Monthly Archives: December 2013

1. Kaycee Feild, 823 points on 10 rides, $47,776; 2. Steven Peebles, 818.5, $38,762.02; 3. J.R. Vezain, 801.5, $30,649; 4. Will Lowe, 799, $22,536; 5. Caleb Bennett, 797.5, $16,226; 6. Wes Stevenson, 796, $11,718.75; 7. Clint Cannon, 780, $8,113; 8. Jessy Davis, 768.5, $4,507.

1. (tie) Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz and Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, 4.4 seconds, $16,677 each; 3. Brandon Beers/Jim Ross Cooper, 4.5, $11,118; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 4.6, $7,813; 5. Colby Lovell/Martin Lucero, 4.9, $4,808; 6. (tie) Nick Sartain/Rich Skelton and Justin Davis/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 5.5, $1,502 each.

1. Casey Colletti on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Scarlett’s Webb, 86.5 points, $18,630; 2. Wes Stevenson, 85, $14,724; 3. Will Lowe, 84.5, $11,118; 4. Steven Peebles, 83.5, $7,813; 5. Kaycee Field, 83, $4,808; 6. (tie) J.R. Vezain and Clint Cannon, 81.5, $1,502 each.

1. Wade Sumpter, 3.4 seconds, $18,630; 2. Luke Branquinho, 3.6, $14,724; 3. Casey Martin, 3.8, $11,118; 4. Hunter Cure, 3.9, $7,813; 5. Jule Hazen, 4.1, $4,808; 6. Trevor Knowles, 4.2, $3,005.

Hunter Cure just walked by the media room en route to do the TV interview after being told he won the steer wrestling world title.

I’m still awaiting final confirmation, but I believe Bray Armes has won the NFR average in steer wrestling.

LAS VEGAS – An athlete’s confidence can be a fragile thing. Success builds confidence, and lack of success builds character. On Friday night, bull rider Tyler Willis of Wheatland, Wyo., showed his character with a 76-point bull ride on Andrews Rodeo’s Kill Creek, finishing sixth in the ninth go-round at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It helped Willis add $3,005 to his pocketbook and pushed his NFR earnings to $7,813. It’s not an overwhelming total, but every little bit helps. “My overall confidence is good right now,” said Willis, who has ridden two of his last three bulls – that’s a big step considering the Wyoming cowboy failed to score through the first six nights of ProRodeo’s championship event. “I’m just ready for tomorrow so I can finish it off, hopefully, with a big score.” He’ll have his opportunity Saturday during the final night of the 2013 ProRodeo season. The 10th round will feature the very best bucking animals in the sport, so it should be quite electric inside the Thomas & Mack Center. Cowboys were awaiting results of the blind draw that matches them with their animal for Saturday night. “I’m not worried about the draw,” he said. “They should be all the good ones you can be a bunch of points on. “I’d really like to finish the NFR strong.” If the beginning of Willis’ run at this championship was the cry of a lamb, he wants to leave Las Vegas roaring like the lion. The adjustment he made after the sixth night of competition seems to be working quite well – Willis had been pressing, he said, so he focused his attention to reacting instead. The tall bull rider has been letting his natural talent do the work. “It’s not been the best experience, but it’s not the worst either,” Willis said. “It is what it is. I’d love to come out with the round win; that would be real exciting, and I’m looking forward to it.”

