101 Wild West Rodeo Officials Name Po-Hi Band Grand Marshal Of 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 parade chair Debbie Blenden.

The most recent announcement is that Grand Marshal of the 2001 101 Wild West Rodeo Parade will be "the Big Blue 'Band." Blenden confirmed that the Ponca City High School Marching Band will the Grand Marshal of the parade.

Led by band director Mark Casperson, "the Big Blue Band" represented the State of Oklahoma at the inauguration parade in Washington, D.C. for President George W. Bush's inauguration in January.

Blenden said parade participants need to be ready for the lineup at 9:30 a.m. and any questions should be directed to her at 580-362-1075 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 Blenden.

Classic car entries will be meeting on North Peachtree Street and North Birch Street, but are reminded to "please don't block driveways," Blenden said.

Political participants should gather on the side streets of North and South Lake Street.

The 42nd annual 101 Wild West Rodeo is Wednesday through Saturday, Aug. 15-18, at 8 p.m. each night.

Tickets are available at local banks, grocery stores, Corral West and McVay's, according to Blenden. Advance tickets Wednesday and Thursday are $6 each and $8 at the gate. Friday and Saturday advance tickets are $7 and they will be $9 at the gate. Children under 12 years of age can get in free on Wednesday and Thursday, and $3 on Friday and Saturday.

There will be rodeo slack on Tuesday starting at 4 p.m., including two rounds of steer roping, and other slack in team roping and calf roping events, plus steer wrestling.

Sabrina Walton Reigning As 101 Wild West Queen
Sabrina Walton is a 22-year-old college student from Enid, and is the reigning Miss 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen.

Walton's parents are Maple and Brenda Phares and Evert and Gayla Walton. She recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Oklahoma College and is transferring to Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she will finish her bachelor's degree in athletic training and a minor in allied health.

One of Walton's future plans in the sport of rodeo, is to be involved with the Justin Sports Medicine Program.

Walton started riding horses competitively at the age of 14. Since then she has competed in many rodeos, horse shows, roundup club events, and queen competitions. She is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Enid Cherokee Strip Riding Club.

It is her dream to represent the great sport of rodeo at its highest level — Miss Rodeo America.
"Rodeo has given me so many wonderful opportunities and I want to give back what it has given to me!"

Passing the opportunities of rodeo on to the next generation of competitors and fans is what is most important to her.

She leads a very active life outside' of the rodeo arena. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a Dean's Scholar, and attends Emanuel Baptist Church.

"I would like to thank Ponca City for supporting me this year as I attended Miss Rodeo Oklahoma. I had a wonderful time representing the 101 Wild West Rodeo and the 101 Ranch. It has been a great honor to be a part of the history and tradition of the 101 Ranch and Rodeo," Walton said.

101 Wild West Rodeo For Four Big Nights

The 101 Wild West Rodeo will be making it's fifth four-night run in Ponca City, after many years of three-night performances as the 101 Ranch Rodeo.
Dates for the 101 Wild West Rodeo this year will be Aug. 15-18, with performances nightly at 8 p.m.

There will however, be two go-rounds of steer roping on Tuesday, Aug. 14, starting at 4 p.m., followed immediately by other rodeo slack, including calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling.

All of it will take place at the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena, located along West Prospect Avenue, just west of North Ash Street, in Ponca City.
Rodeo officials have secured the efforts of two well-known bullfighters, Kevin Rich and Donald Shepard, and in the announcer's booth will be the familiar voice of Dr. Lynn Phillips, of Enid. Keith Isley will be bringing a specialty act as the barrelman.

Rafter H Rodeo Company will again be the stock contractor.

101 Ranch Goes Back Long Time
The history of the 101 Wild West Rodeo goes back a long time. It got a foundation when Col. George W. Miller was aiding the Texas cattle drives as they made their way north towards the 101 Ranch which Miller was just establishing in the early 1870s.

