LOVINGTON, N.M. – Tanner Aus and Jacobs Crawley both ride bucking horses for a living, they just do it in a little different manner.
On Friday night, they did better than anybody and left the Lea County Fair and Rodeo either leading or owning a share of the lead in their respective events.
“Lovington has always been a good rodeo,” said Crawley, who rode Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Angel Fire for 85.5 points to share the saddle bronc riding lead. “It’s got great stock. Pete (Carr) puts on a great rodeo, and he brings in other (contractors) to help. Tonight was just about not wasting an opportunity.”
He is an eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Boerne, Texas, who won the 2015 world title. He’s also been a contender every year since. Aus is a three-time NFR qualifier in bareback riding who just missed the finale a year ago after sitting out a few months with injury; still, he finished 18th in the world standings – only the to 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the NFR.
He posted the highest-marked ride of this year’s rodeo after matching moves with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Charlie for 90 points; the only other time he rode the powerful sorrel gelding, Aus won the ninth round of the 2016 NFR – the animal has been to the NFR as many times as Aus and Crawley combined.
“That horse is just timeless,” said Aus of Granite Falls, Minnesota. “Pete said the horse is 17 years old now. For that horse to be that good for that long is just incredible. I was happy to see it here. This is a great rodeo with a lot of money up for grabs, so it’s a good place to have him. It’s a good time of year for me to have him.”
Aus was 12th in the world standings heading into this week of rodeos. His score should hold up for a big-time check, and he’s hoping it will give him the boost he needs to reach even higher on the money list.
“It’s awesome to see your name in the top 15, but the bottom line is that it’s a long season, so we’re going to rodeo hard until the end of September,” he said. “I’ve had a great July and beginning of August as far as drawing well and feeling good for the most part. I’m really thankful for the season I’ve had so far.”
Of course, having the random draw match him with horses like Good Time Charlie enables Aus to show off his spurring style.
“Good Time Charlie is very electric, and he bucks deliberately,” he said. “He’s one one of those horses that sets you back in the middle, and I’m happy I was able to finish him strong. He’s not easy, but he’s one that a bareback rider wants.”
That’s a similar comment to what Crawley had about Angel Fire.
“The first time I had that horse was probably six or seven years ago, and we got along pretty good at San Antonio,” he said. “The last time I had her was two years ago at the (Texas) Circuit Finals, and we got along pretty good there, too. I’ve seen that horse the last seven or eight years, and he’s been to the NFR the last five or six years.
“I was just excited to get on him, because it’s been several years. That’s just a really nice horse.”
Lea County Fair and Rodeo
Lovington, N.M.
Aug. 7-10
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tanner Aus, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Charlie; 2. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Zach Hibler, 86; 4. Kyle Charley, 84; 5. Steven Dent, 83; 6. Jake Brown, 81; 7. Wyatt Denny, 80; 8. Paden Hurst, 79.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Tyler Pearson, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Kalane Anders and Brady Dallin Reneau, 4.0; 4. (tie) Will Lummus and Justin Shaffer, 4.1; 6. (tie) Jace Melvin, Miguel Garacia and Matt Reeves, 4.4. Second round leaders: 1. Cody Harmon, 3.1 seconds; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4; 3. (tie) Nick Guy, Jacob Talley and Cody Devers, 3.5; 6. Tyler Pearson, 3.7; 7. (tie) Kalane Anders and Russell Armenta, 3.8; 8. Sam Houston Powers, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Pearson, 7.6 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Kalane Anders and Jacob Talley, 7.8; 4. Russell Armenta, 8.2; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 8.3; 6. (tie) Matt Reeves and Denver Berry, 8.5; 8. Miguel Garcia, 8.7.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Stetson Vest and Timber Moore, 8.3 seconds; 3. Treg Schaack, 8.6; 4. (tie) Marty Yates, Clint Cooper and Tanner Green, 8.8; 7. Cody McCartney, 8.9; 8. (tie) Michael Otero, Shad Mayfield and Cimarron Boardman, 9.1. Second round leaders: 1. Shad Mayfield, 7.3 seconds; 2. Rhen Richard, 7.5; 3. (tie) Ty Harris and Richard Newton, 7.6; 5. Tuf Cooper, 7.7; 6. Chance Oftedahl, 7.9; 7. Justin Smith, 8.3; 8. (tie) Randall Carlisle and Luke Jeffries, 8.5. Average leaders: 1. Shad Mayfield, 16.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Stetson Vest, 17.2; 3. Richard Newton, 17.6; 4. Rhen Richard, 18.0; 5 (tie) Chance Oftedahl and Cooper Martin, 18.1; 7. Cody McCartney, 18.4; 8. Cimaroon Boardman, 18.5.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Ryder Wright, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown, and Jacobs Crawley, on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Angel Fire, 85.5 points; 3. (tie) Brody Cress and Sterling Crawley, 83; 5. Tegan Smith, 82.5; 6. Jade Blackwell, 78; 7. Joe Harper, 77; 8. Brandon Lansford, 74.
Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Shay Good, 10.3 seconds; 2. Thomas Smith, 10.4; 3. Brady Garten, 10.5; 4. Trenton Johnson, 10.7; 5. Kelton McMillen, 11.0; 6. Garrett Hale, 11.3; 7. Cody Lee, 11.9; 8. Landon McClaugherty, 12.1. Second round leaders: 1. JoJo LeMond, 9.5 seconds; 2. Cole Patterson, 9.7; 3. Roger Branch, 10.7; 4. Bryce Davis, 11.0; 5. Trevor Brazile, 11.1; 6. Billy Good, 11.4; 7. Thomas Smith, 11.7; 8. Darin Suit, 13.3. Third round leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 8.9 seconds; 2. Reo Lohse, 9.0; 3. J.P. Wickett, 9.4; 4. (tie) Roger Branch and Chet Herren, 10.0; 6. Rocky Patterson, 10.8; 7. J. Tom Fisher, 10.9; 8. Corey Ross, 12.1. Average leaders: 1. Billy Good, 39.9 seconds on three runs; 2. Cody Lee, 43.7; 3. Laramie Allen, 44.2; 4. Kelton McMillen; 5. Trevor Brazile, 20.0 seconds on two runs; 6. Roger Branch, 20.7; 7. Thomas Smith, 22.1; 8. Chet Herren, 22.7.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.5 seconds; 2. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 4.7; 3. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 4.9; 4. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.3; 5. (tie) Bubba Buckaloo/Shay Carroll and Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 5.5; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 5.6; 8. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 5.7. Second round leaders: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Patrick Smith, 4.1 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.4; 3. Kolton Schmidt/Jeremy Buhler, 4.5; 4. (tie) Charly Crawford/Logan Medlin and Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 5.1; 6. Chace Thompson/Tyson Thompson, 5.2; 7. Edward Hawley Jr./Myles John, 5.3; 8. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 5.4. Average leaders: 1. Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 10.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 11.1; 3. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 11.4; 4. Charly Crawford/Logana Medlin, 11.6; 5. Chace Thompson/Tyson Thompson, 11.9; 6. Aaron Tsinigine/Patrick Smith, 13.0; 7. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 13.5; 8. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 14.5.
Barrel racing leaders: 1. Cindy Smith, 17.37 seconds; 2. Shali Lord, 17.39; 3. Ericka Nelson, 17.50; 4. Kassidy Dennison, 17.62; 5. Lori Todd, 17.63; 6. (tie) Emily Miller, Leia Pluemer and Jill Wilson, 17.64; 9. (tie) Ivy Conrado and Sidney Forrest, 17.72; 11. Jill Tanner, 17.73; 12. Tammy Fischer, 17.76; 13. Jamie Wilson, 17.86; 14. Geneva Kelly, 17.86; 15. Kelly Bruner, 17.88.
Bull riding leaders: 1. Trey Kimzey, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Legacy; 2. (tie) Daylon Swearingen and Wyatt Nez, 85; 4. Chase Dougherty, 83; 5. Cole Meloncon, 81.5; no other qualified scores.