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Four Night 101 Wild West Rodeo Just
Two Weeks From Tonight The 38th annual 101
Wild West Rodeo will be held nightly four nights in a row, starting
Aug. 13, with the grand entry each night beginning at 8 p.m. That's
just two weeks from tonight, folks!
There will be
some special events prior to grand entry, so spectators may wish to
be alerted to some of the special times for activities prior to the
actual rodeo.
In particular is a new event that
involves the youngsters. The first 101 (that's one hundred and one)
youngsters ages 3-7 each night will receive a free stick horse that
they can ride in the arena during the Stick Horse Grand Entry. The
event starts at 7:45 p.m. each night, just prior to the rodeo, and
is sponsored by 101 Country KPNC-FM and the Ponca City Wal-Mart
Supercenter. Another special event will be held on
Thursday, Aug. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. It is the Rodeo Barbecue Dinner,
sponsored by Head Country BBQ Restaurant, United Supermarkets and
Farha Wholesale. The barbecue will be held at the Moose Lodge at the
southeast corner of North Ash Street and West Prospect Avenue.
Admission is free to the barbecue, but those attending must have a
Thursday night advanced ticket to the rodeo. Donations are
encouraged and will be accepted at the door, with all proceeds going
to Domestic Violence. While the actual rodeo
performances will be held Aug. 13-16, there will be a slack
performance, starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12. It will run
until 7 p.m., and then a special steer roping event will be held
followed by additional slack. Admission to the slack and steer
roping is $5. There will be two full go-rounds of steer roping.
The Rumford Rodeo Company of Abbyville, Kan., will again be the
rodeo stock contractor and produce the rodeo.
Specialty acts for the rodeo include mini-chuck wagon races with two
races nightly, and the performance of rodeo clown Gary Parli of
Morrison, who has a business in Ponca City.
The
queens contest will conclude with crowning of the 101 Wild West
Rodeo 1997 queen on Saturday night. Contact person on the queens
contest is Linda Mauk, 765-8864.
A rodeo parade will
be held Saturday, Aug. 16, in downtown Ponca City. The event begins
at 10 a.m. and admission to participate in the parade is free,
although entrants should contact Chris Short, 762-9649.
The week has been designated as Rodeo week, and all are encouraged
to dress western during the week.
Advance tickets are
available at all Ponca City banks, all Ponca City grocery stores,
Jimmy Western Wear, McVays Western Outfitters, Gradys Western Wear
in Arkansas City, the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce.
Admission Wednesday and Thursday is $6 advance, or $7.50 at the
gate. The two nights have been designated as family nights however,
and youngsters under 12 will be admitted free. Children under 12
will be charged $3 on Friday and Saturday. The Friday and Saturday
adult price will be $7 advance, or $8.50 at the gate.
A rodeo dance will be held after the rodeo on Friday and Saturday,
Aug. 15-16, at Cassies Country, just north of Ponca City on Hubbard
Road.
Ponca City Businessman Finds Time To Serve As 'Barrel Man'
Rodeo clown Gary Parli of Morrison, who was selected by the top 20
bullriders in the PRCA to serve as "barrel man" for the National Finals
Rodeo in Oklahoma City, will be making appearances at the 101 Wild West
Rodeo here this August.
 Parli,
who operates an Allstate Insurance agency in Ponca City, maintains a
ranching operation in Morrison. A former college agri-business
instructor and rodeo team coach, Parli Finds the clowning business an
exciting summer activity. He started competing in rodeos while in high
school, and in college he discovered a demand for clowns and
bullfighters. He needed entry fee money and decided to try his hand at
the risky profession.
As pointed out in a Deadwood, S.D., newspaper article by Barbara Ordahl,
Parii started "clowning" rodeos in his native Oklahoma. He was a
bullrider, but took a job as a clown to help pay his entry fees.
"The stock contractor told me I'd never make it as a bullrider, but I
had great potential as a clown. I was looking for an excuse to quit
bullriding anyway."
As with many clowns who continue in the sport, it just "got in his
blood." He was tutored by another great rodeo clown, the late Buck
LeGrand, and started clowning regularly in the summer of 1967.
 One
of Parli's routines involves a pair of newlyweds who travel to the rodeo
in a red 1926 Model T Ford. The jalopy goes through a "bunch of comical
mechanical flub-ups" inducing a humorous give-and-take between the bride
and groom.
Having performed at rodeos in 30 states and three Canadian provinces,
Parli has been featured at many of the top contests in North America,
including the Elks Helldorado Days in Las Vegas, Nev,, Days of 47 in
Salt Lake City, the College National Finals Rodeo, the Days of '76 in
Deadwood, S.D., the Central States Fair and Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D.
and the celebrated Calgary Stampede.
He was also selected by the top 15 circuit bullriders to work the
Prairie Circuit Finals three times and the Great Lakes Circuit Finals
once.
In October 1991, Parli was able to obtain one of his professional goals,
by clowning at the Madison Square Garden rodeo in New York City.
Parli indicated in the Dead-wood story, that "many people think rodeo
performers travel as a group the way circus performers do. We don't.
We're all independent."
He generally doesn't know until he gets to a rodeo who his partner for
the bullriding events will be. Horses can not be used to pick up
bullriders, so a clown twosome consisting of a bullfighter and a "barrel
man" work together to distract the bull while the cowboy leaves
the arena.
According to the Deadwood article, Parli has worked as both the
bullfighter and barrel man. He gave up the former in 1978, two years
after a bull hooked him under the left eye with a horn. Parli was
unconscious for more than an hour, and his injury required 100 stitches
and plastic surgery. Two weeks later, he worked his next rodeo.
"It's a risky profession with dangerous animals; anything can happen,"
Parli related at Deadwood. "You learn your limitations."
Parli has become a barrel man in the arena now, and stated "it's not
really scary after 25 years,"
"You try to get down and get braced before a bull hits the barrel. You
brace hands, legs, feet and head to buffet the impact."
