Harris parlays big score in early round to Ram Prairie Circuit title
DUNCAN, Okla. – Bradley Harris won the bull riding title at the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals on Thursday night; he just didn’t know it until Saturday.
Harris, of Udall, Kan., scored 90 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Rising Sun to win the first round of this year’s championship event. It was the highest-scored ride of the three-day event, and it also secured the first circuit championship of Harris’ young career. There were only four qualified rides in this year’s finale, and Harris had two of them to win the average title and secure his qualification to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for next spring in Oklahoma City.
“It means everything,” said Harris, who rode Frontier Rodeo’s Hideout for 73 points on Saturday night to finish the weekend at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. “The end of my season didn’t go very good; I didn’t win as much money as I wanted, so I kind of reset my goals to come to the finals and win it since I wasn’t going to win enough money to win the year-end.
“I just kept my hand shut, and it paid off.”
Yes, it did. In addition to qualifying for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Harris earned $4,080 in Duncan. He’ll join Guthrie Murray of Miami, Okla., who won the year-end title by just $164 over veteran Corey Navarre of Weatherford, Okla.
While Harris secured his championship early, saddle bronc rider Jesse James Kirby of Dodge City, Kan., waited until his last horse to clinch the year-end title. Kirby earned his third Prairie Circuit championship by winning the third go-round Saturday night, scoring an 83-point ride on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Shasta. That $1,174 allowed the Kansas cowboy to edge Bobby Griswold of Geary, Okla., by $1,064.
“I rodeoed throughout the year going to circuit rodeos, but yet I was going after the NFR,” Kirby said of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. “I only went to 19 rodeos in the circuit, compared to everybody that went to 28-30 rodeos this year. My goal was to make the NFR, but I had another goal – to win the Prairie Circuit.
“I’m tickled to death; it means a lot.”
Hardy Braden of Welch, Okla., and Cody Hamm of Minneapolis, Kan., shared the bronc riding average title, scoring 225 points on three rides.
Other winners at Duncan were all-around cowboy Ryan Jarrett ($2,201, team roping and tie-down roping), bareback rider Jared Keylon (247 points on three head), steer wrestler Stockton Graves (14.4 seconds on three head), team ropers Destry Graham and Jimmy Thomas (20.8 seconds on three head), saddle bronc riders Hardy Braden and Cody Hamm (225 points each on three head), tie-down roper Bryson Sechrist (29.7 seconds on three head), steer roper Chet Herren (39.8 seconds on three head) and barrel racer P.J. Burger (50.66 seconds on three runs).
2. Branquinho bulldogs eighth title at Ram California Circuit Finals
LANCASTER, Calif. – For Luke Branquinho, eight is great. The Los Alamos, Calif., steer wrestler won his eighth year-end circuit title by finishing off another dominant season at the Ram California Circuit Finals.
Branquinho – who also won the average with a time of 14.1 seconds on three head – collected more buckles for his already-crowded trophy case.
“Any time you can win a buckle it’s special, whether it’s a small rodeo, circuit rodeo, circuit championship or world championship,” he said. “There are a lot of good cowboys out here in this circuit; what helped me win the title again was winning money at the bigger rodeos in California.”
Branquinho won titles at Redding, San Francisco, San Bernardino and Ramona, Calif., during the 2012 season.
He says that having the Ram California Circuit Finals before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is a nice tune-up.
“We used to have it in November and then they moved it to January one time, but I think having it toward the end of October is about right,” Branquinho said. “There isn’t a lot going on this time of year so it’s really perfect and allows us to compete at a big event.”
He plans to go to San Francisco to defend his title from last October, and then call it quits until Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.
“It’s always good to win some extra money before the NFR, but it’s so far off that there really isn’t any way to carry momentum from the circuit finals,” he said. “But as I’m preparing for Las Vegas it is nice to have another circuit title.”
Other winners at the $97,129 rodeo were all-around cowboy Blake Hirdes ($3,412, team roping and tie-down roping), bareback rider Tyson Thompson (240 points on three head), team ropers Marcus Battaglia and Kyle Lockett (21.1 seconds on three head), saddle bronc rider Joaquin Real (235 points on three head), tie-down roper Ryle Smith (30.2 seconds on three head), barrel racer Brianna Trepanier (48.33 seconds on three runs) and bull rider Bryce Brown (150 points on two head).
