Several cowboys, cowgirls take home good paychecks from Ute Mt. Rodeo

Several cowboys, cowgirls take home good paychecks from Ute Mt. Rodeo

June 19, 2001

ERIC NIELSEN of Nephi, Utah, scored 78 points during the second round Friday night of the bareback event at the 71st annual Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the American Legion Post 75 Arena. Nielsen came in fourth place and took home a check for $244.44.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

A sold-out crowd Saturday night and a good crowd Friday evening enjoyed the final two rounds of the 71st annual Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the American Legion Post 75 Arena in Cortez.

When the dusted had finally settled in the arena, several cowboys and cowgirls left Cortez with a good feeling and check in their respective pockets.

Eric Mouton of Weatherford, Okla., ranked 25th in the world, left Cortez with a paycheck of $977.76 with his score of 83 on Cracklin Fog Friday night, June 15. Gary Gordon of Grants, N.M., and former World Champion Marvin Garrett of Belle Fource, S.D., both scored an 80 and both took home $611.10. Eric Nielsen of Nephi, Utah, came in third with a 78 and grabbed $244.44. Former Cortez resident and now of Chivington, Cody Fox scored a 69 during the first round on Thursday.

All of the final money winners participated either Friday or Saturday. Ty Hays, also of Weatherford, won the calf roping event with a time of 9.3 seconds and won $970.48. He is currently ranked 10th in the world and seems almost assured of going to the National Finals Rodeo in December. Cory Zion of Idalia, scored 9.9 and won $803.16. Phy Lord of Lamar finished third with a 10.2 ($635.83), Scott Salo of Kersey finsiehd at 10.3 and won $468.51. D.R. Daniel of Okeechobee, Fla., who is currently ranked 21st, was timed in 10.4 and won $301.18, and Charlie Kingsbury of Orchard clocked 10.5 and won $167.32. Shane Hatch of Kirtland struggled tieing the calf and the calf broke loose for no time.

Monte Downare of Hartsell scored a 74 on Red Cloud Thursday night and finished with a nice paycheck of $1,132.96 after winning the saddle bronc event. Josh Reynolds of Corvallis, Mont., and Marty Trapp of Sigurd, Utah, both scored 73 and both pocketed $708.10. J.J. Elshere of Cottonwood, S.D., scored a 72 and took home $283.24.

All of the money winners in the steer wrestling event had competed Friday or Saturday. Sean Mulligan of Rock Springs, Wyo., recorded a quick time of 4.5 and won $998.61. Clay Schricker of Dexter, N.M., scored 5.4 and won $826.44. Clay Pfertsh of Brighton had a time of 5.5 and won $654.26. Linn Churchill of Valentine, Neb., clocked 5.6 and won $482.09. Tony Dammen of Powell, Wyo., had a time of 5.7 and won $309.91. Brad Kreikemeier of Durango was timed in 6.4 and won $172.17. Norman Largo of Cortez got a penalty and finished with a time of 17.4. Brian Cline of Dolores also had a penalty and finished in 18.5.

Again all of the top money winners happened to have performed Friday and Saturday. Steve Shure of Kirtland, N.M., and Ronnie Hyde, of Bloomington, Ind., won the team roping event with a time of 6.3 during the second performance Friday night. They both won $1008.80. Chris Freed, of Pocatello, Idaho, and Steve Sherwood, of Snowflake, Ariz., came in second with a time of 6.5 and both took home checks for $756.60. Gary Poythress of Hico, Texas, and Kinney Harrell of Brady, Texas, roped and tied their steer in 6.6 and won $378.30 apiece. Jerry McPhaul and Ace McPhaul, both of Pie Town, N.M., also had a time of 6.6 and won $378.30 each. Incidentally, Scott Honeycutt of Alamosa and John Kissel of Penrose, both wranglers with Honeycutt Rodeo Co., finished with a time of 14.0 after Kissell caught only one heel. Former world champions Jake Barnes, formerly of Bloomfield, N.M., and Clay O’Brien Cooper of Glen Rose, Texas, both did not score with their respective teammates. Hatch of Kirtland and partner Kirt Jones of Piedmont, Okla., missed the head and did not score. Vic McKinely of Cortez and Russ Sullivan of Los Lunas, N.M., had a time of 7.7, but finished well out of the money.

