RAPID CITY - Broncs and bulls were the order of the day at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo on Saturday, and the crowds proved their popularity.
The Saturday afternoon saddle bronc match drew 39 contestants. Each rode once in the long go-round, and the best eight moved on to the Finals during Saturday night's Extreme Bulls.
J.J. Elshere of Quinn took the big check in the afternoon with an 81 point ride on Burch Rodeo horse "Painted Hair." The 8-second ride was worth over $2,200 to Elshere. Ty Thompson, currently among the top 20 in the PRCA world standings for 2008, scored a 79 on Burns Rodeos' "Rim Rock." Ryan Elshere of Elm Springs and Brandon West of Philip marked 74's to split third place.
On Saturday night, some rank hombres from the horse herd brought the virtually sold-out crowd to its feet several times.
Six of the finalists made qualified rides, and the line to the pay window was led by Brandon West of Philip. He rode the Burch horse "Broken Kettle" for 80 points and a check for over $2,700.
Ty Manke of Hermosa was just a point off the lead with a 79 for second place on Burch's' "Yellowhair." Ty Thompson marked 72 for third and Elshere held down fourth place with a modest 69. West won in the sudden death finals and now has the inside track for a chance at the buckle for the combined results from the Casey Tibbs Match in Fort Pierre this summer and this one in Rapid City.
Meanwhile, the final performance of bull riding was also Saturday night, and the word bandied about in the press box was "scintillating."
Cody Hancock, who bucked off on Friday night, had the high mark Saturday night with an 87 on Burch Rodeos' "Blazing Guns." It was the first time he'd been on the bull, and Cody was pumped.
"I always wanted this one, and though he changed up his style a bit for me, I was ready for him," he said.
Hancock bucked off right at the buzzer, and the crowd waited for the judges to decide.Cody had no doubt.
"I still had my hand in the rope when I heard the buzzer," he said.
Indeed he did, and to double his pleasure, that score was the best of all those who rode only one bull, and it vaulted him into the finals. He matched that 87 in the short round, and the 174 total on two bulls made him fourth overall.
But the Extreme Bulls winner was the oldest man entered in Rapid City. Myron Duarte, on Auburn, Wash., scored 91 points on Burns Wyoming bull "Bo Alameda." His three round total was 241 to win the event. Bobby Welsh, NFR qualifier from Gillette, Wyo., was second with 237, Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., was third with 235 points and Hancock's 174 on two took fourth money.All four placers rode Hal Burns' bulls to the finish line.
The Wrangler 20X High School Challenge is today. The four regions of South Dakota High School Rodeo will compete for prizes and scholarships.
Saturday rodeo notes:
- Zak West of Philip wasn't able to ride in the Saddle Bronc Match on Saturday afternoon because of a near tragedy involving his young daughter.
Five-year old Jacy West was kicked in the back of the head by a horse Friday. She underwent surgery shortly after, and the report is that she is resting comfortably but not out of the woods.
- Aaron and Ashley Brewer bought one of the high-priced bulls at the bucking bull sale on Saturday. They paid $1,800 for a Burns bull marked L-40. The high priced bull was purchased by Berger Bulls of Mandan, N.D. for $8,000. An interesting sports note to the story is that Ashley Brewer is the granddaughter of legendary Pierre Governor basketball coach Roger Pries. Pries, still a sports fan, spends most of his time hunting and fishing these days.
- Galen Means was in attendance Saturday at the civic center. Means a former Badlands Circuit bareback rider is now involved in tribal government in Eagle Butte. He got on his final bucking horse at the Circuit Finals in Bismarck, N.D. in 1987. He was hurt on that ride and never got back on again. It's something he regrets today but still enjoys a good life outside of rodeo. He said, "I mostly stay home these days. in fact I feel like I need a green card to leave the Rez."
- Misty McPherson was holding court to all who wanted to talk rodeo in the Carl's Trailer Sales booth between arena events. The 18 year-old daughter of Terry and Deb McPherson of Piedmont was wooed by many colleges but finally settled on Gillette Community College where coach Will LaDuke knows a good thing when he sees it. She'll compete in all the women's events in the Central Rocky Mountain college region and will start school this fall.
- Former BHSSR barrel man Steve Tomak of North Dakota has a new job. The past ND state Senator is the new lobbyist for Basin Electric.
- And on a personal note, I wore my straw hat to the civic center on Saturday because it was a warm day and I wanted to be optimistic about the next few days. Sturgis rancher Bruce Blair nearly had a conniption when he saw the straw.
"That straw hat worn in January surely curses us with a blizzard soon."
The surrounding crowd was mostly unaware of any such curse, but it does cause one to look to the sky in case of clouds.
- Jim Thompson will be producing the Friday night "After the Rodeo" event in the theater next weekend. The 11 p.m. event has been a fixture since Flint Rasmussen's talk show. Thompson had produced music shows at the Western Heritage Center in Spearfish for nearly ten years and has lined up three stellar entertainers for Feb. 1. Gordy Pratt of Deadwood will lead off with his own brand of comedy.
- Sherry Taylor of Gillette follows Pratt and the headliner for the event is Wilf Hyland. Hyland has been inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, was a Canadian bronc champion twice and three times qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in the US. The Barry Pitt orchestra provides back-up and Jim Thompson will be the emcee. Tickets are available at the ticket office.
