simple. If you’re on your mobile device, you can pull it up with just a few clicks of your finger, then you can surf around, read the stories, see the coverage we’ve been able to get and view the designs I’ve put together. Corey Brown rocks; so does the Rodeo Media Relations website.

There are many things that test the measure of a champion, but the heart of a winner is proven in what they do when nobody’s around. It’s break time in the world of professional rodeo. The top 15 in each event will begin competition at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three weeks from tonight at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. The rodeo season ended a month and a half ago, so this two-month stretch is a great time to vacation and rest a body weary from nine months of solid competition and hundreds of hours on the highways getting from one event to another. They’re tired of home being on wheels; they’re ready to stretch out and experience space. But champions continue to work while they rest. There are gold buckles on the line in Las Vegas, and they want every edge they can get when they arrive in the Nevada desert. They want to chase $18,000 a night and that coveted average title worth somewhere around $47,000. Two world champs proved it last weekend at the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede in Allen, Texas. Ryan Jarrett, the 2005 all-around world champion from Comanche, Okla., and Tuf Cooper, the reigning tie-down roping titlist from Decatur, Texas, shared the calf roping title with Tuf’s brother, Clint, posting 7.7-second runs – only Clint will miss out on this year’s NFR. So what does it mean for men like Tuf Cooper and Jarrett to be roping sharp this close to ProRodeo’s grand finale? “We’ve been practicing a whole bunch and getting everything ready for the NFR,” Tuf said. “My roping feels good because we get so much time to prepare and practice this time of year. Our horses are well rested and working really good. “They’re just as sharp as they can get. It really makes a big difference in what we’re doing. This time of year is a great time to have a rodeo for me.” As the weather cools, Tuf and his other brother, three-time NFR qualifier Clif, will practice at the home of their brother-in-law, Trevor Brazile. “We just broke in and prepared the calves for the NFR,” Tuf said Monday. “For the next three weeks, I’ll take all my horses and calves over to Trevor’s house every day and rope in his indoor arena. We’ll make lots of practice runs.” Yes, they will, and I suspect they’ll be as sharp as ever on Thursday night, Dec. 6, when they nod their heads inside those golden chutes.

