Coloradan Josh Peek wins top award at 99th annual Pendleton Round-Up

A member of the Peek rodeo family, Josh, took the All Around Champion award at the 99th rendition of the Pendleton Round-Up on Saturday. And by the end of the day tickets were nearly gone for the Friday and Saturday performances of the celebrated rodeo's much anticipated centennial next September. The rodeo runs for four days the second full week of September.

Hailing from Pueblo, CO, Peek, who turned 30 last week, took the event by winning several events during the past four days, including both the tie down roping and steer wrestling events on Friday.

"Rodeo has always been a part of my family's life-style," said Peek. "My dad, Ray, was a talented calf roper and team roper. We traveled thousands of miles, driving rodeo to rodeo. It has always been a family affair." Peek added that he was only nine when he learned how to rope on his family's ranch in Pueblo.
Regarding his victory at Pendleton, Peek said, "It's amazing. It's a cowboy's rodeo and it's a dream of mine. I've always wanted to win Pendleton. I want to thank my family….I've got two brand new babies . . . and my wife Delores. I want to thank the lord, too."

Although some cowboys have criticized the grass infield at the Pendleton Round-Up because it can be slippery for horses, Peek has no problem with it.

"I love the grass because it is different," he said. "And I feel like in the bull dogging you just gotta do everything right and wait for those steers. I've always had really good timing. And I can't say enough about my horse Nitro in the calf roping. They call him Mr. Pendleton, a lot of the cowboys do, and he just an awesome horse on the grass."

Peek also likes the history of the Round-Up, which will celebrate its centennial next year.

"This rodeo, with a hundred years behind it is awesome because it's a cowboys' rodeo A guy can come out here and keep competing and no matter how you get knocked down there's always a chance . I can't say enough about Pendleton and the sponsors that allow me to come here."

In addition to other winnings Peek takes home $6,053 for his All Around title. He was followed in the quest for the All Around award by Luke Branquinho, Santa Maria, CA, $4,983, and Vin Fisher, Jr., Andrews, TX, $3,674. All three cowboys won a minimum of two events.

Meanwhile, bareback winner Clint Cannon, Waller, TX, made a u-turn to Pendleton to collect the Big 4 Award at the end of the Round-Up. Cannon had won the bareback event earlier in the rodeo but did not win on Saturday and like many rodeo cowboys, he hit the road for the next rodeo as soon as he collected his bareback winnings, $4,451. However, his performance also merited the Big 4 Award, $5,000 in cash, for placing in four Northwest rodeos this year, the last of which is Pendleton's Round-Up. Reached on his cell, Cannon was persuaded to return for his check.

Winning the bareback event on Saturday and overall for the four day rodeo was Jared Keylon, Fort Scott KS, riding Cherry Velvet. His total winnings were $6,101. Behind him was Aussie Dave Worsfold of Queensland, Australia, riding Moony with an 84 on Saturday, followed by Bobby A Mote of Culver, OR, on Parlor Game, 83. Worsfold, 26, and a three-year veteran of the PRCA took third for the overall and $2,981, just behind Mote, who won $4,312. Mote also took third place in Wednesday's bareback event.

In the saddle bronc event Saturday's winner also won the overall for this event. Wade Sundell, 24, Boxholm, IA, rode Shining Mountain, to an 89 for the day, winning $5,217 for the four days. In second place for both Saturday and the overall was Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, ND, with an 88 on Saturday and winnings of $3,985. Tied for third overall was Anthony Bello, Oakley, UT, sharing winnings of $1,664 with Billy Etbauer, Edmond, OK. Etbauer, 46, has enjoyed a long career for a rough stock (bucking) competitor, where most of the riders are under 30.

Sundell, the winner of nine rodeos this year leading up to the Round-Up, turned pro two years ago and is the son of a professional bronc rider.