Performances for the 101 Wild West Rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. each night
during the four-night stand.
Familiar 'Painted' Face Returning To Perform At Wild
West Rodeo
A familiar face (painted most of the time) returns to the 101 Wild West
Rodeo in two weeks when bullfighter Mike Johnson makes his appearance.
Johnson has been hitting the 101 Wild West Rodeo and many other Prairie
Circuit rodeos for quite some time. He'll be here for the four nights of
the 101 Wild West Rodeo. Aug. 13-16.
As in many of the other instances, the roar of the crowd fades as
Johnson's athletic body relaxes into a poised, ready crouch in front of
the chute gate.
Beneath the wild grease paint, his face is set in total concentration as
his eyes lock onto the fighting bull that is at once his teammate and
adversary. The sport is American Bullfighting, and this Missouri native
is one of its stars.
Johnson, 32, has been attracting horns for 14 years. After excelling in
high school athletics he began clowning and fighting bulls, which helped
him earn a degree in agribusiness. Ten years ago Johnson became a member
of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and was voted to work the
Southeastern Circuit Finals.
Johnson went on to perform at this prestigious rodeo again in 1989 and
1991. The lanky funny-man has dazzled and entertained fans at events
such as the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the Sikeston Jaycee
Bootheel Rodeo in Missouri, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, .and
the state fairs in Oklahoma and Texas, just to name a few.
Johnson has also thrilled crowds since 1989 with fearless maneuvers and
daredevil jumps as a top 10 competitor on the Wrangler Bullfight Tour.
Twice he has qualified for the National Finals Wrangler Bullfight
Championships. He completed the 1994 regular season in sixth place which
earned him a trip to the NFR. After an exceptional finals, which
included a second go-round win and second in NFR money won, he finished
in fourth place for the year. In 1996 he qualified in fourth place and
remained in that position.
Johnson now resides in Mt. Selman, Texas, with his wife Ruby, their son,
Colton Michae, and their pet Rottweiler's, Cowboy and Callie. He enjoys
hunting, fishing, teaching bullfighting schools and working on his ranch
as hobbies.
Volunteers Key To Rodeo Success
The cowboys and the animals are the stars, the obvious
centers of attention.
But the stars of rodeo would never shine if it were not for the work of
a large supporting cast, a cast that includes announcers, stock
contractors, rodeo secretaries, timers, pickup men, chute laborers,
specialty-act personnel and rodeo producers.
The whole thing wouldn't be worth the effort at all if it weren't for
the dozens of volunteers that make up the Ponca City Rodeo Association.
Many of those volunteers spent from the 1996 rodeo making plans and
seeing that some of the things were improved for this year's 101 Wild
West Rodeo. It didn't happen overnight.
Rodeo Announcer Plays Key Role
One of the most vocal partners in the success of any rodeo is that of
the rodeo announcer.
The Ponca City Rodeo Foundation has been very successful in the recent
years by having Dr. Lynn Phillips of Enid handle the microphone duties
of the 101 Wild West Rodeo.
Phillips is no ordinary announcer. He brings 25 years of veteran
announcing experience into the arena of professional rodeo.
Quail Dobbs, one of pro rodeo's funniest clowns, perhaps most accurately
describes the key to Lynn Phillips announcing success as being the fact
that "this man was vaccinated with a Victrola needle."
Indeed. Few would argue. The smooth and entertaining announcing style of
Phillips has carried his career to the National Finals Rodeo, the
National Circuit Finals Rodeo, the Old Timers National Finals Rodeo, the
Women's National Finals Rodeo, AQHA World Show, and Area Reigning Horse
Futurity.
But few know that Dr. Lynn Phillips has a specialty of his own. He is a
practicing anesthesiologist and clinical professor at the OU Health
Science Center.
Floyd Rumford Named Grand Marshal For Annual 101 Wild
West Rodeo Parade
 The
101 Wild West Rodeo is less than a week away and final plans are
continuing to unfold from the Ponca City Rodeo Foundation.
One of the highlights during the week is the annual parade, set to begin
at 10 a.m. from West Grand Avenue at Oak Street, heading east along
Grand Avenue and ending at Sixth Street, according to chairman Chris
Short.
Short said, "our Parade Marshal this year will be Floyd Rumford. He has
been the stock contractor for the 101 Wild West Rodeo for the past
several years, and has shown an extra personal interest in the
activities that are provided here."
Rumford and his wife Lola, along with sons Bronc and Tommy Rumford and
Bronc's wife Vicky are well known in the Profession-al Rodeo Cowboys
Association (PRCA.) as one of the top producers in the country.
The Rumfords have provided stock for some 85 rodeos per year in 17
different states and in addition, have sent stock to Helsinki, Finland
and Paris, France, for events. They also have participated with some of
their stock annually at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Floyd Rumford has owned and operated a horse and mule sale in
Hutchinson, Kan., the past 40 years. "He is an asset to the industry and
a genuine friend and family man. We are honored to have him serve as our
Parade Marshal for this years 101 Wild West Rodeo Parade," Short said.
Additionally on rodeo Saturday, a pancake feed will be held at the
Masonic Lodge starting at 6:30 a.m., with the public invited.
Short said parade participants need to be ready for the lineup at 9:30
a.m., and any questions should be directed to him at 762-9649 or Stan
Long, 765-7387.
Floats are requested to meet on the side street in front of the West
Grand Avenue Church of Christ, for their progress east.
Those using horses in the parade, should meet in the grassy area south
of the West Grand Church of Christ, and be able to produce a Coggins
Test if requested. according to Short.
Classic car entries will be meeting on North Peachtree Street and North
Birch Street, but are reminded to "please don't block driveways." Short
said.
Political participants should gather on the side streets of North and
South Lake Street.
The Rodeo Foundation this year is asking that "for the safety of the
children," parade participants not throw candy.
The 38th annual 101 Wild West Rodeo is Wednesday through Saturday, Aug.