ALLEN, Texas – The Tom Thumb Texas Stampede has a history of being a major stop for the elite cowboys in professional rodeo. The cream of the crop put on quite a show on Nov. 9-10 at the Allen Event Center. Tuf Cooper, his brother, Clint Cooper, and Ryan Jarrett highlighted the competition, posting 7.7-second runs to share the tie-down roping title. “All the timed events were awesome,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo, the livestock producer in Allen. “It’s hard to beat when you’ve got three guys who have been to the National Finals Rodeo several times each, and two are world champions.” Tuf Cooper is the reigning tie-down roping world champion, clinching the first gold buckle in his fourth qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Clint Cooper is a four-time NFR qualifier, and Jarrett is the 2005 all-around world champion from Comanche, Okla. “That’s the first rodeo of my 2013 season, and already it’s getting off to a great start,” said Tuf Cooper, who, like his brother, lives in nearby Decatur, Texas. “It’s awesome that Allen, Texas, had such a great rodeo for us cowboys. For it to be this close to home, it’s like it was our hometown rodeo.” The atmosphere inside the Allen Event Center was electric, he said. “When I walked into their arena for the first time, it was a little arena, just like what we’ll see in Vegas,” Cooper said of the NFR, which takes place Dec. 6-15 at the Thomas and Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. “I got a little preview of what Vegas is going to be like. It was really loud in there, too.” That happens when the best in the game compete at a rodeo like the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede. The event, which helps raise money for children in north Texas, returned to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association after a few years as an invitational. The three-way tie for the tie-down roping title was just one of several outstanding times and scores in Allen this past weekend. “There are a few rodeos going on this time of year, but nothing to compare to Allen,” Cooper said. “It was fun, but I’m not going to lie: I was trying to be 7.6.” Cooper laughed a little, but that’s the mindset a world champion must have in the cut-throat world of ProRodeo. Other blazing fast times came from Shayde Etherton of Borden, Ind., who won steer wrestling with a 3.8-second run, and a couple of tandems – Clayton Hass/Ryan Motes and Justin Van Davis/Kory Koontz – who posted a 3.8 to share the team roping title. “Any time you can have that many times that are faster than 4 seconds, you’ve got something pretty good,” Carr said. Other winners were bareback rider Jake Brown (89 points, $3,377); saddle bronc riders Tyrel Larsen and Cody Wright (85, $2,704); barrel racer Fallon Taylor (13.14, $2,721); and bull rider Cooper Davis (90, $3,107). Texas Stampede Nov. 9-10 Allen, Texas All-around cowboy: Clayton Hass, $3,762, steer wrestling and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Jake Brown, 89 points on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet’s Web, $3,377; 2. (tie) Casey Colletti, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Alberta Child, and Clint Cannon, on Carr’s Dirty Jacket 87, $2,251 each; 4. (tie) Winn Ratliff, on Classic’s Bright Lights, and Bobby Mote, on Carr’s River Boat Annie, 86, $1,013 each; 6. Joe Gunderson, 84 on Carr’s Black Smoke, $563; 7. Jake Self, 83 on Classic’s Raging Angel, $450; 8. (tie) Evan Jayne, on Lancaster & Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Air Guitar, and D.V. Fennell, on Carr’s Miss Hollywood, 82, $169 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Shayde Etherton, 3.8 seconds, $2,419; 2. Derek Stewart, 3.9, $2,164; 3. Riley Duvall, 4.1, $1,910; 4. (tie) Teddy Johnson and Cooper Shofner, 4.2, $1,528 each; 6. (tie) K.C. Jones, Bray Armes and Chris Berry, 4.5, $891 each; 9. Seth Morgan, 4.6, $382; 10. (tie) Stockton Graves, Cole Edge, Brad Loesch and Casey Martin, 4.7, $32 each. Team roping: 1. (tie) Clayton Hass/Ryan Motes and Justin Van Davis/Kory Koontz, 3.8 seconds, $3,762 each; 3. Coleman Proctor/Jake Pianalto, 4.0, $3,135; 4. (tie) Jake Cooper/Kyle Crick and Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 4.1, $2,508 each; 6. (tie) Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly and Landon McClaugherty/Tommy Zuniga, 4.3, $1,672 each; 8. (tie) Jake Orman/Jeremy Mercer, Kaleb Driggers/Jade Corkill, Arky Rogers/Casey Chamberlain and Logan Olson/Matt Kasner, 4.4, $470 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Cody Wright, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Runnings, and Tyrel Larsen, on Rafter G Rodeo’s Sundance, 85 points, $2,704 each; 3. (tie) Taos Muncy, on Lancaster & Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Holly Bucks, and Tol Cawley, on Carr’s Cool Runnings, 84, $1,428 each; 5. Isaac Diaz, 81 on Lancaster & Pickett’s Badlands, $714; 6. Heith DeMoss, 80 on Carr’s Sweet Emotion, $510; 7. Jesse James Kirby, 79 on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Tiny Dancer, $408; 8. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, on Carr’s Couch Jumper, Sterling Crawley, on Carr’s Big Casino, Chuck Schmidt, on Carr’s Paper Doll, Cole Elshere, on Carr’s Take the Plunge, and Dylan Henson, on Classic’s Four of a Kind, 78, $61 each. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Ryan Jarrett and Clint Cooper, 7.7 seconds, $2,180 each; 4. (tie) Justin Macha and Ross Beasley, 8.4, $1,539 each; 6. (tie) Barrett Threadgill and Sterling Smith, 8.7, $1,026 each; 8. Mike Johnson, 8.8, $641; 9. Scott Kormos, 8.9, $385; 10. Trevor Brazile, 9.1, $128. Barrel racing: 1. Fallon Taylor, 13.14 seconds, $2,721; 2. Mary Walker, 13.25, $2,313; 3. Brittany Pozzi, 13.42, $1,905; 4. Kenna Squires, 13.51, $1,632; 5. Tana Renick, 13.52, $1,360; 6. Kelley Carrington, 13.58, $952; 7. (tie) Aimee Kay and Cassie Moseley, 13.61, $612 each; 9. (tie) Tammi Reynolds and Jane Melby, 13.65, $442 each; 11. Gretchen Benbenek, 13.67, $340; 12. Rainy Graham, 13.69, $272. Bull riding: 1. Cooper Davis on Lancaster & Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Martini, 90 points, $3,107; 2. Chandler Bownds, 88 on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Black Ice, $2,382; 3. Kody Lostroh, 87 Lancaster & Pickett’s War Paint, $1,760;  Continue Reading »