From that cattle domain, which Col. Miller then established to the largest diversified farm and ranch in the world, is the story of the growth and development of the 101 Ranch of Oklahoma, located on the paved highway, nine miles southwest of Ponca City.

That was the time when buffalo roamed at will over the broad and rolling prairies. It felt the brunt of civilization, as the buffalo began to vanish, and the cattlemen took over prior to civilization bringing the settler and the farmer.

The Miller Brothers followed all of the changes, although the ownership of the 101 Ranch remained the same.

It was during the time when cattle were being brought northward from Texas along the Chisholm trail and pastured in the old Cherokee Strip. With the opening of the Cherokee Strip to settlement in 1893, it became necessary for Colonel Miller to establish permanent headquarters for his ranch, and this was done immediately by leasing tracts of land that belonged to the Ponca and Otoe Indians and that were adjacent to the Salt Fork River, thus providing water facilities for his herds.

Ranch Was 110,000 Acres
From the beginning, the 101 Ranch grew, and included at its height, 110,000 acres. Three sons of Col. Miller, Joseph C., Zack T., and George L., improved the immense ranch.

In addition to their herds the Miller Brothers maintained all sorts of animals at the ranch, including buffalo, elephant, camels, ostriches and elk, together with cages of monkeys, coyotes and other animals, including several bear. They introduced the 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show on the road, and it went world wide.

While this year's 101 Wild West Rodeo is the 42nd annual, the Miller Brothers began the rodeo several years before the 1960s, and had quite a time with the production. The annual event grew in reputation surpassing those held in Cheyenne, Pendleton and other points in the far west.

Rodeo Fans In For A Treat As Annual Event Begins

Local rodeo fans are in for a treat late this afternoon or early this evening if that man — Guy Allen — shows up for the steer roping that will begin at 4 p.m. in the 101 Wild West Rodeo Arena.

Allen, Lovington, N.M., who won the steer roping here a year ago, went on to claim his 15th steer roping world championship — his 10th strait — even before he rode into the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, home of the 2000 National Finals Steer Roping last October.

All Allen did last year in the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena was claim the first go-round at 9.0 and then post an even better, 8.9 to keep Trevor Brazile of Childress, Texas, from using his best scores of 9.4 and 9.2 to win the average. Allen’s 9.0 and 8.9 were a 17.9 and that got him the win on the Rafter H Rodeo Stock steers. While the 8.9 was better than his first go, Allen had to have it to win the average. And, it was .4 behind the best in the second go, that by Marty Jones, who had a 10.4 in the first go.

There will be two rounds of the steer roping starting at 4 p.m. at the 101 Ranch Arena on West Prospect, just off North Ash Street. That will be followed by slack, including some calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling.

First official night of the four-night rodeo performances will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday, with 8 p.m. performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Prices for Wednesday and Thursday are slightly lower than the final two nights.

Those will be the nights of appearances from barrel man Keith Isley, Contract Act of the Year for 1999 and 2000, with a specialty act.

Also on the program will be bullfighters Kevin Rich and Donald Shepherd. Fans will be listening once again to Dr. Lynn Phillips of Enid, as the official announcer for the rodeo on the four night performances.

Rodeo Slack Time Events Provide Lots Of Excitement

The extra night of rodeo called slack provided local fans with some real treats by area cowboys. Some of it early, shortly after the 4 p.m. start and some of it later, as the program wound down to a finish shortly before 11 p.m.

Action at the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena for the 101 Wild West Rodeo actually begins a four-night performance tonight at 8 p.m. and runs through Saturday. Special lower prices are available Wednesday and Thursday nights.

There were two go-rounds of steer roping with 46 total contestants, and J. Paul Williams of Ponca City provided the early thrills for area fans that were in attendance. Williams finished the first go-round as the winner with a 9,6 for $998.61. He missed out on collections in the' second go, with a no time.

It was a reversal for Kelly Casebolt of Newkirk however, as he failed in the first go, but made up for it in the second with a 9.8 to nab $826.44 for second place in that go.

