Cnockaert column: Luck of the draw not so lucky

By JIM CNOCKAERT Chronicle Sports Writer

Some final thoughts on last weekend's Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls:

* Every cowboy, no matter what the event, talks about the importance of his draw. Invariably, they say, it is the biggest make-or-break deal in terms of their success.

Belgrade bareback rider Andy Bolich's experiences at the Circuit Finals the past two years provides a case in point.

Bolich drew three bad horses last year, and it almost cost him the year-end championship. This year, he drew a familiar horse on Friday night, a solid horse on Saturday and a mercurial one that proved to be spectacular on Sunday. The result: The steady Bolich, who rarely messes up a ride, won the first and last go-rounds, won the average and easily won the year-end title for a third consecutive season.

On the flip side was Three Forks' Wade Black. He drew a horse on Sunday with a decent reputation, but rather than buck right out of the gate, it took off across the arena as if it was running in the Kentucky Derby. When it finally did buck, Black wasn't ready and wound up with a face full of dirt before the eight-second buzzer.

There wasn't a competitor at the rodeo who hadn't had a similar experience. As Bozeman's Derry McLane put it: "Horse are just like people. They have different days, too."

Still, few cowboys understand that assessment better than Black. A graduate equine science student at Montana State, he teaches colt breaking and colt training classes. He has to have a lot of "horse sense" to do that.

* Cowboys have a big say in the rough stock used at the Circuit Finals, and that helps to keep the competition as even as possible.

But, as former MSU bareback rider Troy Solomon explains, the pens have a character of their own from night to night, and it tends to be the same each year.

The Friday night pen is made up of "hoppers," good horses, but not the cream of the crop. Saturday night features the "eliminators," the rankest horses of the bunch. Sunday features a "TV" pen, horses that will deliver a high-scoring ride but that also will buck off a cowboy who makes a mistake.

It pretty much played out that way, particularly on Saturday night in the saddle bronc.

Only two cowboys completed their rides, and there were some nasty spills.

Assessing one spectacular wreck after the performance was over, a judge remarked: "Jesus Christ couldn't have ridden that horse."

* There were year-end and average championships on the line Sunday afternoon, but cowboys still managed to find a way to be football fans.

A small television set up right next to the warm-up pen at Four Seasons Arena is usually hooked up to the close-circuit feed from the arena. It's a good way for folks, especially the barrel racers, to keep track of the competition while they wait for their turn.

On Sunday, one enterprising and technically-savvy cowboy figured out how to tune the TV into the NFL playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts. And just that quickly, that small corner of the arena became a favorite cowboy hangout.

* The Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit has been bringing its Finals to Great Falls for three decades, but with the two-year contract between the Circuit and management firm that oversees Four Seasons Arena for Cascade County up for negotiation, there was some speculation during the weekend how long the Finals might remain in the Electric City.

Circuit officials acknowledge that other communities have expressed interest in holding the event, but that might just be some early posturing to gain some leverage when negotiations start. It's hard to imagine, given that it plays to enthusiastic sellout crowds, that the rodeo would go elsewhere.

Still, it's intriguing to think about bringing the Finals to MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, which is home to the best regular-season rodeo in the country.

The fieldhouse is a proven venue, with great seats across the board. For years, it was home to the College National Finals Rodeo.

Making a rodeo work during the Bobcats' winter basketball schedules would take some doing, however. When the men are gone, the women are home, and vice-versa. Based on experience with the MSU Spring Rodeo, getting the place set up for a three-day run takes over the fieldhouse for at least a week. That's a tough hurdle to overcome.

* Belgrade bullfighter Al Sandvold started calling Vaughn saddle bronc rider Tyrell Smith by a new nickname: "Blue."

Asked to explain, Sandvold said that Smith's dad, stock contractor John ES Smith, is always joking about what store he purchased his kids. When asked about Tyrell, Smith says he got him at one of Kmart's blue-light specials.

Hence, the nickname.

Considering the way Smith was getting tossed head-first off his rides last weekend - one of his dad's horses, called Turtle Dove, launched him across the arena on Saturday night - a more appropriate nickname might be: "Black & Blue."

