Luck leads to payday

A little luck never hurts.

And West Glacier cowboy Beau Hill got some of that Friday night before he entered the chute for the bull riding at the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

"She (his daughter LaKia) came up and told me 'Good Luck' before I rode," said Hill.

"That's kinda neat."

Hill then went out and stayed on a twisting bull numbered 179 to the delight of a vocal hometown crowd for an 80-point score. It wasn't the best score of the night, but still good enough to earn the former Columbia Falls High School athletic standout another paycheck.

"It's always great to have the hometown support," said Hill.

"The fans are what make this sport fun."

Top honors went to Cole Burman of Glendive, the final rider of the night. On bull No. 3, he scored 88 points for the best score after two nights of competition.

Ardie Maier of Timberlake, S.D., and Colby Reilly of Stratford, Wash., posted the next best marks at 85 and 84, respectively.

Tyrell Smith of Belt also had an 80.

"The other guys rode really, really well," said Hill.

"I rode (No. 3) in Helena and placed on him. He was a lot better tonight."

Hill, unlike the other riders, had to contend with an uncooperative bull in the chute for what seemed like an eternity before he finally started his eight-second go.

"He just kinda squatted in the bucking chute," Hill said.

"He's a young bull, still learning the game."

Hill said he was not distracted.

"Bull riding never goes the way it's suppose to," said Hill.

Still, it was a memorable night.

"My daughter's fourth birthday," he said.

"I got her a scooter, but she really wanted chaps. I had to make a call to my sponsor tonight (to order her some)."

While the bull riders had a pretty good success rate, only three cowboys in the bareback and saddle bronc managed to earn points.

Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., rode Alley Trail for an 88 while Ben Londo of Pendleton. Ore., was next with an 84 on Sky Reach.

John Collins of Lewistown turned in a 70 on Collecting Stars.

Six-time National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc champion Dan Mortensen of Billings had a smooth ride on Cool Five, worth 80 points.

However Jake Hayworth of St. Anthony, Idaho, had the best score, 84 on Cool Alley.

And Dustin Flundra of Pincher Creek, Alberta, was next with an 82 on Seat Sale.

Mortensen, in his 17th season, currently leads the saddle bronc standings with earnings of $119.547 after 57 rodeos.

"They have ranked horses, they buck hard," said Mortensen of the Kesler Rodeo Company stock.

This was the first time Mortensen had been matched with Cool Five.

"Started really good, got long towards the end," he said.

"I've only seen that horse one time."

This was Mortensen's second rodeo appearance in Montana this year. He won at Livingston over the 4th of July.

"I still enjoy riding," he said.

"The travel gets old, it always has."

Les Shepperson of Midwest, Wyo., had the top time in the steer wrestling, 4.0 seconds; Mark Salmond of Choteau and Sam Levine of Wolf Creek notched a 6.9 second run in team roping; Ryle Harms of Livingston used a 14.3 to lead tie-down roping; and Chris Eberline of Lander, Wyo., was the fastest barrel racer, timed in 16.5.

The final performance of the rodeo is scheduled for tonight at 7:30.

Friday's Results

Bareback riding - Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 88 on Alley Trail; Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., 84; John Collins, Lewistown, 70.

Steer wrestling - Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo., 4.0; Todd Suhn, North Platte, Neb., 4.6; Dane Hanna, Denver, Colo., 4.7; Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 20.0.

Saddle bronc - Jake Hayworth, St. Anthony, Idaho. 84 on Cool Alley; Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 82; Dan Mortensen, Billings, 80.

Team roping - Mark Salmond, Choteau/Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 6.9; Nolan Conway, Browning/Terry Tatsey, Browning, 12.6.

Tie-down roping - Ryle Harms, Livingston, 14.3; Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 15.1; Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 21.5.

Ladies barrel racing - Chris Eberline, Lander, Wyo., 16.50; Lorie Dinagan, Whitefish, 16.59; T.J. Barnett, Havre, 16.66; Kristin Gallien, Bigfork, 17.19; Heather Schwenke, Harlem, 18.01; Reagan Dillard, Pleasanton, Texas, 21.28; Tammy Eberline, Bozeman, 21.58; Barbie Powell, Babb, 23.02.

Bull riding - Cole Burman, Glendive, 88 on 3; Ardie Maier, Timberlake, S.D., 85; Colby Reilly, Stratford, Wash., 84; Beau Hill, West Glacier, 80; Tyrell Smith, Belt, 80.

Wild Pony Ride - 1. Rough Riders (Shyanne Siderius, Kalispell; Kade Siderius, Kalispell; Tucker Wilkinson, Whitefish), 24 seconds; 2. Keslers (Kurtis Kesler, Helena; Chase Kesler, Helena; Alexander Skanderups, Tilley, Alberta), 29.

Thursday

Barrel racing - Cally Goyins, Helena, 16.36; Rachel Myllymaki, Arlee, 16.42; Shelly Anzick, Livingston, 16.59; Peggy Schluter, Helena, 16.60; Mercede Knudson, Bozeman, 16.67; Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, 16.80; Mikell Hougen, Melstone, 16.91; Maria Gee, Stanford, 17.56; Lauren Watson, Geyser, 21.52; Kathy Getten, Harlem, 22.34.

Wild Pony Ride - 1. Rough Riders (Shyanne Siderius, Kalispell; Kade Siderius, Kalispell; Tucker Wilkinson, Whitefish), 28 seconds; 2. Keslers (Kurtis Kesler, Helena; Chase Kesler, Helena; Brier Davis, Sand Coulee), 29; 3. Keslers (Kurtis Kesler, Helena; Chase Kesler, Helena; Alexander Skanderups, Tilley, Alberta), 36.

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