Daily Archives: January 14, 2010

Jan 14, 2010 (Odessa American – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) — Fred Whitfield, of Hockley, has won seven calf roping world championships and the 1999 PRCA All-Around crown.

On Wednesday night, during the third performance of the 2010 SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo, the 42-year old showed the youngsters just how a world champion works an arena.

Making the nod and then have to wait an extra beat as his calf was slow out of the chute, Whitfield roped it, ran down the rope and then finished the run in 8.5 seconds to vault to the top spot in the tie-down roping first go.

Whitfield wasn’t the only roper Wednesday to crack the leaderboard as Blair Burk (10.2 seconds) and Stran Smith (10.4 seconds) moved into fifth and sixth, respectively, in the round.

– PAID OFF: The team ropers finished their first round of competition during slack Wednesday morning and afternoon and header David Key, of Caldwell, and heeler Rich Skelton, of Llano, were the top team with a 4.0-second run.

The victory was worth $2,421.71.

Finishing in a tie for second was Andrews’ JoJo Lemond and partner Randon Adams of Logandale, Nev., earning $1,947.90.

Lemond and Adams sit fourth in the second go round with a 4.4-second run, which is well off the time of 3.6 seconds that Travis Tryan and Michael Jones set during the performance Wednesday night. (read more)

FORT WORTH — What do a Hall of Fame pitcher, a Hollywood stuntman and a family of trick riders have in common?

They’ll be among the honorees inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame today.

Nolan Ryan, Dean Smith, Tom Reeves, the late James Jennings, Dr. James H. “Red” Duke Jr. and the Warvell family of Weatherford will join more than 70 other cowboy and cowgirl members of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Stockyards. Duke will receive the Rick Smith “Spirit of Texas” Award.

At the invitation-only event, the inductees’ memorabilia exhibits will be unveiled.

Nolan Ryan

Ryan, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and president of the Texas Rangers, is also a rancher.

“I feel very fortunate to have grown up in Texas and to be able to pursue one of my passions: having a ranch and raising cattle,” he said. “I am appreciative that the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame committee felt that some of my endeavors, such as my cattle operation and my involvement in the beef industry, reflect and help promote the Western lifestyle. It is truly an honor to be chosen as an inductee into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.”

He has been raising Beefmaster cattle since 1972 and started the Nolan Ryan Foundation with his wife, Ruth, in 1990 to benefit students in ranch management programs. (read more)

Delon Parker was in the practice pen Tuesday night.

He was also there Wednesday. And time and weather permitting, he plans to be there again today.

If Parker could, he would sneak in a few practice throws Friday before leaving for Great Falls.

Spending most of the spring, summer and fall in the practice pen is the reason Parker leads the team roping header standings going into this weekend’s Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls.

The 31st annual MPRC will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Four Seasons Arena. It features the top 12 in each event for the 2009 standings. The year-end and Finals winners qualify for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, in April.

Unlike previous years, when the MPRC Finals has been enveloped in sub-zero temperatures, mild weather is expected to greet the competitors.

“We might be roping in T-shirts,’’ Parker said.

The 24-year-old cowboy carries a lead of $2,305 over defending champion Matt Robertson of Augusta.

“Matt, he’s a scary guy to have behind you. He’s a bad dude,’’ Parker said with a chuckle.

Robertson is a former National Finals Rodeo qualifier and PRCA rookie of the year.

Parker will be roping with Sid Sporer, of Cody, Wyo., who won the team roping heeling title with Robertson a year ago. Robertson is with team roping heeling standings leader Justin Viles, of Cody, Wyo.

“We’re all good friends. That’s what makes it fun,’’ Parker said. (read more)

 Rodeo fans have been aware of Trevor Brazile since the day he joined the ranks of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assocation in 1996, his roping skills quickly earning him praise throughout the sport.

Still a student at Vernon College, Brazile split his time calf roping and team roping, both at the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association events and the various PRCA contests he traveled to each year.

Little did anyone know the groundwork that was being laid by the soft-spoken cowboy from Decatur.

In December, when the final bull left the arena at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and all the money had been counted, Brazile again stood at the top of the all-around standings for a record-tying seventh time, even with Odessa College’s Ty Murray as the only two cowboys with as many gold buckles.

“I’m so blessed that I get to do what I do, to be a cowboy every day,” Brazile said Tuesday during the Super Tuesday Roping competition at the Ector County Coliseum. “I get to take my family with me on the road to rodeos all around the country and that’s very special.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people after winning the seventh title that know how hard I worked to get to this stage and that makes me feel good, no doubt. I think that 2007, 2008 and 2009 are some of the best years that I’ve had out here, so hopefully we are in our prime and there are more ahead.” Another all-around crown is uncharted water for any member of the PRCA, Murray having retired from the organization and moved to the Professional Bull Riders Association after setting the mark. (read more)