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Posted Aug. 25, 2002
Idaho bullrider only 3rd ever to complete 8 seconds on Unforgiven
By Jeff Morrow
Herald sports editor
The Horse Heaven Round-Up rodeo committee will be hard-pressed next year to top Saturday night's finale.
An estimated crowd of 5,000 watched in awe as 17 snarling, snot-dripping bulls tossed their cowboys into the Sun Downs Arena dirt - some harder than others.
Joe Hernandez of Green River, Wyo., was launched hard enough by Snuff Border Patrol that he might have broken his leg. He was taken by ambulance and was still being diagnosed at Kennewick General Hospital late Saturday night.
That left one final matchup - and it was the one people had been talking about all week.
The best cowboy, Vince Stanton of Weiser, Idaho - ranked eighth in the world bull riding standings and No. 2 two years ago - against the best bull, Unforgiven, a massive animal that was the top bucking bull in the world two years ago.
Stanton knew for a week that he had drawn Unforgiven, and he was looking for revenge.
"This is the second time I've had him," Stanton said. "He threw me off pretty quickly last time."
That was two years ago. On Saturday, Stanton stayed on for all eight seconds, and as each second passed the roar of the crowd got louder and louder.
By the time the whistle had sounded to signify a complete ride, Stanton earned a standing ovation and was given a 91 that was later changed to a 92, earning him the top score in the event for the week.
"The last couple of times that they've bucked him, he hasn't turned back," Stanton said. "But he jumped high, and that gave me time to dig in."
It was a high-pressure ride, considering no one had stayed on a bull all night.
"I thought about that a little bit before the ride," Stanton said. "I knew if I stayed on I'd get the $1,800 day money just for being the highest (and only) score. I mean, that's the reason I do this is for the money. But just to ride that particular bull was more important than the money at that point."
Don Hutsell, one of the co-owners of Unforgiven, said that was just the third time a cowboy had ridden the full eight seconds on the bull.
"He usually makes 75 trips a year and he's done this for six years," Hutsell said.
That's approximately 450 rides.
"I think that was a hell of a matchup with those two. Unforgiven is just a big, strong and athletic bull," Hutsell continued.
Unforgiven's brethren bulls weren't too shabby either.
One official who has scored rodeos all over the country said this pen was the best one-night field of bulls he's seen anywhere this year.
Meanwhile, Cody De Mers of Boulder, Mont., rode Little Iron to an 81 to win the night's go-round in bareback riding.
De Mers used his knowledge of the horse a week ago at Moses Lake, where he also scored an 81.
"He just turns out and kicks," De Mers said. "I like that."
De Mers was announced as the co-winner of the event with Cody Jessee, while ex-Kennewick cowboy Clint Corey was listed on the scoreboard with an 80.
However, Corey actually had an 82 and was named the winner in the event.
David and Ryan Motes combined on a 5.0-second effort in team roping for the fastest time of the night, giving them the top all-around two-go average at 10.1.
Late Friday night in slack time, Brandie Halls of Cheyenne, Wyo., pulled off a time of 16.69 to win the barrel racing event.
Hermiston's Brad Goodrich won the all-around title.
54TH ANNUAL HORSE HEAVEN ROUND-UP
Saturday's go-round
Bareback-81 points, Cody De Mers, Boulder, Mont.; 73, Todd Koch, St. Paul, Ore.; 43, Jimmy McLean, Independence, Ore.
Calf roping-10.0 seconds, Shane Hull, Ellensburg; 12.6, Jim Powers, Wapato; 14.3, Shane Erickson, Yelm.
Steer wrestling-4.2 seconds, Erik Johnson, Eltopia; 4.3, Chip Giles, Pendleton; 4.6, Shane Sparks, Allen, Okla.
Saddle bronc-79 points, Matt Marvel, Battle Mountain, Nev.; 72, Cody De Mers, Boulder, Mont; 71, Cody Wright, Milford, Utah.
Team roping-5.0 seconds, David Motes, Fresno, Calif.-Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas; 10.6, Gary Poythress, Hico, Texas-Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas; 12.8, Jake Stanley, Hermiston-Jon Gill, Hermiston.
Barrel racing-16.92 seconds, (tie) Piper Levandoske, Eagle, Idaho, and Melanie White, Killeen, Texas; 16.94, Tami Fontenot, Ethel, La.
