We’ve been road warriors for about six weeks now covering the progress and completion of “Good Ride Cowboy” – a life-and-a-half size bronze of Chris LeDoux spurring Stormy Weather to a world championship. Artist/sculptor Mike Thomas of Buffalo, WY placed a replica in bronze of LeDoux’s favorite Guild guitar as base of the piece which weighs in at 3,500 pounds. Lori Hogan and Kristin Phipps of our staff helped out at the dedication ceremony Saturday in Kaycee where the population of 300 was multiplied by ten. LeDoux fans, friends and family came together for what Western Underground guitarist Mark Sissel aptly termed a “reunion.”
Lori and Kristin took a lot of pictures and we’d like to share them here:
Chris LeDoux Park Tribute
Our Mike McCrimmon is providing video footage to GAC (Great American Country) for airing by the network’s popular host, and big Chris LeDoux fan, Storme Warren on his show called “Headline Country.” We’ll let you know when to watch for that. In the meantime, Mike put together some shots for you to enjoy:
LeDoux sat
Once the tarp was pulled away it was clear that Chris LeDoux will live forever and his fans including Garth Brooks still ache to be in the presence of Chris’ smile or an unwitting participant in one of his practical jokes.
Chris LeDoux Memorial Park is not hard to find in downtown Kaycee. Please stop by, rest and reflect, the next time you’re in the vicinity. No doubt a LeDoux tune will come to mind. For me it was “Tougher than the Rest.”
Rest in Peace Wyoming cowboy. We miss you very, very much.
Our office has coupled the “Tribute to Chris LeDoux” DVD with a new one chronicling the making of the bronze. If you are interested in obtaining the collector’s set contact us or call the Chris LeDoux Memorial Foundation directly at: 307-738-2322.
Cowboy Catch-Up
The big news so far this summer rodeo season, in terms of the men who carry on smartly for Team Wyoming, is injury. Jason Miller, the 2007 world champion steer wrestler, broke a bone in his shoulder and suffered a partial tear of a rotator cuff when a steer stopped short on him during a run at Cody. Jason is taking six weeks off and has been told by Justin Medicine’s Dr. Tandy Freeman not to haze either if he expects to heal enough to compete again this year. Miller has a good attitude and is keeping his chin up. “Things could be a lot worse. Six weeks or six months isn't the end of the world for me. I will back at them sooner or later and with a vengeance,” Miller wrote me in an email. Jason will have Dr. Freeman’s crew check things over early at Cheyenne Frontier Days and if the outcome is positive he’ll return to action for CFD. If not, surgery would be the appropriate course to follow.
Kanin Asay, who won the bull riding at the national finals last December, is nursing a bad tear to his right palm sustained when stepped on in a chute a few weeks ago in Canada. The Powell, Wyoming bull rider feels ready to go for Cowboy Christmas starting in a few days and running through the Fourth of July – actually July 5 at the Xtreme Bulls event in Cody. The draws and dates over much of Cowboy Christmas aren’t pleasing to Asay and he, Bobby Welsh and Chance Smart won’t be able to let their seats cool on the plane they’ve chartered to make a run at the Top 15.
The lone Team Wyoming player in that coveted Top 15 headed into Cowboy Christmas is Mills, Wyoming man Kelly Timberman. The 2004 world champion bareback rider is in the 13th spot and ready to make his move upward.
Showing posts with label Jason Miller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason Miller. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Miller Tackles Tucson
A wet last of February day at the Tucson rodeo ended by floating a nice and dry champion’s paycheck to Lance Creek, Wyoming steer wrestler Jason Miller. He wasn’t even going to compete in the Arizona affair this year because of the rain and potential for a thick, soupy arena that can, and has, fostered injuries to bulldoggers and their horses. Miller’s three runs totaled out at 20.5 seconds – good enough to win the average and a Tucson champion’s buckle. We spoke with the 2007 world champion today about his rainy run on Sunday:
Miller rode a good horse owned by fellow Wyoming steer wrestler Les Shepperson of Midwest who isn’t able to enter some of the big winter rodeos in Texas because of a serious injury last year in Houston that prevents Les from qualifying in 2010.
Miller’s earnings will move Jason well into the Top Ten of the current world standings heading into the long and laborious RodeoHouston which covers three weeks of March.
Miller rode a good horse owned by fellow Wyoming steer wrestler Les Shepperson of Midwest who isn’t able to enter some of the big winter rodeos in Texas because of a serious injury last year in Houston that prevents Les from qualifying in 2010.
Miller’s earnings will move Jason well into the Top Ten of the current world standings heading into the long and laborious RodeoHouston which covers three weeks of March.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Short Pay
Friday’s trips to the pay window for Wyoming contestants in this 50th national finals were few and of the four-figure variety. Kelly Timberman split fifth & sixth in bareback riding to take $3,500 back to his hotel room. Lance Creek’s Jason Miller remained solid in the average with a run of 4.1 seconds winning $2,700. Miller is second in his aggregate total and a good finish tonight assures the family will be able to buy a lot of hay for the winter. Barring bad luck for Luke Branquinho, it is another gold buckle year for Jason’s traveling partner and closest friend.
Bobby Can Win
Gillette, Wyoming bull rider Bobby Welsh stayed on for a low score last night but as we’ve said a few times now, any score is a good one in the current state of national finals bull riding competition. Bulls throw the men off short of eight seconds more times than not. Welsh once again chose not to take a re-ride option and heads into tonight poised for a legitimate shot at a world championship. Chance Smart is up by less than $30K and is well behind Welsh in the average. J.W. Harris also has a chance to beat Chance. Therefore as exhibited in the best, and most exciting, finals it will come down to the last three rides.
Ty Stops By
Twenty years ago I stood on the old, rickety press deck at Cheyenne Frontier Days with a 19-year-old from Stephenville, Texas who had rodeo in his blood and dreamed of one day wearing a world champion’s gold buckle. Ten years later he’d won nine buckles; two in bull riding and a lucky seven All-Around titles. He is justly referred to today as “The King of the Cowboys.” I saw Ty Murray again last night as the Thomas & Mack Center crowd greeted several past All-Around Champions. There stood Dean Oliver, Larry Mahan, Joe Beaver and so many more of the biggest names in rodeo history. And when Ty came out from behind the smoke, the fans erupted. Ty was gracious enough to share some time with us afterward and said he still gauges the sport he loves by how it is perceived by the rest of us. “Rodeo’s making some good strides. I always look at this sport from a fans’ standpoint. We’re still seeing the great cowboys. We’re still seeing the tough competitors. Getting to watch a guy like Trevor Brazile; that’s inspiring. To see a guy that’s not only good but is that dedicated and works that hard at it,” Murray told us. My good friend, camera guru Mike, put together more of our interview with Ty and you can click below to both hear and see it. I have to admit my comfort level with Ty remains fine but his wife, Jewel, standing there next to us did give my normally calm nature some jitters. She is, I think, one of the most gifted singer/songwriters and poets of her – or any – era.
A Salute to LeDoux
The dedications have been many at the 50th annual national finals rodeo. Last night’s big-screen acknowledgment of Chris LeDoux would certainly rank up there for Wyoming folks and really everyone who loves rodeo and how Chris represented the sport and the American West to the world. You can click on the video clip below to absorb some of that special moment.
Friday’s trips to the pay window for Wyoming contestants in this 50th national finals were few and of the four-figure variety. Kelly Timberman split fifth & sixth in bareback riding to take $3,500 back to his hotel room. Lance Creek’s Jason Miller remained solid in the average with a run of 4.1 seconds winning $2,700. Miller is second in his aggregate total and a good finish tonight assures the family will be able to buy a lot of hay for the winter. Barring bad luck for Luke Branquinho, it is another gold buckle year for Jason’s traveling partner and closest friend.
Bobby Can Win
Gillette, Wyoming bull rider Bobby Welsh stayed on for a low score last night but as we’ve said a few times now, any score is a good one in the current state of national finals bull riding competition. Bulls throw the men off short of eight seconds more times than not. Welsh once again chose not to take a re-ride option and heads into tonight poised for a legitimate shot at a world championship. Chance Smart is up by less than $30K and is well behind Welsh in the average. J.W. Harris also has a chance to beat Chance. Therefore as exhibited in the best, and most exciting, finals it will come down to the last three rides.
