It’s been a busy March all over the rodeo and team roping world. Some of the biggest dollar wins seem to be recorded this time of year when someone gets on a roll. In this issue of RSN you will read who has been winning all of the big bucks.
This year’s TEC (Timed Event Championship) was one of the best ever with seven rookies entered up and they all made a great first year appearance. Since the start of this event in 1985, there have only been 11 men who have claimed the championship title with many of them repeating. This year that feat was repeated for the third time by Daniel Green. He put on an outstanding performance and added another win to go along with his 2002 and 2008 titles. Trevor Brazile holds the record with six titles and finished up this year’s competition in the third place position.
Trevor also won the over-all fastest go-round title for another $10,000 check.
One of the things that made Daniel’s win so interesting is that he never rode one of his own horses. He was blessed to get on some of the greats in the industry to carry him to his win. See the story on page one of this issue for more about Daniel and the horsepower that helped lead him to victory. Paul David Tierney of South Dakota held up the Tierney name at this event by winning the reserve title, while his brother Jess won fifth in the average. Their father, Paul, retired from the event this year after competing at age 60. He still made a good showing at this event and has claimed three championship titles over the years. Paul has competed at every single TEC.
K.C. Jones of Burlington, WY won fourth in this year’s event and has won five championship titles including last years.
Interestingly this year, was the fact that there were seven rookies and two of them placed in the average. Trell Etbauer placed 7th after taking a 60-second time in the heeling in the fifth round. No one receives a no time, but a 60-second penalty instead. Trell’s total time was 364.8 on 25 head. Daniel’s total on 25 head was 313.6, which means had Trell got a time of 8.7 seconds in the heeling instead of the 60, he would have won the event. Another rookie doing well this year was Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., who won eighth. I’m sure he will be back at this event in the future.
Russell Cardoza made his usual good showing by winning sixth in the average. Russell has picked up checks at this event ever since he started and the consensus is it’s just a matter of time until he he wins it.
Many of the great 20 contestants that competed at this year’s event took a 60-second penalty, if not more than one. The saddest part of this year’s competition was the injury sustained by Chad Masters in the steer wrestling. He will be out most of the year with the knee injury that required surgery by Dr. Tandy Freeman.
Cody Cowden was the helper for Daniel Green in this year’s TEC and over the years, Cody has shared the winner’s circle with many and has taken home some great checks from this event. He is a special talent and displays some outstanding heading and heeling during this event every year. When asked why he doesn’t enter the event on his own, he just shakes his head and says “No way do I want to bull dog.” He seems very content right in his current role.
– – – – – – –
Also in this issue is the story about Garrett Tonozzi’s big win at the George Strait Invitational which paid out close to $1 million. Garrett won the event with Dugan Kelly which also gave the team a new Cavender Chevrolet pick-up, Bruton Trailer, and Twister Saddle on top of the cash. Garrett also placed second in the roping with York Gill for another big check. In all, Garrett won over $183,000 in cash plus all of the great awards that go along with the event which has many cool sponsors. This year’s roping had 685 teams entered up in the two day event. This roping is one of the best for the pros as they get to enter three times with a different partner at a cost of $500 per time. Pretty good investment, to put up $1,500 and a chance to run at that kind of money. Plus it gives the spectators a chance to see some of the ropers pair up with someone they normally don’t see roping together.
– – – – – – –
Down in Arizona many cowboys gather during the winter months to take advantage of the good weather and many ropings. Although the weather hasn’t been all that great this winter, the ropings have. The seniors get to enjoy a lot between the Gold Card Ropings and Sr. Ropings. This year’s Bob Scott Invitational was won by Bobby Felkins and Duane Russey which is a number 10 roping plus you must be at least 50 years young. Other seniors doing well are Rickey Green and Jay Ellerman in the many Gold Card ropings, as well as David Motes, whose names keep appearing in the winners list.
Other seniors who keep making the news in the open divisions are Clay O. Cooper, who teamed up with young Justin Davis of Texas to win Rodeo Houston in a rope off between Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith for the title. Read more about that in this issue plus about Fred Whitfield winning the tie down roping to the tune of $57,000, and Nancy Hunter taking home $53,000 in the Barrel Racing.
– – – – – – –
As always it is sad that we have to relay the passing of some of our greats in the family of rodeo and roping. In this issue is the notice of World Champion John Quintana being killed in a plane accident in Australia along with Charlie Maher, a livestock agent who was in the plane with John. John had moved to Australia in the 80’s and was in the livestock business.
– – – – – – –
It was a special treat for me to attend the California High School Rodeo Association’s Challenge of Champions held in the foothills of California in Plymouth in March. It was great to see all of the great young talent coming up in the state of California. The All-Around in the boys went to Clayton Brum who showed talent in the rough stock as well as in the timed events and in the girls it was Cheyanne Carpenter who took home the All-Around title. The reserve champions were Taylor Santos-Karney in the boys and Brittany Dias in the girls.
In the team roping at this event I was fortunate enough to share the microphone with Chad Nicholson and see some very fast runs. Quincy Crum and Cameron Jones clocked a 5.56 run to add to their first round time of 7.03 and win the average with a time of 12.59 on two. Another good run was that of J. T. Prather and Taylor Santos-Karney with a 6.28 run which won them second in the short round and third in the average behind Bodi Dodds and Ryan Eaton who were 13.78 on two for second in the average. The team roping was great watching with five of the top 10 teams coming back roping two feet under the time of 7.06. Ropers Sports News will have full coverage of this event in the May issue. Congratulations to all of the champions of this years Challenge.
Many of these same kids will be in Bishop, Calif. for the State Finals during the month of June. Bishop is also the home of the Bishop Mule Days World Championships held Memorial Week end. Bishop is a great place to visit.
– – – – – – –
April should be a good month for competitors in California with all of the spring rodeos and ropings. April is normally a nice month for weather although we are all wanting more rain as this state is hurting and many of the major cattle operations are already shipping cattle out of state or to feedlots. Some of this comes two months earlier than normal. Come on rain.
– – – – – – –
April will see the first annual Broc Cresta Memorial Roping being held in conjunction with the Red Bluff Round Up. The roping will be on Tuesday the 16th at the Four Star Ranch in Cottonwood, Calif. just north of Red Bluff. This should be a great event and also this month is the 4th annual James Pickens Jr. Foundation Charity Roping at the Tejon Ranch in Lebec, Calif.
Another Open Match that will be held will take place at the Diamond Bar Arena in Ceres, Calif on April 22nd.
Also in April will be the famed Bikini Barrel Race held during the Bud Light 3000 in conjunction with the Red Bluff Round Up as well as the Spring Run Classic in Ceres, Calif.
As always, check out more details for these events at www.roperssportsnews.com.
– – – – – – –
Hope to see you down the road in the next couple of months.