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RODEO
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY |
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Rodeo ticket office opens Monday morning, July 26,
at the Chamber of Commerce, 112 North Third, and the fifth in the
series of five 101 Ranch commemorative medallions goes on sale,
also. This year the obverse side of the medallion
honors the Ponca Indians, who came from Nebraska and crossed into
Oklahoma on July 9, 1877. The Poncans, landlords for many acres of
the ranch, are beginning the centennial year of their home in
Oklahoma.
The head of White Eagle, last of the Ponca
war chiefs, is superimposed on an outline of the State of Oklahoma,
under which is a buffalo hunting scene.
As in past
years, the reverse is the well-known 101 Ranch symbol.
Only the $3.50 bronze medallions are available at this time, as the
invoice has not been received on the .999 pure silver coins and the
cost is not known. Reservations for specific numbers may be made,
though.
The silver medallions are numbered 1 through
500 and will become collectors' items. Persons who have purchased
silver medallions in previous years, will have the same number
reserved for them.
Complete sets of the silver
medallions are not available, but sets of bronze may be purchased.
Also, clear or black plastic holders for desk or wall may be secured
at the chamber office.
The previously issued
medallions feature the Miller Brothers, Zack, Joe and George; Bill
Pickett, the black cowboy who originated the rodeo sport of
bulldoggin'; "White House" on the ranch and the early day tank used
by the 101 Ranch Oil Company, now a part of Continental Oil company.
Mrs. Tony Hile will have charge of fee rodeo ticket office this
year. She will be calling regarding box seats and put-ting advance
sale tickets in the supermarkets of Ponca City this week.
Thursday night will be family night with all seats, except boxes, on
a "first come, first served" basis. Adult tickets are $2 and those
for children under $1.
Friday and Saturday nights all
seats will be reserved. Tickets purchased at supermarkets will be
$3, but must exchanged for reserved seats at rodeo ticket office.
At the gate Friday and Saturday nights they will be $3.50.
The popular rodeo-knowledgeable Clem McSpadden will describe color
and action in the arena, giving uninitiated rodeo fan an
understanding of the fast and spectacular sport.
Walter Alsbaugh, whose strong, defiant stock always assures top
cowboys at a rodeo, is again the contractor.
Leon
Adams of Stuart, who made first appearance in rodeos at the age 12,
is the special attraction. His exciting act of roman riding Brahma
bulls handsome, matched horses will m the spectators catch their
breath. For the first time, the girls' barrel racing
event is approved by the Girls Rodeo Association. Money won at 101
Rodeo will now be counted toward their national standing.
101 Ranch Rodeo Draws Top Cowboy Athletes
That illusive, intangible something" which seem to permeate the
atmosphere just before an exciting event is moving in on Ponca City.
The event — fast moving, action packed 101 Ranch Rodeo for 1976.
The dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 19, 20, 21.
But there will be action before then.
Advance tickets went on sale August 2 and can be secured in
supermarkets. Cowboy Supply, Gene's Western Store and Ponca Paint and
Decorating Center. Tickets for Friday and Saturday night performances
must be exchanged at the rodeo offices in the Chamber of Commerce.
Even before letters had gone out to local merchants suggesting they
decorate their store fronts, nearly a dozen asked artists to paint rodeo
western scenes on their store fronts.
Monday morning shoppers and motorists will be able to see them at work.
Orders for painting store fronts are being taken at the Chamber of
Commerce.
Saddle bronc riding is rodeo's classic event. Identity of the first man
to tangle with a bucking horse is hidden history, but saddle bronc is
the cornerstone of all rodeo competition.
Champions in this event have been seen many times in the 101 Ranch Rodeo
area. The top five money winners so far in 1976 have all competed here —
Monty Henson, Bobby Berger, Mel Hyland, Bobby Brown and J. C. Bonine.
As a rule, fewer professional cowboys are entered in saddle bronc as it
is probably the event most difficult to learn, requiring plenty of
timing and years of experience. The rules favor the animal.
Cowboys ride dull spurs and hold onto a soft woven "bronc rein" attached
to a halter. The saddle is of standard association measurements to
assure that cowboys have no unfair advantage in the event. It is covered
with soft sheepskin on the underside. Five-inch mohair cinches are used
and the flat straps are also covered with sheepskin.
As the horses leave the chutes, flank straps are snugged up; as animals
buck the straps become loose.
Cowboys ride for eight seconds.
Many bareback and saddle bronc continue bucking strong well into their
20s and the horses command four figure prices.
One-half of a cowboy's score depends upon the bronc — how well it bucks.
