Guy Allen captures Stephenville (Texas) steer roping title, moves toward 33rd NFSR
Guy Allen has never missed qualifying for the National Finals Steer Roping, so he doesn't "know that what feels like."
And he's not keen to find out.
Allen won the three-head average at the June 4-6 Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo in Stephenville, Texas, with a time of 33.9 seconds. His earnings of $2,283 solidified his hold on ninth spot in the PRCA World Standings, putting him safely on course for his record 33rd consecutive appearance in the Clem McSpadden NFSR this November in Guthrie, Okla.
No contestant in any event has ever made as many appearances in one event at the national finals, let alone consecutively. Allen Bach (27) in team roping, Roy Duvall (24) in steer wrestling and Mike Johnson (23) in tie-down roping have come the closest.
It's been five years since Allen, of Santa Anna, Texas, won the last of his record 18 world championships and while he concedes he would like another ("who wouldn't"), he tries to keep his focus on making each day in the arena, each run, as good as he can make it.
"If you go out there with the mindset that you are trying to win a world championship, chances are you won't rope your steer like you're supposed to do. I just try to take it one steer at a time. You're not competing against the other ropers. You are trying to do the very best with the steer you drew."
What Allen, 50, took away from Stephenville was a bit of confidence that he can be a factor when it comes time to decide who wins the gold buckle this year. Allen had a dry spell that started last October and extended to last month's Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days. He rode travel partner Shandon Stalls' horse Pacific to a third-place result at Guymon and then backed that up with the win at Stephenville on another Stalls mount, Dude.
Allen placed in each of the first two rounds at Stephenville and was so steady all the way through that he had a 1.8-second margin over runner-up Rod Hartness.
"I've probably lost a little bit, but it doesn't feel like it," Allen said. "I still feel young. Things are looking up lately. We'll go to Garden City (Kan.) tomorrow and see what we can do there."
Six-time and reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile and partner Patrick Smith won the team roping title at Stephenville with a time of 4.6 seconds. With a shared title at the June 4-6 Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, N.M., Brazile and Smith each climbed up a spot in the PRCA World Standings - Brazile to sixth among headers and Smith to fifth among heelers.
Other champions at Stephenville were bareback rider Ryan Gray (86 points), steer wrestler Chase Crane (4.1 seconds), saddle bronc rider Ty Atchison (83 points), tie-down roper Adam Gray (7.9 seconds), bull rider Bandy Murphy (86 points) and barrel racer Jordon Peterson (16.05 seconds). Atchison also won the saddle bronc riding title at Rodeo Killeen (Texas), with another 83-point ride.
Southeastern Circuit gains funding from Seminole Tribes of Florida
Southeastern Circuit officials have reached an agreement with the Seminole Tribes of Florida for additional sponsorship which will allow organizers to raise prize money for the circuit’s season-ending championship while also covering the cost of contestant entry fees.
The Dodge Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo, presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco and brought to you by the Seminole Tribes of Florida, will offer more than $100,000 in prize money and awards Nov. 5-7 in Davie, Fla.
Participating stock contractors will receive a $1,000 bonus as part of the sponsorship infusion from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc., Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Wrangler, Bergeron Land Development, Downtown Davie Redevelopment and the Weekley Brothers.
The top 12 contestants in each event during the regular season qualify for the circuit finals. The winners at the circuit finals rodeo and the year-end champions each qualify to compete in the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco.
Two-time NFR qualifier Seely dies at 69
Roughstock cowboy Buzz Seely, who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo as a saddle bronc rider in 1965 and 1969, died May 31 at his ranch in Hot Springs, Mont.
One of the best all-around hands in the Northwest for many years, Seely had his best professional season in 1969 when he won major rodeos at San Angelo, Texas; Nampa, Idaho; Lewiston, Idaho; San Jose, Calif., and Scottsdale, Ariz., before capping the year by winning the NFR average and finishing fifth in the world standings.
Long-time rodeo secretary Una Beutler, 87, dies at Elk City home
Una Beutler, a veteran rodeo secretary and matriarch of the legendary Oklahoma rodeo family, died June 2 at her home in Elk City, Okla. Beutler started her career as a rodeo secretary in Baton Rouge, La., when she accompanied her four brothers to a rodeo there and went to work many of the sport’s top events, including New York City, Boston and the 1972 National Finals Rodeo.
She served as rodeo secretary for the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association for 21 years before retiring in 1992.
Beutler is survived by her son, stock contractor Bennie Beutler, and daughters Vickie Shireman and Dollie Riddle, both of whom followed their mother into the sport and became well-respected rodeo secretaries. Services were held June 4 at Martin’s Funeral Home in Elk City.
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Gaughan inducted into Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame
ProRodeo Hall of Famer Michael Gaughan and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo were inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame June 5 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Gaughan owns the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, the site of the annual PRCA National Convention and played a pivotal role in bringing the NFR to Las Vegas 25 years ago.
“It’s very nice, but I always thought sports halls of fame were for athletes,” Gaughan told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Rounding out the class of 2009 are former basketball star Robert Smith, distance runner Frank Plasso Jr. and wrestling coach Jimmy May.
Upcoming PRCA Rodeos
June 10 Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo, Gladewater, Texas, begins
June 11 Ute Mountain Roundup, Cortez, Colo., begins
June 11 Crosby Fair & Rodeo, Crosby, Texas, begins
June 11 Days of the Old West Rodeo, Delta, Utah, begins
June 11 Beef Empire Days Rodeo, Garden City, Kan., begins
June 11 The Great American West Rodeo, Logan, Utah, begins
June 11 Springhill PRCA Rodeo, Springhill, La., begins
June 11 Daines Ranch Rodeo, Innisfail, Alberta, begins
June 12 Sisters Rodeo, Sisters, Ore., begins
June 12 Canton Stampede Rodeo, Canton, Texas, begins
June 12 Shelby County Sheriff's Posse PRCA Rodeo, Center, Texas, begins
June 12 Cody Nite Rodeo, Cody, Wyo., begins
June 12 Mesquite Championship Rodeo, Mesquite, Texas, begins
June 12 Stanislaus County Sheriff's Posse Pro Rodeo, Turlock, Calif., begins
June 12 JS Rodeo Summer Solstice, Vaughn, Mont., begins
June 12 Lincoln County Rodeo Days, Merrill, Wis., begins
June 12 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show & Rodeo, Union, Ore., begins
June 13 Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.
June 13 Cold Lake Stampede, Cold Lake, Alberta, begins
June 13 Livermore Rodeo, Livermore, Calif., begins
June 13 Glennville Round-Up Rodeo, Glennville, Calif., begins
