For Immediate release Contact: Susan Kanode (817) 307-6336

Consistency pays off for defending champion team ropers in Denver

By Susan Kanode For the National Western Stock Show

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 21, 2014) --- Last year when Nick Sartain and Rich Skelton entered the National Western Stock Show , they weren’t sure what their plans would be for the rest of the rodeo season. Then they won the championship here and the duo made a successful run at a Wrangler qualification. They came back to Denver again with the gleam of another championship in their eye. With Sartain, from Dover, Okla., doing the heading and Skelton from Llano, Texas, heeling, they have been the most consistent team ropers at the rodeo through 10 performances. They are leading the first round of competition with a 4.8 second run, the second round with a 4.9 and the overall standings with a total of 9.7 seconds. Last year, coming into the finals, they were the high team back and had a total time of 9.7 seconds. Whether they remain in the number one position or not remains to be seen, but they are making their plans to be back here on Sunday. “It’s safe to say that Denver has been good to us,” Sartain said. “We had a really good steer here tonight (Tuesday). Everything worked like it was supposed to. Now we’re going to go home and practice and get ready for the next round.” Two young bull riders let rodeo fans here know they mean business. Garrett Smith, the three- time National High School Rodeo Association’s all-around champion and Sage Kimzey, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association record holder for most money won on the permit have both ridden two bulls. The teenagers are traveling together and feeding off of each other’s energy, drive and determination. They were at a Championship Bull Riding event in Jackson, Tenn., over the weekend, made the trip here and are now sitting fifth and sixth in the overall standings. Kimzey, from Strong City, Okla., has 151 points on two while Smith from Rexburg, Idaho has 149. There are seven bull riders who have gotten scores on two rides so far with 44 left to make an appearance. Tuesday night was military night at the rodeo with a special opening and closing ceremony honoring all five branches. During the closing, Nashville recording artist Pete Martinez unveiled his new single “We Thank You” that he wrote, produced and recorded to honor the service and sacrifice of Veterans and their families. There will be new cowboys and cowgirls at the rodeo on Wednesday with one performance at 7 p.m.

. Rodeo competition continues on Tuesday with the Military Appreciation performance beginning at 7 p.m.

DENVER, Colo., (Jan. 21, 2014) – The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

Tenth Performance –

Bareback Riding: 1, Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 81 points on Burch Rodeo’s Not So Lonesome. 2, (tie) Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., and Orin Larsen, Goodwell, Okla., 77 each. 4, Richie Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 76.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Payden Kime McIntyre, Douglas, Wyo., 4.7. 2, Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 6.2. 3, Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 6.2. 4, Cimarron Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 9.4.

Team Roping: 1, Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.9 seconds 2, Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont., and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 9.6. 3, Clint Buringa, Golden, Colo., and Dylan Dishion, Tehachapi, Calif., 11.5. 4, Jimmy Tanner, Tifton, Ga., and Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 11.6.

Saddle Bronc: 1, Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 79 points on Burch Rodeo’s Rein Robber. 2, Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D., 73. 3, Kaden Deal, Cheyenne River, S.D., 68. 4, Ty Thompson, Wanblee, S.D., 63.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.9 seconds. 2, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 8.3. 3, Kelsey Garrison, Channing, Texas, 11.0. 4, Darnell Johnson, Pueblo, Colo., 11.2.

Barrel Racing: 1, Shelly Morgan, Canton, Texas, 15.44. 2, Megan Lewis, Twin Falls, Idaho, 15.60. 3, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 15.67. 4, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 15.83.

Bull Riding: 1, Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah, 79 points on David Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Batman. 2, Garrett Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta, 74. 3, Sage Steele Kimsey, Strong City, Okla., 73. 4, Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 69.

