Colorado steer wrestler ties arena record at Ariat Playoffs
CALDWELL, Idaho - Colorado steer wrestler Casey McMillen got the Ariat Playoffs off to a dramatic start Tuesday by tying an arena record that had stood for more than 20 years at the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo.
McMillen, seventh in the world standings entering Caldwell, bulldogged his steer to the turf in 3.5 seconds at CNR Arena, equaling the effort of Ron Currin in 1984.
"I sure didn't see a 3.5 coming tonight," said McMillen, of Craig, Colo., "but I sure was hoping to be middle fours, 4.5. It dang sure feels good to set the arena record, especially at a big one like Caldwell."
Saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy of Corona, N.M., a collegiate national champion, scored 87 points on Calgary Stampede's Margarita Margie for the high mark of the night in that event. Muncy's score was two points shy of the arena record of 89 points set by Kevin Small in 1999.
This year, the Caldwell Night Rodeo is the first round of the Ariat Playoff Series that culminates with the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championship, Nov.9-11 in Dallas.
The other two Playoffs leading up to Dallas are Sept. 7-9 in Puyallup, Wash., and Sept. 27-29 in Omaha, Neb.
The Caldwell round features the top 35 contestants in each event in the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Standings, and the event winner of the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. The field will be reduced in each subsequent Playoff round until 10 contestants in each event vie for Tour Championship titles in Dallas.
On Tuesday, Caldwell featured 18 contestants in each event -- the first half of the first go-around. Tuesday's contestants will return Friday for their second go-around. The top eight in the average return Saturday for the semifinals and finals. The other 18 contestants (or teams in team roping) will compete on Wednesday and Thursday. Cowboys and cowgirls in Caldwell are competing for a share of a $322,000 purse.
The bareback riding included some of rodeo's top athletes, but that didn't faze Justin McDaniel and Kaycee Feild. The pair tied for the high score of the night with 85 points apiece. The loaded field included three-time and reigning World Champion Bareback Rider Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas (79 points) and reigning all-around collegiate national champion Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb. (81 points).
"It can really build your self-esteem that much more when you can beat those guys," said McDaniel, of Porum, Okla. "It makes you ride stronger every time you ride against those guys."
McDaniel made the eight-second whistle on John Smith Rodeo's Let's Play.
"With an uneven bucking horse like that, if you can get into rhythm with them that is what the judges really like," McDaniel said.
Feild, of Elk Ridge, Utah, tied McDaniel on John Smith Rodeo's Sue Mash.
"That horse turned back," Feild said. "He had a lot of action to him. He was tougher than some of the other ones to ride tonight."
The team roping was another event that was packed with star power, and it also ended in a tie. Chad Masters of Clarksville, Tenn., and Britt Bockius of Claremore, Okla., combined to rope their steer in 5.2 seconds along with Cody Odell of Brashear, Texas and Twister Cain of Gonzales, Texas.
"All the toughest ropers are here," said Masters, who won the average at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last December in Las Vegas. "You have to win as much as you can while you're here."
Clint Cooper of Decatur, Texas posted the fastest time of the night in the tie-down competition, roping his calf in 8.3 seconds. Lisa Lockhart, of Oelrichs, S.D., was the quickest in the barrel racing. She completed the cloverleaf pattern in 17.52 seconds.
J.W. Harris, of May, Texas, had the high score of the night in the bull riding. He scored 85 points on Powder River Rodeo's Tigerland. Harris had ridden Tigerland before and knew the bull bucked hard enough to potentially help him qualify for Saturday's semifinals.
"I did my part," Harris said. "Now I just have to wait for the other guys to do their part."
The Caldwell round of the Playoffs will be televised on Fox Sports Net(FSN) with three separate one-hour telecasts beginning the week of Sept. 1. Check local listings or long onto www.prorodeo.com for the dates and times in your FSN region.
The following are unofficial results from the first performance of the Caldwell Night Rodeo, Tuesday, August 14, 2007. These are the leaders in the first round of competition.
Bareback Bronc Riding: 1/2, Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., on John Smith’s Let’s Play and Kaycee Field, Elk Ridge, Utah, on John Smith’s Sue Mash, 85 points. 3/4, Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., and Matt Lait, Stavely, Alberta, 83.
Team Roping: 1/2, Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn., and Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla.; and Cody Odell, Brashear, Texas, and Twister Cain, Gonzales, Texas; 5.2 seconds. 3/4, Shane Durbin and Danny Zuniga, Elsa, Texas; and Matt Funk, Hermiston, Ore., and Bucky Campbell, Benton City, Wash.; 5.4.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo., 3.5 seconds*. 2, Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 4.0. 3, Joey Bell, Jr., Malakoff, Texas, 4.4. 4, Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., 4.5. *tied for arena record set by Ron Currin in 1984.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 87 points on Calgary Stampede’s Margarita Margie. 2/3, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Anthony Bello, Oakley, Utah, 85. 4, J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 84.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.3 seconds. 2, Matt Shiozawa, Chubbock, Idaho, 9.1. 3, Marty Becker, Edmonton, Alberta, 9.2. 4, Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 9.4.
Women’s Barrel Racing: 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.52 seconds. 2, Jackie Dube, Giddings, Texas, 17.54. 3, Sherylynn Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., 17.58. 4, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.71.
Bull Riding: 1, J.W. Harris, May, Texas, 85 points on Powder River Rodeo’s tigerland. 2-4; Dave Samsel, Haslet, Texas; Lucas Dick, Manhattan, Kan.; and Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas, 83.
