Hannum overtakes traveling partner for first round win

Posted Friday, March 16, 2007

POCATELLO, Idaho, March 15, 2007 – There were very few lead changes on the second night of the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco as the first round of competition came to a close.

Tie-down roper Jake Hannum was one of the few competitors on Thursday night who skyrocketed to the top of the leaderboard. Hannum, of Ogden, Utah, turned in a time of 8.0 seconds to win the first round and overtake his traveling partner, Nate Baldwin, of Blackfoot, Idaho. Baldwin and Cutter Parsons, of Marana, Ariz., turned in the fastest time on Wednesday night with a 9.5 and finished in a tie for third in the round behind Hannum and Shane Wesley of Silex, Mo. Hannum pocketed $3,480 and will return on Friday for his second round calf.

The Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR) is the crowning event of the PRCA’s circuit system of regional competition. National circuit champions are determined at the elimination-style event. Cowboys compete in two preliminary rounds that are split into four performances. The top eight contestants in each event advance to the semifinals, where all previous scores are erased. After the completion of the semifinals, the top four contestants in each event move on to the final round, known as the Wrangler Round, where the national titles are decided. Each event champion will receive a one-year lease to a brand new Dodge Truck and will automatically be qualified into the first two Wrangler ProRodeo Tour playoffs later in the year.

Bee Jay Scott came close to taking over the lead in the bareback riding on Thursday night, but fell one point short of the top spot. Scott, of Otely, Iowa, rode Gold Buckle Rodeo’s Mama’s Boy for 83 points. Bobby Mote, of Culver, Ore., finished atop the leaderboard with his 84-point ride on Sankey Rodeo’s Eagle Feather and picked up a check worth $3,520. Scott pocketed $2,640.

In the steer wrestling, Wade Steffen was the only one to challenge the top time of 3.9 seconds turned in by Trevor Knowles on Wednesday night. Steffan, of Richmond, Ill., finished third in the first round with a 4.2 second run behind Knowles and K.C. Jones of Decatur, Texas, with a 4.1. Knowles picked up a check totaling $3,613, Jones won $2,710 and Steffan cashed in for $1,807.

Columbia River Circuit team ropers Matt Funk and Bucky Campbell won the first round with a 4.9 second run on Thursday night. Funk, of Hermiston, Ore., and Campbell, of Benton City, Wash., outdistanced Jon Stafford and Dusty Morse of the Wilderness Circuit, who finished with a 5.7-second run turned in on opening night. Funk and Campbell pocketed $3,515, while Stafford and Morse picked up $2,637.

Saddle bronc rider Cody Wright remained atop the leaderboard and collected a first-place check in the first round. Wright, of Milford, Utah, rode Sankey Rodeo’s Barn Dance for 87 points. Billie Sutton of Burke, S.D., turned in the top score on Thursday night with an 84 on Powder River Rodeo’s Night Train to finish in second place. Wright won $3,501, while Sutton picked up $2,626.

Kay Blandford of Sutherland Springs, Texas, won the first round after posting a 14.96-second run on the opening night. Blandford’s closest competitor was Shali Lord of Lamar, Colo., who rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 15.11 seconds on Thursday night. Blandford won $3,370 for her efforts, while Lord picked up $2,528.

Jake Wade of Alamo, Nev., posted the highest score on Thursday night in the bull riding with a 78-point ride on Burns Rodeo’s Kaw-Lija, but fell short of the top spot. Steve Woolsey of Payson, Utah, won the round with an 86 aboard Korkow Rodeo’s Red Neck and Cooper Kanngiesser of Zenda, Kan., was second with a 79 on Beard Rodeo’s Juke Joint. Woolsey pocketed $3,708, while Kanngiesser picked up $2,781 and Wade won $1,854.

Second round competition begins Friday night at 7 p.m. at Holt Arena.

Results: Dodge National Circuit Finals March 15, 2007

Bareback Riding
First round: 1. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 84.0 points on Sankey Rodeo Co.'s Eagle Feather, $3,520; 2. Bee Jay Scott, Otley, Iowa, 83.0, $2,640; 3. Joe Gunderson, White, S.D., 80.0, $1,760; 4. (tie) Tim Shirley, Bailey, Colo., 79.0, Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 79.0, and Wes Stevenson, Kaufman, Texas, 79.0, $293 each; 7. (tie) Josi Young, Buhl, Idaho, Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, Matt Bright, Martin, Tenn., and Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 78.0; 11. (tie) Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas, and James Sursa, Bluebell, Utah, 77.0; 13. (tie) Brandon Holmes, Livingston, Ala., and Dustin Reeves, Owanka, S.D., 76.0; 15. (tie) Tim Wilkinson, Fort Scott, Kan., Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., Dale Stoller, Great Falls, Mont., and Luis Escudero, Woodstown, N.J., 74.0; 19. Rick Bradley, Escalon, Calif., 73.0; 20. Jared Keylon, Dover, Ark., 70.0; 21. Andy Bolich, Belgrade, Mont., 67.0; 22. JR Chino, Mescalero, N.M., 66.0; 23. Jason Martin, Coronado, Calif., 61.0.