In tie down roping for Saturday Justin Macha, Needville, TX, took first with a time of 9.2 seconds, followed by All Around Champ Josh Peek at 10.5 seconds and in third Jerrad Hofstetter, Portales, NM, 10.6. For the event overall, Hofstetter won first and $5,634, Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, ID, second and $5392, followed by Macha in third with $5133. Macha, 29, has won over $125,000 since turning pro in 2003.

Hoffstetter, 25, has competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos since 2006. Unlike many of the rodeo cowboys who follow fathers, brothers and uncles into the sport Hoffstetter joined rodeo because "it looked like fun", which, he says, it is.

Shiozawa, 29, has won nearly $750,000 since turning pro in 1999, a year after he won the National High School Tie Down Roping Championships. He's won 10 rodeos this year before the Round-Up.

The Steer Wrestling champ for the 2009 Round-Up is Olin Hannum, West Haven, UT, who took home $5,601 for his win. He was followed by Todd Suhn, North Platte, NE, winner of $3,900, and Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, OR, who received $4,239. Hannum also won Saturday's finals with time of 4.1 seconds. He was followed by Knowles at 5.6, and K.C. Jones, Decatur, TX at 5.9.

Hannum's dad, Jack, made the National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping and also served as the head of the PRCA Pro Officials program for several years. Hannum played college football at North Carolina State. Suhn, 36, has won nearly $1.5 million since turning pro in 1994. He won the steer wrestling and All Around Champion titles at the Pendleton Round-Up two years after turning pro. Knowles, who just turned 29 on Tuesday, is a top contender in the PRCA in the steer wrestling event, having earned nearly $600,000 since he joined the pro ranks in 2001

In perhaps the most technically difficult of the rodeo events, team roping, the champions for 2009 are father and son duo Allen and Joel Bach, Weatherford, TX. Allen, a 52-year-old vet with 31 years as a rodeo pro and lifetime winnings of over $2.3 million, not to mention four world titles, is passing a family tradition to Joel, 20, who turned pro just last year when he was named rookie of the year in team roping and who has already won nearly $50,000 in the sport. For their win at the Round-Up they received $6,223.

The two Bachs were followed in the overall results-as determined by their total performance over the four days of the Round-Up--by two brothers Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA, winning $5,957; and in third, Matt Funk, Hermiston, OR, and Paul Eaves, Millsap, TX, who won $5,035. The two Minor brothers have made a name for themselves on the pro circuit, winning a combined half million dollars since Brady, 24, and Riley, 21, turned pro in 2004 and 2006 respectively. Their hometown, Ellensburg, WA, inducted the two into its rodeo hall of fame two years ago.

Winners of Saturday's finals in team roping were the Minor brothers in first with a time of 6.2, followed by the team of Funk and Eaves, 7.3, with the Bach brothers in third at 7.5.
In the third and last roping event, steer roping, the overall title went to C.A. Lauer, Buffalo, OK, for prize money of $5,512. He was followed by Cody Scheck, Alva, OK, winning $5,331, and Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, OK, who received $3,830.

Lauer, 56, proves that ropers can have a long rodeo career. He turned pro in 1974. His son K.W. Lauer was the 2007 Resistol Steer Roping Rookie of the Year. Scheck, 30, joined the PRCA in 2005 and was steer roping rookie of the year. Hartness, 46, has rodeoed professionally since 1985, winning nearly $500,000 in his career.

The winners of Saturday's finals in steer roping were Chance Kelton, Mayer, AZ, in first with a time of 12.8, followed by Scheck at 14.3 and Landon, McClaugherty, Tilden, TX, 14.7. Kelton, 34, won at the Pendleton Round-Up in 1998. He was the National High School Finals Rodeo champion in 1993.

In the crowd pleasing bull riding event Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, NV, who won big in this event on Friday, was the overall champ for the four-days, taking a prize of $4,431, followed closely by Souli Shanklin, who also won Saturday's finals.

Shanklin, Rocksprings, TX, took prize money of $4,472. He was followed by Tyler Smith, Fruita, CO, who won $2,968. McTaggart had said on Friday that he believed he'll make the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in his hometown in December, a certainty after his win at Pendleton. Since joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2004 he has earned nearly $250,000 in prize money and won five rodeos already this year. And he has already won at the WNFR in 2007.

