Gate closes on 101st California Rodeo Salinas

Gate closes on 101st California Rodeo Salinas
Oakdale's Ryle Smith takes All-Around cowboy title at Salinas arena

The second hundred years of the California Rodeo Salinas picked up where the first hundred left off as the professional cowboys rode out of town following Sunday's final day of year No. 101.

Three mostly windy, foggy and chilly days and nights ended with a sunny blue sky in the short-round of the rodeo at the Salinas Sports Complex where riders and ropers who turned in the top 12 scores and times from the previous three days competed for the big bucks and prized buckles.

Ryle Smith, a tie-down (calf roping) and steer wrestler from Oakdale was the All-Around Cowboy champion.

The feature event of the four-day rodeo was captured by bull rider A.J. Hamre. He followed an 83 in the long round with an 87 in Sunday's short round for a winning score of 170.

The prize money is nice — anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000 — but Hamre, 30, seemed just as excited to know he is now the proud owner of a California Rodeo Salinas belt buckle.

"I'm going to wear it every day," Hamre said. "That's a highly coveted buckle. Everybody in this business wants one — including myself."

It was a rewarding end to what has been a rough and tough week for the bull rider from Chico.

"I rode in Salt Lake City and Nampa, but it wasn't any good back there," Hamre said. "This will make up for it."

Adding to Hamre's satisfaction was the fact that the bull he rode to victory Sunday — Due North — bucked him off earlier this year.

"I really had it set in my mind I wanted to get revenge," he said.

Only four of the 11 bull riders lasted the mandatory eight seconds Sunday.

Among those who were tossed was Clayton Foltyn, who was trying to become the first of a father-son combination to win a bull riding title here — his dad won it in 1985 — and Corey Navarre, who brought the top score into the final round at 84.

Shane Proctor, of Grand Coulee, Wash., ranked No. 1 in the world, placed second at 168; Nick Sartor of Mira Loma took third at 164.
Saddle bronc

At the rate things are going Wade Sundell might be made an honorary Wright brother.

"I think he'd rather be Wade Sundell," said Cody Wright, ranked No. 2 in the world with winnings of more than $70,000.

Excuse Sundell if he thought he was a Wright, considering three of the seven brothers were in Sunday's short round.

Four of the seven Wright brothers competed in the Salinas rodeo with Jake, Jesse and Cody all reaching the final round.

And as it turned out, Sundell tied with Cody Wright for the championship with a two-ride total of 168.

"What are they going to do now, cut the buckle in half?" Sundell joked. Jake Wright took third at 165.

About 24 hours earlier Sundell won the Nampa, Idaho, saddle bronc title, beating out runner-up Cody Wright in the process.
Bareback

Kayee Feild, whose father Lewis Feild is in the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association Hall of Fame — he was a three-time All-Around and two-time bareback world champion — kept the familytradition going strong with a winning ride in bareback.

Feild, of Payson, Utah, began the day tied for the lead with former world champion Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., with a score of 83.

Combined with his short-round score of 85, Feild won the event with a 168 — three points better than Mote and Matt Bright, who tied for second at 165.

"This is a tough rodeo to win," said Feild. "There are a lot of good riders here."
Timed events

Dane Hanna of Berthold, N.D., won the steer wrestling title with an aggregate time of 21.80 seconds. Olin Hannah of Malad, Id., was second at 22.60.

In team roping, the duo of Jay Adams and Randon Adams of Logandale, Nev., had a winning aggregate clocking of 43.40 seconds.

The tie-down champion was Cimarron Boardman of Stephenville, Tex, at 31.8 seconds.

Christina Richman of Glendora defended her California Rodeo Salinas crown in barrel racing, beating five-time Salinas champion Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz. — 63.77 seconds to 63.96 seconds.

Evan Allard was the freestyle bull fighting champion.

20-year-old crowned Miss California Rodeo

20-year-old crowned Miss California Rodeo
By GRISELDA D. RAMIREZ

With tears streaming down her face, 20-year-old Kendra Brennan mixed joy and surprise at winning the 2011 Miss California Rodeo Salinas.

Brennan was joyful that she will represent a century-old tradition during the next year, but humble in that she won the crown against what she described as a very talented group of competitors.

