ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 1999

34 r NOVEMBER 17,1999

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Kelton, I-ockett stick to game plan tionally the last major rodeo of rhe reg- ular season for NFR hopefrrls.

Greg Robinson photo

r By JULrE MRrurcN SPECIALTO PSN fl hance Kelton and Brent l- H:5:;;11ff:5'#ff;:?" ries. The pair, who dominated the first nine rounds of the 1998 NFRteam rop- ing competition to the tune of $62,908 and a near-miss for wodd tides, seemed to know things would fall together this year. Kelton and Lockett, the only team to place in both rounds in Pasco (Wash.), put together runs of 5.0 and 5.6 sec- onds to win the average tide at the Columbia River Pro Rodeo fusociation, Oct. 28-30, by more than'a second and padded their pockets with $2,524. - Kelton jumped to l4th in the world heading standings with $39,998, while Lockett slid into l0th in the heeling standings \ith $40,297. Though nei- ther roper locked up a'99 NFRqualifi- cation in Pasco, the money helped take the heat off in San Francisco. "I wanted to have all my moneY won by the Cow Palace (home of the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco), so that was a good deal," Kelton said of the Pasco cash. Turns out the duo made more than enough. They split the first-round win in make-or-break San Francisco, tradi-

trGlton had to overcome typical Cow Palace pressure without riding his own horse. His heading horse had been sick for months and his back-up hone had recendy gotten sore. So, the round win came courtesy of David Motes'heading horse. "'vVhen we get done roping, he usu- ally doesn't have much expression," Lockett said of his parmer-. 'But after we rcped our first one at the Cow Palace he went to get his rope, and he had a big ol' smile on his face." The Cow Palace money pushed the relieved Kelton to l2th in the heading standings, as well as into his second straight NFR "After the first year, people just expect you to be there," said Lockett, who's qualified for his fourth Finals. "The second time that you make the National Finals is the most important. If you go again you know you deserve to be Lrere, so it was good for Chance to go again." Kelton and Lockett, last year's NFR sleepers, struggled all year to get back in Finals form. '"Ihe summer was terrible for me," said Kelton from San Francisco. "We were drawing good, but I couldn't catch where the big money was." Three weeks ago, they were catching quickly starting with a win in Poway,

W. Ross Murrow of Pasco, Wash,, turfs a steer at his hometown Murrow's 5.2-second clocking didn't place at the Golumbia River Pro Association Rodeo, Oct. 28'30' T.W. Parker of Wendell, ldaho, took top in Pasco with an 8.2-second clocking on two head.

rodeo. Rodeo honors

So we had kind of a litde incentive, I guess. I like proving people wrong." They weren't the only team trying to please relatives with free NFR tickets. About mid-October) manv cowboys on the proverbial NFR bubble were jump- ing on planes to get to more rodeos.

Calif., then grabbing nearly $4,000 in Billings, Mont.; Waco, Texas; and Tucson, Ariz., with sub-six-second runs at each rodeo, "Usually when you're making the Finalp, all your relatives are wanting to get a hold ofyou for tickets and every- 6ody's h"ppy," said Lockett. "But about a month and a half ago people were thinking we weren't going to make it.

See Pasco, page 35

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L998/L999 Frnsr Pr,acn Frcrnmc Bur-r- oF THE Yren Spotad Dernon

Lggg PRCA/AQHA Frnsr Pr.acs TEAM Ropnuc (rueonvc) I{onsB oF THB Ynen Scooter (Ohlobomn ToP IIot)

Dan Hubbell photo

Barker photo

ht-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Charles Pogue Pu Healdton, Okla., in 1991. Since then' HISTORY: Eig Owned and ridden bY Charles Pogue Ringling, Okla. SEX: gelding AGE:15 COLOR: graY HEIGHT 15.1 hands WEIGHT 1,200 Pounds YEARS COMPETING lN PRCA:9 NFR QUALIFICATIONS:7

Owned by Beutler and Gaylord Rodeo ComPanY Elk City, Okla. AGE:5 COLOR: white with black sPots WEIGHT 1,300 Pounds YEARS COMPETING lN PRCA:3 WBF QUALIFIGATIONS:3 (including 1999) HISTORY: SPotted Demon was raised on Bennie Beutler's ranch in Elk City' Okla' CHARACTERISTICS: Beutler and top bullfighter Greg Rumohr said spotted Demon has certainly earned his acclaim' "lf you're not careful, you'llthrow him a fake and run right into him," Rumohr said The bull's owner Bennie Beutler said it's sink or swim with this big boy. ,,There's no in-between. He either puts 'em over the fence or they win the go- round," Beutler said. BEST TRIPS: "lf you get around him you're going to be between 80 and 90 (points),,, Rumohr said. "l had him in witchita Falls (Texas) in 1999 and won a iound, and then had him in Greeley (Colo.) and he hooked the heck out ol me'" During the 1997 National Finals Rodeo Rumohr scored 86 points with Spotted Demon.

rchased Scooter from Vollie Wingo of the horse has been named the top

PRCA/AQHA heading horse of the year a record six times' CHARACTER|STi'CS: Pogue said his champion horse is incredibly fast, but it's also the horse's love for wnat ne does that rnakes him successful. BEST RUNS: ln 1998 Scooter helped Pogue to a lead in the world team roping heading standings right up to the NFR. During the NFR Po_gue and Scooier, with ioping partneiArittBockius, won$47,244. ln 1999, Pogue and. Scootei trave atiealy totaled more than $56,000 thanks to wins like the one in San Antonio, Texas, where they totaled 18.9.seconds on three head and pock- eted nearly $8,000. RODEO SCHEDULE: Pogue wrapped up his 1999 season at rodeo in Pasadena, Texas, where he and Bockius each won $1,136. Lookforthem next at the National Finals Rodeo, Dec' 3-12.

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PRCA horse-of-the-year awards are sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association.

PRCA top stock awards are sponsored by Copenhagen Skoal Pro RodedM.