Colorado Cowboy Takes Lead in Tie-Down Roping at National Western Stock Show and Rodeo

By Susan Kanode
Posted Friday, January 16, 2009

 

Peek, who lives just down the road at Pueblo is competing in the Denver Coliseum in tie-down roping and steer wrestling. The talented all-around athlete qualified for the 2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in both events. He returned to Las Vegas last December to compete in the tie-down roping and finished out the season in sixth place.

That was a little disappointing for Peek as he had entered the NFR in first place and was hoping to leave with the gold buckle that signifies being the best. He started off his 2008 season by winning the tie-down roping title and nearly $60,000 at Rodeo Houston. While Denver’s rodeo won’t pay as much, it is every bit as important in getting a cowboys season off to a good start. He took the lead in the first round of tie-down roping with a blazing fast run of 7.6 seconds.

“It’s always good to win and it doesn’t matter where it is, but to win anything in Denver would be awesome.” Peek said. “I have a lot of family and friends in the area so it’s fun to be here anyway. Winning something would be the icing on the cake.”

Peek is a newlywed having married his fiancée Kori on Jan. 3rd, so whatever happens in the arena will take a back seat to starting the year as a husband. His success here didn’t extend into the steer wrestling. He caught the steer midway down the arena, but the steer didn’t cooperate so when the clock stopped it was a 10.3-second run, quite a bit off the 3.8 that is setting the pace.

Luke Branquinho, the 2008 National Western champ and reigning world champ is atop the leader board in the steer wrestling with that 3.8 run. He is followed by Curtis Cassidy from Donalda, Alberta, who had a 3.9.

Rodeo action continues at the National Western Stock Show on Friday, Jan. 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

DENVER, Colo. - The following are results from the third performance at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, Thursday, Jan.15, 2009.

Third Performance -

Bareback Riding:1, Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 79 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Moon Time. 2, Travis Carlson, Big Piney, Wyo., 77. 3, Andy Carter, Ellsinore, Mo., 76. 4, Larry Carter, Norwood, Colo., 63.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.8. 2, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 3.9. 3, Tyler Karney, Olney Springs, Colo., 4.5. 4, Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 4.6.

Team Roping: 1, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Jesse Echtler, Huntsville, Texas, 5.3. 2, Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 5.9. 3, Nick Camilletti, Hayden, Colo., and Dustin Bowling, Fort Collins, Colo., 6.4. 4, Adam Worthen, Black Forest, Colo., and Jess Jolly, Goodwell, Okla., 11.4.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Wes Burns, Stephenville, Texas, 79 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Red Cloud. 2, J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 76. 3, Hugh Connolly, Golden Valley, N.D., 72. 4, Tim Sloan, Meeteetse, Wyo., 66.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 7.6. 2, (tie) Chase Johnston, Greeley, Colo.; Trenton Johnson, Mound City, Kan.; and Cole Wilson, Kincaid, Kan.; 10.2.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Briana Reynolds, Ellsinore, Mo., 15.81. 2 (tie), Lindsay Knaff, Winston, Mont., and Nikkie Miller-Gosney, Scottsdale, Ariz., 15.90. 4, Shelly Anzick, Livingston, Mont., 15.92.

Bull Riding: (three qualified rides) 1, Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 81 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Paradise City. 2, Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 80. 3, Brady Menge, Fruita, Colo., 74.

The following are first-round leaders -

Bareback Riding: 1, Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 80 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Faded Dice. 2, Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 79. 3, Travis Carlson, Big Piney, Wyo., 77. 4, Andy Carter, Elsinore, Mo., 76.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.8 seconds. 2, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 3.9. 3, Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 4.0. 4, Tyler Karney, Olney Springs, Colo., 4.5.

Team Roping: 1, Cooper, Wimberly, Belen, N.M., and James Gillilland, Albuquerque, N.M., 5.1 seconds. 2, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Jesse Echtler, Huntsville, Texas, 5.3. 3, Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 5.9. 4, Taylor Mitchell, Belton, Texas, and Will Groth, Llano, Texas, 6.2.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Chet Johnston, Gillette, Wyo., 80 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s High Sierra. 2 (tie), Alex Wright, Milford, Utah, and Wes Burns, Stephenville, Texas, 79. 4, Jake Wright, Snyder, Texas, 78.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 7.6 seconds. 2, Josh Foutch, Eldora, Iowa, 10.0. 3 (tie), Cole Wilson, Kincaid, Kan.; Trenton Johnson, Mound City, Kan.; and Chase Johnston, Greeley, Colo.; 10.2.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Bobbi Wagner, San Angelo, Texas, 15.76. 2, Alicia Sandoval, Bloomfield, N.M., 15.78. 3, Briana Reynolds, Elsinore, Mo., 15.81. 4 (tie), Lindsay Knaff, Winston, Mont., and Nikkie Miller-Gosney, Scottsdale, Ariz., 15.90.

Bull Riding: 1, Corey McFadden, Coleman, Texas, 87 points on Flying Five Rodeo’s Fire Water. 2, Cooper Kanngiesser, Zenda, Kan., 85. 3, Corey Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 84. 4, Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 81.