Bull riding-92 points, Vince Stanton, Weiser, Idaho.
Overall champions
All-around-$3,424.03, Brad Goodrich, Hermiston; $1,874.80, Cody De Mers, Boulder, Mont.; $1,415.26, Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.; $1,373.91, Cash Myers, Athens, Texas.
Bareback-82 points, Clint Corey, Powell Butte, Ore., $2,812.20; 81, (tie) De Mers and Cody Jessee, John Day, Ore., $1,874.80; 76, (tie) Bobby Mote, Redmond, Ore., and Paul Jones, Elko, Nev., $843.66; 75, Chris Harris, Arlington, Texas, $468.70; 73, (tie) Darren Clarke, Lewisville, Texas, and Todd Koch, St. Paul, Ore., $328.09.
Saddle bronc-86 points, Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, $3,277.80; 85, Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont., $2,512.98; 81, Josh Reynolds, Corvallis, Mont., $1,857.42; 80, Ross Kreutzer, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, $1,201.86; 79, Matt Marvel, Battle Mountain, Nev., $764.82; 78, (tie) Todd Fike, Pavillion, Wyo., and Ryan Maptston, Geyser, Mont., $491.67; 77, Anthony Bello, Gustine, Texas, $327.78.
Barrel racing-16.69 seconds, Brandie Halls, Cheyenne, Wyo., $2,159.76; 16.85, Renee Gossett, Wittmann, Ariz., $1,835.79; 16.87, Kristie Peterson, Elbert, Colo., $1,511.83; 16.92, (tie) Piper Levandoske, Eagle, Idaho, and Melanie White, Killeen, Texas, $1,187.86; 16.94, Tami Fontenot, Ethel, La., $755.91; 16.97, Tara Wright, Moriarty, N.M., $539.94; 16.99, Cindy Woods, Sherwood, Ore., $431.95; 17.00, Lucy Schnable, Prineville, Ore., $377.95; 17.01, Julianne Wall, Blackfoot, Idaho, $323.96; 17.11, Tara Polich, Canby, Ore., $269.97; 17.24, Cindy Jo Rice, Pendleton, $215.97.
Bull riding-92 points, Vince Stanton, Weiser, Idaho, $3,859.80; 91, Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas, $2,959.18; 89, Jeff Nisen, Byron, Calif., $2,187.22; 87, Bail, $1,415.26; 86, (tie) Rocky McDonald, Animas, N.M., and Fred Boettcher, Tomah, Wis., $771.96; 84, Rusty Patrick, Taylor, Neb., $514.64; 83, (tie) Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., and Vic Dubray, La Grande, Ore., $192.99.
Calf roping-Second go: 7.9 seconds, (tie) Nate Baldwin, Rigby, Idaho, and Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $1,573.47; 8.0, Johnny Emmons, Grandview, Texas, $1,128.15; 8.1, Scott Kormos, Mexia, Texas, $831.27; 8.4, (tie) Goodrich, Ricky Canton, Cleveland, Texas, and Shawn Franklin, Wetumka, Okla., $277.08. Two-go average: 15.4, Baldwin, $1,721.92; 15.8, Goodrich, $1,425.03; 16.2, Canton, $1,128.15; 16.4, Franklin, $831.27; 17.6, Jim Locke, Miami, Texas, $534.38; 19.2, Ricky Hyde, Mount Vernon, Ark., $296.88.
Steer wrestling-Second go: 4.1 seconds, Alexander Robertson, Bend, Ore., $1,853.19; 4.2, (tie) Myers and Erik Johnson, Eltopia, $1,373.91; 4.3, (tie) Bill Pace, Stephenville, Texas, and Chip Giles, Pendleton, $734.88; 4.4, Mike Garthwaite, Merritt, British Columbia, $319.51. Two-go average: 8.7, Rod Lyman, Victor, Mont., $1,853.19; 9.2, Pace, $1,533.67; 9.4, (tie) Johnson, Bryan Fields, Conroe, Texas, and Joey Bell Jr., Salem, N.J., $894.64; 9.5, Shawn Greenfield, Pasco, $319.51.
