The final numbers will take a few weeks to determine officially but as of this writing the money won by Casper’s Jhett Johnson team roping at the River City Roundup in Omaha is enough to fuel Jhett’s trip to the 2009 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Johnson and partner Steve Purcella did not make any cash in the final rounds Saturday night but they still left Omaha with nearly $3,800 solidifying the #14 heeling hole for Jhett with only one major stop left in pro rodeo’s regular season.
Bobby Welsh of Gillette didn’t make any cash Saturday night either but he took home nearly $9,700 from the first two rounds in Omaha.
Saturday night’s final rounds were good to Kelly Timberman from Mills, WY. The 2004 world champ won more than $13K on two horses – almost $10,000 in one fantastic eight-second spur to score 89 points on a horse called Wise Guy:
Timberman left Omaha with $16,600 added to his 2009 regular season money bringing him to nearly $90K for the year.
Ryan Gray, who grew up in Cheyenne and Laramie, won the Omaha bareback riding championship and added a hefty $32,000 to his regular season take as a result.
We can’t leave Omaha’s finale of the Wrangler Tour playoffs without showing you the luminous Luke Branquinho. He won the steer wrestling tour title for the second year running with this dazzling 3.4 second toss:
Luke travels with Lance Creek Wyoming’s Jason Miller who did not make enough cash in tour rodeos this year to compete in the playoffs. At this writing it seems clear that Miller has been dropped out of his #15 spot by Blake Knowles who earned more than $13,000 in Omaha.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
WYO Might
There was nearly a sigh of relief visible in the manner of Casper’s Jhett Johnson after he and team roping partner Steve Purcella stopped the clock at six seconds flat last night to collect fourth place money of $2,100 and finish tied for fourth/fifth in the average to bring their money total so far in Omaha to nearly $3,800. They secure a spot in the championships tonight where the top eight in each event compete and then the top four have at it to decide the winners at the 2009 River City Roundup. There are just a few rodeos left in the regular season and none (with the possible exception of the Heartland Finals in Waco, TX next month) have near the money available to change the world standings on a significant basis. Jhett had to finish the year in the money on almost every throw of his heeling rope in order to have a chance to make the national finals. And he did. Johnson was more than pleased with the run last night and gave his partner credit for staying focused:
Bobby Welsh of Gillette is Mr. Consistent in his playoff run. He has ridden all six bulls to the whistle thus far between Washington State and Omaha. Last night, his 82-point ride secured him second in the average even though getting started was difficult Friday since the bull didn’t seem to want to participate:
Welsh has won more than $7,000 thus far in Omaha.
There is plenty more of Wyoming to root for in the Omaha finals tonight. Kelly Timberman of Mills, WY made the cut and will seek a repeat bareback riding champ’s buckle here. Ryan Gray who grew up in Cheyenne and Laramie finished in the top spot in the bareback average.
Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality, owned by Hank and Lori Franzen’s Power River Rodeo Co. of Riverton, is due out in the first round tonight. Fans will surely be amazed at her initial high mark out of the chutes. She’ll be topped by Louisiana’s Heith DeMoss. Fasten your seatbelt Heith! The Omaha rodeo will be crystallized in highlight form and shown on ESPN2, Sunday, October 25 at 10 a.m. mountain time.
Bobby Welsh of Gillette is Mr. Consistent in his playoff run. He has ridden all six bulls to the whistle thus far between Washington State and Omaha. Last night, his 82-point ride secured him second in the average even though getting started was difficult Friday since the bull didn’t seem to want to participate:
Welsh has won more than $7,000 thus far in Omaha.
There is plenty more of Wyoming to root for in the Omaha finals tonight. Kelly Timberman of Mills, WY made the cut and will seek a repeat bareback riding champ’s buckle here. Ryan Gray who grew up in Cheyenne and Laramie finished in the top spot in the bareback average.
Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality, owned by Hank and Lori Franzen’s Power River Rodeo Co. of Riverton, is due out in the first round tonight. Fans will surely be amazed at her initial high mark out of the chutes. She’ll be topped by Louisiana’s Heith DeMoss. Fasten your seatbelt Heith! The Omaha rodeo will be crystallized in highlight form and shown on ESPN2, Sunday, October 25 at 10 a.m. mountain time.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Bubble On
It is bubble time in professional rodeo. Many contestants are within reach of the coveted Top 15 and have only this weekend to make the cut for the national finals rodeo. Gillette saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson is among a six-pack of pals close enough to secure a trip to Vegas by what they are able to accomplish here at the River City Roundup in Omaha – the playoff finale of this years’ Wrangler Tour. Chet drew a tough ride last night as Checkout is known to be tricky. Johnson stayed for the whistle but his 73 did not bring a trip to the pay window.
Jhett Johnson of Casper was just out of the money at 6.2 seconds team roping with partner Steve Purcella. The solid run sets them up well for the semis/finals Saturday if they can stay around the six-second mark in the second round tonight.
