Fair rodeo: Stock excels in last go

While the stock seemed to get the better of most of the competitors on the last day of the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo, a few cowboys pulled out impressive late performances to get in the money.

Shane Moran of Ulm put a stamp on saddle bronc with a spectacular performance on the high-bucking Break Away. Moran scored an 82 to post the best score of the four qualifying rides on Saturday, tying Tyrell Smith of Cascade for the top ride of the weekend.

The same was the case for rookie tie-down roper Tyler Prcin, of Alvord, Texas, who excelled on a slow night for the cowboys, posting a mark of 9.0 seconds to beat the best score of the weekend by 0.3 seconds.

“It was a really good calf,” Prcin said. “I really didn’t make just an outstanding run, I just tied her down. There’s a bunch of good guys out there tonight and if you don’t have (a calf) that wants to play with you, then you’re pretty much out of it.”

Hutch Haslam of Morgan, Utah, capped the night with a harrowing ride atop White Devil, a stark-white bull that never got more than 10 feet from the chutes while bucking and twisting. Haslam scored an 82 to post the only qualifying bull ride of the night, placing second overall. Nevada Newman of Melstone won the event with an 84 atop Cinnamon Twist.

JR Vezain was the top bareback rider of the night, posting a 78 on Tresure Chest, good for sixth overall. Jake Vold of Ponoka, Alberta, posted an 83 on the second night of the rodeo to win the event.

Stanford’s Luke Gee was the best of two steer wrestlers to post times on Saturday, finishing in 12.8 seconds. That wasn’t good enough to make the money list, topped by Curtis Cassidy in 4.1 seconds. Cassidy also won the all-around cowboy, competing in tie-down roping on the opening night.

Cut Bank’s Dustin Bird was the header in the winning team roping pair, combining with Paul Eaves of Lonedell, Missouri, to post a time of 8 seconds. They were a shade behind the Billings pair of Bill Parker and Jace Crabb, who won the overall in 7.1.

Lindsay Kruse of Great Falls posted the best time in barrel racing on Saturday, winnning in 18.27 seconds, good to tie for seventh overall. Mary Walker of Ennis Texas, had the best time of the weekend, crossing the barrier in 17.74 seconds.

Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo

Flathead County Fairgorunds

Saturday’s Results

Bareback riding — 1. JR Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 78 (Tresure Chest); 2. R.C. Landingham, Pendleton, Ore., 78 (Starburst); 3. Charlie Mack, Boulder, 65 (Sports Select); 4. Anthony Thomas, West Australia, 64 (Time ZonE).

Steer wrestling — 1. Luke Gee, Stanford, 12.8; 2. Reef Mills, Augusta, 16.9.

Saddle bronc riding — 1. Shane Moran, Ulm, 82 (Break Away); 2. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D., 77 (Gone Country); 3. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 76 (Next 2 U); 4. Kaleb Asay, Roan Wash, Wyo., 72 (Spotlight).

Team roping — 1. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank/Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 8.0; 2. Chase Briggs IV, Manhattan/Tim Garrison, Divide, 8.5; 3. Cleve Fuller, Augusta/John Robertson, Polson, 8.7; 4. Brant Davis, Sand Coulee/Bryer Davis, Sand Coulee, 8.7; 5. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 11.2; 6. Austin Barstow, Springview, Neb./Kory Mytty, Lolo, 15.1.

Tie-down roping — 1. Tyler Prcin, Alvord, Texas, 9.0; 2. Brant Davis, Sand Coulee, 21.2.

Barrel racing — 1. Lindsay Kruse, Great Falls, 18.27; 2. Becky Fuson, Conrad, 18.63; 3. Chloe Hoovestal, Helena, 19.03; 4. Jody Siderius, Kalispell, 20.37.

Bull riding — 1. Hutch Haslam, Morgan, Utah, 82 (White Devil).

Overall Results

All-around cowboy — Curtis Cassidy, $2,313, tie-down roping and steer wrestling.

Bareback riding — 1. Jake Vold, 83 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Double Dippin’, $2,233; 2. (tie) Jessy Davis and Tyler Scales, 81, $1,489 each; 4. (tie) R.C. Landingham and Tyler Nelson, 80, $670 each; 6. J.R. Vezain, 78, $372; 7. Kyle Bowers, 77, $298; 8. Matt Lait, 76, $223.

Steer wrestling — 1. Curtis Cassidy, 4.1 seconds, $2,313; 2. (tie) Bode Scott and Johnny Silva, 4.2, $1,861 each; 4. Ty Erickson, 4.4, $1,408; 5. Clayton Morrison, 4.6, $1,106; 6. Cody Cabral, 4.8, $805; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 5.1, $503; 8. Dan Muchmore, 6.0, $201.

Team roping — 1. Bill Parker/Jace Crabb, 7.1 seconds, $1,963 each; 2. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, 7.4, $1,624; 3. Nolan Conway/Dylan Johnson, 7.6, $1,286; 4. Dustin Bird/Paul Eaves, 8.0, $948; 5. Chase Briggs IV/Tim Garrison, 8.5, $609; 6. (tie) Brant Davis/Bryer Davis and Cleve Fuller/John Robertson, 8.7, $169 each.

Saddle bronc riding — 1. (tie) Shane Moran on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Break Away and Tyrell Smith on Kesler Rodeo’s Southern Lights, 82 points, $2,292 each; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 80, $1,470; 4. Zeke Thurston, 79, $951; 5. Jade Blackwell, 77, $605; 6. (tie) Andy Clarys and Cole Elshere, 76, $389 each; 8. Dustin Flundra, 75, $259.

Tie-down roping — 1. Tyler Prcin, 9.0 seconds, $2,032; 2. Blair Burk, 9.3, $1,767; 3. Cody Ohl, 9.4, $1,502; 4. Mike Johnson, 9.5, $1,237; 5. Nolan Conway, 10.7, $972; 6. Ryan Thibodeaux, 10.8, $707; 7. Kevin Peterson, 11.0, $442; 8. Zane Not Afraid, 11.3, $177.

Barrel racing — 1. Mary Walker, 17.74 seconds, $2,245; 2. Trula Churchill, 17.93, $1,908; 3. Kaela Murphy, 18.03, $1,571; 4. Christy Loflin, 18.06, $1,347; 5. Tammy Thompson, 18.15, $1,122; 6. Danna Whitford, 18.17, $786; 7. (tie) Shelby Blixt and Lindsay Kruse, 18.27, $505 each; 9. Carmel Wright, 18.38, $393; 10. Lauren Viles, 18.39, $337; 11. Cally Goyins, 18.54, $281; 12. Milee Dailey, 18.56, $224.

Bull riding — 1. Nevada Newman, 84 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Cinnamon Twist, $2,312; 2. Hutch Haslam, 82, $1,773; 3. Ty Tescher, 81, $1,310; 4. Preston Louis, 75, $848; 5. Kody DeShon, 73, $540; 6. Jeff Askey, 65, $385; no other qualified rides.

Total payoff: $69,654. Stock contractor: Kesler Championship Rodeo. Sub-contractor: Kesler Rodeo.