News and Notes from the Rodeo Trail, April 11
by ProRodeo.com | Apr 11, 2016
The Wrangler Network will be live streaming rodeo action from the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up April 16-17. Coverage of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour presented by Justin Boots silver rodeo begins at 2:30 p.m. (PT) April 16, and at 1:30 p.m. (PT) April 17. Go to www.wranglernetwork.com to watch.
18-time Steer Roping World Champion Guy Allen won the April 9-10 Ron Ross Memorial Steer Roping in Liberty Hill, Texas, ending a four-year PRCA victory drought. Allen, 57, posted an average time of 64.0 seconds on five head, which was nearly seven seconds better than second-place Cody Lee. It was Allen’s first PRCA win since 2012, when he was tops at the Austin County Fair & Rodeo (Bellville, Texas). While Allen took home the title and a total of $10,479, Lawson Plemons made a 9.3-second run in the third round in Liberty Hill, which is the fastest of the 2016 rodeo season. The previous top time was a 9.5 by Lee at the Austin County Fair and Rodeo last October.
Five-time World Champion Bareback Rider Bruce Ford has released a book called “Walk Like A Man.” The book is 80 pages and serves as a biography of sorts for the 19-time WNFR qualifier and ProRodeo Hall of Famer. It includes stories from the rodeo road, as well as many of the life-altering events Ford has survived over the years. It’s available on Amazon.
Two Fort Hays (Kan.) State University students have been awarded scholarships courtesy of the Phillipsburg (Kan.) Rodeo Association. MariKate Crouch and Matt Rezac have both received $500 scholarships for their schooling at FHSU. Crouch is studying accounting and is scheduled to graduate in May 2018. She is a member of the FHSU rodeo team, competing as a breakaway roper and team roper. Rezac is majoring in animal science, and competes in team roping. Both qualified for the Kansas State High School Finals Rodeo before attending FHSU.
The 50th annual Fort Hays State University Rodeo took place April 8-10, and it featured the first ever college rodeo bullfights, which followed the rodeo performances April 9-10.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I never thought this would happen, and I didn’t think I would still be rodeoing when they were old enough to go. It’s just something that happened, and all of a sudden Rusty was ready to go, and then Ryder came up. God willing, with some good luck, I’ll still be going when Stetson turns 18 next July.”
-Two-time Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Cody Wright talking about how unexpected it is to be rodeoing on the PRCA circuit with two of his sons
Courtesy of PRCA