Loaded field rides into town for rodeo
Thursday, August 2, 2007 7:42 AM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleOne year ago, Shane Erickson of Terrebonne, Ore., loaded his saddle bags with $3,100 as the top all-around cowboy at the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo held at the Cowlitz County Exposition Center.
Now Erickson, along with 170 other cowboys and cowgirls, is once again competing for a share of more than $30,000 in prize money up for grabs at the 32nd annual event which begins at 7 tonight and continues through Saturday night at the rodeo arena.
Nearly all of the Columbia River Circuit's top-10 points leaders, along with a handful of defending Thunder Mountain champions and a number of local entrants, will compete in this year's event.
The Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo is one of nearly 40 events on the Columbia River Circuit, which began in Salem in early May and concludes with the Circuit Finals in Redmond, Ore., in mid-November. The Columbia River Circuit is one of 12 regional divisions of the PRCA, consisting of Washington, Oregon and the Idaho panhandle (north of the Salmon River).
In addition, the Thunder Mountain staff is adding $2,500 per event to the prize fund, considerably more than the $300 per event that was up for grabs in 1975.
Erickson will compete in the tie-down roping. Mike Beers of Post, Ore., the circuit's second-ranked all-around cowboy and top-ranked team roping heeler, is slated to compete in the team roping and tie-down roping.
Other circuit leaders scheduled to appear include Noah Bayes of Adrian, Ore. (bareback), Sam MacKenzie of Jordan Valley, Ore. (saddle bronc) and Brandon Beers of Powell Butte, Ore. (team roping-header).
In addition, defending Thunder Mountain champions returning are Zac Compton of Hermiston, Ore. (bareback), two-time defending champion Barbara West of Oak Harbor, Wash. (barrel racing) and Mason Michaelis of Caldwell, Idaho (bull riding).
Longview school teacher and steer wrestler Shawn Merz is ranked 19th in the circuit all-around standings, and is scheduled to compete in the steer wrestling and team roping with Brush Prairie's Jerry Kent, the circuit's 23rd-ranked heeler.
Other locals competing for prize money include Longview's Tommy Akins in team roping, former Castle Rock and current Ridgefield resident Mark Boultinghouse (steer wrestling and team roping), tie-down ropers Joe Hoffman of Chehalis and Tenino's Brett Hale, and barrel racer Heidi Yarbor of Deer Island.
This year's rodeo support staff includes bullfighters Donnie Griggs and Jesse Tennant, and announcer Steve Kenyon. Beard Rodeo Company of Ellensburg is the rodeo stock provider, and Edie Longfellow is the rodeo secretary.
Sesiley Rulo is Miss Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo. The 2008 Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo Queen will be crowned during Saturday's performance.
Tonight, the rodeo will also host Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night to raise breast cancer awareness in the community, with proceeds to benefit local breast cancer support groups.
Last year, nearly $3,000 was raised and donated to the local support groups. Patrons and rodeo performers are encouraged to wear pink shirts to show their support, and numerous pink giveaways and raffles will be held during the performance.
Also tonight and Friday, the semifinals of the Youth Mutton Busting will be contested, with the finals to be held Saturday. All contestants must be 4-8 years old and weigh less than 60 pounds. They must be able to ride the back of a sheep for six seconds. All rides will be timed and judged.
General admission tickets for the rodeo are $7 tonight, $8 on Friday and $9 for Saturday's finals. Reserved seating is available for $10 tonight, $11 on Friday and $12 on Saturday.
Rodeo presale tickets are also available at Horse Lover's Haven, 1414 Commerce, in Longview.
The rodeo arena opens at 6 tonight.
free spirit wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:19 AM:
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