LAS VEGAS – Hunter Cure is hoping to close out a great Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on a great note. Cure, a steer wrestler from Holliday, Texas, finished in a four-way tie for third place in Friday’s ninth go-round, marking the sixth time in this year’s finale that he has placed. Heading into the final night of the NFR on Saturday, he has earned nearly $70,000 and sits No. 2 in the world standings with $134,893; he trails leader Matt Reeves by just $7,456. What that means is that Cure is one of numerous cowboys in contention for the 2013 world championship, and it’ll come down to the cowboys’ final run of the season to decide who will wear the gold buckle. On Friday night, Cure knocked his steer to the ground in 3.7 seconds and earned $6,686 for sharing third place with two-time world champ Dean Gorsuch, four-time titlist Luke Branquinho and Navada cowboy Dakota Eldridge. “That steer stopped with Trevor Knowles in Round 6, so I was a little hesitant about my draw,” Cure said. “Luke and I talked about it, and he gave me some advice about how to go about it, and the game plan worked exceptionally well.” Hazer Riley Duvall put the steer in prime position for Cure, and that set everything up to be fast. “Riley was able to stay beside him on the haze and not get too far ahead of him to let him stop,” Cure said. “That allowed the steer to have some momentum to come around me and hit the ground.” That type of handling helps make up fragments of a second, which makes a big difference in steer wrestling. For instance, fellow Texan Bray Armes was just one-tenth of a second faster than the quartet and earned $14,724 – that $8,000 pay difference can play a big role in the world championship race, where the bulldogger with the most money at the NFR’s conclusion will earn the gold buckle. “I’ve got to attack a little bit in the 10th round,” Cure said. “That 3-6 split lets Bray creep up there a little closer, so we just need to attack.” Armes and Reeves are just two of Cure’s opponents that are part of the world-title race, but they’re also good friends. In fact, all three cowboys are utilizing the services of Duvall as their hazer, and Armes and Reeves are riding the same horse. “We’re all shooting for the same goal, and that’s why we came out here,” said Cure, now in his second qualification to the NFR. “We’re friends at the end of the day, but we also have to support our families.” The money is vital to their cause, but they all have those gold buckle dreams.

LAS VEGAS – On the final night of his 2013 season, steer wrestler Bray Armes of Ponder, Texas, has the world before him. Armes has earned more than $52,000 during the first nine days of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He is the No. 8 cowboy in the world standings, but he’s in prime position to make a massive jump to the most coveted prize in ProRodeo, the world champion’s gold buckle. You see, Armes, who grew up near Gruver, Texas, has knocked down nine steers in a cumulative time of 40.2 seconds to lead the average race heading into Saturday’s 10th go-round. Should he remain there with the championship concludes, he will receive a bonus of $47,776. The money’s important, because it not only is how cowboys make their living, but also it serves as points – the contestants in each event with the most money when the season concludes will be crowned world champions. Armes trails leader Matt Reeves by about $33,000 but can make up that much ground with a solid run in the 10th round. Go-round winners earn $18,630. “My game plan is to win the round,” Armes said. Should the plan work out, the big Texan is poised to win $66,406 in one championship run. While in contention, it’s going to be a dogfight on Saturday. Two-time world champion Dean Gorsuch is fifth in the world standings and second in the average, which pays $38,762. And there are numerous others in line in an outstanding world title race. Armes helped himself out considerably on Friday night when he blistered a run of 3.6 seconds to finish runner-up in the ninth round. It paid $14,724 and helped in his quest for the elusive gold buckle. “I knew I had a good steer, and I just wanted to get my hands on him and try to win some money,” Armes said. He’s done pretty well so far, placing in five rounds. He’s also been able to celebrate a pretty powerful week with his family: wife Neelley, daughter Breely and son Drake, who, on Thursday, celebrated his fifth birthday; the family had a little gathering in honor of the youngest Armes. “I asked Drake what he wanted to do, and he said he wanted cake and to eat at the buffet, and then he pointed to me and said, ‘I want you to take a nap,’ ” Bray Armes said. Even at 5 years old, Drake knew just what Daddy needed. It’s that type of family support that leads to championships.