Jake Suckla of Disappointment Valley (graduate of Dolores County High School) and former member of the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo, tied for fifth place in bull riding. He tied Ben Mader of Brighton with a score of 77. Suckla brought a good ovation from the crowd after riding Firestone for the eight-second count on Friday night. By far, he had the best night of all the area competitors at this year’s pro rodeo. Both men won $253.75 for their efforts. Suckla also took the top check for day money on Friday for $158.33.

Chad Brennan of Alliance, Neb., scored a big 82 Saturday and won $1,395.64 for the first-place prize. James Clark of Washoe Valley, Nev., scored a 79 on Mountain Dew Friday night and won $1,057.30. Tye Odden of Miller, S.D., and Brian Curtis of Belle Fource, S.D., tied for third at 78 and both won $634.38. Ryan Greenlee of Dolores rode Jethro Thursday night to a 58 with an option for a reride. He took the reride on Droppy and was bucked off. Charley Blackmer of Dolores rode Showering Embers during the third peformance Saturday and was tossed for no score.

Jonee Phillips of Casper, Wyo., won the barrel racing event with a time of 15.90 on Friday night. She won $621.55. Casey Shelstad of Castle Rock came in second, way back with a time of 16.02 and won $540.48. Marlene McRae of Ramah tuned in a time of 16.10 and won $459.41. Lynn Brown of Fort Collins rounded the Texas cloverleaf pattern in 16.14 for $378.34. Amy Hubbard of Cheyenne, Wyo., was time in 16.21 and she won $297.26. Belinda Brownell of Hotchkiss was clocked in 16.27 and she pocketed $216.19. Toni Hardin of Canon City and Stacy Gordon Grants, N.M., came in seventh and eighth, respectively, in 16.42 and 16.45 and took home checks for $135,12 and $54.05.

Kim Young of Dove Creek, the current DCHS girls basketball coach, rounded the barrels in 16.90 Saturday night. Lacie Foutz of Farmington turned in a time of 16.78 and Shelly Shure of Kirtland had a time of 38.17 including two penalties.

Other activities besides the rodeo were two parades (Friday and Saturday) through downtown Cortez, a dance with Desert Thunder Friday and Saturday night at the American Legion home, and the carnival for all three days.

Richard Tast of Farmington took the microphone for all three performances. He substituted for regular announcer Johnny Pope was is recovering in Southwest Memorial Hospital with heart problems. According to reports, he is feeling much better.

New clown at this year’s rodeo was Scott "Funky Kol" Messina who entertained the audience.

It should be noted that many of the top cowboys and cowgirls who appeared were not in Cortez this year because of the Copenhagen Cup Winter Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev., In fact, Roy Honeycutt had some of his best stock at the show and was not in Cortez this year.

Kyle Polich of Cortez and partner Joe Roderick of Loma were semifinal qualifiers in team roping but they did not make it to the finals at the Copenhagen Cup Winter Finals. Their best payday was $3,500 for a 5.5 time during the second round.

The annual Ute Mountain Rounduyp Rodeo is the only Professional Cowboy Rodeo Association event in the Four Corners Area other than the weekly PRCA series in Durango which begins this coming week at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

The Durango Pro Rodeo Series, which is put on by Honeycutt and Sons Rodeo Co., is held every week June 19 through Aug. 20. The first performance is set today, June 19, and the second on Wednesday, June 20, at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. The annual Durango Cowgirl Clasic, all women’s rodeo, is set for July 6-7. Rodeo tickets are $13 for adults and $5 for children 12-and-under.