NEWS RELEASE – July 19, 2011

BRONCOS vs. COWBOYS – Not Football!

On Friday evening July 15, 2011, in Baker City the Bronc Riding Blowout took place.  Some event advertising used for this competition has been, “The Bucks Start Here,” play on the theme promoting great bronc riding action and $25,000 in prize money.  Friday evening it seemed as if the broncs had gotten together in the holding pens and said, “Tonight is our night, not the cowboys’.” 

The rough stock of Big Bend and Flying Five in great condition, the weather ideal, plus thirty ready contestants – all added up to the promise of an outstanding evening of saddle bronc riding.  The three-round progressive format started out with the long go-around and the broncs having much their way as they “rained” cowboys.  Twelve of the thirty cowboys made qualified rides with the top ten scoring riders advancing to the second go-around.  All ten horses in the second go were having their first experience of bucking in actual competition. 

Not having the rhythm and consistency that comes from developing their own style through more use, wild rides resulted, but every competitor dealt with same situation – green horses.  As the judges applied the standards of bronc riding scoring, the scores were not true measure of the difficulty in making qualified rides as the riders did everything within their powers to stay aboard – often unable to spur, a key scoring element.  The animal athletes had moves that hadn’t been invented yet and the lower scores in this go-around were not indicators of the efforts that were mighty just for the contestants to make qualified rides. 

In the winner-takes-all third go-around, Clem Lowry of Perryville, Alberta, Canada made an 88 point ride on National Finals bronc, #140 Falling Timbers.  Of the total $24,250 payout, Lowry took home $9,118, a champion buckle, and custom made chaps by Brett Buchanan, Empire Leather.  Other top money winners were former PRCA Rookie of the Year and National Intercollegiate College Rodeo reserve champion bronc rider Kaleb Asay, $3,880; former two-time Baker City Bronc Riding champion Ryan Mackenzie, $3,686; James Irish, $2,619; and Kayle Gray, 1,843.  Mark your calendars to be in Baker City, OR July 20, 2012, for the next chapter of this outstanding bronc riding event.  

BAKER CITY BULL RIDING BLOWOUT

The Baker City Bull Riding followed the Bronc Riding on Saturday, July 16, 2011, as a full contingent of 40 bull riders showed up to test the rough stock of Big Bend and Flying Five rodeo companies.  The event has a two-round format, a long go-around and a top ten championship go-around with a total purse of $25,000. 

At the beginning the grandstands and bleachers were full of fans, and the weather conditions were, again, near ideal.  Action was proceeding at a fast and furious pace of exciting rides and attempts and, then near the end of the long go-around, Mother Nature played her hand with a rain deluge.  Slickers were pulled out, umbrellas opened, and all other possible rain protection sought out by the fans as the competition continued unfettered. 

At the end of the long go eight riders advanced to the championship round based on their qualified rides.  Cody Campbell former Baker High School Rodeo team member from Summerville, OR, and Lane Baze of Benton City, WA each had scores of 84 to lead in the first go.  The weather conditions required some adjusting by both the rodeo and animal athletes – the cowboys keeping riding ropes dry and rough stock keeping firm footing.

Of the eight riders advancing to the championship go-around Campbell and Baze continued to dominate.  Campbell had made a qualified ride on #795 Little Bird, but the bull slipped in the wet arena going to his belly, which gave Campbell the option of a re-ride.  Campbell took the re-ride on #741 Short Fuse that he successfully completed for an 88 score and the championship; Baze rode #695 Jumpin Joe to an 85 score for the reserve placing.  Extra excitement was added to the final go-around as an additional $5,500 was put up spontaneously by eleven event sponsors on the condition that a qualified score be at least 89 points. 

Of the $25,000 payout Campbell earned $10,275, plus a buckle and custom made chaps by Brett Buchanan, Empire Leather; Baze, $8,275; Colby Reilly, $2,250; Mike Sparks, $1,500; Sid Britt, $900; T.R. Stirling, $750; Cody Brixey, $600; and Jayden Hansen, $450.  It was a great evening for the bull riders and fans alike in spite of the weather.  Be in Baker City July 21, 2012, for more exciting bull riding action.

NEWS RELEASE – July 20, 2010

Baker City Bronc & Bull Riding 2010

July 16, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. marked the fourteenth year of the Baker City Bronc Riding in Baker City, OR, and what an evening it was – an evening of near perfect atmosphere, great Flying Five Big Bend broncs, excellent cowboys vying for $25,000 in prize money, a loud and appreciative crowd to spur on the performers!

 In the long go 2009 co-champion Bold Butler topped the round with an 85 score on #121 Little Iron followed by Brian Martinat with an 83, Brad Bates 82, Ryan Mackenzie 81, Cole Thoreson 80, Chase Bennett 79, Ben Londo and Charlie Kogianes tied with 78, and Joe Heguy, Lane Stirling and Marty Vernon tied with 77.  These ten advanced to the second go where Marty Vernon had the high score of 87 on #073 Shortcut, Ryan Mackenzie 81, Ben Londo 78, Charlie Kogianes 77 who covered the $500 Bounty Horse #983 Something Cool for 76, and Brad Bates 76; all other qualified riders to the second go were bucked off. 