Ty Stops By
Twenty years ago I stood on the old, rickety press deck at Cheyenne Frontier Days with a 19-year-old from Stephenville, Texas who had rodeo in his blood and dreamed of one day wearing a world champion’s gold buckle. Ten years later he’d won nine buckles; two in bull riding and a lucky seven All-Around titles. He is justly referred to today as “The King of the Cowboys.” I saw Ty Murray again last night as the Thomas & Mack Center crowd greeted several past All-Around Champions. There stood Dean Oliver, Larry Mahan, Joe Beaver and so many more of the biggest names in rodeo history. And when Ty came out from behind the smoke, the fans erupted. Ty was gracious enough to share some time with us afterward and said he still gauges the sport he loves by how it is perceived by the rest of us. “Rodeo’s making some good strides. I always look at this sport from a fans’ standpoint. We’re still seeing the great cowboys. We’re still seeing the tough competitors. Getting to watch a guy like Trevor Brazile; that’s inspiring. To see a guy that’s not only good but is that dedicated and works that hard at it,” Murray told us. My good friend, camera guru Mike, put together more of our interview with Ty and you can click below to both hear and see it. I have to admit my comfort level with Ty remains fine but his wife, Jewel, standing there next to us did give my normally calm nature some jitters. She is, I think, one of the most gifted singer/songwriters and poets of her – or any – era.
A Salute to LeDoux
The dedications have been many at the 50th annual national finals rodeo. Last night’s big-screen acknowledgment of Chris LeDoux would certainly rank up there for Wyoming folks and really everyone who loves rodeo and how Chris represented the sport and the American West to the world. You can click on the video clip below to absorb some of that special moment.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Round Eight
Not So Average
Steer wrestlers are dropping like flies, big ones, out of the competition for the big dollars doled out at the end of the national finals Saturday night. The average money is significant - $162,000 total with $43K for 1st, $35K 2nd and $27,500 for third and so on through eighth place. In the Friday night follies five doggers suffered no times in their runs. “Those steers weren’t as bad as we made them look,” said Jason Miller who had another great run and finished with a split of second and third places netting $11,660. The pen of steers used last night, thankfully for the last time here, took many steer wrestlers out of the average or aggregate time competition. Only three men – Miller, his traveling pal and close friend Luke Branquinho and former University of Wyoming rodeo team member Todd Suhn have times on all eight of their steers and are under a total of 40 seconds for all of them. Branquinho has a significant hold on 1st overall and a 1.3 second jump on Miller for the average. No question Luke has the edge in gaining another gold buckle. But in this year of extraordinary weirdness for the wrestlers, we shall see. It will be fun to watch. “We picked all of the steers so there isn’t anybody to blame but ourselves. It’s just so hard to say what they’ll do when they get in that little building,” Miller told me late last night after a rather hearty prime rib dinner. What did you expect he’d be chowing on? And yes, one of those four-legged critters out last night is apparently missing. I’m kidding so no need to call the animal rights hotline.
Brutal Bulls
You probably couldn’t see them on television, but Kanin Asay’s boots didn’t match last night. He wore a bigger one on the left foot and it had a slit down the inside so he could slide in without too much pain. He had that spare footwear from early this summer when he sprained the same ankle that got turned on him a couple of nights ago at the national finals. The boots stayed on and Kanin up to end last night as one of only two riders to get scores. “There wasn’t a bull out there that was easy to ride. Every single one has something about him,” said the Powell, Wyoming man. His had drop. “That straight shot he gave me was really hard to handle. He had more rolls and weird jumps than he normally does,” Asay noted. Kanin collected $13,000 for his work and is most thankful all the bull riders walked away from “eliminator” night relatively unscathed.
Cowboy Christmas
Our crack staff at the Wyoming Travel & Tourism office, board members, families and friends have been helping hand out Wyoming materials and introduce the cowboys we sponsor to visitors inside the huge “Cowboy Christmas” show in the Las Vegas Hilton Convention Center throughout the national finals. There are a number of Wyoming business people with booths there too. We’d like to introduce you to a couple of them in this story. Kathy Flickinger is with Cowboy Free Range Meat from Jackson Hole. Karen Roy and her husband started American Cowboy Coffee and are responsible for a new, and spirited, invigoration in the little town of Hartville, Wyoming.
Steer wrestlers are dropping like flies, big ones, out of the competition for the big dollars doled out at the end of the national finals Saturday night. The average money is significant - $162,000 total with $43K for 1st, $35K 2nd and $27,500 for third and so on through eighth place. In the Friday night follies five doggers suffered no times in their runs. “Those steers weren’t as bad as we made them look,” said Jason Miller who had another great run and finished with a split of second and third places netting $11,660. The pen of steers used last night, thankfully for the last time here, took many steer wrestlers out of the average or aggregate time competition. Only three men – Miller, his traveling pal and close friend Luke Branquinho and former University of Wyoming rodeo team member Todd Suhn have times on all eight of their steers and are under a total of 40 seconds for all of them. Branquinho has a significant hold on 1st overall and a 1.3 second jump on Miller for the average. No question Luke has the edge in gaining another gold buckle. But in this year of extraordinary weirdness for the wrestlers, we shall see. It will be fun to watch. “We picked all of the steers so there isn’t anybody to blame but ourselves. It’s just so hard to say what they’ll do when they get in that little building,” Miller told me late last night after a rather hearty prime rib dinner. What did you expect he’d be chowing on? And yes, one of those four-legged critters out last night is apparently missing. I’m kidding so no need to call the animal rights hotline.
Brutal Bulls
You probably couldn’t see them on television, but Kanin Asay’s boots didn’t match last night. He wore a bigger one on the left foot and it had a slit down the inside so he could slide in without too much pain. He had that spare footwear from early this summer when he sprained the same ankle that got turned on him a couple of nights ago at the national finals. The boots stayed on and Kanin up to end last night as one of only two riders to get scores. “There wasn’t a bull out there that was easy to ride. Every single one has something about him,” said the Powell, Wyoming man. His had drop. “That straight shot he gave me was really hard to handle. He had more rolls and weird jumps than he normally does,” Asay noted. Kanin collected $13,000 for his work and is most thankful all the bull riders walked away from “eliminator” night relatively unscathed.
Cowboy Christmas
Our crack staff at the Wyoming Travel & Tourism office, board members, families and friends have been helping hand out Wyoming materials and introduce the cowboys we sponsor to visitors inside the huge “Cowboy Christmas” show in the Las Vegas Hilton Convention Center throughout the national finals. There are a number of Wyoming business people with booths there too. We’d like to introduce you to a couple of them in this story. Kathy Flickinger is with Cowboy Free Range Meat from Jackson Hole. Karen Roy and her husband started American Cowboy Coffee and are responsible for a new, and spirited, invigoration in the little town of Hartville, Wyoming.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Round Seven
Miller’s Crossing
Wyoming’s world champion steer wrestler returned to top form last night to collect $10,000 and pass go in terms of gaining on the pack in the average race. Jason Miller notched a time of 3.6 seconds and third-place honors in the seventh round. He also moved up to third in the average and eclipsed the $100,000 mark in annual earnings. “I just haven’t been able to move out of the box very well until tonight,” Miller said. He feels better now. “I don’t want to get frustrated because there are a lot of chances and money left. It’s not over until Saturday night,” Miller advises. I’d ask for all the people back in Lance Creek to send their positive energy this way but I’m quite sure all eight of them are here. I know I saw five in the Thomas & Mack Center last night. The pen of steers used last night is the cowboy’s favorite group. Tonight’s group is the trickiest.
More Bucks For Bobby
Bobby Welsh of Gillette carried the Wyoming flag in the opening ceremonies of the seventh round and when his time to ride came at the end of the night he was stuck like glue scoring 85 to win second place and another $13,250. “He was really ‘droppie’ and tricky,” Welsh said of his draw. “I was glad he started coming around and getting a little easier.” By that time Bobby was a long way into the arena. He stayed square though and continues to climb the money ladder. Mike Moore won the round with a score just a half-point higher than Welsh. “I thought it would never happen,” said Moore afterward. He has had many injuries over the years and everyone behind the chutes was very happy to see Mike get the win. He came to Wyoming from Illinois to become a cowboy and Moore is a fine one. He also got his degree from the University of Wyoming and could very well choose a teaching profession back in the Chicago area after his rodeo career. You never know about bull riding at the national finals because the odds so favor the bulls. For example, only five riders were scored last night. Right now it is a race between leader Chance Smart, J.W. Harris and Bobby Welsh.
