Rodeo: Feild following in father's boot steps

Every cowboy or cowgirl has memories of the first time that he or she walked into the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas as a competitor in the Wranglers National Finals Rodeo, the Super Bowl of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Kaycee Feild, of Payson, Utah, is no different, talking about “getting chills up my spine,” in 2008 when he stepped behind the chutes for the first time as a professional.
It wasn’t his first trip to Sin City, though.
Throughout the 1980s, Feild made annual trips to the desert to accompany his father, Lewis, a five-time world champion (all-around 1985-87, bareback riding 1985-86) and member of the PRCA Hall of Fame.
After leaving the circuit, Lewis Feild moved into coaching at Utah Valley State College, retiring in 2008, the same year that Kaycee Feild won the College National Finals bareback championship.
“I had the best coach in the world,” Feild said Saturday night after earning an 82-ponit score on a reride in the bareback competition during the second round of the 77th SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum.
“He’s one of my biggest supporters and to be able to walk into the arena in Las Vegas, knowing that my father had competed there and won, was the thrill of a lifetime. It’s something that I’ll always remember.
Feild, however, did more than just show up the National Finals Rodeo the past two years, he made sure that everyone understood he was there for a reason.
In 2008, after five so-so rounds, Feild won the sixth round with a 90.5-point ride on Wise Guy and then placed in three more rounds before the end of the event, finishing eighth in the world.
Last year, after entering the NFR in seventh place, Feild won the second round with an 89-point ride on Dusty Dan and placed in three other rounds to move up to third in the final stands for 2009.
“It’s an great experience to make the (victory) lap after winning at the NFR,” Feild said. “When I would go with my dad, it was something that you dream about and to do it both years is great.”
Feild also learned that life on the chute side of the arena is much different than sitting in the stands for 10 nights. In 2008, the then 21-year old experienced all the nightlife that Las Vegas had to offer — and paid for in during the later rounds of the competition.
“By the eighth and ninth rounds, I was really sore because I was just competing, then going out and then laying around during the day waiting for the performance.
“Last year, we planned things during the day to get up and moving around, so we were asleep a lot earlier and I felt a lot better. It’s something that you don’t understand until you’ve been through the NFR and 10 straight days.”
>> New leader: Matt Bright of Azle made his stay in the Permian Basin a productive one Saturday, riding Sheep Tick to an 86-point score to take over the lead in the bareback competition.
There was a complete change at the top as Jered Schlegal moved into second with an 83, Feilds finished with an 82 on his reride and then Luke Creasy moved into fourth with an 80-point marking on Dust Devil.
Creasy’s dismount was the most spectacular of the night as just after the eight-second buzzer sounded, he was tossed to the ground over the head of the horse, landing flat on his back after a full flip. After lying on the ground for a few seconds to gather his breath, he got up and walked out under his own power.
>> Super Tuesday: The rodeo performances will be dark the until Wednesday, but the ropers will take center stage during the annual Super Tuesday Roping event and Shawn McMullen Memorial Tie Down Roping competition.
The event features many of the top ropers in the business, including seven-time all-around world champion Trevor Brazile and his partner, Patrick Smith of Midland, along with JoJo Lemond of Andrews and his partner Randon Adams.
The team ropers will begin slack Wednesday morning in the outback arena.

>> 77th SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo

At Ector County Coliseum

Bareback

Second Performance

1. Matt Bright, Azle, 86; 2. Jerad Schlegel, Burns, Colo., 83; 3. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 82; 4. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, Canada, 80.

Overall

1. Matt Bright, Azle, 86; 2. Jerad Schlegel, Burns, Colo., 83; 3. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 82; 4. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, Canada, 80; 5. Caleb Bennet, Santaguin, Utah, 79; 6. Josi Young, Kimberly, Idaha, 77; 7. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 76; 8. Nathan Graves, Kaycee, Wyo,, 74. 

Steer Wrestling

Second Performance

1t. Ross Eickhoff, Grass Ranger, Mont., 4.3; Bryce Segotta, Raton, N.M., 4.3; Travis Reay, Mayerthorpe, Alberta, Canada, 4.3; 4. Zane Hankel, Red Cliff, Alberta, Canada, 4.6.

Overall

1t. Ross Eickhoff, Grass Ranger, Mont., 4.3; Bryce Segotta, Raton, N.M., 4.3; Travis Reay, Mayerthorpe, Alberta, Canada, 4.3; 4. Zane Hankel, Red Cliff, Alberta, Canada, 4.6; 5. GC Clark, Granbury, 4.9; 6. Kelly Masters, Erie, Colo., 5.0; Brent Lassetter, Elm Mott, 5.1; Jason Perry, Wyneewood, Okla., 8.0. 

Tie Down Roping

Second Performance

1. Miles Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 9.0 seconds.

Overall

1. Miles Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 9.0 seconds; 2. Charley Russell, Shamrock, 9.7; 3. Doug Pharr, Victoria, 10.1; 4. Jesse Sheffield, South Weber, Utah, 12.9; Joe Clarot, Modesto, Calif., 21.8. 

Saddle Bronc

Second Performance

1. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 86; Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 82; 3. Tyler Corrington, Guymon, Okla, 80; J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 79.

Overall

1. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 86; 2. Ryan Montroy, Waterflow, N.M., 83; 3. Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 82; 4. Tyler Corrington, Guymon, Okla, 80; 5t. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 79; J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 79; 7. Luke Butterfield, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada, 78; 8t. Dustin Thompson, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, 77; Colin Stalley, Riverton, Wyo., 77. 

Barrel Racing

Second Performance

1. Sabrina Ketcham, Yeso, N.M., 14.21 seconds; 2. Martha Wright, Dublin, 14.34; Libby Swenson, Denison, 14.34; Gretchen Benbene, Aubrey, 14.37.

Overall

1. Annesa Self, Valley View, 14.05 seconds; 2. Sabrina Ketcham, Yeso, N.M., 14.21; 3. Angela Ganter, Abilene, 14.29; 4t. Martha Wright, Dublin, 14.34; Libby Swenson, Denison, 14;34; 6. Gretchen Benbene, Aubrey, 14.37; 7. Tiffany Teehee, Claremore, Okla., 14.64; Whitney Robinson, Mesilla Park, N.M., 14.72. 

Bull Riding

Second Performance

1. Spud Jones, Tohatchi, N.M., 89; B.J. McClevey, Helotes, 87; Brent Menz, Martin, 84; Dusty Elkington, Moundville, Mo.

Overall

1. Spud Jones, Tohatchi, N.M., 89; 2. B.J. McCelvey, Helotes, 87; 3. Cling Craig, Mena, Ariz., 86; 4. Brent Menz, Martin, Tenn., 84; 5. Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, 83; 6t. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 81; Cody Sweat, El Paso, 81; 8. Dusty Elkinton, Moundville, Mo.