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By JOE KUSEK
Of The Gazette Staff
During "Cowboy Christmas," rodeo competitors will travel any way possible to maximize their travels.
It's not uncommon to see up to eight cowboys spilling out of a van at a rodeo, or a group pooling their money together to charter a private aircraft.
Team ropers Michael Jones and Caleb Twisselman were forced to go a more comfortable route after missing their connecting flight in Las Vegas while traveling from Reno, Nev., to Albuquerque, N.M.
The two - with different roping partners - were scheduled to compete in the 8 a.m. slack the next day in Santa Fe, N.M.
Stuck in Las Vegas, the two considered renting a car. "But it's a nine-hour drive," Jones said.
Jones contacted a good friend, Charlie Horky of CLS Las Vegas, at 10:30 p.m., and asked his advice about chartering a plane. Horky had a better plan.
"Why don't you use one of our limos?" he asked the pair. After agreeing on a price, Jones and Twisselman slept in the limo until they arrived in Santa Fe, about 15 minutes before they were due to compete.
"My partner (Travis Tryan) did a truly great job of staying cool and getting everything organized," Jones said.
They won the round with a time of 4.5 seconds.
And the $2,050 won covered the cost of the trip. "Let's just say we made a profit for the week," said Jones.
• • •
Jill Moody didn't need any special presents during "Cowboy Christmas."
She already had her Dolly.
Letcher and her 8-year-old gelding mare Dolly were the high-money winners during rodeo's most frenetic stretch, which featured more than 30 PRCA- and WPRA-sanctioned rodeos during a 10-day span from late June through July 9.
And the biggest winner of all was the cowgirl from Letcher, S.D. Moody hauled in $24,698 the most of any rodeo competitor - male or female.
She and Dolly won Greeley, Colo., for $10,133 and added a victory at Livingston for another $3,893. She also picked up good checks at St. Paul and Molalla, Ore., along with the Cody, Wyo., Stampede. Moody was fourth at Cody, one of the highest-paying rodeos during the Fourth of July run, for a nice $4,970.
Already in the top three of the world standings, Moody is now second and has drawn within striking distance of the leader, Canadian Lindsay Sears.
The profitable "Cowboy Christmas" time has pretty much guaranteed Moody a second straight trip to the National Finals Rodeo.
In her Las Vegas debut last December, Moody earned $83,689 - the third-most of any barrel racer - and finished third in the final world standings with $169,909.
Moody took a break from her regular rodeo schedule to compete at the Calgary Stampede. She won $12,000 in four rounds at Calgary and guaranteed herself a spot in today's $100,000 bonus round.
The money won at Calgary does not count in the world standings.
Helena barrel racer Shelley Murphy, pursuing her first NFR qualification, helped herself with $15,679 won during "Cowboy Christmas."
The money won has vaulted Murphy into the top five of the world standings.
• • •
The father of four sons - Rusty, Ryder, Stetson and Statler - saddle bronc rider Cody Wright knows "Cowboy Christmas," is crucial time for his family.
And for the second year in a row, Wright was among the high-money winners.
Wright was best among the cowboy competitors, earning $24,288 at three rodeos. The bulk of his money came at a $15,261 win at Greeley, Colo. He also won at Belle Fourche, S.D., and shared second place at St. Paul, Ore., for $7,524.
A year ago, Wright won $23,822. including more than $17,000 at Greeley.
Wright was one of 12 cowboys who earned more than $15,000 during the stretch that began June 25.
Trevor Brazile, the reigning and five-time world all-around champion, won $23,813 to extend his all-around lead in the world standings.
Brazile won at St. Paul, Ore., along with claiming checks at Livingston, Prescott, Ariz., and Molalla, Ore.
Published on Sunday, July 13, 2008.
Last modified on 7/13/2008 at 12:48 am |