Team roping-Second go: 4.7 seconds, Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif.-Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, $1,351.54; 5.0, (tie) Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla.-Wayne Folmer, El Paso, Texas, and David Motes, Fresno, Calif.-Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, $1,002.00; 5.1, (tie) Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz.-Bucky Campbell, Benton City, and Lance Brooks, Shandon, Calif.-Clayton Grant, Shandon, Calif., $535.95; 5.2, (tie) Tee Woolman, Llano, Texas-Tyler Magnus, Llano, Texas, and Frank Graves, Poplarville, Miss.-Monty Joe Petska, Turlock, Calif., $116.51. Two-go average: 10.1, Motes-Motes, $1,351.54; 10.5, Graves-Petska, $1,118.52; 10.7, Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas-Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., $885.49; 11.0, Charly Crawford, Canby, Ore.-Matt Funk, Wenatchee, $652.47; 11.1, Kelton-Campbell, $419.44; 11.2, Turtle Powell, Alpine, Texas-Kirt Jones, Piedmont, Okla., $233.02.
By René Ferrán
Herald staff writer
Rodeo cowboys know August is moving month if they hope to qualify for either the National Finals Rodeo or their circuit final.
"There's no staying home now," said saddle bronc rider Dustin Flundra. "If you're anywhere close to the top 15, you've got to go now."
With so many rodeos taking place every weekend, cowboys who got off to a slow start can make up a lot of ground in their quest to make the top 15 in the world standings and head to Las Vegas or the top 12 in the Columbia River Circuit and head to Redmond, Ore.
Flundra sat in 21st place in the world standings coming into Friday night's performance at the 54th annual Horse Heaven Round-Up at the Benton-Franklin Fairgrounds in Kennewick.
But after his 86-point ride aboard Pocahontas vaulted him into the Round-Up lead, he figures to move up a few spots.
Flundra, from Pincher Creek, Alberta, had never ridden Pocahontas before but heard how it was good for an 81 for first-night winner Josh Reynolds, and that gave him a bit of confidence.
Also gaining confidence is Alexander Robertson of Bend, Ore., who made it to Redmond two years ago as a rookie steer wrestler.
Then last year, he made $84.
This year didn't start much better, and heading into Friday night, Robertson languished in 25th place in the CRC standings.
That's why he was beaming after posting a second go-round leading time of 4.1 seconds. Earlier in the day, he took the lead in the second go in Bremerton, and if his times hold up through one more day, he'll vault past quite a few bulldoggers.
"August has been pretty great for me," Robertson said. "I didn't do a lot of circuit rodeos earlier trying to do other rodeos all over the place, and I didn't take care of business at home. But I won in Sublimity (Ore.) and that got my confidence up. I'm on a roll now."
A third event lead changed hands late in the evening when Renee Gossett posted a 16.85 in the barrel racing. Gossett, 28th in the world standings, held off Kristie Peterson, who two rides later ran a 16.87, to take the lead going into tonight's final performance.
Stanfield's Brad Goodrich already won once at the Round-Up, winning the first go in calf roping for the second straight year. Unlike 2001, though, Goodrich followed up with a strong second run, posting an 8.4 for a two-go time of 15.8 that sits second in the average.
"This is exactly what I need this time of year," said Goodrich, who is seventh in the world standings. "August is when the real rodeoing takes place. There are a lot of rodeos like this with two-head runs that pay a lot of money, and guys like me in the top 10 need wins like this to hold our spot."
Charly Crawford and Matt Funk posted the top team roping time of the night, a 5.5 that moved them into second in the average at 11.0. Fred Boettcher's 86 aboard True Grit moved him into a tie for fourth in bull riding.
54TH ANNUAL HORSE HEAVEN ROUND-UP
Friday's results
Bareback-71 points, Kelly Wardell, Bellevue, Idaho; 58, Jason Femrite, Ellensburg.
Calf roping-8.4 seconds, Brad Goodrich, Stanfield; 10.6, Fred Brown, Spokane; 11.1, Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas; 14.1, Curtis Pederson, Hermiston.
Steer wrestling-4.1 seconds, Alexander Robertson, Bend, Ore.; 4.5, Todd Suhn, Brighton, Colo.; 4.7, Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif.; 4.9, Kenny Coppini, Ferndale, Calif.
