FORT WORTH, Texas --- With just ten performances left at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, contestants are pushing their limits in hopes of being among the final round qualifiers on Sunday.
That was never more evident than at both performances of the rodeo on Tuesday. During the matinee performance, Garrett Tonozzi from Fruita, Colo., and Kinney Harrell from Marshall, Texas, stopped the clock in 4.7 seconds to take the lead in the first round of competition. They came back at the evening performance and were going for broke but came up empty.
“We rope for first place every time we back in the box,” Tonozzi said. “It’s our style and it’s how most of the guys out here compete. Sometimes it doesn’t go our way and that’s what happened tonight. That first round check will still come in handy.”
In the tie-down roping it was more bad luck for Ace Slone from Cuero, Texas, who missed his calf. Slone tied for first in the first round with Justin Maass to win $5,152. That more than doubled Slone’s 2010 earnings and he was hoping to add even more to it. Slone is a student at Texas A & M University and has qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) for the past two years. He set a goal of winning the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year title and is hoping to make the trip back to Casper, Wyo., and win a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association title as well. Prior to the Fort Worth Rodeo, he lead the rookie standings with $4,556.
There was a steer wrestler that did move into the top 12. Alex Robertson, from Bend, Ore., had a 3.9 second run in the first round, tied for sixth place and earned over $800. He came back on Tuesday with a 5.0, which won’t get him any money but will hopefully advance him to the finals. He is currently tied for fifth place with 8.8 seconds.
Kay Blandford made a move in the women’s barrel race aboard her mare Angel. She is the third woman to be under 17 seconds at 16.99. It was an especially rewarding run for her as Angel is just coming back from injuries. A year ago, she broke her coffin bone and Blandford has been giving her tender loving care and plenty of rehab but was not sure what the outcome would be. She has been swimming her regularly to get her into shape and with her run tonight gained the confidence that Angel is back to prime form and has the desire to run.
Saddle bronc riding saw Cody Martin, from Eagle, Colo., make his return to the competition arena. Two years ago, the 2002 College National Finals Rodeo champion saddle bronc rider had a stable job in Wal-Mart’s home office, and was planning on competing a bit here and there. After suffering a devastating shoulder injury and being side-lined from rodeo action all of 2007 and 2008, the Arkansas cowboy decided it was time to concentrate on a career outside the arena.
“I told myself after I got hurt and took that great job, that I would just throw myself into my career until, or if, the craving to ride came back,” said Martin.
That is exactly what he did until a chance meeting early in 2009 with Kelly Gray brought back the craving to ride, along with a rekindled romance. The two had been college rodeo team mates at the University of Tennessee – Martin.
. Kelly was from Eagle, Colo. Cody moved there to be closer to her and started riding bucking horses again. Unfortunately, a groin injury put him back on the disabled list through the end of 2009. Newly married, injured, and jobless, the former Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier needed something to do.
“I had just moved, gotten married and was now hurt and jobless,” said Martin. “Kelly hooked me up with the company she worked for and now that job has turned into a sponsor.”
Teletech, a world-wide telecommunications company, gave Martin a sales job while he was healing. Today the company is not just his employer, but also his sponsor. This allows Cody and Kelly to travel down the road together, working and competing.
“It’s the best-of- both worlds, my wife and I can rodeo, work with our clients, and look for potential customers on the road,” said Martin.
The beginning of 2010 is the comeback for Martin. Ironically his new bride Kelly, who is a barrel racer and roper is now sidelined after a much needed knee surgery, but will be back in the saddle and traveling with Cody starting this spring.
“She is working with our Fort Worth customers while we are here and I believe all thirty of them showed up to support me tonight,” said Martin.
Currently Martin is splitting the tenth position after posting Tuesday night’s high mark ride of 80 points on Western Trails Rodeo horse Moonshine. Cody is crossing his fingers that he will stay in the top twelve over the next ten performances and return for the final round Feb., 7th.
There are two performances of the Worlds Original Indoor Rodeo on Wednesday, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
FORT WORTH. --- The following are results from the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo presented by the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, Tuesday, Feb., 2, 2010. Results are updated daily and available at fwssr.com
19th Performance --
Bareback Riding: 1, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 82 points on Western Rodeos’ Lone Wolf. 2, Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 80. 3, Jared Smith, Williston, Fla., 77. 4, Zach Dishman, Beaumont, Texas, 76.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Travis Carnine, Moro, Ore., 4.0 seconds. 2, Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, 4.1. 3, Weston Taylor, Goodwell, Okla., 4.6. 4, Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 5.0.