Don Eddleman of Santa Anna, Texas had the best time of the night at 9,2 during the second go for first, but he also could not figure in the average and settled for $998.61 for first in the second go.

Best money-nabber for the night was Vin Fisher of Andrews, Texas, who had an 11.1 in the first go for $309.91 and a three-way tie for fifth in the second go with his 10.7 earning $160.69 and the two together got him the average, at 21.8 for $998.61 more. Not bad for chasIng a steer for less than 15 seconds each ride.

Steer roping champion Guy Allen, who has won it nationally 15 times and 10 times straight, didn't disappoint those in attendance, with a 10.2 in the second go for splitting third and fourth money, $568.17. Allen however had tough luck and was not able to catch up with a speedster in the first go for a good toss.

There were 62 steer wrestlers following and 48 calf ropers in a first go-round of slack. All of the cowboys in those two events will be part ofthe fournight performances beginning tonight, as they try to do better in their second go-round.

Area calf ropers for the fans provided best efforts, and Stockton Graves, formerly of Ponca City and now calling Alva home, had a lock on first place for quite a time with a 10.5. He gave way to a tie when De Lee Peterson of Bartlesville also had a 10.5, but Jerome Schneeberger of Ponca City dropped both of them a notch, when he tied his calf in 10.3. That wasn't quite good enough for the lead however as Kevin Loyd of Haysville, Kan., finished things off for the night with a 9.7, and $881.40. Schneeberger got $729.43 and Graves and Peterson each got $501.48.

Tops in the steer wrestling was a familiar name, Tom Duvall of Hitichita, Okla., with a 3.7 to tie an earlier effort by Trent English, Lindsay. They got $1,011.05 each. There were a pair of 3.8s and a pair of 3.9s in steer wrestling as the quickest event of rode.o proved just that.

Besides the calf roping and stee.r wrestling tonight, there will be bull riding, saddle riding, bareback bronc riding, team roping, ana girl barrel racing.

Local Cowboy Takes Lead In 101 Rodeo Calf Roping

Home town influence hit the 101 Wild West Rodeo arena Wednesday night as Jerome Schneeberger displayed National Finals Rodeo talent in the calf roping event. Schneeberger had taken a slight back seat on slack Tuesday night, but he certainly didn't do that Wednesday.

Utilizing a 10.3 on the Tuesday slack program, Schneeberger cut almost a full second off that time, and got a 9.4 that put him well in front for the average at 19.7 on two.

Bull riders found the going mighty tough here on the Rafter H Rodeo Stock as none was able to complete an official ndeffitfie 101 Wil<fWest R6<reo opening night Wednesday.

But it was thrilling time after thrilling time, and good scores on other rough riding stock, as cowboys and cowgirls were able to overcome what they had seen in the opening event.

Take for instance, Tommy Duvall of Hitchita, Okla., who set a new arena record in the steer wrestling average with his second try Wednesday night.

It was early in the program, just after bull riders had failed to get an official score, when steer wrestling began. Justin Smith had become the first of three to get a good enough hold to throw his steer, in 4.3. That was good, but Duvall did it a half-second faster, in 3.8 to go with his slack performance of 3.7 and that's 7.5 (a new arena record on two).

Several others were to find the steer horns to their liking, but most were too quick out of the box, and it cost them. Donnie Hough of Pryor had a 4.0 and Casey Burdick of Mulvane, Kan., a 4.5 that went with a 4.2 for a total of8.7 on two.

But others got flagged down for "speeding," according to announcers Dr. Lynn Phillips and Curt Robinson and were assessed 10-second penalties. Josh McIntire of Jones, Okla., had a 3.6 that went to 13.6; Garrett Nokes of McCook, Neb., a 3.9 that went to 13.9 and Mike Bush, of Stigler 4.0 that went to 14.0.