Current Leaders –

Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, Richie Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 86 points on Calgary Stampede’s Turkish Whiskey. 2, Tyler Scales, Severance, Colo., 85. 3, (tie) Luke Creasy, Levelland, Texas; Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore.; and Cody Joe Ziober, Huntsville, Texas. 83. (second round) 1, (tie) George Gillespie IV, Placerville, Calif., on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Rusty Nail and Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., on Calgary Stampede’s Unfortunate Karma, 84 points each. 3, Brian Bain, Redmond, Ore., 83. 4, (tie) Micky Downare, Hartsel, Colo; Evan Jayne, Marseille, France; and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas; 82. (total on two) 1, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 167. 2, (tie) Luke Creasy, Levelland, Texas, and Cody Joe Ziober, Huntsville, Texas, 163. 4, Richie Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 162.

Steer Wrestling: (first round) 1, Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.0 seconds. 2, Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 4.1. 3, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.3. 4, Sterling Lambert, Fallon, Nev., 4.8. (second round) 1, Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 3.5. 2, Austin Courmier, Oakwood, Texas, 3.8. 3, Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 4.0. 4, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.2. (total on two) 1, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 8.5. 2, Joe Buffington, Wheatland, Wyo., 10.4. 3, Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 10.6. 4, (tie) Sterling Lambert, Fallon, Nev., and Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., 10.7 each.

Team Roping: (first round) 1, Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.8 seconds. 2, Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn., and York Gill, Stephenville, Texas, 5.1. 4, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 5.3. 4, David Motes, Tolar, Texas, and Evan Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.9. (second round) 1, Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.9. 2, Adam Rose, Willard, Mo., and Billie Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 5.2. 3, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 5.6. 4, J.D. and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 5.7. (total on two) 1, Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 9.7. 2, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 10.9. 3, Adam Rose, Willard, Mo., and Billie Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 11.3. 4, Cole Cooper, Loma, Colo., and K.C. Curtis, Monroe, Utah, 14.1.

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 87 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Brown Sugar. 2, Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 83. 3, (tie) Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D.; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; and Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 82. (second round) 1, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Hell’s Fire Hostage. 2, Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 84. 3, Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla., 83. 4, Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah, 82. (total on two) 1, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 168. 2, Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 166. 3, Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 162. 4, (tie) J.D. Johnson, Tremonton, Utah, and Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 157.

Tie-Down Roping: (first round) 1, Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 8.1 seconds. 2, (tie) Randall Carlisle, Baton Rouge, La.; Will Howell, Stillwater, Okla.; and Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas; 8.5 seconds each. (second round) 1, Matt Shiozawa, Chubbock, Idaho, 7.0. 2, (tie) Blair Burk, Durant, Okla.; Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla.; and Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla.; 7.7. 2, Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas, 8.5. 3, Cody Saculla, Bryan, Texas, 8.6. 4, Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif., 8.7. (total on two) 1, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 16.8. 2, Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 17.1. 3, Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif., 17.4. 4, Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 17.8.

Women’s Barrel Race: (first round) 1, Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla., 15.35 seconds. 2, Kimmie Wall, Roosevelt, Utah, 15.37. 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.43. 4, Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 15.50. (second round) 1, Ann Peterson, Avondale, Colo., 15.39. 2, Megan Williams, Daingerfield, Texas, 15.41. 3, Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 15.42. 4, (tie) Kelly Larsen, Riverton, Utah, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., and Shelly Morgan, Canton, Texas; 15.44. (total on two) 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 30.87. 2, Shelly Morgan, Canton, Texas, 30.95. 3, Megan Williams, Daingerfield, Texas, 31.10. 4, Jaime Barrow, Lake Wells, Fla., 31.17.

Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 84 points on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Kyle Style. 2, Riker Carter, Stone, Idaho, 83. 3, (tie) Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho; Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., and John Young, Orient, Iowa, 81. (second round) 1, Markus Mariluch, Elko, Nev., 88 points on Diamond S Bucking Bulls. 2, Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., 84. 3, Josh Frost, Goodwell, Okla., 83. 4, Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., 82. (total on two) 1, Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., 163. 2, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 157. 3, Dylan Dicey Vick, Escalon, Calif., 156. 4, John Young, Orient, Iowa, 152.