Bobby Mote is biggest Cowboy Christmas winner
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fresh from staging his second annual Bareback Riding School in Culver, Ore., Bobby Mote put on a clinic of another sort over the Fourth of July week.
The two-time World Champion put the mas in Cowboy Christmas, winning more cash than any of the thousands of competitors swarming the freeways and back roads this past week, trying to get to as many of the 30 PRCA-sanctioned rodeos as they could.
Mote earned $29,926 competing in four states and one Canadian province. He shared the title at the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede with Will Lowe to bank $9,230 and then turned in an 89-point ride on Beutler & Son’s Molly Brown to win the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede for another $7,793. He also cashed at St. Paul, Ore., Prescott, Ariz. and Cody, Wyo.
"I’ve been blessed with good horses pretty much everywhere I’ve been, so that’s been making my job a lot easier," Mote said of his Christmas run. "I’m healthy, and my traveling partners have been doing well, so we’ve all been having fun. You can’t ask for any better than that."
Travel partners Ryan Gray ($22,043) and Jason Havens ($13,429) -- the group call themselves The Pride, as in a pride of lions -- were also among the top 20 earners over Cowboy Christmas. It came to total earnings of $65,398 for the traveling party.
Tie-down roper Blair Burk, who started the week just 47th in the PRCA World Standings, had the biggest week among timed-event cowboys with earnings of $27,164 to launch a belated bid for a spot in the Wrangler Nationals Finals Rodeo Dec. 3-12.
Burk, who had qualified for the Wrangler NFR 13 consecutive years until falling short last year, cashed checks at Ponoka, Alberata; Williams Lake, British Columbia; Greeley, Colo.; Prescott, Ariz.; Cody, Wyo.; and Livingston, Mont. His biggest checks came at Ponoka ($8,313) and Greeley ($7,808), where he had second place finishes.
It was the second highest total Burk has managed over Cowboy Christmas. He earned $30,105 over the Fourth of July week in 2000, which still stands as the fifth highest total in history. Ironically, he finished second in the Cowboy Christmas standings that year, too, behind Scott Johnston.
Bull riders Corey Navarre ($25,677) and J.W. Harris ($25,115) were third and fourth in the standings, with all-around hand Trevor Brazile ($24,190) rounding out the top five. Harris, the reigning world champion, used his big week to move ahead of Douglas Duncan into first place in the PRCA World Standings, the week's only lead change.
The Cowboy Christmas record is $37,630, set by ProRodeo Hall of Fame cowboy Ty Murray in 1999.
Cowboy Christmas leaders
1. Bobby Mote BB $29,926
2. Blair Burk TD $27,164
3. Corey Navarre BR $25,677
4. J.W. Harris BR $25,115
5. Trevor Brazile TR/TD $24,190
6. Hunter Herrin TD $23,194
7. Ryan Gray BB $22,043
8. Hunter Cure SW $21,235
9. Jake Hannum SW $20,895
10. Clint Robinson SW/TD $20,356
11. David Key TR $16,914
12. Rich Skelton TR $16,914
13. Will Lowe BB $15,817
14. Jesse Kruse SB $15,642
15. Clint Cannon BB $15,394
16. Dustin Flundra SB $14,789
17. Chad Denton BR $14,382
18. Patrick Smith TR $13,843
19. Kaycee Field BB $13,447
20. Jason Havens BB $13,429
* 38 PRCA cowboys earned $10.000 or more during Cowboy Christmas
ProRodeo Hall of Fame weekend, July 8-11
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Seven-time World Champion Dan Mortensen, one of the greatest saddle bronc riders in the sport's history, will be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame July 11 in a six-member class that includes one of rodeo's first Triple Crown winners and one of only two men to win average titles in both roughstock and timed events at the same Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Mortensen, of Billings, Mont., the late all-around cowboy Leonard Ward of Talent, Ore., bull rider Ted Nuce of Stephenville, Texas, and steer roper Walt Arnold of Silverton, Texas, were all voted in by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Selection Committee during meetings at the Hall of Fame March 30, along with the late Erv Korkow (stock contractor) of Canning, S.D., and all-around hand Ace Berry (lifetime achievement) of Oakdale, Calif.
