Beaver Makes Run At All-Around;
Mortensen Still In Strong Lead

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — For defending world all-around rodeo champion Joe Beaver of Huntsville, Texas, earning $4700 in a weekend would not normally be considered a gold mine. But it’s a cache of precious metal when it’s your last chance to qualify for a National Finals Rodeo event.

Last week Beaver was ranked sixth in the Crown Royal world calf roping standings and was less than $30,000 away from qualifying for the 1997 NFR in team roping. Successful team roping runs at the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco and at rodeos in Casper, Wyo., and Pasco, Wash., earned Beaver $3979, pushing his team roping (heading) earnings to $31,878 and sneaking the seven-time world champ into the 15th slot of the world team roping standings. Beaver also earned $748 in calf roping.

For the 32 year-old Beaver, an NFR qualification in a second event is a near must in his attempt to earn a third consecutive all-around title. Saddle bronc rider Dan Mortensen, who earned enough money in bull riding to qualify for the ‘97 all-around race, has a commanding lead on the all-around standings with $145,951. Mortensen’s closest challenger for the all-around title is Texas roper Cody Ohl, whose calf roping and steer roping earnings total $113,414. But behind Ohl with $97,297 is Beaver, who is the only all-around contender to qualify to the ‘97 NFR in two events.

With $14,137 offered to the winner of each round of NFR calf roping and $8836 awarded the winning header in each round of team roping, Beaver could surpass Mortensen in season earnings by winning three rounds of calf roping and two rounds of team roping. However, Mortensen, who enters his ninth NFR ranked first in saddle bronc riding, has earned an average of $64,900 in the last three NFRs. If Mortensen continues his earnings streak, he could claim his first world-around title and become the first athlete in professional rodeo history to amass $200,000 in single-event earnings in one year.

In the all-around competition, Mortensen leads with $145,951. He is followed by Ohl, of Orchard, Texas, with $113,414; Beaver with $97,297; Rope Myers, Van Texas, $80,509; and Chad Hagan, Leesville, La., $79,964.

Standings by event:

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Dan Mortensen, Manhattan, Mont., $144,029; 2. Robert Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., $94,033; 3. Ryan Mapston, Arlee, Mont., $90,341; 4. Billy Etbauer, Ree Heights, S.D., $85,823; 5. Jess Martin, Dillon, Mont., $71,954.

Bareback riding: 1. Denny McLanahan, Canadian, Texas, $90,109; 2. Larry Sandvick, Kaycee, Wyo., $70,350; 3. Marvin Garrett, Belle Fourche, S.D., $68,038; 4. Jeffrey Collins, Wister, Okla., $67,371; 5. Deb Greenough, Red Lodge, Mont., $65,846.

Bull riding: 1. Wayde Joyal, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, $63,250; 2. Scott Breding, Edgar, Mont., $61,671; 3. Jerome Davis, Archdale, N.C., $58,286; 4. Mike White, Lake Charles, La., $58,106; 5. Kelly Armstrong, Seven Persons, Alberta, $56,777.

Calf roping: 1. Cody Ohl, $99,464; 2. Stran Smith, Tell, Texas, $95,774; 3. Jeff Chapman, Athens, Texas, $71,081; 4. Ricky Hyde, Conway, Ark., $70,801; 5. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, $66,961.

Steer wrestling: 1. Rope Myers, $73,297; 2. Frank Davis, Blackwell, Texas, $70,652; 3. Brad Gleason, Ennis, Mont., $66,616; 4. Byron Walker, Ennis, Texas, $62,664; 5. Ivan Teigen, Camp Crook, S.D., $60,730.

Team roping (heading): 1. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., $63,900; 2. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas, $59,682; 3. Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla., $57,930; 4. Bobby Hurley, Ceres, Calif., $46,950; 5. Walt Rodman, Galt, Calif., $46,116.

Team roping (heeling): 1. Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., $63,900; 2. Steve Northcott, Odessa, Texas, $59,682; 3. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $55,473; 4. Cody Cowden, Merced, Calif., $46,950; 5. Kyle Lockett, Ivanhoe, Calif., $45,377.

Steer roping: 1. Guy Allen, Lovington, N.M., $60,399; 2. Jim Davis, Abilene, Texas, $40,390; 3. Buster Record Jr., Buffalo, Okla., $36,067; 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, $29,564; 5. Todd Casebolt, Henrietta, Texas, 26,135.

Barrel racing: 1. Sherry Cervi, Midland, Texas, $106,584; 2. Kristie Peterson, Elbert, Colo., $97,312; 3. Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, $82,984; 4. Fallon Taylor, Ponder, Texas, $56,556; 5. Cheyenne Wimberely, Stephenville, Texas, $46,947.