POGUE A STANDOUT AMONG RNCFR'S TEAM ROPERS

OKLAHOMA CITY – For much of his roping life, Charles Pogue was a fixture at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. He qualified for the Big Show 15 times in his 25-year career, helped considerably by his great horse, Scooter, which was named the PRCA/AQHA Heading Horse of the Year six times.

Of course, Pogue’s talent has always shown through. In 1998 and 2000, Pogue and his heeling partner, Britt Bockius, roped in the NFR average titles. The last time Pogue competed in ProRodeo’s grand finale was 2003. That’s when the Ringling, Okla., cowboy decided to spend more time at home with his family.

Although he doesn’t compete nearly as much nationwide, he is still quite competitive. Pogue and his partner, Jett Hillman of Jones, Okla., have again qualified for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 29-April 1 at Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

RNCFR TEAM ROPING QUALIFIERS

This list is subject to change

HEADERS
Wade Wheatley	Jake Stanley
Riley Minor	Daren Morgan
Carmine Nastri	Adam Newcomb
Cody Graham	Jason Handy
Miles Kobold	Tyler Schnaufer
Jake Day	Tyler Johnson
Charles Pogue	Manny Egusquiza Jr.
Travis Dorman	Luke Brown
Nathan McWhorter	Brock Hanson
Erich Rogers	Colby Siddoway
Matt Sherwood

HEELERS
Rory Brown	Ryan Zurcher
John Chaves	Jake Twisselman
Brady Minor	Justin Davis
Derek Carey	Shawn Quinn
Jason Thompson	Gabe Gwaltney
Matt Robertson	John Robertson
Wade Masters	Cole Cooper
Jett Hillman	Mitch Murray
Adam Plyler	Clint Summers
York Gill	Martin Lucero
Cory Petska	Lane Siggins
Rhen Richard	Derick Fleming

THE RNCFR CHASE WILL BE MEMORABLE

California Cowboys Bring NFR-Caliber Steer Wrestling to National Championship

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sometimes the chase is more memorable than the catch. That’s the case with Luke Branquinho and the 2011 ProRodeo season, one in which the California cowboy clinched his third steer wrestling world championship in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

“It’s great that it came down to the 10th round,” said Branquinho, who was in a dogfight for the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle with Jason Miller and Shawn Greenfield heading into the final night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “It’s unfortunate that Jason and Shawn had some bad luck, but it was a great race.”

It was just one of a couple races Branquinho was involved in last season; the other involved the California Circuit, where fellow NFR qualifier Ethen Thouvenell won the year-end championship. But Branquinho won the average title at the Ram California Circuit Finals Rodeo. That qualifies both cowboys for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for Thursday, March 29-Sunday, April 1, at Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

“Making the (national) circuit finals meals a lot,” said Branquinho, who also won world titles in 2004 and ’08. “It’s a great rodeo with a lot of money added. It’s a rodeo that has the top circuit cowboys from all across the country, so that makes it great, too.

“You have to qualify for this, so that makes it pretty special.” This is ProRodeo’s National Championship, where the very best competitors in the sport earn the right to play for one of the largest purses in the sport, more than $525,000. The event pits the top cowboys and cowgirls from the 12 regional ProRodeo circuits against one another for the prestigious national title. Contestants will compete in seven traditional rodeo events: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding.

“Making it there is something I’ve wanted to do,” said Thouvenell, who has qualified three times for the RNCFR. “In my circuit, it’s kind of a tough bulldogging. It’s a nice thing when you’ve got guys like that in your circuit, because you know you’re going up against the best all the time.

“The California Circuit has always been one of those circuits where we’ve had some real competitive steer wrestling. I think it shows.”

Now the Californians will test their mettle against the top players from the other 11 circuits. Branquinho has an advantage that comes with being crowned the world’s best three times; Thouvenell qualified for the 2010 NFR and finished that season ninth in the world standings. And both know what it means to be on top of the bulldogging standings – Branquinho has those gold buckles, and Thouvenell parlayed big wins in San Antonio and Tuscon on the same weekend in late February to move to the No. 1 spot early in the 2012 season.

“When you get there, you get to go up against 23 other guys instead of 50 or so like you do at a lot of big rodeos that add that kind of money,” said Branquinho, who is making his seventh trip to the RNCFR. “It’s a prestigious rodeo, and it’s one you want to do well at.

“This is my first chance to go to it in Oklahoma City, and I’m really looking forward to it.” Thouvenell was part of the 24-man field at State Fair Arena last spring, so he knows the feeling of backing his horse into the timed-event box in that storied building, which hosted the NFR from 1965-1978.

“What’s great about it is they take the 12 circuits, and they bring the two best from each circuit,” Thouvenell said. “That makes for an elite field of guys. It makes for a great rodeo.”

Of course, having ProRodeo’s National Championship on the line is also a big incentive. It’s a dream both California cowboys will chase, and they’ll remember every step along the way

FAMILY HAS A GOOD FORMULA FOR WINNING

Taos Muncy and Cody Taton are traveling partners, good friends and great all-around cowboys who have qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in saddle bronc riding.

They’re brothers-in-law, too. Taton is married to the former Jordan Muncy, and all make their homes near Corona, N.M. Jordan Taton is the rodeo coach at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, and, like her brother, has been around rodeo all her life. In fact, she’s just two years removed from winning the all-around and breakaway roping championships at the College National Finals Rodeo.

All three were on the rodeo team at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and Jordan Taton was just a junior when she scored her double dip. Her brother, the reigning world champion, was just a 20-year-old sophomore when he won the CNFR saddle bronc riding title in 2007 – he won the first of two PRCA world championships that year, too.

Cody Taton is association’s saddle bronc riding representative. Probably a bigger accomplishment, though, is that he won the NFR average in his only trip to the finale in 2008. Earlier this year, he moved into the No. 1 spot in the world standings with his big victory at in Fort Worth. It’s nice to know the family that plays together wins together, too.

