DEADWOOD - The 12th annual Rope Stroke and Poke was held in Deadwood on this past Friday and Saturday. The event has become a tradition on the weekend following Labor Day.

Rope, Stroke and Poke involve 2-person teams competing over two days in team roping, golf and pool.

The overall winners were Jake Milton of Torrington, Wyo., and Nebraskan Marty Retchless. It was their first win at the event. Milton, in his prime, was a fixture at the National Finals Rodeo, finishing eighth in both 1987 and 1989.

Tommy Hirsig of Cheyenne, Wyo., another National Finals qualifier in the steer roping in 1987 when he finished sixth in the world and Shawn Marsh of Gillette , Wyo., won the event in 2006.

The eight-head team roping was won by Jay Schwalbe of Rapid City and Erin of Belle Fourche.

The pool tournament was won by Milton and Retchless.

Points are area awarded in each event and the overall winners get trophy saddles presented by the Mineral Palace.

This year there were 16 teams entered. The event is scheduled for early September in 2008.