Pro rodeo: Competitors cut no slack away from SandHills lights

Slack.

One of the definitions of the word, courtesy of Daniel Webster’s dictionary, is “characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy.”

That certainly didn’t describe the 207 competitors — including five-time All-Around champion Trevor Brazile and seven-time tie down champion and 1999 All-Around world champion Fred Whitfield — that were pounding the dirt Monday morning at Ector County Coliseum in the first session of slack for the 75th SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo.

The event is held away from the noise and glitter of the nightly performances, with the only spectators likely to be the fellow contestants just waiting for their chance at a run for the money.

But slack is big business for the rodeo — and depending on how it is scheduled, for the local businesses.

“The barrel racers are going (Monday) and finishing their first go,” SandHills rodeo secretary Barb Duggan said. “Then, they are back for slack for the second go on Wednesday, so they aren’t going to be traveling and that means more business for the hotels, restaurants and stores. The bigger the rodeo, the bigger the number of people that will be competing in slack.”

With just 60 slots allotted for the cowboys and cowgirls for the six performances at SandHills, other avenues had to be created for the competitors. And as the sport grows — with more than 900 entrants traveling through the Permian Basin during this year’s event — so too does slack.

San Antonio has four days — from 8 a.m. to late into the evening — of timed events before the first live performance. The field has grown so large in Denver at the National Stock Show and Rodeo that the committee there has limited the entries and now has created a qualifying rodeo to earn a berth in the show.

That qualifying tournament in Denver has affected SandHills because the steer wrestlers will be in the Colorado city today and the tie-down ropers will be there on Wednesday. Then, both disciplines will be back at Ector County Coliseum on Thursday to compete in the SandHills’ second round.

“We had to change our schedule a little bit because of Denver, but it works out,” Duggan said. “And it helps the competitors because the more contestants you have, the more entry fees and the bigger the payouts.”

75th SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo

At Ector County Coliseum and Outback Arena

Through Monday’s slack competition

BAREBACK RIDING

1. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Hypnotic, 86; 2. Jess Davis, Payson, Utah, Guiding Light, 85; 3. Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., Iron Mike, 83; 4. Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, Breezy Day, 82; 5. Eric Swenson, Bonham, Texas, Pilot Point, 81; 6. Zane Forster, Dickinson, N.D., Sky Dancer, 80.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

1. Cody Horwedel, Shandon, Calif., Eclipse, 83; 2. Cody Taton, Newell, S.D., Elvis, 82; 3. Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta, Speed Control, 80; 4. Louie Brunson, Interior, S.D., Little Bear, 79; 5. Scott Miller, Hemet, Calif., Chocolate Chip, 76; 6. (tie) Eric Addison, Belvidere, S.D., Springboard, 75; J.W. Todd, Loving, N.M., Jumpin Jack, 75.

BULL RIDING

1. Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo., 77; 2. (tie) Shawn Coleman, Springfield, S.D., 73; Myron Duarte, Auburn, Wash., 73; 4. Ted Bert, Modesto, Calif., 72; 5. Logan Allen, Crescent, Iowa, 71; 6. Tater Hins, Huron, S.D., 70.

TIE DOWN ROPING

First go-round

1. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, 8.0, $2,603.79; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 8.4, $2,264.17; 3. Cody James, Monticello, Ark., 8.6, $1,924.54; 4. (tie) Tyler Garten, Kingman, Kan., 8.7, $1,245.29; Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 8.7, $1,245.29; Dennis Luetge, Hempstead, Texas, 8.7, $1,245.29; 7. (tie) Mike Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., 8.8, $396.23; Brett Fleming, Worden, Mont., 8.8, $396.23.

STEER WRESTLING

1. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 4.6; 2. Russell Smith, Fort Morgan, Colo., 7.0; 3. Cole Edge, Coleman, Okla., 7.3; 4. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 8.2; 5. Ty Talsma, Springfield, S.D., 8.9; 6. Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo., 10.5.

BARREL RACING

First go-round

1. Cindy Wheeler, Fredericksburg, Texas, 13.91, $3,499.56; 2. Andrea Clark, Lusk, Wyo., 14.02, $2,999.62; 3. Reggie Crosby, Carney, Okla., 14.06, $2,499.69; 4. Lacy Maynard, Cedar Creek, Texas, 14.08, $2,166.40; 5. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 14.10, $1,666.46; 6. Kris Burden, El Reno, Okla., 14.13, $1,333.17; 7. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 14.14, $999.87; 8. Jackie Dube, Giddings, Texas, 14.16, $666.58; 9. Ember Stewart, Glen Rose, Texas, 14.21, $499.94; 10. Clay Sewalt, Del Rio, Texas, 14.22, $333.29.

DAISY PROTECTION BULL FIGHT TOUR

Saturday’s results

1. Team Jordan Wire Rope (Ryan Wilson and Jesse Tennent), 73; 2. Team Cavenders (Ross Hill and Lance McIlvain), 70; 3. Team Diamond Pump & Transport (Wacey Munsell and Sam Gress), 57; 4. Team Diamond Tank Rental (Andy Burelle and Dusty Tuckness), 56.

Average

(Through two performances)

1. Team Jordan Wire Rope (Ryan Wilson and Jesse Tennent), 121; 2. Team Cavenders (Ross Hill and Lance McIlvain), 120; 3. Team Diamond Tank Rental (Andy Burelle and Dusty Tuckness), 102; 4. Team Diamond Pump & Transport (Wacey Munsell and Sam Gress), 101.