National champions will be crowned this week as Fall Festival comes to an end KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The first time Mandy Martin arrived in this twin city, it was to participate in a horse show at the American Royal. She returned countless times since, then moved to Kansas City. She’s been as close as anyone to the United Professional Horsemen’s Association’s National Championship, which takes place annually during the American Royal. It continues during the UPHA’s showcase event, which takes place Tuesday, Nov. 13-Saturday, Nov. 17. The best saddlebreds, Hackney ponies and road horses from chapters across the country converge on Kansas City to compete for nearly $200,000 and the national championship.             “Kansas City is always special to the saddlebred community because it hosts the national championship,” said Martin, an assistant trainer and riding instructor at Ever Glades Farm, run by Landon and Sarah Rowland of Kansas City. “I am originally from Indiana, where I rode and worked at one of the best saddlebred farms in the world. I worked there for about five years, then I came to Kansas City.” She worked at the American Royal before joining the Rowlands and helping with the family’s saddlebred farm. “I already knew I loved Kansas City, but I’m really happy to be living here now,” Martin said. “I think it’s very special to have the national championships right here in our hometown. In the past, the Rowlands have won a lot at this horse show.” Though she will likely show this week at the American Royal, Martin’s primary duty is to assist  Rowland family members with  show preparations and to have the horses ready for the competition. The week begins with Missouri-Kansas Night on Tuesday, followed by the Junior Challenge Cup National Equitation Championship Wednesday. The UPHA Classic Grand Championships are Thursday, while the Amateur and Junior Rider National Championships and the Open, Amateur and Junior Rider National Championships take place Friday. The final day is chalk full of prestigious event, from the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, followed by the National Championship Matinee at 11 a.m. The American Royal’s Fall Festival includes with the National Championship Stake Night, featuring the crowning of national champions in 14 classes. “The UPHA is another one of our wonderful and traditional heritage events,” said Brant Laue, chairman of the American Royal. “It’s a top flight event and unique among our events. It draws some Hollywood celebrities. “Our saddlebred horse show is part of a triple crown, and the national championship is a very prestigious honor for everyone involved.” This is the 11th year that the American Royal has hosted the UPHA’s national title event. It’s something that brings great pride to Carol Carlson, who grew up in the Kansas City metro area and is involved with the UPHA committee. “My first time to the American Royal, my father was a rodeo rider who rode broncs, but he had a passion and this story for Loula Long Combs,” Carlson said of the Kansas City woman who was best known for showing magnificent Hackney ponies. “She would dress in her finery and had these elaborate buggies. “My father always had this fantasy of these horse shows. All of these horses are very proud and noble and have a spirit about them.” That’s just one of the drawing cards for the Rowlands and Martin. “Many of these horses that go to this show are already accomplished in the divisions they show,” Martin said. “They don’t show up at the national championships without a history of success. To be able to show what we feel are our best horses is really exciting. “Turning my love of horses into a career is awesome. I’ve been passionate about horses and have been showing horses my whole life. It’s just an honor and a thrill to be part of it.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The value of a quality education is priceless. For young bareback riders hoping to make their mark in professional rodeo, the opportunity to learn from the best that play the game is just as valuable. The price tag, however, is almost unreal. “We put on this school at no charge to the students,” said Kirby Cannon, who organizes the annual school with his brother, Clint Cannon, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Waller, Texas. “Our goal is to get more bareback riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. We take serious younger students.” In fact, 145 students applied, but just 50 will be part of this year’s Southeast Texas Bareback Riding School, set for Thursday, Nov. 15-Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. “We encourage everybody tries to get their PRCA permit so they can compete at ProRodeos,” Cannon said. “We’ve got kids coming from all across the country and some kids coming from Canada, Mexico, Brazil and New Zealand. Some have never been on horses, and some have been on tons. We want to give them every opportunity to be successful.” The cost is zero. The four days of learning is outstanding. In addition to the Cannon brothers, teachers will include their father, Jay, and top-level bareback riders: Steven Anding, Heath Ford, J.R. Vezain, Austin Foss, Bob Logue, Jerry Coble, Kelly Timberman, Matt Bright, Brian Hawk, Yvan Jayne, Mike Todd, Jeremy Willis, Bill Tutor, Taylor Price, Tray Chambliss III, Craig Weisart, Doug Champion and Richie Champion. “Most of our instructors have been to the NFR multiple times, so we’re giving these guys a chance to learn from the best,” Cannon said. “They all donate their time. Some of the guys who are going to the NFR this year will get on during the school so they can get tuned up before they go to the finals. “I think that helps our students, because they get to watch and see how it’s done right.” Students also get a chance to experience ProRodeo livestock. Contractors who are donating bucking horses are Classic Pro Rodeo, Carr Pro Rodeo, Chad Lancaster, Rafter G Rodeo, Frontier Rodeo, Cullen Pickett, Catalina Pro Rodeo, Do Or Die Pro Rodeo and Mike Outhier, a former NFR qualifier in saddle bronc rider who raises bucking horses. “We really couldn’t put this on without all those guys donating their livestock,” Cannon said. “Pete Carr was our first contractor, but with how our school has grown over time, we’ll buck 240 head of horses in four days. There’s no way we can thank these guys enough for doing this. They’re out the expense of hauling these animals here to Hempstead, and they keep coming back.” There also are prizes set forth for the top students. The PRCA will provide permits at no cost to the top three students who don’t already have a permit; Barstow Rodeo Equipment will provide a rigging to the top college student; and Montana Silversmiths is donating three trophy buckles: one for the top student, one for the most improved and one for the student who had the hardest luck. “We’ve also got a number of local businesses who are donating food,” Cannon said. “The Waller County Fair Association donates the use of the arena, and all that is important for us to be able to continue to do this.” The Southeast Texas Bareback Riding School is in its sixth year, having begun in 2007. Several former students will be instructors, including Foss, the 2012 PRCA Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year, and Vezain, the 2011 rookie winner who has qualified for this year’s NFR. “J.R. is our first former student to make the NFR, so that’s pretty cool,” Cannon said. Yes, it is. How many more will follow? That’s hard to tell. “We just want to give these guys all the advantages they can have at the next level,” he said. “We’ll go over everything, from getting ready for the ride to knowing what it takes to enter a rodeo. They need to know all that if they want to be successful.”

