Davis' shortest ride of the day the most rewarding, at Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Friday, March 21, 2008

POCATELLO, Idaho – Talk about your mid-course corrections.
Bareback rider Jessy Davis was all set to return to RodeoHouston for his second semifinal until just about the moment he completed his winning ride Thursday night at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco.

An 85-point ride on Sankey Rodeo Company's Eagle Feather was the best of the two-performance first round at Holt Arena, paying Davis $3,794 and putting him in position to challenge for his first DNCFR title.

“I’ve got to do one or the other and I’ve always had a little bit better luck here than in Houston,” Davis said. “It would cost me about a thousand bucks to fly back down there. When I got a good ride here tonight, I just decided I’d stay on and try to win the whole deal.”

Davis had an 81.5-point ride in his first semifinal at Houston and knew that he would need a remarkable second semifinal to have a shot at making the finals and the $50,000 offered to the Shootout Round winner. He also knew it would be tough for him to be in any kind of shape to do that.

He got up at 5 a.m. Thursday, had a three hour delay at the airport, a three hour flight “with a baby right behind me” and then a 21/2 hour drive from the Salt Lake City airport to Pocatello.

“I was pretty much running on adrenaline,” Davis said. “I didn’t get much rest. I’ll just go back to the hotel, get some sleep and see what we can do here.”

Davis, who is leading the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings for the first time in his career, got a bit of a break in drawing Eagle Feather, a horse he had ridden with great success in rodeos in Nebraska and Montana. “A good horse to ride, any time,” Davis said.

The DNCFR is the crowning event of the PRCA’s circuit system of regional competition. National champions are determined at the elimination-style event. Cowboys compete in two preliminary rounds that are split into four performances.

Thursday night’s performance completed the first round and the second round will be split up in sessions Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The top eight contestants in each event advance to the semifinals on Saturday night, where all previous times and scores are erased.

After the semifinals, the top four competitors move on to the Wrangler Round later that night where the national titles are decided.

Davis’ big ride set the tone for the night. The bareback riding was just the first of five events to see a change atop the leaderboard on Thursday, none more dramatically than the bull riding where Jerry Shepherd of Nephi, Utah had a 90-point ride on Flying Five’s Fire Water to take the lead from Nathan Klassen and Brandon Manning, each of whom had scores of 84 on Thursday. First night leader Thor Smith (80) dropped to fourth.

“He (Fire Water) bucked me off a couple of months ago at a rodeo in Billings, Montana, so I knew what I had to do,” Shepherd said. “He goes so fast he wants you in there and out of there. The whole time he had me working my butt off.”

Turquoise Circuit team ropers Richard Lowe and T.J. Brown had a 4.9 second run to edge first-night leaders Colby Siddoway and Jade Anderson of the Wilderness Circuit by a tenth of a second. Shelley Murphy of Montana went them one better by authoring a 14.99 second barrel racing run that was one hundredth of a second better than Wednesday’s leader, Nancy Hunter of the Wilderness Circuit.

Justin Thigpen of Waycross, Ga., was the final tie-down roper to compete after two performances and he was the fastest. Thigpen, who advanced to the semifinals last year, tied his calf in 8.3 seconds to win round one on Caddo Lewallen’s horse.

Thigpen was not nervous, despite having to watch 23 others and wait for his turn.
“I knew what (time) was leading the round,” said the Southeastern Circuit cowboy. “But all I can do is what I can do on that calf. It’s not me against anybody else. It’s me against that calf. I just went through the basics and tried to be smooth.”

The only Wednesday leads that held up to the completion of the first round were Cody Wright’s 87-points in the saddle bronc riding and Luke Branquinho’s 3.5 second run in the steer wrestling. Badlands Circuit cowboy Matt Gilbert took a pretty good run at Branquinho with a 3.8 second run on Thursday

The Wilderness Circuit is leading the team standings with total earnings of $20,237 after the first round.