So, the well-fed, strong, sleek stock of Walt Alsbaugh, stock
contractor, ways attracts the top cowboy athletes in the professional
sport of rodeo.
First Rodeo Performance Tonight
It's rodeo in Ponca City tonight!
It's rodeo in Ponca City Friday and Saturday nights, too.
The colorful Grand Entry, which hints at the excitement to come, will be
at 8 o'clock each evening.
As crowds are gathering there will be entertainment by the 101 Ranch
Band under the direction of Bill Anderson, who reported some
"professionals" would be playing in the group.
The Ponca Trailblazers, who have ridden across the prairie to advertise
the 101 Ranch Rodeo will circle the arena with their wagons and all the
out-riders.
Friday night, roping students of Mike Sokol will demonstrate their
expertise and for Saturday's pre-rodeo entertainment Mike promises a
most unusual surprise.
Some of the top cowboys who have been drawn for the opening performance
are Sandy Kirby, standing fourth in all around. Roy Duvall and C. R.
Boucher, two National Finals contestants and always favorites at the 101
Ranch Rodeo.
The top two barrel racers in the nation, Jimmie Gibbs and Connie Combs
will be striving to beat each other's time.
Two professional rodeo cowboys, always high in the standings, will be
riding — or trying to ride — bulls of the Walt Alsbaugh string. They are
Marvin Shoulders and Kirby.
At the National Finals Rodeo, Kirby was knocked unconscious and hung-up
when thrown from a bull. It was bull fighter Bobby McAfee, chosen by the
top 15 qualifying bull riding contestants for the NFR, who reached Kirby
first.
McAfee will be protecting the bull riders and entertaining spectators
during the three nights of the 101 Rode With him will be Bobby Cark, who
is well known here.
Brahma, the most dangerous animal in a rodeo arena, will be ridden—Roman
style — by Leon Adams, the star attraction. Realizing that if he were to
gain his ambition to be a rodeo performer he must develop an never
before seen in an arena.
He has such an act and spectators will thoroughly enjoy it.
The 11 lovely queen contestants, who are to arrive in Ponca City this
afternoon, will participate in the Grand Entry and be introduced by that
master of rodeo announcers, Clem McSpadden.
Clem has performed in rodeo, he he announced for years and is producer
the National Final Rodeo, which he has also announced. He knows rodeo,
ever phase of it. He can describe it so the novice will appreciate the
professionalism, the highly developed skill the professional cowboy
athlete and respect the quality of stock Alsbaugh has again brought to
the 101 Ranch Rodeo.
Exciting Performance Opens 101 Rodeo
Fast paced, exciting action and perfect weather joined to produce for
the large Thursday evening crowd one of the best, performances of the
101 Ranch Rodeo.
The second performance will be at 8 o'clock tonight and the final
performance, during which the 1976 queen will be announced, is set for 8
p.m. Saturday.
Saturday at 2 p.m. will be the annual 101 Ranch Rodeo parade in downtown
Ponca City, starting on West Grand and going east.
The Naval Junior ROTC will furnish the color guard and the drill team
will perform. Bands will be playing, and all the lovely queen
contestants .will ride in , the procession with Miss Lesli Krause, the
1975 queen, leading the 1976 aspirants.
Roundup clubs are invited to participate, said Joe Colby Jr., parade
chairman. And since it's an election year, political candidates will be
waving to the crowd along the parade route.
The informative rodeo program is always a good buy at 50 cents, but
there is an added incentive this year. All of the net proceeds made by
the American Business Club will go to the scholarship fund established
for the 18-year-old son of Bill Austin, a club member who died earlier
this year.
At the opening performance it was the stock of Walt Alsbaugh which won
the riding events. Only eight cowboys made it to the whistle.
In bareback riding Charlie Burns scored a 66. Skip Martin received a 64
from the judges, while Leon Baker made a 55-point ride.
Saddle bronc is the only event in which there will be two go-rounds,
with the split coming in tonight's performance.
Ponca City's Sammy Groves, who was fourth in the nation in money won in
saddle bronc riding in 1975, was Thursday night's winner with 68. Roger
Bar- tel. who scored a 64, was the only other cowboy to make a
successful ride.
John McBeth, a national champion in saddle bronc, was thrown but
promised a successful second ride.
Just tenths of a second separated the steer wrestlers. Fastest time by
Tommy Combs, who threw his steer in 4.3 seconds. Charlie Battles posted
a 4.6-second and Jim Smith a 4.9-second throw.
Spectators can expect some extremely fast times in doggin' both tonight
and Saturday.