13-16, at 8 p.m. each night.
Tickets are available at all Ponca City banks, grocery stores, Jimmy's
Western Wear, McVays Western Outfitters, Gradys Western Wear in Arkansas
City, and the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. Advance on Wednesday and
Thursday are $6 with $7.50 at the gate, while it will be $7 advance for
Friday and Satin and $8.50 at the gate. Chile under 12 get in free with
par Wednesday and Thursday, an will be $3 for children under 12 on
Friday and Saturday.
There will be rodeo slack Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., again immediately
following steer roping. Admission for slack and steer roping is $5.
steer roping set for two go rounds begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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 STOCK
PENS need clearing prior to the Rumford Rodeo Company bringing stock
for the 101 Wild West Rodeo and Darrel Dye, one of the Ponca City Rodeo
Foundation volunteers manned the tractor for mowing of weeds within the
past couple of weeks in preparation for the activity. |
NEW CHUTE HEAVENS were being assembled by using the previous
press box area at the 101 Ranch Rodeo grounds. Welders and additional
volunteers from the Ponca City Rodeo Foundation were on hand several
nights in the past several weeks in preparation for the new chute
heavens.
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'Dress Western' For 101 Wild West Rodeo
This is 101 Wild West Rodeo Week!
As a result, it is "dress western" time for Ponca Citians, as a way of
expressing involvement in the Ponca City Rodeo Foundation's big event of
the year. So get out those "western" clothes and everybody enjoy the
week.
One of the highlights during the week is the annual parade, set to begin
at 10 a.m. from West Grand Avenue at Oak Street, heading east along
Grand Avenue and ending at Sixth Street, according to chairman Chris
Short.
Short said, "our Parade Marshal this year will be Floyd Rumford. He has
been the stock contractor for the 101 Wild West Rodeo for the past
several years, and has shown an extra personal interest in the
activities that are provided here."
Rumford and his wife Lola, along with sons Bronc and Tommy Rumford and
Bronc's wife Vicky are well known in the Profession-al Rodeo Cowboys
Association (PRCA) as one of the top producers in the country.
The Rumfords have provided stock for some 85 rodeos per year in 17
different states and in addition, have sent stock to Helsinki, Finland
and Paris, France, for events. They also have participated with some of
their stock annually at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Floyd Rumford has owned and operated a horse and mule sale in
Hutchinson, Kan., the past 40 years. "He is an asset to the industry and
a genuine friend and family man. We are honored to have him serve as our
Parade Marshal for this years 101 Wild West Rodeo Parade," Short said.
Additionally on rodeo Saturday, a pancake feed will be held at the
Masonic Lodge starting at 6:30 a.m.. with the-public invited.
Short said parade participants need to be ready for the lineup at 9:30
a.m., and any questions should be directed to him at 762-9649 or Stan
Long, 765-7387.
Floats are requested to meet on the side street in front of the West
Grand Avenue Church of Christ, for their progress east.
Those using horses in the parade, should meet in the grassy area south
of the West Grand Church of Christ, and be able to produce a Coggins
Test if requested, according to Short.
Classic car entries will be meeting on North Peachtree Street and North
Birch Street, but are reminded to "please don't block driveways," Short
said.
Political participants should gather on the side streets of North and
South Lake Street.
The Rodeo Foundation this year is asking that "for the safety of the
children," parade participants not throw candy.
The 38th annual 101. Wild West Rodeo is Wednesday through Saturday, Aug.
13-16, at 8 p.m. each night.
Tickets are available at all Ponca City banks, grocery stores, Jimmy's
Western Wear, McVay's Western Outfitters, Grady's Western Wear, Arkansas
City, and the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce, Advance on Wednesday and
Thursday are $6 with $7.50 at the gate, while it will be $7 advance for
Friday and Saturday and $8.50 at the gate. Children under 12 get in free
with parents Wednesday and Thursday, and it will be $3 for children
under 12 on Friday and Saturday.
There will be rodeo slack on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., and again
immediately following the steer roping. Admission for the slack and
steer roping is $5. The steer roping is set for two full go rounds,
beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The rodeo will provide a number of specialty activity in addition to the
regular bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf
roping, steer wrestling, team roping and girls barrel racing events.
There will be mini-chuck wagon races with two races nightly, and special
acts from rodeo clown Gary Parli.
On each of the four regular nights of rodeo, Wednesday through Saturday,
there will be a stick horse grand entry. The first 101 youngsters
through the gates on those nights, ages 3-7 will receive a free stick
horse that they can ride in the arena during the stick horse grand
entry. The event starts at 7:45 p.m., just prior to the rodeo and is
sponsored by 101 Country KPNC-FM and the Ponca City Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Another special event will be d rodeo barbecue dinner that Head Country
BBQ Restaurant, United Supermarkets and Farha Whole-sale, are sponsoring
at the Moose Lodge Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free
with a Thursday night advanced purchase rodeo ticket, but donations are
encouraged and will be accepted at the door with all proceeds going to
Domestic Violence.
There is a rodeo dance also, after the rodeo on Friday and Saturday, at
Cassies Country just north of Ponca City on Hubbard Road.
Additional activity will be provided, not only by the Ponca City Rodeo
Foundation, but through the effort of Dewey Kelly as he brings his trail
riders and wagon train through Ponca City on Tuesday. The wagon train is
expected in the south part of Ponca City near the Conoco green area
prior to heading into town and along Grand Avenue to Ash Street and
north to the rodeo grounds.
Ponca City Among Three-State Circuit
While some full-time rodeo cowboys bask in the glow of large arenas,
most members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association are circuit
cowboys.
For the circuit cowboy, rodeo is something that follows a 40-hour work
week. When the weekend hits, he loads up his horses or equipment and
heads down the road, usually no more than a few hundred miles, to a PRCA
rodeo.
That's not to say these competitors are any less serious about their
sport than their marquee counterparts. But their families or
professional obligations require them to stick close to home for most of
the year.