Carlee Pierce likes breaking records. Last December, Carlee set a new standard with an arena-record run of 13.46-second run during the fifth go-round at her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. On Friday night, Pierce and her 5-year-old gelding, Hammer, posted a 14.214-second run in Edmonton, Alberta, to set an arena record at the Canadian Finals Rodeo. She won the third go-round and added $11,398. She has won $22,504 in three runs at the CFR and has pushed her Canadian earnings to $54,887. “Tonight was amazing,” Carlee said Friday night. “I was 11th on the ground, and I knew it was a fast round. I told Hammer we need to make a solid run and just go for it, and he held up his end if the deal and set the new CFR arena record.”

Native Albertan Carlee Pierce continued her strong season Thursday night by posting a 14.611-second run during the second round of the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta. She finished second to two-time world champion Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alberta, who won for the second straight night with a 14.547. Pierce added $8,476 for the feat and moved her CFR earnings to $11,106. Her 2012 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association earnings shot to $43,489, just $6,993 ahead of Sears. Now living in Stephenville, Texas, Pierce grew up in the northwest Oklahoma community of Freedom and lived in Woodward, Okla., for a number of years. This season, she has qualified for her second straight Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which takes place Dec. 6-15 in Las Vegas. She is the third-ranked cowgirl in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association standings, having earned more than $131,000 this season.

Carlee Pierce is returning to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the second straight year. As with every NFR sophomore, she will better know what to expect when she arrives in Las Vegas in early December. She’ll know what it means to best care for her horse, Dillion, a 12-year-old buckskin gelding she’s had since April 2011. She’s also got a pasture full of other great barrel horses. A native Albertan, Pierce is in her native land this week competing at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta. Upon completion of that championship, she will return home to Stephenville, Texas, and prepare for ProRodeo’s grand finale at the Thomas & Mack Center. She is working closely with TwisTED Rodeo and Rodeo Media Relations for this year’s NFR, so we will be posting daily blog updates that will appear HERE and on her own website, CarleePierce.com. It’s nice to welcome one of ProRodeo’s biggest stars to TwisTED Rodeo. Along with this type of coverage, we also will be providing stories and storylines to the people who have been supportive of Pierce for so long, those in northwest Oklahoma, where she lived for so many years, to north Texas to Alberta. All along the way, each piece will appear in TwisTED Rodeo, just as many others have over the last couple of years. The foundation for this site is to present high quality rodeo news and information. I think this is another great step in that direction.

ALVA, Okla. – Trish Price earned the victory, but Karley Kile earned the bulk of the points last weekend at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rodeo. The goat tiers finished first and second at their hometown rodeo, and they helped the Rangers women win the team title. “It means a lot to me to win this rodeo, since we had a lot of people come out and support us,” said Price, a sophomore of mass communications major from Faith, S.D, who placed fifth in the long round, won the short round and finished first in the two-run aggregate with a total time of 13.5 seconds. In fact, Price’s 6.4-second run in the final go-round was the fastest of the weekend. Kile, who finished with a two-run aggregate of 13.8 seconds, scored more overall points by finishing high in both go-rounds and the average. It all combined to help the Northwestern women to 345 points for the win, just 45 points better than rival Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “It actually means a lot for us to win the rodeo, because our biggest competition is Southwestern,” Price said. “To know we can beat them when we know they have the talent to win the nation feels pretty good.” Kile, a sophomore from Overbrook, Kan., moved into the No. 2 spot in the Central Plains goat tying standings behind Southwestern’s Catherine Stanko. “It was pretty exciting,” Kile said. “I had a lot of family and friends here to watch, and I actually got my act together and tied a goat.” Actually, she tied two goats, just three-10ths of a second behind her teammate, Price. What’s just as impressive is that eight Ranger women earned spots in Saturday night’s final round, including Micah Samples, a junior from Abilene, Kan. Samples, who finished second in the barrel racing aggregate behind Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Ari-Anne Flynn, actually scored more points for herself and the team by placing second in each round and the average. She also used the services of two horses – Tag, a 10-year-old bay gelding, ran in the long round, while Snake, a 15-year-old bay gelding, ran in the final round. “I ran one horse over in Cherokee for the long round, and then I came back in the short round and ran the other in the smaller arena,” Samples said. “Both runs were good. I was very happy with it. It was good to do good there and make the short go-there. We had a lot of people there supporting us.” Through four rodeos this season, Samples has qualified for each short round. That’s probably the reason she’s the No. 1 all-around cowgirl in the region. “I’d like to continue to make every short round the rest of this season,” said Samples, who transferred to Northwestern this semester. “I want to keep being consistent and getting points. I’m sitting good in breakaway and barrels. I’d also like to win the all-around in the region; that would be a huge accomplishment.” So would the Rangers winning the team championship when the region season concludes next spring. “It’s very important to be one or two at ever rodeo, because they take the top two teams from the region to the college finals,” she said. “As a team, it’s important to stay in those races at every rodeo, because then it reflects well on you in the region standings.” Amy Treece finished third in the barrel racing aggregate, while Alexis Allen erned points in the short round. They weren’t the only Rangers cowgirls to have fared well at their hometown rodeo. In fact, Karly Benzie placed second in breakaway roping, finishing with 5.3 seconds on two runs. Kasey Campbell and Kodi Hansen each made the short round in breakaway roping. For the men, heeler Wade Perry finished highest, placing second along with his partner, Kyon Buckley of Southwestern Oklahoma State. Tie-down roper Jess Woodward finished in a tie for third place overall, while Travis Cowan placed fifth. Steer wrestler Collin Domer was sixth.

