Brothers Excel at National Western Stock Show Rodeo
DENVER, Colo. --- One of the big rodeo story lines in 2010 was about the success and competition of brothers throughout the season and onto rodeo’s championship event, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR).
That brotherly competition continued at the first performance of the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver. Curtis and Cody Cassidy, both from Donalda, Alberta, were among the steer wrestlers here and had the most success.
They were among the brothers competing for world titles last December at the WNFR and would like nothing better than to make a trip to Las Vegas to compete there again in 2011.
While rodeos that count for the 2011 season started in October, the lucrative building run started here today. If a cowboy or cowgirl has success here, they can easily win $10,000 or more and most importantly give them momentum going to Fort Worth and San Antonio.
Curtis knows that well. In 2009, he shared the steer wrestling title here with Jake Rinehart from Highmore, S.D., and earned $12,074. Last year, he finished fourth overall and again collected a good paycheck.
Cody Cassidy was the first of the brothers to compete on Saturday afternoon and stopped the clock in 4.6 seconds, a solid run. Then it was time for Curtis to make his first appearance and he bested his younger brother by four-tenths of a second with a 4.2.
They will have their second competition here on Sunday night, and are hoping for more success. They will have to wait through the next 21 rodeo performances to see if they are among the top 12 steer wrestlers who advance to the finals first.
“Denver has definitely been good to me in the past,” Curtis said. “Today’s run should get me a check. I just need to do my job again tomorrow and hopefully Cody will do the same. It would be great for us both to be in Denver for the finals.”
Sunday’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association performance starts at 7 p.m.
DENVER, Colo. --- The following are results from the first performances of the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, Saturday, January 8, 2011.
First Performance --
Bareback Riding: 1,Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 83 points on Calgary Stampede’s Rum flavoured. 2, Bobby mote, Culver, Ore., 82. 3, Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 77. 4, A.J. Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 75.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, alberta, 4.2 seconds. 2, Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.6. 3, Spud Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 5.2. 4, Kyle Hughes, Olney Springs, Colo., 6.1.
Team Roping: 1, Jason Handy, Scobey, Mont., and Chase Gauger, Bozeman, Mont., 4.9 seconds. 2, Marcus Battalglia, Ramoma, Calif., and Clayton Van Aken, Descanso, Calif., 5.4. 3, Bobby Boyd, DVM, Midland, Texas, and Tim Abbott, Midland, Texas, 6.5. 4, Luke Lancaster, Strasburg, colo., and Lee Lancaster, Bennett, colo., 6.8.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Elliott French, Tres Pinos, Calif., 77 points on Calgary Stampede’s Non Sweetened. 2, Cody Rud, Greenfield, Wisc., 68. 3, Wace Snook, Hulett, Wyo., 66. 4, Junior Ray, Cody, Wyo., 54.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Beau Marshall, Truth or Consequences, N.M., 9.1 seconds. 2, Clint Singleton, Medina, Texas, 9.7. 3, Jade Lyon, Meadow, s.D., 10.1. 4, Fred Werneck, Blum, Texas, 17.8.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Shelby Maxfield, Heber, Utah, 15.49 seconds. McKinley Goodger, Boyd, Texas, 15.50. . 3, Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 15.52. 4, Michelle McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 15.66.
Bull Riding: 1, Ty Tescher, Sidney, mont., 84 points on David Bailey Rodeo’s Gentle Ben. 2, Will Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., 83. 3, Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo., 79. 4, Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, Alberta, 78.