Of special interest to many in this area and to all who follow rodeo and
barrel racing was the 17.8-second ride of Jimmie Gibbs, Valley Mills,
Tex. Jimmie is the defending world champion.
Also out Thursday evening was Con- nie Combs of Comanche, currently
first in the standings, who was only two- tenths of a second behind
Jimmie in running the Barrels.
Brahma bull riding, the most dangerous event in rodeo, saw one cow- boy,
Joe Bonner, break his arm as he "dismounted" from his bull, I Don't
Know. He had scored a 63 ride, second high for the evening.
High score was made by Nicky Wheeler, who received a mark of 67. Marvin
Shoulders, one of the outstanding riders in the nation, received a 61.
The result of many patient hours was seen in the beautiful acts of Leon
Adams, who used both matched Brahma bulls and horses in his Roman
riding.
Persons attending the two final performances of the 101 Ranch Rodeo will
see two future rodeo stars — Lee Ann Alsbaugh, four-year-old daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Art Alsbaugh, who rides her horse as well as any cowgirl,
and Jeff Clark, 8, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Clark of Ponca City, a young
cowboy completely in command of his horse. They are experts in getting
calves and steers out of the arena following roping and doggin'.
There were other diversions during the evening, such as a dog trying to
steal the show and a rabbit coming to see what it was all about. As a
climax, Clem McSpadden, the announcer, admitted he had the hiccups.
All Around Cowboy Title To Bob Wagner
 The
1976 edition of the 101 Ranch Rodeo came to a close on a beautiful
Saturday night with some outstanding cowboy performances.
All Around Cowboy title went to Bob Wagner, Ponca City, who split third
and fourth place prize money in bull riding and placed fifth, just out
of the money, in the bareback bronc event. Top bull rider was Spanky
Brown, who scored a 73 and won $646.80. Leander Frey got a score of 70
for second place and $485.10. Wagner and Mickey Wheeler scored 68s on
their rides and each pocketed $242 55 for his efforts.
In steer wrestling Bruce Hough's winning time was 3.9 seconds to earn
him $764.40 and make him top money winner of the show. Earl Jeffrey's
4.2-second performance won him $573.30.
Tommy Combs, with a time of 4.3, won $382.20 and Charles Battles was
fourth in a time of 4.6, earning $191.10.
Calf roping champ was Gary Ledford of Comanche, who had a winning time
of 9.5 seconds and won $717.36. Second place went to Bill Riddle of
Holiday, Tex. Hi s time was 9.8 and he pocketed $538.02.
Ab Deakins, Meeker, placed third as he tied his calf in 11 seconds flat
and walked off with $358.68. Taking fourth money of $179.34 was Junior
Garrison, a former world champion calf roper from Marlow, who was timed
in 11.1 seconds.
Bill Olmstead, an employee of Walt Alsbaugh, was thrown and stomped by a
bull which was being tried out as a prospect to be added to the Alsbaugh
string. Olmstead, who suffered a fractured leg, was treated at St.
Joseph Medical Center and released.
Jack Ward of Springdale, Ark., a world champion bareback bronc rider,
won that event with a score of 75. He received $540.96 for his
eight-second ride.
Skip Emmett, also of Springdale, finished second with a 73 score,
pocketing $405.72.
Charlie Burns of Cement and Rusty Riddle, Weatherford, split third and
fourth place money. Each scored 67 on his ride and earned $202.86.
Sammy Groves, Ponca City, was the big winner is saddle bronc. He won
both first and second go-rounds and the average. His scores were 69 and
67, and his total at the pay window was $423.36.
In the first go-round Groves was followed by Shawn Davis, Louisville,
Tex., who scored a 68 and won $105.84. Roger Bartel, Cambridge, Kan.,
was third with a 64 and $70.56. Fourth place in the first go-round went
to Keith Chapman. His 63-point ride was worth $35.28.
In the second go-round of saddle bronc Harry Chapman finished second,
scoring 61 and winning $105.54; Rich Raile was third with a 59 and
$70.56. Ground money of $35.28 was divided among eight who didn't score.
In the barrel racing, Jimmy Gibbs of Mills Valley, Tex,, won first place
money of $233.04 with her time of 17:7 seconds. Collette Graves finished
second in 17.8 and won $192.86.
Connie Combs, who is leading in the barrel race standings, was timed in
17.9 and took home $152.68. Kathy Laughlin chalked up a time of 18.2 and
was paid $112.50. Chris Boucher, Monica Riley and Patty Whitehouse, all
timed in 18.3, took home $37.50 each. |
ANNOUNCER: Clem McSpadden
