Rodeo News and Notes from the PRCA - March 3, 2008

By Kevin Carmody, PRCA
Posted Monday, March 3, 2008

Saddle bronc rider Bello defends San Angelo title
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Australian saddle bronc rider Anthony Bello rallied to defend his title at the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo, scoring 88 points in the final round March 1 to finish with a two-head total of 168 points.

He edged Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings leader J.J. Elshere of Quinn, S.D., by one point.
Bello, of Oakley, Utah, recorded his final-round victory aboard Flying Five Rodeo’s No Dice, and earned $6,135.
Bello, who qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2007, wasn’t the only cowboy who came through in the clutch in San Angelo in hopes of a repeat trip to Las Vegas later this year.

Bull rider Logan Knibbe of Rockdale, Texas, also saved his best for last. Although he didn’t win Saturday’s final round, his opening-round 88 put him in position for the title that he clinched Saturday with an 81 aboard Lancaster and Pickett Rodeo’s Nearly Famous. He finished with 169 points on two head, two points ahead of 18-year-old ProRodeo rookie Ryan Shanklin, and earned $9,754.

Bareback rider Kelly Timberman of Mills, Wyo., who won the 2004 world title, won both rounds to earn the average title. He spurred Big Bend Rodeo’s Miss Amerititle for 89 points in Saturday’s final round to finish with a two-head total of 174 points and checks worth $8,814. He earlier won the first round after scoring 85 points on Beutler Brothers and Cervi’s Orphan Angie.

On the timed-event side, nine-time Wrangler NFR tie-down roper Stran Smith of Childress, Texas, won the first round and shared the title on Saturday’s final round of competition to win the four-head average title. Smith earned a rodeo-best $11,058 for his efforts.

Steer wrestler Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta, hazed for 2007 World Champion Steer Wrestler Jason Miller at last year’s Wrangler NFR. In San Angelo, Miller returned the favor and Cassidy tasted victory, winning two rounds, placing in another and turfing four steers in 15.9 seconds, good for $10,657. His closest competition was more than 1.5 seconds off the pace.

Team roping veterans David Key and Kory Koontz, mainstays at the Wrangler NFR, claimed the four-head average crown in San Angelo, recording a total time of 21.1 seconds. Key, of Caldwell, Texas, and Koontz, of Sudan, Texas, each bagged $9,398.

Other winners in San Angelo included two-time National Finals Steer Roping qualifier Chet Herren of Pawhuska, Okla., who earned $3,919 after roping and tying three steers in 37.9 seconds; and barrel racer Jill Moody of Letcher, S.D., who made her Wrangler NFR debut in 2007 and completed three runs in 42.90 seconds, good for $7,854.

ProRodeo.com launches new DNCFR page
Keeping up with the 22nd annual Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., is just a mouse click away. ProRodeo.com has launched a new page for the championships, set for March 19-22 in Pocatello, Idaho.

The special page may be found by clicking on the DNCFR logo on the homepage or by clicking on the letters D-N-C-F-R in the masthead.

Along with the contestant and contract personnel listings, the page includes fan interactive content. Fans will be able show to support for their circuit by participating in a poll and e-mailing in a photograph of the back of their favorite rodeo jacket.

Action and candid photographs by DNCFR photographer Larry Smith will again be a big part of the DNCFR page.
Along with daily coverage on ProRodeo.com, the ProRodeo Sports News will have in-depth stories and analysis of the DNCFR in its March 28 edition.

Lowe, Brazile, Smith prevail in Glen Rose
World champions decorated the winner’s circle at the 14th Annual Glen Rose (Texas) PRCA Rodeo as Reigning and Five-Time World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile highlighted the three-cowboy list.

Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, teamed with 2005 World Champion Team Roper (Heeling) Patrick Smith of Midland, Texas, to win the team roping title with a 4.4-second run, giving each a paycheck worth $1,897.

Will Lowe, the three-time world bareback riding champion who was the 2007 runner-up, won the Glen Rose title after an 87-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Old Times. Lowe earned $988.

· Reilly, Michaelis win in Austin. Bull riders from the Pacific Northwest kicked off Rodeo Austin in grand style over the weekend as Colby Reilly of Stratford, Wash., and Marcus Michaelis of Caldwell, Idaho, won Dodge Xtreme Bulls Division II qualifying events on March 1-2.

On the opening night, Reilly rode two bulls for 173.5 points to win the average title and $3,472. On Sunday, Michaelis, who qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2007, recorded a two-head score of 173 points, highlighted by a 92-point ride in the final round, to win the average and $3,429.