Rodeo competitors ride away with the cash

“How ‘bout them cowboys?” rodeo announcer B.J. Jordan roared into the loudspeaker at J. Neils Park over the weekend.

On Friday and Saturday, the 14th annual Kootenai River Rodeo kicked off again with professional riders from all across Montana and into Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and Washington. They each had a chance to take home from $500 to $1,500, with the highest prize awarded to saddle bronc rider LeRoy Eash of Fortine, who took home $2,350.

Every year, there are typically 40 rodeos in the circuit, starting in June and ending in September, with the circuit championship in January of the following year. The top 12 money-earners go to the circuit finals. Then, depending on how well they compete, the year-end average champion and the circuit champion will go to the RAM National Circuit Finals in April in Florida.

Team ropers clocked fast times this weekend, with winners having the fastest recorded time in the circuit so far this year, and other teams were not too far behind.

The roping team, Tyler Patzke, 24 of Klamath Falls, Ore. and Sid Sporer, 30, of Cody, Wyo., took home $940 each when they took down a steer in five and a half seconds, the winning time.

Patzke grew up rodeoing and roping and met Sporer while Patzke was attending Walla Walla Community College in Oregon.

Patzke sells insurance and Sporer makes his living through the rodeo. Sporer attended University of Montana Western in Dillon.

Patzke has been riding his horse, Jameson, for four to five years, and Sporer has been riding his horse, Rolex, since last fall.

Team roping wasn’t the only event where competitors bolted through the arena, with each barrel racer clocking in times under 19 seconds.

Defending circuit champion Lindsay Kruse, 27, took home first place in barrel racing and $466 when she rode around the barrel pattern in 17.08 seconds.

Kruse took second place the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo last year.

In an event where riders and their horses have to develop a close bond and understand each other, Kruse lost her champion horse in January.

“The horse that I always did really well on, was basically the champion, died in January, so now I’m on a different horse, so I was very happy with her,” Kruse said.

According to Kruse, the adjustment was difficult because every horse has their own style. She said she’s still learning about her new horse’s style.

Kruse said that when she’s not rodeoing, she’s spending time with her husband and two kids, a one-year-old and a five-year-old.

“They really keep [my husband and I] busy.”

Kruse, Patzke and Sporer will ride again at Great Falls Wednesday through Saturday at the Big Sky PRCA Pro Rodeo Roundup.

Thirty-one competitors took the arena at J. Neils Park last weekend to compete for the cash purse prize and rodeo glory. Here’s the results:

All-around cowboy: Bode Scott of Pryor, winning a grand prize of $1,189 for his achievements in tie-down roping, steer wrestling and team roping.

Bareback riding: 1. Skyler Erickson of Powell, Wyo. scored 71 points on JS Rodeo’s Bombs Away, walking away with $865; 2. Clint Griffis, of Powell, Wyo. scored 65, winning $649.

Steer wrestling: 1. Bode Scott of Pryor, with 5.2 seconds and a prize of $545; 2. Dan Mulkey of Dell, Mont. with 9.2 seconds and $409; 3. Collin Johnson of Browning, with 11.5 seconds, winning $273; 4. Will Powell of St. Ignatius with 14.2 and $136.

Team roping: 1. Tanner Patzke of Klamath Falls, Ore. and Sid Sporer, of Cody, Wyo. with 5.5 seconds, walking away with $940 each; 2. Cody Tew, of Belgrade, and Matt Robertson, of Augusta, with 6.1, winning $705; 3. Justin Marcus of Spokane, Wash., and Cameron Irwin of, Buffalo, Wyo., with 6.9 and $470; 4. Bode Scott, of Pryor, and Justin Viles, of Cody, Wyo. with 17.2 and $235.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. LeRoy Eash, of Fortine, scored 73 points on JS Rodeo’s No. X33, winning $940; there were no other qualified rides.

Tie-down roping: 1. Delon Parker, of Worden, with 11.5 seconds, winning $545; 2. Bode Scott with 12.9 and $409; 3. Will Powell, of St. Ignatus, with 13.4 and $273; 4. Jake Hamilton, of Casper, Wyo. with 15.1 and $136.

Barrel racing: 1. Lindsay Kruse, of Great Falls, with 17.08 seconds, walking away with $466; 2. Ashley Sudan, of Whitefish, with 17.49, walking away with $405; 3. Kimberly Sanford of Iona, Idaho with 17.69 and $344; 4. Kathy Grimes, of Medical Lake, Wash. with 17.72 and $284; 5. Helen Brown of Whitefish, with 17.81 and $223; 6. Milee Dailey of Pray, with 17.99 and $162; 7. Cristy Duce, of Raymond, Alberta with 18.01 and $101; 8. Jessi Wilcox, of Babb, with 18.12 and $41.

Bull riding: 1. Ty Tescher, of Sidney, scored 77 points on JS Rodeo’s Crispy Crunch, winning $921; 2. (tie) Cameron Overcast of Chinook, and Dustin Jenkins of Missoula, scored 75 with $576 each; 4. Gerald Eash of Trego, with 70 and $230.

Total payoff: $17,167. Stock contractor: JS Rodeo.

Rodeo secretary: Trisha Davis-Stacy. Officials: Ron Ferguson and Bob Burkhart. Timers: Trisha Davis-Stacy and Kelly McFee. Announcer: B.J. Jordan. Bullfighters: Kaleb Barrett and Jake Reed. Clown/barrelman: Ryan Litwin. Flankman: Broc McGuire. Chute boss: Chance Smith. Pickup men: John Smith and David Lewis. Photographer: Roberty Barkley. Music director: Brian Rapier.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming PRCA rodeo events, visit prorodeo.com.