Bull Rider Josh O'Byrne Wins
Bull Riding At Tucson Rodeo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Josh O'Byrne doesn’t appear to be the same cowboy who was carried out of the arena on a stretcher last December at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

The Animas, N.M. bull rider showed no signs of lingering injury when he claimed the average title and $6214 in his event at the recent La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo in Tucson, Ariz.

The Tucson win boosts O'Byrne, 33, into the top 15 of the Crown Royal world bull riding standings for the first time this year. He sits 14th with $9907 in 1999 earnings.

O'Bryne wasn't the only former NFR qualifier on the leaderboard at the Tucson rodeo. Clint Corey of Culver, Ore., the 1991 world champion, won the bareback event and $5529 with 167 points on two head. Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, stretched his lead in the Crown Royal world calf roping standings to more than $14,000 over reigning world champ and fellow Texan Cody Ohl by winning $5938 for roping and tying three calves in 28.2 seconds. Whitfield has $36,210; Ohl has $21,921.

In the all-around competition, Whitfield leads with $41,858. He is followed by Herbert Theriot, Poplarville, Texas, with $25,768; Chad Hagan, Leesville, La., $16,632; Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas, $11,179; and Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, $9629.

Standings by event:

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tom Reeves, Eagle Butte, S.D., $22,249; 2. Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, $21,859; 3. Ira Slagowski, Carlin, Nev., $17,508; 4. Rod Warren, Water Valley, Alberta, $16,146; 5. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., $15,970.

Bareback riding: 1. Chris Harris, Arlington, Texas, $18,656; 2. Jeffrey Collins, Redfield, Kan., $18,417; 3. Eric Mouton, Weatherford, Okla., $17,949; 4. Kelly Wardell, Bellevue, Idaho, $15,995; 5. Mark Gomes, Hutchinson, Kan., $14,622.

Bull riding: 1. Cody Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., $19,242; 2. Vince Stanton, Weiser, Idaho, $17,249; 3. Gregory Potter, Weatherford, Texas, $14,171; 4. Rex Phillips, Elko, Nev., $14,168; 5. Owen Washburn, Lordsburg, N.M., $13,093.

Calf roping: 1. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, $36,210; 2. Cody Ohl, Stephenville, Texas, $21,921; 3. Johnny Emmons, Grandview, Texas, $20,559; 4. Ronnie Hyde, Bloomington, Ind., $18,403; 5. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $18,099.

Steer wrestling: 1. Rope Myers, Van, Texas, $19,357; 2. Jason Lahr, Emporia, Kan., $16,661; 3. Brad Gleason, Touchet, Wash., $16,215; 4. Justin Blaine Davis, Sidney, Mont., $15,827; 5. T.W. Snyder, Colbert, Okla., $15,040.

Team roping (heading): 1. Jake Barnes, Cave Creek, Ariz., $12,563; 2. David Motes, Fresno, Calif., $10,875; 3. Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif., $10,085; 4. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., $9978; 5. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas, $9508.

Team roping (heeling): 1. Clay O'Brien Cooper, Bandera, Texas, $12,013; 2. Allen Bach, Turlock, Calif., $10,085; 3. Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., $9978; 4. Wayne Folmer, Stephenville, Texas, $9508; 5. J.D. Yates, Pueblo, Colo., $9286.

Steer roping: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., $6299; 2. Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., $5976; 3. De Lynn Jones, Hobbs, N.M., $4306; 4. Hicks Harris, Agua Dulce, Texas, $3518; 5. Bucky Hefner, Chelsea, Okla., $3499.

Barrel racing: 1. Janet Stover, Decatur, Texas, $24,338; 2. Sherry Cervi, Midland, Texas, $18,792; 3. Talina Bird, Post, Texas, $15,014; 4. Ruth Haislip, Acampo, Calif., $11,927; 5. Rachael Myllymaki, Arlee, Mont., $10,623.