RNCFR SADDLE BRONC RIDING QUALIFIERS

This list is subject to change

Cody Taton	Taos Muncy
Ben Londo	Bryan Martinat
Clovis Crane	Zack Vickers
Doug Aldridge	Cody Rud
Josh Reynolds	Jake Costello
Cody Martin	Lyle Welling
Travis Sheets	Hardy Braden
Justin Browning	Curtis Garton
Sam Spreadborough	Jacobs Crawley
Cody Wright	Jesse Wright
Ryan Elshere	Ty Manke
Jess Williams	Mert Bradshaw

TRIO OF HOUSTON WINNERS COMING TO OKC

Taos Muncy and Cody Taton are traveling partners, good friends and great all-around cowboys who have qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in saddle bronc riding.

They’re brothers-in-law, too. Taton is married to the former Jordan Muncy, and all make their homes near Corona, N.M. Jordan Taton is the rodeo coach at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, and, like her brother, has been around rodeo all her life. In fact, she’s just two years removed from winning the all-around and breakaway roping championships at the College National Finals Rodeo.

All three were on the rodeo team at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and Jordan Taton was just a junior when she scored her double dip. Her brother, the reigning world champion, was just a 20-year-old sophomore when he won the CNFR saddle bronc riding title in 2007 – he won the first of two PRCA world championships that year, too.

Cody Taton is association’s saddle bronc riding representative. Probably a bigger accomplishment, though, is that he won the NFR average in his only trip to the finale in 2008. Earlier this year, he moved into the No. 1 spot in the world standings with his big victory at in Fort Worth. It’s nice to know the family that plays together wins together, too.

THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A GOODWIN

Monty Goodwin isn’t a native Oklahoman, but he loves the Sooner State just the same.

Goodwin was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle community of Sunray, just a stone’s throw away from Oklahoma Panhandle. He moved to Weatherford, Okla., in 2006 to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University on a rodeo scholarship. He’s stayed here ever since.

“I like it here,” he said. “I just fell in love with Oklahoma. Oklahoma is home.”

Goodwin will be one of 24 bareback riders in the field for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for Thursday, March 29-Sunday, April 1. He qualified for ProRodeo’s National Championship by winning the average title at the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo last October in Weatherford – it was the fifth time Goodwin had qualified for the regional championship, which features the top 12 contestants in each event primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

“I just always wanted to be a rodeo cowboy,” said Goodwin, whose full time job is as an animal health representative for Invesco, a company that distributes animal medicine to veterinarians and ranchers.

His work schedule allows Goodwin the opportunity to compete, but he stays closer to home. One of the great things about the circuit system is allowing those who rodeo part time to still compete for championships. The year-end and finals average winners in each event from each circuit qualify for the national championship.

Goodwin will test his skills against world champions like Kaycee Feild and Will Lowe, as well as several other Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers who are in the bareback riding field. It’s a great opportunity, and he knows it.

NATIONAL TITLES IN SITE FOR OKLAHOMANS

Locals Are Hoping To Keep RNCFR Championships Home Where They Belong

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma has a strong legacy in rodeo, from Jim Shoulders and Tom Ferguson to the National Finals Rodeo.

That’s why Oklahoma City is the perfect fit to be the home of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday at Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. This is a showcase of ProRodeo’s circuit system, the greatest cowboys and cowgirls from the 12 regions across the United States.

Oklahoma is well represented in this championship, too. Whether it’s veterans like Charles Pogue or newcomers like Riley Duvall, there’s a good mix of top-caliber contestants who take great pride in qualifying for ProRodeo’s National Championship, where the very best competitors in the sport earn the right to play for one of the largest purses in the sport, more than $525,000.

“Since the circuit finals moved to Oklahoma City last year, I made that a priority,” said Blair Burk, a 14-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Durant, Okla. “My No. 1 priority was to qualify for the circuit finals. I’d been to the one up in Pocatello a few years back, then they moved it back down here.

“It looked like it was the perfect fit for Oklahoma City.”

It is a great fit, and the Oklahomans are ready to make it their showcase. Burk is one of three Oklahoma tie-down ropers in the RNCFR, qualifying for Oklahoma City by winning the Ram Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo average title last fall. The other two tie-down ropers, Jerome Schneeberger of Ponca City and Hunter Herrin of Apache, qualified through the Prairie Circuit – Schneeberger won the year-end title, and Herrin won the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo average last October.

“That’s where I started, and I always enjoy those rodeos,” Schneeberger said of the rodeos in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “Most of them are smaller, but they’ve always been good to me.”

A lot of rodeos have been good to Schneeberger, an 11-time NFR qualifier who won the average title at ProRodeo’s grand finale in 2001. Herrin, who just had a solid run at RodeoHouston, has qualified for the NFR five times in the last six years.

While the Prairie Circuit features contestants and events from mid-America, the Columbia River Circuit encompasses Oregon, Washington and the northern tip of Idaho. Although he’s from Oklahoma, Burk claims that region as his home circuit.

“I go to more good rodeos in the Columbia River Circuit,” Burk said. “There are four tour rodeos that are in that circuit, and there’s only one tour rodeo in the Prairie Circuit, and that’s Dodge City. I just tend to go to more big rodeos in the Columbia River Circuit than I would be able to get to in the Prairie Circuit.

“My family and I are always in Oregon in June anyway, so it makes it easy for me.”

Besides the tie-down ropers, the other Oklahomans in the RNCFR field are team ropers Pogue of Ringling and his partner, Jett Hillman of Purcell; Duvall, a third-generation steer wrestler from Checotah, whose father, Sam, and uncle, Spud, are NFR qualifiers and whose great-uncle, Roy Duvall, is a three-time world champion who qualified for the NFR 24 times; bareback rider Monty Goodwin of Weatherford; saddle bronc rider Hardy Braden of Welch; and barrel racer Carlee Pierce, a Freedom High School graduate who qualified for the 2011 NFR.