The winners of Saturday's finals in bull riding were Shanklin, with a score of 89. Behind him were Smith, 86, and Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, SD, 85. The 24-year-old Maier took first place at the nearby Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, OR in August.

In the final event of the 99th annual Pendleton Round-Up Linzie Walker, Conway, WA, took an unprecedented fourth straight title in barrel racing, the Round-Up's only women's event. Walker won $5,187 for her four-day performance. She was followed by Jana Isaac, White Swan, WA, winning $4,281, and Bennette Barrington, Lubbock, TX, winner of $3,374.

In Saturday's barrel racing event, Walker also took first place with a time of 28.22, followed by Isaac at 28.40 seconds and Barrington at 28.70.

2009 ALL AROUND CHAMPION JOSH PEEK
2009 BIG 4 AWARD CHAMPION CLINT CANNON
2009 MIKE HOPPER AWARD RECIPIENT TREVOR KNOWLES
Saturday Matinee Events and Winners:
2009 BAREBACK RIDING CHAMPION JARED KEYLON
BAREBACK RIDING
565 James Sursa Bluebell, UT Northern Lights 78
172 Micky Downare Hartsel, CO Gus 81
71 Matt Bright Azle, TX Eagle Feathers 80
116 Casey Colletti Pueblo, CO Freak Show DNR
638 Dave Worsfold Queensland, AUS Moony 84
368 Will Lowe Canyon, TX Indian Sign 76
388 Brandon Martin Pendleton, OR Broadway 82
241 Ryan Gray Cheney, WA Yoyo 82
296 Tilden Hooper Carthage, TX Chucker NS
429 Bobby A Mote Culver, OR Parlor Game 83
334 Jared Keylon Fort Scott, KS Cherry Velvet 85
93 Clint Cannon Waller, TX Lady Killer 79
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2009 TIE DOWN ROPING CHAMPIONS JERRAD HOFSTETTER & MATT SHIOZAWA
TIE DOWN ROPING
208 Vin Fisher Jr Andrews, TX 18.4
57 Cimarron Boardman Stephenville, TX NT
374 Justin Macha Needville, TX 9.2
453 Josh Peek Pueblo, CO 10.5
461 Murray Pole Erskine, AB NT
61 Alwin Bouchard Scandia, AB 13.0
107 Seth Childers Cameron, TX 13.5
292 Jerrad Hofstetter Portales, NM 10.6
125 Tuf Cooper Decatur, TX NT
122 Clif Cooper Decatur, TX 16.1
525 Matt Shiozawa Chubbuck, ID 12.6
344 Scott Kormos Teague, TX 23.7
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2009 SADDLE BRONC RIDING CHAMPION WADE SUNDELL
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
168 Heith DeMoss Heflin, LA Bob 85
639 Cody Wright Milford, UT Western Ways 79
346 Jesse Kruse Great Falls, MT Domino Theory 85
193 JJ Elshere Quinn, SD Show Biz 83
88 Wes Burns Stephenville, TX Queenie 79
558 Shaun Stroh Dickinson, ND Dakota Rose 88
49 Anthony Bello Oakley, UT Broadmore 84
247 Bobby Griswold Geary, OK Blazing Saddle 82
198 Billy Etbauer Edmond, OK Surprise Package 83
564 Wade Sundell Boxholm, IA Shining Mountain 89
167 Cody DeMoss Heflin, LA Surprise Party 77
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2009 STEER WRESTLING CHAMPION OLIN HANNUM
STEER WRESTLING
413 Jason Miller Lance Creek, WY NT
148 Hunter Cure Holliday, TX 7.2