Kanin Carried Off
The Justin Medicine team always gets a lot of business by this time at the finals. The room was full much of the night with ice packing requirements and X-ray reviews. When Powell, WY bull rider Kanin Asay was carried off it looked a lot more serious. His face was twisted in a grimace and he was not walking on his own power. As the minutes went by we stood worried for the young man’s situation especially when considering the serious injuries he’d sustained early this summer. Best friend and alternate finals bullfighter Dusty Tuckness from Meeteetse walked out of the medical treatment facility and told us Kanin was okay and the injury was not that severe. We later spoke with Justin team leader, Dr. Tandy Freeman who said: “Kanin came off his bull and stepped pretty awkwardly on his left leg; felt a pop. He thought maybe he’d hurt his knee. We got him back to the training room where he got to feeling better. His ankle is swollen. It looks like he has a bad ankle sprain.” The doctor is quite sure Kanin can return to action tonight. And if he can, he will.
Wyoming Horse & Rider
Powder River Rodeo Company (Riverton) had a horse called Big Chill out last night marking the second time one of their animals was drawn by bronc rider Chet Johnson of Gillette. Chet won money again splitting third and fourth place and earning $8,500. Chet’s winnings total just under $20,000 at the finals so far. Kelly Timberman from Mills, WY also went to the pay window to collect $5,600 after topping bareback horse Dusty Dan from the Harry Vold Rodeo Co.
Wyoming’s world champion steer wrestler returned to top form last night to collect $10,000 and pass go in terms of gaining on the pack in the average race. Jason Miller notched a time of 3.6 seconds and third-place honors in the seventh round. He also moved up to third in the average and eclipsed the $100,000 mark in annual earnings. “I just haven’t been able to move out of the box very well until tonight,” Miller said. He feels better now. “I don’t want to get frustrated because there are a lot of chances and money left. It’s not over until Saturday night,” Miller advises. I’d ask for all the people back in Lance Creek to send their positive energy this way but I’m quite sure all eight of them are here. I know I saw five in the Thomas & Mack Center last night. The pen of steers used last night is the cowboy’s favorite group. Tonight’s group is the trickiest.
More Bucks For Bobby
Bobby Welsh of Gillette carried the Wyoming flag in the opening ceremonies of the seventh round and when his time to ride came at the end of the night he was stuck like glue scoring 85 to win second place and another $13,250. “He was really ‘droppie’ and tricky,” Welsh said of his draw. “I was glad he started coming around and getting a little easier.” By that time Bobby was a long way into the arena. He stayed square though and continues to climb the money ladder. Mike Moore won the round with a score just a half-point higher than Welsh. “I thought it would never happen,” said Moore afterward. He has had many injuries over the years and everyone behind the chutes was very happy to see Mike get the win. He came to Wyoming from Illinois to become a cowboy and Moore is a fine one. He also got his degree from the University of Wyoming and could very well choose a teaching profession back in the Chicago area after his rodeo career. You never know about bull riding at the national finals because the odds so favor the bulls. For example, only five riders were scored last night. Right now it is a race between leader Chance Smart, J.W. Harris and Bobby Welsh.
Kanin Carried Off
The Justin Medicine team always gets a lot of business by this time at the finals. The room was full much of the night with ice packing requirements and X-ray reviews. When Powell, WY bull rider Kanin Asay was carried off it looked a lot more serious. His face was twisted in a grimace and he was not walking on his own power. As the minutes went by we stood worried for the young man’s situation especially when considering the serious injuries he’d sustained early this summer. Best friend and alternate finals bullfighter Dusty Tuckness from Meeteetse walked out of the medical treatment facility and told us Kanin was okay and the injury was not that severe. We later spoke with Justin team leader, Dr. Tandy Freeman who said: “Kanin came off his bull and stepped pretty awkwardly on his left leg; felt a pop. He thought maybe he’d hurt his knee. We got him back to the training room where he got to feeling better. His ankle is swollen. It looks like he has a bad ankle sprain.” The doctor is quite sure Kanin can return to action tonight. And if he can, he will.
Wyoming Horse & Rider
Powder River Rodeo Company (Riverton) had a horse called Big Chill out last night marking the second time one of their animals was drawn by bronc rider Chet Johnson of Gillette. Chet won money again splitting third and fourth place and earning $8,500. Chet’s winnings total just under $20,000 at the finals so far. Kelly Timberman from Mills, WY also went to the pay window to collect $5,600 after topping bareback horse Dusty Dan from the Harry Vold Rodeo Co.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Round Five
Miss C & Mr. Johnson
It was a match made in Wyoming. A great bucking horse and a great bronc rider. Chet Johnson wanted nothing more than to somehow have the luck to draw Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality, the pride of the Powder River Rodeo Company string out of Riverton, at the national finals. And he did. They paired last night for a beautiful, and classic, rock down the Thomas & Mack Center arena in Las Vegas. I saw Chet before the ride and his eyes actually shone. He looked like a little kid who found his first gift left on the pillow by the tooth fairy. He walked at a trot. I am quite sure the ankle pain that had been annoying him disappeared. If you love riding bucking horses you want nothing more than to have a shot at an animal like Miss C. Not that there are many like her. Actually none. No horse her size can get the air under it she does. She is so big in the chutes it can be very difficult for the rider to fit his legs down her flanks. The chute help has to pull in her rather large head at a 90 degree angle and then slowly let her even out before the gate can be opened. We are talking one big girl with an even bigger heart. “People don’t realize how strong she really is because she seems to move in slow motion. She’s a powerful horse and I was really excited to ride her,” said Johnson. “It’s a lot harder than it looks.” Chet handled her last night but it wasn’t easy. “She’s just ripping stuff away from you buck after buck. Judges don’t usually mark her as well as the faster and flashier horses but she is twice as hard to ride,” Johnson said. He rode to a share of third and fourth place, scored 85.5 and took home $8,500. “I won some money so it gets better from here,” bets Chet.
Still Standing
Halfway through the national finals all of the bull riders are still standing. So physically abused, it is a wonder to me how they manage to stay in one piece. But the even bigger game is upstairs. “Anybody who knows anything about bull riding knows what a head game it is,” says Hal Burns, stock contractor from Laramie. Burns can’t do anything to get in the head of Wyoming bull rider Seth Glause but if he could, he would. Seth can ride any of the bulls here but so far he’s been unable to get a score. We are all encouraging him every day and night. He will do it. Getting past the first one is the hard part. The lanky Rock Springs bull rider is at the finals for the first time. It can be overwhelming even for us duffers. We are talking about a 19-20 year old person. Come on. How did you handle Vegas at 20? And you didn’t have to get on a large, horned, bred to buck and spin animal. I know you’ll join me in sending good karma this way for Seth Glause.
Wyoming’s other two bull riders encountered interesting nights in Round 5. Kanin Asay had a great ride but a bad “get-off.” He is fine though. Just a horn to the right hip for a stinger. That’ll leave a mark. Kanin got a check for $10,000 scoring 87.5 and took the ending in stride. “I felt like I was moving a little too fast on him. I heard the whistle and I was going to go one way but he came up to me,” he recalls. Happily though the riders all walked out and that’s what counts.
Bobby Welsh made the whistle on a bull that sent him all along the chutes and to the other side from where they started. “He had a bad trip but made me work my tail off,” Welsh said. The score was a 53 with an option for a re-ride that Bobby chose not to take. “I just feel in my spirit I needed the score. It worked out two years ago. I was 62 and everybody but Donnie Gay thought I should have taken the re-ride. I have the same feeling I did then and it all worked out in the end,” Bobby assessed. He is fourth in the average, a slot ahead of the overall leader, Chance Smart. Welsh is now in second place in the world standings just $30,500 out of the top spot. Every scored ride, no matter the score, is of extreme value from now on out. Watch that average, or aggregate points, race. The totals there are very likely to crown the next world champion in bull riding.