"It was such a great group of girls," Brennan said, shortly after being crowned Thursday night. "Everyone was great. We all had to stay on top of our game."

Leah Dawn Herron as the first runner up followed by Alyssa Abercrombie.

Before this year's Miss Rodeo was announced, the five contestants along with Brittany Voss, last year's Miss California Rodeo Salinas, were part of the Grand Entry — the opening parade of horses that promenade across the track at the Salinas Sports Complex.

The opening parade included the Monterey Defense Language Institute Color Guard, the pageant of flags, Rodeo sponsors, the Herencia Mexicana charro association and California Rodeo Salinas President Craig Andres.

U.S. flag holders on horses dashed across the arena right before Corey Ross sang thenational anthem. People in the partially filled stands craned their necks as doves were released into the sky during the ending of the national anthem.

The newly crowned Miss California Rodeo Salinas wore a pink, long-sleeved blouse, white sash, white Wrangler jeans, cowgirl hat and boots. Her huge, gleaming earrings were a reflection of her smile.

"Everyone looks up to the Rodeo," said Brennan after the gold-and-silver tiara was placed atop her hat. "I can't believe I made it. But I'm here and I will represent one of the best Rodeos. It's an honor. This means so much."

As Miss California Rodeo, Brennan will be the Salinas ambassador of a 101 year-old Rodeo tradition.

"The contest is a tradition that began in 1926 when a young woman was crowned to represent the Rodeo," said Laurie La Velle, Miss California Rodeo Salinas chairwoman.

In addition to a gold-and-silver tiara, Brennan received a $2,500 scholarship and a two-horse trailer with the logo of next year's Rodeo.

The drama of the contest built during the past two days as each participant worked toward impressing judges in four scored categories: horsemanship, personality and appearance and scholarship.

"My best performance was in horsemanship," Brennan said. "I've grown up riding horses and was able to run my horse and the draw horse as well."

The horsemanship contest judged rail work, horsemanship pattern on the contestants' horses and draw horses — random horses assigned to each contestant — dismounting and mounting, and a presentation run.

Sherri Brennan hugged her daughter who shed tears of joy.

"I'm ecstatic," Sherri Brennan said. "I'm so proud of her. Her dad is so proud of her. He's on the phone with me and wishes he could have been here. He's at the National Finals for high school rodeo with my 16-year-old son Nolan in Wyoming."

Brennan was not the only one in tears. Her good friend from Sonora, Melissa Moore, shed a few herself.

"I'm absolutely thrilled that Kendra won," Moore said. "She studies hard and she rides hard. We're all so proud of her."

This morning Brennan will attend an awards brunch where individual category awards will be presented. And for the next year she will be the new representative of a tradition, an American heritage that attracts thousands.

There was little doubt that an impressive crowd turned out to watch Brennan's crowning and the official beginning of the Rodeo.

"Last year was the Rodeo's anniversary celebration so we thought more people were willing to make the trip. We decided to make the 2009 Rodeo as our benchmark for attendance," said marketing manager Mandy Linquist.

Organizers were surprised that presale tickets the morning of the opening show this year surpassed the amount of presale tickets sold in 2009 on the same morning. Presale ticket sales the morning of the opening show this year were down by about 600 tickets from 2010's 100th anniversary year.

"We're optimistic that we will at least be even in attendance this year as compared to last year or better," Linquist said.

If Wednesday's Professional Bull Riding attendance was an indicator of things to come, organizers should be pleased. It was up 17.7 percent this year as compared to last year — 7,972 in 2011, compared with 6,775 in 2010.

With the Rodeo just getting underway Thursday, there is more than enough optimism floating around the Rodeo grounds.

"I'm excited about this weekend," Brennan said. "I'll be representing Salinas and will contribute to keeping the Rodeo tradition and heritage alive."

50 airmen to depart for 'Rodeo'

From Joint Base Charleston

More than 50 Airmen from Joint Base Charleston will be departing for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Friday as part of the JB CHS Rodeo team during a send-off ceremony for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, which is sponsored by Air Mobility Command and set to take place July 24 to 29.

The members of the JB CHS team come from both the 628th Air Base Wing and 437th Airlift Wing and consist of the competitors, air crew, air-drop inspectors, Airmen from the maintenance and aerial port squadrons as well as umpires and JB CHS civic leaders.