Jim Cnockaert is at jcnockaert@dailychronicle.com and at 582-2690.

FINAL RESULTS

BAREBACK

Sunday's Go-1. Andy Bolich, Belgrade on Brookman Rodeo Co's Kid Rock, 84, $1280.49; 2. Dale Stoller, Great Falls, 83, $960.37; 3. Derry McLane, Bozeman, 80, $640.24; 4. Ben Wrzesinski, Boulder, 79, $320.12; Others-Troy Solomon, Havre, 76; Scott Owens, Toston, 76; Buck Lunak, Cut Bank, 75; Randy VandenBos, Valier, 70; Colter Davis, Boulder, 67; John Collins, Lewistown, 66; Collin Erb, Great Falls, 60; No Score- Kyle Orr, Great Falls

MPRF Average-1. Andy Bolich, 242, $1920.73; 2. (tie) Scott Owens and Ben Wrzesinski, 231, $1200.46 each; 4. Troy Solomon, 228, $480.18.

Year-end Standings-1. Andy Bolich $12,308.02; 2. Scott Owens $7,296.29

DNCFR Qualifers--Andy Bolich, Scott Owens.

TEAM ROPING

Sunday's Go-1. Matt Robertson, Augusta-John Robertson, Polson, 4.3, $1280.49; 2. Brady Tryan, Huntley-Justin Tom, Lodge Grass, 4.8, $960.37; 3. Ryan Siemsen, Huntley-Chase Gauger, Bozeman, 5.1, $640.24; 4. Cody Tew, Belgrade-Kory Mytty, Lolo, 6.4, $320.12; Others-Brant Davis, Sand Coulee-Spider Ramone, Hays, 6.5; Delon Parker, Billings-Sid Sporer, Cody, WY, 7.9; Scot Strauser,Havre-Chris Barthelmess, Malta, 10.4; Mark Salmond, Choteau-Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 23.7; No Times-Damon Ward, Darby-Tim Garrison, Divide; Cleve Fuller, Augusta-Jordan Handy, Chinook; Shane Schwenke, Harlem-Marty Becker, Edmonton, AB; Jason Handy, Shepherd-Ike Folsom, Jackson

MPRF Average-1. Matt Robertson-John Robertson, 19.4, $1920.73; 2. Cody Tew-Kory Mytty, 21.6, $1440.55; 3. Brant Davis-Spider Ramone, 24.4, $960.37; 4. Brady Tryan-Justin Tom, 26.3, $480.18

Year-end Standings-(Header) 1. Cody Tew $10,857.82; 2. Matt Robertson $10,702.30. (Heeler) 1. Kory Mytty $15,415.05; 2. John Robertson $10,702.30

DNCFR Qualifiers-Cody Tew-Kory Mytty; Matt Robertson-John Robertson

STEER WRESTLING

Sunday's Go-1. Shawn Downing, Silver Star, 4.4, $1280.49; 2. Gary Zipperian, Clancy, 6.4, $960.37; 3. John Gee, Stanford, 7.4, $640.24; 4. Nick Stubblefield, Helena, 7.7, $320.12; Others-Jim Garrison, Glen, 8.6; Ken Holland, Dillon, 9.5; Josh Granell, Havre, 9.7; Shannon Blixt, Helena, 16.0; Pete Peterson, Ryegate, 18.3; No times-Jesse Peterson, Dillon; Jabe Anderson, Dillon

MPRF Average-1. Josh Granell 22.1, $1920.73; 2. Ken Holland, 25.0, $1440.55; Nick Stubblefield, 26.1, $960.37; Pete Peterson, 27.8, $480.18

Year-end Standings-1. Shawn Downing, 10,031.80; 2. Josh Granell $8,920.79

DNCFR Qualifiers-Shawn Downing and Josh Granell

SADDLE BRONC

Sunday's Go-1. Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, on Sankey Rodeo Co.'s Side Show, 84, $1280.49; 2. Jake Costello, Newell, SD, 83, $960.37; 3. Gary Pimperton, Belt, 82, $640.24; 4. (tie) Adam Bink, Sun River, and James Irish, Lewistown, 81, $160.06 each; Others-Reed Hunsucker, Dillon, 78; Josh Reynolds, Corvallis, 75; Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, 66; No Score-Shane Moran, Roundup; Wade Black, Three Forks; Doug Kallenberger