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction weekend, July 9-11, will include a Special Rodeo, a showing of the Lane Frost documentary film Challenge of Champions, a golf tournament, a pro/am team roping and the Cowboy Ball before the 10 a.m.-noon induction ceremonies in the garden area of the Hall.
Mortensen, 40, and Casey Tibbs share the ProRodeo record for most saddle bronc riding world championships with Mortensen winning his six gold buckles in 1993-95, 1997-98 and 2003. He was the all-around world champion in 1997, edging Joe Beaver by slightly more than $4,000, and qualified for the NFR 16 times in his 17 full seasons as a PRCA member. During his final world championship season of 2003, Mortensen became the first roughstock cowboy in PRCA history to surpass $2 million in career earnings and he remains fifth on the all-time list with $2,555,252. An 18-foot bronze statue of Mortensen is the centerpiece of the Montana Wall of Champions outside Metra Arena in Billings, Mont.
Ward had his greatest year in 1934 when he won 16 rodeos in bronc riding, steer decorating, bull riding and bareback riding. He won the saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and all-around world championships – the second cowboy to ever win three gold buckkles in the same year, following Clay Carr. Ward continued to compete at a high level until he suffered a badly broken leg at the 1937 California Rodeo in Salinas, Calif. Ward left the sport for good at age 38 in 1941 to take a construction job on Midway Island, near Hawaii, where he was captured by the Japanese and held prisoner for 45 months. After his release, Ward returned to ranching and construction work in Oregon until his death on Feb. 15, 1985.
Nuce, 48, was the 1985 world champion bull rider and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo a record 14 consecutive years (1982-95); he shares the record for total appearances (also14) with Wacey Cathey. The PRCA Rookie of the Year in 1980, just a year out of high school, Nuce competed in his first NFR at 21 and was as consistent as anyone of his era, finishing as reserve world champion four times, in 1986-88 and 1991. He won two gold medallions for the United States in the bull riding and team competitions in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta.
Although he didn't compete full time until he was 25 years old, Arnold qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping 19 times (1965-67, 1969-72, 1974-82, 1984-86), a number surpassed only by Guy Allen and Arnold Felts in steer roping history. Arnold, 70, won the world championship in 1969 and finished as reserve champion three other times (1971, 1978-79), missing out on the '71 title by just $538 to Olin Young. He won the NFSR average title twice (1965 and 1978) and competed in team roping at the NFR in 1966 and '68. He served as the PRCA's steer roping director from 1974 to 1977.
Just 15 years, 11 months old when he qualified for the NFR the first time in 1962, Berry remained a fixture there into the mid-1970s, competing at both ends of the arena. He qualified for the NFR in team roping 14 consecutive years (1962-75) and six years in bareback riding (1967, 1969-73). Along with Phil Lyne, he is the only man to win NFR average titles in a roughstock event and a timed event in the same year. Berry won the 1972 NFR team roping title with John Miller and the bareback riding with what was then a rodeo record 685 points, the same year that Lyne won the average in bull riding and tie-down roping. Berry, 62, also won NFR average titles in team roping in 1967 and in bareback riding in 1971.
After a decade of producing amateur rodeos, Korkow joined the PRCA in 1958 and formed Korkow-Sutton Rodeo Company with fellow South Dakota stock contractor James Sutton Sr. They had stock in every National Finals Rodeo from its inception in 1959 through the dissolution of their partnership at the end of 1968. Thereafter Korkow and his son, Jim, operated Korkow Rodeos. They lay claim to being just one of three stock contracting companies to have had bucking stock at all of the first 50 NFRs. The only year that Korkow Rodeos does not show in the stock lists for the NFR is 1982, the year in which they auctioned five of their top horses late in the season, after they had already been accepted to the rodeo in Oklahoma City. Korkow received the 1970 PRCA Award of Merit, was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1992 and was twiced honored with an Erv Korkow Day in his home state. Korkow died on Nov. 25, 1993.
Since the ProRodeo Hall of Fame's opening in 1979, and not including the 2009 class, 206 people, 25 animals and 16 rodeos have been inducted. More than 40,000 people visit the 30,000 square-foot facility that is located adjacent to the national headquarters of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association each year.
Tickets for the Cowboy Ball July 10 are $75 per person or $125 for a couple. The Golf Invitational fundraiser is set for July 10. To order tickets for the Cowboy Ball and/or registers for the golf, contact Sammi Snow by e-mail at ssnow@prorodeo.com or by phone at 719.528.4714 or Tanna Kimble by e-mail at tkimble@prorodeo.com or by phone at 719.528.4728.