“First of all, I’m happy that the national circuit finals is in Oklahoma,” said Pierce, who parlayed a second-place finish at RodeoHouston a week ago into a move to the top spot in the barrel racing world standings. “It’s not so far to drive, and I’m excited to go. Plus that’s another finals that not everybody gets to go to.

“I’m also excited that I qualified for this finals in the same year I qualified for the NFR.”

The event provides another prestigious championship event for rodeo-savvy central Oklahoma, the longtime host of the NFR and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. The 2012 event marks the second straight year the RNCFR is part of Oklahoma’s storied rodeo legacy, a place that knows what makes a true champion.

“I love Oklahoma, and I’m happy the finals got to move back here,” Burk said. “It’s going to be great for the state.

“I’ve carried the flag for Oklahoma at the national finals, and I’d love to do it again.”

Until that happens, Burk would be quite content to keep the tie-down roping national championship in Oklahoma.

“You have a lot of national finals qualifiers coming out of this state, and at this event, you’re going to have us three,” Burk said. “You’re also going to have the new world champion, Tuf Cooper, and a lot of other guys that are great ropers. It’s going to be a good roping. If Oklahoma has an advantage, it might be that we have three guys in it.

“We have three guns, and most of those other guys have just two.”

That’s a great advantage. Of course, they’d love to have a biased crowd on their team inside the arena that once housed the NFR.

“I’ve always liked that arena,” Pierce said. “It’ll be my first time to rodeo there. Every other time has been in jackpots, so I’m anxious to see how that is.”

So is everybody else.

RNCFR CONTESTANTS

Team Ropers

Headers	Heelers
White, Clay	Chaves, John
Mitchell, Spencer	Minor, Brady
Newcomb, Adam	Gwaltney, Gabe
Siddoway, Colby	Fleming, Derick
Rogers, Erich	Petska, Cory
Johnson, Tyler	Murray, Mitch
Handy, Jason	Robertson, John
Billadeau, Preston	Bilby, Jared
Day, Jake	Masters, Wade
Dorman, Travis	Culpepper, Brad
Brown, Luke	Lucero, Martin
Morgan, Darren	Quinn, Shawn
Equisquiza Jr, Manny	Summers, Clint
Linaweaver, Blaine	Twisselman, Jake
Williams, Brady	Zurcher, Ryan
Stanley, Jake	Davis, Justin
McWhorter, Nathan	Gill, York
Fabian, Eric Paul	Carey, Derek
Pogue, Charles	Hillman, Jett
Kobold, Miles	Robertson, Matt
Schnaufer, Tyler	Cooper, Cole
Graham, Cody	Thompson, Jason
Hanson, Brock	Siggins, Lane
Richard, Kaden	Richard, Rhen

 

Bareback Riders

Aus, Tanner	Bain, Brian
Casper, Bo	Colletti, Casey
Crane, Clovis	Creasy, Luke
DeMers, Cody	Erickson, Chase
Erickson, Mac	Feild, Kaycee
Gillespie IV, George	Goodwin, Monty
Gray, Ryan	Gunderson, Joe
Hancock, Wyatt	Hardwick, Seth
Harris, Chris	Holmes, Brandon
Lowe, Will	Myers, Codi
Smith, Dustin	Thompson, Tyson
Vaira, Troy	Wilson, Blake

 

Saddle Bronc Riders

Aldridge, Doug	Braden, Hardy
Bradshaw, Mert	Browning, Justin
Corrigan, Jordan	Costello, Jake
Crane, Clovis	Crawley, Jacobs
Elshere, Ryan	Garton, Curtis
Londo, Ben	Manke, Ty
Martin, Cody	Martinat, Bryan
Muncy, Taos	Reynolds, Josh
Sheets, Travis	Spreadborough, Sam
Taton, Cody	Vickers, Zach
Welling, Lyle	Williams, Jess
Wright, Cody	Wright, Jesse

 

Barrel Racers

Anderson, Jeanne	Barrett, Jennifer
Bessert, Sammi	Bruso, Tammy
Campbell, Annie	Capper, Pamela
Cervi, Sherry	Hoovestal, Chloe
Hunter, Nancy	Lockhart, Lisa
Mays, Brenda	McCarthy, Lisa
Morgan, Shelley	O’Quinn, Sabra
Pierce, Carlee	Pozzi, Brittany
Reynolds, Briana	Richman, Christina
Schulze, Kim	Steffes, Nikki
Vick, Linda	Waide, Kelly
Walter, Theresa	Whyte, Tammy

 

Calf Ropers

Baldwin, Nate	Bird, Dustin
Brown, Boe	Burk, Blair
Cooper, Tuf	Crowley, J.C.
Hall, Seth	Hanchey, Shane
Hartt, Brad	Herrin, Hunter
Hirdes, Blake	Huber, Bill
Johnson, Jayce	Jones, K.C.
Kempker, Jared	Morgan, Darren
Naylor, Tim	Nonella, Roger
Parsons, Joseph	Roberts, EJ
Schneeberger, Jerome	Scofield, Justin
Shiozawa, Matt	Smith, Ryle

 

Steer Wrestlers

Alcazar Jr, Juan	Bell Sr., Joe
Branquinho, Luke	Brockman, Seth
Cowan, Clay	Davis, JBD
Downing, Shawn	Duvall, Riley
Erickson, Ty	Farrelly, Tom
Gledhill, Logan	Henderson, Shane
Lewis, Tom	Manning, Austin
McIntyre, Dean	Morrison, Clayton
Murphy, Seth	Robertson, Alex
Smith, Wyatt	Strahan, Adam
Thomas, Jason	Thouvenell, Ethen
Tuchscherer, Clayton	Whitaker, Kyle

 

Bull Riders

Askey, Jeff	Atkinson, Travis
Clearwater, Ty	Coleman, Shawn
Coppini, Paul	Crane, Clovis
Hall, Dustin	Hamre, A.J.
Helmuth, Allen	Hill, Beau
Larsen, Dustin	Mullins, Camo
Newman, Nevada	Richardson, Bryan
Roquemore, Keith	Schlobohm, Danny
Schwartz, Sunshine	Sellers, Scott
Smart, Chance	Teel, Cody
Tsosie, Guytin	Welsh, Bobby
Willis, Tyler	Zoss, Charles

CHAMPS RULE OPENING NIGHT OF RNCFR

OKLAHOMA CITY – The world champions proved their gold buckle talent on the opening night of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo.