Saddle bronc-86 points, Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta; 80, Ross Kreutzer, Maple Creek; 77, Anthony Bello, Gustine, Texas; 75, Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas.
Team roping-5.5 seconds, Charly Crawford, Canby, Ore.-Matt Funk, Wenatchee; 11.1, Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas-Brandon Esquivel, Tilden, Texas; 12.3, Bob Allen, Vancouver, Wash.-Winston Farber, Brush Prairie; 15.4, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont.-Caleb Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif.
Barrel racing-16.85 seconds, Renee Gossett, Wittmann, Ariz.; 16.87, Kristie Peterson, Elbert, Colo.; 17.11, Tara Polich, Canby, Ore.; 17.41, Terrie White, Battle Ground.
Bull riding-86 points, Fred Boettcher, Tomah, Wis.; 84, Rusty Patrick, Taylor, Neb.; 83, Vic Dubray, La Grande, Ore.; 77, Tyler Fowler, Theodore, Ala.
Overall leaders
Bareback-82 points, Clint Corey, Powell Butte, Ore.; 81, Cody Jessee, John Day, Ore.; 76, (tie) Bobby Mote, Redmond, Ore., and Paul Jones, Elko, Nev.
Calf roping-First go final: 7.4 seconds, Goodrich, $1,721.92; 7.5, Nate Baldwin, Rigby, Idaho, $1,425.03; 7.8, (tie) Trevor Brazile, Anson, Texas, and Ricky Canton, Cleveland, Texas, $979.71; 8.0, Shawn Frankin, Wetumka, Okla., $534.38; 8.2, (tie) Stran Smith, Tell, Texas, and Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, $148.44. Second go: 7.9, (tie) Baldwin and Blair Burk, Durant, Okla.; 8.0, Johnny Emmons, Grandview, Texas; 8.1, Scott Kormos, Mexia, Texas; 8.4, (tie) Goodrich, Franklin and Canton. Two-go average: 15.4, Baldwin; 15.8, Goodrich; 16.2, Canton; 16.4, Franklin.
Steer wrestling-First go final: 3.9 seconds, Rod Lyman, Victor, Mont., $1,853.19; 4.2, (tie) Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, and Sid Steiner, Bastrop, Texas, $1,373.91; 4.3, (tie) Bryan Fields, Conroe, Texas, and Joey Bell Jr., Salem, N.J., $734.88; 4.5, (tie) Mark Roy, Dalemead, Alberta, and Victor Deck, Tulsa, Okla., $159.75. Second go: 4.1, Robertson; 4.2, Cash Myers, Athens, Texas; 4.5, T.Suhn; 4.7, (tie) Branquinho and Randy Suhn, Riverton, Wyo.; 4.9, (tie) Coppini and John Hall, Enumclaw. Two-go average: 9.4, Bell Jr.; 9.6, R.Suhn; 10.4, (tie) Roy and Hall; 10.9, Frank Davis, Menard, Texas; 11.5, Coppini.
Saddle bronc-86 points, Flundra; 85, Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont.; 81, Josh Reynolds, Corvallis, Mont.; 80, Kreutzer; 78, (tie) Todd Fike, Pavillion, Mont., and Ryan Mapston, Geyser, Mont.
Team roping-First go final: 4.9 seconds, (tie) Steve Purcella, Hereford, Mont.-Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., and Guy Gregg, Touchet-Wade Jess, Grand Coulee, $1,235.03; 5.1, David Motes, Fresno, Calif.-Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, $885.49; 5.2, Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla.-Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $652.47; 5.3, (tie) Turtle Powell, Alpine, Texas-Kirt Jones, Piedmont, Okla., Frank Graves, Poplarville, Miss.-Monty Joe Petska, Turlock, Calif., and Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan.-Jory Levy, Twin Oaks, Okla., $217.48. Second go: 4.7, Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif.-Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas; 5.0, Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla.-Wayne Folmer, El Paso, Texas; 5.1, (tie) Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz.-Bucky Campbell, Benton City, and Lance Brooks, Shandon, Calif.-Clayton Grant, Shandon, Calif. Two-go average: 10.7, Purcella-Bockius; 11.0, Crawford-Funk; 11.1, Kelton-Campbell; 11.2, Powell-Jones; 11.4, Williams-Skelton.
