Bobby Mote and Classic Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex have a lot in common.
Both are tremendous athletes. Mote is one of the elite bareback riders in rodeo who owns four Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championships. Big Tex is one of the elite bareback riding horses that has been scored in some of the highest marked rides in the sport.
Oh, and they’re both the reigning world champions in their categories, Mote holding the 2010 gold buckle and Big Tex wearing the 2010 halter. On Sunday afternoon, the two matched moves for 90 points to split the final round victory at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo at Jim Norick Arena – Kaycee Feild matched moves with Carr Pro Rodeo’s Deuces Night for 90 points, but Mote earned the victory because of his semifinal round-winning 85-point ride on Carr’s Big Lights.
“He’s an awesome horse, a big horse that fits my style,” said Mote, a nine-time DNCFR qualifier who won his first national championship in the event’s inaugural run in Oklahoma City. “There’s nothing better than when you come down to the final four rounds, and you know you’ve got to go after it because of what’s going on.
“I crave getting in that position.”
He must. After Feild posted his score to take the lead in the championship round, Mote and Big Tex danced across the arena to match the score – Mote knew he had to be 90 or better to claim the elusive championship. Still, Feild, the son of six-time world champion Lewis Feild, walked away from Jim Norick Arena with $17,961 in earnings over four days; Mote was second best among bareback riders with $13,354.
Jesse Wright of Milford, Utah, earned the biggest check of the weekend, all while winning saddle bronc riding. Wright, the reigning DNCFR champion, cashed in for $19,195. His biggest check came in the final round, when he rode the 2010 saddle bronc of the year, Vold Rodeo’s Painted Valley, for 83 points, just a point better than 2007 world champion Taos Muncy of Corona, N.M.
“I wanted a work truck, so now I can get me one,” Wright said, referring to the $20,000 voucher event champions earned with their winning weekend. “I hope I can keep the momentum going. Hopefully I can make the finals again this year. That’s the plan, anyway.”
Tie-down roper Tyson Durfey has four qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and owns two Canadian Finals Rodeo titles. He wanted to add the DNCFR title to his trophy case.
“This event has always been important to me,” said Durfey of Colbert, Wash. “Growing up in Missouri, Billy Huber was a legend in that area. Even my brother and my dad went to the circuit finals, so growing up, everybody that I looked up to was going to the circuit finals.”
Other event winners were steer wrestler Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 3.6 seconds; team ropers Ross Lowry, Summerville, Ga./Stephen Britnell, Maryville, Tenn., 10.5 seconds; barrel racer Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., 15.30 seconds; and bull rider Allen Helmuth, Ellensburg, Wash., whose 71 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Big D in the semifinal round held up for the national title after all the bull riders failed to make a qualified ride in the finals.
Bareback Riding
Finals
1. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Deuces Night, $4,799
Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 90 points on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex, $4,799
3. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 88, $2,742
4. Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., 83, $1,371
5. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 82
Semifinals
1. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 85 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Lights, $5,484
2. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 83, $4,113
3. (tie) Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., 81, $1,371
Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 81, $1,371
Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 81, $1,371
Total event earnings
1. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, $17,961
2. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., $13,354
3. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., $8,501
4. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, $8,364
5. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., $7,404
6. Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., $4,525
7. Dave Worsfold, Queensland, AU, $4,250
8. (tie) Sam Nordick, Mohall, N.D., $1,440
Yance Day, Fort Scott, Kan., $1,440
10. (tie) Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, $329
Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., $329
Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., $329
Justin Miller, Billings, Mont., $329
Steer Wrestling
Finals
1. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 3.6 seconds, $5,484
2. Casey McMillen, Redmond, Ore., 4.4, $4,113
3. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 13.4, $2,742
4. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 14.5, $1,371
Semifinals
1. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 3.9 seconds, $5,484
2. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.4, $4,113
3. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.8, $2,742
4. Casey McMillen, Redmond, Ore., 5.3, $1,371
Total event earnings
1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., $14,054
2. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., $11,997
3. John Franzen, Riverton, Wyo., $11,517
4. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., $10,489
5. Casey McMillen, Redmond, Ore., $5,827
6. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., $4,525
7. (tie) Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., $2,605
Dean McIntyre, Wickenburg, Ariz., $2,605
9. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., $2,468
10. Seth Murphy, South Heart, N.D., $1,645
11. Adam Strahan, Kankakee, Ill., $823
Tie-Down Roping
Finals
1. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 7.2 seconds, $5,484
2. J.D. Kibbe, Portales, N.M., 9.3, $4,113
No other qualified times
Semifinals
1. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.2 seconds, $5,484
2. J.D. Kibbe, Portales, N.M., 9.9, $4,113
3. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 11.5, $2,742
4. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., 14.9, $1,371
Total event earnings
1. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., $14,533
2. J.D. Kibbe, Portales, N.M., $11,654
3. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., $10,009
4. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., $9,323
5. Brett Fleming, Worden, Mont., $4,525
6. Blake Hirdes, Turlock, Calif., $3,153
7. Jon Peek, Pueblo, Colo., $2,879
8. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $2,468
9. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., $2,057
Seth Murphy, South Heart, N.D., $2,057
11. Grady Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., $960
12. Wes Arcement, Raceland, La., $823
Saddle Bronc Riding
Finals
1. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 83 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Painted Valley, $5,484
2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 82, $4,113
3. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 80, $2,742
No other qualified rides
Semifinals
1. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 86 points on Kesler Championship’s Bonus Alley, $5,484
2. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 85, $4,113
3. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 77, $2,742
4. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 62, $1,371
Total event earnings
1. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, $19,195
2. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., $14,588
3. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., $9,515
4. JJ Elshere, Quinn, S.D., $7,952
5. Townsend Prince, Livermore, Colo., $4,250
6. Scott Miller, Hillsboro, Texas, $4,031
7. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, $3,208
8. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., $2,057
9. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, NZ, $1,837
10. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., $548
Team Roping
Finals
1. Ross Lowry, Summerville, Ga./Stephen Britnell, Maryville, Tenn., 10.5 seconds, $5,484
2. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 11.1, $4,113
No other qualified times
Semifinals
1. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 4.9 seconds, $5,484
2. Ross Lowry, Summerville, Ga./Stephen Britnell, Maryville, Tenn., 5.2, $4,113
3. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Tyler Getzwiller, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.7, $2,742
4. Jason Handy, Stobey, Mont./Kory Mytty, Lolo, Mont., 5.8, $1,371
Total event earnings
1. Ross Lowry, Summerville, Ga./Stephen Britnell, Maryville, Tenn., $15,493
2. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, $13,025
3. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., $9,735
4. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo./Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., $6,855
5. Casper May, Pryor Creek, Okla./Derrick Peterson, Stillwell, Kan., $4,525
6. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Tyler Getzwiller, Scottsdale, Ariz., $4,387
7. Jason Handy, Stobey, Mont./Kory Mytty, Lolo, Mont., $3,702
8. Brett Price, Faith, S.D./Paul Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., $2,605
9. Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Troy Hermelbracht, Homer, Neb., $2,468
10. Spunk Sasser, San Antonio, Fla./Michael Harris, Vilonia, Ark., $1,645
Barrel Racing
Finals
1. Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., 15.30 seconds, $5,484
2. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.41, $4,113
3. Jessi Eagleberger, Stringtown, Okla., 15.46, $2,742
4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.64, $1,371
Semifinals
1. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.29 seconds, $5,484
2. Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., 15.32, $4,113
3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.36, $2,742
4. Jessi Eagleberger, Stringtown, Okla., 15.37, $1,371
Total event earnings
1. Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., $17,687
2. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., $15,973
3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., $12,614
4. Michelle West, Henryetta, Okla., $5,759
5. Jessi Eagleberger, Stringtown, Okla., $5,416
6. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, $4,525
7. Bobbie Bohlman, Eland, Wis., $2,948
8. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., $1,645
9. Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah, $960
10. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., $686
11. Lindsay Karp, Missoula, Mont., $343
Bull Riding
Finals
No qualified rides. Allen Helmuth wins championship based on his semifinals ride.
Semifinals
1. Allen Helmuth, Ellensburg, Wash., 71 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Big D, $5,484
No other qualified rides.
Total event earnings
1. Seth Glause, Rock Springs, Wyo., $9,049
2. Allen Helmuth, Ellensburg, Wash., $7,541
3. Ryan Shanklin, Rocksprings, Texas, $6,855
4. Tater Hins, Huron, S.D., $6,170
5. Shawn Proctor, Tooele, Utah, $4,936
6. Jacob Tyner, Sacramento, Calif., $4,113
7. Jacob O’Mara, Prairieville, La., $2,605
8. Dusty Elkinton, Moundville, Mo., $2,057
9. Brett Crump, Great Falls, Mont., $960
All-around cowboy: Seth Murphy, $3,702, steer wrestling and tie-down roping
Columbia River Circuit wins the team standings