Steer wrestling
First round: 1. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 3.9 seconds, $3,613; 2. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.1, $2,710; 3. Wade Steffen, Richmond, Ill., 4.2, $1,807; 4. Ethan Thouvenell, Norco, Calif., 5.1, $903; 5. Shayne Bennett, Riverton, Utah, 5.4; 6. Trav Cadwell, Oakdale, Calif., 5.9; 7. Dane Hanna, Littleton, Colo., 6.7; 8. Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 7.0; 9. Jon Ragatz, Cassville, Wis., 7.1; 10. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 7.6; 11. Tyler Miller, McClure, Pa., 8.1; 12. C.J. Aragon, Belen, N.M., 9.2; 13. Gregory Bennett, Lake Luzerne, N.Y., 10.8; 14. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 11.1; 15. Damian Padilla, Rio Rico, Ariz., 14.1; 16. Curt La Duke, Bozeman, Mont., 21.1; 17. Ken Holland, Dillon, Mont., 29.1; 18. (tie) Ivon Nelson, Williston, Fla., Tommy Cook, McAlester, Okla., Tom Hansen, Dunn Center, N.D., Ken Lewis, La Junta, Colo., Jule Hazen, Protection, Kan., Tony Currin, Dayton, Wash., and Brad Morgan, Brandon, Miss.

Team roping
First round: 1. Matt Funk, Hermiston, Ore./Bucky Campbell, Benton City, Wash., 4.9 seconds, $3,515; 2. Jon Stafford, Nampa, Idaho/Dusty Morse, Ogden, Utah, 5.7, $2,637; 3. (tie) Todd Arthur, Navasota, Texas/Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, and Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Len Dorman, Dade City, Fla., 5.9, $1,318 each; 5. (tie) Justin Hodson, West Haven, Utah/Jade Anderson, Goshen, Utah, and Donnie McNeece, Mclouth, Kan./Chad Mathes, Lawson, Mo., 6.2; 7. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo./Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 7.3; 8. C.J. Scheller, Ault, Colo./Lance Allen, Burns, Wyo., 7.5; 9. Alfred Hansen, Dickinson, N.D./Bobby Harris, Ree Heights, S.D., 10.5; 10. (tie) Colt Braden, Dewey, Okla./Jake Long, Alva, Okla., and Jason Handy, Shepard, Mont./Chase Gauger, Bozeman, Mont., 11.0; 12. Tommy Edens, Gatesville, Texas/Coby Jones, Gatesville, Texas, 13.1; 13. Larry Cohorn, Las Cruces, N.M./Aaron Tsinigine, Winslow, Ariz., 19.5; 14. Justin Turner, Vinita, Okla./Shannon Frascht, Alva, Okla., 21.7; 15. Danny Garcia, Miami, Fla./Manny Egusquiza Jr, Madison, Ga., 28.3; 16. Jeff Johnston, Stapleton, Neb./Mark Swanson, Arthur, Neb., 31.5; 17. (tie) Zach Kilgus, Watsontown, Pa./Justin Yost, Hico, Texas, Waylon McCurley, Escalon, Calif./Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif., Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Rick Copher, Molalla, Ore., Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jimmie Allen, Spokane, Mo., Russ Sullivan, Peralta, N.M./Levi Garcia, Roy, N.M., Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., and J.P. Holland, Billings, Mont./Dustin Ostrum, Joliet, Mont., NT.