For all other events, tickets may be purchased at the Hall of Fame on the day of the event. Tickets for the July 11 induction ceremonies are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12.
The Hall’s museum and gift shop will be closed on July 10 so staff by set up for the Cowboy Ball. http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/joomla/
-- Jim Bainbridge
California alternate sweeps Cody Xtreme Bulls
CODY, Wyo. – Chad Denton wasn’t even originally entered in the Cody-Yellowstone Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls, presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, July 5 in Cody, Wyo. He was an alternate, a standby in case someone had to turn out due to injury.
Denton’s traveling partner, Corey Navarre, encouraged him to enter summer competitions with him. Now, after taking advantage of his chance by riding two bulls for a winning 181.5 points and pocketing $14,382, he could become a factor in the PRCA World Standings.
Xtreme Bulls Tour standings leader Steve Woolsey was forced out of competition after having his knee stepped on in Oakley City, Utah, opening a spot for the 31-year-old from Berry Creek, Calif.
“For the Fourth, I went with Corey,” Denton said. “I’d been having a heck of a time (before), but praise the Lord it went my way (at the Cody Xtreme Bulls).”
Denton had the highest scores in both the first round and the finals, and therefore clinched the average with the sweep. He scored 90.5 on Burns Rodeo’s Conspiracy in the first round for $4,230.
“The bull was supposed to be away from my hand, so I had a game plan, but I just decided to shut my brain off and just do it,” Denton said. “Turns out, he went to the left out of the gate and felt great.”
Denton drew Frontier Rodeo’s Cajun Monkey in the finals. The bull was wild, out of time and hard to ride, but the California cowboy persevered. He scored an event-high 91 points to claim $3,102 in the finals and $7,050 for winning the average.
Denton’s prize money won’t immediately boost him into Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification contention, but more than one trip to Las Vegas began with a great Cowboy Christmas run over the Fourth of July.
“I’m entered up,” Denton said of his PRCA plans. “I’m going to go home for a few days -- I didn’t know how I was going to get home after this -- now I just might buy a first-class ticket.”
The Cody-Yellowstone Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls Tour stop will be broadcast at 12:30 p.m. (ET) July 19 on ESPN2. The program will re-air at noon (ET) Aug. 1 and Oct. 4 on ESPN Classic. Visit ProRodeo.com for a complete Xtreme Bulls TV schedule and more information on the Xtreme Bulls tour.
Bull rider Corey Navarre breaks through in Cody
CODY, Wyo. – Cowboy Christmas is all about scooping up some of the prize money that is up for grabs, and there were plenty of happy cowboys at the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede July 1-4. For some, it had been awhile since they had cashed on Christmas.
“It’s huge,” said bull rider Corey Navarre after his 88-point ride on JS Rodeo’s Josey Wales, which tied for first place. “I have never had a good Fourth. I don’t think I’ve won a dime (before this year). I’m having a blessed week.”
Wisconsin’s B.J. Schumacher, the 2006 world champion, also scored 88 points. He reached the whistle on Sankey Rodeo Company’s Brass Monkey. Navarre, of Weatherford, Okla., and Schumacher won $8,685 each.
The 90th edition of the Cody Stampede was a gold-tier stop on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour presented by Justin Boots. A sell-out crowd of more than 5,000 took in the final performance on July 4.
Oregon’s Jason Havens and Missouri's D.V. Fennell scored 86 points apiece and split first place in the bareback riding. Havens got to the pay window aboard Sankey Rodeo Company’s Parlor Game, while Fennell rode Gus, also of the Ike Sankey string. Havens and Fennell collected $8,390 each.
“Anytime you win money on the Fourth of July, that is a good Fourth of July,” Havens said. There are a lot of guys who go to rodeos on the Fourth and don’t win anything.”
Other contestants who tallied victories at the Cody Stampede were Beau Franzen (steer wrestling), Charly Crawford and Russell Cardoza (team roping) and Ryan Jarrett (tie-down roping). Jill Miller won the barrel racing in an arena record of 16.87 seconds.
Reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile won Cody’s all-around title. He competed in the tie-down roping and team roped with heeler Patrick Smith. Brazile won $10,523.