MPRF Average-1. Jake Costello 237, $1920.73; 2. Josh Reynolds 235, $1440.55; 3. Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, 164, $960.37; 4. (tie) James Irish and Gary Pimperton, 162, $240.09 each

Year-end Standings-1. Jake Hayworth $15,307.72; 2. Josh Reynolds $13,478.31

DNCFR Qualifiers-Jake Hayworth and Jake Costello

TIE-DOWN ROPING

Sunday's Go-1. Shawn Dunagan, Whitehall, 9.4, $1280.49; 2. J.C. Crowley, Poplar, 9.5, $960.37; 3. Marty Becker, Edmonton, AB, 10.4, $640.24; 4. Tate Woodard, Geyser, 11.4, $320.12; Others-Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, 11.6; Josh Graff, Bozeman, 12.1; Chad Johnson, Cut Bank, 14.4; Jody Wacker, Melstone, 18.9; Ryle Harms, Livingston, 20.7; No Times-Travis Caldwell, Billings; Bill Boyce, Lewistown; Chance Bernall, Dillon

MPRF Average-1. Marty Becker, 29.6, $1920.73; Tate Woodard, 32.1, $1440.55; 3. Chad Johnson, 32.6, $960.37; 4. Bryant Mikkelson, 34.8, $480.18

Year-end standings-1. Chad Johnson $11,202.57; 2. Marty Becker $9224.91

DNCFR Qualifiers-Chad Johnson and Marty Becker

BARREL RACING

Sunday's Go-1. Shelley Murphy, Helena, 13.31, $1280.49; 2. Mercede Knudson, Great Falls, 13.53, $960.37; 3. Mikell Hougen, Melstone, 13.57, $640.24; 4. Maria Gee, Stanford, 13.70, $320.12; Others-Lauren Watson, Geyser, 13.76; Julie Lenoir, Helena, 13.83; Lindsay Knaff, Winston, 13.94; Lori Dunagan, Whitehall, 14.05; Donna Johnson, Belt, 14.06; Charlotte Barry, Cut Bank, 19.93; Danna Jo Whitford, Browning, 23.65; Shelly Anzick, Livingston, No Time.

MPRF Average-1. Shelley Murphy 39.97, $1920.73; 2. Maria Gee 40.44, $1440.55; 3. Mercede Knudson, 40.96, $960.37; 4. Mikell Hougen, 41.00, $480.18

Year-end Standings-1. Shelley Murphy $20,553.74; 2. Lindsay Knaff $14,749.09

DNCFR Qualifiers-Shelley Murphy and Lindsay Knaff

BULL RIDING

Sunday's Go-1. (tie) Richard Bird, Cut Bank, on Kesler's 208 and Matt Aipperspach, Ronan, on Brookman‘s Banana Daiquiri, 85, $1120.43 each; 3. Nathan Hofer, Billings, 76, $640.24; 4. Cole Burman, Glendive, 69, $320.12; No score-Tyler Johnston, Bridger; Levi Hendrickson, Arlee; Brett Crump, Havre; Cody Buller, Glendive; Tyler Taillon, Great Falls; Bob Voegel, Great Falls; Mike Strong, Livingston; Chase Edward, Billings

MPRF Average-1. Richard Bird 167, $1920.73; 2. Cody Buller 164, $1440.55; 3. Matt Aipperspach 157, $960.37; 4. Cole Burman 150, $480.18

Year-end Standings-1. Tyler Johnston $11,235.75; 2. Cole Burman, $10,952.47

DNCFR Qualifiers-Tyler Johnston and Richard Bird

ALL-AROUND

Year-end Standings-1. Marty Becker, Edmonton, AB, $17,003.04; 2. Bill Boyce, Lewistown, $12,721.35

Circuit Finals-1. Marty Becker, Edmonton, AB, $3,841.46

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