LAS VEGAS – When he isn’t roping at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Ryan Jarrett is watching it. “Calf roping and barrel racing are two of the most watched events at the NFR,” said Jarrett, an eight-time qualifier who grew up in Summerville, Ga., and now lives in Comanche, Okla. “The crowd loves it, and it’s good watching. “It’ll get your motor running.” The cowboy’s motor has been running for nine straight nights, placing five times, including two go-round victories – he won the eighth round with a 6.7-second run, and shared the fourth-round win victory with six-time champ Cody Ohl. On Friday night, Jarrett outlasted a tough calf for a 7.8-second run and a third-place finish in the ninth go-round. It added $11,118 to his NFR payroll, which has surpassed $67,000. “I’ve had two or three calves I should’ve won money on,” he said. “I’m not saying they were calves to win first on, but they were dang sure something you could place third or fourth on. I’ve left money on the table.” That’s not a good thing in Las Vegas. That’s why his run was so vital Friday night. “I got all of the barrier you could possibly get,” Jarrett said, referring to the rope in front of the timed-event chute that is released when the calf is allowed its appropriate head start – had he been a split second sooner, he would’ve suffered a 10-second penalty. The calf didn’t have a great track record. In previous runs, the animal would run toward the roper instead of staying at the end of the rope, so the Oklahoma cowboy had a game plan to stop that from happening. “I wanted to be in her face when she swapped around,” he said. “I got a great start, got her turned around to the outside. I got everything set up for a decent flank, then I bobbled a little and didn’t get her strung the first time.” In the matter of moments, Jarrett debated the appropriate tie: a full two wraps and a half hitch to secure it or gamble with one wrap and the half-hitch. “I went ahead with two, and I’m glad I did,” he said. “She sure tried the tie during the six seconds.” In addition to a head start, the animal is allowed six seconds after the run to make sure the tie is secured; should the calf kick free, the contestant is saddled with a no time. He’ll hope for the best case scenario in Saturday’s 10th go-round when he makes the final run of the 2013 campaign. “I hope I draw a good calf and win some money,” Jarrett said, noting that he had moved to eighth in the all-important average race after Ohl suffered a 29.5-second run in the ninth round. “It would be great to get two checks (in the round and the average) from the 10th round.”

1. (tie) J.W. Harris, on Wild Card Rodeo’s Little Shyster, and Trevor Kastner, on D&H Cattle’s Fire Show, 87.5 points, 3. Steve Woolsey, 82, $11,118; 4. Cole Echols, 80, $7;813; 5. Cody Teel, 77.5, $7,808; 6. Tyler willis, $76, $3,005.

With his share of the ninth-round win, J.W. Harris clinched the bull riding world championship on Friday night. It’s his fourth gold buckle.

LAS VEGAS – With one round remaining in the 2013 ProRodeo season, Caleb Bennett has a major league plan for Saturday’s final go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I’m approaching Round 10 with a go-round win on my mind,” said Bennett, a two-time NFR qualifier from Morgan, Utah. “I want to go out with a bang, be 90 points and win the round.” It would be a great way to conclude a great week and a half at ProRodeo’s grand finale. Through nine nights, he has pocketed more than $47,500, $1,002 of which came Friday night when the Utah cowboy rode Three Hills Rodeo’s Cherries N Cream for 79.5 points to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place. “I just told myself, ‘Go with the mindset of wanting to be 90 and win the round, then see what happens,’ ” he said. “We’ll see where it can push me in the average and how far it can push me in the world. Either way, I’m pretty happy with the way this week’s went.” He should be. Bennett has a nine-ride cumulative score of 719.5 seconds and is fourth in the average race. Should he stay in that position through the end of the NFR, he’ll pocket a $22,536 bonus. If he moves to third in the average, the payout is $30,649. On Friday, he expected a little different bucking trip from Cherries N Cream. “I got on that horse here last year, and she’s supposed to be a little more than she was,” Bennett said. “I made sure I got a good hold of her (with his spurs), then it just took me three or four jumps to get them really going. “That little horse felt good, but she was just not quite as powerful. I was ready for a little more power. I guess it got me money.” That matters. In rodeo, money equals points, and the contestants in each event with the most money won through Saturday’s finale will be crowned world champions. While Bennett won’t claim this year’s gold buckle, he has moved from 15th to seventh and has a great opportunity to move up the money list Saturday night. “That 10th round gets us excited,” said Bennett, who has placed in six of nine rounds so far. “It’s the pen of horses that puts you on the edge of your seat because it’s so good watching. It’s fun to watch, and it’s fun to ride in.” Yes, it is.