Bobby Welsh of Gillette won more cash than any other cowboy in the first round of the playoffs in Washington State and is in good standing to continue his fabulous finish to the regular season after an 82-point ride last night in Omaha on a bull called Black Diablo:
Welsh split third and fourth place money to collect more than $2,600 for his opening nights’ work. Second round action in Omaha’s Qwest Center tonight is a repeat of Thursday – all twelve who’ve made it in each event get another shot.
Jhett Johnson of Casper was just out of the money at 6.2 seconds team roping with partner Steve Purcella. The solid run sets them up well for the semis/finals Saturday if they can stay around the six-second mark in the second round tonight.
Bobby Welsh of Gillette won more cash than any other cowboy in the first round of the playoffs in Washington State and is in good standing to continue his fabulous finish to the regular season after an 82-point ride last night in Omaha on a bull called Black Diablo:
Welsh split third and fourth place money to collect more than $2,600 for his opening nights’ work. Second round action in Omaha’s Qwest Center tonight is a repeat of Thursday – all twelve who’ve made it in each event get another shot.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wyoming Roper Reaches the Top 15
Pro rodeo’s playoff system to closeout the 2009 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour has completed its first round in western Washington State. And the rodeo in Puyallup, WA was especially good – a healthy pull y’all up – if you will, for Casper team roper Jhett Johnson. He had been fixed well below the Top 15 all year and then went out with partner Steve Purcella of Hereford, TX to win the playoff opener in Puyallup and jump to #15 while collecting more than $14,000. They came back to the big Pendleton Roundup in Oregon this past weekend and left with another $2,600 and Jhett moved up to #14 in the world standings. We spoke today with Jhett who is in Texas for a little practice before heading to the River City Roundup (the finals of this year’s playoffs) in Omaha Wednesday:
The top twelve teams compete in the playoff championship round at this week’s River City Roundup in Omaha. The same is true for the other events and Wyoming will be well represented there by bull rider Bobby Welsh from Gillette and Gillette saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson. Welsh won more money than any other contestant at Puyallup pocketing more than $23,000.
Wyoming Travel & Tourism will have a booth set up in front of the Quest Center in Omaha where visitors can meet our cowboys and pick up free autograph sheets. We are also giving away a couple of Wyoming vacation packages including a Yellowstone winter excursion in cooperation with park concessionaire Xanterra Parks & Resorts. A trip to next summer’s Cheyenne Frontier Days is also being given away.
WYO Pro Rodeo Notables
Powell, WY bull rider Kanin Asay won a round at the Xtreme Bulls national championships in Ellensburg, WA scoring 91 on a Burns Rodeo Co. (Laramie, WY) bull called Kid Twist. Asay amassed about $14,000 in Ellensburg and is now in the #6 position in the world standings. Bobby Welsh is fourth and has surpassed the $100,000 mark for the 2009 regular season. Casper’s Clayton Savage is in the seventh spot assuring three Wyoming bull riders have NFR slots and therefore a chance at a coveted world champion’s gold buckle.
Meeteetse’s Dusty Tuckness is a nominee for Bullfighter of the Year. All contestants, participating contract personnel, and dues paying rodeo committees have a vote in the outcome. The winners in all categories will be announced Wed., Dec. 2, during the PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Cheyenne Frontier Days is once again in the running for Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year.
The top twelve teams compete in the playoff championship round at this week’s River City Roundup in Omaha. The same is true for the other events and Wyoming will be well represented there by bull rider Bobby Welsh from Gillette and Gillette saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson. Welsh won more money than any other contestant at Puyallup pocketing more than $23,000.
Wyoming Travel & Tourism will have a booth set up in front of the Quest Center in Omaha where visitors can meet our cowboys and pick up free autograph sheets. We are also giving away a couple of Wyoming vacation packages including a Yellowstone winter excursion in cooperation with park concessionaire Xanterra Parks & Resorts. A trip to next summer’s Cheyenne Frontier Days is also being given away.
WYO Pro Rodeo Notables
Powell, WY bull rider Kanin Asay won a round at the Xtreme Bulls national championships in Ellensburg, WA scoring 91 on a Burns Rodeo Co. (Laramie, WY) bull called Kid Twist. Asay amassed about $14,000 in Ellensburg and is now in the #6 position in the world standings. Bobby Welsh is fourth and has surpassed the $100,000 mark for the 2009 regular season. Casper’s Clayton Savage is in the seventh spot assuring three Wyoming bull riders have NFR slots and therefore a chance at a coveted world champion’s gold buckle.
Meeteetse’s Dusty Tuckness is a nominee for Bullfighter of the Year. All contestants, participating contract personnel, and dues paying rodeo committees have a vote in the outcome. The winners in all categories will be announced Wed., Dec. 2, during the PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Cheyenne Frontier Days is once again in the running for Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year.
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