In 1975 the PRCA recognized the need for an award system for these
cowboys who might never qualify for the National Finals Rodeo.
To fill the void, the Association created the Circuit System, which is r
composed of 12 geographic regions encompassing as few as one state, such
as the Texas, Montana or Sierra circuits, to as many as 13 states, as in
the First Frontier Circuit (Virginia north through Maine.
Every PRCA cowboy in the United States chooses a home circuit at the
beginning of each year. If a cowboy fails to select a home circuit. the
PRCA automatically assigns him the circuit that corresponds to his home
address.
Circuit System cowboys compete for points throughout the year; those
points earned within their circuits count toward their place in the
circuit standings and their place in the world standings. However,
points accrued at rodeos outside their circuits count only toward world
standings, not circuit standings.
Each circuit's top cowboys in each event qualify for that circuit's
"Finals" rodeo at season's end. Following all 12 circuit finals rodeos,
the top regular season cowboys in each event and the winners of the
circuit finals rodeos qualify for one of the PRCA's most prestigious
events.
The Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR) is the crowning event of
the PRCA's Circuit System. National circuit champions are determined at
the event, which takes place each March in Pocatello. Idaho.
Locally, Ponca City is located in the Prairie Circuit, which includes
Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, under the guidance of Bronc Rum-ford,
Abbyville, Kan., who just happens to be a large part of the Rumford
Rodeo Company that will be the stock contractor and producer of the 101
Wild West Rodeo.
The 1996 Prairie Circuit Champions includes Shawn Johnson all-around
cowboy, and winner of the steer wrestling, title, as well. His hometown
is Checotah. Others are Matt Reed, saddle bronc riding, a 32-year-old
from El Dorado, Kan.: Eric Mouton, Weatherford bareback riding champion;
Mark Cain. bull riding champion from Atoka; Mike Johnson, calf roping
champion from Henryetta; team roping champion Shannon Frascht of
Burlington, Okla.; and steer roping champion Buster Record of Buffalo,
Okla.
38th 101 Wild West Rodeo Gets Under Way Tonight
The four-night 101 Wild West Rodeo begins tonight at the 101 Ranch Rodeo
arena where Ponca City Rodeo Foundation volunteers have put forth a
mighty effort once again for the 38th annual event.
New red and white paint adorns much of the arena, but most noticeable in
the "chute heaven" and stock area.
The old press box above the cowboys' dressing and preparation area has
been removed for extra "chute heaven" spots and fans will notice quickly
that the press box area is now located at the southwest corner of the
arena — and now there's an air conditioned office area for the
secretaries.
The grand entry for each night of the rodeo is set for 8 p.m., but there
will be a "stick horse grand entry" involving the first 101 youngsters
through the gates of the rodeo arena grounds. They will be given a
special "stick horse" for a 7:45 p.m. grand entry into the arena.
The Rumford Rodeo Company will be providing the stock and producing the
101 Wild West Rodeo once again, while Dr. Lynn Phillips, Enid, will be
the rodeo announcer. Specialty acts will include Ponca City businessman
Gary Parli, rodeo clown and barrel man.
Action began in slack and steer roping performances Tuesday afternoon
and night. It was a busy time for producer personnel, along with those
many volunteers of the Ponca City Rodeo Foundation.
Cowboys and cowgirls both put on quite a show during the slack, with
some of the cowgirls get-ting a "test run" of the barrels. Cowboys
participated in team roping, steer wrestling and calf roping slack, with
their times counting towards these next four nights. They'll be back to
perform for the second go in many of the occasions.
There was one event that was held and completed, that being the steer
roping. Steers are slightly bigger than the calves that calf ropers have
to rope. Cowboys must lasso the steer around the horns, turns it with
the slack rope bringing the steer to the ground. When the steer is lying
on its side, the roper dismounts, and runs to tie any three legs of the
steer.
Buster Record Jr. nabbed a total of $2,407.28 when he won the first
go-round in 12.1 worth $1,203.64 and then put a second go-round
(non-money winning effort) time of 13.1 to get the average in 25.2.
Rod Hartness was the second go-round winner in 10.9. Those second
go-round times all came in between 10.9 and 12.5, indicating the second
time through found cowboys knowing just how to turn the trick.
Some of the better steer wrestling times were in the 4.1 to 5.7 range.
Calf ropers had it a little longer on the arena floor with times
generally from 9.8 to 16.3.
The rodeo gets off to a bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback
riding and all the other action tonight.
Thursday night, a barbecue has been set at the Moose Lodge, with those
invited needing to have a Thursday night advanced ticket to the rodeo.
Head Country BBQ Restaurant, United Supermarket and Farha Wholesale
sponsor the event.
The 101 Wild West Rodeo parade is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, and will
head east along Grand Avenue from Oak Street to Sixth Street.
Exciting Rides Way To Open Annual 101 Wild West Rodeo
Just leave it up to the cowboys coming out of the chutes on
rough-stock to give rodeo fans at the 101 Wild West Rodeo some-thing to
yell about and applaud.
In the opening event of the rodeo Wednesday night, the bare-back ride by
Troy Thomson of Westlake, Texas, had the crowd looking for a real show.
Thomson was last out of the chutes in the event. A 75 had been posted by
Dusty McCollister of Acworth, Ga., and a 73 by Bubba Miller of
Woodville, Texas. What did Thomson do? He and Wily Cat of the Rumford
Rodeo Company stock put on a show that was worth an 83. What a way to
start a rodeo!
Although there were good times in the timed events, none could get into
the posted times of slack performances of Tuesday night.
Except for the girls barrel racers! No less than six matched or bettered
the 18.69 posted Tuesday night by Lori Sanders, and expectations are
that the present 18.37 by Tracy Hoffman of Collinsville may not hold up.