Team Roping: 1, Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo., and Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas, 4.7 seconds. 2, Cody Graham, Everton, Colo., and Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 5.3. 3, Larry Cox, Weatherford, Texas, and Troll Tettenhorst, Jacksonville, Texas, 5.4. 4, Jake Cooper and Jim Ross Cooper, both from Stephenville, Texas, 6.4.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Cody Horwedel, Stephenville, Texas, 80 points on Western Rodeos’ Red Timber. 2, Tyler West, Fort Scott, Kan., 78. 3, (tie) Cody Martin, Eagle, Colo., and Seth Glause, Rock Springs, Wyo., 77 each.
Tie-Down Roping: (three qualified times) 1, Seth Childers, Cameron, Texas, 9.3 seconds. 2, Cade Swor, Crafton, Texas, 10.7. 3, Beau Marshall, Truth or Consequences, N.M., 12.0.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kelly Allen, Stephenville, Texas, 17.22. 2, Kelly Maben, Spur, Texas. 3, Amanda Welsh, Cedar City, Utah, 17.32. 4, Kelsey Hildebrand, Bluejacket, Okla., 17.51.
Bull Riding: (three qualified rides) 1, B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Minn., 83 points on Western Rodeos’ Hot Cakes. 2, Nate Perry, Elk City, Okla., 71. 3, Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 70.
20th Performance --
Bareback Riding: 1, Nathan Bayes, Adrian, Ore., 79 points on Western Trails Rodeo’s Mary Jane. 2, Jared Smith, Williston, Fla., 78. 3, Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 75.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Alex Robertson, Bend, Ore., 5.0 seconds. 2, Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 5.1. 3, Ethan Thouvenell, Fallbrook, Calif., 5.4. 4, John Martin, Huntsville, Texas, 6.0.
Team Roping: 1, (two qualified times) Cody Graham, Everton, Colo., and Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 5.7 seconds. 2, Jake Cooper and Jim Ross Cooper, both from Stephenville, Texas, 14.8.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Cody Martin, Eagle, Colo., 80 points on Western Trails Rodeo’s Moonshine. 2, Bryce Miller, Buffalo, S.D., 74. 3, Seth Glause, Rock Springs, Wyo., 73. 4, Tyler West, Fort Scott, Kan., 72.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Skyler Moore, Mount Vernon, MO., 12.9 seconds. 2, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 13.0. 3, Marty jones, Hobbs, N.M., 14.7. 4, Richard Godare, Sulphur, La., 15.2.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 16.99 seconds. 2, Jymmy Kay Davis, Gonzales, Texas, 17.34. 3, Karrie Hudson, Fort Ogden, Fla., 17.37. 4, Rachael Ross, Murrieta, Calif., 17.44.
Bull Riding: (One qualified ride) 1, Souli Shankin, Rocksprings, Texas, 84 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Rock Kandy.
The following are current leaders --
Bareback Riding: (First round) 1, Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 85 points on Andrews Rodeo Company’s horse Vodka. 2,; (tie) Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, and Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 83. 4, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 82. 5, (tie) Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash.; Josi Young, Kimberly, Idaho; Brian Leddy, Roll, Okla.; and Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta; 81. (Second round) 1, Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 87 points on Rafter G’s 516. 2, Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif., 84. 3 (tie) Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho; Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore.; and Jeremy Mouton, Scott, La.; 83. 6, Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 82. (Third round) 1, Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 85 points on Vold Rodeo Company’s Spice Mix. 2 (tie), Havens and Feild, 83 each. 4, Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 82. 5 (tie), Bee Jay Scott, Otely, IA., Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, and Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 81.(Total on three) 1 (tie), Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, and Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo. 249. 3, Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 246. 4, (tie) Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., and Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 242. 6, Jeremy Mouton, Scott, La., 240.
Steer Wrestling: (Second round) 1, Joe Walker, Springtown, Texas, 3.4 seconds. 2, Olin Hannum, West Haven, Utah, 3.5. 3, Joey Bell Jr., Malakoff, Texas, 3.8. 4, Jason Tapley, Greenbriar, Ark., 3.9. 5, Travis Carnine, Moro, Ore., 4.0. 6, (tie), Brent Arnold, Coleman, Texas; Dru Melvin, Petrolia, Texas; and Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, 4.1(Total on two) 1, Hannum, 8.1 seconds. 2, Myers, 8.2. 3, Pace, 8.3. 4, Justin Davis, Bartonville, Texas, 8.5. 5, Bell, 8.9. 6, T.J. Bohlender, Canyon, Texas, 9.1. 7,(tie) Todd Woodward, Lethbridge, Alberta, and Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 9.6. 9, Beau Clark, Athens, Texas, and Johnson, 10.1. 11, Kyle Callaway, Gillette, Wyo., 10.3. 12, Melvin, 10.5.