Barrel racing-16.85 seconds, Gossett; 16.87, Peterson; 16.97, Tona Wright, Moriarty, N.M.; 16.99, 16.99, Cindy Woods, Sherwood, Ore.; 17.00, Lucy Schnabele, Prineville, Ore.
Bull riding-91 points, Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas; 89, Jeff Nisen, Byron, Calif.; 87, Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.; 86, (tie) Boettcher and Rocky McDonald, Animas, N.M.; 84.
Posted Aug. 23, 2002
Former Kennewick cowboy leads bareback with 82
By Jeff Morrow
Herald sports editor
The rodeo cowboy that rides the rough stock sometimes drives hundred of miles to an event for basically eight seconds of work.
There's a lot of pressure to perform - especially if the rodeo you're at is treated as a sort of homecoming.
That's what happened to Clint Corey on Thursday at the Horse Heaven Round-Up and the Benton-Franklin County Fair.
The former Kennewick cowboy now lives in Powell Butte, Ore., but he hasn't forgotten the place he made his home for nine years.
And neither did the estimated 4,000 fans, who cheered him on as he rode Lucky Strike to an 82 score to take over the bareback riding lead after two nights of the rodeo.
It was especially sweet for Corey, who was the star of last year's annual fair poster but failed to show up at this rodeo because of a serious groin pull that kept him out of competition for 45 days.
"It's a really comfortable feeling coming back here," said Corey, a former world champion in the bareback. "I know there's a great crowd in the stands behind me. It gets my adrenalin going."
And he needed it, as Lucky Strike is a young and athletic horse that has already helped a number of cowboys this year take titles at a couple of rodeos and bucked even more of them off before the 8-second deadline.
The animal immediately jumped high twice as the gate opened, then made a furious right turn in an attempt to launch Corey from its back.
But Corey was ready, and he finished the ride on top of the horse, then soaked in the crowd's applause and pats on the back from local fans.
The homecoming is short-lived, however, as these are the dog days of the rodeo season.
Corey sits 23rd in the PRCA world bareback standings, and he needs to get into the top 15 to make the National Finals Rodeo in December in Las Vegas.
"So I'm going to Bismarck, N.D., tomorrow, fly to San Juan Capistrano, Calif., on Saturday, then fly to Coeur d'Alene on Sunday," Corey said. "I'm a little behind right now. Normally, I'm in the top 15 at this time of the year."
Two cowboys that don't have to struggle to get into the NFR are Jesse Bail and Cash Myers - ranked 1 and 2 in the PRCA All-Around standings.
Bail, of Camp Crook, S.D., is the top bull rider in the PRCA and the No. 2 man in the saddle bronc, giving him the all-around lead at $160,791 going into this weekend.
While he didn't score high in the saddle bronc, Bail rode a bull named Bar The Door for an 86 score to settle into a tie for third.
"I've been on him in Reno earlier this year," Bail said. "But I don't remember if I placed on him. It's been a little slow since the Fourth of July. The bullriding has been good, but the saddle bronc has been tougher."
Jeff Nisen of Byron, Calif., rode Ready Bow for an 89 for the night's top bullriding score.
Myers, of Athens, Texas, has earned $145,413 this year, and he took over the steer wrestling's second go-round lead with a time of 4.2 seconds.
"But I had a tough time in the first go-round, so maybe I'll get some money for this go-round," Myers said. "I've been staying in Hermiston the last few weeks and going to rodeos in the Northwest. I've pretty much clinched a spot (in the NFR) in steer wrestling, but calf roping's not done yet.
"I'll still go hard this fall," he added. "I looked today, and I could get to 95 rodeos for the year if I go to every place available from here on out. Timed-stock cowboys can go to a maximum of 100 rodeos."
And with that, Myers and his wife were headed to a rodeo in Rapid City, S.D., today.
A cowboy's work is never done.
Thursday's results
Bareback
82 points, Clint C. Corey, Powell Butte, Ore; 75, Chris Harris, Arlington, Texas; 71, Chad Klein, Clinton, La.
Calf roping
8.1 seconds, Scott Kormos, Mexia, Texas; 8.8, Dale Skocdopole, Big Valley Alberta; 10.8, Justin C. Maass, Snook, Texas.
