ODESSA, Texas - It was good and bad for a couple of Odessa College rodeo team alumni.
Bareback rider Ryan Gray of Cheney, Wash., had the best score of the night, matching moves with the Harry Vold Rodeo Co. bronc Dust Devil for 84 points.
But Ty Elliott of Vernon, British Columbia, wasn’t able to stay on Fu Boo for more than two seconds, watching his entry-fee money and his travel expenses go away as he hit the turf during Saturday’s second performance of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum.
Gray, who earned his associates degree in business management before transferring to Texas Tech, is a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. He hopes to use his earnings in his old stomping grounds to propel him to his fifth trip to ProRodeo’s grand finale, which takes place every December in Las Vegas.
But the rodeo road winds considerably between now and then, and he has to compete against rank bucking horses and talented hands, like traveling partner Bobby Mote of Culver, Wash., a two-time bareback-riding champ.
Just three weeks ago at the NFR, Gray spurred the best horses in the business to more than $88,000, a pretty good run at the 10-round championship. Mote, who won world titles in 2002 and 2007, spurred the Vold horse Bear Sign for 79 points.
The rodeo will take a few days off before performances begin again at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - Second performance, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009
SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo
Bareback riding: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 84 points on the Harry Vold Rodeo Co. bronc Dust Devil; 2. Tigh Anderberg, Mobridge, S.D., 80; 3. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., and Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 79. Leaders: 1. Gray, 84; 2. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 82; 4. Anderberg, 80; 4. Mote, Bain and Gunderson, 79.
Steer Wrestling: 1. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 4.9 seconds; 2. Russell Cordoza, Farmington, Calif., 5.8; 3. Bryce Segotta, Raton, N.M., 6.2; 4. Termaine Debose, 14.7; no other qualified times. Leaders: 1. Spud Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.0; 2. Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6; 3. Gabe Taylor, Valentine, Neb., 4.7; 4. Rinehart and Mike Dickey, Caldwell, Texas, 4.9.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, Mont., 83 on Vold’s Little Bear; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82; 3. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 78; 4. Reed Austin Hunsucker, Vaughn, Mont, 73; 5. Todd Herzog, Penhold, Alberta, and Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 71. Leaders: 1. Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 85; 2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 84; 3. Smith, 83; 4. Cody DeMoss and Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 82.
Tie-down roping: 1. Travis Lewis, Lubbock, Texas, 10.1 seconds; 2. Michael Otero, Foley, Ala., 11.0; 3. Dennis Luetge, Hempstead, Texas, 13.5; 4. Marvin Tavarez Jr., 33.0. Leaders: 1. Miles Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 9.0 seconds; 2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 9.2; 3. Lewis, 10.1; 4. Otero, 11.0; 5. Coby Wood, Big Spring, Texas, 11.6.
Barrel racing: 1. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.23 seconds; 2. Tara Lee Woodall, Merkel, Texaas, 14.80; 3. Edi Williams, Wellington, Texas, 14.98; 4. Krista Irlbeck, Happy, Texas, 15.24; 5. Claire Powell, Eldorado, Texas, 15.50. Leaders: 1. Bean, 14.23; 2. Cassie Moseley, Farwell, Texas, 14.45 seconds; 2. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.52; 3. Adelita Tyson, Stephenville, Texas, 14.73; 4. Woodall, 14.80; 5. Williams, 14.98.
Bull riding: 1. Thomas Bert, Modesto, Calif., 80 points on Jim Kinney Rodeo’s Bobby Brown; 2. Clay Hindeman, Belvidere, S.D., 78; 3. Nathan Klassen, Wagoner, Okla., (Given a reride; score not provided; reride didn’t happen). Leaders: 1. Bert and Sean Case, Riverside, Calif., 80; 3. Hindeman; Robey Condra, 4. Dayton, Texas, 63.
Learn more and for completeschedue of activities go to www.sandhillsstockshowandrodeo.com
