Calgary, ALBERTA – July 16, 2010 – With Pool A and Pool B both complete at the Calgary Stampede, rodeo contestants are on their way to the Final Round or hoping to advance through Saturday’s Wildcard.
It all started with 10 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and women’s barrel racing n two different pools. The eight days of competition have already paid $840,000.
The six contestants from each pool that didn’t advance to the finals get a second opportunity here on Saturday in the Wildcard round. The two best from that competition will join the other finalists making a total of 10 competitors. Then the field is narrowed to four for the Showdown Round.
The top four money earners in each event advance to the final round. From there, the four fastest times or highest scores qualify for the Showdown Round. Contestants will be going for broke in the Showdown as the very best in each event walk away with a $100,000 check.
The high-money winner here so far remains Ryan Jarrett, the 2005 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) all-around champion. Jarrett, from Comanche, Okla., earned $21,000 of the $70,000 available in tie-down roping in Pool A.
The high money winner in Pool B is Justin McDaniel in the bareback riding. McDaniel, the 2008 PRCA champion earned $17,500 to advance to Sunday’s finals. He is followed by Davey Shields and Dusty LaValley who are competing in their home province of Alberta.
Calgary’s own, Lee Graves is atop of this groups steer wrestlers. Graves, the reigning world champion, has earned $12,000.
Another reigning champ, J.W. Harris, from May, Texas, will be competing for his chance to go to the Showdown Round. Harris has earned $14,500 in bull riding.
The following are final round qualifiers from Pool B ---
Bareback riding: 1, Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., $17,500. 2, Davey Shields, Jr., DeWinton, Alberta, $14,500. 3, Dusty LaValley, Crooked Creek, Alberta, $1,2500. 4, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, $7,500.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, $12,000. 2, Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., $11,000. 3, Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., $10,500. 4, Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo., $10,000.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., $13,500. 2, (tie) Sam Kelts, Millarville, Alberta, and Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., $12,000 each. 4, Justin Berg, Marwayne, Alberta, $9,500.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, $12,500. 2, (tie), Steve Lloyd, Alix, Alberta, and Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, $9,000 each. 4, (tie) Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas and Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $8,500.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, $15,500. 2, Joleen Seitz, Savona, British Columbia, $13,500. 3, Savannah Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, $12,500. 4, (tie) Rana Koopmans, Lethbridge, Alberta, and Deb Renger, Okotoks, Alberta, $8,500 each.
Bull Riding: 1, J.W. Harris, May, Texas, $14,500. 2, Jason O’Hearn, Cessnock, New South Wales, $11,000. 3, Douglas Duncan, Alvin, Texas, $10,500. 4, Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., $7,000.