3. PRCA Top Bucking Stock announced
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The PRCA Top Bucking Stock has been announced, rewarding the best bull and pair of bucking horses for the 2012 season.
For the second consecutive year, 4L & Diamond S Rodeo stands atop the bull riding world.
A year after Palm Springs took home the honors as the best bull in the PRCA, Cat Ballou is the top bull of 2012.
“We pride ourselves on trying to bring the very best stock we can to the PRCA rodeos each year,” 4L & Diamond S pen supervisor Scott Pickens said. “Cat Ballou fits into the old-school type of bull that used to be in those famous NFR eliminator pens; he is just so strong.”
In the 16 times that bull riders mounted Cat Ballou in 2012, only one rider was able to ride for the full eight seconds.
Corey Rickard managed a 93-point ride on the beast at the Cave Creek (Ariz.) Fiesta Days Rodeo in March. The only other qualified ride in the last two years – or 34 attempts – was when Bobby Welsh rode for 89 points at Laughlin, Nev., in April 2011.
The 2011 Bareback Horse of the Year, Full Baggage, was nudged into second place in 2012 by Carr Pro Rodeo’s Deuces Night.
The cowboys who rode the 7-year-old mare averaged almost 86 points per ride, making her a dream draw for any bareback rider.
“Deuces Night is just an exceptional young mare and I knew from the time that she was about three years old that she was going to be special,” stock contractor Pete Carr said. “We didn’t think things were going to come together so quickly for her, but she’s been pretty outstanding the last year-and-a-half.”
In the saddle bronc voting, Sutton Rodeos’ Chuckulator beat the 2009 winner, Flying 5 Rodeo’s Spring Planting, for top honors.
The 8-year-old Chuckulator has put together an impressive resume in a short amount of time and finally is getting his due.
“He’s not a real old horse and he made the top 10 vote the last two years at the NFR,” stock contractor Steve Sutton said. “He’s just kept getting better all the time, and then this year we ventured out to a few more places that had short gos and he drew good cowboys and they all did well on him.”
The awards were voted on by the top 20 cowboys in the world standings in each event as of Sept. 18, 2012.
4. Asay stays sharp at NILE ProRodeo
BILLINGS, Mont. – With the end of the 2012 regular season coming two months before the start of the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, a lot of cowboys in the top 15 in the world standings have a decision to make.
That decision is whether or not to keep rodeoing and start off the 2013 campaign, or to rest up and stay home until it’s go time in Las Vegas. Kanin Asay fits somewhere in between.
The 26-year-old finished fourth in the 2012 bull riding world standings, but still made time to win the NILE ProRodeo in Billings, Mont., over the weekend with an 87-point ride on Burch Rodeo’s No. 821.
“I’m not going too hard between now and the NFR, but Billings was only an hour-and-a-half drive from my house in Wyoming and it was easy to get to, so I went,” Asay said. “Plus I knew there would be some great bulls up there with the stock contractors that were there, and the bulls were really good.”
Asay had been off since Omaha, Neb., and said that getting in a quality ride like the one in Billings was just what the doctor ordered to keep him heading in the right direction.
He plans on riding at the Winnie, Texas, Xtreme Bulls event on Oct. 31 before shutting it down until the NFR.
“You always want to stay sharp, but for me riding horses and working out is better preparation for the Finals than going and getting on a bunch of bulls,” he said.
Other winners at the $80,869 rodeo were all-around cowboy Jason Schaffer ($2,394, steer wrestling and tie-down roping), bareback rider Chase Erickson (84 points), steer wrestler Ty Erickson (3.8 seconds), team ropers Brady Tryan and Jhett Johnson (4.3 seconds), saddle bronc rider Chuck Schmidt (88 points), tie-down roper J.D. Kibbe (8.6 seconds) and barrel racers Fallon Taylor and Lee Ann Rust (14.34 seconds each).
• For full results of last week’s PRCA rodeos, visit www.prorodeo.com.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Most don’t know who Paul Tierney is; they have to look me up. I’ve worked with kids of people I competed with, now I’m working with the grandkids. We’re on to the third generation.”
