Bull riders, ropers open Clovis Rodeo

By Pete Boele/Independent Sports Editor Friday, Apr. 25, 2008

The 94th edition of the Clovis Rodeo got off to a rousing start as bull riders and ropers opened the action in front of a boisterous crowd April 24 at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds.

When the dust settled, Clayton Foltyn outperformed 39 other competitors from the Professional Bull Riders' Copenhagen Challenger Tour to ride away with the $12,000 top prize.

Foltyn, aboard Slim Slam, scored a 91 in the short go-round to win the title with a combined score of 176.5.

"I came back from one of the bottom holes in the short round," said the El Campo, Texas, cowboy, whose score of 85.5, aboard Rock, in the long go-round left him in the No. 9 hole. The top-10 riders qualified for the short-round finals. "Luckily, I had a good bull that I could score a bunch of points on and it turned out great.

"I never really won anything out here and, finally, I hit me a win."

Coalinga's Ben Jones was second with a score of 175 (86.5 and 88.5)

In the Match Tie-Down Roping event, eight ropers went head-to-head in a round-by-round, single-elimination, winner-take-all contest as the competitor with the highest time in each round was knocked out.

Stran Smith, of Childress, Texas, saved his best for last, pulling off the quickest ride of the night, tying his calf in 7.1 seconds for the victory and the $12,500 check. Smith's effort came after Clint Cooper, of Decatur, Texas, opened the finals with an 8.5. It was Smith's first victory in six trips to the Clovis event.

"It's a great deal," Smith said. "It is just a phenomenal event. You see the excitement build up in a deal like it."

Smith also came from behind in round seven with a 7.8-second run as Cooper posted an 8.0 and Ryan Jarrett, of Summerville, Ga., clocked an 8.4.

"When you go first you know you have to go out and apply the pressure, if you go second you know what you have to do," Smith said. "We've programmed ourselves. We've done this millions of times."

Rodeo action continues at 5:30 p.m. April 25. Country music group Emerson Drive will also perform.

Professional Bull Riders' Copenhagen Challenge Tour

40 Riders

(Top 10 advance to the short go-round)

Long Round

Jimmy Lathero, Fellsmere, Fla., 0 (no ride); Josh Verburg, Fresno, 0; Harve Stewart, Stephenville, Texas, 0; Clay Harvey, Oakdale, 0; Jared Long, Ramona, Okla., 81; Cory Rasch, Cumberland Furnace, Tenn., 0; Jimmy Anderson, Denton, Texas, 0; Cory Melton, Tolar, Texas, 87.5; Ross Johnson, Alvord, Texas, 0; J.C. Navarro, Archdale, N.C., 0; Gerardo Venegas, Euless, Texas, 0; Cord McCoy, Tupelo, Okla., 84; Jody Turner, Cochran, Ala., 0; Jarrett Nelson, New Plymouth, Idaho, 84; Cole Taylor, Sayre, Okla., 0; Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo., 85.5; Chad Denton, Berry Creek, 82.5; Dusty LaBeth, Louisburg, Kan., 0; Zachary Brown, Sante Fe, Texas, 0; McKennon Wimberly, Mineral Wells, Texas, 0; J.W. Hart, Overbrook, Okla., 86; Hector Uribe, Solvang, 0; Ryan Dirteater, Hulbert, Okla., 0; Dan Hendricks, May, Okla., 0; Austin Meier, Kinta, Okla., 0; Cody Ford, Stanfeild, Ore., 0; Reese Cates, Carthage, Texas, 87; Ned Cross, Midland, Ore., 88.5; Francisco Torres, Mission, Texas, 0; Tyler Pankewitz, Warburg, Ala., 0; Nathan Tull, Shawnee, Okla., 86.5; Travis Sellers, Wentzville, Mo., 0; Ben Jones, Coalinga, 86.5; Clayton Foltyn, El Campo, Texas, 85.5; Noe Gonzales, Atascadero, 0; Billy Robinson, Galax, Va., 0; Mark Lopes, Keithville, La., 86; Rocky McDonald, Hachita, N.M., 85; Jordan Hupp, Cheyenne, Wyo., 0; Devon Mezei, Scandia, Ala., 0.

Short-Round Finals

Clayton Foltyn, 91 (176.5 total, winner $12,000); Ben Jones, 88.5 (175); Rocky McDonald, 89.5 (174.5); Mark Lopes, 81.5 (167.5); Ned Cross, 0 (88.5); Cory Melton, 0 (87.5); Reese Cates, 0 (87); Nathan Tull, 0 (86.5); J.W. Hart, 0 (86); Shane Proctor, 0 (85.5).

Match Tie-Down Roping

Eight Riders

(Slowest time each round is eliminated)

Round One

Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., 9.0 seconds; Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 10.4; Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 8.4; Matt Shizowa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 9.7; Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 9.2; Cade Swor, Chico, Texas, 8.3; Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 9.7; Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 12.2 (eliminated).

Round Two

Ryan Jarrett, 11.1; Clint Cooper, 9.6; Stran Smith, 13.7; Matt Shizowa, 9.8; Monty Lewis, 11.9; Cade Swor, 9.3; Jake Hannum, no time (eliminated).

Round Three

Ryan Jarrett, 8.4; Clint Cooper, 7.3; Stran Smith, 8.3; Matt Shizowa, 9.0; Monty Lewis, 8.9; Cade Swor, 18.5 (eliminated).

Round Four

Ryan Jarrett, 9.7; Clint Cooper, 11.9; Stran Smith, 8.9; Matt Shizowa, 10.1; Monty Lewis, 19.8 (eliminated).

Round Five

Ryan Jarrett, 15.3; Clint Cooper, 9.1; Stran Smith, 8.9; Matt Shizowa, no time (eliminated).

Round Six

Ryan Jarrett, 8.4 (eliminated); Clint Cooper, 8.0; Stran Smith, 7.8.

Championship

Clint Cooper, 8.5; Stran Smith, 7.1 (winner, $12,500)