Rodeo is a readiness competition that "focuses on improving our worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities," AMC officials said. More than 150 teams and 3,000 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and allied nations are expected to participate.

"I think we have an excellent chance of bringing home a trophy," said Lt. Col. Brady Caldwell, 437th Airlift Wing Rodeo Team chief. "The entire team is excited about the chance to show off their skills and the opportunity to represent Team Charleston and the entire Lowcountry."

History shows that Rodeo began in October 1956. At that time, 13 troop carrier wings of the Continental Air Command, the Air Force Reserve Command's predecessor, sent crews to participate in a "Reserve Troop Carrier Rodeo" at Bakalar Air Force Base, Ind. The first airdrop competition for units of the active-duty force occurred in April 1962, when the Military Air Transport Service held a MATS-wide Rodeo at Scott AFB, Ill.

The 1962 Rodeo competition was a combat skills competition designed to develop and improve techniques and procedures while enhancing air mobility operations, and promoting esprit de corps.

In 1979, Rodeo was expanded to include international air mobility partners.

"Rodeo tests the flight and ground skills of aircrews as well as the related skills of special tactics, security forces, aerial port operations, aeromedical evacuation, and maintenance team members," the competition fact sheet states. "It also provides valuable joint and combined training for all participants."

The last Rodeo competition took place in July 2009 at McChord Air Force Base. For more information, see the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 fact sheet at

Action gets under way at Idaho Stampede rodeo

Action gets under way at Idaho Stampede rodeo

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT

Brian Bain of Culver, Ore., had the top score in the Bareback Bronc Riding competition Tuesday with 83 points aboard Blood Bath.

Through Sunday, Bain was ranked No. 12 overall in the Pro Rodeo standings with earnings of $34,462. He finished the 2010 season ranked No. 45.

The tandem of Brandon Beers (Powell Butte, Ore.) and Jim Ross Cooper (Monument, N.M.) tallied the top time in Tuesday night’s Team Roping event with an official time of 4.4 seconds.

Beers is the son of Mike Beers, who teamed to win a national championship in 1984 alongside Caldwell native Dee Pickett in Team Roping.

Reigning Stampede Barrel Racing champion and three-time national champion (1995, 1999 2010) Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz., recorded a time of 16.01 seconds, which ranked seventh. Through Sunday, Cervi was ranked in the top five in winnings with $60,128.

The only Idaho cowboy to compete Tuesday night was Olin Hannum of Malad. His Steer Wrestling time of 4.1 seconds was tied for fourth with Ethen Thouvenell of Napa, Calif.

The second go-round for Steer Wrestling, Team Roping and Tie Down Roping was in progress at press time.

WHO TO WATCH THIS WEEK:

Snake River Stampede fans have a chance this week to see some of the top riders in the country, including Professional Rodeo money leaders Taos Muncy and Shane Proctor. Here is a quick look at the two:

TAOS MUNCY

RESIDENCE: Corona, N.M.

EVENT: Saddle Bronc

BIO: Muncy has won nine events through July 17th earning $75,888. In 2010 the 24-year old finished 8th in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and finished 9th in the 2010 World Standings. He is one of three riders (Ty Murray 1989, Matt Austin 2005) to win the College National Finals rodeo and the world championship (2007) in the same year. Muncy had an 81-point ride aboard Fade Away on Tuesday night and is the current leader.

SHANE PROCTOR

RESIDENCE: Mooresville, N.C.

EVENT: Bull Riding

BIO: Through Tuesday, Proctor has won nine events this year, totaling $102,178. He finished the 2010 season ranked No. 23 in the world. In 2008, he won the “Toughest Cowboy” competition, a reality television series where he took home $35,000 and 36-plus acres of land in Pueblo, Colo. He is one of six top-20 money leaders scheduled to compete in Bull Riding at the Stampede.

All text by Ty Hawkins

Rodeo prepares for 101st year

Rodeo prepares for 101st year

This is year No. 101 of the California Rodeo Salinas, or 90 years more than the Pro Bull Riders tour has been coming to town.

The PBR's Touring Pro Division — regarded as the minor leagues of the bull riding-only circuit — makes its 11th appearance in Salinas on Wednesday to make sure the rodeo gets off to a wild bucking and bouncing start.

