Daily Archives: January 16, 2010

Bull rider Cody Stephens died about 6:30 p.m. today.

He was 23, from Cherryvale, Kan., and suffered acute myeloid leukemia.

A story in Friday’s Star told how world champion barrel racer Lindsay Sears hurried from Texas to be with Cody at the University of Kansas Hospital. The two had never met in person, but she had recently learned of his crush on her.

She went to his bedside Wednesday, and they talked for hours about rodeoing and their love for horses.

When Cody sank off to sleep Friday afternoon, his parents told Sears the end was near. It was OK for her to go.

Sears offered to stay, but then went home to Lubbock; she had horses to tend to.

Cody would understand. (link)

A year ago, Theresa Walter took all their money.

At her first Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls, Walter and her horse Licorice swept all three rounds of barrel racing and the average for more than $7,000. It was the most won by a single-event competitor in the history of the MPRC Finals.

Walter will be hard-pressed for an encore this weekend.

“You don’t,’’ Walter said of putting together a repeat performance. “I was really surprised how well we did. It was Licorice’s first time in that type of competition … big crowds, loud music, small arena.’’

Walter and Licorice return to Four Seasons Arena this weekend for the 31st annual MPRC Finals. The three-day rodeo, which features the top 12 in each event, concludes Sunday afternoon.

The year-end and Finals champions earn trips to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo this April in Pocatello, Idaho.

Last year, Walter qualified for the DNCFR by winning the MPRC Finals. She was second to Lindsay Knaff in the 2008 year-end standings. Knaff had won the MPRC year-end title before the Finals had even started.

This year, the roles are reversed as Walter is virtually assured the year-end championship. Knaff is second in the standings.

“I’ll enjoy the year-end when it’s over,’’ said Walter, who is the executive secretary for the Northern Rodeo Association. “I just want to do the same thing as last year, have consistent trips every time out. I’m going in with the same game plan, one run at a time.’’ (read more)

GREAT FALLS — Chase Tryan figured if he had a chance at making a living competing in one rodeo after another, this season was as good as any to start.

The Helena native skipped returning to Montana State University in the fall to live with his cousin, former world champ Clay Tryan, in Lipan, Texas, to try his hand at the big time as a heeling roper.

After a successful season, Chase Tryan is returning home to join up with the top performers in the Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals tonight in Great Falls. Competition at the three-day event begins at 7 p.m.

“I had a good fall and I got into the big rodeos, and it’s always been a dream of mine to rodeo for a living, so I figured this was a good opportunity to start,” he said. “I took a different route, I didn’t go back to school. I went south to Texas to rope.”

Tryan was heading north with longtime roping partner Cody Tew on Wednesday after competing in a rodeo in Odessa. While Tryan’s been competing with Matt Robertson in Texas, he said he’s had plenty of practice with Tew, who decided to attend college in the Lonestar State.

“I got a pretty good idea what’s going to go down when he catches,” Tryan said. (read more)