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O’Connell’s Winning Ways Continue at San Antonio Rodeo

By Susan Kanode
For the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo

O’Connell’s winning ways continue at San Antonio Rodeo

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Tim O’Connell is having the ride of his life and that is a good thing for a man who makes a living eight seconds at a time on the back of a bucking horse.

O’Connell is having the best winter of his three years as a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and leads the world standings. He won the second round of bracket 1 at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo and now is assured a spot in the semi-finals. Four contestants out of each bracket in each event will advance based on their earnings. O’Connell has collected $3,136 here so far with one more round to go. He is also just coming off of a big win at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

“This rodeo is awesome,” he said. “There is so much money up for grabs. I love the format. At other rodeos if you make one mistake, it will take you out. Here, because of the format, there is a better opportunity.”

The former college champion didn’t make any mistakes in the AT&T Center on Friday night. He rode a Beutler and Son horse named Empty Pockets for 87 points and $2,281.

“There is a lot more to that horse than meets the eye,” he said. “I really think she hates men. She tries to bite you when you are getting on. I tried to get out on her as quick as I could. She’s a typical Beutler horse. She just really bucks and that’s the kind of horses they raise.”

It was not the first meeting for O’Connell and Empty Pockets. He had previously ridden the mare to a score of 85 points at a rodeo in Lawton, Okla., and was both excited and prepared for the ride here. After his ride in the third round Saturday afternoon, he will be flying to Marshall, Mo., where he is currently living with his wife Sami who works for Missouri Valley College. The two were married last October and want to spend Valentine’s Day together. After a couple of days at home, he will be headed back on the rodeo trail.

Growing up in Zwingle, Iowa, O’Connell credits much of his success to Three Hills Rodeo Company from Bernard, Iowa. He got on many practice horses at their facility and had some expert advice during the process. Three Hills is just one of 18 stock contractors that are providing livestock here.

There are two performances at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo on Saturday. The third round of bracket 1 will start at 1 p.m. The first round of bracket 2 begins at 7:30 p.m.

The following are results after the second performance of the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo which features over $1.65 million in cash and prizes.

Bracket 1, round 2 followed by total money —

Bareback Riding: 1, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 87 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Empty Pockets, $2,281. 2, Kyle Brennecke, Stephenville, Texas, 79, $1,711. 3, (tie) Jamie Howlett, Snyder, Texas, and Luke Creasy, Lovington, N.M., 78 and $855 each. (total money) 1, O’Connell, $3,136. 2, Brennecke, $2,566. 3, Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif., $2,281. 4, Tyler Waltz, Martin, Tenn., $1,710.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Matt Mousseau, Hensall, Ontario, 4.1 seconds, $2,281. 2, (tie) Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., and J.D. Struxness, Appleton, Minn., 4.5 and $1,426 each. 4, Blaine Jones, Templeton, Calif., 5.0, $570. (total money) 1, Struxness, $3,421. 2, Mousseau, $2,281. 3, Tommy Cook, McAlester, Okla., $1,996. 4, Guy, $1,426.

Team Roping: 1, Rhen Richard, Ro and Cole Davison, Roosevelt, Utah, 4.7 seconds, $2,281. 2, Joel Bach, San Augustine, Texas, and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas, 4.9, $1,711. 3, (tie) Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash.; and Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz.; 5.0 and $855 each. (total money) 1, Bach and Koontz, $3,422. 2, Richard and Davison, $2,851. 3, Garrett Rogers, Baker City, Ore., and Jake Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., $2,281. 4, David Key, Stephenville, Texas, and Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif., $1,141.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, 81 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Cimmaron Jack, $2,281. 2, Dean Wadsworth, Ozona, Texas, and Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 78, $1,426 each. 4, (tie) Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, and Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 75, $285. (total money) 1, Larsen, $2,566. 2, (tie) Crawley, and Wadsworth, $2,281. 4, Ben Londo, San Luis Obispo, Calif., $1,711.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Randall Carlisle, Athens, La., 8.4 seconds, $2,281. 2, Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 8.5, $1,171. 3, Stetson Vest, Childress, Texas, 8.8, $1,141. 4, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 9.6, $570. (total money) 1, Vest, $3,422. 2, (tie) Carlisle and Williams, $2,281. 4, Clark, $1,710.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 13.78 seconds, $2,281. 2, Kelley Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo., 13.93, $1,711. 3, Ivy Conrado, Hudson, Colo., 13.96, $1,141. 4, Sherrylynn Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., 13.99, $570. (total money) 1, (tie) Conrado and Schnaufer, $3,421. 3, Ganter, $2,281. 4, Megan Mariluch, Daingerfield, Texas, 14.18, $1,141.

Bull Riding: 1, Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 85 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Spin Bo, $2,281. 2, (tie) Adam Jamison, Canada, and Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., 78 and $1,426 each. 4, Lane Selz, Bakersfield, Calif., 76, $570. (total money) 1, Frost, $3,422. 2, Cody Rostockyj, Lorena, Texas, $2,281. 3, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, $1,711. 4, (tie) Jamison and Asay, $1,426.

Courtesy of PRCA

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