Arena record pushes Downare to All American ProRodeo Finals title
WACO, Texas – Bareback rider Micky Downare called the 2010 “the best season I’ve had in my life,” and he found a great way to add the finishing touch.
The Hartsel, Colo., cowboy won the semifinal round before proceeding to set an arena record with a 91-point ride on Lancaster and Pickett’s Top Flight to win the four-man final round at the All American ProRodeo Finals, presented by Pendleton Whisky, at the Extraco Events Center.
Downare earned $9,000 on the night and $13,634 for the week (which does not count toward the PRCA World Standings), and he was wearing an ever-present smile as he talked with media about his explosive ride which broke the record of 89 points shared by Dave Worsfold (2008), Steven Peebles (2009) and Clint Cannon (2009).
“It felt phenomenal,” said Downare, who won the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo back in February. “I wasn’t really expecting that; I’d never even seen the horse before. Everybody told me he was going to do it, but not knowing a horse, you don’t know what’s going to happen.
“It was a good (first) jump. It really set me up, and when I felt the altitude, he bailed out of there. When he did that, I let him fly. It worked really well.”
The win in Waco has Downare excited about the 2011 season.
“It feels good,” Downare said. “I’m all ready to roll again. I don’t want to slow down.”
As Downare celebrated one of the biggest victories of his career, tie-down roper Scott Kormos won his second major event at the Extraco Events Center this calendar year. Kormos, who won the Dodge Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo back in January, tied Hunter Herrin’s mark of 7.5 seconds in the semifinals and then broke the arena record Saturday night with a 7.2-second run to win the All American title.
The $9,000 won Saturday night by Kormos pushed his total earnings to $15,488, the highest total in the 209-contestant field.
Kormos, who hails from local Teague, Texas, said Waco is one of his top rodeo destinations all year.
“For me, personally, this is as good as it can get,” Kormos said. “I come 40 miles from the house, have all my friends and family here and they can come every night and watch me rope.”
Kormos started his run in the four-man round knowing he needed to beat 7.9 seconds, which had been recorded by both Tyson Durfey and Hunter Herrin, and he knew he had a good shot at it when he found out about his draw.
“You know, I’ve seen that calf go two or three times this week,” Kormos said. “She wants to come to the right, which is great for a calf roper. She came right in front of me, so I could rope her fast. I’ve wanted to run that calf all week, and I got a chance in the final four.”
Kormos rode Trevor Thiel’s horse, Munster, in Waco. Thiel finished third in the semifinals to advance to the final round, as well.
“Man, he’s an outstanding horse,” Kormos said. “He’s as good a horse as you can get on. He’s consistent, he’s easy to rope on, and when you back in there, you don’t have to worry about what he’s going to do. He does his job every time, and you just have to go rope.”
After Tommy Edens and Justin Hendrick set an arena record with a 4.6-second run in the semifinals, the first-year team of Casper May of Pryor, Okla., and PRCA permit holder Derrick Peterson of Stillwell, Kan., won the team roping’s final round with a 5.4-second run. The Northwestern Oklahoma State University students walked away with $11,449 each.
Cort Scheer won the saddle bronc riding to add another victory in what has been a career year. He won the semifinal and final rounds, the latter of which came with an 85-point ride on Rafter G’s Black Bart. Scheer won $15,178 in Waco.
Bull rider Tag Elliott was the lone rider to post a qualified ride in the semifinals, then posted an 88-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s Red Onion to win the title. The Thatcher, Utah, cowboy won $13,325 in Waco.
Steer wrestler Tommy Cook posted back-to-back 4.1-second runs in the semifinals and finals to come away with the All American title. Cook tied Wade Steffen in the finals to split the go-round money, but he won the championship tiebreaker and a total of $9,971.
Cook’s 3.2-second run in during the fifth performance was one-tenth of a second faster than the previous arena record, which was set by Cale Emmett in 2008 and equaled a year later by Ryan Mims.
In addition to the money they earned, all of the champions also got saddles from Cactus Saddlery, buckles from Montana Silversmiths and a bottle of Pendleton Whisky.
Complete round-by-round results are available on www.prorodeo.com.
