PRCA Rodeo News and Notes - July 7, 2008

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Monday, July 7, 2008

Tour makes next stop in Vernal
The Wrangler ProRodeo Tour makes a familiar stop this weekend as the 26-city schedule heads into its final month. Cowboys and cowgirls will seek to improve their rankings in the Tour standings at the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo in Vernal, Utah.

Action in Vernal starts July 9 with the first of four evening performances starting at 7:30 p.m. MT. The rodeo offers $12,500 in added money per event ($15,000 in team roping) and features livestock from Powder River Rodeo, Burch Rodeo and D & H Cattle.

The rodeo concludes with the final round on July 12.
Vernal marks the 21st venue on the 2008 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour. At the conclusion of the final Tour stop in Dodge City, Kan., on Aug. 5, the top 35 contestants (35 teams in team roping) in total Tour points and the “Wild Cards,” event champions from the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, will move on to the first Ariat Playoffs event, Aug. 12-16, in Caldwell, Idaho. Fox Sports Network and CBS are scheduled to televise the Playoffs.

Lanham jumpstarts season in Cody
Zeb Lanham seemingly returned to form last weekend at the Cody, Wyo., stop on the Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour, presented by B&W Trailer Hitches. Lanham, who won the earnings title on the 2006 Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour, rode two bulls for 175.5 points and pocketed $11,139. He jumped seven spots into 20th place in this week’s Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings.

Lanham, of Sweet, Idaho, clinched his first Tour-stop title with a 91-point ride aboard Burns Rodeo’s Hairy Hump that topped the final-round leaderboard. He earlier scored 84 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Secadian Rhythm in the semifinal round.

Bobby Welsh of Gillette, Wyo., finished a close second, scoring 172.5 points, good for checks worth $10,058.

Clayton Savage of Cheyenne, Wyo., turned in the top score of the semifinal round, a 90-point ride aboard Frontier Rodeo’s Lynch Mob on a re-ride.

Asay injured in St. Paul
Bull rider Kanin Asay returned to his home in Powell, Wyo., on July 7, five days after undergoing emergency surgery at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland to remove a ruptured spleen, suffered during the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo.

In addition, doctors also re-attached Asay’s right ear, which was partially torn off after Asay was hooked twice, then stepped on during action in St. Paul’s first performance.

Asay, 22, who made his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo debut last year and finished as runner-up to World Champion Wesley Silcox, is expected to miss the next eight weeks before returning to action.

“To be honest, I don’t remember a lot,” Asay said. “I remember watching the guy who rode before me, then I don’t remember anything until a day-and-a-half later in the hospital. But it all happens for a reason. I’m going to have some time off. But I thank the good Lord that I’m still here.”

Upcoming PRCA Rodeos

Columbia River Circuit: Cheney Rodeo, July 10-12, Cheney, Wash.; Elgin Stampede, July 12-13, Elgin, Ore.First Frontier Circuit: Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, July 9, 11, Lake Luzerne, N.Y.; Cowtown Rodeo, July 13, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.

Great Lakes Circuit: Isanti Firefighters Rodeo, July 10-12, Isanti, Minn.; Heart of the North Rodeo, July 10-12, Spooner, Wis.; Hamel Rodeo and Bull Ridin’ Bonanza, July 10-13, Hamel, Minn.; Winnishiek County Fair Pro Rodeo, July 11-12, Decorah, Iowa; Buckeye Stampede Pro Rodeo, July 11-13, Dover, Ohio

Montana Circuit: Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede, July 10-12, Wolf Point; Butte Vigilante Rodeo, July 11-12, Butte

Mountain States Circuit: Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo, July 8-12, Casper, Wyo.; Rooftop Rodeo, July 8-13, Estes Park, Colo.; Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, July 9-12, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Cattlemen’s Days, July 10-12, Gunnison, Colo.; Sheridan Rodeo, July 10-12, Sheridan, Wyo.; Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series, July 11-12, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Laramie Jubilee Days, July 11-13, Laramie, Wyo.

Prairie Circuit: Cushing Community Rodeo, July 11-12, Cushing, Okla.

Southeastern Circuit: Buckin’ on the River, July 11-12, Savannah, Tenn.

Texas Circuit: Tops in Texas, July 9-12, Jacksonville

Wilderness Circuit: Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo, July 9-12, Vernal, Utah; Ute Stampede, July 10-12, Nephi, Utah; Silver State Stampede, July 11-12, Elko, Nev.

Canada: Harmon Valley Rodeo, July 12-13, Peace River, Alberta; Teepee Creek Stampede, July 12-13, Teepee Creek, Alberta