Of the seven events that are part of the competition, three were won contestants who have won multiple titles in their respective disciplines – three-time steer wrestling world champion Luke Branquinho, three-time barrel racing world champion Sherry Cervi and two time saddle bronc riding world champion Cody Wright.

“It’s really important to get off to a good start,” said Wright, of Milford, Utah, who rode the J-Bar-J Rodeo horse Sweatin Bullets for 82 points to take the first-round lead in bronc riding. “It seems like the more momentum you get built up throughout the rodeo, the better you do.”

That works quite well in the RNCFR’s format. Each competitor will compete in two go-rounds – only half the field performed Thursday, so the others will ride during the second performance, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday. The second round will take place over two performances on Saturday, beginning at 1 and 7:30 p.m. The top eight in the two-run aggregate in each event qualify for the semifinals, which will open the final performance, set for 1 p.m. Sunday.

At that point, the scores are thrown away, and the top four from the semifinals round advance to the championship round. The scores are removed again, and the best score or time in the final round will be crowned the national champion. Branquinho knows the format quite well; he won the title before on his main horse, Spiderman.

“I won the 2010 Ram finals on him,” said Branquinho, of Los Alamos, Calif., who posted a 4.2-run to take the top honor in steer wrestling. “I brought him back here in Oklahoma City to hopefully win another title on him.”

Branquinho actually made two runs Thursday night. On his first, his steer sprinted out of the chute and put up a good fight with the big California cowboy before falling to the ground; but Branquinho suffered a foul in the chute area, so he was awarded a re-run.

“The second steer was slow and stopped hard and was pretty good on the ground, so I went from one extreme of the pen to another,” he said, noting the difference between the two animals.

Sometimes a world champion has to call upon his or her experiences to make the best of things. Sherry Cervi has had that in her 10-year-old palomino mare, Stingray. The two posted the fastest barrel racing run, a 15.46.

“This is a good barrel race,” Cervi said. “There are a lot of tough horses here.”

That’s true. Of the top six leaders in barrel racing, four competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this past December. Carlee Pierce of Stephenville, Texas, sits second with a 15.52, while Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., is fourth in 15.58 and Christina Richman of Glendora, Calif., is sixth with 15.61.

“There are a lot of horse functions here,” Cervi said. “Oklahoma City is a horse community. There’s a lot of horse people in Oklahoma. It is fun to be back here running barrels and competing in Oklahoma City.

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Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo
First Performance
First-round leaders

Thursday, March 29

Bareback riding:

1. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., on J-J Rodeo's Freckled Doll, and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on J-J Rodeo's Bar Bandit, 81 points;
3. (tie) Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, and Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 80;
5. Codi Myers, Samnorwood, Texas, 79;
6. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 76.

Steer wrestling:

1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.2 seconds;
2. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.3;
3. Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., 4.7;
4. (tie) Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., and Clayton Morrison, Cavalier, N.D., 5.3;
6. Seth Murphy, South Heart, N.D., 5.9.

Tie-down roping:

1. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 seconds;
2. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 9.3;
3. Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, 9.8;
4. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., 10.0;
5. Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., 10.5;
6. E.J. Ropers, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8.

Saddle bronc riding:

1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82 points on J-J Rodeo's Sweatin Bullets;
2. Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., 81;
3. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 79;
4. Ty Manke

Team roping:

1. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 5.1 seconds;
2. Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.5;
3. Adam Newcomb, Benton, Ark./Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 6.0;
4. Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., 6.1;
5. Darren Morgan, Fort Edward, N.Y./Shawn Quinn, Schuylerville, N.Y., 7.8;
6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 9.4.

Barrel racing:

1. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.46 seconds;
2. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.52;
3. Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., 15.53;
4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.58;
5. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 15.60;
6. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 15.61

Bull riding:

No qualified rides.

COOPER CARRIES WINNING LEGACY IN OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY – The nostalgia of rodeo in this city was a major motivator for the reigning world champion tie-down roper.

You see, Tuf Cooper wasn’t even born yet when his father, legendary roper Roy Cooper, won the first of eight ProRodeo world championships inside Jim Norick Arena during the 1976 National Finals Rodeo. Now this fabulous arena is home to another great championship, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, and Tuf Cooper is glad to be part of it.

“Tonight was a special night for me because it was the first time that I’ve ever roped a calf in this arena, this historic arena,” said Cooper, 22, of Decatur, Texas, a four-time NFR qualifier himself. “This is the arena my dad won all his championship buckles in. This is the arena where he made a name for himself.”

Tuf Cooper is making his own name, from winning the coveted Montana Silversmiths gold buckle this past December, to tying down his calf in 9.0 seconds during the second performance of ProRodeo’s National Championship on Friday night. It was the fastest run of the night, but it is second best in the opening round – New Mexico roper Seth Hall was one-tenth of a second faster during Thursday’s opening performance and earned the lion’s share of the money, $4,515, while Cooper pocketed $3,428.

“It was special for me to come out here tonight and win the performance,” he said.

Roy Cooper was on hand to watch his youngest son compete Friday night, just 35 years after he sent notice to the rodeo world inside the State Fair Arena.

“He goes to a lot of the big ones, like this is one of them that is really hard to qualify for,” said Tuf Cooper, noting that this is just the second year the championship has taken place in the Sooner State after a 24-year reign in Pocatello, Idaho. “Once it moved to Oklahoma City, he really motivated me.

“We’re off to a good start, so we’ll pull our hats down and keep after it.”

Contestants qualify for this event by how well they did during the 2011 season in their respective regions. The year-end and circuit finals average winners in each event from the 12 ProRodeo regions qualify for the RNCFR. In order to make the logistics work, 12 competitors (or teams in team roping) compete in each of the four preliminary performances.

