Sisters Take Barrel Racing Lead; Two Tie for Tops in Steer Wrestling
Kristi Hansen’s time of 15.28 seconds leads the barrel racing at Mandan Rodeo Days in Mandan, N.D. Photo by Jackie Jensen
MANDAN, N.D. – Barrel racing sisters Nikki Steffes Hansen and Kristi Steffes moved into the first two slots at the 138th annual Mandan Rodeo Days Celebration, July 3.
Hansen, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, had the fastest run – 15.28 seconds – on her horse Sky. The South Dakota native who now lives in Dickinson, North Dakota, has had a busy year. She and her husband Alfred welcomed their first child, Elsie, about a month before Nikki competed at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kisssimmee, Florida in early April.
She experienced her first Mother’s Day (and Alfred his first Father’s Day). Her barrel racing has been going well, too. With tonight’s run she is currently placing at three of the four rodeos she’s competed in over the July 4 Cowboy Christmas period.
Her younger sister Kristi Steffes, the 2016 College National Finals Rodeo champion barrel racer, and her horse Capitan raced through the barrels in 15.37 to move into second place.
The lead also changed in steer wrestling with a pair of cowboys putting their steers on the ground in four seconds flat. Jake Kraupie of Bridgeport, Neb., was fourth to compete and the former Chadron State College cowboy took the lead. Five cowboys later, Jace Melvin of Fort Pierre, S.D, matched his effort. Melvin, the 2015 All-Around Rookie of the Year, moved to Texas to attend college and earned a B.S. in ag business at Tarleton State University.
The Mandan Rodeo Days Celebration continues tomorrow with a road race, a huge Fourth of July parade and the Art in the Park festival in downtown Mandan, and concludes with the 7:30 p.m. rodeo performance followed by the state’s largest fireworks display.
Jace Melvin slides to his steer en route to a 4.0 second time to tie for the lead at Mandan Rodeo Days in Mandan, N.D. Photo by Jackie Jensen
The following are unofficial leaders at the 138th annual Mandan Rodeo Days in Mandan, North Dakota, on Monday, July 3.
Monday, July 3, evening performance:
Bareback Riding: 1, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 84 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Rock River. 2, Tate Schwagler, Mandan, N.D., 81.5. 3, Cole Picton, Marshall, Mo., 80.5. 4, Wyatt Maines, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, 76.5.
Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie) Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., and Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 4.0 seconds. 3, Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 4.4. 4, Bridger Anderson, Carrington, N.D., 5.9.
Team Roping: 1, Kellan and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 4.5 seconds. 2, Lane Santos Karney, Cresta, Calif., and Dalton Pierce, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 5.5. 3, Brett Stuart, Bridgeport, Texas, and Wesley Johnson, Log Cabin, La., 6.1. 4, Quisto Lopez, Beeville, Texas, and Tres Arredondo, Refugio, Texas, 6.3.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, J J Elshere, Hereford, S.D., 84.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Tequila Gold. 2, Curtis Garton, Kaitaia, New Zealand, 81.5., 3, Lane Stirling, Buffalo, S.D., 79.5. 4, Joe Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev., 77.5.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 8.1 seconds. 2, Dennis Luetge, Hempstead, Texas, 9.2. 3, Dawson Johnson, Strathmore, Alberta, 13.0. 4, Tweety McBride, Brenham, Texas, 14.5.
Barrel Racing: 1, Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 15.28 seconds. 2, Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.37. 3, Jackie Schau, Almont, N.D., 15.46. 4, Hallie Fulton, Miller, S.D., 15.47.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Cole Melancon, Liberty, Texas, 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Moldy. 2, Miles Englebert, Burdock, S.D., 83. 3, Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 81.5.
Overall Leaders:
Bareback Riding: 1, Weston Garrett, Gillette, Wyo., 86 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Pulp Fiction. 2, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 84. 3, Tyler Waltz, Martin, Tenn., 83. 4, Blake Smith, Zap, N.D., 82.5, (tie) Tate Schwagler, Mandan, N.D., and Tanner Phipps, Dalton, Ga., 81.5.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Aaron Vosler, Cheyenne, Wyo., 3.7 seconds. 2, (tie) Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., and Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 4.0. 4, Jarret New, Wimberley, Texas, 4.1. 5, (tie) Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., and Sheldon Portwine, Dickinson, N.D., 4.3.
Tie-down Roping: 1, Logan Hofer, Magrath, Alberta, 8.5 seconds. 2, Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., 9.1. 3, Jon Peek, Bismarck, N.D., 9.2. 4, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 9.5. 5, Cole Robinson, Moorcroft, Wyo., 9.6. 6, Jade Lyon, Meadow, S.D., 9.9.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Chirrikawa. 2, Tyler Baeza, Mesquite, Nev., 84. 3, Lane Scheulke, Newell, S.D., 77.5. 4, Ty Manke, Hermosa, S.D., 76.5.
Team Roping: 1, Kellan and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 4.5 seconds. 2, (tie) J.B. and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., and Dylan Gordon, Comanche, Okla., and Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas, 4.8. seconds. 4, Delon Parker, Worden, Mont., and Ryan Zurcher, Powell, Wyo., 5.1. 5, Cale Markham, Vinita, Okla., and Austin Rogers, Crescent, Okla., 5.3. 6, Lane Santos Karney, Cresta, Calif., and Dalton Pierce, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 5.5. 7, Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D., and Ross Carson, Killdeer, N.D., 5.6. 8, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 5.8.
Barrel Racing: 1, Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 15.28 seconds. 2, Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.37. 3, Bobbi Grann, Sheyenne, N.D., 15.42. 4, Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 15.45. 5, Jackie Schau, Almont, N.D., 15.46. 6, Hallie Fulton, Miller, S.D., 15.47. 7, (tie) Carmel Wright, Roy, Mont., and Lacy Maier, Eagle Butte, S.D., 15.52. 9, Bailee Murnion, Bowman, N.D., 15.55. 10, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 15.56.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Cole Melancon, Liberty, Texas, 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Moldy. 2, Miles Englebert, Burdock, S.D., 83. 3, Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 81.5.
Courtesy of PRCA