91 B.J. Campbell Benton City, WA 14.7
316 Erik Johnson Eltopia, WA 6.1
68 Luke Branquinho Los Alamos, CA 7.8
323 K.C. Jones Decatur, TX 5.9
341 Trevor Knowles Mount Vernon, OR 5.6
83 Billy Bugenig Ferndale, CA 7.6
260 Olin Hannum West Haven, UT 4.1
258 Dane Hanna Starkville, MS NT
234 Ted Gollaher Cascade, MT NT
561 Todd Suhn North Platte, NE 7.8
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2009 TEAM ROPING CHAMPIONS JOEL BACH & ALLEN BACH
TEAM ROPING
226 Matt Funk Hermiston, OR /182 Paul Eaves Millsap, TX 7.3
33 Cody Barney Klamath Falls, OR /449 Bo Patzke Klamath Falls, OR 9.8
421 Riley Minor Ellensburg, WA /419 Brady Minor Ellensburg, WA 6.2
445 Bryce Palmer Milton-Freewater, OR/310 Garrett Jess Coulee City, WA NT
362 Blaine Linaweaver Leavenworth, KS /642 J.D. Yates Pueblo, CO NT
555 Jason Stewart Royal City, WA /140 Shane Crossley Hermiston, OR NT
79 Luke Brown Rock Hill, SC /369 Martin Lucero Stephenville, TX
643 Justin Yost Mt.Morris, PA /58 Britt Bockius Claremore, OK 12.1
471 Steve Purcella Hereford, TX /317 Jhett Johnson Casper, WY 13.3
23 Joel Bach Millsap, TX / 22 Allen Bach Weatherford, TX 7.5
56 Ty Blasingame Olney Springs, CO /286 Cody Hintz Spring Creek, NV NT
524 Matt Sherwood Pima, AZ /484 Rhen Richard Roosevelt, UT NT
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2009 STEER ROPING CHAMPION C.A. LAUER
STEER ROPING
213 Jim Folk S. Coffeyville, OK NT
208 Vin Fisher Jr Andrews, TX 16.3
329 Chance Kelton Mayer, AZ 12.8
394 Landon McClaugherty Tilden, TX 14.7
447 Rocky Patterson Pratt, KS NT
431 David Motes Tolar, TX 17.1
267 Rod Hartness Pawhuska, OK 17.0
624 Paul Williams Burbank, OK NT
509 Cody Scheck Alva, OK 14.3
448 Paul Patton Abilene, TX NT
560 Shane Suggs Granbury, TX NT
351 C.A. Lauer Buffalo, OK 16.2
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2009 BULL RIDING CHAMPION COLIN MCTAGGART
BULL RIDING
657 Jed Moore Cheyenne, WY Inferno 80
653 Dustin Jenkin Missoula, MT Krazy Kat NS
285 Tater Hins Huron, SD Blue Northern NS
382 Ardie Maier Timber Lake, SD Flashback 85
518 Beau Schroeder China, TX Mortachi NS
521 Souli Shanklin Rocksprings, TX Okie Dokie 89
538 Tyler Smith Fruita, CO Pale Face 86
24 Jesse Bail Camp Crook, SD Dodgin Calls 83
480 Brandon Reynolds Pike Road, AL King of Hearts NS
18 Kanin Asay Powell, WY North Star NS
406 Colin McTaggart Las Vegas, NV Brass Monkey 85
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2009 (4TIME) BARREL RACING CHAMPION LINZIE WALKER
BARREL RACING
515 Lucy SchnabelePrineville, OR 29.02
482 Jackie Rhoden Prineville, OR 29.05
358 Libby Lewis Benton City, WA 28.92
26 Deanne Bain Culver, OR 33.95
630 Trisha Wirth Auburn, CA 28.77
436 Marvel Murphy Fallon, NV 29.15
393 Brenda Mays Terrebonne, OR 34.03
592 Allison Vankoll Brush Prairie, WA 29.11
34 Benette Barrington Lubbock, TX 28.70
327 Kelli Kamm Stanfield, OR NT
306 Jana Isaac White Swan, WA 28.40
600 Linzie Walker Conway, WA 28.22