Cutting horse competition to feature ranching tradition that is now a growing sport KANSAS CITY, Mo. – High quality cutting horses have been some of the most prized animals on North American ranches for decades. It also is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, involving horse and rider separating a particular cow from a herd. The National Cutting Horse Association’s competition at the American Royal takes place all day beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7-Friday, Nov. 9. The finale will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and will feature the top cutters in the open, non-pro, $10,000 novice and $15,000 novice horse non-pro. Each will battle for the prestigious American Royal title in each class. “Cutting is interesting because it’s a traditional ranching activity, splitting an animal from the herd,” said Brant Laue, chairman of the American Royal. “As a horse show, it has become popular. You’re getting a lot of folks involved in it that have no other involvement in the horse show world. “You will find corporate CEOs who will be in town for that event, and it’s become a competitive circuit. It’s a fairly new event at the American Royal; one of the people behind it is golfer Tom Watson, who has some cutting horses.” Watson has been involved with cutting for several years. During a 2009 interview with PGATour.com, Watson explained that even though the family owned horses, he had just taken the opportunity to try his hand at the sport. “I (had) never ridden one because my hip wouldn’t let me,” Watson said three years ago. “Now I’ve got a bionic hip and can spread my legs and get on a horse.” The Watsons have owned cutting horses for about 10 years, but there are many celebrities involved in the sport. “My goal, my hope and my dream is to one day have 500 acres, a horse farm, a breeding program and a proven stallion to enable me the opportunity to be a formidable contender in the horse business,” Nashville recording artist Chris Cagle told HorseChannel.com. “By the time I’m 50, I want to be a world champion.” That’s a high goal. Obviously, he’s been bitten by the bug, just like many other celebrities. A cutter is trained to work on its own. As the cow is cut away from the herd, the horse must then anticipate every move the cow wants to make to block the cow from returning to the herd. It takes a great athlete to make that happen. “My dad said, ‘You couldn’t just get a guitar and sing around the house; you had to be a star,’ ” Cagle told the website. “ ‘You can’t just get a horse and ride it; you have to get a reining horse or a cutting horse and go to the FEI World and Futurity.’ ” If that’s the approach it takes to be successful, then maybe Cagle is the perfect fit for the world of cutting horses. The cutter has two and a half minutes to show off its talent, and its explosive maneuvers are part of the fascination with the sport. In fact, Watson has experienced that power himself, as he explained in the PGATour.com interview. “He went one way and I went the other, and it was, ‘See ya,’ ” Watson said, noting he was unhurt in the exchange. It’s more than athleticism in the horse, though. The equines have a certain knowledge and experience with the cows that help in competition. It all comes together well. “It is another event that is a thrill to watch,” Laue said. “If you appreciate high quality horsemanship, the American Royal has a lot to offer in that.”

Rodeo’s elite will prepare for NFR, teach youngsters while raising needed funds MESQUITE, Texas – Some of the greatest cowboys in professional rodeo will be showcasing their talent from Friday, Nov. 23-Sunday, Nov. 25 at Resistol Rodeo Arena. They’ll also be sharing their experiences, technique and winning athleticism to rodeo’s next generation during the ninth annual Thanksgiving Rodeo School. “We have a lot of guys that go to the NFR after that, and they’ll come to this and practice there,” said bareback rider Wes Stevenson, an eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier originally from Kaufman, Texas. “This takes place just a couple weeks before the NFR, so it’s a good time to get on good bucking horses and get tuned up for the finals.” Yes, it is. Only the top 15 cowboys in each event qualify for the NFR, where they’ll ride for the largest purse of the season over 10 nights in Las Vegas. They’ll also get on the best bucking horses in the business during each go-round. “We’re usually at our best when we’re going all summer long, because you’re getting on bucking horses every day,” Stevenson said. “With this event, we get to go there for three days and live, talk, eat and sleep bucking horses. It helps you get in that frame of mind.” The fascinating aspect of this rodeo school is that it serves a three-prong benefit. Not only do the elite bronc busters and bull riders get to prepare themselves for ProRodeo’s grand finale, they educate young cowboys about the sport and raise money for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. “It’s a pretty unique school,” said Stevenson, who noted that stock contractor Stace Smith donates the stock and the arena. “We charge kids money, but we pay for their motel room and their food, and we have a nice indoor arena. It’s about as classy and nice of a venue as you can have to put on a rodeo school. “Plus it could go back to them because they’re investing in the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund; if they ever get hurt in their rodeo careers and need that fund, then they’ve already given to it by being part of this camp.” The fund reaches out to injured cowboys to make sure their finances are covered while they are unable to compete and earn money. It’s been a huge benefit to a lot of contestants. The fund was established to help those who compete in the sport full time, since rodeo is their primary form of income. “Their slogan is ‘It’s a hand up, not a hand out,’ ” Stevenson said. “That describes it as best as any I’ve seen.” In addition the young bareback riders, saddle bronc riders, bull riders, bullfighters, barrelmen and potential pickup men can learn from the men who have been recognized as the very best in the sport. From world champions like Will Lowe, J.W. Harris, Taos Muncy, Justin McDaniel, Mark Gomes and Jeff Collins to other great stars in the game, there will be tremendous learning opportunities for men who want to make their mark in rodeo. In addition, NFR pickup men Jason Bottoms and Shawn Calhoun will be on hand to teach their trade, as will bullfighters Travis Adams and Clay Collins and 2010 NFR barrelman Robbie Hodges. “One significant difference in our school is we are telling our students how to do things, then we’re coming behind them and showing them what to do,” Stevenson said. “They get to watch how we ride, the chute procedure, how we put on the rigging and put our hands in the rigging, how we get off on the pickup man and handling business. “That helps the students a lot. They get to be told, then they get to see it.” And the teaching aspect helps the contestants, too; not only do they get to focus on the mental side of the game, but they get to share their experiences with the students. “I love being around the kids before the NFR,” Stevenson said. “They don’t have the structural basis to go out and compete, but they have the hunger and try. That makes up for a lot, and that’s tough to beat.” INSTRUCTORS Bareback riding Wes Stevenson, Will Lowe, Bob Logue, Justin McDaniel, Steven Peebles, Steven Dent, Tom McFarland, Tilden Hooper, Matt Bright, Jared Smith, Caine Riddle, Chad Klein, Mark Gomes and Jeff Collins. Saddle bronc riding Taos Muncy, Bradley Harter, Isaac Diaz, Heith DeMoss, Cody DeMoss, Ty Atchison, Wade Sundell, Sam Spreadborough, Jacobs Crawley, Sterling Crawley and Cort Scheer. Bull riding J.W. Harris, Chandler Bownds and Tate Stratton Cowboy protection Clay Collins and Travis Adams Barrelman Robbie Hodges Pickup men Jason Bottoms and Shawn Calhoun Instructors are subject to change