Check Please
A couple of other Wyoming contestants were in the money last night. Steer wrestler Jason Miller began to get back on track finishing fifth with a 4.4 second run to win $4,300. And bareback rider Kelly Timberman also garnered a fifth-place check.
It was a match made in Wyoming. A great bucking horse and a great bronc rider. Chet Johnson wanted nothing more than to somehow have the luck to draw Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality, the pride of the Powder River Rodeo Company string out of Riverton, at the national finals. And he did. They paired last night for a beautiful, and classic, rock down the Thomas & Mack Center arena in Las Vegas. I saw Chet before the ride and his eyes actually shone. He looked like a little kid who found his first gift left on the pillow by the tooth fairy. He walked at a trot. I am quite sure the ankle pain that had been annoying him disappeared. If you love riding bucking horses you want nothing more than to have a shot at an animal like Miss C. Not that there are many like her. Actually none. No horse her size can get the air under it she does. She is so big in the chutes it can be very difficult for the rider to fit his legs down her flanks. The chute help has to pull in her rather large head at a 90 degree angle and then slowly let her even out before the gate can be opened. We are talking one big girl with an even bigger heart. “People don’t realize how strong she really is because she seems to move in slow motion. She’s a powerful horse and I was really excited to ride her,” said Johnson. “It’s a lot harder than it looks.” Chet handled her last night but it wasn’t easy. “She’s just ripping stuff away from you buck after buck. Judges don’t usually mark her as well as the faster and flashier horses but she is twice as hard to ride,” Johnson said. He rode to a share of third and fourth place, scored 85.5 and took home $8,500. “I won some money so it gets better from here,” bets Chet.
Still Standing
Halfway through the national finals all of the bull riders are still standing. So physically abused, it is a wonder to me how they manage to stay in one piece. But the even bigger game is upstairs. “Anybody who knows anything about bull riding knows what a head game it is,” says Hal Burns, stock contractor from Laramie. Burns can’t do anything to get in the head of Wyoming bull rider Seth Glause but if he could, he would. Seth can ride any of the bulls here but so far he’s been unable to get a score. We are all encouraging him every day and night. He will do it. Getting past the first one is the hard part. The lanky Rock Springs bull rider is at the finals for the first time. It can be overwhelming even for us duffers. We are talking about a 19-20 year old person. Come on. How did you handle Vegas at 20? And you didn’t have to get on a large, horned, bred to buck and spin animal. I know you’ll join me in sending good karma this way for Seth Glause.
Wyoming’s other two bull riders encountered interesting nights in Round 5. Kanin Asay had a great ride but a bad “get-off.” He is fine though. Just a horn to the right hip for a stinger. That’ll leave a mark. Kanin got a check for $10,000 scoring 87.5 and took the ending in stride. “I felt like I was moving a little too fast on him. I heard the whistle and I was going to go one way but he came up to me,” he recalls. Happily though the riders all walked out and that’s what counts.
Bobby Welsh made the whistle on a bull that sent him all along the chutes and to the other side from where they started. “He had a bad trip but made me work my tail off,” Welsh said. The score was a 53 with an option for a re-ride that Bobby chose not to take. “I just feel in my spirit I needed the score. It worked out two years ago. I was 62 and everybody but Donnie Gay thought I should have taken the re-ride. I have the same feeling I did then and it all worked out in the end,” Bobby assessed. He is fourth in the average, a slot ahead of the overall leader, Chance Smart. Welsh is now in second place in the world standings just $30,500 out of the top spot. Every scored ride, no matter the score, is of extreme value from now on out. Watch that average, or aggregate points, race. The totals there are very likely to crown the next world champion in bull riding.
Check Please
A couple of other Wyoming contestants were in the money last night. Steer wrestler Jason Miller began to get back on track finishing fifth with a 4.4 second run to win $4,300. And bareback rider Kelly Timberman also garnered a fifth-place check.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Round Two
The 50th national finals rodeo is underway in Las Vegas. The third round will be shown at 7:00 tonight, mountain time, on ESPN Classic. A record number of Wyoming contestants are competing. You can read all about how they are doing and obtain special features throughout the WNFR by checking here every morning through December 14.
Wyoming Travel & Tourism has partnered with Wrangler to showcase the state and our cowboys at the annual Cowboy Christmas extravaganza in the Las Vegas Convention Center. (Wrangler booth #425) You can meet and get autographs from Jason Miller (11am-1pm); Les Shepperson (12-2pm) and Kanin Asay (1-3pm) today. Folks are also gathering up a packets of Wyoming travel information and shopping in the Wrangler store for tonight's rodeo. There is no admission charge to Cowboy Christmas.
Two a Days
Midwest, WY steer wrestler Les Shepperson wishes he could make two runs a day instead of one at the national finals while a good number of his fellow doggers would like to have skipped last night. There were four who finished with no times and thus went out of whack entirely when considering the all-important average or aggregate total once ten rounds are in the books. A fifth steer wrestler timed out at 14 seconds and when three runs should total about that much time it makes catching up with the pack very difficult. “This pen of steers was a lot trickier than the first night,” said Shepperson who threw his in 4.1 seconds finishing third and winning another $10K to bring his two night total to nearly $16,000. He is meeting the challenge of a first timer at the WNFR head-on and focused. “Most of the other rodeos you’re trying to pump yourself up. Here you’ve got to calm yourself down.”
Bryce Miller earned his bronc riding spurs in Kaycee, Wyoming. He now resides in South Dakota and is off to a start that has to make the Forbes clan proud. The Forbes family has been helping young bronc riders for decades and there isn’t any question they consider Bryce one of their own. He is leading the average after two rounds at the national finals and has earned more than $30,000. Miller is fourth in the world standings and appears capable nightly of making up ground on those ahead of him.
Wyoming Travel & Tourism has partnered with Wrangler to showcase the state and our cowboys at the annual Cowboy Christmas extravaganza in the Las Vegas Convention Center. (Wrangler booth #425) You can meet and get autographs from Jason Miller (11am-1pm); Les Shepperson (12-2pm) and Kanin Asay (1-3pm) today. Folks are also gathering up a packets of Wyoming travel information and shopping in the Wrangler store for tonight's rodeo. There is no admission charge to Cowboy Christmas.
Two a Days
Midwest, WY steer wrestler Les Shepperson wishes he could make two runs a day instead of one at the national finals while a good number of his fellow doggers would like to have skipped last night. There were four who finished with no times and thus went out of whack entirely when considering the all-important average or aggregate total once ten rounds are in the books. A fifth steer wrestler timed out at 14 seconds and when three runs should total about that much time it makes catching up with the pack very difficult. “This pen of steers was a lot trickier than the first night,” said Shepperson who threw his in 4.1 seconds finishing third and winning another $10K to bring his two night total to nearly $16,000. He is meeting the challenge of a first timer at the WNFR head-on and focused. “Most of the other rodeos you’re trying to pump yourself up. Here you’ve got to calm yourself down.”
There are three different sets of 20 steers being used at the finals, from three separate stock contractors. The steer wrestlers made the choices based on which ones they expected would stop the least. Hopes were that most or all would not pull up or otherwise trick the doggers until the animals had been out three or four times. Last night’s steers showed their apprehensiveness of the short arena even though it was their first run. That group will be out two more times. The contestant favorites came into play the opening night of the WNFR and are to return to action in rounds four, seven and ten. Those steers were first in a rodeo at Cheyenne this summer.
Les Shepperson: Round Two
Les Shepperson: Round Two
Calling on Kaycee
Bryce Miller earned his bronc riding spurs in Kaycee, Wyoming. He now resides in South Dakota and is off to a start that has to make the Forbes clan proud. The Forbes family has been helping young bronc riders for decades and there isn’t any question they consider Bryce one of their own. He is leading the average after two rounds at the national finals and has earned more than $30,000. Miller is fourth in the world standings and appears capable nightly of making up ground on those ahead of him.Bulls 3, Cowboys 0
Wyoming’s trio of bull riders left the national finals arena empty handed last night. Seth Glause and Kanin Asay still need to make their first buzzers. Bobby Welsh of Gillette also launched early, way early, and will no doubt find his way back to the pay window soon. He holds on to second place in the average and fourth in the world standings. Glause strained his shoulder during his outing last night but walked by us a few minutes after and said he was alright and ready for another go.