Steer wrestling
4.2 seconds, Cash Myers, Athens, Texas; 5.1 (tie) Joey Bell Jr., Salem, N.J.; and Sean Mulligan, Rock Springs, Wyo.
Saddle Bronc
78 points, Ryan Mapston, Geyser, Mont.; 74, Wells Wyattm Durkee, Ore.; 67, Josh McKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore..
Team Roping
4.7 seconds, Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif., and Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas; 5.1, Lance Brooks, Shandon, Calif. and Clayton Grant, Shandon, Calif.; 5.2, Tee Woolman, Llano, Texas., and Tyler Magnus, Llano, Texas.
Barrel Racing
16.99 seconds, Cindy Woods, Sherwood, Ore.; 17.00, Lucy Schnabele, Prineville, Ore.; 17.24, Cindy Jo Rice, Pendleton, Ore.
Bull Riding
89 points, Jeff Nisen, Byron, Calif.; 86, Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.; 83, Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont.
Overall results
Bull riding
91 points, Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas; 89 points, Jeff Nisen, Byron, Calif.; 86, Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.; 86, Rocky McDonald, Animas, N.M.; 83, Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont.
Bareback riding
82 points, Clint C. Corey, Powell Butte, Ore.; 81, Cody Jessee, John Day, Ore.; 76, Bobby Mote, Redmond, Ore.; 76, Paul Jones, Elko, Nev.
Saddle bronc
85, Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont.; 81, Josh Reynolds, Corvallis, Mont.; 78, Todd Fike, Pavilion, Wyo.; 78 points, Ryan Mapston, Geyser, Mont.
Barrel racing
16.97 seconds, Tona Wright, Moriarty, N.M.; 16.99 seconds, Cindy Woods, Sherwood, Ore.; 17.00, Lucy Schnabele, Prineville, Ore.
Steer wrestling
4.2 seconds, Cash Myers, Athens, Texas; 4.5, Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo.; 4.7, Randy Suhn, Riverton, Wyo.; 4.9, John Hall, Enumclaw.
Calf roping
7.9 (tie), Nate Baldwin, Rigby, Idaho and Blair Burk, Durant, Okla.; 8.0, Johnny Emmons, Grandview, Texas; 8.1 seconds, Scott Kormos, Mexia, Texas.
Team roping
4.7 seconds, Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas; 5.0, Charles Pogue, Ringling, Ore./Wayne Folmer, El Paso, Texas; 5.1, Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ari./Bucky Campbell, Benton City; 5.1, Lance Brooks, Shandon, Calif./Clayton Grant, Shandon, Calif.
Posted Aug. 22, 2002
Young Texas bull rider sets high score
Richardson's 91 opens Horse Heaven Round-Up
By Annie Fowler
Herald staff writer
Bryan Richardson celebrated his 21st birthday a day early, winning the first go-round of the bull riding at the Horse Heaven Round-Up on Wednesday night at the Benton-Franklin County Fairgrounds in Kennewick.
Richardson, of Dallas, Texas, scored a 91 on Big Red to overtake Rocky McDonald of Animas, N.M., who hard-turned in an 85 earlier in the event.
"A 91 - that's the best score I've had this year," said Richardson, who was riding in his first-ever Washington rodeo. "That was a fun bull. I'd never seen him before, and I never thought I had him rode until the whistle blew."
McDonald's 85 on Major League will likely earn the cowboy some much-need PRCA money.
"I'm in 25th place and I need all the help I can get," said McDonald, who is five spots behind Richard-son on the money list. "This was the first left spinner I've stayed on."
Five-time world saddle bronc champion Dan Mortensen of Billings, Mont., won the go-round with an 85 on Miss Salley, four points better than runner-up Josh Reynolds of Corvallis, Mont.
"They just got that horse and last week was the first time they bucked her," Mortensen said of stock provider Big Bend Rodeo Company. "She was good. I love getting on their horses - their A team horses are as solid as anyone's."
Bucky Campbell of Benton City and his partner Chance Kelton of Mayer, Ariz., placed second in the team roping with a time of 5.1 seconds.
Charles Pogue of Ringling, Ore., and Wayne Folmer of El Paso, Tex., won the event with a time of 5 seconds.