Each will compete in two go-rounds – the opening go-round was split between Thursday and Friday’s performances. The second round will be in the two shows, set for 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The top eight in the two-run aggregate qualify for the semifinals, which will kick-start the 1 p.m. Sunday performance.

“My friend, Shane Hanchey, and I were talking that this event is harder to qualify for than the NFR,” he said. “In calf roping, some say it’s tougher to win the Texas Circuit than it is to win the world championship. I won the world championship before I won the Texas Circuit.”

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Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo
Second Performance
First-round leaders

Friday, March 30

Bareback riding:

1.(tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., on J-J Rodeo's Freckled Doll, and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on J-J Rodeo's Bar Bandit, 81 points, $3,976 each;
3. (tie) Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 80.0, Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 80.0, $1,440 each.

Steer wrestling:

1. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.2 seconds, $3,977 each;
3. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.3, $2,468;
4. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 4.4, $1,645;
5. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 4.6, $960;
6. (tie) Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., and Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 4.7, $343 each.

Tie-down roping:

1. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 seconds, $4,525;
2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.0, $3,428;
3. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., 9.2, $2,468;
4. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 9.3, $1,645;
5. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 9.4, $823 each.

Saddle bronc riding:

1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82.0 points on J-J's Sweatin Bullets, $4,525;
2. Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., 81.0, $3,428;
3. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., 79.0, $1,440 each.

Team roping:

1. Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.0 seconds, $4,525 each;
2. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 5.1, $3,428;
3. Manny Egusquiza, Mdison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 5.3, $2,468;
4. Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.5, $1,645;
5. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla./Jett Hillman, Purcell, Okla., and Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 5.6, $823.

Barrel racing:

1. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.38, $4,525;
2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.43, $3,428;
3. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.46, $2,468;
4. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, and Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.52, $1,303 each;
6. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., and Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., 15.53, $229.

Bull riding:

1. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 81.0 points on Bar T Rodeo's Slim Chance, $4,525;
2. Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, 68.0, $3,428;
no other qualified rides.

BURK MOVES INTO POSITION FOR RNCFR TITLE

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sometimes karma works out quite well; just ask Blair Burk.

The Oklahoma cowboy returned to his old stomping grounds at Jim Norick Arena and found it to his liking on Saturday afternoon. Burk, of Durant, Okla., roped and tied his calf in 8.5 seconds to take the second-round lead in tie-down roping and move closer to his goal of winning the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo.

“Competing here at the State Fair Arena is really a special feeling for me,” said Burk, a 14-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo whose father, Barry, was a 16-time NFR qualifier who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994. “My dad and them all competed here. My Uncle Roy is in the stands. They’ve all competed here in the National Finals.

“It’s been a great arena for me. I’ve won the world championship horse show here on the horse Sweetness. I’ve roped a lot in this arena.” Being able to compete in the historic arena is just one of the motivating factors for Burk to compete in his home region, the Columbia River Circuit – even though he lives in southeastern Oklahoma, Burk claims the region in the Northwest because it’s close to his in-laws and because he spends so much time in that part of the country.

He earned the right to be in this weekend’s field by doing well.

“My wife is from Oregon, and we go up there and stay all summer,” he said. “I made it a priority to do well in my circuit because I wanted to be right here in Oklahoma City this day and competing for this prize money right here in front of my hometown fans. They moved the circuit finals here, and that’s why I told my wife I wanted to make it a priority.”

Burk’s two-run total of 19.6 seconds has him third in the aggregate. He needs to remain near the top if he wants to continue to battle for his first national championship on Sunday – only the top eight in each event advance to the semifinals.

“I rode a young horse in the first round,” Burk said. “The stress the noise and everything and the competition here was a little bit too much for him. I had to get on an old veteran today, TC. He’s been here and done it all. He’s just what I needed to tie one fast.”

He’ll wait through Saturday night’s fourth performance to complete the second go-round to see how he finishes in the round payout and if he can move into the round of eight. It helps that TC is one of the best horses in the business, voted as such last year by the ProRodoe tie-down ropers.

“He’s just a winner,” Burk said of TC. “He’s just a horse that lets you win. He does his job and lets you go fast.”

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Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo
Third Performance
Second-round leaders

Saturday, March 31

Bareback riding:

1. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 82 points on Carr Pro Rodeo's Big Lights;
2. Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., 81;
3. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 78;
4. Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 77;
5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 75;
6. (tie) Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., and Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 74.

Average leaders:
1. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 156 points on two head;
2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 155;
3. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 154;
4. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 153;
5. Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., 149;
6. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 145;
7. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 144;
8. Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 137

Steer wrestling:

1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.4 seconds;
2. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 4.6;
3. JBD Davis, Argyle, Texas, 4.8;
4. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.9;
5. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 5.4;
6. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 5.6

Average leaders:
1. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 9.0 seconds on two head;
2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 9.1;
3. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 10.2;
4. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 10.4;
5. JBD Davis, Argyle, Texas, 10.8;
6. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 18.5;
7. Adam Strahan, Vonfield, Ill., 19.0
8. Clayton Tuchscherer, Dona Ana, N.M., 19.6

Tie-down roping:

1. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 8.5 seconds;
2. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 9.0;
4. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 9.2;
5. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., 12.6;
6. Tim Naylor, Hancock, Md., 14.7

Average leaders:
1. Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 18.4 seconds on two head;
2. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 18.6;
3. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 19.6;
4. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 21.0;
5. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., 21.8;
6. Tim Naylor, Hancock, Md., 30.0;
7. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 on one;
8. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.0

Saddle bronc riding:

1. Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Mont., 81.0 points on Western Rodeos' Hippy;
2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 80;
3. (tie) Doug Aldridge, Carthage, Mo., and Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 78;
5. Jess Williams, Paso Robles, Calif., 77;
6. (tie) Justin Browning, Sulphur, La., Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 75, Lyle Welling, Crawford, Neb., 75.

