Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association News and Notes March 16, 2009

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Monday, March 16, 2009

Wing soars to sweep of Super Series IV at RodeoHouston
HOUSTON - Stormy Wing's debut at RodeoHouston has been beyond anything he could have imagined.
Not only was he the only bull rider to reach the eight-second whistle in all three rounds of Super Series IV, Wing won all three to become the first competitor in any event at this $1.4 million rodeo to get through to the semifinals with maximum earnings of $10,000.

The 19-year-old from Dalhart, Texas, totaled 236 points on three head, finishing with an 83.5-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo's Mr. Bojangles on March 14.

"This is RodeoHouston," Wing told the Houston Chronicle. "The competition is great. I'm just glad I got on three good bulls and was able to do what I did."

Douglas Duncan of Alvin, Texas, who edged Wing for the PRCA rookie of the year award in 2008, was second in round three with a score of 78.5 points, and that was enough to allow him to finish second in the average as well.

"We go after every bull like we can win it," Wing said. "When we came in here it was (Duncan's) hometown, and he wanted to win it. Just because we're (young) doesn't mean anything."

Former World Champion All-Around Cowboy Ryan Jarrett emerged from a loaded tie-down roping field that included reigning World Champion Stran Smith to win the average in 29.5 seconds and advanced to the March 18-19 semifinals with $7,500.

Jarrett, of Summerville, Ga., clinched his spot by winning round three with a time of 8.8 seconds and was joined in the semifinals by Jeff Chapman, Barry Burk and Hunter Herrin.

Reese Kerr and Ryon Tittel came to Reliant Stadium over the weekend and overturned the conventional wisdom that familiarity and long practice sessions together are important to success in team roping.

In just their second appearance together, Kerr, of Comfort Texas, and Tittel, of Pueblo, Colo., were the average winners and top money earners in Super Series IV.

They placed in two of three rounds to finish with an average time of 28.6 seconds and earnings of $3,425 each to advance straight into the semifinals of the PRCA's richest regular-season rodeo, something that could not be said for the veteran pairings of Chad Masters/Michael Jones, Clay Tryan/Kory Koontz, Garrett Tonozzi/Kinney Harrell, Jake Barnes/Monty Joe Petska and Joel Bach/Allen Bach through the first four of five Super Series brackets.

"I've known Reese a long time, and I've seen him compete" Tittel said. "He's a great partner."
Super Series V concludes March 17, to be followed by semifinal rounds March 18-19 and a wild card round March 20. The top four from each semifinal plus the top two from the wild card round move on to the Championship Round March 21 and the four survivors then compete in the Championship Shootout for the $50,000 winner's purse. The Houston Xtreme Bulls event will be at Reliant Stadium March 22.

DirecTV will be offering live pay-per-view coverage of RodeoHouston March 18-21. For more information call 1.800.763.3689 or go online at www.directv.com.

Rodeo Austin gets under way with Xtreme Bulls Division II (times two)
AUSTIN, Texas - After a year lost to injury, Jarrod Craig is starting to build a strong case that he's ready to return to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where he competed in 2006-07.

Craig, of Hillsboro, Texas, was the big winner in the March 14-15 Xtreme Bulls Division II competitions, which kicked off the the 71st annual Rodeo Austin. He tied for third place in the first round and was second in the short go March 14 with a 92-point ride on Andrews Rodeo's Red Onion.

That brought Craig's two-head score to 179 points, enough to edge 2005 World Champion Matt Austin by 1.5 points and bank a total of $3,667.

Shawn Proctor won the first round March 15 with a 92-point ride and, when no one was able to complete a ride in the short go, he also won the average and $3,610.

Craig injured his shoulder in a rodeo in Lubbock, Texas, a year ago and spent nine months in physical therapy.
"And went broke," Craig told the Austin American-Statesman.
Rodeo Austin, which last year ranked among the top 20 PRCA rodeos with total prize money of nearly $300,000, begins tonight and continues through March 28.

DeMoss reaches $1 million milestone in career earnings
Saddle bronc rider Cody DeMoss has joined the millionaire's club. With prize money of $16,639 this season, the Heflin, La., cowboy has moved to 75th on the career earnings list with $1,008,823 in his 10th season, moving past Bobby Hurley, Tom Ferguson, Derek Clark and Myron Duarte since the start of the year.

DeMoss' win at the March 13-15 Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo moved him into eighth place in the PRCA World Standings.

Hay opens Canadian season with win in Lethbridge
Eight-time Canadian Saddle Bronc champion Rod Hay rode Kesler Championship Rodeo's Coalbank for 85 points to win the Dodge Extreme Indoor ProRodeo in Lethbridge, Alberta, March 13-14, the opening rodeo of the Canadian professional season.

Corkill takes home $137,089 in cash, plus truck and trailer from George Strait Team Roping Classic
Jade Corkill's travel fund just got covered … for the next couple of seasons.
By finishing first, second and sixth in the George Strait Team Roping Classic March 13 in San Antonio, Corkill claimed $137,089 in prize money, a pickup truck and a Bruton Easy Pull Strait Extreme 3-horse trailer.

Corkill, of Fallon, Nev., finished first with 2007 World Champion Header Chad Masters, second with Brandon Beers and sixth with Jake Cooper. Masters earned $124,265 with his win and a fourth place finish with Michael Jones.

A record 483 teams took part, including the host, country music legend George Strait, and his son, Bubba.

Rodeo Austin offers live pay-per-view Web cast coverage of each round
Fans across the world will be able to watch live pay-per-view coverage of Rodeo Austin on the Internet March 16-28. RodeoAustin.com is making the Web cast available for $6.99 per individual performance, or $75 for the entire rodeo.

Coverage of the junior livestock show, open show and horse show are available for free on the rodeo's Web site, www.rodeoaustin.com.

Upcoming PRCA Rodeos
March 16 RodeoHouston continues through March 21
March 16 Rodeo Austin (Texas), Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Gold Rodeo, presented by Justin Boots, begins March 20 Ark-La-Miss Stampede Days, Monroe, La., begins
March 20 Guadalupe PRCA Rodeo, San Marcos, Texas, begins
March 20 Helzapoppin' PRCA Rodeo, Buckeye, Ariz., begins
March 20 Goliad County Fair PRCA Rodeo, Goliad, Texas, begins
March 20 Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo, Lake City, Fla., begins
March 20 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, Mercedes, Texas
March 20 Camrose Spring Classic Rodeo, Camrose, Alberta, Canada, begins
March 22 Xtreme Bulls, presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, Houston, Texas
March 26 Laughlin (Nev.) River Stampede begins