GUYMON, Okla. – Sometimes a photograph can tell a great story.
Saddle bronc rider Cole Elshere relied heavily on a photo of the Powder River Rodeo horse Lipstick & Whiskey, and it paid off on Saturday night during the third performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. The Faith, S.D., cowboy posted an 87-point ride to tie 2006 world champion Chad Ferley for the top spot in saddle bronc riding.
“Wade Sundell was 88 points on it at Pocatello (Idaho) just a couple weeks ago, and its picture was in the PSN,” Elshere said of ProRodeo Sports News, the official publication for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “By looking at the picture, I kind of knew what I should give for rein, and I know it would be a pretty good horse.”
That it was. Elshere, 22, is in his third year in ProRodeo. A season ago, he finished 36th in the saddle bronc riding world standings. He’d like to make a big move in 2012, and having horses like Lipstick & Whiskey is a big plus.
“She just kind of rolled out of the chute and was really nice,” he said. “Then she just started getting better and better and jumping higher and higher. There at the end, it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had on a horse.
Ferley, a five-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Oelrichs, S.D., posted his 87 on Saturday afternoon by matching moves with Frontier Rodeo’s Griz.
“I didn’t know a lot about that horse,” Ferley said. “I knew it was good. I knew it’d been to the NFR, but she was good.”
Riding great horse is more than just an ingredient for posting big scores. For great bronc riders, there’s also a hunger.
“I’m just out here to make as much money as I can and get on good bucking horses,” Ferley said. “If you get on a good bucking horse, it makes your day even better. If it happens at the end that you get a gold, it’s great.”
For now, the South Dakota cowboys share the advantage heading into the final performance of the 80th edition of Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 2 p.m. Sunday.
“This would be the first time I’d be able to place here,” Elshere said. “Hopefully I’d be able to win it and win one of those cool belts they give away. It’s one of the prestigious awards they give in ProRodeo.”
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo
Third performance
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kaycee Feild, 86 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Change; 2. Will Lowe, 84; 3. Steven Peebles, 82l 4. Richie Champion and Ryan Gray, 81.0; 6. Jessy Davis, Tyler Scales and Ty Fast Taypotat, 80.
Team roping: Third-round leaders: 1. Bobby Joe Hill/Mickey Gomez and Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 7.1 seconds; 3. Erich Rogers/Kory Koontz, 7.2; 4. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton and Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 7.6; 6. Miles Williams/Justen Johnson, 7.7; 7. Ryan VonAhn/Nick Rowland, 8.1; 8. Brock Hanson/Ryan Motes, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson, 21.8 on three runs; 2. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 23.8; 3. Ryan VonAhn/Nick Rowland, 25.0; 4. David Key/Travis Woodard and Cody Lee/Cole Keith Jackson, 25.1; 6. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 25.4; 7. Bobby Joe Hill/Mickey Gomez, 29.1; 8. Tyler Wade/Tyler Barton, 30.7.
Steer roping: Fifth-round leaders: 1. Cody Scheck, 12.1 seconds; 2. Cody Lee, 12.4; 3. Rocky Patterson and JoJo LeMond, 13.0; 5. Chet Herren, 13.5; 6. Shay Good, 13.6; 7. Cash Myers, 13.9; 8. Brent Lewis, 14.0. Average leaders: 1. Shay Good, 90.8 on five runs; 2. Cody Scheck, 70.5 seconds on four runs; 3. Will Gasperson, 73.2; 4. J.R. Olson, 83.8; 5. Mark Milner, 86.4; 6. Brent Lewis, 39.7; 7. Cody Lee and JoJo LeMond, 40.9 on three.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Chad Ferley on Frontier Rodeo’s Griz and Cole Elshere on Powder River Rodeo’s Lipstick & Whiskey, 87 points; 3. Jesse Kruse and Cort Scheer, 85; 5. Jesse Bail, 83; 6. Jeff Willert, 82; 7. Cody Martin, Louie Brunson and Chet Johnson, 81.
Steer wrestling: Third-round leaders: 1. Tommy Cook, 3.8 seconds; 2. Sean Mulligan, 4.1; 3. Casey Martin and Shayde Etherton, 4.3; 5. Royce Johnson, 4.5; 6. Hunter Cure, , Ryan Swayze, Trell Etbauer and Dean Gorsuch, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 13.5 seconds on three runs; 2. Todd Suhn, 13.9; 3. Tommy Cook, 14.6; 4. Mitchell Gardner, 14.7; 5. Ricky Riley, 14.9; 6. Cooper Shofner, 15.3, 7. Ryan Swayze, 15.8; 8. Royce Johnson, 16.2.
Tie-down roping: Third-round leaders: 1. Dane Kissack and Fred Whitfield, 7.6 seconds; 3. Cody McCartney, 7.9; 4. Ace Slone, 8.1; 5. Blair Burk, 8.5; 6. Brice Ingo and Cody Prescott, 9.0; 8. Chad Masters and Cimarron Thompson, 9.7. Average leaders: 1. Blair Burk, 24.2 seconds on three; 2. Cody McCartney, 24.4; 3. Jeremiah Peek, 27.4; 4. Cody Prescott, 28.3; 5. Fred Whitfield, 28.8; 6. Dane Kissack, 29.3; 7. Clint Cooper, 29.7; 6. Ace Slone, 31.9.
Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Stevi Hillman and Sabrina Ketcham, 17.19 seconds; 3. Kaley Bass, 17.24; 4. Sherry Cervi, 17.25; 5. Karen Little, 17.35; 6. Fallon Taylor, 17.36; 7. Liz Combs, 17.37; 8. Kenna Squires, 17.43; 9. Brittany Grant, 17.45; 10. Meagan Reichert, 17.46. Average leaders: 1. Sherry Cervi, 34.55 seconds on two; 2. Kaley Bass, 34.80; 3. Karen Little, 34.86; 4. Liz Combs and Brittany Grant, 34.90; 6. Kenna Squire, 34.95; 7. Meagan Reichert, 34.99; 8. Lisa Ogden, 35.18; 9. Stevi Hillman, 35.22; 10. Whitney Pitmon, 35.25.
Bull riding leaders: 1. Josh Koschel, 84 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Tiger Lips; 2. Dustin Elliott, 82; 3. Tag Elliott, 81; 4. Ty Hamaker, 79; 5. Jimmy Anderson, 77; 6. Clayton Savage, 74; 7. Brett Stall, 66.