Hoffman got the 18.37 on the last "official" entry, although there were
three other young cuties trying their hand at getting that horse of
theirs around the barrels. It was a crowd pleaser-plus, and made for
some exciting times by those young, not past single digits, upcoming
barrel racers.
Hoffman's 18.37 also bested the next-to-last run in the 'official'
event, that of Penny Deboer, Andover, Kan., at 18.44. Earlier, Nancy
Powell of Kinta had posted 18.54.
Not surprisingly, bull riders gave the crowd quite a thrill and
something to beat in the next three nights of rodeoing. Francis Wilson
of Sidney, Neb., got a 79 to get into the top spot of the bull riders.
There was a 76 that he bested by Bobby Lee O'Donnell, Owasso and a pair
of 72s.
Saddle bronc riders had a tough go, with only two posting actual rides.
Butch Braden Jr. of Welch had a 70 and Jeff Roberts of El Dorado, Kan.,
had a 64. Those likely will go under in the next three nights.
Steer wrestlers finished off the first go-round Wednesday, and the
remainder of the three nights will include second go-round scores. Best
in the first go-round were 4.1s posted by Blake Bailey and G.V. Gulager,
each on Tuesday night, and worth $765.94 each. Third and fourth were
also split between Bill Mouser and Bran- don Turney, each with 4.3s, for
$328.26 each. Best on Wednesday night was a 5.0 by Guy Grimes of Copan
while Opie Lawson of Edmond turned his steer over in 5.8.
Joe Day of Howe, Texas and Boogie Ray of Rockwall, Texas, combined in
the team roping on Tuesday to post a 6.5 for the lead, while two
Oklahoma cowboys, Justin R. Johnson of Pawhuska and Shannon L. Frascht
of Burlington, combined for a 6.8.
Two South Dakota ropers, Jay Mattson of Deadwood and Joe B. f Martin of
Newell, had thrilled the early crowd with a 6.2, until it was determined
they only got one of the two hind legs, and were ready to settle for an
11.2. Then it was also determined they broke the barrier at the gate and
had to go with a 21.2.
Calf ropers were also unable to k beat a Tuesday slack time of 9.8 by
Ross W. Dotson of Pryor. Two were slightly more than a second slower,
when both Marty Jones of Hobbs, N.M., and Troy Amoss of Albia, Iowa,
each posted 11.2.
Rodeo fans can look forward to some similar thrills all three nights
that remain, with action starting with the grand entry at 8 p.m. in the
101 Ranch Rodeo arena. Prior to the main grand entry each night will be
a 'stick horse grand entry' for the first 101 youngsters arriving at the
rodeo grounds. That occurs at 7:45 p.m., and was an exciting event for
parents and grandparents, to say the least on Wednesday!
Tonight, fans with advanced Thursday night tickets have the opportunity
to eat barbecue at the Moose Lodge, just across the street to the east
of the rodeo grounds at Ash Street and Prospect Avenue. That begins at 6
p.m., and is sponsored by Head Country BBQ Restaurant, United
Supermarkets and Farha Whole-sale. Extra donations will go to Domestic
Violence.
Remember, on Saturday, at 10 a.m., there's the downtown 101 Wild West
Rodeo parade. It begins at Oak Street and West Grand Avenue and heads
east to Sixth Street along Grand Avenue.
Dry Arena Helps Scoring As Rodeo Enters Weekend
What a difference a dry day makes.
Opening night Wednesday at the 101 Wild West Rodeo on the 101 Ranch
Rodeo arena grounds produced some good times on a rather slow and heavy
footing.
Thursday it was entirely different. For the cowboys and cow- girls, and
the Rumford Rodeo Company stock, as well.
The rodeo continues at 8 p.m. tonight, with a final night on Saturday,
also at 8 p.m.
Prior to the Saturday performance the 101 Wild West Rodeo parade will be
held in downtown Ponca City starting at 10 a.m. from Oak Street at West
Grand Avenue, heading east and concluding at Sixth Street.
Also on tap Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the arena," will be the coronation
ceremonies of the 101 Wild West Rodeo queen. Six contestants are vying
for the honors, including Rebecca Cherry, Lacey Dale Cully, Carrie
Markley, Krystal Martin, Lindsey R. Shelton and Christy Dawn Simmons.
An added attraction tonight and Saturday will be the appearance of the
Red River Riders of Clarksville, Texas, a precision drill team on
horseback.
The ground conditions for the contestants and stock proved to be just
right on Thursday night. Cowgirls obviously enjoyed the quicker track,
as times in the girls barrel racing dipped below the 18-second barrier
on two occasions and created some shuffling in the standings.
Former National Finals Rodeo contestant Kim West of Oklahoma City proved
to be the quickest on a black and white horse that knew just the right
speed and turn ability from her reins, as she sped through the
clover-leaf barrels in 17.75. That was a good 62-hundredths of a second
better than Wednesday night's best.
Tracy Hoffman of Collinsville had posted an.lS.37 on Wednesday .-'to
take the lead after Penny Deboer of Andover, Kan., had put an 18.44 on
the books. Lori Sanders had an 18.69 during Tuesday night's slack.
But West showed the way with the 17.75 on Thursday, and that came after
a Liberal, Kan., cowgirl, Brandee Newman had posted a 17.98 to indicate
the faster track on the first ride of the night. Then, a 17.92 was
posted by Teal Rice of Lakin, Kan., but she had to take a 5-second
penalty when one of the barrels was tipped over during the ride.
Kiowa, Okla., calf roper Billy Hamilton didn't let that calf get very
far out of the chute in posting a 9.8 time. to tie him with the lead in
that event with Ross Dotson of Pryor, who had that time during Tuesday's
slack.
Gail L. Turner of Lawton also pulled into the quick times with a 10.5
for third spot at the present time, while Doug Hazelbaker of Redfield,
Kan., had an 11.1 which puts him at sixth.
The team roping saw some exciting situations, when Joe Day of Howe,
Texas and Boogie Ray of Rockwall, Texas, turned the trick at 7.4, to go
with an earlier 6.5 for the lead in 13.9. That may very well withstand
all other comers.
