PBF Daisy Protection Bullfight World Championships

Team All-American Dodge wins first go-round going away

ODESSA, Texas – The tallest bullfighters in the pen made the biggest move on opening night of the Professional Bullfighters Daisy Protection Bullfight World Championships on Friday at the Ector County Coliseum.

Team All-American Dodge, represented by Dave Jantzi of Sugar Creek, Ohio, and Toby Inman of Davis Junction, Ill., took advantage of aggressive bulls to win the first round of the championship, which takes place in conjunction with the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo in Odessa.

“That first bull we had, it was like I was in my back yard just having fun,” said Jantzi, 26. “You can ask my partner, I was pretty nervous coming in, but I settle down and concentrated on having fun.”

Team All-American Dodge scored 88 points to take the lead in the overall competition, which will continue through all six rounds of the SandHills Rodeo. They outdistanced second-place finishers Team Mann Creek Buck-n-Bulls, represented by Jay Brewer of Graham, Texas, and Steve Wangler of Plainview, Neb.

Brewer and Wangler continue to hold a slim lead in the 2008 world standings and fought some adversity when Brewer went down with an injured knee on the team’s first of four bulls.

“Coming in here and competing against this group of guys is an honor to start with,” said Inman, who, along with Jantzi, qualified for his first World Championships. “Then to come out on top on the first night is just great. I can’t explain it.”

The PBF protection-bullfight competition is based on developing a contest among some of the greatest athletes in ProRodeo – the guys that for years have been hired hands to protect fallen bull riders. This provides a competitive edge to these talented athletes.

“Dave and I work well together, and like most partners, we argue from time to time,” Inman said. “But we agree to disagree, and the big thing for us is that when it comes to the arena, we know who needs to be where to get the job done.”

RESULTS
First performance, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009
1. Team All-American Dodge, Dave Jantzi, Sugar Creek, Ohio/Toby Inman, Davis Junction, Ill. 88 points; 2. Team Mann Creek Buck-n-Bulls, Jay Brewer, Graham, Texas/Steve Wangler, Plainview, Neb. 70; 3. Team Cavenders, Andy Burelle, Ardmore, Okla./Dusty Tuckness, Meeteetse, Wyo., 69; 4. Team Daisy, Joe Garretson, Springfield, Mo./Cory Wall, Burlington, Colo.; 5. Team Buster’s Well Service, Lance McIlvain, Arlington, Texas/Wacey Munsell, Ulysses, Kan., 65.     

 

SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo

DeMers continues his confident streak at SandHills Rodeo

ODESSA, Texas – Cody DeMers has spent forever, it seems, away from rodeo’s biggest stage, the National Finals Rodeo.

Last year, he struggled early, then steamrolled through the end of the season to miss the championship by one position, finishing 16th in a sport where the top 15 in each event qualify. He’s hoping to avoid a slow start, and hoping to return to Las Vegas to play for the biggest paydays available in the sport.

He took a giant leap in that direction on Friday night during the first performance of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum. The three-time NFR qualifier from Kimberly, Idaho, matched moves with the Harry Vold Rodeo Co. bronc Dusty Valley for 82 points to take the early bareback-riding lead.

“I’ve missed the last three NFRs,” said DeMers, a college champion. “It started out with injury; I hurt my hand, then my knee. Last year, though, I was just fighting my head.”

He’s fought through the injuries, the pain and the reminders of championships lost. Now the 29-year-old rough-stock cowboy is hoping to take his late ’08 momentum and transition it into his fourth trip to the NFR.

“I didn’t really know anything about that horse, so I called up Kirsten (Vold) to find out what I had drawed,” he said, referring Harry Vold’s daughter and a key member of the stock firm. “She told me she expected him to buck pretty good. Her expectations were right.”

The second performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
First performance, Friday, January 02, 2009
SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo
Ector County Coliseum

Bareback riding: 1. Cody DeMers, Kimberley, Idaho, 82 points on Harry Vold’s Dusty Valley; 2. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 76; 3. Matt Mosher, Wildhorse, Colo., 74; 4. Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif., 71; 5. Matt Crumpler, Stephenville, Texas, 70.

Steer Wrestling: 1. Spud Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.0 seconds; 2. Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6; 3. Gabe Taylor, Valentine, Neb., 4.7; 4. Mike Dickey, Caldwell, Texas, 4.9; 5. Brad McGilchrist, Wheatland, Calif., 5.6.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 85 points on Vold’s Pine Cone; 2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 84; 3. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 82; 4. Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., 80; 5. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 77.

Tie-down roping: 1. Miles Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 9.0 seconds; 2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 9.2; 3. Coby Wood, Big Spring, Texas, 11.6; 4. Jordan Weaver, Cleburne, Texas, 19.6; 5. Robert Hubier, Cleveland, Texas, 22.8.

Barrel racing: 1. Cassie Moseley, Farwell, Texas, 14.45 seconds; 2. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.52; 3. Adelita Tyson, Stephenville, Texas, 14.73; 4. Kristin Carlson, Carlsbad, N.M., 15.05; 5. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 19.24.

Bull riding: 1. Sean Case, Riverside, Calif., 80 points on Vold’s Bobby Brown; 2. Robey Condra, Dayton, Texas, 69; No other qualified rides.