Cooper simply too Tuf at PRCA River City Roundup

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Sunday, September 28, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. - Tuf Cooper is going to have to update his MySpace page real soon.
His bio on the Internet friends site lists earnings of "$45,000-$60,000" and that is just so last summer.
By winning the finals of the tie-down roping in dramatic fashion at the Sept. 27 River City Roundup, Cooper pushed his season earnings to nearly $90,000 and served notice he is ready to go after some really serious cash at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Cooper, of Decatur, Texas, won the eight-man semifinal round in 8.5 seconds and came back to win the finals in 8.2 by one-tenth of a second over Mike Johnson while making the fourth and final run of the competition.

"Going last gives you every advantage," Cooper said. "You know how fast you have to go. I like to win first. That's cost me a lot in the past, but that's how I rope. I don't rope to place.

"Ever since 2004, I knew what (my goals were). I wanted to turn 18 and make the NFR in the first year that I could."

The youngest son of ProRodeo Hall of Fame roper Roy Cooper has put together a rookie season to rival that of his father's back in 1976, when Roy won the tie-down roping world championship as a rookie. Tuf, 18, moved into fifth place in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings with his parlay at the Qwest Center, worth $16,875.

"There's a little pressure (being a Cooper), but I try to turn it into a positive. My dad is my best teacher and role model. My brothers (Clint and Clif) and I all practice together and push each other. Being the youngest, I get to learn from all their mistakes."

While Cooper was giving the crowd of 8,718 a look at an exciting new star in the sport, Kelly Timberman was using this third-round event of the Ariat Playoffs as a springboard to get him back into the Wrangler NFR.

On the bubble to make the Las Vegas show this December when he arrived at the Qwest Center, Timberman won the semifinal round with an 85-point ride on Mosbrucker Rodeo's Speckled Moon and then upped the ante in the final with an 87-pointer on Mosbrucker's War & Peace that was three points better than reigning world champion Bobby Mote and Chris Harris.

"I've been here three times," said Timberman, of Mills, Wyo., "and was second twice. It's nice to pull it off here at one of the best rodeos. There's a test of endurance and will. All the hard work and dedication pays off today."

Baby-faced bull rider Stormy Wing put a 93-point ride on D & H Cattle's Ricky Bobby in the final that was just one shy of the arena record set by Jesse Bail in 2003.

The win paid $7,500 and brought Wing's earnings for the weekend to $13,594, putting him close to the top 15 cutoff for the Wrangler NFR with the $550,000 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championships in Dallas, Nov. 7-9, and the Xtreme Bulls Tour finale in Indianapolis, Oct. 24, still on his schedule.

"I don’t keep track of the standings, but I know I'm pretty close," Wing said. "And I'm very excited to control my own destiny. Both Tuf and I are pretty pumped up. We went to the same high school rodeos and have known each other a long time."

Team ropers Matt Sherwood of Pima, Ariz. and Randon Adams of Logandale, Nev., solidified their hold on the top spots in the world standings by winning the finals in 4.3 seconds, a full five seconds ahead of JoJo LeMond and Martin Lucero, who would have tied less the five-second penalty for roping only one hind leg.

Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif. filled in one of the few missing lines on his career resume, winning the River City Roundup steer wrestling title for the first time. He won the semifinals in 3.6 seconds and the finals in 3.8 seconds to earn $16,875 for the weekend.

Canada's Lindsay Sears also swept both rounds of the barrel racing Sept. 27, winning the final over reigning World Champion Brittany Pozzi-Pharr by seven-hundreths of a second in a time of 13.81 seconds. Sears has won seven of eight rounds in Omaha over the past two seasons.

River City Roundup Omaha, Neb., Sept. 27

Bareback riding:
Semifinals: 1. Kelly Timberman, 85 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo's Speckled Moon, $3,750; 2. (tie) Chris Harris and Bobby Mote, 83, $2,344 each; 4. (tie) Will Lowe and Justin McDaniel, 82, $469 each; 6. Royce Ford, 80; 7. Steven Dent, 79; 8. Tim Shirley, 76.
Finals: 1. Kelly Timberman, 87 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo's War & Peace, $7,500; 2. (tie) Bobby Mote and Chris Harris, 84, $2,500; 4. Will Lowe, NS.
Total money:
1. Kelly Timberman, $11,875; 2. Chris Harris, $9,063; 3. Bobby Mote, $8,125; 4. Steven Dent, $6,563; 5. Will Lowe, $4,531; 6.Tim Shirley, $4,063; 7. Ryan Gray, $3,281; 8. Justin McDaniel, $1,875; 9. Royce Ford, $625.

