RODEO: Cowboys turn tables on day two

Bull rider Colten Jesse made the long trek from Konawa, Oklahoma to Kalispell just for the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo.

So far, he’s got no complaints.

“Pretty cool rodeo to me,” he said. “Shoot, I’m tied for the lead right now, I like it a lot.”

Jesse snapped the Kesler Championship Rodeo bulls’ nearly two-day shutout streak, riding Twist and Shake to an 81-point score to sit tied for the lead after the second of three days of competition at the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Friday.

“He’s a good bull,” Jesse said of his ride. “I heard a couple guys talk about him and it kind of sounded like one you really don’t want to get on but I told myself I was going to come and get on him and I lucked out.”

Jesse’s successful ride paved the way for three more cowboys to score on day two, including Saskatchewan native Jared Parsonage who matched Jesse with an 81 while riding Magic Show. Another Oklahoman, Brennan Eldred, who came into the weekend ranked fifth in the world, scored an 80 to round out the top three.

A picturesque Friday night started with a handful of big scores in bareback riding, where Justin Miller and Tanner Aus each scored 83 to tie for second place behind Thursday rider Jessy Davis (84.5).

Miller, a Billings native, finished second a year ago in the same event while riding the same horse (Garden Party) to an identical 83-point score.

“The draw has a lot of do with it because you’ve got to be able to match your horse,” Miller said. “Everybody has a different riding style that matches with different certain horses. It’s kind of like with dancing partners, I guess.”

Casey Breuer (76), Tucker Zingg (75.5) and Clayton Biglow (74.5) rounded out the top five on Friday.

There were more big scores in the saddle bronc, where seven riders tied of surpassed Thursday’s leader. At the end of the day, Audy Reed was in first place with 84.5 points after exercising his option for a second ride. Dillon’s Tanner Hollenback scored 82 points on Next 2 U ahead of JC DeSaveur and Break Away’s score of 79.

Bill Boyce’s 4.0-second day one steer wrestling time held up through another round of competition although Nick Guy of Sparta, Wisconsin pulled into second by subduing his steer in 4.7 seconds.

In team roping, the California duo of Spencer Mitchell and Justin Davis took over the top of the leaderboard in a blistering 5.9 seconds, a full second ahead of second place.

Barrel racer Mary Walker was one of just four cowgirls to compete on day two but she was awfully fast, taking the first ride and posting the weekend’s fastest time at 15.68 seconds. Kalispell’s Carissa Krueger completed the course in 16.72 seconds.

The rodeo concludes tonight with festivities scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo

Flathead County Fairgrounds

Friday

Bareback riding — 1. Justin Miller, Billings, 83 on Garden Party; 1. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Idaho, 83 on Cool Stars; 3. Casey Breuer, Mandan, North Dakota, 76; 4. Tucker Zingg, Glendive, 75.5; 5. Clayton Biglow, Clements, California, 74.5; 6. Kenny Haworth, Orofino, Idaho, 63.

Steer wrestling — 1. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wisconsin, 4.7; 2. Ethen Thouvenell, Hooper, Utah, 6.0; 2. Kane Cartwright, East Helena, 6.0; 4. Cody Kroul, Solon, Iowa, 8.9; 5. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nevada, 10.0.

Team roping — 1. Spencer Mitchell, Williams, California/Justin Davis, Cottonwood, California, 5.9; 2. Travis Winters, Joliet/Charlie Lenning, Warden, 9.9.

Saddle bronc riding — 1. Audy Reed, Spearman, Texas, 84.5 on Pocket Change; 2. Tanner Hollenback, Dillon, 82; 3. JC DeSaveur, Roberts, 79; 4. Cole Elshere, Faith, South Dakota, 76.5; 5. Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 74; 6. CJ Thoreson, Dillon, 71; 7. Colter Heckman, Choteau, 70.

Tie-down roping — 1. Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Washington, 10.0; 2. Ty Hedrick, Jackson, 10.9; 3. Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, 11.1; 3. Austin Barstow, Springview, Nebraska, 11.1.

Barrel racing — 1. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 15.68; 2. Deb Guelly, Okotoks, Alberta, 16.35; 3. Carissa Krueger, Kalispell, 16.72; 4. Molly Harding, Bozeman, 17.67.

Bull riding — 1. Colten Jesse, Konawa, Oklahoma, 81 on Twist and Shake; 1. Jared Parsonage, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, 81 on Magic Show; 3. Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Oklahoma, 80; 4. Hawk Whitt, Thermopolis, Wyoming, 59.