COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Bobby Mote didn’t take long to start his world-title defense. Mote, of Culver, Ore., who just one month ago hoisted his second world championship gold buckle in bareback riding, earned a share of the title at the 75th SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo in Odessa, Texas
Mote rode JK Rodeo Company’s Brother for 86 points and earned $6,073. Joe Gunderson of Agar, S.D., also scored 86 points, doing so on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Hypnotic. Gunderson earlier claimed the bareback riding title outright in Odessa in 2005.
On the timed-event side, 22-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo tie-down roping qualifier Mike Johnson of Henryetta, Okla., topped the leaderboard after two runs, recording a total time of 16.9 seconds to win the title and $5,434.
The SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo marked the first stop on the 2008 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour. This year’s Wrangler ProRodeo Tour will consist of 26 rodeos taking place from January to August. Contestants will choose 15 of the 26 rodeos to count towards their official Tour Rodeo standings and qualification into the Ariat Playoffs series.
Bull rider Kanin Asay of Powell, Wyo., finished the 2007 season as the runner-up to world champion Wes Silcox. In Odessa, Asay got off to a fast start after scoring 89 points aboard Bad Company Rodeo’s Pretty Vegas, winning the title and $7,973.
Remember Rope Myers? In 2001, he stormed his way to the world steer wrestling title, smashing the Wrangler NFR steer wrestling average record by turfing 10 steers in 37.2 seconds, a mark that still stands today. He wasn’t quite that impressive in the Ector County Coliseum but, by recording a total time of 11.5 seconds on two head, Myers, of Van, Texas, claimed the average title and $4,867.
Saddle bronc rider Cody Wright entered the 2007 Wrangler NFR in the lead but couldn’t hold on, ultimately finishing fourth in the final Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings. Wright took a nice step toward the top of this year’s standings after winning the title in Odessa, riding Harry Vold Rodeo’s Speed Control for 84 points, good for $6,776.
Team roping ended in a tie as brothers Riley and Brady Minor, both of Ellensburg, Wash., and Garrett Tonozzi of Fruita, Colo., and Kinney Harrell of San Angelo, Texas, both roped two steers in 11.2 seconds. Each Minor brother earned $3,128, while Tonozzi and Harrell bagged $5,769, due in large part to their first-round victory.
In barrel racing, Reggie Crosby of Carney, Okla., rode away with the title and $6,000 after completing two cloverleaf patterns in 28.21 seconds.
Although he didn’t win an individual title, five-time and reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile took top honors in Odessa’s all-around chase. Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, earned $9,264 in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping.
Marty Jones of Hobbs, N.M., claimed the steer roping average title by roping and tying four steers in 47.7 seconds, good for $7,197.
SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo Average Champions
Bareback Riding
(tie) Joe Gunderson (Agar, S.D.) and Bobby Mote (Culver, Ore.), 86 points, $6,073 each
Steer Wrestling
Rope Myers (Van, Texas), 11.5 seconds on two head, $4,867
Team Roping
(tie) Riley Minor (Ellensburg, Wash.)/Brady Minor (Ellensburg, Wash.), and Garrett Tonozzi (Fruita, Colo.)/Kinney Harrell (San Angelo, Texas), 11.2 seconds on two head, $3,128 and $5,769, respectively.
Saddle Bronc Riding
Cody Wright (Milford, Utah), 84 points, $6,776
Tie-Down Roping
Mike Johnson (Henryetta, Okla.), 16.9 seconds on two head, $5,434
Barrel Racing
Reggie Crosby (Carney, Okla.), 28.21 seconds on two runs, $6,000
Bull Riding
Kanin Asay (Powell, Wyo.), 89 points, $7,973
Steer Roping
Marty Jones (Hobbs, N.M.), 47.7 points on four head, $7,197
