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There were lead changes in six of the eight events Saturday night as competitors made the most of their opportunities in the final performance of the Bell County PRCA Rodeo at Bell County Expo Center.
On “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night - proceeds of certain merchandise went toward breast cancer research - it was fitting that of the three events that produced winning performances, two of them featured cowgirls.
Annesa Self of Valley View guided her horse through one turn to the right and two to the left in 15.45 seconds to win the barrel racing. Self overtook second-round leader Margo Peters of Fort Myers, Fla., by .02 seconds. Mary Burger of Pauls Valley, Okla., recorded a 15.55 Saturday to earn a share of fourth place.
Following suit in a special section of 12-and-under barrel racing, 11-year-old Troy cowgirl McKenzi Powell won with a 16.75 to edge runner-up Mady Norwood, an 8-year-old from McGregor.
The only other lead change came in the calf roping, which was highlighted by a pair of 9.2-second runs from Giddings’ Justin Maass and Matt Kenney of Onawa, Iowa. Del Rio roper Jim Smith - ranked 10th in the world standings - had a 9.7 to earn a share of fourth.
Rodeo’s premier event of bull riding produced three successful attempts and a near-tragedy.
Shawn Proctor (Tooele, Utah) moved into second with an 87-point ride. Ted Bert (Modesto, Calif.) had an 84 to tie for third, and Jed Moore (Cheyenne, Wyo.) tied for fifth with an 83.
But the building fell silent midway through the 20-rider section when Fort Worth’s Jeremy Choate was thrown on the horns of his draw - a bull named Hot Toddy - then tossed backward and dragged until his hand came free from the bull rope.
Pickup men Josh Edwards and Shandon Stalls quickly lassoed the animal to allow medical technicians to enter the arena, where Choate was immobilized and carried out on a board. Choate was conscious and his condition wasn’t immediately known.
It was the third bizarre incident of the night. The first two came in the saddle bronc event when a horse named Jam Bone jumped back on his haunches while leaving the chute, and a bronc called Fine Whiskey ran head-first into the arena wall.
Sandwiched around those mishaps, Rowdy Rathmell (Wills Point) and Aaron Lide (Odessa) managed to record scores of 77 to split fourth place.
The bareback riding competition didn’t produce any hair-raising moments but did feature a change in the standings. Silas Richards (North Zulch) had a 79 to move into third, and Jared Keylon (Fort Scott, Kan.) scored a 78 to take fourth.
It was a tough night for cowboys in the steer wrestling and team roping events, both of which saw no changes on the leaderboard.
edrennan@temple-telegram.com