Wyoming’s trio of bull riders left the national finals arena empty handed last night. Seth Glause and Kanin Asay still need to make their first buzzers. Bobby Welsh of Gillette also launched early, way early, and will no doubt find his way back to the pay window soon. He holds on to second place in the average and fourth in the world standings. Glause strained his shoulder during his outing last night but walked by us a few minutes after and said he was alright and ready for another go.
Miss C Monday
Powder River Rodeo Company’s Hank Franzen says he’s been told the amazing bronc Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality will buck out Monday for the first time at this year’s finals. She finished in the top three balloting for bucking horse of the year. Round 5, Monday, is termed the “TV Round” which is designed to give the viewing public the best looking crop of animal talent and there’s no doubt this young lady from Wyoming won’t disappoint. Her first buck out of the chutes is more of a launch and leaves you wondering how a horse that big can jump so high.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Three Wyoming Bull Riders & A First Fighter
You’d have to really scour the record books to find the last time three Wyoming contestants made the finals in bull riding. So far I haven’t been able to see a match for it in the written record. They are fine young men and the one smallest in stature was tall dog at the pay window Thursday. Gillette bull rider Bobby Welsh started his quest for a world champion’s gold buckle by winning the first round of the 50th annual national finals rodeo in Las Vegas last night. Welsh rode a bull he’d never been on before and had fun. “He beat me out just a little bit but I recovered well and just kept going to his front end,” said Welsh. He knew a 90-point score would be possible if he stayed on after waiting a month for last night to arrive. “I’ve never been this excited early at the finals,” Bobby echoed in media interviews for audiences from Canada to Mexico after the night was over and the Welsh family had a little more than $16,000 to put in the bank. They’ve been traveling together all year. Bobby entered 92 rodeos and his wife barrel raced in about half that many. “We were really looking forward to tonight and weren’t disappointed.”
Kanin Asay, of Powell, was not able to make the eight and the aftermath looked a lot worse than the resulting torn shirt and upper arm cut. “I haven’t been on for awhile and didn’t ride like I should have,” said Asay. He was caught underneath the animal for a short time however he escaped mostly unscathed. “I’ll be good to go tomorrow,” he smiled.Kanin Asay: Round-One
Seth Glause appeared ready to finish his inaugural national finals appearance with a scored ride but lost his grip less than a half-second before the eight-second horn. The 19-year-old Rock Springs cowboy is the pride of Central Wyoming Community College’s rodeo team in Riverton. His coach, Rick Smith, is here in Vegas and is sure to be offering counsel before his young charge gives it a second go. Seth is proud bearer of the number 50 back number at this historic finals now a half-century old. Another Wyoming man was out in the bull riding competition and could not have been more anxious. “It was awesome,” said bullfighter Dusty Tuckness of Meeteetse. He was in the alternate slot and got called to duty because of the broken leg sustained by Darrell Diefenbach two months ago. Darrell asked to stay out for a few more days and until his return Dusty is planning to make the most of his first chance to work in the national finals arena.
Seth Glause: Round One
Les Gets More WYO Dough
Les Shepperson surely honored the path blazed by his Dad. Frank won the world in steer wrestling in 1975. Les, from Midwest, came out strong in his first-ever national finals run dispatching his steer in 4.2 seconds to earn nearly $5,800. Must be that lucky can of Copenhagen in his shirt pocket.
Les Shepperson: Round-One
A couple of other Wyoming contestants took home cash in the first round of the WNFR. Gillette’s Chet Johnson collected $2,700 for sixth in bronc riding and world champion steer wrestler Jason Miller pocketed $1,350 in a sixth-place split. Six Wyoming cowboys hold in high regard a state tourism office sponsorship and four of them won money in Las Vegas last night. If those odds were greeting gamblers out on The Strip the town powers-that-be could never afford to build all those new casinos.
Chet Johnson: Round-One
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-Round Six Recap
Asay Feels Better
Men hate to do it. Usually a woman has to force us, nearly at gunpoint, to go to the doctor but with a world championship in professional bull riding on the line, Kanin Asay is seeing Justin Sports Medicine docs every morning. The Powell, WY resident is wearing a brace on his left arm to help his elbow injury and performed self-massages in h
is Vegas hotel room earlier in the week. Now he heads to the medicine room at the Thomas & Mack Center where ice and jell is applied. A second treatment before the rodeo and some Tylenol and Asay is much better prepared to perform. “I’m sore and tired but heeling,” he said. One can observe a renewed sense of purpose in the young rider (21 years old) here in Vegas for his first appearance at the WNFR. “I still don’t feel like I’m at the national finals. From the very point in the season where I thought I had a chance to make it I decided to look at it like any other rodeo. It’s just ten days long and you get on the best bulls,” Asay remarked. He sat tall in the sixth round scoring an 84.5 and pocketing third place cash of $9,800. The bull turned back to the right, away from Asay’s hand allowing him to push on his rope which is a lot better than having to lift with that bad elbow.
UW on Willie
There are now three former University of Wyoming students using the same horse to drop from and wrestle steers at the national finals. Willie is obviously Wyoming’s choice to make a run at the champion’s buckle. Last night, Sean Mulligan came close to a record with his run of 3.2 seconds. Mulligan has a degree in agricultural business from the University of Wyoming. As a side note, Sean won Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2000. Casey McMillen who was born in Laramie and educated at both Casper College and UW is also aboard Willie. And Lance Creek’s Jason Miller is winning on Willie as well. Milller still lives in the “Cowboy State” while his fellow UW alums have moved elsewhere. Jason told me last night he found out from Willie’s owner that the horse carried doggers to $44,000 in winnings in the last two nights. Miller worked to garner fourth last night (4.1 seconds) and won $6,875. He is sticking to his game plan. “You have to get a good start in this short arena. You can’t back off the barrier. I’m going for money in every go-round. That’s the only way I’ll have a chance,” Miller said.
Men hate to do it. Usually a woman has to force us, nearly at gunpoint, to go to the doctor but with a world championship in professional bull riding on the line, Kanin Asay is seeing Justin Sports Medicine docs every morning. The Powell, WY resident is wearing a brace on his left arm to help his elbow injury and performed self-massages in h
is Vegas hotel room earlier in the week. Now he heads to the medicine room at the Thomas & Mack Center where ice and jell is applied. A second treatment before the rodeo and some Tylenol and Asay is much better prepared to perform. “I’m sore and tired but heeling,” he said. One can observe a renewed sense of purpose in the young rider (21 years old) here in Vegas for his first appearance at the WNFR. “I still don’t feel like I’m at the national finals. From the very point in the season where I thought I had a chance to make it I decided to look at it like any other rodeo. It’s just ten days long and you get on the best bulls,” Asay remarked. He sat tall in the sixth round scoring an 84.5 and pocketing third place cash of $9,800. The bull turned back to the right, away from Asay’s hand allowing him to push on his rope which is a lot better than having to lift with that bad elbow.Photo: Kanin Asay leaves the round with a score of 84.5. Credit: Mike McCrimmon
The numbers at the top of the world standings in bull riding are close. Only $35,000 separates the leading four spots with four rodeos remaining. Asay is in second place, $20,000 behind Wisconsin’s B.J. Schumacher. He was tossed quickly last night by a 1,900 pound bull owned by Burns Rodeo Company of Laramie. “He’s just a four-year-old. He’s athletic and strong with power,” said Hal Burns. The animal comes from the bloodline of a bull called “Best Bet” who was so, shall we say, so difficult that he was eventually banned by both the PRCA and PBR (Pro Bull Riders). This offspring is known as “Bo Alameda” in honor of its previous owner who raises bulls in Wyoming.
