As the National Finals Rodeo came to a conclusion this evening, outgoing world champion steer wrestler Lee Graves (Calgary, Alta.) cashed in once again, placing fifth in the final round, twisting his steer in 4.7 seconds. It topped up his total money earned at the WNFR to $47,117.
Although he didn’t reach his ultimate goal, he thought his week went fairly well.
“Throughout the whole finals, I never felt like I went off track,” said Graves. “I made a good showing. It was a good ten days in Vegas.
“I can’t say that Lee Graves came here and had a bad finals because of Lee Graves screwing up or not staying focused or not bulldogging good.
“You know, I could be in Black Diamond, Alta. watching it on TV, and that’s no fun. $47,000, that’s a lot of labour, and I’m glad to win it. It just fires me up to go again next year and try to come back.”
Dean Gorsuch (Gering, Neb.) captured his first world championship. It was his second appearance at the WNFR. Gorsuch also won the average title.
“I’m glad for Dean Gorsuch,” said Graves. “He bulldogged good all year long and he had a great finals, stayed right in the middle of the herd and didn’t stub his toe. Now he’ll know what it feels like to be a world champion.”
Graves finished sixth in the world standings and made $122,121 this year.
Eight-time Canadian saddle bronc champion Rod Hay (Wildwood, Alta.) finished ninth in the final round on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Shady Cat after an 81.5-point ride.
Hay made $75,586 in Las Vegas, pushing his annual total to $172,892. He finished third in the world standings.
It’s the most he’s ever made at the WNFR.
“This is the best finals I’ve ever had,” said Hay. “It feels probably like the best I’ve rode here for ten days.”
At the age of 37, Hay still feels competitive and is ready to hit the road again next year.
“I don’t feel that I’m anywhere near the end of my career, I feel like I’ve still got things to learn and how I can get better at doing what I’m doing.”
Lindsay Sears (Nanton, Alta.) knocked over two barrels in the final round, taking her time to 23.98 seconds, finishing 14th.
She made $12,662 at the WNFR, finishing 12th in the world standings.
“It’s been a tough finals,” said the first-time WNFR qualifier. “I haven’t been able to ride any of my horses. It’s hard to come here and compete against the top 14 girls in the world when they’re riding their good horse.”
Her main mount, Martha, is coming off injuries. Sears had hoped that she would be ready this in time for the Finals, but things didn’t work out.
“It’s hard to get on a horse and come to this kind of a competition and be level,” said Sears.
“It was a great learning experience. I think we learned a lot. If I get lucky enough to come back next year, we’re going to have a little bit different game plan when we get here. I’ll know more what to expect. This arena is extremely deceiving. When you sit in the stands, it is nothing like what it is coming from the alleyway.”
Back in the bronc riding, Jesse Bail (Camp Crook, S.D.) and Bryce Miller (Buffalo, S.D.) split the round on Vold Rodeo’s MF4 and Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Cool Alley with matching 89-point rides.
Bradley Harter (Weatherford, Tex.) was 82 points on Franklin Rodeo Co.’s Blue Too, good enough for eighth.
Rusty Allen (Lehi, Utah) and Cody Wright (Milford, Utah) bucked off of pair of Kesler horses, Coffee Break and Country Cat.
Glen O’Neill (Didsbury, Alta.) sat out once again with injuries.
In the bareback riding, Chris Harris (Itasca, Tex.) rode Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Alley Trail for 84.5 points and fifth place. Jess Davis (Payson, Utah) was on Calgary Stampede’s Coconut Roll for 81 points. Paul Jones (Elko, Nev.) bucked off Franklin Rodeo’s Pop A Top.
The 2006 world champions are: All-Around: Trevor Brazile (Decatur, Tex.); Saddle Bronc: Chad Ferley (Oelrichs, S.D.); Bareback: Will Lowe (Canyon, Tex.); Bull Riding: B.J. Schumacher (Hillsboro, Wis.); Tie-Down Roping: Cody Ohl (Hico, Tex.); Steer Wrestling: Dean Gorsuch (Gering, Neb.); Ladies Barrel Racing: Mary Burger (Pauls Valley, Okla.); Team Roping (Header): Matt Sherwood (Queen Creek, Ariz.); Team Roping (Heeler): Allen Bach (Weatherford, Tex.); Kesler’s Country Cat was named saddle bronc horse of the WNFR.
Complete results and world standings are available at www.prorodeo.com. |
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