Texans Claim Six Of Eight
Titles In Early-Season Rodeo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Texans claimed six of the eight event titles contested at the recent Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas.

Often referred to as one of the PRCA's "big building" rodeos, the Sandhills Rodeo is one of the lucrative indoor, early-season rodeos that can help cowboys and cowgirls break into the new year's world standings.

In the timed-event end of the arena, Texas team ropers Steve Purcella of Hereford and Wayne Folmer of El Paso roped their way to an $8902 total payday.

Purcella, a former world champion header, and Folmer stopped the clock in 5.2 seconds for third place and $1201 each in the first round. The pair came back in five seconds flat to win the second round and an additional $1625 each. Their two-head, 10.2-second aggregate was quick enough to top the rest of the field and give them the team roping average title and another $1625 each.

Janet Stover, of Jacksonville, Texas, and her mount Bo staked claim to the barrel racing title and a $2352 check by completing the cloverleaf pattern in 14.19 seconds.

Kitt Woody of Arlington, Texas, took the steer wrestling title and $2212. Woody's first check of the rodeo came in the first round when he downed his steer in 4.1 seconds to tie for fourth place and pocket $430. Though his second-round effort of 4.3 seconds failed to place in the money, it held his two-round total time to 8.4 seconds and earned him the $1782 average win.

Will Lipka of Forestburg, Texas, won the one-head calf roping competition and $2175 with an 8.1-second effort.

In the roughstock end of the arena, James Boudreaux of Cuero, Texas, claimed the bareback riding title and $2133 with an 83-point outing on Harry Vold Rodeo Company's Fox Hole. T.J. Kenney of Valley Springs, Texas, rode Vold's saddle bronc Geronimo to 80 points and the saddle bronc riding event title, which was worth $2343.

National standings by event:

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brett Crowser, Tuscon, Ariz., $4969; 2. Rod Warren, Water Valley, Alberta, Canada, $3704; 3. Craig Latham, Texhoma, Texas, $3313; 4. T.C. Holloway, Eagle Butte, S.D., $3163; 5. Rance Bray, Texhoma, Okla., $3033.

Bareback riding: 1. Justin Henderson, Hereford, Texas, $4608; 2. Jeffrey Collins, Redfield, Kan., $3492; 3. Kirk Richard, Sulphur, La., $3463; 4. Chris Harris, Arlington, Texas, $3175; 5. Chuck Logue, Decatur, Texas, $2845.

Bull riding: 1. Rex Phillips, Elko, Nev., $9093; 2. Cody Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., $7869; 3. Francis Wilson, Sidney, Neb., $4573; 4. Hank Reece, Prineville, Ore., $4103; 5. Raymond Wessel, Cedar Point, Kan., $3593.

Calf roping: 1. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $8034; 2. Will Lipka, Forestburg, Texas, $4197; 3. Chad Hagan, Leesville, La., $3969; 4. Terry Kitchens, Mullin, Texas, $3823; 5. Clay Cerny, Eagle Lake, Texas, $3387.

Steer wrestling: 1. Jared Nuffer, Winnemucca, Nev., $6171; 2. Rodney Burks, Benton, Ark., $5443; 3. Randy Suhn, Laramie, Wyo., $5300; 4. Shannon Elam, Salina, Kan., $4923; 5. Ote Berry, Checotah, Okla., $4769.

Team roping (heading): 1. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas, $4451; 2. Kermit Maass, Snook, Texas, $4408; 3. Larry Harris, Checotah, Okla., $4364; 4. Vic Morrison, Bowie, Texas, $4309; 5. Kevin Stewart, Glen Rose, Texas, $4133.

Team roping (heeling): 1. Wayne Folmer, Stephenville, Texas, $4451; 2. Twister Cain, Ivanhoe, Texas, $4428; 3. Mickey Gomez, Oklahoma City, Okla., $4364; 4. Dennis Gatz, Deniar, Calif., $4309; 5. Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, $4133.

Steer roping: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., $6299; 2. Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., $5976; 3. Guy Allen, Lovington, N.M., $4930; 4. De Lynn Jones, Hobbs, N.M., $4306; 5. Bucky Hefner, Chelsea, Okla., $3499.

Barrel racing: 1. Sherry Cervi, Midland, Texas, $3843; 2. Melissa Hubier, Cleveland, Texas, $3795; 3. Christi Sultemeier, Melrose, N.M., $2952; 4. Monica Wilson, Cardston, Alberta, $2619; 5. Karen Renshaw, Glasgow, Ky., $2594.