The crowd got a real enjoyment out of seeing Stockton Graves of Ponca
City get a 4.9 time in the steer wrestling, best during the regular
performance Thursday. Gary P. Dowling of Porum, Okla., had a 6.5 and
Terry Lawson of Cashion had a 7.6.
Slack after the Thursday run found Rex Meier get a 3.5, Glen dark with a
3.7, Sam Duvall at 4.1 and two at 4.2, including Jason Lahr and G.V.
Gulager, who is from Tahlequah. Gulager had posted a 4.1 earlier and now
leads the two go-rounds, at 8.3 ahead of Blake Bailey, 8.6; Rex Meier,
8.7 and Brandon Turney, 8.8.
Bareback riders were unable to top the 83 turned in Wednesday by Troy
Thomson of Westlake, Texas, but nonetheless, posted good scores. Tops on
Thursday was a 76 by Chuck Logue of Decatur, Texas.
A re-ride in the saddle bronc competition after all the performances
Thursday found Billy Dimmitt of Burwell, Neb., posting a 76. Dimmitt got
the re-ride as a result of his bucking horse rearing too far back and
falling. The ride ties him with Lance Gaillard, Texhoma, Okla., who
earlier had posted a 76. Todd L. Leftwich of Burden, Kan., had a 73 and
all three scores were better than Wednesday's 70 by Butch Braden Jr. of
Welch.
The bull riders also were unable to match the 79 posted Wednesday by
Francis Wilson, Sidney, Neb. Best of the night Thursday was a 76 by Don
Ray Howard of Pampa to go into a second-place tie with Bobby Lee
O'Donnell of Owasso.
Rodeo Performers Display Top Form
World barrel racing champion Kristie Peterson of Elbert, Colo.,
and her world champion horse Bozo showed off for Friday's 101 Wild West
Rodeo crowd.
And Ponca City's Jerome Schneeberger, who a week ago won $7,600 as the
champion at the Dodge City, Kan., rodeo and moved into the top 15 of the
calf roping, displayed the form that may very well take him to the
National Finals Rodeo.
Schneeberger, although his time was 15.9, took first in the Friday night
calf roping and was able to have the crowd cheer him in the winner's
ride. It wasn't an easy effort, as Schneeberger drew a calf that
literally wanted no part of the act and zoomed out of the chute prior to
Schneeberger's catch in the center of the arena. And, the contrary calf
also made it even tougher on the tie. But Schneeberger took care of
business to the delight of the crowd.
Meanwhile, with rodeo announcer Dr. Lynn Phillips of Enid, who also is a
world class announcer, encouraging the crowd to "cheer her on," Peterson
knocked more than a full second off Tuesday's best in barrel racing.
That was 18.69 by Lori Sanders.
Peterson also had just witnessed, as did the crowd, a second 17.75
turned in for top money in the barrel racing event when Sarah Zaieski of
Blanchard, Okla., was the second to ride in the event on Friday. That
tied a Thursday performance of Oklahoma City's Kim West, yet another
National Finals Rodeo performer, who had bumped Wednesday's best of
18.37 by Tracy Hoffman of Collinsville.
But when Peterson entered the arena riding Bozo, and they turned that
first barrel, almost everybody at the rodeo sensed that this was going
to be a new leader. She slipped around the right-turn bar-rel on the
east, flew to the west where the natural left-hand turn by Bozo sent her
streaking to the far end of the arena and then to the finish in 17.44.
That's .31 of a second faster than Zaieski and West.
But the crowd had some more to cheer about, when Lynda Gordon ofGuthrie
dipped under those two scores also, with 17.67 as did Trula Truitt of
Mounds, Okla., with a 17.64. Going into the Saturday finals Peterson was
in first, fol-lowed by Gordon and Truitt.
Girls' barrel racing didn't steal all of the thunder on a clear,
star-filled Friday night at the rodeo. Justin Howard of Hennessey really
showed off in the saddle bronc event with an 81. That pushed him well up
over a 76 scored by Billy Dimmitt of Burwell, Neb. and Lance Gaillard of
Texhoma, that were scored on Thursday night.
But the crowd had hardly got settled from the grand entry and opening
ceremonies when the bareback event came up with what the rodeo was going
to be like on Friday night.
In the bareback, the first out of the chute on Red River Skoal was
Kent-T. Crouch of Leoti, Kan., and he popped; all eyes wide open with a
ride of 84. That put him just a notch above the 83 by Troy Thomson of
Westlake, Texas, on Wednesday. Then, Payne L Dobler of Andover, Kan.,
rode for a 78 to leap into third place.
In the calf roping, Schneeberger had to go under 16 in order to win
Friday, and he did. Prior to his effort, De Lynn Jones of Hobbs, N.M..,
had a 16.2 and two others would have been in the top money, had it
not been for getting caught trying to leave a little early from their
posts. Both had to take a 10-second penalty on times of 13.6 and 14.7.
Best in the calf roping are a pair of 9.8s. Ross Dotson did it early on
Tuesday, while Billy Hamilton did it Thursday. Next down the list are
Gail Turner at 10.5. Marty Miller at 10.6 and Tony Reina at 10.9.
Wednesday night's leader in the bull riding, Francis Wilson of Sidney,
Neb., remained on top with his 79. The Rumford Rodeo Company stock
proved worthy in this event, as it has in all of them, when no less than
six of the 10 bull riders making it to the rodeo on Thursday being
dumped, most of whom were done so not so ceremoniously.
Best ride Friday was a 73 by Jared Kelber of Des Moines, Iowa. Don Ray
Howard of Pampa, Texas, and Bobby Lee O'Donnell of Owasso each got a 76
earlier in the rodeo for present second place money, followed by a 74
from Danell Earl Tipton. Kelber's 73 ties him with Thad Bothwell for
fifth. Whether any of that stands, was to be decided later Saturday
night.
