Local roper leads all-around standings as Badlands Circuit Finals starts today

DEADWOOD - Jay Mattson of Deadwood heads into this weekend's Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo at Seven Down Arena atop the all-around standings. Mattson has a commanding lead, earning $14,988 for the year, which is $9,465 over second.
Mattson competes as a tie-down roper and team roper (header). Currently he is fourth in tie-down with $6,957 and leading by a small margin in heading with $8,031."It is important to have a good circuit rodeo," Mattson said. "My goal is to make the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in March." Only two in each event will qualify. "It is important to make consistent runs all the way through," Mattson said. "The draw is important also. No matter how good you are, if the calf or steer doesn't cooperate it is difficult to win."Mattson attributes his long running success to always being around horses. He trains horses and throughout the winter rides all day everyday. Having a strong roping partner that fits the style of the other rider is also important.Due to the crazy rodeo schedule, it doesn't always allow a rider to compete with his best horses. But Mattson will definitely be riding his two best horses this weekend.Mattson said his biggest wins this year came at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, winning the All-Around; taking top honors in the team roping at Red Bluff, Calif., and winning team roping and the all-around in Mason, Iowa.He had aspirations of making the National Finals Rodeo and was on pace through July, but will fall short this year. Mattson is currently ranked 36th in the Jack Daniel's World Standings. Only the top 15 qualify for the Finals."It is nice to compete so close to home," Mattson said. He has strong family support from his wife Melinda and three-year-old son Bodie.The Deadwood-Touchstone Energy Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo will feature the best cowboys and cowgirls from North Dakota and South Dakota. Some of the top contestants in the world will be competing. The Rodeo starts tonight and runs through Sunday.

Moss Vale Rodeo a wet 'n' wild ride

The 2006/2007 National Finals Rodeo series got off to a bumper start at the Moss Vale Rodeo on Saturday, with large crowds braving the rain to watch the cowboys and cowgirls work their magic in the ring.
With a jam-packed program of bull riding, bronc riding, steer wrestling, roping, barrel racing and poddy riding, the Moss Vale Rodeo provided saw some fierce competition as competitors did their best to get off to a good start in the first rodeo in the southern zone for the points year.
"For the southern zone rodeo circuit it was one of the best days I've seen on the circuit," said South Coast rodeo identity Matt Besant, who provided the bucking bull stock for Saturday's event.
"There was a fantastic crowd for the event, considering the weather we had for it."
As always the bull riding events attracted large crowds, although star bull Hurricane didn't get bucked on the night after the cowboy scheduled to ride Hurricane could not make it to the event.
Nevertheless there was plenty of bull riding action in the ring, with Reese Peterson winning the bull riding event on 84 points, just ahead of Goulburn-based bull rider Ben Jones.
Riding the bull Heads, Peterson won the event with 84 points, just four points ahead of Jones who was riding bull Easy Money.
More results in Wednesday's Southern Highland News

PBR World Rodeo Finals Results

1, Chad Denton (Oroville, Calif.) 89 on Chad Berger/Larry Ryken/Winston Loe's Amos Moses, $20,000. 2, Brendon Clark (Australia) 88.25 on Brown/Owen's Pandemonium, $15,000. 3, Ross Johnson (Alvord, Texas) 88 on D & H & Teague Bucking Bulls' Mossy Oak Break-Up, $10,000. 4t, Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) 87.25 on Chris Benedict's Bankwalker, $5,500. 4t, Cory McFadden (Coleman, Texas) 87.25 on Frontier Rodeo Company's Salty Cat, $5,500. 4t, Helton Luiz Da Silva (Brazil) 87.25 on Chad Berger/Larry Ryken's BowTech's Loverboy, $5,500. 7, Edgard Oliveira (Brazil) 86.75 on Paradise Farms Rodeo Genetics' Thrilville, $3,000. 8t, Ednei Caminhas (Brazil) 86.50 on D & H and Teague Bucking Bulls' Sunshine, $2,250. 8t, Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) 86.50 on Darrin Jewell's DNA Tumbleweed, $2,250.00. 8t, Guilherme Marchi (Brazil) 86 on Guidry Rodeo Co. Inc's Hot Damn, $850. Dusty LaBeth (Louisburg, Kan.) 86 on Diamond S Bucking Bulls' Panama Red, $850.

McBride wins PBR world title, $1M bonus

Justin McBride won the season title and a $1 million bonus Sunday in the Professional Bull Riders' $3.2 million Built Ford Tough World Finals.
McBride, from Elk City, Okla., finished the season with 13,415.25 points, and had regular earnings of $479,230.99.
Brazil's Guilherme Marchi was second with 12,372.25 points, led the event standings with 523.75 points and topped the season money list with $488,867.83.
Jody Newberry of Conway, Ark., was third in the season standings with 9,361.5 points after finishing second in the rodeo standings with 517.75 points.
Brian Herman of Victoria, Texas, won the seventh round with a 91-point ride on Classic Pro Rodeo Company's Paleface. Brazil's Adriano Moraes was second with a 90.25 on Frontier Rodeo Company's Thunder River.
In the short round, Brazil's Helton Luiz Da Silva won with a 91 on D & H and Teague Bucking Bulls' Here's Your Sign. Marchi had an 88.75 on Roy Carter Bucking Bulls' Kidd Rock, and McBride scored 75 points on Paradise Farms Rodeo Genetics' Carno.
After Marchi became the first rider to cover his sixth bull - with his ride on Kidd Rock - in eight rounds, McBride ended the 15-rider championship round with his 75 on Camo, the sixth bull he covered.
McBride was hanging on to his rope while clinging to Camo's side when the 8-second timer sounded to make his ride official.
"That is the ugliest, worst ride I ever made since I was a calf rider," McBride said. "But, on the other hand, it was the best ride I ever made. Bull riding went out the window. That was pretty much about being a cowboy."
Marchi also was the first rider to cover his fifth bull when he tallied 89.75 points on Guess Who during the seventh round.
McBride, the final rider of the seventh round, then scored 86 on Little Lobo to set up a showdown for the world and event titles.