Winter Series Finals Rodeo concludes in Eureka

By DAVID LESNICK

Most donate winnings to Narducci, who was injured Friday's rodeo in Kalispell

The Daily Inter Lake

EUREKA - There are rodeo families like the Louises, Crumps, Taylors and Eashs, to name just a few. And then there is the rodeo family - the athletes who compete in it and the special bond they share with each other.

Both were on display Saturday night during the Winter Series Finals Rodeo at the Lake Koocanusa Arena. This was the ninth and last rodeo in the series, which began Nov. 11.

Champions where crowned in three rough stock events: Bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc along with timed events (team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, barrel racing, junior barrels and steer riding). Those series winners picked up buckles.

The all-around winners, for men and women, were given saddles.

For the Louises, rodeo is truly an all in the family event.

Greg Louis, 34, is the 2005 World Indian bull riding champion. His wife Jodi barrel races along with 6-year-old daughter, Jocee. Dakota Louis, 14, team ropes with Greg. Dakota is the heeler, Greg the header. And Preston Louis, 11, competes in steer riding.

Scott Crump, 27, is one of three bull riding brothers and he had his best showing of the Winter Series in the finale by winning that event. Of the first 16 bull riders out, he was the only one to post a score. Just four cowboys went the distance - the full eight seconds - on this night. Crump's winning mark was 78 points.

Gerald and Leroy Eash, both of Fortine, competed against each other in saddle bronc and bull riding. They were bucked off by the bulls. But Gerald had a 77-point ride in the saddle bronc and Leroy followed with a 67. That was good for a 1-2 showing in that event.

The Taylor family - Keith, Dona and Damian, along with help from many others - have made this event possible. The Taylors own and run the arena, bar and restaurant, which offers a barbecue buffet and the right atmosphere to satisfy the tastes and competitive spirit of cowboys and rodeo fans from the Pacific Northwest and two Canadian provinces.

But the one name many people were thinking about this night was Jacob Narducci, a 13-year-old seventh grader from Columbia Falls.

The junior bull rider suffered a broken eye socket, broken nose and broken teeth Friday evening at a different rodeo at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell. He is currently recuperating at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula.

Rodeo announcer Joe Werner, of Columbia Falls, made an announcement during the Winter Series Finals Rodeo that those wishing to make a financial contribution could do so at the arena. Crump was quick on the draw, donating his first-place paycheck - $314 - to help the Narducci family with Jacob's medical expenses.

"I was hoping everyone would do that," Crump said.

Many people followed his lead.

Casey Paradis' first-place winnings - $72 - also went to the cause. Paradis, from Grasmere, British Columbia, won the junior barrel racing.

Nikki Whitford, a rodeo timer, and Roy Whitford, a rodeo judge, donated their wages from the evening to help the Narduccis.

There was also a donation jar in the restaurant for those wishing to help.

"Pay bills," Crump said of how he would have spent his winnings.

But he says helping a rodeo family in need was more important.

"Money is a bonus," Crump said. "I just come up to ride bulls.

"These rodeos, we're all family. The bigger shows, you lose the family aspect - your partners and friends, who you compete against."

But not on this rodeo stage. The Taylors have made sure of that.

Crump's brother Rob, 31, is the oldest bull rider in the bunch. Brett, 26, competes on the PRCA circuit. Another brother, Ron Hollyoak, 30, is a successful wrestling coach in Idaho.

Scott Crump, aboard a twisting bull, finished the Winter Series in style.

"I've seen him before," Crump said of the bull. "He turned back both ways. Lem Short, six weeks ago, won on him (here)."

After he rode Saturday, Crump was running the chutes for the other two sessions of bull riders.

"It would be easier (if I just competed)," he said. "But we kind of have a lack of help (at some of these events)."

So Crump often pulls double duty in addition to hauling bulls to rodeos.

"A lot of times I just get paid for working (the rodeos)," he said.

That money has been a life saver since he's struggled at the pay window lately to cash in riding the bulls.

"I'm down in the standings," he said. "I've had pretty poor luck drawing bulls that buck. I've only been to six or seven (series events). I've placed, I just haven't won."

That was until Saturday.

