Daily Archives: October 6, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Competition is intense when there is a lot on the line, and that will be the situation at the Heartland ProRodeo Championships, Oct. 9-17 at the Heart O’ Texas Coliseum in Waco.

Berths to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 3-12, in Las Vegas are on the line because the competition in Waco is the last one of the 2009 season prior to the world championships. In addition, PRCA Rookie of the Year titles in two events are up for grabs.

Throw in that total prize money of $471,000 is at stake, along with the Heartland buckles, and it sets the stage for a fantastic showdown in the Lone Star State. Just ask Texan Matt Reeves. The steer wrestler is unofficially $1,810 from making the Wrangler NFR. He is in the 16th spot and eyeing the 15th hole, held by Louisiana’s Gabe Ledoux. The Top 15 in the PRCA World Standings at the end of the season qualify for the Wrangler NFR.

“The best thing about Waco is I control my own destiny,” Reeves said. “I just have to go win something, and I figure that if I win second one time, I’m in, and I have two steers to do that on.” (read more)

CALGAY, ALBERTA — Americans fared well in the Canadian Tour Championships, Oct. 2-4 at the Calgary Corral. However, Shane Schwenke and Mike Beers did a little something extra. The duo roped their steer in 3.4 seconds — believed to be the fastest recorded time in competition.

“Before they announced our time, I yelled at Mike, ‘How fast were we?’ said Schwenke, a header from Montana. “Mike laughed and said, ‘That was fast.’”

The two tied the Canadian record of 3.7 seconds in the semifinal round, but never dreamed they could be 3.4 in the same arena 45 minutes later.

“That 3.7 was the fastest I’d ever been in my life,” said Schwenke, 42, who was riding Canadian champion Murray Linthicum’s gray horse, Roller.

The PRCA-sanctioned world record of 3.5 seconds is shared by five teams and was most recently tied by JoJo LeMond and Randon Adams (read more)

By MELINDA MASON

Real women: “But by and large, we are a marvelous sex!” Although Rex Harrison was referring to men when he sang those lyrics in My Fair Lady, I think they really better describe women. I am constantly amazed at what women accomplish — not because women are supposedly the weaker sex and thus shouldn’t be expected to achieve, but because they succeed by overcoming life’s obstacles in such innovative ways. And many times, it’s through pure determination.

Five such women will be honored at the 34th annual National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon celebrating extraordinary women who helped shape the American West from the mid-1800s to the present. (read more)