From 31 teams in the team roping contest. 6.3 leads the second go and
none could match that Friday night. Best were Hunter Herrin and Steve
Orth with a 6.5, but they had to take a 5-second penalty when the heeler
caught just one hind leg of the steer. That gave them an 11.5. Jim D.
Davis, formerly of Ponca City, and now of Abilene, Texas, and team
roping companion J. Paul Williams of Ponca City. had a 13.1.
Joe B. Day and Ray Boogie continue to lead the two-go scores with a
13.9, followed by Tom Self and John P. Coughran. at 20.8.
The popular steer wrestling event entered the third night of competition
with Teddy Johnson of Checotah posting the best of the night at 5.7.
Since there was no special event held Monday, contestants lined up for
four go-rounds in the event and were to conclude that with slack after
Saturday night's regular rodeo performance.
Jack Bradshaw has the best aver-age on three steers so far, at 25.6
followed by Guy Grimes at 26.1.
During Friday's slack, there were some tremendous times, with three,
including Brandon Turney. Tom W. White and Bill Mouser, each getting a
3.3. They split third go-round championship money amounting to $656.52
each, with fourth going to Stewart Gulager in 3.8 worth $218.84.
Honorary Grand Marshal Misses Parade
The 101 Wild West Rodeo parade had to contend with a couple of trains
and some slight gaps Saturday morning, but all-in-all, it was a rather
nice, slow-moving parade.
There was one sad note however.
Parade marshal Floyd Rumford, named as such a few weeks ago by the Ponca
City Rodeo Association, was unable to make the trip from his home to
enjoy the honor.
Floyd suffered a stroke in early April; and along with other
complications, his recovery has been steady but somewhat slow. "We had
hoped he would be able to be here Friday and Saturday, but he had to
take it easy Thursday after some therapy on Wednesday," said son Bronc
Rumford.
Bronc Rumford took Floyd's place in the parade marshal seat, but few
people realized the situation involving the popular Floyd and Lola
Rumford family as they pre-pared for this year's season. The two
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 23. just slightly
more than a week prior to Floyd having his stroke.
Bronc has taken over the main strain of rodeo producing, and still gets
time to compete in some of the events on occasion. He and his wife Kate
whom he married about three years ago, have been instrumental in keeping
the Rumford Rodeo Company going.
They've had help, and there's no reason for the Rumford Rodeo Company
not to continue producing stock for rodeos, and getting some into the
National Finals Rodeo just like years before.
But Saturday's parade could have been too much for Floyd
to handle at the present time, with not much of a breeze and
temperatures already heading upward from a morning low of high 70 readings.
There was a nice crowd lining the streets. The City of Ponca City was
represented officially by Mayor Marilyn Andrews in the first vehicle in
the parade, right behind the color guard and Parade Marshal Bronc
Rumford.
That's not saying that the rest of the parade didn't have any Ponca City
attractions, for there were many and the parade was a good one that
included Po-Hi Steppers, some Kay County officials, Ponca City. Noon
Lions, O'Reilly Auto Parts, (with several vehicles), Asbury Methodist
Church Youth, Cub Scouts, Country General, Rock N Country Dance Club,
Oklahoma Ranch Supply, and Marland Round Up and Braman Saddle Club, plus
Ponca City Rodeo Association and Rumford Rodeo Company riders.
There were the Red River Riders from Clarksville, Texas, precision drill
team on horseback.
Fire stations providing units included Tonkawa, Marland and Osage Cove
(with three units).
The Akdar Shriners from Tulsa provided a good share of the parade,
including little cars, three-wheeler drill teams, motorcycle drill unit,
and several other vehicles.
101 Rodeo Crowd Sees Hot Times, Top Scores
Obviously the biggest crowd of the 1997 edition of the 101 Wild West
Rodeo watched the curtain drop on the final performance Saturday night
at the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena, but not before some really exciting
efforts.
One in particular, came in the girls' barrel racing, when an Emporia,
Kan., gal and her horse bumped world barrel racing champion Kristie
Peterson of Elbert, Colo.. from her top spot to claim the 101 Wild West
Rodeo championship.
Peterson had clipped more than .3 of a second from previous scores
turned in the first three performances with a sizzling 17.44 on Friday
night, but Saturday it was Karin M. Henry of Emporia, turning the trick
in 17.43. That's top money folks, by a scant .01 of a second. And it was
worth $1,115.49 compared to Peterson's second place, $998.07, out of the
$5,871 paid off from the Rumford Rodeo Company in producing the rodeo.
Total money paid out by the end of Saturday's performance by rodeo
officials came to $64,278.45.
Other Saturday performers got into the top 10 of the barrels, with Terry
Hughes of Barnsdall claiming third with 17.58 for $880.65 and Susan
Clapp, also of Barnsdall, eighth in 17.87 for $293.55. By the time the
curtain dropped, the first nine in barrels had eclipsed the 18-second
barrier, while Mary Burger of Elmore City, Okla., had an 18.02 on
Saturday for 10th and $58.71.
The remainder of the barrel racers in the money, included Trula Truitt,
Mounds, fourth, 17.64 for $763.23: Lynda Gordon, Guthrie. fifth, 17.66
for $645.81; Kim West of Oklahoma City, and Sara Zaieski of Blanchard,
sharing sixth and seventh, for $469.68 on times of 17.75 and Brandee
Newman of Liberal, Kan., with a 17.98 for ninth. $176.13.
The calf roping title also was won on Saturday night, when Kacee
Williams of Warner. Okla., claimed a time of 9.6 for $1,798.54. The
two-tenths of a second quicker time kept him from sharing , first place
money with two others at 9.8, Ross Dot-: son, Pryor and Billy Hamilton,
Kiowa. They got $1,446.65 apiece.