– Paul Tierney talking to the Billings Gazette about team roping at the age of 60
5. Next Up
Oct. 25 Ram Wilderness Circuit Finals, Heber City, Utah, begins
Oct. 25 Ram Mountain States Circuit Finals, Rock Springs, Wyo., begins
Oct. 26 Indiantown Rodeo, Indiantown, Fla., begins
Oct. 26 Odessa Rodeo & Festival, Tampa, Fla., begins
6. News and notes from the rodeo trail
Shawn Corbett, Bobby Marriott and alternate Matt Twitchell have been named the pick-up men for the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. J.J. Harrison will be the barrelman, with Justin Rumford as the alternate … Rookie bull rider Cooper Davis won his third rodeo of the 2013 season at the Trinity Valley Exposition Fair & Rodeo in Liberty, Texas, over the weekend. Davis had already taken titles in Hempstead and Bellville, Texas, and is winning while adjusting to college life as a freshman at Panola College in Carthage, Texas … Eight-time world tie-down roping champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Dean Oliver will receive the 2012 Legend of ProRodeo Award at the sixth annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala, Dec. 3, at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $100 each through the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. For more information, call 719.528.4732, or go towww.prorodeohalloffame.com … After a six-year hiatus, the Odessa Rodeo and Festival is back Oct. 26-28 at Tampa Bay (Fla.) Downs. The rodeo is an event that dates back to the 1800s, according to event chairman Chuck Badgley, who also explained that the reason for the six-year absence was that the lease was not renewed on the space where the rodeo used to take place. Entertainment will be featured in a festival tent, which houses a bandstand, dance floor, barbecue and beverage stations … Jay Lorenzo Hadley, a PRCA Gold Card Member, passed away Oct. 3, at his home in Ogden, Utah. Hadley was 81 years old and was born Nov. 8, 1930 in Ogden. He is survived by his wife, Elda; son, Lex; and daughters, Leah and Lynette … The 26th Annual Spurs & Spikes Golf Tournament will take place Friday, Dec. 14, at the Las Vegas National Golf Club. Entry fees are $250 per person, with the proceeds benefiting the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. The winning foursome will receive handcrafted trophy buckles, courtesy of Montana Silversmiths. Entries are due by Nov. 16; contact Sara Tadken for more information at 719.528.4732 … Steer wrestler Clayton Moore’s horse, Pistol, was named the 2012 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. “Without a good horse, you could have all the talent in the world and it is not going to take you anywhere,” Moore said. The honor is voted on by the top 12 cowboys in the event. Other winners included Chad Johnson’s tie-down horse, Pincher; team roping header Levi Simpson’s horse, Stetson; and team roping heeler Rocky Ross’ horse, Dunny.
7. 2013 PRCA World Standings leaders
BB: Matthew Smith……………$3,540
SW: Ty Erickson………………..$2,753
TR-1: Zayne Dishion .………..$4,183
TR-2: Michael Fortenberry……$3,736
SB: Dean Wadsworth..………$2,703
TD: Caleb Smidt..……………..$3,950
BR: Cooper Davis……………….$4,432
SR: Cody Lee….………………..$4,934
8. 2013 PRCA World Standings
Unofficial as of October 22, 2012.
For the 2013 season (Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013), official rodeo limits are as follows: all-around, 70; bareback riding, 100; steer wrestling, 70; team roping, 75; saddle bronc riding, 100; tie-down roping, 75; barrel racing, 100; and bull riding, 125. Bull riders can count earnings at PRCA Xtreme Bulls events toward the PRCA World Standings, but not toward the all-around standings.