Steer wrestling:
Semifinals: 1. Luke Branquinho, 3.6 seconds, $3,750; 2. Dean Gorsuch, 3.7, $2,813; 3. Cash Myers, 4.1, $1,875; 4. Gabe Ledoux, 4.2, $938; 5. Wade Sumpter, 4.5; 6. Stockton Graves, 4.7; 7. Beau Franzen, 5.0; 8. Ken Lewis, 5.4
Finals: 1. Luke Branquinho, 3.8 seconds, $7,500; 2. Cash Myers, 4.7, $5,000; 3. Dean Gorsuch, 12.5; 4. Gabe Ledoux, NT.
Total money:
1. Luke Branquinho, $16,875; 2. Wade Sumpter, $7,969; 3. Cash Myers, $6,875; 4. Dean Gorsuch, $4,688; 5. Les Shepperson, $3,750; 6. (tie) Ken Lewis and Curtis Cassidy, $2,813; 8. Gabe Ledoux, $2,344; 9. Beau Franzen, $1,875.

Team roping:
Semifinals: 1. Jojo Lemond/Martin Lucero, 5.1 seconds, $3,750; 2. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, 5.3, $2,813; 3. Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, 9.3, $1,875; 4. Speed Williams/Michael Jones, 9.4, $938: 5. Matt Funk/Cory Petska, 14.4; 6. Jake Barnes/Clay O'Brien Cooper, 22.8; 7. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Jake Stanley/Marty Becker, NT.
Finals: 1. Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, 4.3 seconds, $7,500; 2. JoJo LeMond/Martin Lucero, 9.3, $5,000; 3. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, 26.0; 4. Speed Williams/Michael Jones, NT.
Total money:
1. JoJo LeMond/Martin Lucero, $13,438; 2. Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, $10,781; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, $7,500; 4. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, $6,094; 5. Speed Williams/Michael Jones, $4,219; 6. Travis Tryan/Walt Woodard, $3,281; 7. Jake Barnes/Clay Cooper, $2,813; 8. Jake Stanley/Marty Becker, $1,875.

Saddle bronc riding:
Semifinals: 1. Jesse Kruse on Powder River Rodeo's Miss Congeniality and Justin Arnold on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Secret Agent, 88 points, $3,281 each; 3. Chad Ferley, 87, $1,875; 4. Anthony Bello, 84, $938; 5. Cody Wright, 83; 6. Billy Etbauer, 80; 7. (tie) J.J. Elshere and Ben Morrow, NS. Finals: 1. Chad Ferley, 88 points on MJM Rodeo's Little Stone, $7,500; 2. Anthony Bello, 85, $5,000; 3. Justin Arnold, 82; 4. Jesse Kruse, NS.
Total money:
1. Chad Ferley, $16,875; 2. Anthony Bello, $11,094; 3. (tie) Justin Arnold and Jesse Kruse, $10,313 each; 5. J.J. Elshere, $1,406.

Tie-down roping:
Semifinals: 1. Tuf Cooper, 8.5 seconds, $3,750; 2. Josh Peek, 8.9, $2,813; 3. Jeff Chapman, 9.1, $1,875 ; 4. Mike Johnson, 9.9, $938; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 17.7; 6. Fred Whitfield, 19.0; 7. (tie) Doug Pharr and Hunter Herrin, NT.
Finals: 1. Tuf Cooper, 8.2 seconds, $7,500; 2. Mike Johnson, 8.3, $5,000; 3. Josh Peek, 9.2; 4. Jeff Chapman, 17.0.
Total money:
1. Tuf Cooper, $16,875; 2. Mike Johnson, $11,094; 3. Josh Peek, $8,438; 4. Jeff Chapman, $4,688; 5. Hunter Herrin, $3,750; 6. Doug Pharr, $3,281; 7. Stran Smith, $1,875.

Barrel racing:
Semifinals: 1. Lindsay Sears, 13.70 seconds, $3,750; 2. Brenda Mays, 13.97, $2,813; 3. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, 14.04, $1,875; 4. Christina Richman, 14.06, $938; 5. Annesa Self, 14.12; 6. Maegan Reichert, 14.15; 7. Jill Moody, 18.87; 8. Terra Bynum, 19.52.
Finals: 1. Lindsay Sears, 13.81 seconds, $7,500; 2. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, 13.88, $5,000; 3. Christina Richman, 14.11; 4. Brenda Mays, 14.23.
Total money:
1. Lindsay Sears, $15,000; 2. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, $9,688; 3. Brenda Mays, $8,438; 4. Jill Moody, $7,500; 5. Annesa Self, $4,219; 6. Mary Burger, $3,750; 7. Christina Richman, $1,406.

Bull riding:
Semifinals: 1. Steve Woolsey, 92 points on Silverado Rodeo's Silent Image, $3,750; 2. J.W. Harris, 89, $2,813; 3. (tie) B.J. Schumacher, Stormy Wing, Howdy Cloud, Jake Wade, Kanin Asay, Shawn Proctor, NS.
Finals: 1. Stormy Wing, 93 points on D & H Cattle's Ricky Bobby, $7,500; 2. J.W. Harris, 86, $5,000; 3. Steve Woolsey, 83; 4. B.J. Schumacher, NS.
Total money:
1. Stormy Wing, $13,594; 2. J.W. Harris, $13,438; 3. B.J. Schumacher, $10,313; 4. Steve Woolsey, $3,750;

5. Shawn Proctor, $2,813; 6. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., $2,344.