Helena Heros

Louisiana tie-down roper wins on favorite horse; Canadian cowboy takes bull riding buckle

Helena, Mont. – The 57th annual Last Chance Stampede came to a close on Saturday night, and tie-down roper Shane Hanchey came out a winner.

The Sulphur, La. roper had a time of 8.1 seconds to top the leaderboard and take home the trophy spurs.

It was aboard a horse that is relatively new to him, and a good partner.

Bam Bam, a fifteen-year-old sorrel he purchased last year from Mike Johnson, “did all the work,” Hanchey said of his run.

Bam Bam carried Hanchey on the last five of his runs at the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR), and is the perfect fit for the 2013 world champion. “I have a lot of confidence on him, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

The horse is similar to Hanchey’s his first horse, Reata, the exceptional horse that he got his start on, and competed on in high school and college. “Bam Bam reminds me of a younger version of Reata,” Hanchey said. “His timing, his stop, letting me throw my rope, letting me put my sight where I want it. I’ve got a confidence on him that I had on Reata when I was coming through the ranks, and it’s a great feeling.”

Reata is eighteen years old this year, and Hanchey is riding him a bit less, giving him a rest. But he and Reata teamed together for a $14,000 check at the Calgary Stampede a few weeks ago. “I’m slowing down with him,” Hanchey said. “He’s had a lot of miles on him in his career, a lot more than a lot of these cowboys. He doesn’t owe me nothing, and I’m grateful to him for where I am.”

The 27 year old cowboy is ranked third in the world standings and is having a great year, “honestly probably my best start-to-finish year. I usually struggle in the winter or in the spring, and I usually have to turn it on in the summer, but thankfully I was able to win second at San Antonio in the winter. It’s been fun.”

He credits his horses for the lack of slumps this year. “Honestly, it’s horsepower. Horsepower is so key in this sport, especially in the tie-down roping.”

And when Hanchey heads to the WNFR this December, it’ll be on Bam Bam. “I want to take advantage of our partnership, and let it continue to grow into December. Because that’s what we’re all shooting for, going to the National Finals.”

The bull riding title win went north, to a Canadian cowboy.

Jordan Hansen, Okotoks, Alberta, made an 82 point ride on Friday night aboard the Kesler Rodeo bull Slim City for his win.

The ride felt good, the 23 year old cowboy said. “I saw him one time, and I thought he spun to the left, but luckily I didn’t lean over there today, because he jumped in one spot and spun to the right. You can’t complain about bulls like that. They’re pretty smooth to ride, if you ask me.”

Hansen has had great success north of the border; he is the 2017 Canada Rodeo Association bull riding champion and qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo the last four years. Last year, his championship year, he sat out four months after surgery for a shattered ankle he suffered in Cheyenne, and still was able to win the title.

His success has brought confidence. “You know, last year, I was just another guy, I felt like.” Now he’s gunning for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “This year, I’m in the top twenty in the world (standings), trying to make a run at the (National) Finals.”

He grew up dreaming of competing at the WNFR. “As a kid, I grew up watching the NFR on TV, and that has always been my goal. I remember watching (1995 world champion) Jerome Davis a lot. I just liked his style. He was definitely one I followed quite a bit, along with (PBR world champion) Michael Gaffney and (two-time PBR world champion) Justin McBride. Those are guys I looked up to for a long time, and still do.”

Other 2017 Last Chance Stampede champions include bareback rider JR Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. (85 points), steer wrestler Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La (3.9 seconds); team ropers Cody Tew, Belgrade, Mont. and Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., and barrel racer Shelly Anzick, Shepherd, Mont. (17.29 seconds).

Sterling Crawley broke the arena record in the saddle bronc riding with his 88 point ride to win the ’17 title. Bull rider Jordan Hansen bested the field to win the title with a score of 82; he was one of only three bull riders to make qualified rides during the rodeo.

The all-around title went to Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas. He won the custom designed elk ivory ring valued at over $2,600.

The 58th annual Last Chance Stampede and Fair will be July 25-28, 2018.

For more information on the Stampede, visit LastChanceStampede.com. For complete rodeo results, visit ProRodeo.com.

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Final results, Last Chance Stampede, Helena, Mont. July 27-29, 2017.

All-around champion: Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas

Bareback riding champion: JR Vezain, Cowley, Wyo.
1. JR Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. 85 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Western Star; 2. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah 82.5; 3. Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont. 81 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Treasure Island; 4. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 79; 5. Kenny Haworth, Orofino, Ida. 76; 6. (tie) Chase Erickson, Helena, Mont. and Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas 75 each; 8.Trenten Montero, Winnemucca, Nev. 74.

Steer wrestling champion: Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La.
1. Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La. 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas and Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La. 4.0 seconds each; 4. (tie) Sterling Lambert, Fallon, Nev. and Trevin Baumann, 4.2 seconds each; 6. (tie) Justin Schaffer, Hallsville, Texas, Jacob Shofner, Huntsville, Texas and Trevin Fox, Browning, Mont. 4.3 each.

Team Roping champions: Cody Tew, Belgrade, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont.
1. Cody Tew, Belgrade, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont. 5.3 seconds;
2. (tie) Shay Carroll, Prineville, Ore./Nano Garza, Las Cruces, N.M. and Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 5.7 seconds each; 4. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 5.8;5. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas 5.9; 6. Pace Freed, Chubbuck, Ida./Jade Anderson, Genola, Utah 6.0; 7. Ryan Reed, Farmington, Calif./Cody Pearson, Tucson, Ariz. 6.1; 8. DElon Parker, Worden, Mont./Ryan Zurcher, Powell, Wyo. 6.6; 9. Shanne Schwenke, Zortman, Mont./Jesse Fleming, Wolf Point, Mont. 6.7; 10. Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont./Brett Fleming, Worden, Mont. 6.9.

Saddle bronc riding champions:
1. Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 88 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Navajo Sun; 2. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas 87.5; 3. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah 84.5; 4. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 82; 5. Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah 79; 6. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 78; 7. Keenan Reinhardt, Cochrane, Alb. 77; 8. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont. 75.

Tie-down roping champion: Sane Hanchey, Sulphur, La.
1. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 8.1 seconds; 2. Logan Hofer, Magrath, Alb. 9.7; 3. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 10.2; 4. Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, Mont. 10.3; 5. (tie) Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont. and Chad Johnson, Cut Bank, Mont. 10.6; 7. Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M. 10.8; 8. Robert Mathis, Mart, Texas 10.9.

Barrel racing champion: Shelly Anzick, Shepherd, Mont.
1. Shelly Anzick, Shephrd, Mont. 17.29 seconds; 2. Holly Wright, Gruver, Texas 17.40; 3. Brittany Pozzi Taylor, Victoria, Texas 17.41; 4. Heather Knerr, Great Falls, Mont. 17.51; 5. Mandy Hamilton, Manhattan, Mont. 17.73; 6. Kellie Collier, Hereford, Texas 17.88; 7. Keira Simonson, Loring, Mont. 17.91; 8. Callie Wollenburg, Red Lodge, Mont. 17.95; 9. Ashley Sudan, Whitefish, Mont. 17.96; 10. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, Mont. 17.97; 11. Rene Coninger, Helena, Mont. 18.01; 12. Lindsay Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 18.04.

Bull riding champion: Jordan Hansen, Okotoks, Alberta
1. Jordan Hansen, Okotoks, Alb. 82 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Slim City; 2.Guy Nordahl, Huntley, Mont. 81; Edgar Durazo, Montezuma, Mexico 72.

** All results are unofficial. Visit Prorodeo.com for results and LastChanceStampede.com for fair and rodeo information.