1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.65 seconds, $18,630; 2. Mary Walker, 13.82, $14,724; 3. (tie) Sherry Cervi and Trula Churchill, 13.89 $9,465 each; 5. Jane Melby, 13.95, $4,808; 6. Shada Brazile, 13.98, $3,005.

1. Cody Wright on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Vitalix Sacred Sacrifice, 81 points, $18,630; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 79, $14,724; 3. Sterling Crawley, 75.5, $11,118; 4. Chad Ferley, 75, $7,813; 5. Taos Muncy, 74.5, $4,808; 6. Wade Sundell, 73.5, $3,005.

1. Shane Hanchey, 7.4 seconds, $18,630; 2. Sterling Smith, 7.6, $14,724; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 7.8, $11,118; 4. Clif Cooper, 8.0, $7,813; 5. Trevor Brazile, 8.1, $4,808; 6. Timber Moore, 8.4, $3,005.

1. Kaleb Driggers/Travis Graves, 3.6 seconds, $18,630; 2. Turtle Powell/Duggan Kelly, 4.2, $14,724; 3. Colby Lovell Martin Lucero, 4.3, $11,118; 4. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 4.6, $7,813; 5. (tie) Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz and Nick Sartain/Rich Skelton, 4.7, $3,906 each.

1. Stan Branco, 3.5 seconds, $18,630; 2. Bray Armes, 3.6, $14,724; 3. (tie) Dean Gorsuch, Luke Branquinho, Dakota Eldridge and Hunter Cure, 3.7, $6,686 each.

1.Ryan Gray on J Bar J’s Smack Daddy, 85.5, $18,630; 2. Steven Dent, 84.5, $14,724; 3. Steven Peebles, 81.5, $11,118; 4. (tie) J.R. Vezain and Wes Stevenson, 80.5, $6,310 each; 6. Bobby Mote, Caleb Bennett and Jared Smith, 79.5 $1,002 each.

LAS VEGAS – Chet Johnson is having a roller coaster ride through the rigors of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The ride hasn’t been much fun. Through eight go-rounds, Johnson has ridden just 50 percent of his broncs. When he lasted the full eight seconds, he placed, but he was at the bottom of the go-round pay scale – the NFR pays for just the top six places each night, and the Sheridan, Wyo., cowboy finished sixth in the first, second, third and eighth go-rounds. On Thursday night, he matched moves with Big Stone, Moreno & Growney’s Big Muddy for 78.5 points, sharing sixth place with Texan Bradley Harter; each cowboy pocketed $1,502. With just two nights remaining in the 2013 ProRodeo season, Johnson has earned $8,514. Heading into the championship, Johnson – and every other cowboy competing in the City of Lights – had big dreams for the sport’s most lucrative 10 days. Go-round winners earn $18,630, and some have scored quite well. Fellow bronc rider Jake Wright of Utah has earned more than $87,000. Still, there is more than $120,000 available over the final two NFR go-rounds, and Johnson found some much needed confidence in his eighth-round ride. In fact, the Wyoming cowboy will be matched in the ninth round on the bronc Kid Rock, a talented bucking beast from the Brookman-Hyland Rodeo Co. Johnson will have a quality shot at big time cash, and he’s ready to capitalize on the opportunity.