And the excitement continued in the next event, when bareback riders were able to ride their mounts for the eight-second count, for the most part. Chad Klein of Clinton, La., had an 83 on Good Buddy, and that put him in first place ahead of Darren 'Clarke, Denton, Texas, with a 79 on Brown Sugar. Chuck Logue, New Braunfels, Texas, had a 76, for third.

Besides Schneeberger doing his best to claim the calf roping title, which will be decided after the others have their second go tonight, Friday and Saturday, Herbert Theoroit of Poplarville, Miss., had a 9.8. He had a no time on the first calf Tuesday.

Bill Huber of Albia, Iowa, had an 11':3 and Gail Turner of Elgin, Okla., a 14.1.

Rodeo fans got some addition. al thrills in the saddle bronc rid" ing when Bobby Griswold, Geary, Okla., had an 80 and Cory F. Hughes of Preston, Kan., had a 76. Jet McCoy of Weatherford put a 73 on the scoreboard and Jon Clark of Preston had a 72.

Team ropers Dwayne Clay of Sapulpa and C.R. Bradley of Stillwater showed how to do it right in the time of 6.7 while Kirby Smith of Hays, Kan.,. and Luke Myles of Wichita, got a 7.4.

The best from local team roping contestants, which included some cowgirls, who were within a 45-5,0 mile radius of Ponca City, looking for a spot in  Saturday's finals was a 13.8 by Rick Campbell and Dick Campbell of Blackwell.

However, Tina Beaty of Ponca City and Jeff Cline of Newkirk did it in 14.3 and Cherisa Osborn and Gary Osborn Sr., of Ponca City, got the job done in 10.1, but had to take a five-second penalty on only one heel to make it 15.1. That may still get into the finals, where the top eight times will compete on Saturday.

Girl barrel racers thrilled the crowd also, when two made the trip around the three barrels in less than 17 seconds on the wellgroomed 101 Wild West Ranch Rodeo Arena ground. Missi Henderson of Winfield, Kan., did it at 16.4 and Charlottia Fanning of Guthrie was one-hundredth of a second slower at 16.95.
Kim Squires of Carnegie had a 17.09 and Crystal Shumate of Willston, Fla., stands fourth at 17.24.

Bull riders finished up the night in a second section, with eight attempts, and none able to stay aboard their bulls for the eight-second count.

The rodeo continues tonight at 8 p.m., as well as two more nights, Friday and Saturday, both at 8 p.m.

Area Contestants Continue To Post Low Scores

Area challenges were met at the 101 Wild West Rodeo here Thursday night in the second of a four-night performance on four-night performance on Rafter H Rodeo stock.

The third night of the rodeo will be at 8 p.m. tonight, as things begin to wind down. However, there's a big day ahead for rodeo fans when the 101 Wild West Rodeo parade unfolds Saturday at 10 a.m. heading east on Grand Avenue from Oak Street.

Then too, there are pretty girls vying for the 2001 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen arid that comes to an end at the rodeo on Saturday; According to Linda Mauk of the Ponca City Rodeo Foundation, the coronation will be after the first event, which is bull riding at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Vying for the 2001 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen are Shannon Nichole Dowdle, Falisha Moser, Megan O'Neill, Stacie Schneeberger and Crystal Sloan. It will be the final night of the reigning 2000 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen Sabrina  Walton.

During the rodeo performances Thursday night, an attempt at spoiling Ponca City's Jerome Schneeberger's calf roping claim of the lead on two go-rounds, Stockton Graves, a Po-Hi football and wrestling star of a few years back, got caught speeding from the starting gate.

As a result, Graves, who had a 10.5 in slack on Tuesday night behind Schneeberger's 10.3, found his 9.8 on Thursday night went to a 10-second penalty, and 19.8 and what would have ,been a 20.3 ballooned to 30.3 and may be out of the money.

Schneeberger remained in first place in the calf roping, with his 10.3 and 9.4 for 19.7. Schneeberger's 9.4 did go under on Thursday night however, as Ty Massey of Lookeba, Okla., had a 9.0, best so far in the second go-round.