"I never figured that it was my night (to win)," he said. "I'm just happy to get on a bull. It's something I love to do, what I live for."

Greg celebrated his evening by capturing the series all-around title for men while Preston was the series champ in steer riding.

Jocee delighted a capacity crowd as the 34-pounder bounced on top of a 1,300-pound grey quarter horse named Iron Eagle for a successful run around three barrels. It wasn't the fastest go of the night in junior barrels. That belonged to Pardis with a time of 15.156 seconds.

Jocee's was 22.541.

"She's been riding since she was 4," Greg said.

Although Greg posted no scores in the bull riding and steer wrestling, he did clock an 18.78-second go in tie-down roping, which was the third best effort of the night. He finished as the series buckle winner in bull riding and steer wrestling.

"Thirty-five thousand, 40,000 a year," Greg says of the miles he travels for rodeos. "We hit between 75-80 (a year). We take the kids to all the top money junior rodeos."

Greg said having a facility like Lake Koocanusa put together a Winter Series has been a big plus for everyone.

"This is a real good facility for upcoming and younger cowboys," he said. "It gives them exposure and (the chance) to get on top quality stock. It keeps my kids going, keeps me in practice."

Greg also helps haul bulls for the rodeo's main stock contract - Whitford Rodeo of Cut Bank.

"I've been healthy, that's been the main thing (for my success lately)," he said.

Jimi Lunak, also of Browning, was the women's all-around champion. She was also a series buckle winner in breakaway roping.

Lake Koocanusa Arena Winter Rodeo Series Finals

Saturday

Men's All-Around Saddle Winner: Greg Louis, Browning

Women's All-Around Saddle Winner: Jimi Lunak, Browning

Saddle Bronc - 1. Gerald Eash, Fortine, 77; 2. Leroy Eash, Fortine, 67 (only two qualified rides).

Series buckle winner: Rick Whiteman, Browning.

Team Roping - 1. Shawn Basset/Shane Basset, Browning, 5.67; 2. John Morris/Don Thompson Kalispell, 7.12; 3. Tim Guest/Don Thompson Kalispell, 10.48; 4. Darcy Hunt/Colter McDonald Grasmere, B.C., 12.35.

Series buckle winners: Heading - John Morris, Kalispell; Heeling - J Hanson, Kalispell Bareback 1. Jordan Hutchinson, Baynes Lake, B.C., 71; 2. Justin King, 67 (only two qualified rides).

Series buckle winner: Justin King

Steer Riding - 1. (tie) Wyatt Gleeson, Cranbrook, B.C., and Preston Louis, Browning, 71 each; 3. Brett Burgess, Jaffray, B.C., 69; 4. Layne Pighin, Cranbrook, B.C., 67.

Series buckle winner: Preston Louis Browning.

Tie Down Roping - 1. John Ray, East Glacier, 13.22; 2. Rick Whitford, Cut Bank, 16.91; 3. Greg Louis, Browning, 18.78; 4. John Hall, Browning, 21.56.

Series buckle winner: Rick Whitford, Cut Bank.

Steer Wrestling - 1. Doug Fitzgerald, Browning, 5.08 (only qualified ride).

Series buckle winner: Greg Louis, Browning.

Bull Riding - 1. Scott Crump, Kalispell, 78; 2. (tie) Rick Hutchinson Fernie, B.C., and Tuck Johnson, 71 each; 3. Ian Shepherd, Jaffray, B.C., 68.

Series buckle winner: Greg Louis, Browning.

Ladies Barrel Racing - 1. Kelsey Morris, Kalispell, 15.103; 2. Lori Stahl, Cranbrook, B.C., 15.134; 3. Skye McDonald, Grasmere, B.C., 15.481; 4. Jimi Lunak, Browning, 15.676.

Series buckle winner: Kelsi Morris, Kalispell.

Breakaway: No qualified times.

Series buckle winner: Jimi Lunak, Browning. Junior Barrels 1. Casey Paradis, Grasmere, B.C., 15.156; 2. Natasha Hutchinson, Baynes Lake, B.C., 17.608; 3. Casey Wyatt, 17.675; 4. Casey West, 19.443.

Series buckle winner: Natasha Hutchinson, Baynes Lake, B.C.