GUNNISON, Colo. – There were some big stakes and big possibilities for cowboys and cowgirls competing this week at the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo.
Colorado cowboys Cole Dorenkamp of Lamar and Bret Tonozzi of Fruita took advantage during the final performance of this year’s championship, stopping the clock in 5.1 seconds to tie for the team roping victory in Gunnison – Ty Blasingame and Tanner Luttrell scored the same time Friday night.
“I’ve had some luck a few times,” said Tonozzi, a veteran of the game. “I had a chance last year and messed up. This is the first year I’ve roped with Cole, and we’ve had a good time.”
It shows. The soft-spoken cowboys let their arena work do the talking. They also have some talented horses. In fact, Tonozzi said his favorite thing about roping with his partner is Dorenkamp’s black gelding.
“That’s a really good horse,” Tonozzi said.
Said Dorenkamp, “He’s older, probably 18 or 19. I’ve had him three years, and he’s really quick-footed. You’ve just got to score good and rope them, and he gets out to the steer and faces good.”
In team roping, once the steer is roped, the header must turn his mount so that the two horses are facing one another before the clock stops.
“Roping with Bret is awesome,” he said. “All I’ve got to do is turn them.”
Each man earned $2,041, all of which helps them in their goals toward qualifying for the RAM Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo.
“We’re not traveling that hard, staying in the circuit,” Tonozzi said. “We’d like to do good in the circuit and see where that takes us. It could change a lot for next year.”
Bull rider Elliot Jacoby has a different mind-set. The Fredericksburg, Texas, cowboy wants to return to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for a third time, his first since 2014. He sits 24th in the world standings with nearly $35,000, but he needs to be among the top 15 on the money list at the conclusion of the regular season if he expects to be in Las Vegas in December.
His 89.5-point ride on a bull that has not been named yet might be the thing that helps him make that direction.
“I didn’t know very much about that bull,” said Jacoby, who earned $4,309 in Gunnison. “They said he was supposed to be good, and he turned out to be good. After that ride, my confidence shot up pretty good. Before that, it was kind of slow and pretty rough on me, but hopefully this will turn things around.
“You can definitely catch up and make the NFR. There are a lot of rodeos left. You can make a lot of money at those and jump up really quick.”
Cattlemen’s Days
Gunnison, Colo.
July 13-15
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kash Wilson, 86 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Big Show, $1,784; 2. Shane O’Connell, 84.5, $1,351; 3. Evan Jayne, 81, $973; 4. Rio Lee, 80.5, $649; 5. Tanner Phipps, 78.5, $378; 6. Evan Miller, 78, $270.
Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Jarret New and Tom Lewis, 4.2 seconds, $1,794 each; 3. John Franzen, 4.3, $1,286; 4. Marcus Theriot, 4.6, $948; 5. Tristan Martin, 4.7, $609; 6. (tie) Cody Pratt and Tanner Jackson, 4.9, $169 each.
Team roping: 1. (tie) Ty Blasingame/Tanner Luttrell and Cole Dorenkamp/Bret Tonozzi, 5.1 seconds, $2,041 each; 3. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 5.4, $1,614; 4. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.5, $1,329; 5. (tie) Cole Wheeler/Coy Brittian and Clayton Van Aken, 5.8, $902 each; 7. (tie) Tyler Schnaufer/Trevor Schnaufer and Nick Pullara/Shawn Darnall, 5.9, $332 each.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Roper Kiesner, 86 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Justin’s Sock Dancer, $1,819; 2. Bradley Harter, 84, $1,394; 3. Charlie Kogaines, 82.5, $1,031; 4. Nat Stratton, 81.5, $667; 5. Shade Etbauer, 79.5, $424; 6. Alex Wright, 79, $303; 6. (tie) Brody Cress, Brady Nicholes and Doug Aldridge, 78, $141 each.
Tie-down roping: 1. Seth Cooke, 8.9 seconds, $1,643; 2. Tim Pharr, 9.2, $1,429; 3. (tie) Stuart Hoar, Ty Baker and Ike Fontenot, 9.6, $1,000 each; 6. Levi Walter, 9.8, $572; 7. Joe Colletti, 10.7, $357; 8. Blaine Konkel, 12.7, $143.
Barrel racing: 1. (tie) Nicole Waggoner and Ari-Anna Flynn, 17.64 seconds, $1,525 each; 3. Tammy Fischer, 17.73, $1,173; 4. Chris Gibson, 17.88, $1,017; 5. Dani Durham, 17.94, $782; 6. Kelley Schnaufer, 17.90, $626; 7. Katelyn Scott, 18.07, $469; 8. Madison Thomas, 18.11, $313; 9. Joy McDaniel, 18.15, $235; 10. Ivy Conrado, 18.18, $156.
Bull riding: 1. Elliot Jacoby, 89.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s 9A, $4,309; 2. Tristan Mize, 82.5, $3,341; 3. (tie) Cole Melancon and Nate Perry, 82, $2,097 each; 5. Chase Dougherty, 78.5, $1,129; 6. Jacob Smith, 75, $853.