LAS VEGAS – Heading into Thursday night, tie-down roper Ryan Jarrett wasn’t too excited about his performance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It’s funny how quickly things change. Jarrett posted a 6.7-second run to win the eighth go-round, pocketing another $18,630 – his biggest paycheck in Las Vegas so far. In fact, the time set a new NFR record for Round 8, bettering a 6.9 that was established 12 years ago by eight-time world champion Fred Whitfield. “I knew that calf was off the pace, so I gave her a little bit more of a head start than I had been, and it worked out great,” said Jarrett, who pushed his NFR earnings to $56,040. “The last three rounds ain’t been great, but tonight’s kinda made up for it.” Yes, it did. Jarrett has moved from 13th to fifth in the tie-down roping world standings, having earned nearly $119,000. “Until 2010, I never won a round in calf roping here,” said Jarrett, the 2005 all-around world champion from Comanche, Okla. The reason for that? Jarrett has focused his attention on placing in the go-rounds and collecting cash. He earned a share of the fourth-round title, then won it outright Thursday. “I don’t make it to the South Point a whole lot,” he said, referring to the nightly Montana Silversmiths Go-Round Buckle Presentation that takes place nightly at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa. He may be making more. Jarrett is 10th in the average with an eight-round cumulative time of 87.2 seconds. He knows the best way for him to make more money over the final two nights of the 2013 season is to place high in the rounds. “I just worry about what I can do and just focus on that,” Jarrett said. “I thought I was doing all right the first five rounds, and I won pretty decent, and then it just went downhill. Maybe the next two rounds will be as good as the eighth round.”

LAS VEGAS – When Hunter Cure first watched his horse in action, Charlie was a hazing horse. Cure purchased the 14-year-old gelding earlier this year and transitioned him to the other side of the timed-event chute, where, now as a steer wrestling mount, Charlie has guided Cure to $63,201 in just eight nights in Las Vegas. “When I turned that horse around (in the chute), he hit the corner and was locked in,” said Cure, who won the eighth go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Thursday with a 3.8-second run. “I knew … he was going to leave flat and give me across the line in a good spot.” Charlie did his job well. “I knew that was a good steer, but I had to get a (good) start,” Cure said. “My horse is getting better (in the timed-event chute) as the week has gone on. He stood sharp tonight and let me get the start, and (the steer) was good after that.” Thursday’s run marked Cure’s second go-round victory this week. He also won Monday’s fifth round, which featured the same pen of steers, considered the “strong” pen by the bulldoggers. “It not only helps us financially, but mentally as well,” said Cure, who moved to fourth in the world standings with $128,208 – he’s only about $14,000 behind the leader, Reeves. Cure, who also qualified for the NFR in 2009, is fourth in the average race with an eight-run cumulative time of 45.5 seconds, while Reeves sits seventh – he fell in the aggregate standings after suffering a no time Thursday. “Having two go-round wins (after) not having won hardly any money in ’09, it’s certainly a confidence-builder,” he said. “I want to continue pushing for the next two rounds and see how well it turns out.” What is different from four seasons ago? “I feel like I’m physically a little bit stronger by working out,” he said. “I’m more mentally prepared coming into this one. I knew what to expect. The mistakes I might’ve made in preparation the first time, I didn’t want to make those again. I feel like this is the fruit for the labor.” Cure’s work has paid off, but so has the effort produced by his hazer, Riley Duvall, who is compensated for his work by receiving a percentage of the bulldogger’s earnings. At this year’s NFR, Duvall has scored $7,900 from Cure. “He’s earned every penny of it,” cure said. “I’ll get him paid before he leaves here. I’m so thankful for it.”

1. Cody Teel on JK Rodeo’s Pale Face, 78.5 points, $18,630; 2. Josh Koschel, 70, $14,724; 3. Parker Breding, 68, $11,118; no other qualified rides.

1. Sherry Cervi, 13.71 seconds, $18,630; 2. Jane Melby, 13.77, $14,724; 3. Shada Brazile, 13.80, $11,118; 4. Michele McLeod, 13.84, $7,813; 5. Christy Loflin, 13.89, $4,808; 6. Kaley Bass, 14.01, $3,005.