Clickety Clack Around We Went

One Wyoming bull rider won his first go-round buckle at the national finals rodeo while another backed out of his chute to stay on for a second place finish. Newlywed Kanin Asay pocketed $17,139 for his 89-point effort atop a re-ride bull. His first mount was uncooperative in the chute and unwilling to let Kanin get a proper start. The Powell, Wyoming lover of the color purple rose to the occasion and could not have done a better job at his chosen profession come his turn on a bull called “Hot Diggity Damn.” We checked in with Asay shortly after his outstanding effort. He was ever so joyous – and almost speechless – about finding a way to win:



Bobby Welsh of Gillette is a very gritty young man who you just can’t help but root for and his 86.5 last night to open the national finals was clearly a work of determination:



Both Bobby and Mr. Asay climbed over the $100,000 mark for 2009 by clearing more than $30,000 between them last night. Kanin inched up to #3 in the world standings and Welsh is in the number five hole. The Jhett Stirs Court The first team to rope at the 2009 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was heeled by Casper’s Jhett Johnson. His work with header Steve Purcella netted the duo a second-place finish in the first go-round and paychecks of $13,500 apiece. Jhett is very glad to be back at the NFR:



Timber Man The 2004 bareback riding world champ was “spurific” last night taking it to a horse known as Good Time Charlie for a score of 85.5 and third-place cash totaling over $10,000. Kelly Timberman of Mills, WY was pleased to open the NFR so well and got all he could out of his eight-second outing:



Round 2 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will be aired nationally on ESPN Classic at 8 p.m. Mountain Time tonight.