Both teams would have been behind B.J. Campbell of Benton City and Richard Eiguren of Jordan Valley, Ore., if not for an infraction on the part of Campbell, the heeler.
"The judge called me for a crossfire," said Campbell, ranked 13th on the PRCA all-around money list. "The steer has to hop first after you rope the head. They said I threw too fast and they flagged me."
B.J. Campbell also had a time of 5.7 seconds in the steer wrestling, ranking him sixth on the night.
"I'm not going to win any money here, but that's how it goes," said Campbell, who will compete in Bremerton today.
All seven bareback riders posted a score in the first go, with Cody Jessee of John Day, Ore., leading the way with an 81. PRCA event money leader Bobby Mote of Redmond, Ore., finished second with a 76.
Things were tight in the calf roping with Wilderness Circuit leader Nate Baldwin of Rigby Idaho, and seven-time National Finals Rodeo participant Blair Burk of Durant, Okla.,., tying for first place with a time of 7.9 seconds. Third-place finisher Johnny Emmons of Grandview, Texas, roped his calf in 8 seconds.
John Hall of Enumclaw led the steer wrestling with a time of 4.9 seconds. Tona Wright of Moriarty, N.M., had the top time in the barrel racing at 16.97 seconds.
Notes: Kaila Mussell of Chilliwack, British Columbia, will not compete in the saddle bronc tonight. Mussell, who is $159 short of earning her PRCA card, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and has ligament damage in her right knee.
"I medicaled out of Moses Lake, Canby (Ore.) and Kennewick," Mussell said Wednesday from her home. "But I will be back Sunday in Coeur d'Alene. It doesn't hurt that much, it's just a bit unstable."
Wednesday's results
Bull riding
91 points, Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas; 86, Rocky McDonald, Animas, N.M.; 81, Reece Hayden, Prineville, Ore.; 78, Myron Duarte, Auburn; 77, Jared Jaques, Wallsburg, Utah; 65, Shane Gordon, Fort Jones, Calif.
Bareback riding
81, Cody Jessee, John Day, Ore.; 76, Bobby Mote, Redmond, Ore.; 76, Paul Jones, Elko, Nev.; 73, Darren Clarke, Lewisville, Texas; 70, Alex Meroshnekoff, Penngrove, Calif.; 69, Mark Garrett, Nisland, S.D.; 67, Tom McFarland, Wittmann, Ariz.
Saddle bronc
85, Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont.; 81, Josh Reynolds, Corvallis, Mont.; 78, Todd Fike, Pavilion, Wyo.; 74, Scott Johnston, Gustine, Texas; 72 (tie), Justin Arnold, Atascadero, Calif. and Stormy Sagers, Rush Valley, Utah; 71 (tie), Scott Miller, Waco, Texas, and Charles Soileau, Stephenville, Tex.; 69, Charley Gardner, Ruby Valley, Nev.; 55, Rusty Allen, Lehi, Utah.
Barrel racing
16.97 seconds, Tona Wright, Moriarty, N.M.; 17.01, Juianne Wall, Blackfoot, Idaho; 17.51, Debbie Stahl, Pendleton; 18.18, Jerri-Lynn Chevallier, Langley, British Columbia.
Steer wrestling
4.5, Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo.; 4.7, Randy Suhn, Riverton, Wyo.; 4.9, John Hall, Enumclaw; 5.2, Todd Woodward, Cardston, Alberta; 5.4, Matt Pasco, Ashcroft, British Columbia; 5.7, B.J. Campbell, Benton City.
Calf roping
7.9 (tie), Nate Baldwin, Rigby, Idaho and Blair Burk, Durant, Okla.; 8.0, Johnny Emmons, Grandview, Texas; 8.4, Ricky Canton, Cleveland, Texas; 8.4, Shawn Franklin, Wetumka, Okla.
Team roping
5.0, Charles Pogue, Ringling, Ore./Wayne Folmer, El Paso, Texas; 5.1, Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ari./Bucky Campbell, Benton City; 5.3, Trevor Brazile, Anson, Tex./Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas; 5.8, Jason Stewart, Royal City/Cody Cowden, Merced, Calif.; 6.2, Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; 6.4, Larry Finley, John Day, Ore./Steve Johnson, Canby, Ore.; 9.1, Dwight Pfaff, La Center/Kirk McNeil, Portland.
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