The four-day California Rodeo Salinas — that includes not only bull riders but saddle bronc and bareback riders as well as team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing — takes over the Salinas Sports Complex on Thursday.

The first of 40 bull riders is expected to come flailing out of the Salinas Sports Complex chutes at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Even though many of the Touring Pro Division riders are trying to work their way up to the more lucrative Built Ford Tough Series — the major leagues of bull riding — several of those competing here Wednesday have already secured spots in the BFTS to go along with world-class credentials.

One such rider is Australian Brendon Clark, who now lives in Hollister and has become something of a regular at the Salinas PBR event.

Clark, 30, a 12-year veteran, was the hottest bull rider on the planet when he arrived in Salinas last year. He had won a record four straight PBR events and was trying for a fifth. His streak ended when he was tossed off his bull about halfway through his required eight-second ride.

Clark, who has a PBR event named after him in Australia -- he won it earlier this month -- is a seven-time World Finals qualifier who will have another milestone moment in Salinas this week. He'll make his first bull ride as a married man.

Clark was married Saturday and is expected to have a large group of fans in the stands Wednesday night.

Clark won't be the only Aussie in the field. Also here is Ned Cross, the 2008 AustralianNational champion.

Only one of the previous 10 riders to win at Salinas is back this year. Mike Lee, the first to win both the BFTS World Finals and the BFTS Million Dollar World Championship in the same year (2004), won here in 2006 with a score of 181.5 ì the second highest by any Salinas winner.

Lee was also the 2004 world champion and the 2008 Calgary Stampede winner. His career earnings are close to $3 million.

The only local rider here is Josh Daries, 22, of Prunedale and a graduate of North Monterey County High School.

Also scheduled to ride in Salinas is Kasey Hayes, 25, one of the few who won in his BFTS debut (2006). He has since won at least once in each of his first three years on the tour and qualified for the World Finals in 2007 and 2008.

Another up-and-comer in the field is Harve Stewart, 23. He won the Texas High School Rodeo Association Finals and was taught to ride by the legendary Ty Murray.

Pistol Robinson is another newcomer who was runner-up for the PBR Rookie of the Year in 2010 by recording six Top 10 finishes.

Tony Mendes has been here before and he's back again. He's probably worth watching before and after his ride. The 33-year-old has earned the nickname "Wild Man'' for his high-energy personality that has him cheering on riders from the chutes when he's not riding himself.

Three of the top 10 Touring Pro Division riders will also be part of Wednesday's action. Jared Farley ranks No. 3, Rocky McDonald No. 7 and Justin Koon No. 9.

Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo rides high despite intense heat

Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo rides high despite intense heat
Committee chairman Miskimins says annual rodeo was big success.
By: Chris Huber

he sun set on the 41st annual Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Sunday after a week packed with events.

The four PRCA rodeo performances brought people out to watch the action.

Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Committee chairmen Jim Miskimins thought this year’s rodeo was a huge success.

“We have been very pleased with the rodeo; the contestants that came in this year, they have put on a great show,” said Miskimins.

Miskimins was extremely happy with the entertainment brought this year as well.

“The entertainers that we hired have promoted the rodeo and our community as well as we could have ever asked for or dreamed of,” he said.

High temperatures and humidity plagued most of the performances. Miskimins the weather most likely had an effect on attendance.

“The Saturday night crowd was hurt a little bit by the heat but the folks that did come saw one of the best shows that could have happened,” Miskimins said.

Besides the rodeo action, the rodeo parade on Saturday morning was a highlight of the weekend’s events, organizers said.

The parade, which traveled south down Main Street and then back north on Kimball Street, featured just under 100 entries. Around 10,000 people lined the streets, according to Stan Peterson rodeo committee parade chairmen.

Despite temperatures in the 90s Saturday, Peterson said the turnout was very good.

“It was comparable to most years so that was a very great thing,” he said.

Floats competed in 10 categories with this year’s theme being “Come to the Cowboy Carnival.”

Prizes were given to first-, second- and third-place finishers in each category.

The all-around parade winner was Iverson Chrysler of Mitchell.

Other winners included: Best Use of Theme, CorTrust Bank; Youth, Mitchell Realty; Antique, the Armour Fire Department; Horse Drawn, Hansen Wagon and Wheel; Humorous, Dakota Salvage; Commercial, Avera Queen of Peace; Shrine, Lewis and Clark Shrine Club; Retail, Jackpot Gamblin’; and Equestrian, Ethan Trail Riders.

