Rodeo: Lait upstages Mote, Davis

Matt Lait, a 26-year-old cowboy from Stavely, Alberta, was competing in a crowded and highly-decorated bareback lineup Friday night during the second performance of the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

He was up against four-time world champion Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., who currently sits third in the PRCA standings, and Jessy Davis of Power, who holds the No. 13 spot in earnings this year.

Mote has also had great success here, placing first the last two years.

Lait, on the other hand, is somewhere in the mid 20s regarding the PRCA standings. On his two previous trips to the Fair Rodeo, he was bucked off and a flat tire on a broken-down van forced him to arrive too late to compete the other time.

So his history, or luck if you will, at this event was less than stellar.

Mote did not disappoint.

The fifth rider out turned in an 82-point go on Up Ur Alley.

Davis was up to the challenge.

He matched that two rides later with 82 points on Western Star.

That had both cowboys sharing first place.

Lait was the eighth, and the final, bareback rider.

And all he did was post an impressive 88-point showing on Street Dance and move into first place in that roughstock event.

“Bobby has been an idol of mine, a guy I always wanted to ride like,” Lait said.

“So whenever one gets to ride with a guy you idolize, it’s pretty amazing.”

And to beat him made it extra special.

All total, six of the eight bareback riders posted scores. There were only two riders Thursday and both were bucked off.

“Fifth or sixth time,” Lait said of drawing Street Dance.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have that horse that many times. Never bucked me off.”

The 88 was the second-best score he’s marked on the 15-year-old buckskin mare.

“He gets better with age,” Lait said.

“He’s one of the most honest horses in North America and I know a lot of cowboys will agree with me on that. He gives you a chance to win first every time.”

Lait learned last Friday en route to another rodeo that he was matched up with Street Dance.

“Best email I’ve had all summer,” he said.

“His pattern ... he has two tricks. He will circle to his left ... he will circle to his right.”

Lait said when he goes right, you can count on the scores going up.

It was Lait’s second strong showing in two nights. Thursday he had the top ride — 85 points — in Jasper, Alberta.

Today he’s scheduled to go in two rodeos — Pincher Creek, Alberta, and Cranbrook, British Columbia.

“I’m making more of a push for the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) this year,” he said.

“More rodeos and I prepared for it more. It was more of a goal this year than a hope.”

If he makes it, it will be his first NFR.

The second performance also saw best times posted in team roping by Chance Thompson of Munday, Texas, and Twister Cain of Gonzales, Texas, 5.1 seconds, and in tie-down roping with Randall Carlisle of Castor, La., 8.6.

In bull riding, Kane Crook of Billings moved on top with his 83-point session on Kyle Style. The other four cowboys failed to make the eight-second whistle.

Ty Tescher of Sidney, who was bucked off earlier, posted an 88 in an exhibition ride.

Crook, 26, was competing at the Fair Rodeo for the first time.

“I had a real good one to ride,” he said of Kyle Style.

“I was excited to get on him.

“I like bulls that spin either way,” he said.

“He spinned to the right.”

Crook said he was always in control, never in trouble.

“I felt good, the bull felt good the whole time,” he said.

The three-day rodeo winds up tonight with the final performance at 7:30 p.m.

Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo

Friday’s Results

Bareback riding — 1. Matt Lait, Stavely, Alberta, 88 on Street Dance; 2. (tie) Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Jessy Davis, Power, 82 each; 4. Logan Hanson, Telkwa, British Columbia, 79; 5. Chase Erickson, Helena, 78; 6. Justin Miller, Billings, 72.

Steer wrestling — 1. Tait Kvistad, Grover, Colo., 4.5; 2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 5.6; 3. Shawn Downing, Silver Star, 7.4; 4. Dan Mulkey, Dell, 14.1; 5. Ken V Holland, Dillon, 14.8; 6. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wi., 15.9.

Team roping — 1. Chace Thompson, Munday, Texas/Twister Cain, Gonzales, Texas, 5.1; 2. Chris Witcher, Miles City/Shane Bessett, Vaughn, 7.1; 3. Arky Rogers, Lipan, Texas/Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas, 11.8; 4. Troy R. Nahrgang, Buckeye, Ariz./Tim Garrison, Divide, 15.2; 5. Brant Davis, Sand Coulee/Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 21.1 6. Clay Robertson, Augusta/Matt Robertson, Augusta, 21.2.

Saddle bronc — 1. LeRoy Eash, Fortine, 67.

Tie-down roping — 1. Randall Carlisle, Castor, La., 8.6; 2. (tie) Justin Scofield, Volga, S.D., and Brant Davis, Sand Coulee, 12.7 each; 4. Seth Mahaffey, Sweetwater, Texas, 24.9.

Barrel racing — 1. Wendy Wilson, Pendleton, Ore., 17.68; 2. Whitney Gollehon, Fairfield, 18.18; 3. Lisa Anderson, Bozeman, 18.57; 4. Nicole Witcher, Shepherd, 18.85.

Bull riding — 1. Kane Crook, Billings, 83 on Kyle Style.

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Leaders after two performances

Bareback riding — Matt Lait, Stavely, Alberta, 88 on Street Dance

Steer wrestling — Jason Armstrong, Helena, 4.3

Team roping — Chace Thompson, Munday, Texas/Twister Cain, Gonzales, Texas, 5.1

Saddle bronc — Brian Dawson, Wisdom, 76 on Alley Cone

Tie-down roping — Randall Carlisle, Castor, La., 8.6

Barrel racing — Brenda Mays, Terrebone, Ore., 17.44

Bull riding — Kane Crook, Billings, 83 on Kyle Style