Bareback Riding
1. Matthew Smith, Leesville, La. $3,540
2. Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas 2,689
3. George Gillespie IV, Placerville, Calif. 2,558
4. Tray Chambliss III, Waller, Texas 2,299
5. Steven Anding, Athens, Texas 2,272
6. Chase Erickson, Helena, Mont. 2,138
7. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 1,739
8. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif. 1,707
9. Taylor Price, Huntsville, Texas 1,701
10. Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 1,639
11. Jake Halverson, Decatur, Texas 1,359
12. D.V. Fennell, Lake Charles, La. 1,322
13. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 1,260
14. Ethan Assmann, Alta, Iowa 1,244
15. Orin Larsen, Twin Falls, Idaho 1,241
16. Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas 1,166
17. Richie Champion, The Woodlands, Texas 1,074
18. J.J. Alley, Tabor, S.D. 988
19. Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif. 893
20. Brian Leddy, Roll, Okla. 833
Steer Wrestling
1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. $2,753
2. Shayde Etherton, Borden, Ind. 2,426
3. Bill Pace, Stephenville, Texas 2,417
4. Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont. 2,394
5. Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, Mont. 2,035
6. Brad Johnson, Reva, S.D. 1,818
7. Weston Taylor, Perryton, Texas 1,721
8. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo. 1,676
9. Derek Stewart, Hearne, Texas 1,515
10. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif. 1,505
11. Wade Kunze, Beggs, Okla. 1,496
12. Jack Hodges, Stephenville, Texas 1,488
13. Sterling Wallace, Justin, Texas 1,419
14. Brent Lassetter, Elm Mott, Texas 1,347
15. Miles Switzer, Morro Bay, Calif. 1,191
16. Cade Staton, Bastrop, Texas 1,171
17. Jarrett Rasmussen, Valentine, Neb. 1,160
18. Tooter Silver, Quitman, Ark. 1,160
19. Trell Etbauer, Gruver, Texas 1,160
20. Dennis Hepp, Kaycee, Wyo. 1,137
Theo Federer, Cheyenne, Wyo. 1,137
Team Roping (header)
1. Zayne Dishion, Bishop, Calif. $4,183
2. Justin Lovell, Grapeland, Texas 3,736
3. Blaine Vick, Dublin, Texas 3,106
4. Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas 2,767
5. Tyler Hinton, Dayton, Texas 2,686
6. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas 2,327
7. Calvin Brevik, Durango, Colo. 2,160
8. Chase Wiley, Charlotte, Texas 2,006
9. Dustin Davis, Marshall, Texas 1,992
10. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont. 1,988
11. Clay White, Shandon, Calif. 1,864
12. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas 1,693
13. Brad Hamilton, Pollok, Texas 1,672
14. Blake Hirdes, Turlock, Calif. 1,619
15. Bradley Massey, Perry, Fla. 1,593
16. Tyler Magnus, Mason, Texas 1,568
17. Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo. 1,568
18. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. 1,559
19. Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D. 1,559
20. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 1,559
Team Roping (heeler)
1. Michael Fortenberry, Groveton, Texas $3,736
2. Randall Richards, Bedias, Texas 3,230
3. Twister Cain, Gonzales, Texas 2,767
4. Trey Carter III, Pasadena, Texas 2,686
5. Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif. 2,160
6. Ace Pearce, Washington, Texas 2,006
7. Boogie Ray, Mabank, Texas 2,002
8. Justin Hendrick, Needville, Texas 1,992
9. Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo. 1,988
10. John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif. 1,864
11. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 1,693
12. Bret Gould, Lufkin, Texas 1,672
13. Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 1,619
14. Zak Richardson, Westville, Fla. 1,593
15. Shane Hester, Lakeland, Fla. 1,593
16. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 1,568
17. Shawn Brown, Llano, Texas 1,568
18. Billy Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. 1,559
19. Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb. 1,559
20. Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas 1,559
Saddle Bronc Riding
1. Dean Wadsworth, Ozona, Texas $2,703
2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 2,542
3. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 2,471
4. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore. 2,424
5. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La. 2,061
6. Curtis Garton, Kaitaia, New Zealand 1,805
7. Nick Laduke, Livermore, Calif. 1,719
8. Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba 1,641
9. Jeremy Melancon, Huntsville, Texas 1,519
10. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 1,488
11. Michael Maher, Warwick, Queensland, Australia 1,488
12. Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta 1,441
13. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 1,441
14. Brady Nicholes, Hoytsville, Utah 1,385
15. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas 1,354
16. Bryan Hammons, Victoria, Texas 1,266
17. Louie Brunson, Interior, S.D. 1,031
18. Ryan Bestol, Hyannis, Neb. 957
19. Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta 914
20. Eddie Parlier, Johnson City, Tenn. 884
Tie-down Roping (heeler)
1. Caleb Smidt, Yorktown, Texas $3,950
2. Barrett Threadgill, Hallettsville, Texas 3,538
3. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas 3,357
4. Jade Conner, Iowa, La. 2,262
5. J.D. Kibbe, Portales, N.M. 2,119
6. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas 1,908
7. Don Coffell, Iredell, Texas 1,902
8. Boe Brown, Harrold, S.D. 1,843
9. Bryce Barnes, Las Vegas, Nev. 1,818
10. Josh Eirikson, Bandera, Texas 1,582
11. Ryan Watkins, Dublin, Texas 1,567
12. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 1,532
13. Cameron Elston, Ramona, Calif. 1,505
14. Cedric Martin, Wharton, Texas 1,482
15. Zeb Chapman, Lafayette, Ga. 1,426
16. Spence Barney, Carthage, Texas 1,311
17. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. 1,290
18. Kenneth McCullough, Prairie View, Texas 1,260
19. Justin Lane, Lancaster, Calif. 1,191
20. K.C. Miller, San Luis Obispo, Calif. 1,150
Steer Roping
1. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas $4,934
2. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 4,232
3. Joe Wells, Cisco, Texas 3,292
4. Bryce Davis, Abilene, Texas 2,894
5. Coy Thompson, Whitewood, S.D. 2,838
6. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 2,215
7. Walter Priestly, Robstown, Texas 2,212
8. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla. 2,169
9. Neal Wood, Needville, Texas 2,106
10. Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas 2,037
11. Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla. 2,022
12. Shane Suggs, Granbury, Texas 2,005
13. Will Gasperson, Decatur, Texas 1,747
14. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 1,411
15. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 1,233
16. Jason Evans, Huntsville, Texas 1,084
17. Slick Ellis, Alvin, Texas 842
18. Brady Garten, Claremore, Okla. 758
19. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas 710
20. Chris Fleet, Axtell, Texas 710
Bull Riding
1. Cooper Davis, Jasper, Texas $4,432
2. Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo. 3,937
3. Cody Rostockyj, Hillsboro, Texas 3,420
4. Jeff Askey, Martin, Tenn. 3,351
5. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo. 3,006
6. Ty Clearwater, LaCygne, Kan. 2,940
7. Cole Echols, Elm Grove, La. 2,716
8. Friday Wright II, Moss Point, Miss. 2,708
9. Brant Atwood, Fort Worth, Texas 2,680
10. Dallee Mason, Weiser, Idaho 2,539
11. Parker Greenwood, Big Piney, Wyo. 2,503
12. Sammy Matthews, Springville, Calif. 2,357
13. Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla. 2,328
14. Neil Holmes, Houston, Texas 2,241
15. Scottie Knapp, Albuquerque, N.M. 2,231
16. Luis Antonio Blanco, Dallas, Texas 1,947
17. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 1,832
18. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 1,802
19. Reese Cates, Monticello, Ark. 1,702
20. Steven Campbell, Carthage, Texas 1,315
*2013 Barrel Racing (through October 15, 2012)
Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.
1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas $4,737
2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas 3,312
3. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas 3,046
4. Rainy Graham, Gardendale, Texas 2,754
5. Savanah Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas 2,405
6. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 2,055
7. Layna Kight, Canton, Texas 1,863
8. Kendra Dickson, Aubrey, Texas 1,782
9. Sheena Robbins, Fresno, Calif. 1,761
10. Karen Little, San Saba, Texas 1,685
11. Jymmy Kay Cox, Gonzales, Texas 1,667
12. Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla. 1,459
13. Stephanie Harris, Itasca, Texas 1,386
14. Tammi Reynolds, Troy, Texas 1,371
15. Brianna Trepanier, Agua Dulce, Calif. 1,370
16. Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas 1,297
17. Whitney Baker, Russellville, Ark. 1,286
18. Jane Melby, Burneyville, Okla. 1,244
19. Benette Barrington-Little,Ardmore, Okla. 1,216
20. Lauren Cox, Cotulla, Texas 1,149
Editor’s Note: The information enclosed in this release is courtesy of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) for media use. However, if you reprint any of the following information verbatim in your publication, or if you read it verbatim on a radio broadcast, please mention that the information is courtesy of the PRCA.