By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
The PRCA Rodeo at the Clark County Fair and Rodeo sold out all five nights last week, giving thrills and spills to the full stands and standing crowds.
“It has been amazing!” said Fair Manager Kasen Kolhoss of the turnout.
The rodeo gave a rough year to the cowboys and cowgirls, though. The bulls and stock were definitely tougher and some serious injuries were recorded over the five-night event. However, there still were some great scores and times recorded. And the fans absolutely loved it!
All of the competitors were aiming to make the final go-around and claim that championship title on Sunday night.
The rodeo All around Cowboy title went to Cole Eiguren of Fruitland, Idaho, who took 2nd in the team roping qualifying with a time of 4.6 seconds with his partner Tyler Eiguren. He then took 7th in the qualifying second round of the tie-down roping in 8.9 seconds securing a total payout of $2,822.
The fans favorite went down to Sunday’s last chance to beat Volberg, Montana’s Jake Lockwood’s score of 90.5 from earlier in the week. Unfortunately for the riders the bulls came to play as they threw off all but the last rider, even as quick as 1.6 seconds. The only completed ride on Sunday didn’t even make it into the money. Lockwood gripped in and hung on to secure $7,050 on top of Ol’s Tubs Buck C.
Goshen, Utah’s Hayes Weight on top of Risky Business took 2nd with a score of 88 and Hutchinson, Kansas’s Luke Mast on Calibration with an 87. Two out of the three top stock were from Macza’s Pro Rodeo.
Ty Erickson of Helena, Montana, grappled down and won the steer wrestling in 7.9 seconds for two runs. He secured $4,093. He had 4.0 for his first round and finished his second round with 3.9 seconds.
Second went to Dalton Massey of Hermiston, OR. with 8.1 and finishing out the top three in the steer wrestling was Bismarck, North Dakota’s Justice Johnson with 8.6 seconds.
The Oklahoma and Texas combo of Brenten Hall and Kaden Profili roped in $4,049 to take first in the team roping with a time of 9.8 seconds for two rounds. Second went to Oklahoma and Illinois connection team of Jake Smith and Douglas Rich with a combined time of 10.3 seconds. Short on their heels was third place South Carolina’s Luke Brown and Oklahoma’s Travis Graves who recorded a time of 10.4 seconds.
Local Logandale cowboys Randon Adams and Jory Levy took 7th in the second round with 5.2 seconds to win $587. Unfortunately, Mesquite’s Cody and Cache Burnside had a “no-time” recorded for the team roping.
The tie down roping went to Marty Yates with a combined time of 17.2 seconds and securing $4,679. Second went to two completed times total of 17.5 from Ty Harris ($4,069) and third time of 17.7 seconds, was Monty Lewis ($3,459). All three ropers were Texas Cowboys.
Moapa Valley-grown Matt Shiozawa tied for 9th place with a combined time of 21.1 seconds. The 2011 NFR average champion is currently residing in Chubbuck, Idaho.
Barrel Racing went to Weatherford, Oklahoma cowgirl Emily Biesel who recorded a total time of 17.17, winning $8,452. The top three were finished out by Wenda Johnson (Pawhuska, Okla.) with 17.25 seconds and Stephanie Fryar (Waco, Texas) with 17.32 seconds.
Bareback went to a champion horse, Stiletto as Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics bucker helped place 1st and 3rd place. Clayton Biglow (Clements, Cal.) took first with a score of 88.5 and taking home $7,262 while Tanner Aus (Granite Falls, Minn.) took 3rd, scoring 87 and grabbing $4,115. The runner-up went to Donny Proffitt (Diamondville, Wyo.) with a ride of 87.5 and a wallet-ful of $5,567.
Saddle-bronc has gained notoriety and a big following due to Utah’s rodeo family of the Wrights. Though Statler Wright competed, he did not place in top three, taking home a tie for 4th with an 86 point ride. Two other Wrights competed including Jesse (70) and Ryder (82.5).
The top three were Riggin Smith (Winterset, Iowa), Isaac Diaz (Desdemona, Texas) and Brody Wells (Powell, Wyo.). Smith was just short of 90 points with a score of 89 and Diaz and Wells tied with 86.5 scores. Smith took home $6,994 while Diaz and Wells both took home $4,226.
