RAPID CITY - The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo kicked off it's 2008 PRCA rodeo with a huge crowd at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Thursday night.

A crowd estimated at nearly 4,500 cheered as two NFR qualified bareback riders posted identical 80 point scores to take the early lead. Justin McDaniel of Oklahoma rode Southwick's "Punch" and Utah cowboy, Jess Davis defended his '07 Rapid City win on another Southwick horse called "Leather."

Black Hills cowboys did well in the calf roping Thursday, as Jess Tierney of Hermosa clocked in at 9.4 seconds to tie for first in the first round. Grady Lockhart of Oral is second in the second round with a 9.4, just behind Matt Kenny of Iowa at 9.0.

The average is being led by Childress with 19.0 on two, with Tierney at 20.4 right on his tail.

It was classic Jim Sutton rodeo bronc riding. And it was a Sutton old campaigner called "Ruby" that matched up with Rollie Wilson of Buffalo for 80 points to show the way.

The closest anyone else could get was a 74 point ride by Jace Garrett of Alliance, Neb., on Southwick's horse called "Gremlin."

The steers seemed to have the number of the bull doggers on Thursday, but some cowboys slipped by them.

Notably, Matt Gilbert of Buffalo who leads everything at this point. Gilbert has a first-round lead with 5.1 seconds, the second-round lead with 4.9 seconds and the average lead with 10.0 seconds on two. Another South Dakota Allen Good is second in the first round with a 5.4, Kyle Callaway is second in the second round at 5.3 and also second in the average with a total of 12.6 seconds.

Among team ropers, it was a frustrating Thursday night performance, as only John O'Connor and Beau Hutchison of Idaho were able to move among the leaders.

Their 6.0 clocking the second round has them in second place behind the Texas team of Bransom and Davis, who nailed their steer in 4.5 seconds. The first round is led by Nebraskans Buckles and Swanson at 5.7 second, Jay Mattson of Deadwood and his partner Wes Miller of Wyoming are second at 6.0 in the first go. And the average leaders at this early point are Trice and T.J. Watts of Colorado at 13.7 on a pair.

Karin Greff of Wolsey has been the class of the barrel racers so far, as she posted two good times to be second in both rounds and lead the average. Melissa Bachand of Spearfish is 12.73 to hold first in the first go, and Jana Griemsman of Piedmont leads the second round at 12.65. Jana is second in the average and Bachand is third.

Only two of the 12 bull riders made the whistle on Thursday led by Doug Duncan of Alvin, Texas, with an 84 on "Whisker Burn." Home state favorite Tye Odden of Miller rode "Catfish for 74 points for second.

The top 12 in each event will come back for the final round on Sunday afternoon. The roughstock riders ride only once to determine that position while the timed event contestants compete twice.

Today's performance promises to be a barnburner, with Kelly Timberman and Larry Sandvick riding barebacks in the 1:30 p.m. rodeo. Tonight is a veritable "who's who" in that event as Belle Fourche veteran Cleve Schmidt comes to town, currently first the world after winning Denver.

He won't have an easy road as he's drawn Mossbruckers "Speckled Moon" and many other big names are in town, such as brothers Royce and Heath Ford of Colorado and Tom McFarland of Arizona.

Tonight's bull riding will feature Cody Buller of Glendive. Buller is an NFR veteran. The afternoon performance features hot young South Dakotans Tater Hins of Huron and Charlie Zoss of Forestburg.

Jesse Bail rides broncs this afternoon along with world champion Chad Ferley and NFR qualifier Chet Johnson of Gillette.

All in all, both performances today are loaded with talent. The afternoon performance begins at 1:30 p.m. and the evening round at 7:30 p.m.

After the rodeo tonight at 11 p.m. in the RPCC Theater, Canadian Bronc Riding Hall of Famer Wilf Hyland leads a talented cast which includes Gordy Pratt, Sherry Taylor and the Barry Pitt Band. Jim Thompson is the emcee.

Rodeo Notes

- Zak and Amber West's young daughter Jacey, kicked by a horse last Friday, remains in the Rapid City Regional Hospital in an induced coma. The swelling is coming down and she's gradually being brought out of the coma. She has a long row to hoe. Friends interested in helping can buy raffle tickets or donate outright by checking at Dee Haugens booth.

- Ricky Brockel was at the rodeo Thursday night. Ricky rode bulls pretty well in the Badlands Circuit until retirement in 1987. His best year was 1983 when he reached as high as 17th in the world prior to an injury. He's in insurance sales now in Denver.

- Randy Selle is back in town. The young bronc rider who graduated from National American University spent time helping promote rodeo with Stace Smith in Texas. He's been hired by NAU to do recruiting.

- Anyone who remembers the legendary Tom Tescher of Sentinel Butte, ND will be interested in this: Tom is in a nursing home in Montana and would love to get cards from his old friends or rodeo fans. He can't communicate very well by voice but you can write to him at: Tom Tescher, Wibaux County Nursing Home, 712 Wibaux Street South, Wibaux, Montana 59353.

Tom and brother Jim Tescher made quite a team in the bronc riding in the late 50s and 60s. Tom finished 5th in the bronc riding final standings in 1958, the year Marty Wood won the title.

- Jim Thompson can be heard on 810 KBHB each weekday afternoon as the host of "Live with Jim Thompson." He received the Silver Spur award this week as the Hall of Fame Honoree by the BHSS. He's also been honored by the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in Sioux Falls and the Casey Tibbs hall in Ft. Pierre.