Stock show and rodeo come to close

Cleve Schmidt continues hot streak

By Jim Thompson, Special to the Journal | Monday, February 04, 2008

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RAPID CITY - Cleve Schmidt is on a roll. The Belle Fourche bareback rider won Denver a week ago, and on a Sunday afternoon in Rapid City he was equal to the challenge again. His 80 point ride on Sutton's "Dinner Bell" may not have placed in the final round but the total of 167 points on two horses gave him the title. Schmidt won over $6,100 at the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo and it will serve to keep him in the lead for the world title in the early-going in the PRCA season.

Another South Dakotan, Dustin Reeves from Owanka, was second with 166 points, Tim Shirley of Colorado and Justin McDaniel of Oklahoma split third and fourth with 165 points. Heath Ford of Colorado rodeo Mossbrucker's "Moon Blast" for 86 points to win the short go.

Jess Tierney of Hermosa led for much of the last round of the calf roping but saw two ropers sprint past him at the end. He still finished third with a total on three of 29.7. Winning the event was Jerrad Hoffstetter of New Mexico with a three-head total of 27.3. Seth Childers of Texas was second with a total of 27.7. Childers made it close by winning the Sunday round in 8.7 seconds.

J.J. Elshere of Quinn defended his BHSSR title and made it two in a row by winning the bronc riding. His 85-point ride on Sunday afternoon on the Burch horse "Blood Brother" won the finals, and his 168 on two took the average and a check for over $7,300. Rollie Wilson of Buffalo was second five points back, Tyler Corrington of Minnesota finished third and there was a logjam for fourth place with four riders totalling 154 points, Jess Martin, Jace Garrett, Louie Brunson and Chad Ferley.

The steer wrestling ended in a tie. Kyle Hughes of Colorado and Rapid City's Nick Guy, were both 16.4 on a pair of doggin' runs to share the big check. Garrett Nokes of Nebraska had the fast run Sunday in 5.3 seconds.

Among team ropers, Justin Yost of Texas and partner Jory Levy of Oklahoma hung onto their lead into the finals by posting a 5.3 on Sunday to win the round and as a result they won Rapid City with a total of 18.2 on three runs. Wyoming ropers Billy Grandsen and Mike Stevie finished second, 22.2 seconds.

Tamra Musick had a magical week in Rapid City, winning both of the first two rounds and had a huge lead coming into the finals.

She watched Denise Loyd of Kansas win the round Sunday but the Virgil barrel racer won the average with a total of 37.27 on three runs through the pattern. NFR veteran Shali Lord was second in the average.

Home staters dominated the final entries in the bull riding as five South Dakotans rode Sunday and they proved their right to be there. Brian Curtis of Belle Fourche drew the eliminator bull "China Grove" of Broken Arrow rodeos and mastered him for 90 points to win the round and win the rodeo with 175 points on two bulls. Ardie Maier of Timber Lake scored 87 and finished second in the rodeo with 169 points and Charlie Zoss, leading going into the finals, scored an 82 to finish third with 168 total points.

The rodeo drew a nice crowd of around 4,200 fans.

Sunday Rodeo Notes:

Prior to the rodeo the Shane Drury Award was given to Brian Fulton of Valentine, Neb. In his absence rodeo judge Jim Whiting accepted the bronze sculpture from the Drury family and sculptor Mavis Madison. Fulton has been given a clean bill of health from the brain cancer that felled him over a year ago. He owns more Badlands Circuit titles than any other competitor. Fulton also qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in both the steer wrestling and Calf Roping.

For those of you with opportunity, the Badlands Circuit Finals would be a goal to attend in October. Four rounds will be hosted by the Y's Mens Rodeo committee in Minot, N.D., Oct. 9-12.

Smiley Sierra was in the crowd over the weekend. Sierra won a national championship in college rodeo while riding bulls for Tom Richter at South Dakota State and went on to win a Badlands Circuit title before retiring. Today he's the Dean of Students at Little Wound school in Kyle.

Scott Montague, Circuit bareback champion and NFR qualifier, was injured on Saturday night when his horse bucked him off on his the back of his neck. He suffered a concussion and had a difficult night but was at the rodeo Sunday and spoke to the crowd in an interview with rodeo announcer Wayne Brooks. He didn't feel that the injury would keep him from entering any rodeos.

 Jim Thompson hosts a weekday network radio show, "Live with Jim Thompson" on a group of radio stations with listeners from Canada to Colorado, Bismarck to Billings, Casper to Pierre. Locally, you can hear him on 810-AM radio KBHB.