2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
Round 2 HighlightsFriday, December 1st
Round 2 is always interesting in the NFR, now that the cowboys and cowgirls have shaken off the nerves we can begin to see who's hot and who's not. It's still early, but to have a good NFR a rodeo competitor needs solid rides and runs over the whole ten-day stretch.
Bareback Riding:
A good pen of horses awaited the bareback bronc riders in Round 2. Wes Stevenson rode through a couple of big swoops that Sports Select threw at him. Chris Harris got tossed to the ground in spectacular style by Sundowner but the winning ride was Jess Davis on Painted Smile.
Will Lowe has opened up his lead a little on second place Andy Martinez.
Round 2 Bareback Results:
1 Jess Davis - 86 points on Painted Smile
2 Wes Stevenson - 80 on Sports Select
3 Royce Ford - 78 on Cool Water
3 Ryan Gray - 78 on Phoenix Vest
5 Kelly Timberman - 77.5 on Ladies Man
5 Will Lowe - 77.5 on Tipped Off
Steer Wrestling:
Shawn Greenfield, Lee Graves, and Wade Sumpter all made nice runs in Round 2. But it would be bad luck for K.C. Jones (broke the barrier to take a 14.7), Gabe Ledoux (a faulty haze causing him to miss his steer), and Drew Melvin who took a tumble and possibly injured his right shoulder.
But the worst luck of all was reserved for Ronnie Fields, who found out that the Thomas and Mack Arena really is small when he and AQHA Horse of the Year, Zan chased a fast moving steer down to the bucking chutes. He reined in a little too late and Zan had to quickstep and shoulder check into the fence to stop his motion. Fields was unable to wrestle his steer and took a no-time.
This race is squeaky close and is anyone's game. The average will decide it most likely.
Round 2 Steer Wrestling Results:
1 Shawn Greenfield - 3.7 seconds
2 Lee Graves - 4.1
2 Wade Sumpter - 4.1
4 Jason Lahr - 4.3
5 Stockton Graves - 4.6
6 Dean Gorsuch - 4.8
Team Roping:
The team roping has been sloppy and terrible for some reason with scores of 9 seconds placing in the money. The winning times got a little better but for the most part these masters of the loop seem frazzled.
Matt Sherwood still holds the lead in the standings for the headers by only about $5,000 but my boy Walt Woodard (we’re from the same area in California) slipped to second place, $10,000 behind Allen Bach.
Round 2 Team Roping Results:
1 Chad Masters / Allen Bach - 4.5 seconds
2 Garrett Tonozzi / Brady Minor - 4.9
3 Trevor Brazile / Rich Skelton - 5.8
4 Joe Beaver / Cole Bigbee - 8.1
5 Shain Sproul / Cory Petska– 9.2
6 Matt Sherwood / Walt Woodard - 9.3
Saddle Bronc Riding:
The saddle bronc riders didn't have an easy time of it in Round 2. Only half the riders made the whistle with the big names, Rusty Allen, Billy Etbauer, Cody DeMoss, and Glen O'Neill all earning the big 0, as the rank pen lived up to expectations.
Dan Mortensen made a sweet ride on Knight Rocket who threw plenty TV worthy moves at Mortensen. But by far the best action of the night and of the whole NFR so far was Glen O'Neill getting absolutely flung by Faded Star who has remained unconquered for almost 2-years. If you only catch one replay of an NFR round then go for Round 2 just for this buck off. All O'Neill could do was tip his hat, Awesome!
Cody DeMoss holds the top spot but Mortensen and Chad Ferley have a definite shot at it.
Round 2 Saddle Bronc Results:
1 Dan Mortensen - 87.5 points on Knight Rocket
2 Bradley Harter - 84 on Billings
3 Jeff Willert - 83 on Painted Feathers[br
4 Rod Hay - 81 on Paper and Fire
5 JJ Elshere - 75 on Raveen
6 Bobby Griswold - 70 on Jack Knife
Tie-down Roping:
Cody Ohl took his first round victory of the NFR and looks like he'll be hard to beat. Fred Whitfield's pinched nerve in his neck might be effecting him more than previously thought.
The World Championship is Cody Ohl's to loose.
Round 2 Tie-Down Results:
1 Cody Ohl - 7.2 seconds
2 Hunter Herrin - 7.6
3 Joe Beaver - 8.1
4 Ryan Jarrett - 8.3
5 Trevor Brazile - 8.3
6 Monty Lewis - 8.8
Barrel Racing:
Beside being treating to a little feature about Charmayne James cloning Scamper, barrel racing fans witnessed several smoking runs gave us multiple lead changes on Friday night. Kelly Maben turned in the winning run, while Kelly Kaminski made a costly mistake by breaking the pattern and receiving a no-time. This will definitely hurt her in the average and I don’t think she’ll be a repeat World Champion.
Round 2 Barrel Racing Results:
1 Kelly Maben - 13.72 seconds
2 Shelly Anzick - 13.95
3 Tammy Key - 13.99
4 Sherry Cervi - 14.01
5 Mary Burger - 14.04
6 Brandie Halls - 14.05
Bull Riding:
What can be said about the bull riding in Round 2? Domination comes to mind. The bull riders owned a difficult pen of bulls that included 2006 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year - Biloxi Blues, Smokeless Wardance, and Copperhead Slinger. Nine riders made a score. With Zeb Lanham making a heart-pounding ride on everybody's favorite black and white bull, Smokeless Wardance.
Jarrod Craig deserves a mention for his great ride and also for the neck stomping he took from Copperhead Slinger after the dismount.
Sonny Murphy is out for the rest of the NFR due to fractures in his vertebrae and Matt Austin had a difficult buck off on Cooper and had to be helped from the arena.
Round 2 Bull Riding Results:
1 Zeb Lanham - 94.5 points on Smokeless Wardance
2 B.J. Schumacher - 93.5 on Sir Patrick
3 Fred Boettcher - 92.5 on Fender Bender
4 Dustin Elliott - 89.5 on Sports Machine
4 J.W. Harris - 89.5 on Super Duty
4 Jarrod Craig - 89.5 on Copperhead Slinger
What a night, what round, what a rodeo! Next stop Round 3...