Lewistown's Irish takes saddle bronc lead at PRCA Fair Rodeo

Perhaps a little luck of the Irish was involved for one saddle bronc rider Thursday during the opening performance of the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Than again, maybe not.

James Irish didn't think so.

The Lewistown cowboy pulled off a near- disastrous ride on Alley Inn to the tune of 78 points to top the leader board in that event.

"My rein was a little long going out," he said. "Somehow or another, it worked out."

… Along with a little help from good horsemanship.

There were two sessions of saddle bronc riding, but only two riders covered the

required eight seconds to collect a score on the talented bucking stock from Kesler Championship Rodeo and Kesler Rodeo.

"I'm happy it worked out," Irish said. "I just kept trying (to hold on) and the whistle blew."

Irish, 23, didn't compete here last year, but did earn a paycheck the year before.

"I haven't been going a whole lot, mostly just hanging around Montana (for rodeos this summer)," he said. "It's been good to me. I guess I should be going harder because I'm riding good, drawing good horses."

Billy Hendrickson of Arlee was the ninth rider out in the saddle bronc and the only other rider to post a score. He turned in a 73 on Boomerang.

"A good horse, rider friendly," Hendrickson said.

But also one that nearly did him in.

"He posted me out of the chute," Hendrickson said. "That kind of screwed me up. I had to hustle my feet to stay in there. I had to work hard for it to get a good score."

This was Hendrickson's first appearance at the Northwest Montana rodeo.

"I haven't been drawing good," he said. "This was one of my better days."

The night belonged to the bulls in the final event as only one rider - Cody Buller of Glendive - made it to the eight-second whistle. He was rewarded with an 84 aboard bull No. 90, which is also known as the Dykstra Driller.

"Just got lucky," Buller said.

Dykstra Driller was a spinner once he left the chute.

"It's never easy," Buller said. "It scores a lot better if he spins."

Buller is sponsored by TK Builders of Kalispell.

"It's been all right," Buller said of his year to date. "It's had its ups-and-downs, but I can't complain."

Bareback riders went 5-for-5 on the night, led by Randy Vandenbos' 82 on Alley Agent. Vandenbos is from Valier.

Dana Hanna of Littleton, Colo., set the standard in the steer wrestling at 4.3 seconds, while Mercedes Knudson of Great Falls owns the best time in barrel racing, 17.63 seconds.

Chris Lawson of Gonzales, Texas, and Kyle Crick of Lipan, Texas, share the team roping lead with Nolan Conway and Terry Tatsey, both of Browning, at 6.2 seconds.

And Josh Graff of Bozeman had the best go in tie-down roping at 8.5 seconds.

Rodeo action continues tonight at 7:30 with the second performance.

Thursday's Results

Bareback - 1. Randy Vandenbos, Valier, 82; 2. Buck Lunak, Cut Bank, 78; 3. Logan Hodson, Goodwell, Okla., 76; 4. Derry McLane, Bozeman, 75; 5. Dave Worsfold, Queensland, Australia, 69.

Steer wrestling - 1. Dana Hanna, Littleton, Colo., 4.3; 2. (tie) Shawn Dunagan, Whitehall, and Denver Gilbert, Huntley, 4.6; 4. John Gee, Stanford, 14.6.; 5. Josh Graff, Bozeman, 16.2.

Team roping - 1. (tie) Chris Lawson, Gonzales, Texas/Kyle Crick, Lipan, Texas, and Nolan Conway, Browning/Terry Tatsey, Browning, 6.2 each; 3. Jimmy Cole, Harlem/Derick Fleming, Worden, 10.2.

Saddle bronc - 1. James Irish, Lewistown, 78; 2. Billy Hendrickson, Arlee, 71.

Tie-down roping - 1. Josh Graff, Bozeman, 8.5; 2. Bill Boyce, Lewistown, 12.5; 3. J. Billingsley, Glasgow, 13.2; 4. Brant Davis, Sand Coulee, 20.5; 5. Shawn Dunagan, Whitehall, 24.1.

Ladies barrel racing - 1. Mercedes Knudson, Great Falls, 17.63; 2. Lindsay Knaff, Winston, 17.65; 3. Marie Gee, Stanford, 17.89; 4. Morgan Knudson, Great Falls, 17.99; 5. (tie) Lorie Kay Dunagan, Whitehall, and Cally Goyins, Helena, 18.20; 7. Judy Geldard, Havre, 18.27.

Bull riding - 1. Cody Buller, Glendive, 84.