Lost in the hubbub of the Ram First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo is the fact that roughstock cowboy Clovis Crane won three titles in Harrisburg, Pa., this past weekend.
Crane, 32, of Lebanon, Pa., won the all-around title and $9,719. More importantly, though, he won the average titles in both bareback riding and bull riding. That qualifies Crane for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 29-April 1 at Oklahoma State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City.
Crane’s winnings were by far the highest total for any all-around champion at any of the 12 circuit final rodeos for the 2011 season. He joined the other First Frontier average winners, team ropers Darren Morgan and Shawn Quinn, saddle bronc rider Zack Vickers, tie-down roper Tim Naylor, barrel racer Kristine Roy and steer wrestler Joe Bell Sr.
Bell, 57, is the father Joey Bell Jr., a five-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Circuit Finals Rodeo who attended college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami and Panhandle State University in Goodwell.
The First Frontier finale was one of two this past weekend to close out the qualifiers for this year’s RNCFR; the other was the Ram Montana Circuit Finals, which wrapped Sunday. Average winners were bareback rider Tyler Nelson, steer wrestler Ty Erickson, team ropers Jason Handy and John Robertson, saddle bronc rider Jake Costello, tie-down roper Dustin Bird, barrel racer Theresa Walter and bull rider Beau Hill.