Competition stiff at Stonyford Rodeo

Competition stiff at Stonyford Rodeo
By Kirk Barron

Colusa's Spencer Mitchell and Santa Rosa's Broc Costa needed just 7 seconds to immobilize their steer to win the team roping competition during the 68th annual Stonyford Rodeo which concluded Sunday.

Mitchell's team won the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event by more than a second over the second place team of Roger Nonella of Klamath Falls, Ore., and C.J. DeForest Jr. of Wheatland.

The rodeo, which began Saturday, had both PRCA events and amateur events and featured some of the top talent in Northern California.

Los Molinos' Mike Brewer and teammate Ty Morrill, from Auburn, placed third in team roping.

Cottonwood's Jared Ferguson won the rodeo's All-Around Cowboy award for his second place finish in the steer wrestling competition and a strong showing in the tie-down roping competition.

The large number of contestants and close finish made the bareback riding competition one of the most exciting events of the rodeo.

Tyson Tompson of Bradley won the event with a score of 82 points while Jessy Davis of Payson, Utah and Clint Lear of Anderson tied for second just three points back.

The fourth place rider, Shannon Miller of La Luz, N.M., scored 77 points.

Flournoy's Blaine Davies was bucked from his horse and didn't place but the 19-year-old is keeping his eye on the more experienced professionals.

"I try to learn a little bit from these guys," Davies said.

Davies is just eight events into his young professional career but he competed in 20 events as an amateur last year and his father used to ride for a long time, he said.

John Redig of Gaviota beat out Mert Bradshaw of Eagle Point, Ore., 74 points to 72 to win the saddle bronc competition.

Cottonwood's Clay Schricker (10.5 seconds) won the tie-down roping competition by half a second over Cody Collins of Galt.

In the barrel racing event, Christian Richman of Glendora ran her horse to a time of 17.35 seconds to barely beat Stephenville, Texas', Lee Ann Rust who crossed the line at 17.38 seconds. Linda Vick of Hesperia was clocked at 17.43 seconds.

The rodeo ended with the bull riding event and Derek Lacasa hung onto the toughest bull just long enough to capture the best score by more than 10 points. His score of 88 eclipsed the score of second place rider, R.J. Kriege of Prineville, Ore., who earned a 76.

Lacasa, who is from Porterville, was bounced from the back of Growney Brothers Rodeo's bull No. 710 a fraction of a second after the horn went off and quickly scrambled away.

The Stony Creek Horsemen's Association puts on the event and its president Sandy Corbin competed in the barrel racing event, though she didn't finish in the top three.

"We had the weather in our favor and had a lot of rodeo fans come out for the weekend. It turned out to be a great weekend I think all the way around," Corbin said.

Despite being a 45-minute drive west of Interstate 5 and up in the foothills, hundreds of people camped out and attended the rodeo. Many camp out the entire weekend, starting Friday, she said.

Though all the PRCA events began Saturday and most of the entertainment is on the weekend, there were things to do for the early arrivals, Corbin said.

"We have a barrel race and we're trying to get more kids events going on Friday because we get a lot of campers that come in early," she said.

Results:

Bareback riding: 1. Tyson Tompson, Bradley, Calif., 82 points; 2. (tie) Jessy Davis, Payson, Utah, 79; 2. (tie) Clint Lear, Anderson, Calif., 79.

Steer wrestling: 1. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 6.6 seconds; 2. Jared Fergusen, Cottonwood, Calif., 11.6; 3. Tyler Mitchell, Napa, Calif., 14.7.

Team roping: 1. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif., and Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., 7.0 seconds; 2. Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., and C.J. DeForest Jr., Wheatland, Calif., 8.4; 3. Mike Brewer, Los Molinos, Calif., and Ty Morrill, Auburn, Calif., 9.1.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. John Redig, Gaviota, Calif., 74 points; 2. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 72; 3. Jess Williams, Paso Robles, Calif., 71.

Tie-down roping: 1. Clay Schricker, Cottonwood, Calif., 10.5 seconds; 2. Cody Collins, Galt, Calif., 11.0; 3. Jack Vanderlans, Temecula, Calif., 13.1.

Barrel racing: 1. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 17.35 seconds; 2. Lee Ann Rust, Stephenville, Texas, 17.38; 3. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 17.43.

Bull riding: 1. Derek Lacasa, Porterville, Calif., 88 points; 2. R.J. Kriege, Prineville, Ore., 76; 3. Keith Roquemore, Farmington, N.M., 75.