After Wednesday's failure of bull riders to stay on the bulls of the Rafter H Rodeo Company, there were three successful riders Thursday.

Top score went to Don Terry West of Henryetta with an 80 ride in the first section shortly after the Grand Entry. Rodeo fans had to wait however until the final event of the night, the second section of bull riding, to see second place. That went to Clint Craig of Mena, Ark., who got a 78 on Big John.

Lonnie Carpenter of Colwich, Kan., was actually the first to score on the evening, as he rode the second bull out of the chutes in the first section and got a 68.

Local team roping provided some really good times as they worked their way for a finals position on Saturday. Some eight to 10 teams each night, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, are seeking eight final spots in the rodeo on Saturday.

Best on Wednesday was a 13.8 1 by Rick Campbell and Dick Campbell of Blackwell. But three teams on Thursday really showed rodeo fans how well they could do, by breaking the 10-second barrier. John Oxford and Doyle Wedd of Ponca City had an 8.2, while Richard" Morgan of Tonkawa and Woody Morgan of Ponca City showed off with a 9.0 and then Clark Jones of Ponca City and Keith Lane of Kildare had a 9.3.

Girl barrel racers who wowed the crowd with two rides under 17 seconds on Wednesday, saw that happen twice again on Thursday, with a new leader. Tamara Reinhardt of Lakin did it in 16.85, which was a tad better than the two scores of Wednesday — Missi Henderson of Winfield at 16.94 and Charlottia Fanning" of Guthrie at 16.95.

Janae Ward of Addington, Okla., had a 16.88 but tipped one of the barrels over, thus taking a five second addition for 21.88 on Thursday.

In the professional team roping, rodeo fans got a thrill from several who went under seven seconds. Two teams however, had additional 10 seconds tacked on when the header left the starting gate too soon. They were Shane Goad, Briscoe, Texas and teammate Travis Goad, Reydon, Okla., who had a 6.0 balloon to a 16.0 and Patrick Rawls, Earlsboro, Okla. and teammate Micah Lynch of Meeker, who saw their 6.3 go to 16.3.

However, Shannon W. Lee of Gotebo and Darrel L. Radacy of Lookeba grabbed the lead in the team roping with a 6.6. That was a tick-of-a-second better than 6.7 turned in by Dwayne Clay, Sapulpa and C.R. Bradley, Stillwater, on Wednesday.

Saddle bronc riders made their play for top money Thursday when Clay Wilson of Stillwater rode Lost Trails to an 81 for the lead and Craig W. Latham of Goodwell had an 80 on Spring Fling to tie for second with Wednesday's leader Bobby Griswold of Geary, Okla.

Challengers were unable to wrest the lead during steer wrestling and bareback riding on Thursday. John Kloeckler of Checotah did move into the second spot on two of the steer wrestling event when he put a 4.0 hold on his steer and that went with 4.2 for combined 8.2. That's still behind the leader, TommyDuvall of Hitchita, Okla., who had a 3.7 in slack and a 3.8 Wednesday for a 7.5 on two.

Thursday's bareback best went to Payne L. Dobler of Andover, Kan., who had an 80 on Silver City. Chad Klein of Clinton, La., had an 83 Wednesday on Good Buddy and third presently is Darren Clarke. of Denton, Texas, a 79 on Brown Sugar. Thursday fans got a treat from D.V. Fennell of Stroud who got a 78 on Maggie Mae, and that stands fourth presently.

Locals Cheer For Queens, Ropers At Rodeo Saturday

The 42nd annual 101 Wild West Rodeo drew to a close Saturday night with rodeo fans getting to whoop and holler for their favorite queen contestant and local team ropers as those contests came to a close as well.

There were five queen contestants for the 2001 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen. They included, Crystal Sloan, Stacie Schneeberger, Megan O'Neill, Falisha Moser and Shannon Nichole Dowdle. Relinquishing her crown 'was the 2000 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen, Sabrina Walton.

