Rodeo weekend in Libby
<p>Jake Moline has a worrisome look as he exits the horse known as X12 during Thursday's rodel at J. Neils Park.</p>
<p>Thursday night rodeo with Hollan Horning exiting the horse known as W47.</p>
<p>Alex Guzman of Manteca, Calif., aboard "Cowboy Town" Friday at the Kootenai River Rodeo.</p>
<p>Saturday night steer wrestling with Riley Jones from Walla Walla, Wash. 11.6 seconds.</p>
The 2015 Kootenai River Rodeo was held at J. Neils Park in Libby during the past weekend.
Kathy Grimes of Medical Lake, Wash., took home the top honors in the barrel racing competition. Grimes recorded a time of 17.4 seconds, nearly a full quarter of a second faster than the competition. Lindsay Kruse of Great Falls placed second at 17.64. Lori Stahl of Cranbrook, B.C. took home the third prize at 17.80 and Helena’s Lisa Warfield finished fourth at 17.82.
Glendive’s Tucker Zingg rode Stack the Deck for 74 points to capture the bareback title. Sylvan La Cross of Baker and Justin Miller of Billings tied for second with 73-point rides, while Dantan Bertsch of Eastend, Sask. claimed fourth with a 71-point ride.
Priest River, Idaho’s Thor Hoefer rode Crispy Crunch for 74 points, enough to take the bull-riding championship. No other riders held on long enough to score points.
Jake Watson, of Hudson Hope, B.C., rode Kitty Hawk to an 84-point completion, earning him the saddle bronc riding title. Tyrell Smith of Great Falls was just one point behind, at 83, and finished second. Jesse Kruse, also from Great Falls, placed third with a 77-point ride and Ace Mills of Augusta’s 74 was good enough for fourth.
Josh Boka of Dillon brought down his steer in 5.1 seconds to win the steer wrestling competition. Bryant Mikkelson of Buffalo was second at 5.4 seconds, with Mike Gollaher of Cascade, at 5.5 seconds, and Riley Jones of Walla Walla, Wash., at 11.6 seconds, rounding out the top four.
Taylor Santos of Creston, Calif., won the tie-down roping competition, lassoing his calf in 10.1 seconds. Sam Levine of Wolf Creek roped second place with 11.2 seconds. Bo Pickett of Caldwell, Idaho secured third with 11.4 seconds and Morgan Seemann rounded out the top four with 13.2.
Shawn Bessette of Great Falls teamed with Sid Sporer of Cody, Wyo., to complete the team rope in 5.9 seconds, winning the event. Travis Nichols of Helena and Tim Garrison of Divide roped their beast in 6.4 seconds to claim second. Will Powell of St. Ignatius paired with Ronan’s Josh Harris and completed the roping event in 6.6 seconds for third. Tanner Saunders of Hudson, N.C. and Robby Farlas of Kilauea, Hawaii finished fourth with a time of 6.7 seconds.
Photos by Paul Sievers of The Western News.