Visit ProRodeo.com for additional Cowboy Christmas coverage.
Greeley winners get big Cowboy Christmas gifts on Fourth of July
A group of road-weary cowboys descended on Greeley, Colo., for the short round at the 2009 Greeley Independence Stampede July 4, but no level of fatigue could keep the smiles off the faces of the Independence Day winners. Six of the day’s seven winners not only won first-place money for the round, but for the average as well.
Some of them just had a longer, more nervous waiting period before the job was done.
Nate Baldwin watched his steer leave the chute earlier than its intended departure time. As a result, Baldwin was moved to the end of the order and could only watch as storm clouds rolled in over the arena.
Needing a time of 9.8 seconds to win the round and 9.2 to win the average, the Blackfoot, Idaho, cowboy finished his run in 8.7 to earn both victories.
"You try to block that out," Baldwin said of the weather. "I kind of had an advantage because I got moved to the end. I knew what everyone had done, so that helped. I haven’t had a great Fourth of July, so it’s good to end it like this."
Baldwin’s disappointment leading up to the short round in Greeley wasn’t due to lack of effort; he competed in seven rodeos over Cowboy Christmas.
Another Idaho cowboy who found a bright spot in Greeley was Caldwell bull rider Marcus Michaelis, who scored 86 points on Beutler & Son’s Tokyo Drift to win the round and the average title.
Riding multiple bulls in consecutive days took its toll on Michaelis, he said, but the $9,306 won in Greeley should help to ease the pain.
"I rode a few bulls, but for lower scores," Michaelis said of his other efforts on the weekend. "I wasn’t really winning anything, and the ones that bucked me off bucked pretty hard. Everybody here is sore, and I feel extra sore. But winning here helps; it’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for."
The other average winners from Greeley were Bobby Mote (bareback riding), Shawn Greenfield (steer wrestling), Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith (team roping), Billy Etbauer (saddle bronc riding) and Shelley Morgan (barrel racing).
Upcoming PRCA Rodeos
July 7 Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo, Casper, Wyo., begins
July 7 Rooftop Rodeo, Estes Park, Colo., begins
July 8 Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Lake Luzerne, N.Y.
July 8 Tops in Texas, Jacksonville, Texas, begins
July 8 Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, Colorado Springs, Colo., begins
July 9 Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo, Vernal, Utah, begins
July 9 Sheridan Wyo Rodeo, begins
July 9 Heart of the North Rodeo, Spooner, Wis., begins
July 9 Wolf Point (Mont.) Wild Horse Stampede, begins
July 9 Hamel (Minn.) Rodeo & Bull Ridin’ Bonanza, begins
July 10 Butte (Mont.) Vigilante Rodeo, begins
July 10 Cushing (Okla.) Community Rodeo, begins
July 10 Winnishiek County Fair Pro Rodeo, Decorah, Iowa, begins
July 10 Silver State Stampede, Elko, Nev., begins
July 10 Isanti (Minn.) Firefighters Rodeo, begins
July 10 Mesquite (Texas) Championship Rodeo, begins
July 10 Buckin’ on the River, Savannah, Tenn., begins
July 10 Steamboat Springs (Colo.) Pro Rodeo Series
July 10 Cheney (Wash.) Rodeo, begins
July 10 Laramie (Wyo.) Jubilee Days, begins
July 11 Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J., begins
July 11 Elgin (Ore.) Stampede, begins
July 11 Harmon Valley Rodeo, Peace River, Alberta, begins
July 11 Teepee Creek (Alberta) Stampede, begins July 11
The PRCA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the largest and oldest rodeo-sanctioning body in the world. The recognized leader in professional rodeo, the PRCA is committed to maintaining the highest standards. The PRCA, a membership-based organization, sanctions more than 600 rodeos annually, and there are nearly 30 million fans in the U.S. The PRCA showcases the world's best cowboys in premier events through the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour presented by Justin Boots, and its subsequent Playoffs, the Xtreme Bulls presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, the PRCA's bull riding tour; and the world-renowned Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Action from PRCA-sanctioned rodeos and its premier events appears on ESPN2, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes. Each year, PRCA-sanctioned rodeos raise more than $26 million for local and national charities. www.prorodeo.com
Copyright 1996 - 2008 Rodeo Attitude, LLC., All rights reserved.