Big Tex, Painted Valley, After Party voted top PRCA bucking stock
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Big Tex, the Classic Pro Rodeo gelding who took Tilden Hooper to a share of the world record with a 94-point ride this year and holds a share of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo arena record, has been voted the PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year over Moulin Rouge.
“This is a fantastic horse and has been for a long time,” Hooper said. “He’s always special. That day, with me, he was more special than he’s ever been. I did feel like I made a pretty good ride, but that day the horse was just phenomenal.”
Bobby Mote had a 91.5-point ride on Big Tex at the 2008 Wrangler NFR to tie the arena record, and this year, in addition to Hooper’s record ride in Silver City, N.M., Clint Cannon, Jerad Schlegel and George Gillespie IV have all ridden the bay for 90 points or more.
“It’s very seldom you will find a horse that is that big and that athletic,” said Scotty Lovelace, owner of Classic Pro Rodeo. “If you compared rodeo to football, Big Tex is like a lineman who is tremendously athletic.”
Harry Vold Rodeo Company’s Painted Valley, a 1,400-pound paint stallion, was voted the Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, and After Party, of the Silverado Rodeo string, was the Bull of the Year. After Party has never been ridden in 17 tries at PRCA rodeos. Judges have nine times awarded him a score of 24 points out of a possible 25.
2010 Bucking Stock of the Year
Bareback Horses- Big Tex, Classic Pro Rodeo
- Moulin Rouge, Growney Brothers
- Wonderland, Beutler & Son Rodeo
Saddle Broncs- Painted Valley, Harry Vold Rodeo Company
- Medicine Woman, Frontier Rodeo
- (tie) Kool Toddy, Big Bend Rodeo; and Let ‘Er Rip, Frontier Rodeo
Bulls- After Party, Silverado Rodeo
- Big Iron, Four L and Diamond S Rodeo
- King of Hearts, Corey & Horst Rodeo
A combined 48 years experience behind the microphone at Wrangler NFR
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Gold, silver and bronze. The announcing team selected for the 52nd Wrangler National Finals Rodeo isn’t just the most experienced group ever assembled for the task, but they are 1-2-3 in seniority.
ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Bob Tallman will be working his record 23rd Wrangler NFR from behind the microphone and will be joined by Boyd Polhamus in his 15th NFR (12th consecutive) and Randy Corley.
With his 10th appearance, Corley breaks the tie with ProRodeo Hall of Famer Cy Taillon for status as the third-longest serving NFR announcer.
Tallman, Polhamus and Corley are all among the finalists for the 2010 PRCA Announcer of the Year Award, along with Wayne Brooks, Mike Mathis and Andy Stewart.
Sunni Deb Backstrom of Congress, Ariz., will serve as the rodeo secretary for a record eighth time and the fifth in succession. Debi Davis of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., and Vickie Shireman of Elk City, Okla., will assist her.
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Contract Personnel
General Manager: Shawn Davis, Filer, Idaho
Assistant General Manager: Bennie Beutler, Elk City, Okla.
Announcers: Boyd Polhamus, Brenham, Texas; Bob Tallman, Poolville, Texas; and Randy Corley, Silverdale, Wash.
Secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom, Congress, Ariz.
Assistant Secretary: Debi Davis, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.
Office Manager: Vickie Shireman, Elk City, Okla.
Officials: George Gibbs, Maxwell, Iowa; Allan Jordan, Kingman, Ariz.; Butch Kirby, Stephenville, Texas; Steve Knowles, St. Cloud, Fla.; Joe Bob Locke, Delta, Mo.; Cliff Overstreet, Weatherford, Texas; Harry Rose, Madera, Calif.; Mike Todd, Round Rock, Texas; DeWitt Forrest, Sheridan, Ark.; Chuck Hoss, Goodwell, Okla.; Marty Jandreau, Kennebec, S.D.; Tom Miller, Red Owl, S.D.; and Lynn Smith, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Timers: Roberta Sankey, Joliet, Mont.; Dollie Riddle, Vernon, Texas; and Kathy McCloy, Ottumwa, Iowa
Roughstock Chute Boss: Darrell Barron, Paradise, Texas
Timed Event Chute boss: John Farris, Addington, Okla.
Livestock Superintendent: Ted Groene, Pahrump, Nev.
