Vaughn cowboy sets arena record
Sylvan LaCross of Baker, Mont., holds on with one arm as Painted Smile bucks around the arena during the second day of the PRCA Rodeo at the Northwest Montana Fair on Friday evening. Nate Chute photos/Daily Inter Lake
Tyrell Smith turns in a 91-point saddle bronc ride at rodeo
By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake
For one Montanan, the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo has been a very rude host.
Tyrell Smith has suffered a broken bone and was bucked off in his two previous trips to the Flathead Valley.
But this year, all is forgiven.
The Vaughn cowboy, ranked No. 20 on the PRCA saddle bronc standings, set a new arena record Friday night with a 91-point ride on Starburst.
"Now, it's the best rodeo I've been to all year.
"So far, that's the highest score I've had," he said.
He was the only rider in the second session during the second performance to post a score. Three riders went earlier with Luke Butterfield of Ponoka, Alberta, registering an 80 on Three Wings, and Clay Gruel of Great Falls leaving the arena with a 76 on Castaway.
"Every year is different. You can't think about what happened last year. You just think about this year," Smith said.
And so far, this season has been perhaps his best. He came into the fair rodeo with $35,285 in earnings and hopes of competing at the National Finals Rodeo come December in Las Vegas.
Today, he returns to Caldwell, Idaho, for the finals at that rodeo and another possible big payday.
Smith, 22, has been riding broncs for just two years. Prior to that, he was a bull rider.
"Getting hurt too much," he said of why he switched.
"My dad was a bronc rider. He went to the NFR twice. He's was pressuring me to do it."
And it was a good move.
"I stay a lot healthier," he said.
Regarding Starburst …
"That's kind of what you want as a bronc rider," he said.
"No wild stuff. She just rolled out, jumped and kicked real hard. It was an electric feeling."
It was the first time Smith had been teamed with Starburst.
"I saw her last year in Canada," he said.
"Just a tiny little thing. She's grown up a little bit."
Smith said he enjoyed riding Starburst so much so that "I was giggling to myself," he said.
"She was really fun. She's one of those horses that if you could ride every day of the week, you'd win the world on."
The final performance of the fair rodeo is tonight at 7:30. West Glacier cowboy Beau Hill is entered in the bull riding.
Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo
Flathead County Fairgrounds
Produced by Kesler Rodeo Company
Friday's Results
Bareback - 1. Troy Solomon, Havre, 77 on Alley Agent; 2. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, 74.
Saddle bronc - 1. Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, 91 on Starburst; 2. Luke Butterfield, Ponoka, Alberta, 80; 3. Clay Gruel, Great Falls, 76.
Steer wrestling - 1. Ted Gollaher, Cascade, 4.6; 2. Nick Stubblefield, Choteau, 5.1; 3. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 5.4; 4. Bode Scott, Pryor, 6.4; 5. Shannon Blixt, Helena, 6.7; 6. Eddy Getten, Harlem, 9.3.
Team roping - 1. Mark Salmond, Choteau/Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 8.0; 2. Jason Carlson, Two Dot/Mike Gollaher, Cascade, 13.0.
Tie-down roping - 1. Boyd Brooks, Sweetwater, Texas, 12.1; 2. Eddy Getten, Harlem, 16.0; 3. Bode Scott, Pryor, 20.4; 4. Tyler Holland, Belgrade, 22.9.
Ladies barrel racing -1. Emily Kallenberger, Havre, 17.61; 2. Cathy Grant, Granton, Ontario, 17.65; 3. Chloe Hoovestal, Helena, 17.68; 4. Mary Moe, Cave Creek, Ariz., 22.80; 5. Laura McPherson, Wolf Point, 22.82; 6. Danna Whitford, Browning, 27.76.
Bull riding - 1. Brandon Reynolds, Pike Road, Ala., 82 on Fool U; 2. Scott Dark, Fort Benton, 78.
Wild pony race (30 second time limit) - 1. Averie Olson, Kyla Reed, Addisyn Bucker, 18.7.