Rank is a complimentary term in rodeo as applied to bulls. It means they are hard to ride. One will hop. Another jumps and spins. All will buck. The “eliminators” came to play at the national finals last night and made short work of all but two riders’ attempts to stay on board for
eight seconds. Wyoming bull riders Bobby Welsh and Kanin Asay got thrown early. Asay sustained a hyper-extended elbow at the Xtreme Bulls tour finale in Indianapolis. He healed enough to come back out for the circuit finals in Denver last month and won that event scoring a couple of 90-point rides. The injury seems to have resurfaced here in Vegas. Kanin was well taped along the left arm and wore a brace last night. When I asked him about his bull before the ride, Kanin’s succinct reply was: “Rank.” Asay was sent to the ground quickly and made a beeline for the Justin Medicine room. He came out supporting his left arm with his right and grimaced in what can best be described as excruciating pain. He will undoubtedly want to “buck up” and keep trying to work through this setback. We’ll have to see what difference a day will make. Photo: Kanin Asay tries to hang in for eight seconds with an injured arm. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Wyoming Collects More Cash
Three “Cowboy State” contestants loaded their pockets with money after the Fourth Go-Round. Barrel racer Brandie Halls of Carpenter rode Slim smoothly around the pattern for a 14.01 second finish and fourth place cash totaling about $6,900. Brandie is tenth in world standings as we near the halfway point here at the finals. Gillette’s Chet Johnson had a horse he saw buck out four times this year but had never ridden. Chet settled a solid seat and spurred clean finishing third with his 82.5 point bronc ride. Johnson is also in tenth position with six more rodeos remaining. He got paid nearly $9,800 last night. And bareback rider Kelly Timberman, of Mills, continued his winning ways notching a split of second and third place, paying him another $11,400. Timberman’s won $28,500 at the national finals – more than any other bareback rider – to put him number one in the average.
She’s the Best
A Wyoming-raised mare is the best bronc in pro rodeo this year. And Powder River Rodeo Company’s Miss Congeniality hasn’t even reached her prime. “She’s still a couple of years away from when most horses are at their best, so she’s definitely ahead of the pack,” said owner Hank Franzen. He and his wife saw the nine-year-old come into thi
s world and could not be more pleased with her development. Watching her throw off saddle bronc riders early is now most common. “She’s just so strong that if you’re a hair behind, she’ll just blow you out of there. For a mare to get that high in the air and drop, a lot of cowboys can’t stay with her,” Franzen said. Pros have been able to complete eight-second outings only three times all year. The bloodline is intact. Miss Congeniality has raised three colts already with another on the way. She fits her name off the field. “When not bucking she’s a big doll – good to be around – she doesn’t kick. She’s just gentle and not out to hurt anybody. Once she’s bucked she pulls no tricks. It’s just like here we go,” Franzen noted. This is Miss Congeniality’s second ‘Bronco of the Year’ title. She threw one of the greatest ever earlier at the finals when Billy Etbauer was sent flying. Miss Congeniality will make one last arena appearance this year in Saturday night’s finals.
Three “Cowboy State” contestants loaded their pockets with money after the Fourth Go-Round. Barrel racer Brandie Halls of Carpenter rode Slim smoothly around the pattern for a 14.01 second finish and fourth place cash totaling about $6,900. Brandie is tenth in world standings as we near the halfway point here at the finals. Gillette’s Chet Johnson had a horse he saw buck out four times this year but had never ridden. Chet settled a solid seat and spurred clean finishing third with his 82.5 point bronc ride. Johnson is also in tenth position with six more rodeos remaining. He got paid nearly $9,800 last night. And bareback rider Kelly Timberman, of Mills, continued his winning ways notching a split of second and third place, paying him another $11,400. Timberman’s won $28,500 at the national finals – more than any other bareback rider – to put him number one in the average.
She’s the Best
A Wyoming-raised mare is the best bronc in pro rodeo this year. And Powder River Rodeo Company’s Miss Congeniality hasn’t even reached her prime. “She’s still a couple of years away from when most horses are at their best, so she’s definitely ahead of the pack,” said owner Hank Franzen. He and his wife saw the nine-year-old come into thi
s world and could not be more pleased with her development. Watching her throw off saddle bronc riders early is now most common. “She’s just so strong that if you’re a hair behind, she’ll just blow you out of there. For a mare to get that high in the air and drop, a lot of cowboys can’t stay with her,” Franzen said. Pros have been able to complete eight-second outings only three times all year. The bloodline is intact. Miss Congeniality has raised three colts already with another on the way. She fits her name off the field. “When not bucking she’s a big doll – good to be around – she doesn’t kick. She’s just gentle and not out to hurt anybody. Once she’s bucked she pulls no tricks. It’s just like here we go,” Franzen noted. This is Miss Congeniality’s second ‘Bronco of the Year’ title. She threw one of the greatest ever earlier at the finals when Billy Etbauer was sent flying. Miss Congeniality will make one last arena appearance this year in Saturday night’s finals. Photo: Miss Congeniality bucks rider Billy Etbauer. Credit: Rick Carpenter
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