Team Roping: (First round) 1, , Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo., and Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas, 4.7 seconds. 2, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 5.0 seconds. 3, Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.2. 4, Cody Graham, Everton, Colo., and Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 5.3. 5, Larry Cox, Weatherford, Texas, and Troll Tettenhorst, Jacksonville, Texas, 5.4. 6, Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., and Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas, 5.5. 7, Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont., and Bobby Harris, Highmore, S.D., 5.6. 8,(tie) Aaron Tsinigine, Winslow, Ariz., and Brock Hanson, Casa Grande, Ariz.; Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla., and Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla.; and Luke Kropik, Midway, Texas, and Shiloh Seale, Georgetown, Texas; 5.8 (Second round) 1,(tie) Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont.; and David Key, Stephenville, Texas, and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; and Kevin Stewart, Glen Rose, Texas and Brett McDowell, Stephenville, Texas; 4.5. 4 (tie), Drew Horner, Plano, Texas and Trey Norris, III, Yantis, Texas; and Joel Bach, Millsap, Texas and Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas; , 5.0. 6, Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., and Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas, 5.1.(Total on two) 1, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 10.3. 2, Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 10.4. 3, Sherwood and Bach, 10.6. 4, Williams and Harris, 10.8. 5, Graham and Gwaltney, 11.0. 6, Bach and Eaves, 11.1. 7, Sartain and VonAhn, 11.2. 8, Dusty Forre, Newman Grove, Neb., and Troy Hermelbracht, Homer, Neb., 15.5.
Saddle Bronc Riding: (First round) 1, Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 86 points on Sammy Andrews’ Sun Dog. 2, Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., 84. 3, Louie Brunson, Interior, S.D., 83. 4, (tie) Shane Moran, Great Falls, Mont.; Jake Wright, Hurricane, Utah; Dean Wadsworth, Ozona, Texas; and Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D.; 82. 8, Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 81. (Second round) 1, Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., 87 points on Western Rodeos’ Shallow Dancer. 2, Stroh, 85. 3, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 83. 4, (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah; Alex Wright, Hagerman, Idaho; Allen; and Aaron Lide, Odessa, Texas, 82. 8, Tate Owens, Platteville, Colo., 81. (Total on two) 1, Stroh, 169. 2, Allen, 168. 3, (tie) Kruse and Cody Wright, 162 each. 5, MacKenzie, 161. 6 (tie), Jake Wright, J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., and Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 159.
Tie-Down Roping: (Second round) 1, Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.6 seconds. 2, Randall Carlisle, Lipan, Texas, 7.9. 3, Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 8.0. 4, Matt Shiozawa, Chubbock, Idaho, 8.3. 5, J.D. Kibbe, Portales, N.M., 8.4. 6, (tie) Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, and Caddo Lewallen, Morrison, Okla., 9.0. 8, Zeb Chapman, Lafayette, Ga., 9.2. (Total on two) 1, Kormos, 18.2. 2, (tie) Lewallen, and Shane Hanchey, 18.6. 4, (tie) Burk, and Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 18.7. 6, Cooper, 19.1. 7, Cody Owens, Rankin, Texas, 19.2. 8, Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas, 19.6. 9, Kolby Ungeheuer, Columbus, Kan., 20.1. 10, Ryan Watkins, Dublin, Texas, 20.2.
Women’s Barrel Race: (First round) 1, Sherrylynn Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., 16.95 seconds. 2, Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 16.98. 3, Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 16.99. 4, Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., 17.01. 5, Lacy Wilson, Artesia, N.M., 17.14. 6, Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 17.18. 7, Mary Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 17.19. 8, Christy Fullen, Fredericksburg, Texas, 17.20. 9, (tie) Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, and Kelly Allen, Stephenville, Texas, 17.22.
Bull Riding: (First round) 1, Brandin Sartin, Zachary, La., 87 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Get Smart. 2, B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Minn., 83 points on Western Rodeos’ Hot Cakes. 3, Thad Newell, Muskogee, Okla., 81. 3, Taylor Cowan, Ft. Pierre, S.D., 80. 4, Douglas Duncan, Alvin, Texas, 79. 5 (tie), Lucas Guilbeau, Mt Pleasant, Texas, and Jordon Hooten, Daingerfield, Texas, 78. 8, Spud Jones, Tohatchi, N.M., 77. (Second round) 1, Dave Samsel, Stephenville, Texas, 87 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cross Roads. 2 (tie), Cory Atwell, Moravian Falls, N.C., and Beau Schroeder, Beaumont, Texas, 86. 4, Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, 85. 5, (tie) Luke Haught, Weatherford, Texas, and Souli Shankin, Rocksprings, Texas, 84. 7, (tie), Trent Cormier, Houma, La., and Ross Burney, Coffeyville, Miss., 82. (Total on two) 1, Samsel, 161. 2, Lucas Guilbeau, Mount Pleasant, Texas, 159. 3, Silcox, 158. 4, Duncan, 155. 5, Trent Cormier, Houma, La., 151. (On one) 6, Brandon Sartin, Zachary, La., 87.
