| The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver |
January 28, 2009
by Bob Welch
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Over the weekend I was privileged enough to witness one of
the most entertaining short rounds at a regular-season rodeo that I’ve seen in a
while.
The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver has
always been one of the top winter rodeos. In 2008, it ranked around the
20th-highest paying regular season PRCA rodeo. But for some reason it lacked a
little pizzazz.
I don’t know why, for sure. Maybe because I grew up going to
that rodeo so there was no newness factor. Maybe it’s because the Denver
Coliseum is an old, dark relic with wooden seats and I’ve been lucky enough to
see rodeo showcased in sparkling new stadiums like the American Airlines Arena
in Dallas or the Qwest Center in San Antonio. Maybe it’s because of some of the
outdated acts like the Westernaires still employed there. Maybe it’s because
I’ve sat through enough of the half-full weekday performances in which no
roughstock animal out had been to the NFR, and only a handful of the contestants
had. I’ve been there when a reigning world champ is on the daysheet but turned
out because he drew a colt.
But during the short round this year things were different.
The place was electric—despite being built just shortly after electricity was
discovered. It was a sellout. Announcer Boyd Polhamus was at the top of his
game, and the stock was great—except in the team roping. In every event there
were high scores and fast times. The only reride of the day came when a bull
fouled his rider on the chute. And even then, the crowd stuck around an extra
five minutes to see if Kanin Asay would cover his reride. He did, by the way, to
the tune of 89 points to win the rodeo, which capped it off in dramatic and
climactic fashion. So, kudos to the contestants, stock contractors and
organizers and contract personnel in Denver: Good Show.
Just a couple quick notes that I couldn’t fit into my Rodeo
Road recap that will be in the March issue of Spin to Win Rodeo Magazine.
The
Keslers bucked the reigning world champion saddle bronc Cool Alley in the
bareback riding. I missed it, but at the NFR she nearly stopped bucking on her
last trip. A kid named Tyson Thompson drew her at Denver in the BB and,
unfortunately for him, she was way too much horse. Very strong and bucked hard
the whole time. Sometimes the contractors will put a saddle bronc back in the
bareback riding to free them up. Looked like it worked to me.
Jake
Rinehart is a monster. He is 6’8” and tied for the win in the steer wrestling in
Denver.
The
team roping steers were tough. First two were hard runners, two others stopped.
It seemed to rattle the contestants. Interestingly, of the 24 team ropers in the
short go that day, only six had ever made the NFR.
Cody
Taton, who is Casey Tibbs’ great-nephew, is riding his NFR saddle bronc riding
average win and looking good. Interestingly, he’s also a high school state champ
in S.D. in the team roping.
Tuf
Cooper is scary fast. Of his entire 8.2 second run, only two seconds of it
seemed to be on the ground. On a funny note, he won the mutton bustin’ in Denver
when he was a kid—wait he still is a kid.
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| 2009 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour |
January 19, 2009
by Bob Welch
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As the PRCA continues to tweak their tour system, they’re—in
my opinion—getting some things right. My biggest complaint with last year’s
version was the cowboys could only count the earnings from some of the tour
rodeos and they had to determine which ones they would count prior to entering.
For one, this was tough on the cowboys, for another, it defeated the purpose of
a Tour where the best guys are always at the best rodeos.
For instance, if Speed Williams decided not to count, say
Guymon, since it pays less than some of the other Tour rodeos, then he might not
go. Then Guymon suffers because Speed’s not in the draw. Now, all money won at
Gold and Silver rodeos (there are two levels based on added money) will be
combined for the 2009 Wrangler ProRodeo Million Dollar Tour Standings.
Another change is the playoffs. Now, only Puyallup and Omaha
will be playoff rodeos. Caldwell and Dallas are out and I don’t know anything
about the decision-making process there.
Interesting changes, that’s for sure. I like the money count
changes and not sure what to think of the playoff changes. What do you
think?
Here’s a list of the 2009 Tour Rodeos.
GOLD TOUR RODEOS
San Antonio, TX
Austin, TX
Reno, NV
St. Paul, OR
Cody, WY
Salinas, CA
Cheyenne, WY
Ellensburg, WA
SILVER TOUR RODEOS
Rapid City, SD
Redding, CA
Prescott, AZ
Colorado Springs, CO
Dodge City, KS
Sikeston, MO
Lovington, NM
Hermiston, OR
Bremerton, WA
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| Deuce Update |
January 13, 2009
by Bob Welch
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So, for once, we’ve got some good news on Deuce (see my last post on the subject). But, it’s just good news, not great. So, I’ve explained how he’s not very lame to look at, but when asking him to stop hard with his hind end in the ground or pivot on his back left, he just won’t do it right. In July, we poked and prodded and pretty much eliminated the hock and stifle as the problem, leaving us with the nebulous sacroiliac and hip areas. He was a 3 out of 5 lame with abduction flex tests. So, he’s sat in his stall and in the pasture since then. He had other issues, which we feel we’ve corrected with chiropractic work. We rode him a little during Christmas, just to test the waters, and he still wasn’t right. So, we took him in to the vet again last week, thinking that six months off should show some change if there was to be any. The same flexion tests showed a 1 of 5 lameness. So, like I said, good news, not great. He’s getting better. Will he ever get to 100% under working conditions? Who knows? But we will give him more time off to let the muscle/sacroiliac/hip/tendon or whatever’s wrong in there continue to possibly heal. I appreciate all the advice and experiences readers shared. It was good to feel armed with some others’ experience as we pulled into the vet’s office. So, in three months we’ll do it all again and see what we find.
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| 2009 Team Roping Pairs |
January 5, 2009
by Bob Welch
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For this edition of my blog, I thought it would be a good
idea to let you know some of the top ropers’ pairings for 2009. This blog is
based on how they entered Odessa, so things might shake up a bit even early on.
But, as of the Odessa entries, here’s what I found. I tried to keep it to ropers
who’ve been to the Finals within the past few years.
JoJo LeMond and Randon Adams
Matt Sherwood and Rhen Richard
Speed Williams and Clay O’Brien Cooper
Jake Barnes and Monty Joe Petska
Derrick Begay and Cory Petska
Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith
Turtle Powell and Travis Graves
Keven Daniel and Martin Lucero
Travis Tryan and Bucky Campbell*
*only at Odessa, for
the rest of the season Matt Funk and Bucky Campbell will reunite and Travis
Tryan and Cesar de la Cruz will begin a new partnership.
Joel Bach and Allen Bach
Garrett Tonozzi and Kinney Harrell
Riley Minor and Brady Minor
Luke Brown and Ryan Motes
Brandon Beers and Jade Corkill
Chad Masters and Michael Jones
Jake Stanley and Caleb Twisselman
Colby Siddoway and Victor Aros
Charly Crawford and Russell Cardoza
Clay Tryan and Kory Koontz
Joe Beaver and Bobby Harris
Jimmy Edens and John Paul Lucero
Justin Yost and Britt Bockius
Britt Williams and Cole Bigbee
David Key and Marty Becker
Chance Kelton and Rich Skelton
Tee Woolman and Jhett Johnson
Charles Pogue and Casey Chamberlain
Jay Tittel and Ryon Tittel
Coleman Proctor and Jake Long
Wade Wheatley and Broc Cresta
Jay Adams and Austin Adams
Blaine Linaweaver and Richard Durham
Steve Purcella and Steve Northcott
Jake Cooper and Jim Ross Cooper
Coby Jones and Caleb Mitchell
Tommy Edens and Wade Clayton
Nick Sartain and Kollin Von Ahn
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