Dent’s All-Around Talent Shines at San Antonio Rodeo

By Susan Kanode
Posted Friday, February 20, 2009

SAN ANTONIO -Steven Dent is well known on the rodeo circuit for his bareback riding abilities after having qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in that event twice.

However, the Mullen, Neb., resident is also a talented saddle bronc rider and an all-around contender. Dent says he is more consistent in the bareback riding, but that may be changing. After an 89-point ride at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo on Thursday, he moved to the top of the leader board in the saddle bronc riding for the second semi-finals.

Dent’s ride came aboard Flying Five Rodeo’s horse Spring Blues. He had already won $4,148 in his bracket. Thursday’s win gave him an additional $2,074 so he has a total of $6,223 going into Saturday night’s final round. Dent did win money in bareback riding, but it wasn’t enough for him to advance to the semi-finals.

The two high money earners from the second semi-finals come from opposite ends of the arena and are about as different as two cowboys could be. Joey Bell, Jr., stands 6 foot 4 inches, weighs 220 pounds, and competes in steer wrestling. Bell is originally from New York, but now lives in Athens, Texas.

Bobby Welsh is a Wyoming cowboy living near Gillette. The bull rider is 5 foot 5 and weighs in at 135 pounds. While their events happen at separate ends of the rodeo arena, these two men were the high money winners from the second semi-finals. So far they have each earned $7,000 at the 60th Annual San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo with the finals yet to go.

Tilden Hooper, from Carthage, Texas won the bareback riding with an 88 point ride on Kesler Championship’s horse Cool Pieces. The $2,074 he earned moved him to the top of the standings with $6,223. Hooper qualified for his first NFR last December and is looking for a return trip.

The contestants from both semi-finals that have not advanced to the final round have one more opportunity at Friday night’s wild card round. It will begin in the AT&T Center at 7:30 p.m.

SAN ANTONIO RESULTS - The following are unofficial results from the second semi-finals performance San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo, Thursday, February 19, 2009. Complete results are available at www.sarodeo.com.

17th Performance, semi-finals 2 ---

Bareback Riding: 1, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 88 points on Kesler Championship’s Cool Pieces, $2,074. 2, Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 87, $1,556. 3, Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., 85, $1,037. 4 (tie), Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 84, $259 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Joey Bell, Jr., Athens, Texas, 3.8 seconds, $2,074. 2, Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo., 3.9, $1,556. 3, Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.0, $1,037. 4, Steven Campbell, Midwest, Wyo., 4.3, $518.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.2 seconds, $2,074. 2, Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 9.1, $1,556. 3, Steve Brickey, Tahlequah, Okla., 9.5, $1,037. 4, Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 10.5, $519.

Team Roping: 1, Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla., and Kollin Von Ahn, Durant, Okla., 5.1 seconds, $2,074 each. 2 (tie), Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas; and Waylong McCurley, Escalon, Calif., and Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, Calif., 5.2, $1,296 each. 4, Shane Philipp, Washington, Texas, and Arky Rogers, Lake City, Fla., 19.7, $519.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 89 points on Flying Five Rodeo’s Spring Blues, $2,074. 2, Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 86, $1,556. 3, Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 85, $1,037. 4 (tie), Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas; J.R. Berg, Marwayne, Alberta; and Justin Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif.; 83, $173.

Barrel Racing: 1, Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 13.82 seconds, $2,074. 2, Stephanie Fryar, Big Springs, Texas, 13.92, $1,555.63. 3 (tie), Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, and Jackie Jatzlau, Giddings, Texas, 14.00, $778.

Bull Riding: (three qualified rides) 1, Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 91 points on DH&T Rodeo’s Geetus, $2,074. 2, Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 83, $1,556. 3, Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., 74, $1,037.

Contestants advancing to finals-

Bareback Riding: 1, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, $6,223. 2 (tie), Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., and D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo., $5,185. 4, Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 4,408.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Joey Bell, Jr., Athens, Texas, $7,000. 2 (tie), Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo., and Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., $5,185 each. 4, Steven Campbell, Midwest, Wyo., $3,371.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, $4,926. 2, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, $4,409. 3, Steve Brickey, Tahlequah, Okla., $3,889. 4, Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., $3,670.

Team Roping: 1, Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla., and Kollin Von Ahn, Durant, Okla., $6,741. 2 (tie), Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas; and Waylon McCurley, Escalon, Calif., and Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, Calif., $3,371 each. 4, Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., and Casey Chamberlain, Colorado City, Texas, $3,111.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., $6,223. 2, Bryce Miller, Buffalo, S.D., $4,408. 3, J.R. Berg, Marwayne, Alberta, $3,803. 4, Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, $3,630.

Barrel Racing: 1, Jackie Jatzlau, Giddings, Texas, $5,963. 2, Stephanie Fryar, Big Spring, Texas, $4,926. 3 (tie), Danyelle Campbell, Beaumont, Calif., and Mattie Little, Ardmore, Okla., $4,148 each.

Bull Riding: 1, Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., $7,000. 2, Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, $4,667. 3, Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., $3,630. 4, Seth Glause, Rock Springs, Wyo., $3,371.