Photo: B.J. Schumacher gets tossed in round six. Credit: Mike McCrimmon
The numbers at the top of the world standings in bull riding are close. Only $35,000 separates the leading four spots with four rodeos remaining. Asay is in second place, $20,000 behind Wisconsin’s B.J. Schumacher. He was tossed quickly last night by a 1,900 pound bull owned by Burns Rodeo Company of Laramie. “He’s just a four-year-old. He’s athletic and strong with power,” said Hal Burns. The animal comes from the bloodline of a bull called “Best Bet” who was so, shall we say, so difficult that he was eventually banned by both the PRCA and PBR (Pro Bull Riders). This offspring is known as “Bo Alameda” in honor of its previous owner who raises bulls in Wyoming.Photo: B.J. Schumacher gets tossed in round six. Credit: Mike McCrimmon
UW on Willie
There are now three former University of Wyoming students using the same horse to drop from and wrestle steers at the national finals. Willie is obviously Wyoming’s choice to make a run at the champion’s buckle. Last night, Sean Mulligan came close to a record with his run of 3.2 seconds. Mulligan has a degree in agricultural business from the University of Wyoming. As a side note, Sean won Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2000. Casey McMillen who was born in Laramie and educated at both Casper College and UW is also aboard Willie. And Lance Creek’s Jason Miller is winning on Willie as well. Milller still lives in the “Cowboy State” while his fellow UW alums have moved elsewhere. Jason told me last night he found out from Willie’s owner that the horse carried doggers to $44,000 in winnings in the last two nights. Miller worked to garner fourth last night (4.1 seconds) and won $6,875. He is sticking to his game plan. “You have to get a good start in this short arena. You can’t back off the barrier. I’m going for money in every go-round. That’s the only way I’ll have a chance,” Miller said.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo- Round Five Recap
Good Brandie
It was a $9,800 night for Brandie Halls to end the halfway mark of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She and trusty steed Slim gracefully maneuvered the barrel racing run in 14.02 seconds, finishing third in the 15-person field. Brandie, her husband and daughter, avoid the lights of Las Vegas. They stay pretty much to themselves here except for dutifully meeting obligations to sponsors. Brandie is shy but not around horses. She is a skillful trainer continually turning out quality animals from the family property east of Cheyenne. The Halls’ lead a faith-based existence and publicly exhibited their Christian beliefs at a horse-trough baptism during Cheyenne Frontier Days. While admittedly wont to avoid public engagements don’t for one minute doubt Brandie’s toughness and determination. She is performing this year with newly-engrained neck problems and came to Vegas in need of rotator cuff surgery. If you’ve felt the shoulder pain that comes with that injury imagine what she is going through in the arena every night.
Another tough customer of the strongest order is Powell bull rider Kanin Asay. He is bucking out every night with a left arm wracked in injury based at the elbow. He wraps his left hand on a massive bucking bull each night and did it twice last night – his second re-ride night of the finals. Asay scored a qualified ride (81 points) in that second tilt to finish fourth and win $6875.00. Oh, to be 21 again. Can you say invincible? Kanin is also a member of a deeply Christian family and was home-schooled his last two years of high school.
Photos: Brandie Halls, Kanin Asay and Jhett Johnson each qualifying in round five of the finals. Credit: Mike McCrimmon
Burch Buckle
Wyoming won a go-round buckle last night by way of the bucking skill exhibited by Burch Rodeo Company’s (Rozet, WY) Pinball Wizard. The seven-year-old gelding carried bareback rider Will Lowe to a winning ride of 89.5 points. “He’s been a good horse ever since we started him,” said owner Matt Burch of the ranch-raised animal. This is his first national finals. “When you get one out here all you want him to do is have a good day and buck as hard as he can,” Burch notes. Lowe liked the result: “I had never been on that horse. I’d seen him at Caldwell, Idaho and knew he was an outstanding horse. I knew he was going to buck and be something exotic. You don’t know exactly what, but he’s going to do something.”
Adios Doc
A long, illustrious, career in pro rodeo came to a stand-up conclusion last night with the retirement of Dr. J. Pat Evans. He is the man responsible for the Justin Sports Medicine program without which a lot of good cowboys would have been home mending fence long before their careers had the chance to come to fruition. The good doctor told us he knew he could help rodeo when he first started attending events and saw that the contestants were without medical assistance of any kind. “Heck, in Texas even the high school football teams had trainers and these pro athletes had no one,” Dr. Evans said. He revolutionized medical care for rodeo athletes. His name, and contribution to the sport, is of immeasurable value. He gave renewed health and vigor to thousands of contestants over the last 30 years and money was never a part of the equation.
It was a $9,800 night for Brandie Halls to end the halfway mark of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She and trusty steed Slim gracefully maneuvered the barrel racing run in 14.02 seconds, finishing third in the 15-person field. Brandie, her husband and daughter, avoid the lights of Las Vegas. They stay pretty much to themselves here except for dutifully meeting obligations to sponsors. Brandie is shy but not around horses. She is a skillful trainer continually turning out quality animals from the family property east of Cheyenne. The Halls’ lead a faith-based existence and publicly exhibited their Christian beliefs at a horse-trough baptism during Cheyenne Frontier Days. While admittedly wont to avoid public engagements don’t for one minute doubt Brandie’s toughness and determination. She is performing this year with newly-engrained neck problems and came to Vegas in need of rotator cuff surgery. If you’ve felt the shoulder pain that comes with that injury imagine what she is going through in the arena every night.
Another tough customer of the strongest order is Powell bull rider Kanin Asay. He is bucking out every night with a left arm wracked in injury based at the elbow. He wraps his left hand on a massive bucking bull each night and did it twice last night – his second re-ride night of the finals. Asay scored a qualified ride (81 points) in that second tilt to finish fourth and win $6875.00. Oh, to be 21 again. Can you say invincible? Kanin is also a member of a deeply Christian family and was home-schooled his last two years of high school.
Turns out you can change horses in the middle of the stream. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson felt he had to make the switch and did so last night. “Sometimes you have to make a little change for the better,” said Johnson who ran a different horse, Pancho, for the first time at the national finals. Prior to that move, Jhett has always run steers in the Thomas & Mack Center arena on his gray horse, Smokie. “He just didn’t feel like he wanted to run in that building. He’s been there for more than twenty runs so he knows it’s fast. Either he can’t or did not want to give me 100 percent,” Johnson assessed. He rode the other horse in a lot of rodeos this year and decided the time was right to salvage the best possible finish. The strategy paid off enough to give Jhett and partner Keven Daniel a fighting chance down the stretch. They made a 5.3 second run and got fifth-place money totaling about $4,200 a piece.
Photos: Brandie Halls, Kanin Asay and Jhett Johnson each qualifying in round five of the finals. Credit: Mike McCrimmon
Burch Buckle
Wyoming won a go-round buckle last night by way of the bucking skill exhibited by Burch Rodeo Company’s (Rozet, WY) Pinball Wizard. The seven-year-old gelding carried bareback rider Will Lowe to a winning ride of 89.5 points. “He’s been a good horse ever since we started him,” said owner Matt Burch of the ranch-raised animal. This is his first national finals. “When you get one out here all you want him to do is have a good day and buck as hard as he can,” Burch notes. Lowe liked the result: “I had never been on that horse. I’d seen him at Caldwell, Idaho and knew he was an outstanding horse. I knew he was going to buck and be something exotic. You don’t know exactly what, but he’s going to do something.”
Adios Doc
A long, illustrious, career in pro rodeo came to a stand-up conclusion last night with the retirement of Dr. J. Pat Evans. He is the man responsible for the Justin Sports Medicine program without which a lot of good cowboys would have been home mending fence long before their careers had the chance to come to fruition. The good doctor told us he knew he could help rodeo when he first started attending events and saw that the contestants were without medical assistance of any kind. “Heck, in Texas even the high school football teams had trainers and these pro athletes had no one,” Dr. Evans said. He revolutionized medical care for rodeo athletes. His name, and contribution to the sport, is of immeasurable value. He gave renewed health and vigor to thousands of contestants over the last 30 years and money was never a part of the equation.
Photo: Wyoming fans demonstrate their support.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round Four Recap
Nasty Bulls
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.