Saddle bronc riding
First round: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.0 points on Sankey Rodeo Co.'s Barn Dance, $3,501; 2. Billie Sutton, Burke, S.D., 84.0, $2,626; 3. (tie) Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 83.0, and Anthony Bello, Oakley, Utah, 83.0, $1,313 each; 5. (tie) Brad Rudolf, Winterset, Iowa, and Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 81.0; 7. (tie) Weston Ireland, Sallisaw, Okla., and Jake Griffin, Daniel, Wyo., Justin Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., 80.0; 10. Tim Edge, Fulton, Miss., 79.0; 11. (tie) Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., and Dan Erickson, La Junta, Colo., 78.0; 13. Scott Miller, Hemet, Calif., 77.0; 14. (tie) Everett Ashurst, Douglas, Ariz., and Ty Atchison, Martin, Tenn., 76.0; 16. (tie) Shawn Morehead, Bruneau, Idaho, and Bobby Griswold, Geary, Okla., 75.0; 18. Dennis Rossignol, Groton, N.Y., 69.0; 19. (tie) Shane Moran, Roundup, Mont., Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., Spencer Turner, Basehor, Kan., Tim Sloan, Whitehall, Mont., Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., and Steve Dollarhide, Wikieup, Ariz., 0.0.

Tie-down roping
First round: 1. Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 8.0 seconds, $3,480; 2. Shane Wesley, Silex, Mo., 8.8, $2,610; 3. (tie) Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., 9.5, and Cutter Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 9.5, $870 each; 6. Ronnie Davis, Norman Park, Ga., 10.2; 7. C.R. Bradley, Collinsville, Texas, 10.4; 8. Jesse Egan, Gridley, Calif., 12.0; 9. Brad Goodrich, Stanfield, Ore., 12.1; 10. Brett Fleming, Worden, Mont., 13.1; 11. Caddo Lewallen, Morrison, Okla., 13.6; 12. Ryan Siemsen, Huntley, Mont., 13.7; 13. Brandon Neugebauer, Pueblo, Colo., 13.8; 14. Rick Kieckhefer, Prescott, Ariz., 20.4; 15. (tie) Seth Hopper, Stanfield, Ore., Matt McGee, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Todd Graff, Ainsworth, Neb., Zach Kilgus, Watsontown, Pa., Clint Cooper, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Trevor Thiel, Greeley, Colo., Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas, J.R. Myers Jr, Felton, Pa., Russell Wells, Lindsay, Okla., and Tyler Fagerhaug, Wessington Springs, S.D., NT.

Barrel racing
First round: 1. Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 14.96 seconds, $3,370; 2. Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 15.11, $2,528; 3. Terri Wood Gates, West Jordan, Utah, 15.12, $1,685; 4. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 15.14, $843; 5. Barb West, Oak Harbor, Wash., 15.27; 6. (tie) Shawna Bourne, Chapel Hill, Tenn., and Lanita Powers, Edmond, Okla., 15.34; 8. Lyndee Stairs, Hanford, Calif., 15.40; 9. Tammy Key-Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 15.45; 10. Carrie Thompson, Morton, Miss., 15.46; 11. Donna Irvin, Galva, Ill., 15.48; 12. Jessica Mueller, Buffalo, S.D., 15.55; 13. Shelley Murphy, Helena, Mont., 15.57; 14. Brandie Halls, Carpenter, Wyo., 15.64; 15. Jennifer Romriell, Broadalbin, N.Y., 15.74; 16. Cally Goyins, Helena, Mont., 15.84; 17. Lisa Barone, York Springs, Pa., 16.30; 18. Vickie Solmonsen, Riverton, Utah, 20.25; 19. Sheri Sinor-Estrada, Alamogordo, N.M., 20.36; 20. Kathy Bankston, Gavilan Hills, Calif., 20.50; 21. Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla., 20.53; 22. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., 20.65; 23. Sabrina Ketcham, Yeso, N.M., 20.79; 24. Josie Jordan, Gillette, Wyo., NT.

Bull riding
First round: 1. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 86.0 points on Korkow Rodeos' Red Neck, $3,708; 2. Cooper Kanngiesser, Zenda, Kan., 79.0, $2,781; 3. Jake Wade, Alamo, Nev., 78.0, $1,854; 4. Jake Moore, Kneeland, Calif., 76.0, $927; 5. Larry Leist, Red Hill, N.M., 72.0; 6. Steven Lambert, Bozeman, Mont., 57.0; 7. (tie) Will O'Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, Paul Weinberger, Breien, N.D., Travis Campbell, New Braunfels, Texas, Brandon Sartin, Zachary, La., Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, Justin Kennedy, La Porte City, Iowa, Kyle Johnson, Riverton, Wyo., J-Byrd Morrow, Wayland, Iowa, Charles Zoss, Forestburg, S.D., Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev., Tyler Miller, McClure, Pa., Cody Sundby, Weatherford, Okla., Cameron Castleberry, Gillette, Wyo., Chance Smart, Philadelphia, Miss., Brandon Edwards, Dayton, Texas, Judd Mortensen, Dewey, Ariz., Charley Barker, Terrebonne, Ore., and Tyler Johnson, Bridger, Mont., 0.0.