ALLEN, Texas – There’s a lot to north Texas, from the pride in the Lone Star State to the traditions that surround this culture. The 2012 Tom Thumb Texas Stampede will have the flavor of it all, from a world-class rodeo featuring the sport’s biggest stars to the Western Heritage Festival to traditional concerts from Tracy Lawrence and Lee Brice. The Western Heritage Festival takes place from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, and Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Allen Event Center. It will feature a petting zoo, pony rides, mutton busting, stick horse races and the Texas Stampede Western Marketplace. Then the real action of the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, and noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Allen Event Center. Lawrence will perform in concert after Friday night’s rodeo, and Brice will hit the stage after Saturday night’s performance. “We are proud and excited to reestablish our partnership with the PRCA to bring this quality of rodeo competition to the Allen Event Center,” said Christopher Carter, president of the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede. The entire entertainment package is what fans will appreciate most. “We’re very excited to have Tracy Lawrence and Lee Brice performing at the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede,” said Zandy Carnes, the stampede’s executive director. “Along with our rodeo, we’re really getting back to our mission. “Not only are we providing an event that’s going to entertain the crowd with the performance and the high caliber of contestants, but it also brings back the focus of why we do this, and that’s the kids.” Funds raised at the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede go to several entities like Camp John Marc, which boasts of Special Camps for Special Kids, serving children with chronic illnesses and major physical disabilities and the families of those children; and ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship, which provides adults and children with disabilities the opportunity to move beyond their boundaries through the healing power of the horse. Those are just two of many organizations touched by the folks who attend the stampede. “We’re spreading out to the various children’s charities that encompass a wide group of people,” Carnes said. It’s that purpose that has so many people associated with the sport ready to reach out. Nearly 400 of ProRodeo’s top contestants – those from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association – are scheduled to compete. Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo will be the primary livestock contractor, providing the production and the bucking stock for the Texas Stampede. “Not only is Pete Carr our stock contractor, but he also is on our board of directors,” Carnes said. “I feel we needed somebody who has rodeo in his background, not only someone who is a businessman. Pete encompasses all of those qualities. He comes in here with the experience in knowing the industry. “He brings an element into it that some people haven’t. He’s savvy about getting the word out.” It helps, too, that Carr’s name as a stock contractor is quite appealing to the cowboys who make their living riding bucking beasts. “Any bucking horse you know you have a chance to win on is one you want to get on,” said Jesse James Kirby, a saddle bronc rider from Dodge City, Kan. “That’s what you have when you go to a Carr rodeo. I think Pete Carr is doing a damn good job of supplying a bunch of really good bucking horses.”