Eight teams from the area vied for honors in the. local team roping contest. They were decided through three nights of action on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Posting the best times were three on Thursday night, led by the 8.2 of John Oxford and Doyle Wedd, both of Ponca City. Then came a 9.0 by Richard Morgan, Tonkawa and Woody Morgan, Ponca City followed by a 9.3 by Ponca City's, Clark Jones and Keith Lane, Kildare.

One team made it to the finals for Saturday in the Friday roping, that being Ted McKee and Red Nichols of Ponca City, with a 10.4.

There were a number of other worthy efforts on Friday night as the rodeo got closer to the final night. In the girls barrel racing, Delores Toole of Manter, Kan;, really made it hard for others when she zipped around the three barrels in 16.70. That was a clear lead over what had been posted in the previous tow nights, but Teal Rice of Lakin, Kan., almost duplicated it with a 16.77. Those two stand one-two at the present time.

The girls were getting better however as the rodeo went on from opening night. Top two on opening night were Missi Henderson of Winfield, Kan., with a 16.94 and Charlottia Fanning, Guthrie, with a 16.95. Then on Thursday, Tamara Reinhardt, of Lakin, got a 16.85 and had the lead for one night.

Bull riders again had it tough on the Rafter H Rodeo Company stock, with only one rider making it to the eight-second whistle. That was Dustin Hamlin, Golden, Okla., with a 68 on MoJo. But Don Terry West of Henryetta had posted an 80 the night before and presently stands on top with Clint Craig of Mena, Ark., using a 78 on Big John for second.

In the professional team roping, Marshall M. Samples of Abilene, Kan., and Jerry Linaweaver Jr. of Lansing, Kan;., had a 6.7 on Friday. They posted a "no time" on Thursday. Shane Goad of Briscoe, Texas and  Travis Goad, of Reydon, Okla., had a 7.2 Friday. They broke the barrier Thursday night.

Mike Outhier of Utopia, Texas had a 74 on Black Jack in the saddle bronc riding but that trails the 81 posted by Clay Wilson of Stillwater on Thursday. Two others are at 80.

Cory Munlin of Pasadena, Texas, on Stormin Norman got an 81 in the bareback bronc riding, but that's behind the 83 posted by Chad Klein of Clinton, La., on Wednesday.

Jerome Schneeberger of Ponca City stayed in front, barely, in the calf roping with his 19.7 on two. Really putting that to a challenge was Kevin Loyd of Haysville, who had a 9.7 the night of slack and then had a 10.4 the second night and that made his two at 20.1. That's close.

Bart Bailey of Okmulgee, Okla., got a 5.1 to go with a 3.8 in slack that pushed his two to 8.9, presently in fourth place. Tommy Duvall of Hitchita, Okla., leads with a 7.5 on a 3.7 and 3.8. That's quick.

It'll be. a busy night for the Rafter II Rodeo crew, as' they load up and head to another rodeo. Shelley Hall, secretary of the rodeo, handed out sizable checks on Saturday night at the close.

Some will have to wait until next year.

Huge Crowd At Final Rodeo Performance

The 42nd annual 101 Ranch Wild West Rodeo wound up Saturday night before a packed arena of fans who witnessed the crowning of Stacie Schneeberger as 2001 101 Ranch Rodeo Queen.

The crowd, which may have been one of the biggest in the grandstand~, chute heaven and the boxes, found many spectators standing and walking around for better views of each event as they unfolded.

The arena floor, which had been rebuilt the past few months under the direction of Rick Barnthouse and a number of others, was the best its been in many years. Added to that were the efforts of Kay County FFA members who took turns manicuring the areas around the three barrels during each evening's barrel racing.

It truly showed that the 2001 Ponca City Rodeo Foundation Inc. under the guidance of president Brad Beaty had made some great improvements, just as they have been done in the past several years. Barnthouse, a long-time member of the board of directors, was presented a "Friend of the Rodeo" award by Beaty as a result of his arena ground crew efforts.

