No bull: DeShon scores 74

“It’s not a cowboy helmet; it’s a cowboy hat,” Kody DeShon said with a laugh moments after riding out a bull named Sin City at the 2014 Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo at Majestic Valley Arena on Saturday night.

The Rigby, Idaho, native was one of the only riders not wearing a protective helmet, facemask and mouth guard; but, he was the only bull rider to complete an full eight-second run during the two-day event. His score: 74.

He took first place, and since no other rider posted an offical score, he took home the entire $1,736.40 purse.

After riding Sin City perfectly through the first six second, DeShon began to lose his balance. Falling to the left side of the bull, the crowd sensed victory and stood up to cheer DeShon on. He clenched his grip with his hand and legs and hung on as the eight-second horn sounded, winning the title before falling off.

“It’s good for the paycheck, but bad for my buddies,” DeShon said.

“Everybody you ride against is also your friends. It sucks to see them not do well, but my wallet loves it.”

DeShon, 28, began riding bulls at the ripe age 14. After spending nearly half of his life on a giant bucking beast, the passion and pride that comes with winning a bull riding title stills runs through the cowboy’s veins.

“I once heard Jared Allen say that bull riding is truly the last coliseum, man versus beast. It’s true. When you open the gate you never know what’s going to happen. Everything is inevitable, but you never really know,” DeShon said.

DeShon was the final rider in the final event of the night and he didn’t dissapoint the fans.

The night started off with bareback riding. Wyatt Bloom of Bend, Ore., tallied an 80-point run and overtook Friday’s top scorer, Matt Lait of Stavely, Alberta.

In the saddle bronc competition, no Saturday competitor made it on the podium as Zeke Thurston of Sheridan, Wyo., remained in first place with an 84-point effort on Bucked Down. He took home the $827.20 first-place prize.

The same could be said for the tie-down roping contest. Friday’s scoreboard remained the final standings. Kevin Peterson’s 9.2 second finish was good for the title and the $864.80 prize.

In steer wrestling, Shawn Downing from Silver Star needed just 3.8 seconds to toss down his steer and claim $1,109.20 for his first-place finish. He posted that time during Friday’s slack.

The fastest run of Saturday night wasn’t good enough for first place in team roping as Bill Parker and Jace Crabb from Billings won that event with a time of six seconds.

Three Kalispell natives competed in the barrel racing event.

Tammy Carpenter finished one-tenth of a second behind Kathy Grimes of Medical Lake, Wash., to take second place.

Jody Siderius posted a fifth-place score in her hometown despite finishing the three-barrel course in 15.23, nearly two-tenths behind Carpenter.

Catie Birk, 18, posted a time of 15.85 on her horse Marty, who just recovered from an injury.

“He’s a young horse that just came off an injury. We’re just working at it, getting him together,” Birk said. “He’s getting better and better each rodeo.”

Birk, who has a full-scholarship offer from Montana-Western, was fond of the hometown event.

“It means a little more being in your hometown,” she said.

“The crowd definitely helps.”

2014 Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo

Produced by: Silver Creek Pro Rodeo, N.D.

Corey and Lange/Flying Diamond, Moses Lake Wash.

Saturday’s Results

At Majestic Valley Arena

Bareback — 1. Wyatt Bloom, Bend, Ore., 80 on Danged If You Do, $556.48; 2. Matt Lait, Stavley, Alberta, 78 on Rip Cord, $417.36; 3. (tie) Chase Redfield, Opheim, Cavan Wrzesinski, Boulder, and Troy Vaira, Richey, 71, $139.12 each.

Saddle bronc — 1. Zeke Thurston, Sheridan Wyo., 84 on Bucked Down, $827.20; 2. Call Marr, Twin Butte, Alberta, 80 on Pine Ridge, $620.40; 3. (tie) Colter Heckman, Choteau, and Dougie Fitzgerald, Babb, 77, $310.20 each.

Tie-down roping — 1 Kyle Peterson, Kilgore, Neb., 9.2, $864.80; 2. Bode Scott, Pryor, 9.6, $648.60; 3. Donnie Benson, Dillon, 9.8, $432.40; 4. Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 10.2, $216.20.

Steer Wrestling — 1.Shawn Downing, Silver Star, 3.8, $1,109.20; 2. Chance Gartner, Pasco, Wash., 4.3, $831.90; 3. Dan Yates, Red Lodge, 4.5, $554.60; 4. (tie) Bode Scott, Pryor, and Dalyn Wingard, Mcallister, 5.1, $138.65 each.

Team roping — 1. Bill Parker and Jace Crabb, Billings, 6.0, $676.80 each; 2. Brad Yerian and Brandon Yerian, Corvallis, 7.1, $507.60 each; 3. Jason Carlson, Two Dot, and Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 8.8, $338.40 each; 4. Jade Stoddard, Rexberg, Idaho, and Ike Folsom, Dillon, 8.9, $169.20 each.

Barrel racing — 1. Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 14.96, $727.51; 2. Tammy Carpenter, Kalispell, 15.06, $632.62; 3. Kini Wright, Rexburg, Idaho, 15.08, $537.73; 4. Lauren Reiser, Bozeman, 15.09, $442.83; 5. Jody Siderius, Kalispell, 15.23, $347.94; 6. Samantha Boone, Cheney, Wash., 15.25, $253.05; 7. Kassy Brough, Havre, 15.33, $158.15; 8. Torie Briese, Helena, 15.34, $63.26.

Bull riding — 1. Kody DeShon, Rigby, Idaho, 74 on Sin City, $1,736.40.