The chili cook-off and Texaco Country Music Showdown were held Sunday afternoon at the Rodeo Grounds as people braved the heat in search of some good food and traditional music.

In the chili cook-off featured 19 camps preparing their best recipes in hopes of impressing the judges.

Zimmer Caulking took home first place, followed by The Brig in second and Jake’s Lounge and Darrin’s Market in third.

The people’s choice award winner was Klockwerks and best camp went to Graphic Packaging.

Rodeo chili cook-off chairmen Wade Greenwood said the estimated attendance was between 1,000 and 1,200 people.

“It doesn’t seem like the heat held people back from coming out, we were pretty busy all day,” Greenwood said.

In the Texaco Country Music Showdown eight contestants belted out their favorite country tunes in hopes of moving on to the state, regional and national competitions, with the winner getting $100,000.

Each singer or band was given two songs to try to impress the judges with their musical talent.

The Kayla Tingle Band from Brookings and Aberdeen took home first place and will move on to the state competition in a site to be determined.

Hadley Moody took second and Kelsey Doll was third.

Should cowboys wear helmets?

Should cowboys wear helmets?
By Sean Myers
CALGARY — Bull rider Ty Pozzobon won’t compete without his head tucked safely into a helmet and his face behind a cage.

At 19, he’s already had a couple concussions competing in what a new University of Calgary study calls the most dangerous event in rodeo, and he’s not taking any chances at losing a payday.

The young bull rider predicts helmets in the rodeo ring will soon replace cowboy hats as the trend toward safer rides gains momentum.

“It won’t be long before everyone will be wearing helmets,” said Mr. Pozzobon of Merritt, B.C. “It doesn’t hurt anything and it’s only going to make your career last longer.

“If you’re put out with a concussion, you’re only losing money.”

A new study looking at catastrophic injuries — defined as life changing or fatal — during a 20-year period shows there were 21 deaths in rodeo between 1989 and 2009 in Canada and the United States of which bull riding accounts for 11. The number rises to 16 when boys’ steer wrestling and junior bull riding are included (both youth competitions lead to bull riding which requires professional entrants to be 18).

In the five rodeo deaths where the cause was a head injury, not one of the fatally wounded competitors was wearing a helmet.

“We can safely say no one wearing a helmet was killed due to head injuries in this time frame,” said Dale Butterwick a University of Calgary associate professor of kinesiology and co-author of the Catastrophic Injury Registry.

He noted that some of the deaths involved competitors without head gear who were first knocked out before the animal landed on their chests.

“It’s possible helmets could’ve prevented even more deaths if those people hadn’t been knocked out,” said Prof. Butterwick.

Not all the head injury related deaths were bull riders. Two were barrel racers who struck their heads on a piece of infrastructure and one was a saddle bronc rider who was kicked in the head.

In Canada, helmets are mandatory for boys competing in steer riding.

Prof. Butterwick said the adult bull riders are naturally moving toward wearing protective head gear.

In the Professional Bull Riding circuit, 40 to 55% of the competitors are now wearing helmets on any given week, he said.

“I don’t think we’ll have to be bad guys here,” said Prof. Butterwick. “There seems to be more and more helmets being worn all the time. The kids have been riding with them and they’re comfortable. Ten years from now it will be very very rare not to see a helmet.”

Prof. Butterwick’s registry was published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine in May.

The work was begun in 2006 and he said the most accurate data is from 2007-2009 which shows a catastrophic injury rate of 19.81 per 100,000. The rate from 1989 to 2009 was 9.45 per 100,000 but Prof. Butterwick said that may be misleading.

He said the some of earlier data was collected from surveys asking participants to remember injuries from several years prior and some incidents were likely missed.

Another three-year study is underway which he will compare with the 2007-2009 numbers.

Prof. Butterwick hopes one finding will lead to the development of better equipment. He said the registry shows that protective vests seem to have little impact on reducing thoracic compression fatalities that happen when the animal lands on the competitors upper body.

“It tells me the vest could be improved,” said Prof. Butterwick. “What if the vest was better, could some of those guys survived?

“It says we’ve got some work to do.”