Assistant Livestock Superintendent: John Barnes, Sutherland, Iowa
Barrelman: Robbie Hodges, Cedartown, Ga.
Alternate Barrelman: Keith Isley, Goldston, N.C.
Bullfighters: Darrell Diefenbach, Azle, Texas; Dusty Tuckness, Meeteetse, Wyo.; and Kenny Bergeron, Iota, La.
Pick-up Men: Chase Cervi, Roggen, Colo.; and Gary Rempel, Fort Shaw, Mont.
Alternate Pick-up Man: Josh Edwards, Terrell, Texas.
Photographers: Mike Copeman, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta; Dan Hubbell, Casper, Wyo.; and Kerri Allardyce, Rapid City, S.D.
Specialty Acts: Tomas Garcilazo, Oak Hills, Calif.; Jerry Wayne Olson, Auburn, Neb.; Ryan Rodriguez, Phillipsburg, Kan.; and Shawn Brackett, Collinsville, Okla.
Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping Contract Personnel
Announcers: Charlie Throckmorton, Grandview, Texas; and Hadley Barrett, Kersey, Colo.
Secretary: Haley Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla.
Timers: Danna McFarland, Okeechobee, Fla.; and Kate Rumford, Abbyville, Kan.
Officials: Joe Bob Locke, Delta, Mo.; Chuck Hoss, Goodwell, Okla.; and Kelly Corbin, Pawhuska, Okla.
Chute boss: John Gwatney, Marquez, Texas
Floor boss: Dan Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla.
*Timed-event cattle provided by Rocky Garnett.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I got a concussion at Cheyenne (in July) and have been home since then. Before I left (for Waco), I told my mom, ‘I guess I’ll go see if I remember how to do this.’ I’ve got a good report for her now.”
— bull rider Jacob O’Mara, 19, after he won both rounds of Group B at the All American ProRodeo Finals in Waco, Texas. He ended up finishing second overall with total earnings of $11,487.
• Bach together … and looking for a world championship: After taking a year to focus on building his roping school business, four-time World Champion Allen Bach, 53, is returning to full-time competition in 2011 to make one last gold-buckle run with his 21-year-old son, Joel.
“That’s our goal,” Allen Bach said. “It’s the tail end of my career, and Joel has gotten to the point where he is among the best headers. This might be our last chance to see if we can win a world championship together, where we are both kind of at our best.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment based on the early returns. Bach and Bach were in top form over the Oct. 14-16 weekend, winning the Austin County Fair & Rodeo in Bellville, Texas, with a time of 4.1 seconds and finishing third in the Rusk County PRCA Rodeo in Henderson, Texas.
Their total earnings of $3,215 apiece would have put them in the top five in the 2011 world standings, but they unofficialed both rodeos as part of their long-term strategy.
Having cut way back on his schedule last year, Allen Bach finished just 58th in the world standings for team roping heelers, and he needs to build up cash between now and Jan. 1 so that he can be assured of qualifying for Houston and San Antonio.
All money earned – even the cash which does now show up in the world standings – is counted toward entry in those two biggest of the winter rodeos. By choosing not to count Bellville and Henderson now, the Bachs can get in more two-head rodeos later in the year to maximize their earning potential while keeping under the PRCA rodeo count of 70 for their event.
The Bachs roped together during the 2009 season – Joel’s second as a professional – and just missed making the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Allen Bach finished 18th in the world standings and Joel 22nd before splitting up so dad could work more on his business.
“I think it turned out great,” Allen Bach said. “(Joel) got a lot of great experience working with guys like Kory Koontz and Rich Skelton. He roped with five or six guys last year. He learned a lot. And my time away let me get rejuvenated a little bit.
“I’m getting my business in order so we can totally focus on this. I’ve got a small group of people to help me (set roping school schedules and billing).”
The Bachs worked in those two Texas rodeos over the weekend while Allen was also running a roping and life mentoring camp for men 35 and over in Graham, Texas, Oct. 11-15. Clay O’Brien Cooper, Koontz, David Key, Drew Horner and Trey Johnson helped with the coaching during the day. On Friday night, the Bachs drove to Henderson to compete, came back to Graham, and then went to rope at Bellville Saturday night.
