Park City, Kan. - (October 25, 2010) – Wichita will have flashbacks to its old west heritage this weekend as loads of cattle and horses, cowboys and cowgirls make their way to Hartman Arena in Park City for the Prairie Circuit finals Rodeo.
It is the first year for the arena to host the regional championship, which features the best twelve cowboys and cowgirls in each event over three performances on October 29-30. After the final round, the year end and the rodeo’s winners are determined and will go on to represent the Prairie Circuit at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City next March.
Ninety-five of the top cowboys and cowgirls from Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska will be in town to compete for $96,000, and making the circuit finals is a boost to a cowboy’s career. Bareback rider Dustin Murray has qualified for twelve Prairie Circuit Finals and says that the event is “the pinnacle for our season. Throughout the season, we compete at rodeos all over Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas, and the more money I win, the higher in the standings I am and the better chance I have to win the Circuit Finals.” Murray has won two Prairie Circuit year end titles and two Finals. “It’s what we compete for. Whether it’s a Major League Baseball player or an NFL player, we all want to win division titles, and winning the Circuit Finals is the equivalent of a division title.”
Bob Hansen, President and CEO of the Wichita Sports Commission, says the community is ready for the event. “We’re really excited about it. We have a new facility, and this will be the first dirt in the arena. Fans will see great cowboys from three different states, and we’ve done well in sponsorships. We think it’s going to be a great rodeo.”
Competition will be held in each of the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association’s seven events: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, women’s barrel racing, and bull riding. Cowboys must compete at a minimum of fifteen pro rodeos in the Circuit to qualify for the Finals. Three go-rounds of competition will be held, beginning at 7:30 pm on October 29, and continuing on October 30 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hartmanarena.com and range in price from $11 to $25.
Pro rodeo clown tie-down roper Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., competes at the Elk City Rodeo of Champions a few years back. Schneeberger will compete at this year’s Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo and at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, pro rodeo’s world championship, in Las Vegas in December. Photo by Kirk Voska, www.7mules.com.