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Rocky Patterson knew he needed to be fast. The 2012 Steer Roping World Championship depended on it. Patterson was. He posted a 10.3-second run to win the 10th go-round at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping and outlast Trevor Brazile by $418 to win his third Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Championship. What’s impressive is that Patterson has won them all in the last four years. What’s more impressive is that the Pratt, Kan., cowboy dominated Saturday night in the final five rounds of the two-day competition. “This is the closest race in years,” said announcer Charlie Throckmorton, who called the action at his 13th NFSR this weekend. “This is the way it’s supposed to be.” Patterson had held the world standings lead since the fourth go-round, but had two no-times on Friday night. That nearly took him out of contention to place in the top five in the 10-round aggregate race. Brazile, who won the average with 131.7 seconds on 10 runs, held a distinct advantage – as the average winner, the Decatur, Texas, cowboy pocketed a bonus of $15,231. Patterson was the last roper to compete Saturday night knowing he needed to win the final go-round and hope he earned an average check if he were to catch Brazile. Patterson’s 10.3 did both – he finished fifth in the average – making that single run worth $8,308. “A guy always dreams of winning the first one,” said Patterson, 46, who won his first Montana Silversmiths gold buckle in 2009. “Anytime you get to compete in the same arena as Trevor Brazile is a privilege and to be able to come out on top is unbelievable. “I think knowing how fast I had to be helped, because I don’t rope as fast as some of the guys normally, so I knew I had to go at him.” Patterson placed in seven go-rounds and won three. In fact, he placed in all five rounds on Saturday night, winning two. Of his $29,731, more than $21,000 came on the final night. “That’s just great competition,” said Brazile, a 16-time World Champion who leads the all-around standings heading to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. “When everyone executes, it’s where the chips fall. I was more proud of my performance this week as I have ever been. I feel like I executed better this week, and I don’t feel like I left on the table.” “At the end of the day, I have no regrets. My hat’s off to Rocky. That was a lot of pressure he had to overcome as well.” The NFSR was a four-man race from the start, including the year-end leader Cody Lee of Gatesville, Texas, and third-place finisher Vin Fisher Jr. of Andrews, Texas. When Lee faltered through the rugged 10 rounds, the other three remained tightly knitted. It came down to the final round to decide the world title. Of course, it helped that Patterson had roped lights out all night long. “Everybody knew Trevor was in the lead coming in tonight,” Patterson said. “You can spend a lot of your time worrying about Trevor when you don’t need to, because Trevor is going to take care of Trevor. He’s not going to mess up, so you just have to take care of yourself.” Brazile and Mike Chase of McAlester, Okla., are the only two cowboys to rope and tie down all 10 steers. The result was Brazile’s first NFSR average championship. “That was great competition that came down to the wire,” Brazile said. “I hope the steer roping fans turned out, because they would’ve missed a good one if they didn’t.” Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping Lazy E Arena Nov. 2-3, 2012                First round: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 11.9, $4,077; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 12.0, $3,077; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 12.1, $2,077; 5. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla., 12.5, $1,077. Second round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. (tie) Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., and Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 12.0, $3,577 each; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 12.5, $2,077; 5. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 13.1, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 23.9 seconds on two head; 2. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 24.0; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 24.9; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 25.7; 5. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 26.2. Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 12.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 12.6, $4,077; 3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.8, $3,077; 4. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan., 12.9, $2,077; 5. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, 13.7, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 36.5 seconds on three head; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 39.0; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 40.5; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 43.0; 5. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 44.3. Fourth round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 12.0 seconds, $5,077; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.2, $4,077; 3. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 12.9, $3,077; 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 13.2, $2,077; 5. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla., 14.0, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 51.2 seconds on four head; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 52.5; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 58.2; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 61.0; 5. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 63.2. Fifth round: 1. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. (tie) Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, and Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 10.9, $3,577 each; 4. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., 11.0, $2,077; 5. (tie) J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., and Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 13.3, $538 each. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 64.7 seconds on five head; 2. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 74.3; 3. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 78.1; 4. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 79.5; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 52.5 on four.                Sixth round: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 10.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 11.0, $4,077; 3. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla., 11.4, $3,077;  Continue Reading »

Ninth round: round: 1. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan., 9.5 seconds, $5,077; 2. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla., 11.0, $4,077; 3. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., 11.1, $3,077; 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 11.8, $2,077; 5. (tie) Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., and J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 12.0, $538 each. Average leaders:  1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 120.2 seconds on nine head; 2. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 175.0; 3. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 113.8 on eight; 4. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 117.9; 5. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 84.3 on seven.

Eighth round: 1. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan., 12.1 seconds, $5,077; 2. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 12.5, $4,077; 3. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 13.4, $3,077; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 13.5, $2,077; 5. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 13.9, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 103.3 seconds on eight head; 2. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 158.8; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 98.8 on seven; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 101.8; 5. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 114.9.

Seventh round: 1. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla., 11.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 11.6, $4,077; 3. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla., 11.8, $3,077; 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.0, $2,077; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 13.6, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 88.2 seconds on seven head; 2. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 146.3; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 77.1 on six; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 88.3; 5. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., 91.4.

Sixth round: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 10.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 11.0, $4,077; 3. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla., 11.4, $3,077; 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 11.5, $2,077; 5. Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla., 11.8, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 76.2 seconds on six head; 2. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 88.3; 3. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 93.0; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 131.2; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 63.5 on five.

