Bull riders make big moves in fourth performance of rodeo

By Ted Harbin
Posted Friday, January 9, 2009

ODESSA, Texas - Just looking at the bull riding lineup for Thursday's fourth performance of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo, there was a feeling things might just change a little.

Over the first three performances, the bulls were winning the battle, with just 10 cowboys out of 60 having made the eight-second qualified ride. But Thursday’s field included some of the top bull riders in the business – qualifiers to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Professional Bull Riders World Finals.

The cowboys did their part, doubling the amount of bull rides in one night and taking over the top for spots on the leaderboard. But when the final totes were tallied, it was a relative unknown who took the overall lead through four performances at the Ector County Coliseum, Austin Ambrose of Fletcher, Okla., who rode Bad Company Rodeo’s Wild Wild West for 84 points.

He was followed by three cowboys who scored 81: Douglas Duncan of Alvin, Texas; Cory Melton of Tolar, Texas; and Corey Navarre of Weatherford, Okla. – the latter two have qualified for both the Wrangler NFR and the PBR finals.

“I feel better than I have in a long time,” said Navarre, who a decade ago was the first cowboy in the history of bull riding to qualify for the two pro championships and the College National Finals Rodeo in one season, and he did it in 1998 and 1999.

“I’ve been working a little harder at it. I’ve been getting on a lot of bulls.”

Chasing both prestigious finales means traveling a lot and making the most of every opportunity. He hopes his luck in Odessa makes that difference.

“The last few years, I’ve been lax in my goals,” Navarre said. “But this year, I’ve set my goals to make both the PBR finals and the NFR. I’ve done it before, and I know I can do it again.”

RESULTS

Fourth performance, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009

SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo

Ector County Coliseum

Bareback riding: 1. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, on Harry Vold Rodeo Co.’s Sky Hook and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, on Vold’s Minnie Fry, 79; 3. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, and Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz., 77; 5. Silas Richards, North Zulch, Texas, 75. Leaders: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Washington, and Jared Keylon, Fort Scott, Kan., 85; 2. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 82; 4. Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 81; 5. Tigh Anderberg, Mobridge, S.D., and Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 80.

Steer wrestling: 1. Garrett Henry, Douglas, Wyo., 4.3 seconds; 2. Clint Knutson, Gillette, Wyo., 5.7; 3. Kyle Callaway, Gillette, Wyo., 7.2; 4. Tait Kvistad, Crawford, Neb., 8.9; 5. Wyatt Johnson, Keenesburg, Colo., 13.7. Leaders: 1. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., and Tanner Winkler, Pampa, Texas, 4.0 seconds; 3. Daniel Adams, Weatherford, Okla., and Dru Melvin, Tryon, Neb., 4.1; 5. Todd Suhn, North Platte, Neb., Steven Campbell, Midwest, Wyo., and Garrett Henry, Douglas, Wyo., 4.3.

Team roping: 1. Leaders: 1. Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo./Jesse Echtler, Huntsville, Texas, 5.4 seconds; 2. Luke Kropik, Midway, Texas/Kent Nixon, Midland, Texas, 6.0; 3. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas/Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla., 7.1; 4. Bobby Boyd, Midland, Texas/Jimmy Martinez, Midland, Texas, 9.1; 5. Speed Williams, DeLeon, Texas/Clay O’Brien Cooper, Morgan Mill, Texas, 11.2.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 82 points on Vold’s Breezy Day; 2. Wes Burnes, Stephenville, Texas, 80; 3. Jake Griffin, Powell, Wyo., and Tate Owens, Platteville, Colo., 76; 5. Max Fillippini, Battle Mountain, Nev., 75. Leaders: 1. Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 85; 2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., and Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, S.D., 84; 4. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 82.

Tie-down roping: 1. Johnny Emmons, Weatherford, Texas, 8.7 seconds; 2. Shay Good, Midland, Texas, 9.1; 3. J.D. Knibbe, Portales, N.M., 9.3; 4. John C. Bain, Weatherford, Texas, 10.6; 5. Thomas Merritt, Weatherford, Okla., 10.7.

Barrel racing: 1. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, 14.06 seconds; 2. Savanah Reeves, Dublin, Texas, 14.22; 3. Taryn Weil, Elizabeth, Colo., 14.27; 4. Kelly Allen, Stephenville, Texas, 14.33; 5. Lauren Buford, Stepheville, Texas, 14.75. Second round leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, Victoria, Texas, 13.98 seconds; 2. Tammy Key-Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 13.99; Jackie Jatzltu, Giddings, Texas, 14.05; 4. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, 14.06; 5. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 14.07.

Bull riding: 1. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 84 points on Bad Company Rodeo’s Wild Wild West; 2. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., Douglas Duncan, Alvin, Texas, and Cory Melton, Tolar, Texas, 81; 5. Tony Mendes, Pueblo, Colo., 79. Leaders: 1. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 84; 2. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., Douglas Duncan, Alvin, Texas, and Cory Melton, Tolar, Texas, 81; 5. Thomas Bert, Modesto, Calif., and Sean Case, Riverside, Calif., 80.

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