Average leaders:
1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 157 points on two head
2. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 154;
3. Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., 153;
4. (tie) Justin Browning, Sulphur, La., and Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 150;
6. Doug Aldridge, Carthage, Mo., 135;
7. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82 on one;
8. (tie) Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., and Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Mont., 81

Team roping:

1.Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jason Thompson, Ozark, Mo., 4.8 seconds;
2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.0;
3. Miles Kobold, Shepherd, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., 5.2;
4. Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 7.3;
5. Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 10.3;
6. Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 11.1.

Average leaders:
1.Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 12.3 seconds on two head;
2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 13.8;
3. Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 15.9;
4. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 17.3;
5. Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jason Thompson, Ozark, Mo., 19.8;
6. Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 21.0;
7. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 5.1 on one;
8. Miles Kobold, Shepherd, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., 5.2

Barrel racing:

1. (tie) Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., and Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.39 seconds;
3. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.52;
4. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.55;
5. Briana Reynolds, Ellsinore, Mo., 15.70;
6. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 15.75.

Average leaders:
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 30.82 seconds on two runs;
2. Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 30.92;
3. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 30.93;
4. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 31.28;
5. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 31.63;
6. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 35.85;
7. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 36.17;
8. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 36.58

Bull riding:

1. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82 points on Burns Rodeo's Break Dance;
2. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 77;
3. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 76;
4. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 75.

Average leaders:
1. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 157 points on two head;
2. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82 on one;
3. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 77;
4. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 75;
5. Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, 68.

PIERCE SPEEDS TO BIG PAYDAY AT RNCFR

OKLAHOMA CITY – Carlee Pierce and Rare Dillion have set the barrel racing world on fire over the last 12 months.

The tandem upped the ante on Saturday night during the fourth performance of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, posting a 15.16-second run to win the second go-round and the two-run average title and carrying a boatload of momentum into Sunday’s championship.

How fast was the run? Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., posted a 15.34 to finish second in the round; it was also the second fastest round of the rodeo so far, but it was nearly two-tenths of a second behind Pierce – in barrel racing, times are measured in 100ths of a second, so two-tenths is an eternity.

“It felt great from the beginning,” said Pierce, who grew up in Freedom and qualified for ProRodeo’s National Championship by finishing second in the Prairie Circuit, made up of contestants and rodeos in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “He ran hard; he turned hard. I felt like that was a better run than he made at Houston setting the record there.”

Pierce purchased Dillion last April, and the 12-year-old buckskin gelding carried the cowgirl to her first qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the RNCFR. In Las Vegas this past December, Pierce set the arena record with a 13.46-second run in the fourth go-round. She won $138,000 in 2011, most of which came while riding Dillion.

She then posted the fastest run at RodeoHouston two weeks ago and finished second at the largest regular-season rodeo in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. The $27,200 she won inside Reliant Stadium pushed Pierce to the No. 1 spot in the world standings. Her run Saturday night in historic State Fair Arena is just further proof that the tandem is working quite well together.

“I think he’s one of the phenomenal horses out there,” Pierce said. “I’m blessed to have him. I think he and I have a bond, and we work well together.”

Pierce and her husband, Steve, moved their family from Woodward to Stephenville, Texas, last fall, but she is quite proud of her Oklahoma roots.

“It’s exciting to be here,” she said. “To be the top two in the circuit is tough to do anyway, and the Prairie Circuit is one of the toughest. It’s great to be back in Oklahoma.

“I know I had lots of family and friends from home who were out there cheering for me.”

Pierce finished the first round in 15.52, which put her in a tie for fourth place; that was worth $1,303. With her run Saturday, she has earned more than $10,000 in two runs. She admitted that things just didn’t go right for her or Dillion on Thursday night.

“Dillion worked great tonight,” she said. “I thought, I’m going to quit trying to ride him and just let him do what he does, and it worked.”

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Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo
Fourth Performance
Second-round results

Saturday, March 31

Bareback riding:

1. (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., on Southwicks Rky Mtn Rodeo's Hard Times, and Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., on Carr Pro Rodeo's Big Lights, 82 points, $3,976;
3. Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., 81, $2,468;
4. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 80.0, $1,645;
5. (tie) Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, and Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 78.0, $548

Average leaders:
1. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 160 points on two head, $4,525;
2. (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 158, $2,948;
4. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 156, $1,645;
5. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., and Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 155, $823;
7. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 154;
8. (tie) Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., and Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 153

Steer wrestling:

1. Jason Thomas, Benton, Ark., 3.5 seconds, $4,525;
2. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.0, $3,428;
3. Logan Gledhill, Huntsville, Texas, 4.3, $2,468;
4. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.4, $1,645;
5. (tie) Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, and Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 4.6, $823

Average leaders:
1. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 8.3 seconds on two head, $4,525;
2. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 9.0, $3,428;
3. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 9.1, $2,468;
4. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 9.2, $1,645;
5. Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., 9.6, $960;
6. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 10.2, $686;
7. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 10.4;
8. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 10.6

Tie-down roping:

1.(tie) Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, and Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 7.7 seconds, $3,976;
3. (tie) E.J. Roberts, Stephenville, Texas, and Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 8.5, $2,057;
5. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 9.0, $823

Average leaders:
1. Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 18.4 seconds on two head, $4,525;
2. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 18.6, $3,428;
3. E.J. Roberts, Stephenville, Texas, 19.3, $2,468;
4. (tie) Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, and Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 19.6, $1,303;
6. (tie) Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, and Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., 20.2, $343;
8. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 21.0

Saddle bronc riding:

1. Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Mont., 81 points on Western Rodeos' Hippy, $4,525;
2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 80, $3,428;
3. (tie) Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., Cody Taton, Mud Butte, S.D., Londo, Pendleton, Ore., Doug Aldridge, Carthage, Mo., and Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 78., $1,152.