Beaty also presented another "Friend of the Rodeo" award to Steve Peresko, owner of Davis-Moore Auto Group, for their efforts in the rodeo this year, providing a really nice pickup truck that was used considerably during the rodeo.

2001 101 Ranch Rodeo Queen Schneeberger and other contestants had gone through a week of activity that included ticket sales and speeches and horsemanship to claim her crown.

It was a Schneeberger night, as Jerome Schneeberger collected well at the payoff window from Dell Hall's Rafter H Rodeo Company secretary Shelley Hall. Calf roper Schneeberger on Wednesday had posted a 9.4 to go with a 10.3 on Tuesdays slack to get 19.7 on two. It earned him second money $729.43 in the Tuesday slack first go-round, $577.47 for the second go third place and $881.40 on the 19.7 for two. Not bad for less than 20 seconds in one event.

The excitement swelled in the event on Friday when Kevin Loyd of Haysville posted a 10.4 to go with his first go of 9.7 to get a 20.1 on two. Saturday, C.R. Bradley of Stillwater came into the arena with an 11.2 on the first go and when he got a great catch and tie, the time must have felt like an eternity to Schneeberger, until it was announced also at 9.0 which made it 20.2 for two by Bradley (third in the average).

In steer wrestling, Roy Duvall of Hitchita stayed' on top with his early rounds of 3.7 arid 3.8 for a 7.5. Duane Powders' of Choctaw had a 7.6 on two and Saturday, Brady Bartel of Cambridge, Kan., almost got it done, with a 4.0 to go with a 3.7 that left him at 7.9 for third. So there were thrills on the timed events Saturday.

Team ropers Dwayne Clay of Sapulpa and C.R. Bradley of Stillwater (there's that challenger again) got an 8.7, but took a five second penalty on only one leg  caught by the heeler to make it 13.7 to go with 7.7 of the first go and 21.4 for the two efforts. That left Shawn Lee of Gotebo and Darrel Redacy of Lookeba on top at 18.5.

Local team ropers Rick and Dick Campbell of Blackwell survived in the finals of eight teams with a 9.2 to go with a qualifying time of 13.8 for 23.0 on two. They brought in the fifth fastest time, but none of the other seven could make qualifying catches. So, they received the 101 Beverage saddles for their efforts.

The girls barrel racing was a bit slower than the first three nights when there wee seven under the 17-second barrier. Deena Wheaton of Mounds, Okla., did it in 16.77 but knocked two barrels over and to balloon the time to 26.77. Winner was Friday's Delores Toole of Manter, Kan., at 16.70. National Finals Rodeo champion Kappy Allen of Austin, Texas had wowed. the crowd Friday, just ahead of that with a 16.95. But there had been three others faster or just as fast, and then Teal Rice of Lakin, Kan., got a 16.77 which stood up for second. Best on Saturday was Gail Hillman, Wallet;, Texas at 17.02.

Riding events Saturday were a, crowd thriller from start to finish, but the bulls had the better part of that event just as they did the first night on Wednesday when they shut out the riders. There was one ridden Saturday, as Nathan Klassen of Buhler, Kan., had a 62 to finish fifth out of five that rode bulls for the entire rodeo. Winner of bull riding was Terry West on Thursday, getting an 80.

Bareback riders scored well, with three riding their opposition, and bringing home scores of 70, 77 and the best being 81 by Mark Gomes of Nickerson, Kan., on Good Buddy. That tied him for second with Cody Muntin of Pasadena, Texas — behind Wednesday's best of the rodeo — an 83 by Chad Klein, also on Good Buddy.

Saddle bronc riders had a. challenge also after Clay Wilson of Stillwater had ridden Lost Trails for an 81 on Thursday. It stood up for first. Best on Saturday was a 78 by Bart Franks of Goodwell on Bondie, which got him fourth. Matt Reid of El Dorado, Kan., had a 77 Saturday on Blue Moon, a tie for fifth with Cory Hughes of Preston, Kan., on SKLS Miss Dolly.