OPENING NIGHT JITTERS NOW BEHIND CANADIANS AT NFR

By Darell Hartlen
Posted Friday, December 1, 2006

The 48th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) kicked off this evening in Las Vegas, Nev., with the Canadian contingency suffering from what might be called opening night jitters.
Reigning world champion steer wrestler Lee Graves (Calgary, Alta.) ran a bald-faced red steer in 4.5 seconds, just two ticks out of the money during performance No. 1.
But, Graves knows that there are nine more performances to go and a whole lot more money to be given out at the $5.375 million dollar finals.
“I just made as good (of a run) as I could,” said the 6’2”, 230 lb. cowboy. “Just to get the ball rolling. I wanted to place tonight, but that’s bulldogging. I felt I did as good as I could with what happened. I didn’t leave discouraged, it’s just the first performance.”
Graves is sixth in the world standings.
Glen O’Neill (Didsbury, Alta.) and Rod Hay (Wildwood, Alta.) had matching 79.5-point rides. O’Neill was on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock Co.’s Sister Sarah and Hay on Korkow Rodeo’s Queenie.
Hay remains in sixth place in the world standings and O’Neill was bumped down two notches to 11th.
O’Neill, who had to withdrew early from the Canadian Finals Rodeo last month in Edmonton with a pulled hamstring, feels like he’s had enough time to recover.
“It’s good, I think it is pretty much 100 percent now. I went to physio(therapy) every day after Edmonton. That’s pretty much all I did while I was off.”
Like Graves, he’s glad to get the opening night jitters behind him.
“It’s good to get the first one out of the way and settle down and get ready for the rest of the week,” said O’Neill, the 2002 world saddle bronc champion.
Hay mimicked the others.
“A guy always likes to win a cheque,” he admitted, “but it felt good. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the week now.”
Barrel racer Lindsay Sears (Nanton, Alta.), who’s making her debut appearance at the NFR, seemed to be calm and collected, despite knocking over her first barrel.
“That was the scary part,” she said. “I need to be more nervous! Maybe I’ll be more nervous tomorrow!”
Her time of 19.25 seconds, including a five-second penalty for tipping a barrel, was 19.25. She was 14th on the night.
At the stock end of things, Chad Klein (Stephenville, Tex.) was 79 points on Kesler Rodeo Co.’s Country Wages in the bareback event.
Also in the bareback, Forest Bramwell (Pagosa Springs, Colo.) was also 79 points. Bramwell was onboard Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Street Dance. Kelly Timberman (Mills, Wyo.) was 78.5 points on Kesler Rodeo Co.’s Collecting Stars.
Bradley Harter (Weatherford, Tex.) rode Calgary Stampede’s Fearless Warrior for 78 points.
None of the rides on the Canadian stock were enough to pick up any money in the first round.
Notables: Wes Stevenson (Kaufman, Tex.) won the bareback riding in round one with an 89 point ride on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Wise Guy. Los Alamos, Calif.’s Luke Branquinho won the steer wrestling with a 3.7-second run.
Travis Tryan (Billings, Mont.) and Jhett Johnson (Casper, Wyo.) were the fastest team roping duo, roping things up in 4.3 seconds.
Joe Beaver (Huntsville, Tex.) won the tie-down roping with a 7.7-second run.
The saddle bronc riding was won by Jeff Willert (Belvidere, S.D.) with an 86-point ride.
B.J. Schumacher’s 91.5-point ride won the bull riding.
Complete results are available at www.prorodeo.com.