Average leaders:
1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 157 points on two head, $4,525;
2. (tie) Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., Cody Taton, Mud Butte, S.D., and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 154, $2,514;
5. (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., 153, $548;
8. Justin Browning, Sulphur, La., 150

Team roping:

1. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 3.7 seconds, $4,525;
2. (tie) Jason Handy, Scobey, Mont./John Robertson, Polson, Mont., and Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jason Thompson, Ozark, Mo., 4.8, $2,948;
4. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.0, $1,645;
5. (tie) Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., and Miles Kobold, Shepherd, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., 5.2, $823

Average leaders:
1. Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., 11.3 seconds on two head, $4,525;
2. Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 12.3, $3,428;
3. Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., 13.4, $2,468
4. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 13.8, $1,645;
5. Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 15.9, $960;
6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 16.0, $686;
7. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 17.3;
8. Adam Newcomb, Benton, Ark./Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 18.9

Barrel racing:

1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.16 seconds, $4,525;
2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.34, $3,428;
3. (tie) Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.39, $2,057;
5. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 15.46, $960;
6. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.52, $686

Average leaders:
1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 30.68 seconds on two runs, $4,525;
2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 30.82, $3,428
3. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., and Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 30.92, $2,057;
5. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 30.93, $960;
6. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 31.01, $686;
7. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 31.28;
8. Tammy Whyte, Eau Claire, Wis., 31.31

Bull riding:

1. Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah, 85.0 points on Bar T Rodeo's Coffee Break, $4,525;
2. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82.0, $3,428;
3. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 78.0, $2,468;
4. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 77.0, $1,645;
5. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 76.0, $960;
6. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 75.0, $686.

Average leaders:
1. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 157 points on two head, $4,525;
2. Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah, 85 on one, $3,428;
3. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82, $2,468;
4. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 78, $1,645
5. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 77, $960;
6. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 75, $686;
7. Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, 68.

RODEO'S ELITE DOMINATES RNCFR FINALE

OKLAHOMA CITY – It’s a cliché, but it’s true in ProRodeo: The cream rises to the top.

No statement was more obvious than the final day of the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which crowned eight national champions on Sunday afternoon, seven of whom were part of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Two-time barrel racing world champion Brittany Pozzi led the contingent of rodeo’s elite to the big-money rodeo, which offered a $20,000 voucher for a Ram truck as a prize for the winners. Steer wrestler Clay Cowan is the only non-NFR qualifier to take home the biggest prize in his event. Other winners were bareback rider Brian Bain of Culver, Ore.; tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa of Chubbuck, Idaho; saddle bronc rider Sam Spreadborough of Snyder, Texas; team ropers Spencer Mitchell of Colusa, Calif., and Brady Minor of Ellensburg, Wash.; and bull rider Bobby Welsh of Gillette, Wyo. The championship featured a who’s who of ProRodeo’s top contenders as well as a mix of part-time cowboys and cowgirls and others who are just beginning their careers in the sport. They qualify by being one of the top two contestants in each event in their regions, so the top players from all across the United States converge on Oklahoma City each spring to try to get their hands on the $525,000 purse.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Pozzi of Victoria, Texas. “This is my first time to compete at the event, and I’m pretty excited to win a voucher for a truck. It was a tough barrel race, tough competition. I am very honored to be here.”

The RNCFR’s format calls for all contestants to compete in two go-rounds. Money is paid out in each round and the two-run aggregate, and the top eight cumulative times and scores returned Sunday for a clean-slate semifinals – the scores from the previous rounds were thrown out, and only the top four advanced to the finals later in the performance.

Pozzi was the No. 2 semifinal qualifier behind Carlee Pierce, but Pozzi blistered a 15.05-second run to win the semifinals. After Pierce posted a 15.08-second run in the final round, Pozzi and her great palomino, Duke, sprinted to a 15.07 to claim the top prize.

“That’s just a testament to how tough these horses are,” Pozzi said. “You’re not just going to luck your way into winning something.” That may not be the case in barrel racing, but it was sort of that way for Mitchell, a header who qualified for the NFR for the first time this past December. Brady Minor usually ropes with his brother, Riley, who wasn’t able to compete because of an injury.

“I got to come in here because Riley Minor had a broken leg,” Mitchell said. “You can turn down an opportunity to try to rope with a partner like that.”

Although roping with his brother would’ve been nice – the Minors have roped at the NFR together three times – Brady Minor knew he had something special in Mitchell.

“He ropes great, and I knew he was going to do good over here,” said Brady Minor, who also qualified for the NFR with B.J. Campbell in 2006. “It’s a fast setup here, and he’s known to get on them fast. I was just going with the flow, and he turned them.”

Bain qualified for Sunday’s competition by the skin of his teeth. He finished in a tie for eighth place in the bareback riding aggregate with Casey Colletti of Pueblo, Colo., but Bain advanced because of a tie-breaker. He placed in a tie for third place in the semifinals, then rode Andrews Rodeo’s Power Play for 86 points to win the championship round.

“This is a dream come true,” said Bain, who qualified for his first NFR in 2011. “Last year I come really close; I ended up third, so I kind of knew what it was all about.”

Cowan, who held his newborn baby while being honored in the arena after the rodeo, celebrated the win in an understated fashion. A five-time qualifier to the RNCFR, he is the epitome of the circuit cowboy, taking care of his family in South Dakota and competing in multiple events.

“I’ve won second twice in the finals round for the pickup,” Cowan said. “It’s good to finally win first and finally win the pickup.”

Spreadborough is a two-time NFR qualifier originally from New South Wales, Australia. While the RNCFR is considered ProRodeo’s national championship, he’s quite proud to give it some international flair. Of course, he was pretty excited to match moves with Classic Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex, the 2010 bareback riding horse of the year that has been switched over to saddle bronc riding.

“He’s an awesome bronc, and I think he’s one of the best,” Spreadborough said of the horse. “He’s definitely one of the best I’ve ever been on.” Shiozawa won the tie-down roping average title at the NFR this past December. His hot streak continued in Oklahoma City over the weekend.

“I’ve gotten to where I just love the competition,” said Shiozawa, a five-time NFR qualifier. “I’ve learned that the outcome is less important than the competition. It’s about enjoying the moment.”