Dodge National Finals Circuit Rodeo Following 2nd day of competition:

Bareback riding: First round: 1. Jessy Davis, Payson, Utah, 85 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo's Eagle Feather, $3,794; 2. Steven Anding, Crossroads, Texas, 81, $2,845; 3. Dustin Murray, Midwest City, Okla., 80, $1,897; 4. Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, 79, $948; 5. (tie) Tyson Thompson, Merrill, Ore., Noah Bayes, Adrian, Ore., Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Scotty NeSmith, Russelville, Tenn., 78; 9. (tie) Scott Montague, Rapid City, S.D., Jared Green, Socorro, N.M., and Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, 77; 12. (tie) Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz., and Larry Carter, Marshall, Mo., 75; 14. Marv Hurley, Bakersfield, Calif., 73; 15. Brian Leddy, Leedey, Okla., 72; 16. Scott Owens, Toston, Mont., 71; 17. Dave Worsfold, Cody,, Wyo., 69; 18. (tie) Andy Bolich, Belgrade, Mont., and Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 67; 20. Bob Cross, Browns Mills, N.J., 58; 21. (tie) Matt Bright, Loudon, Tenn., Josh Shackleford, Mcgee, Mo., and Zach Curran, Arvada, Colo., NS.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.6 seconds, $3,957; 2. Matt Gilbert, Camp Crook, S.D., 3.8, $2,968; 3. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.0, $1,979; 4. Nick Griffith, Donville, Ala., 4.2, $989; 5. Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas, 4.6; 6. (tie) Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., and Craig Smith, West Haven, Utah, 4.7; 8. Ivan Teigen, Camp Crook, S.D., 4.8; 9. (tie) Joe Bell Sr, Greensboro, Md., Shawn Downing, Silver Star, Mont., and Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., 5.1; 12. Seth Hadlock, Liberty, Utah, 5.2; 13. Kyle Callaway, Gillette, Wyo., 5.6; 14. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 5.7; 15. Brad Morgan, Brandon, Miss., 8.9; 16. Chad Van Campen, Lamar, Colo., 9.8; 17. (tie) Ronnie Fields, Oklahoma City, Okla., Clayton Tuchscherer, Cortaro, Ariz., Josh Granell, Havre, Mont., Damian Padilla, Rio Rico, Ariz., Jacob Burks, Lancaster, Wis., Matt Deskovick, Ramona, Calif., Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., Kirk Trumpower, Clear Spring, Md., NT

Team roping: First round: 1. Richard Lowe, Tucson, Ariz./T.J. Brown, Payson, Ariz., 4.9 seconds, $3,812; 2. Colby Siddoway, Argyle, Texas/Jade Anderson, Goshen, Utah, 5.0, $2,859; 3. Jimmy Tanner, Tifton, Ga./Kyle Lawrence, Dover, Fla., 5.4, $1,906; 4. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Dean Tuftin, Prineville, Ore., 5.6, $953; 5. Tommy Edens, Gatesville, Texas/Rich Skelton, LLano, Texas, 5.7; 6. Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif./Todd Hampton, Chowchilla, Calif., 6.0; 7. David Motes, Tolar, Texas/Dee Rampey, Bertram, Texas, 6.2; 8. Justin Spence, Modesto, Calif./Evan Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., 6.8; 9. Nick Sartain, Alva, Okla./Shannon Frascht, Alva, Okla., 7.2; 10. Shaw Loiseau, Coleman, S.D./Tommy Crane, Whitewood, S.D., 7.4; 11.Billy Berry, Rainsville, Ala./Derick Freeman, Dadeville, Ala., 8.5; 12. Cody Tew, Belgrade, Mont./Kory Mytty, Lolo, Mont., 10.6; 13. (tie) Adam Rose, Willard, Mo./Jeff Brown, Joplin, Mo., and Carmine Nastri, Ballston Spa, N.Y./Shawn Quinn, Schuylerville, N.Y., 11.1; 15. Paul Beckett, Laramie, Wyo./Chad Wahlert, Fort Morgan, Colo., 12.0; 16. Colt Braden, Dewey, Okla./Kollin Von Ahn, Sac City, Iowa, 13.0; 17. Matt Sherwood, Queen Creek, Ariz./Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., 18.9; 18. Chuck Smith, Townsend, Del./Joe Williams, Perkiomenville, Pa., 20.1; 19. Matt Robertson, Stephenville, Texas/John Robertson, Polson, Mont., 20.3; 20. (tie) J.B. Lord, Piedmont, S.D./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D., Wayne Knutson, Clifton Hill, Mo./Ryan Powell, Porterville, Calif., Levi Garcia, Albuquerque, N.M./Russ Sullivan, Peralta, N.M., Jake Stanley, Hermiston, Ore./Russell Cardoza, Knights Ferry, Calif., and Jerod Farella, Newcastle, Wyo./Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., NT