Trevor Brazile is one of the greatest cowboys to have ever competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Now the 16-time world champion has the advantage in one of the tightest races in recent history at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping after opening night. Brazile placed in three go-rounds Friday night at the Lazy E Arena and leads the aggregate. “It makes you go to bed tonight with good thoughts when you come here to execute,” said Brazile, the three-time and reigning Steer Roping World Champion from Decatur, Texas. “It’s far from over, but it lets you sleep better to do what you came here to do. We’re a long way from finishing this thing out. If you don’t finish, the start doesn’t matter. Brazile holds a 9.6-second lead in the average over the No. 2 man, J.P. Wickett, a 13-time NFSR qualifier from Sallisaw, Okla. Two-time world champion Rocky Patterson of Pratt, Kan., leads the world standings with $70,855, but he’s just $303 ahead of Brazile. Vin Fisher Jr. of Andrews, Texas, is third with $68,042, while Cody Lee of Gatesville, Texas, is fourth, $67,399. But Brazile’s advantage is greater than that. He’s the only one in the World Title contention to have tied down all five steers. The final five rounds take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. “Trevor’s in the driver’s seat with the average and the fact that he ropes really good,” said Patterson, who scored times on just three of five runs Friday night. “I’ve just got to try to win first every round and see where the cards fall at the end.” Roping on Champ, the Reserve World Champion Steer Roping Horse borrowed from friend Chris Glover, Brazile is taking a business approach to his 16th qualification to the Clem McSpadden. “I’m just trying not to let any of the outside factors of what’s going on with the roping interfere with my game plan,” he said. “I just want to execute. I know the runs I’ve been making in practice all week, and I want to bring that to the Lazy E and do the exact same thing. “The friends you have in the rodeo industry are priceless. It’s a blessing to have Chris. He finished 16th in the world, so he didn’t make it here this year. But his horse is here, and I’m grateful for that.” A lot of cowboys would like to be as consistent as Brazile was Friday. Chet Herren of Pawhuska, Okla., started off hot, posting a 10.8-second run to win the opening go-round. He held the lead in the average through three rounds, then things fell apart. Fisher won the second (10.8 seconds) and fourth go-rounds (12.0), then failed to score a time in the fifth round. Still, he remains fifth in the average. Patterson won the third round in 12.2, while Chance Kelton of Mayer, Ariz., equaled the fastest run of the night (10.8) to win the fifth round. “I love this race,” Brazile said. “I think it’s the best thing in the world for steer roping. It’s a great time to be a steer roping fan. It’s healthy for the sport, and it’s fun for the contestants. It’s what sports is all about.” Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping Lazy E Arena Nov. 2-3, 2012                First round: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 11.9, $4,077; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 12.0, $3,077; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 12.1, $2,077; 5. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla., 12.5, $1,077. Second round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. (tie) Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., and Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 12.0, $3,577 each; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 12.5, $2,077; 5. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 13.1, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 23.9 seconds on two head; 2. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 24.0; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 24.9; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 25.7; 5. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 26.2. Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 12.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 12.6, $4,077; 3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.8, $3,077; 4. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan., 12.9, $2,077; 5. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, 13.7, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 36.5 seconds on three head; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 39.0; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 40.5; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 43.0; 5. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 44.3. Fourth round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 12.0 seconds, $5,077; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.2, $4,077; 3. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 12.9, $3,077; 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 13.2, $2,077; 5. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla., 14.0, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 51.2 seconds on four head; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 52.5; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 58.2; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 61.0; 5. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 63.2. Fifth round: 1. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. (tie) Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, and Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 10.9, $3,577 each; 4. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., 11.0, $2,077; 5. (tie) J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., and Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 13.3, $538 each. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 64.7 seconds on five head; 2. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 74.3; 3. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 78.1; 4. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 79.5; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 52.5 on four. World standings: 1. Rocky Patterson, $70,854.75; 2. Trevor Brazile, $70,551.83; 3. Vin Fisher Jr. , $68,041.65; 4. Cody Lee, $67,398.78; 5. Chet Herren, $49,645.80; 6. Chance Kelton, $42,930.44; 7. Jess Tierney, $42,438.31; 8. Kim Ziegelgruber, $38,373.30; 9. Dan Fisher, $38,169.75; 10. Mike Chase, $37,392.40; 11. J.P. Wickett, 35,590.47; 12. Landon McClaugherty, $32,012.69; 13. Rod Hartness, $30,661.52; 14. Cody Scheck, $30,146.94; 15. Ralph Williams, $29,576.21

Fourth round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 12.0 seconds, $5,077; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.2, $4,077; 3. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 12.9, $3,077; 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 13.2, $2,077; 5. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla., 14.0, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 51.2 seconds on four head; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 52.5; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 58.2; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 61.0; 5. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 63.2.

Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 12.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 12.6, $4,077; 3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 12.8, $3,077; 4. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan., 12.9, $2,077; 5. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, 13.7, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 36.5 seconds on three head; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 39.0; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 40.5; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 43.0; 5. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 44.3.

1. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. (tie) Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., and Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 12.0, $3,577 each; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 12.5, $2,077; 5. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 13.1, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 23.9 seconds on two head; 2. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 24.0; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 24.9; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 25.7; 5. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 26.2.

1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 11.9, $4,077; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 12.0, $3,077; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 12.1, $2,077; 5. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla., 12.5, $1,077