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
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round Three Recap
Sir Lance Creek A Lot
Jason Miller has rolled up seven slots since his arrival in Las Vegas. He doesn’t strike me as superstitious but coming into the national finals Miller was 13th in steer wrestling’s world standings and must not have cared to stay there. He won the round last night – his first go-round win in pro rodeo’s Superbowl – and has tickled the pay window for more than $36,000 in three days. His 4.0 second run last night bested everybody. “I called a friend of mine that ran that steer earlier in the year and he told me about him. I didn’t feel like I made a real great run but I had a great steer so that paid off,” Miller said. The Lance Creek, Wyoming dogger has his parents with him at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There is not a prouder couple to be found today. We’ve gotten to know Jason pretty well this past year and there’s no doubt his folks have a lot more to feel good about than how their son has performed in Vegas so far. They’ve raised a fine, grounded, man who is admired greatly by his peers. Miller is now #1 in the average at the national finals. He has risen to sixth in the world standings having thrown three steers here in a total of 11.4 seconds.
Kelly’s Heroes
“If you’re going to lose to somebody, that’s the way to do it,” exclaimed Mills, WY bareback rider Kelly Timberman after posting a score of 88.5 last night to claim a $13,000 payday. Young Justin McDaniel (or kid as Kelly calls him) climbed aboard a horse he saw Timberman, the 2004 world champ, handle at the Wrangler Tour stop in Omaha and McDaniel proved himself a quick study last night. He flew to a new Wrangler National Finals Rodeo record in his event, scoring a 91.5
One of the great things about pro rodeo is how much contestants help each other. Timberman is looked up to, as well he should be, by McDaniel and Kelly expends a good deal of time and effort offering advice to the next generation of
champions.
Glad to be Here
This is Christmas and Cowboy time in Las Vegas. All the hotels switch their in-house music systems over to country and the restaurants are full of people in western wear. Usually the brightest smiles, anticipatory glee, and pure joy come through the face of a child. Last night in the rodeo arena the most satisfied customer was a person brought in to see his first national finals. The rodeo announcers recognized him. He stood, tipped his hat, and smiled. That fan was a sprightly 99-years-old.
Jason Miller has rolled up seven slots since his arrival in Las Vegas. He doesn’t strike me as superstitious but coming into the national finals Miller was 13th in steer wrestling’s world standings and must not have cared to stay there. He won the round last night – his first go-round win in pro rodeo’s Superbowl – and has tickled the pay window for more than $36,000 in three days. His 4.0 second run last night bested everybody. “I called a friend of mine that ran that steer earlier in the year and he told me about him. I didn’t feel like I made a real great run but I had a great steer so that paid off,” Miller said. The Lance Creek, Wyoming dogger has his parents with him at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There is not a prouder couple to be found today. We’ve gotten to know Jason pretty well this past year and there’s no doubt his folks have a lot more to feel good about than how their son has performed in Vegas so far. They’ve raised a fine, grounded, man who is admired greatly by his peers. Miller is now #1 in the average at the national finals. He has risen to sixth in the world standings having thrown three steers here in a total of 11.4 seconds.Photo: Jason Miller of Lance Creek, Wyoming takes a victory lap. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Jhett & Chet
Casper’s Jhett Johnson broke through after a couple of nights of losing seconds to team roping miscues. He and partner Keven Daniel put together a solid run of 5.3 seconds to finish sixth and catch a check for $2,600 apiece. It is still early in this 10-day affair. Jhett and Keven are sitting seventh in the average (total times so far) while several of the pairs ahead of them in earnings for the year have fallen back dramatically in terms of where they stand average-wise at the finals. 
Chet Johnson is pretty much over a bad cold that had him in bed for twelve hours overnight Friday. Last night he spurred Blazing Saddle to notch an 85 score and third place finish. The horse bucked toward a side rail at the end of his turn slowing down the finish, and score slightly. The Gillette, WY saddle bronc rider says the ride felt good and he is feeling much better. A check for $10,000 can’t hurt.
Photo: Chet Johnson rides with an 85 score. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Kelly’s Heroes
“If you’re going to lose to somebody, that’s the way to do it,” exclaimed Mills, WY bareback rider Kelly Timberman after posting a score of 88.5 last night to claim a $13,000 payday. Young Justin McDaniel (or kid as Kelly calls him) climbed aboard a horse he saw Timberman, the 2004 world champ, handle at the Wrangler Tour stop in Omaha and McDaniel proved himself a quick study last night. He flew to a new Wrangler National Finals Rodeo record in his event, scoring a 91.5
One of the great things about pro rodeo is how much contestants help each other. Timberman is looked up to, as well he should be, by McDaniel and Kelly expends a good deal of time and effort offering advice to the next generation of
champions.
Glad to be Here
This is Christmas and Cowboy time in Las Vegas. All the hotels switch their in-house music systems over to country and the restaurants are full of people in western wear. Usually the brightest smiles, anticipatory glee, and pure joy come through the face of a child. Last night in the rodeo arena the most satisfied customer was a person brought in to see his first national finals. The rodeo announcers recognized him. He stood, tipped his hat, and smiled. That fan was a sprightly 99-years-old.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Wrangler National Finals Rode - Looking Back at Round Two
Four Event Money
Wyoming contestants gathered paychecks in four events at the national finals last night. “I’m starting to make the turn and will get this thing figured out,” said Kelly Timberman of Mills who took fifth place money of $4,200 and is currently fifth in the bareback riding average. Jason Miller placed again dropping his steer in 3.8 seconds to collect close to $7,000 and fourth place honors. “My horse acted up a little in the box and I was just a hair slow getting out of there,” Miller told me. He had mentioned earlier in the day that we could expect a fast pen of steers and that was clearly accurate. A time of 4.1 did not pay in last night’s bulldogging competition. Miller holds the second spot in the average (or aggregate) and there’s where the best total at the end of this thing can serve to catapult a cowboy to the top. Carpenter’s Brandie Halls made a clean barrel racing run and won $4,200. And Bobbie Welsh, of Gillette, tied for fifth in bull riding to take away a $3,400 payday.
Missing Out & Making Do
As predicted by Chet Johnson, yesterday’s broncs were twisters of the highest order. They were downright rude tossing their riders with unkind regularity. But professionals don’t give up easily and eventually scores were obtained. Johnson looked back to see a pretty high mark initially and then noticed a flag that took away the score because he did not get his feet parked above the horse’s shoulders upon landing the first jump out of the chutes. It happens to the best. A violation of the mark-out rule hurts most when you’ve gone on to a classic spur like Johnson managed last night. He is not fretting and won’t look back. That’s an unwritten rule of rodeo. It is always better to smile and focus on the next one. You want that chance more than anything. And when your body is facing ten-to-one odds in terms of the animal’s weight to yours, you are also pretty darn satisfied to walk away healthy. Bronc rider Jeff Willert is the first contestant at this year’s Wrangler’s National Finals Rodeo who did not get up after being stepped on following a very respectable outing. Justin Sports Medicine doctors ordered Willert sent to University Hospital and reported a bone in Willert’s upper leg is very likely broken.
Team Toast
Mornings can start at noon in Vegas so our office hosted an early breakfast with some trepidation yesterday. But WOW did Wyoming show. Stock contractors, contestants, Wyoming rodeo committee people and oh yes, the Governor and First Lady, all came out to share sustenanc
e and support the pro rodeo athletes who are here representing the “Cowboy State.” One of many just desserts out of the get-together was interaction between rodeo committees. They came away saying it was good to meet, talk, and learn more about one another. Sounds like the start of some good progress on the overall Wyoming rodeo scene. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson represented the athletes at the breakfast and he was very thankful for the support from the Wyoming Travel & Tourism office. “It’s truly an honor to have a whole state behind us. We meet people every day who are pulling for us – whether it went good or bad. Thank you and stay behind us. We’re doing all we can,” Johnson told the crowd.
Wyoming contestants gathered paychecks in four events at the national finals last night. “I’m starting to make the turn and will get this thing figured out,” said Kelly Timberman of Mills who took fifth place money of $4,200 and is currently fifth in the bareback riding average. Jason Miller placed again dropping his steer in 3.8 seconds to collect close to $7,000 and fourth place honors. “My horse acted up a little in the box and I was just a hair slow getting out of there,” Miller told me. He had mentioned earlier in the day that we could expect a fast pen of steers and that was clearly accurate. A time of 4.1 did not pay in last night’s bulldogging competition. Miller holds the second spot in the average (or aggregate) and there’s where the best total at the end of this thing can serve to catapult a cowboy to the top. Carpenter’s Brandie Halls made a clean barrel racing run and won $4,200. And Bobbie Welsh, of Gillette, tied for fifth in bull riding to take away a $3,400 payday.
