From Staff Reports
The second night of bareback riding saw a battle between the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association's top two riders, with No. 2 besting No. 1.
Second-ranked Heath Ford's Thursday night bareback effort received a score of 81 to become the rodeo leader after two nights. That topped Tim Shirley's 78-point ride Wednesday night. Other bareback rides Thursday included a score of 79 by Steven Anding and scores of 77 by Snyder's Jared Smith and top-ranked bareback rider Clint Cannon, of Waller, Texas.
The night's best bull riding scores were turned in by Cory McFadden, of Coleman, Texas, and South Dakota's Clay Hindman, who each earned a 79 from the judges. But those scores were short of Wednesday night's top score of 84 posted by Ardie Maier. PRCA's sixth-ranked bull rider Tate Stratton's successful ride registered a 78 Thursday night.
Thursday night's saddle bronc event also produced a new leader when Sam Spreadborough, also of Snyder and ranked 25th by the PRCA, stayed on and scored an 82, besting the previous night's 80 scores put up by Kobyn Williams and Tol Cawley. Wes Burns' Thursday night saddle bronc ride earned the Stephenville cowboy an 81 from the judges, while Clayton Ziebell and Gladewater's Todd Rangel scored 77 and 75, respectively.
In tie-down roping, Decatur competitor Clint Cooper's Thursday night best of 8.7 seconds did not top Wednesday's 8.4-second performance by Landon McClaugherty. The 14th-ranked Cooper's top time Thursday was followed by 9 seconds from George Rowland, from Paradise, and 10.2 seconds from Sweetwater's Boyd Brooks.
Steer wrestler Cash Myers, from Athens, Texas, completed a successful 3.9-second pin Thursday night to take over the leader's spot from Bucky Harmon, who registered a 5.1 second time Wednesday. Other Thursday night scores included 4.9 seconds by Granbury's Blake Doyle and 5.7 seconds by Brent Lassetter, of Elm Mott, Texas.
Millsap's Joel Bach and his team roping partner Michael Jones, from Stephenville, had their Wednesday night time of 4.6 seconds stand up Thursday when Tyler Magnus and Mickey Gomey posted a 5.1-second time Thursday night. That was followed by a 5.4-second time Thursday by the team of Trevor Brazile, of Decatur, and Patrick Smith, of Midland, and a 14.4 second time by the team of David Key and John Paul Lucero.
Barrel racer Debbie Caywood recorded a 15.83-second run Thursday night to become the event leader. She was followed Thursday by Shelby Smith's 16.32 second performance and a 16.91 time posted by Kelly Yates.
In the local team roping events, Grant Scheer and Garrett Wright posted a Thursday-best time of 6.7 seconds to jump into the event lead. Trey Oliver and Nick Parish turned in an 8.9-second performance followed by a time of 19.7 seconds by Matt Gunta and Charlie Elizondo.