Welsh took advantage of the format the most of any contestant. After bucking off his first bull, Welsh came back with an 82-point ride in the second round. Since only seven cowboys rode in the opening two rounds – only Minnesotan Sunshine Schwartz rode two in the first two rounds – Welsh advanced to Sunday. He bucked off his first bull, but he advanced because of a tie-breaker. He was the only cowboy to score a qualified ride in the finals, matching moves with Rafter H Rodeo’s Best Yet for 83 points.

“This rodeo is one of the most historic rodeos we’ve got in the PRCA,” said Welsh, a seven-time NFR qualifier. “To win a rodeo this prestigious is a very big blessing.”

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Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo
Final results

Sunday, April 1

Bareback riding:

Final results
1. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 86.0 points on Andrews Rodeo's PTSD Power Play, $5,484
2. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 85.0, $4,113
3. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 83.0, $2,742
4. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 81.0, $1,371

Semifinal results
1. (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 84.0 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Stardust, $4,799
Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 84.0 points on Rafter G Rodeo's Assault, $4,799
3. (tie) Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 81.0, $2,057
Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 81.0, $2,057
5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 78.0
6. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 76.0
7. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 0.0
Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 0.0

Total event earnings
1. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., $13,094
2. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, $12,477
3. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., $11,517
4. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, $7,609
5. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, $7,609
6. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., $5,621
7. Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., $4,799
8. Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., $2,468
9. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, $2,262
10. (tie) Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., $548

Steer wrestling:

Final results
1. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 3.6 seconds, $5,484
2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.1, $4,113
3. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.4, $2,742
4. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 14.0, $1,371

Semifinal results
1. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 3.5 seconds, $5,484
2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.3, $4,113
3. (tie) Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 4.4, $2,057
Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.4, $2,057
5. Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., 4.9
6. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 9.1
7. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 13.6
8. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., NT

Total event earnings
1. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., $16,864
2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, $12,614
3. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., $12,477
4. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., $10,420
5. Jason Thomas, Benton, Ark., $4,525
6. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., $3,428
7. Logan Gledhill, Huntsville, Texas, $2,468
8. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., $1,645
9. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., $1,645
10. Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., $1,303
11. Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, $823
12. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., $343

Tie-down roping:

Final results
1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 7.7 seconds, $5,484
2. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 8.3, $4,113
3. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 8.4, $2,742
4. E.J. Roberts, Stephenville, Texas, 9.2, $1,371

Semifinal results
1. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 7.7 seconds, $5,484
2. E.J. Roberts, Stephenville, Texas, 7.8, $4,113
3. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 7.9, $2,742
4. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 8.1, $1,371
5. Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, 8.4
6. Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., 9.3
7. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., NT
Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, NT

Total event earnings
1. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $12,957
2. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, $12,545
3. E.J. Roberts, Stephenville, Texas, $10,009
4. Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., $6,170
5. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., $4,936
6. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., $4,525
7. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, $4,250
8. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., $3,976
9. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $3,428
10. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., $2,468
11. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., $1,645
12. Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, $1,303
13. Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., $343

Saddle bronc riding:

Final results
1. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 86.0 points on Classic ProRodeo's Big Tex, $5,484
2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 84.0, $4,113
3. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82.0, $2,742
4. Cody Taton, Mud Butte, S.D., 79.0, $1,371

Semifinal results
1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 84.0 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Cimmaron Jack, $5,484
2. Cody Taton, Mud Butte, S.D., 73.0, $4,113
3. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 71.0, $2,742
4. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 69.0, $1,371
5. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., 62.0
6. (tie) Justin Browning, Sulphur, La., 0.0
Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 0.0
Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., 0.0

Total event earnings
1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., $13,437
2. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, $13,299
3. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, $10,215
4. Cody Taton, Mud Butte, S.D., $9,150
5. Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Mont., $4,525
6. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, $3,953
7. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., $3,665
8. Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., $3,428
9. Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., $1,988
10. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, $1,440
11. (tie) Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., $1,152
Doug Aldridge, Carthage, Mo., $1,152
Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., $1,152

Team roping:

Final results
1. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 3.7 seconds, $5,484
2. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 5.4, $4,113
3. (tie) Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., NT
Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., NT

Semifinal results
1. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.3 seconds, $5,484
2. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 5.4, $4,113
3. Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.7, $2,742
4. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 10.7, $1,371
5. Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 11.0
6. Adam Newcomb, Benton, Ark./Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 11.1
7. (tie) Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., NT
Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, NT

Total event earnings
1. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., $10,283
2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., $8,775
3. (tie) Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., $7,952
Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., $7,952
5. Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., $6,855
6. Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., $5,347
7. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., $4,525
8. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., $3,428
9. (tie) Jason Handy, Scobey, Mont./John Robertson, Polson, Mont., $2,948
Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jason Thompson, Ozark, Mo., $2,948
11. Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, $1,782
12. (tie) Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla./Jett Hillman, Purcell, Okla., $823
Miles Kobold, Shepherd, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., $823

Barrel racing:

Final results
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.07 seconds, $5,484
2. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.08, $4,113
3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.20, $2,742
4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.32, $1,371

Semifinal results
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.05 seconds, $5,484
2. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.19, $4,113
3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.35, $2,742
4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.36, $1,371
5. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 15.41
6. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 15.45
7. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.49
8. Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 15.63

Total event earnings
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, $19,881
2. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, $18,578
3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., $10,969
4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., $5,896
5. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., $5,484
6. Sabra O'Quinn, Ocala, Fla., $4,342
7. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, $1,303
8. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., $960
9. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., $686
10. (tie) Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., $229
Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., $229

Bull riding:

Final results
1. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 83.0 points on Rafter H Rodeo's Best Yet, $5,484
2. (tie) Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, 0.0
Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah, 0.0
Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 0.0

Semifinal results
1. Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, 84.0 points on Four L & Diamond S's Foolish Pride, $5,484
2. (tie) Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah, 0.0
Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 0.0
Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 0.0
A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 0.0
Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 0.0
Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 0.0

Total event earnings
1. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., $11,380
2. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., $10,009
3. Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, $8,912
4. Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah, $7,952
5. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., $4,113
6. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., $2,605
7. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., $1,371