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 87 points, $3,862; 2. (tie) Curtis Garton, New Zealand, and Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 82, $2,414 each; 4. Justin Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., 81, $966; 5. (tie) Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., and Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 80; 7. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 79; 8. Jake Hayworth, St. Anthony, Idaho, 78; 9. (tie) Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., and Sam MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 77; 12. (tie) Jake Griffin, Powell, Wyo., Red Lemmel, Faith, S.D., Isaac Diaz, Davie, Fla., and Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 75; 16. Everett Ashurst, Douglas, Ariz., 72; 17. Mike Johnson, Tampa, Fla., 70; 18. Matt Marvel, Winnemucca, Nev., 69; 19. Alan Frierson, O'Brien, Fla., 67; 20. (tie) Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas, Chad Alesky, Monroeton, Pa., Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., Colin Stalley, Riverton, Wyo., Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, NS.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., 8.3 seconds, $3,782; 2. Rick Kieckhefer, Prescott, Ariz., 8.5, $2,837; 3.Tony Wells, Wilmar, Ark., 9.0, $1,891; 4. Marty Becker, Edmonton, Alberta, 9.2, $946; 5. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 9.5; 6. Wes Lockard, Susanville, Calif., 9.7; 7. Will Laduke, Gillette, Wyo., 10.2; 8. (tie) Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, and Tyler Fagerhaug, Wessington Spgs, S.D., 10.6; 10. Caddo Lewallen, Morrison, Okla., 10.7; 11. (tie) Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Ore., and Bud Ford, Everman, Texas, 10.8; 13.Garrett Nokes, Mccook, Neb., 11.5; 14. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 13.1; 15. Jesse Egan, Gridley, Calif., 13.9; 16. Jim Bob Mayes, Scroggins, Texas, 15.0; 17. J.R. Myers Jr, Felton, Pa., 19.4; 18. (tie) Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, Chad Johnson, Cut Bank, Mont., Todd Graff, Ainsworth, Neb., Matt Kenney, Onawa, Iowa, Chuck Smith, Townsend, Del., Joe Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., Royce Lynch, Deming, N.M., NT

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Shelley Murphy, Helena, Mont., 14.99 seconds, $3,942; 2. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 15.00, $2,956; 3. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 15.15, $1,971; 4. Kappy Allen, Austin, Texas, 15.18, $985; 5. (tie) Jodi Rush Cuccurullo, Carrollton, Texas, and Rachael Myllymaki, Simi Valley, Calif., 15.20; 7. June Holeman, Arcadia, Neb., 15.22; 8. Lindsay Knaff, Winston, Mont., 15.30; 9. (tie) Carrie Thompson, Morton, Miss., Kelli Kamm, Stanfield, Ore., and Tracee Young, Delta, Utah, 15.32; 12. Diann Bukowski, Falcon, Colo., 15.41; 13. Sandi Brandli, Mauston, Wis., 15.42; 14. Kelly Carr, Henryville, Ind., 15.49; 15. Stacy Dial, Vista, Calif., 15.54; 16. Robin Weaver, Mahaffey, Pa., 15.58; 17. Stacy Dial, Livingston, Ala., 15.71; 18. Debbie Stahl, Pendleton, Ore., 15.72; 19. Sarah Attea-Sinatra, Alden, N.Y., 15.83; 20. Kathee Martin, Elgin, Ariz., 15.98; 21. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 20.04; 22. Brittany Hofstetter, Portales, N.M., 20.28; 23. Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., 20.80; 24. Renee Morgan, Avondale, Colo., 29.33.

Bull riding: First round: 1. Jerry Shepherd, Nephi, Utah, 90 points on Flying Five's Fire Water, $3,908; 2. (tie) Nathan Klassen, Wagoner, Okla., and Brandon Manning, Birdsboro, Pa., 84, $2,442 each; 4. Thor Smith, Buckeye, Ariz., 80, $977; 5. Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev., 78; 6. Luke Haught, Weatherford, Texas, 76; 7. Dustin Smith, St. Paul, Ore., 74; 8. Thomas Bert, Modesto, Calif., 73; 9. Spencer Slaughter, Jackson, La., 70; 10. (tie) Shawn Hogg, Odessa, Texas, Jay Dunford, Menoken, N.D., Poncho Limas, Weatherford, Okla., Tyler Johnston, Bridger, Mont., Tyler Miller, Mcclure, Pa., Justin Kennedy, La Porte City, Iowa, Jeremy Gilreath, Sebeka, Minn., Charles Zoss, Forestburg, S.D., Terrance Granger, Tuba City, Ariz., Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo., Cameron Bland, Glen Flora, Texas, Richard Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., Joe Meling, Pendelton, Ore., Josh Johnson, Douglas, Wyo., Rylan Wright, Midway, Utah, NS.