Destination Pocatello continues with First Frontier, Montana circuit finals

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Monday, January 7, 2008

Qualification for the 2008 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo continues this weekend with the Dodge First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo, Jan. 10-12 in Harrisburg, Pa., and the Dodge Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo, Jan. 11-13 in Great Falls. Both rodeos are presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Each circuit finals rodeo’s average champions, as well as winners in the year-end standings, advance to the DNCFR, March 19-22 in Pocatello, Idaho.

The Texas and Southeastern Circuits most recently added to the list of qualifiers for Pocatello after their three-day rodeos. The best riders and ropers in Texas got together at Waco’s Heart O’ Texas Coliseum, Jan. 3-5, while Brighton, Fla., played host to the Dodge Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo, Jan. 4-6.

Steer wrestler Matt Reeves and saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz, fresh off their Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearances last month, were among the average champions in Waco. Reeves, of Pampa, downed three steers in 12.0 seconds, while Diaz rode three horses for 242 points.

Other Dodge Texas Circuit Rodeo average champions were: bareback rider Steven Anding of Crossroads, Texas, 249 points on three head; team ropers David Motes of Tolar, Texas; and Coby Jones of Gatesville, Texas, 18.7 seconds on three head; tie-down roper Bud Ford of Everman, Texas, 26.8 seconds on three head; bull rider Shawn Hogg of Odessa, Texas, 227 points on three head; and barrel racer Jodi Rush Cuccurullo of Carrollton, Texas, 48.55 seconds on three runs.

In Brighton, bull rider Chance Smart, who reached his first Wrangler NFR in 2007, displayed his talents by winning all three rounds en route to the average title. Smart, of Philadelphia, Miss., scored 252 points on three head – the only rider to make the whistle on all three attempts.

Other average champions at the Dodge Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo were: bareback rider Matt Bright of Loudon, Tenn., 240 points on three head; steer wrestler Nick Griffith of Donville, Ala., 15.1 seconds on three head; team ropers Billy Joe Berry of Rainsville, Ala./Derick Freeman of Dadeville, Ala., 27.7 seconds on three head; saddle bronc rider Alan Frierson of O’Brien, Fla., 229 points on three head; tie-down roper Justin Thigpen of Waycross, Ga., 27.9 seconds on three head; and barrel racer Sabra O’Quinn of Ocala, Fla., 47.32 seconds on three runs