ODESSA, Texas - Cody DeMers has spent forever, it seems, away from rodeo's biggest stage, the National Finals Rodeo.
Last year, he struggled early, then steamrolled through the end of the season to miss the championship by one position, finishing 16th in a sport where the top 15 in each event qualify. He’s hoping to avoid a slow start, and hoping to return to Las Vegas to play for the biggest paydays available in the sport.
He took a giant leap in that direction on Friday night during the first performance of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum. The three-time NFR qualifier from Kimberly, Idaho, matched moves with the Harry Vold Rodeo Co. bronc Dusty Valley for 82 points to take the early bareback-riding lead.
“I’ve missed the last three NFRs,†said DeMers, a college champion. “It started out with injury; I hurt my hand, then my knee. Last year, though, I was just fighting my head.â€
He's fought through the injuries, the pain and the reminders of championships lost. Now the 29-year-old rough-stock cowboy is hoping to take his late ’08 momentum and transition it into his fourth trip to the NFR.
"I didn't really know anything about that horse, so I called up Kirsten (Vold) to find out what I had drawed," he said, referring Harry Vold's daughter and a key member of the stock firm. "She told me she expected him to buck pretty good. Her expectations were right."
The second round will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
First performance, Friday, January 02, 2009
SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo
Ector County Coliseum
Bareback riding: 1. Cody DeMers, Kimberley, Idaho, 82 points on Harry Vold’s Dusty Valley; 2. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 76; 3. Matt Mosher, Wildhorse, Colo., 74; 4. Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif., 71; 5. Matt Crumpler, Stephenville, Texas, 70.
Steer Wrestling: 1. Spud Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.0 seconds; 2. Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6; 3. Gabe Taylor, Valentine, Neb., 4.7; 4. Mike Dickey, Caldwell, Texas, 4.9; 5. Brad McGilchrist, Wheatland, Calif., 5.6.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 85 points on Vold’s Pine Cone; 2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 84; 3. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 82; 4. Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., 80; 5. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 77.
Tie-down roping: 1. Miles Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 9.0 seconds; 2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 9.2; 3. Coby Wood, Big Spring, Texas, 11.6; 4. Jordan Weaver, Cleburne, Texas, 19.6; 5. Robert Hubier, Cleveland, Texas, 22.8.
Barrel racing: 1. Cassie Moseley, Farwell, Texas, 14.45 seconds; 2. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.52; 3. Adelita Tyson, Stephenville, Texas, 14.73; 4. Kristin Carlson, Carlsbad, N.M., 15.05; 5. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 19.24.
Bull riding: 1. Sean Case, Riverside, Calif., 80 points on Vold’s Bobby Brown; 2. Robey Condra, Dayton, Texas, 69; No other qualified rides.
