Daily Archives: February 4, 2010
Calgary Stampede change benefits Canadian bull riders
The invitation list for this summer’s bull riding at the Calgary Stampede has undergone a major overhaul.
And, as it happens, the new formula will benefit the Canadians.
Normally, nine of the 20 spots go to the leading nine money winners from the previous year’s Professional Bull Riders world standings.
But the PBR has scheduled a Ford Series event for Tulsa, Okla., during this year’s closing July 16-18 weekend of the Stampede. As a result of the conflict in dates, the Pueblo, Colo.-based outfit notified the Calgary rodeo committee it won’t release nine of its bull riders for the Stampede. It did agree to provide as many as three, but it’s doubtful they would include high-profile riders such as Colorado’s reigning world champion Kody Lostroh, North Carolina’s No. 2-ranked J.B. Mauney, who won the Stampede last year, or Brazil’s 2008 world champion Guiherme Marchi.
The three who will be made available for the Stampede won’t be named until sometime in late May. (read more)
Posted in Rodeo News
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Oklahoma woman walked away from corporate life to follow her rodeo dream – Tana Poppino
*Photo Credit FORT WORTH — Tana Poppino spent 20 years as a media and marketing executive for an Oklahoma utility company. She earned a steady salary. Good benefits. Lots of vacation.
And she walked away.
“It just wasn’t my dream, plain and simple,” she says.
Her dream was professional rodeo barrel racing, a future she first envisioned as a child competing in youth rodeos while growing up on her family’s ranch.
Since quitting her job four years ago, Poppino qualified in 2006 and 2007 for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Her rodeo Web site says she has more than $300,000 in career earnings.
The 46-year-old is competing this week at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
“Most people thought I was really crazy,” she said. “But I just felt peace. If I hadn’t done it, I would have spent the rest of my life wondering if I could have made it rodeoing.” (read more)
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