The top five riders in the second round advanced to the winner-take-all championship round.  The only two qualified rides made in this round were by traveling partners Ryan Mackenzie on #909 Six Shooter for 91 points, and Ben Londo on #414 Faded Dice for an 86 score.  Mackenzie took home $8,499 for his evening’s efforts, Vernon $3,778, Butler $3,380, Martinat and Bates $2,286 each, Kogianes $1991, Londo $1,988, Thoreson $495, Chase Bennett $348, and Joe Heguy and Lane Stirling earning back their entry fees.  The temperature was ideal, the broncs bucking as if thunder struck, and the bronc riders’ performances rising to the occasion.

The sixteenth annual Baker City Bull Riding took place the following evening, Saturday, July 17, 2010, with a repeat of the outstanding conditions of the previous evening’s bronc riding.  A full contingent of bull riders were entered in this 40 head long go and 10 head short go event also having a $25,000 purse – and amazing animal and human athletes they were!  In the long go Colby Reilly rode #P668 Haunting Ground to an 87 score, Garrett Faulhaber and Jarrett Nelson tied with an 84, Zeb Lanham 83, Zack Elliott 80, Cory Terry and R.J. Kriege 75, and Lane Stirling 68.

The nine riders advanced to the short round where two qualified rides were made – Garrett Faulhaber on #469 Whack & Snap for 87 score for a $6,000 paycheck in the round and a total of $8,850 for the evening, and Zack Bright on #509 Halley’s Comet with a 78 for $4,000 paycheck and $4,555 total for his efforts.  Additional excitement was added to the short go as several of the event sponsors added $6,000 for a high score of 89 or better; they saved their money this time. 

Colby Reilly took home $5,100, Jarrett Nelson $2,850, Zeb Lanham $1,500, Zack Elliott $840, Cory Terry and R.J. Kriege $450, and Lane Stirling $405.  Again, the atmosphere led to amazing performances – temperature, arena conditions, announcer Steve Kenyon keeping the momentum going along with the usual fine work by Jensen Sound.  Two consecutive nights of great roughstock action – it just doesn’t get any better than this.  Annually on the third weekend in July these events take place.  Be in Baker City, OR in 2011.   

News Release 7/21/09

The 2009 Baker City Bronc & Bull Riding Blowout events took place July 17 & 18 at the Baker County Fairgrounds in Baker City, Oregon for the thirteenth and fifteenth years, respectively. The Friday night bronc riding was loaded with crowd pleasing action as 26 qualified rides came from 36 contestants in the first of the three rounds. The broncs were collectively amazing in their performances, but the riders were a match in their desire to advance to the next two rounds.

The top eleven riders by score advanced to the second round, and these included Bold Butler and Joe Heguy with 89 scores; Brian Martinat and Baker City’s own Levi Bunch with 85 scores; Jared McFarlane with an 84; Delano Kjos, Spencer Wright, 2007 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association World Champion Taos Muncy and Gus Thoreson with 83 scores; and brothers Kayle Gray and Corey Gray with 82 scores.

Out of these eleven, six advanced to the championship round based on their second round scores of 87 for Delano Kjos and Kayle Gray, 85 for Spencer Wright, 81 for Bold Butler and Brian Martinat, and 77 for Taos Muncy. In the third and championship round Delano Kjos and Bold Butler each scored an 84 for a tie with Brian Martinat making the only other qualified ride for 76 points.

With Kayle Gray and the last bronc still to go there was an extra bit excitement as the arena lighting went out. After unsuccessful attempts to correct the problem, PRCA announcer Steve Kenyon asked the south bleacher crowd to part in the middle to allow light to radiate from the beer garden into the arena in addition to the light coming from the carnival outside the north bleachers, then a Dodge pickup with its lights on was pulled up to the southeast return gate.

Kayle Gray nodded his head for the ride. He made a good effort on #140 Falling Timbers, but was bucked off with an end-for-end dismount. The tie between Butler and Kjos held with Butler taking the champion buckle on a coin flip and Kjos taking the champion jacket. Of the $25,150 total purse, Kjos took $5,734 back home to Canada and Butler of Leamington, Utah took home $6,498 in winnings.

The two-round Bull Riding Blowout took place on Saturday, July 18th with 40 contestants entered and vying for $25,000 in prize money. Ten qualified rides were made in the first round with scores of 86 for Colby Reilly, 81 for each Casey Sullivan and for Baker City’s Clint Johnson, 79 for Garrett Wolfe and Vic Dubray, 77 for Joe Meling of Baker City, 76 for Lee Woolsey, 71 for Gideon Hershberger and R. J. Kriege, and 70 for Shawn Waite.

There was one qualified ride in the championship round by Colby Reilly on #505 Sonny’s Delight that earned him $10,000, that was in addition to the $4,950 won in the first round. For the third consecutive year, five sponsors pooled another $5,000 to go to the championship round winner that would score 90 points or more. Reilly failed to make the 90 point minimum score, but he had an excellent payday regardless. Again, Flying Five & Big Bend rodeo companies provided their outstanding rough stock for the two days of great action.