No such complications exist this coming weekend, so father and son are widening their geographic reach. They are going to San Francisco for the Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show and to Kansas City for the America Royal Rodeo, the first Gold stop on the 2011 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.
• Smidt making his mark as permit holder: Caleb Smidt isn’t letting a little success at the professional level turn his head. Smidt, the College National Finals Rodeo all-around champion last year while at Wharton County (Texas) Junior College, has won $5,222 in the first three weeks of the 2011 season and yet is committed to staying on his PRCA permit for two more years. “I’m pretty excited about what I’ve been able to do (in rodeo),” said Smidt, 21, “but I plan to continue competing on my permit until I earn my agricultural business degree at Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Texas). I’ll buy my card when I finish school.” His all-around title at Henderson, Texas, this past weekend followed another at Seguin, Texas, where he also won the tie-down roping championship. Smidt, a header, also finished third in the team roping at the Oct. 14-16 Austin County Fair & Rodeo in Bellville, Texas, with partner Wade Clayton.
• Brazile watch: After winning the two-head average in the steer roping at Bellville, Texas, Oct. 14-16, Trevor Brazile is now in the Top 10 in the 2011 World Standings in all three of his disciplines – team roping heading (second), steer roping (fourth) and tie-down roping (seventh). Had he not unofficialed his third-place result in the tie-down roping at the Austin County Fair & Rodeo in Bellville, Brazile would be leading the tie-down roping standings and would be the first man to qualify for the 2011 all-around standings with prize money of at least $3,000 in at least two events.
Next Up (2011 rodeos)
Oct. 20 Trinity Valley Exposition Fair & Rodeo, Liberty, Texas, begins
Oct. 20 Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show, San Francisco, begins
Oct. 21 American Royal Rodeo (Wrangler Million Dollar Tour), Kansas City, begins
Rodeo News and Notes
100th birthday party planned for PRCA pioneer Clennon
Friends and family are planning a big 100th birthday blowout for PRCA Gold Card member Bart Clennon at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Marana (Ariz.) Stockyards Café.
Clennon, who lives in nearby Tucson, is the last living signatory to the 1936 petition that led to the creation of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, forerunner of the PRCA, and was one of the leading saddle bronc riders of his day.
Casey Tibbs once told a magazine reporter that Clennon was, “the best bronc rider I ever saw, and I can’t figure out why he never won the year (world championship).”
Lewis Bowman, a nephew of ProRodeo Hall of Fame cowboy Everett Bowman, will serve as the master of ceremonies at the luncheon. ProRodeo Hall of Fame rodeo clown Chuck Henson also is expected to be there for the celebration. There is no set cost. Guests will order from the standard café menu. For more information, call Bowman at 520.432.4139.
“Bart and I may be the only guys still living who were there to witness the petition being signed in Boston,” Bowman said. “I was 12 years old and traveling with my uncle then. He always said he was going to make me a rodeo cowboy or a singer, and I think it’s the only thing he didn’t accomplish that he set his mind on doing.”
Celebrity Bowling Tournament benefits Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund
LAS VEGAS – The third annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Celebrity Bowling Tournament is scheduled Dec. 4 at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino to benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.
Wrangler NFR participants and celebrities will join with fans to “rope some strikes, wrangle some prizes and chase down the elusive Montana Silversmiths championship belt buckle.”
Bowling teams of four can enter for $100 and individual entries will be accepted for $25 apiece. For more information, contact Speedway Children’s Charities at 702.632.8242 or e-mail rcommeford@lvms.com.
Notes from along the rodeo trail …
Casey Tibbs – Born to Ride, the only authorized biography of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame saddle bronc rider, will be officially released during the Dec. 2-11 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Author Rusty Richards, who performed as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers singing group, spent more than 20 years interviewing, researching and writing the book about Tibbs, who won a record six world championships in the sport’s signature event. The book is being published by Moonlight Mesa Associates, a small publishing house in Wickenburg, Ariz., that specializes in Western subject matter, both fiction and nonfiction … Two-time World Champion Bareback Rider Jack Ward Jr., and Myrtis Dightman, a seven-time qualifier for the NFR bull riding, head the induction class taken into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 in Fort Worth. They will be joined by Jerry Diaz, Tom Lucia and Alice Walton.