Missing Out & Making Do
As predicted by Chet Johnson, yesterday’s broncs were twisters of the highest order. They were downright rude tossing their riders with unkind regularity. But professionals don’t give up easily and eventually scores were obtained. Johnson looked back to see a pretty high mark initially and then noticed a flag that took away the score because he did not get his feet parked above the horse’s shoulders upon landing the first jump out of the chutes. It happens to the best. A violation of the mark-out rule hurts most when you’ve gone on to a classic spur like Johnson managed last night. He is not fretting and won’t look back. That’s an unwritten rule of rodeo. It is always better to smile and focus on the next one. You want that chance more than anything. And when your body is facing ten-to-one odds in terms of the animal’s weight to yours, you are also pretty darn satisfied to walk away healthy. Bronc rider Jeff Willert is the first contestant at this year’s Wrangler’s National Finals Rodeo who did not get up after being stepped on following a very respectable outing. Justin Sports Medicine doctors ordered Willert sent to University Hospital and reported a bone in Willert’s upper leg is very likely broken.
Photo: Chet Johnson in round two. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Team Toast
Mornings can start at noon in Vegas so our office hosted an early breakfast with some trepidation yesterday. But WOW did Wyoming show. Stock contractors, contestants, Wyoming rodeo committee people and oh yes, the Governor and First Lady, all came out to share sustenanc
e and support the pro rodeo athletes who are here representing the “Cowboy State.” One of many just desserts out of the get-together was interaction between rodeo committees. They came away saying it was good to meet, talk, and learn more about one another. Sounds like the start of some good progress on the overall Wyoming rodeo scene. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson represented the athletes at the breakfast and he was very thankful for the support from the Wyoming Travel & Tourism office. “It’s truly an honor to have a whole state behind us. We meet people every day who are pulling for us – whether it went good or bad. Thank you and stay behind us. We’re doing all we can,” Johnson told the crowd. Photo: Jhett Johnson speaks at Wyoming breakfast with Governor Dave Freudenthal in attendance. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Friday, December 7, 2007
2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round One Recap
Jason Chasin’
Steer wrestler Jason Miller went to elementary school – K through 8 – in a class of six in Lance Creek, Wyoming. He later played high school sports in the nearby town of Lusk. Now, at age 33, Miller is making a name
for himself amongst the elite in professional rodeo and on the world’s brightest stage for the sport at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. There are ten rounds of competition and last night’s first outing saw Miller attain the second fastest time – 3.6 seconds. He made nearly $13,000 for that effort climbing from 13th to 9th in the world standings. “That’s a big thing here. If a guy gets started off right, you can go on a roll. I’ve seen it happen before. You go right on through the week and win a lot of money,” Miller said. Most times in this little arena if a bulldogger can drop his prey in the three-second category there is going to be a big payoff. “I didn’t think I was that fast but knew I got a good start. You almost feel like you broke the barrier you just cover them up so quickly,” Miller remarked.
Steer wrestler Jason Miller went to elementary school – K through 8 – in a class of six in Lance Creek, Wyoming. He later played high school sports in the nearby town of Lusk. Now, at age 33, Miller is making a name
for himself amongst the elite in professional rodeo and on the world’s brightest stage for the sport at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. There are ten rounds of competition and last night’s first outing saw Miller attain the second fastest time – 3.6 seconds. He made nearly $13,000 for that effort climbing from 13th to 9th in the world standings. “That’s a big thing here. If a guy gets started off right, you can go on a roll. I’ve seen it happen before. You go right on through the week and win a lot of money,” Miller said. Most times in this little arena if a bulldogger can drop his prey in the three-second category there is going to be a big payoff. “I didn’t think I was that fast but knew I got a good start. You almost feel like you broke the barrier you just cover them up so quickly,” Miller remarked. Photo: Jason Miller moves into 9th place with a time of 3.6 sec in round one. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Pride of Wyoming
Pretty tough sledding for the Wyoming men riding bulls at the national finals last night. No scores for Kanin Asay and Bobby Welsh. They were not alone. It is a fact that a lot of nights see fewer than half the field stay on for the full eight seconds. One of the better animals out spinning in round one is called Ambush. He’s a product of the Burns Rodeo Company in Laramie. In the rough stock category of rodeo each ride is scored half for the animal and half for the rider. There are two judges and the best possible score is 100. A critter that is consistent, like Ambush, is going to be scored 22 or 23 points by each judge, nearly every time out. “He’s just a really good bull to draw.
When they ride him the cowboys win a lot of money,” said Hal Burns. “He’s the cowboy’s pick. You ask them what they want in a herd, Ambush is right at the top,” Burns continued. Last night, Ambush lived up to his name and forced rider Clint Craig to touch with his free hand to end the night with no score. Burns and his brother, Pete, have been at it for more than twenty years. They raised the bull “Mr. T” who will long remain a rodeo legend for consistently tossing riders before the eight-second whistle for many years. Hal is just as excited this year about the human element competing at the national finals because of the number from Wyoming. “Not to downplay the Texans - there’s 33 of them - out of how many millions of people? What are we 450,000 in Wyoming now? And we’ve got seven kids in. Per capita, we blow away everybody in the rodeo business,” Burns beamed. Photo: Clint Craig tries to hold on to Ambush before touching the bull with his free hand. Credit: Rick Carpenter
Friday Night Flights
Gillette, Wyoming saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson went to bed early to sleep off a cold and be in the best possible shape to face “Eliminator” night tonight in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo arena. The rough stock animals that are chosen to buck out tonight, and next Friday night, all have a trick to them. Johnson says he and his fellow riders are a bit more nervous when they are matched with eliminators. “You’ll usually get a bunch of ducks and dives. They are really strong,” he said. Chet feels fortunate in that his horse is one he’s ridden before. In fact, Johnson won the first round at Pendleton this year on the Ike Sankey Rodeo Co. steed, scoring an 86. That’s the thing about “Eliminator” night – staying on. It’s never easy but tonight fans are sure going to enjoy the wild rides even though the riders would probably just as soon be in the stands.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Christmas Money Comes Early
Fourth of July rodeos are the craziest travel time for contestants on the pro rodeo circuit. If you live in the West you saw horse trailers rolling the highways somewhere in the last few days. Two of them carrying Wyoming athletes pulled into Greeley, CO yesterday for the finals at the Stampede – the largest of the “Cowboy Christmas” purses. Both left with pockets full of cash.Brandie Halls and her trusty steed Slim won the barrel racing average in Greeley with a total time of 52.33 seconds in three runs. The Carpenter, WY resident, and Torrington area native, ran at speeds good enough for money in each round and total winnings of over $8,400. Just to give you a thumbnail of how the travel miles accumulate during the first week of July, Brandie headed to Steamboat Springs, CO for a rodeo last night. She took her inexperienced horse, Lizzy, out for that run that really was difficult because of the fireworks and crowd noise. On top of those impediments, the wind kicked up and blew the timing eye down during the run. Back to the travel: Brandie’s been to Red Lodge, Montana and Cody, Wyoming in addition to Greeley over the last few days. She’s headed to Utah today and will return to Steamboat this weekend.
Casper team roper Jhett Johnson heeled his way to the Greeley pay window to pick up nearly $5,800 along with heading pard Keven Daniel. They took the average title with a total time of 17.4 on three head. Jhett has now moved up to 26th in the world standings and hopes to close in on the coveted top 15 within a few weeks. He has the honor of hauling a horse trailer widely, and colorfully, adorned with Wyoming scenery and a big picture of the Johnson family. They live west of Casper on a ranch that dates to the late 1800s.
Another member of the Wyoming rodeo athlete sponsorship program supported by the state tourism office is Jason Miller – a steer wrestler from Lance Creek. His year is getting better quickly after Greeley. He left the Stampede with a cool $6,000 and a startling vault in the standings, now in the 26th spot.
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