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Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association National Finals in Las Vegas
was another success for some cowboys and cowgirls, and
a disappointment to others.
Too bad everyone can’t win a World
Championship, but that is why it is so elusive.
It is “the best of the best” and the
competition in 2003 was as difficult as it has ever
been. Everyone
competing at the National Finals accomplished a fete
few people can boast.
My hat is off to all 120 competitors, including
the steer ropers, who held their finals earlier.
As
far as the cowboys and cowgirls of yesteryear, they
attended the Finals in great numbers.
Although they did not have to worry about their
horse or horses getting the proper care, or have to
check and make sure their equipment was in top shape
this year as they did in ‘the good old days’.
they were there to support this generation of
competitors. One
senior left his home in Scottsdale< Arizona,
in his pickup, which ‘gave out’ near
Kingman, and had to be towed in to town, where he
hired a taxi to drive him to Las Vegas.
Now that’s determination.
The oldsters visiting and renewing friendships
from years past, filled hotels up and down the Strip,
the trade shows, and the Gold Card Room. In case you don’t know, The Gold Card Room is the exclusive
home of anyone holding a Gold Card in the PRCA.
To have a Gold Card, which is quite an honor, a cowboy has to have competed in PRCA for twenty years,
or if they are over fifty years of age and
competed for ten years they are eligible.
The Gold Card Room is housed on the lower level
of Thomas & Mack Arena and is a gathering place
for the Gold Card members and their guests before and
after each rodeo performance.
Some familiar faces were missing from this
year’s event due to illness and even death, but
‘new’ old-timers arrived, which makes the circle
of life. May
the past, present and future of rodeo only improve
with time!
BOOK
REVIEWS: THE CB
COWBOYS, THE SAGA OF THE LEGENDARY CHRISTENSEN FAMILY by
Billy Wilcoxson has just been published by Sunbelt
Eakin Press of Austin, Texas.
The book is the history of the Christensen
family as told by Bob Christensen, age 90, one of the
two brothers that were premier stock contractors in
the northwest for many years.
The brothers and their top stock are well known
in rodeo circles, but the story of the family is not
as well known and is a great read.
Rodeo often consumes a family, as it did the
Christensen clan.
The excitement, disappointments and unexpected
are well worth reading.
Book sells for $27.00 plus $3.00 shipping and
handling = $30.00.
To purchase contact: Vicki Felder, P O Box 535,
Aztec, NM 87410 or e-mail:
vicki@frontierbuckles.com.
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE HORSE LOVER’S SOUL, INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
ABOUT HORSES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEN, written
by a variety of authors.
Although the stories are brief, they bring
tears to your eye, a chuckle now and then, and a
wealth of knowledge and information from people who
know the horse. The
interaction between man and horse can often amaze us
and each account is a testimony that communication and
affection between the two can be shown in many ways.
Check your local bookstore for this ‘must’
in your library.
The
Rodeo Clown Reunion is being held May 6, 7 & 8th
in Stephenville, Texas, during their annual Cowboy
Capitol PRCA rodeo.
The every-other-year event is a gathering for
the rodeo clowns, bullfighters and barrelmen of
yesteryear. They
community will honor them by entertaining them with
various local activities and the Honorees don their
familiar costumes and make-up and sign autographs and
enjoy visiting with fans prior to each performance.
This unique visual phenomena has never been
held in Texas and it is bound to be an outstanding
memorable occasion.
Anyone interested in attending or covering this
venue should contact Gail Woerner, 512-266-1001 or via
e-mail: rodeogal@airmail.net.
COWBOY
OF YESTERYEAR: BART CLENNON, If you want to talk about broncs from the past, there
is no one more knowledgeable than this 94 year old
saddle bronc rider.
He kept a journal with all the broncs of his
era which spanned three decades.
He won the saddle bronc event in 1945 at
Madison Square Garden plus 32 other bronc riding
events during the ‘40s.
Clennon was born in Aberdeen, SD, in 1910.
By the age of 14 he had a reputation of being
able to handle broncs.
His first competition was a Post’s Trading
Post, near Ash Creek, SD, in 1928.
His first major rodeo was in Belle Fourche in
1931 and from there he traveled the country.
For several years the roughstock rider worked
with a wild west show and rode 30 to 40 broncs a week
which allowed him to hone his skill.
Clennon was a natural bronc rider.
He thinks Hells Angels, Home Brew, and Lee
Rider were
three of the best broncs he ever rode.
In 1936 when the Cowboy Turtles struck at
Boston Gardens, Clennon was one of the original 61
signers of the petition.
He had Turtle # 418 until they revamped the
system. Injury
finally kept him from continuing his career.
“I never retired,” said the gent with bent
legs, a shock of white hair and a twinkle in his eye,
“I just quit.”
He continued to judge roughstock events for
some time. In
1950 Clennon broke his neck while competing in
Colorado Springs.
Casey Tibbs, his competitor and good friend,
said, “Hey Bart, we can win first and second next
year.” But
Clennon knew he had a serious injury and his saddle
bronc career came to an abrupt end.
Although he would not allow the doctors to put
him in a cast, as he had a job offer to work in the
hay fields which he refused to give up, he now thinks
he should have listened to the doctors.
“My neck would swell every night, just like a
big egg, but we got the haying done - every day for
100 days.” Today
Clennon lives in Tucson, Arizona, and loves nothing
better than to discuss the rodeo memories he has, and
especially the broncs, he and his friends rode and
tried to ride. Clennon
was inducted in to the National Cowboy & Western
Heritage Hall of Fame in 1996. Bart Clennon, one tough cowboy!
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