Other payoffs in calf roping went to Gail Turner, Lawton, fourth in 10.5
for $1,094.76; Marty Miller, , fifth in 10.6, $860.17; Tony Reina,
sixth, 10.9 for i $625,58; Doug Hazelbaker, Redford, Kan., seventh in
11.1 for $390.98 and split for eighth money, Marty Jones of Hobbs, N.M.,
and Troy Amos, Albia, Iowa, in 11.2 for $78.19 each.
Winner of the fourth go-round in steer wrestling, decided all on
Saturday, went to Marty Musil of Crescent, in 3.4, worth $875.36. Three
others split ; second, third and fourth, for $437.68 each. They were
Stewart Gulager, Tahlequah; Jeff Babek, Granite, and Doug Janke, with
times of 3.8.
Best of the four go-rounds was Rex Meier, with ; 17.5 (that's less than
five seconds average on each steer) for $1,750.72. In the closely
contested four go-rounds, Bill Mouser of Wyandotte followed in 17.8 for
$1,313.04; Brandon Turney of Checotah was next in 17.9 for $875.36 and
Blake Bailey was fourth, 18.4, for $437.68.
Saturday's best in bareback riding were a pair of 77s, and that put them
in a tie for fourth, each worth $413.44. They were Justin Lindquist of
Brookville, Kan., and D.J. Johnson, of Hutchinson. Remaining on top with
his Friday effort was , Kent Crouch, Leoti, Kan., with an 84, worth ,
$1,436.16. Second came Troy Thomson, Westlake, Texas, with an 83 for
$1,088. Third was Payne Dobler of Andover, Kan., with a 78 for $783.36
while sixth went to Chuck Logue, Decatur. Texas, on a 76 for $217.60.
Best team ropers on Saturday were Foreman Mader of Tulsa and Jeff L.
Carney of Sperry, who got the two-rope job done in 6.4. That was worth
$370.37 each for second money in the second go-round finish. Jerry
Buckles of Kearney, Neb. and Kurt Hall of Hugoton, Kan., had earlier in
the week got a 6.3 in the second go-round for first place money of
$493.83 each. Joe B. Day of Howe. Texas, and partner Boogie Ray of
Rockwell, Texas, had a 7.4 in the second for $246.91 each and they
claimed the overall title on two go-rounds, in 13.9 after a first
go-round victory of 6.5. The two go-round win was also worth $493.83
each.
Fourth in the second go-round was the South Dakota team of Jay Mattson,
Deadwood and Joe B. Marti. Newell, in 10.7 for $123.45 each.
Second to Day and Ray in the two go-rounds were Tom Self, Carrollton,
Texas, and John P. Coughran. Edmond, with a 20.8 for $370.37 each;
followed in third by Richard Lehew, Oakwood. Okla., and Rich Oiler,
Enid, 23.4 for $246.91 each and Jim D. Davis, Abilene. Texas, and J.
Paul Williams, Ponca City, in 26.3 for $123.45 apiece.
Tops in the saddle bronc efforts Saturday night went to an 80 turned in
by Clay Wilson, Afton, Okla., for second money at $966.75 and Todd
Hipsag of Brookings, S.D., with a 73 to tie Todd Leftwich of Burden,
Kan., for fifth to split $464.04 ($232.02 each).
Justin Howard of Hennessey had an 81 score on Friday and was able to
claim first place money in saddle bronc riding, worth $1,276.11. Two
other riders, both on Thursday, claimed $580.05 each with 76 scores.
They were Lance Gaillard, Texhoma, Okla., and Billy Dimmitt, Burwell,
Neb.
In the bull riding scramble, rides of 77 by Chris Littlejohn, Sapulpa;
76 by Lee Akin, Weatherford, and 75 by Josh Pierce, Terrell, Texas, on
Saturday moved them into the money. Littlejohn was second for $1,393.61;
Akin had one of three 76s in third place for $706.90 and Pierce was
sixth for $302.96.
Tops in the bull riding came on a 79 Wednesday night by Francis Wilson
of Sidney, Neb., eventually worth $1,817.76. The other two third places
went to Bobby Lee O'Donnell of Owasso and Don Ray Howard of Pampa.
Texas. In with a 74 for seventh was Danell Earl Tipton of Spencer,
Okla., worth $242.36 and getting a pair of 73s to tie for eighth were
Thad Bothwell, Fort Pierce, S.D., and Jared Kelber, Des Moines. Iowa.
each getting $90.88.
Crowd pleasing efforts every night in the girls barrel racing were a
couple of very young riders, Kate Beaty, 4-year-old daughter of Brad and
Tina Beaty, and Shelby Carpenter, 3-year-old daughter of Sonny and Robin
Carpenter. Saturday night was their closest finishes in 38.48 and
37.51 respectively. The two head to other rodeos in the area, according
to announcer Dr. Lynn Phillips of Enid, who continued his chatter
throughout the rodeo with information and keeping the crowd awaiting the
next event.
Also having a big hand in making the rodeo seem to go faster each night,
were Gary Parli, barrel man and clown; Mike Johnson and Kevin Rich, both
bull fighters and clowns.
The Red River Riders of Clarksville, Texas, also per- formed the last
two nights of the rodeo, and the crowd was treated each night to two
mini-chuckwagon races.
Special Friends of the Rodeo awards were made to Rodeo enthusiasts
Darrel Dye and Danny Head, along with special awards to two Ponca City
Rodeo Foundation officials. President Brad Beaty and Arena Director Rick
Barnthouse. It was Beaty and Barnthouse who spearheaded the grooming of
the arena and making some interesting and very worthy changes that
included a new press box, and additional space for chute heavens.
Johnny Heinze, with a fine reading. and the Saturday crowd paid tribute
to the late Buck LeGrand, former Ponca Citian and National Finals Rodeo
clown, who died within the past year.
The Saturday crowd also saw the coronation ceremonies that named Lacey
Dale Cully of Shidler as the 101 Wild West Rodeo queen, to reign until
the 39th rodeo next August. |
ANNOUNCER: Lynn Phillips
