January 15-16-17, 2010
Oklahoma City State Fair Arena
 | ||||||
| ||||||
The talented and beautiful Dusti Crain McCall
won over the crowd with her thrilling and fast paced
Roman Riding performance at
The State Fair Arena during IFR40
IFR40 Delivered “Edge of Your Seat” Action
By: Tammie Hiatt
The 40th anniversary of the International Finals Rodeo certainly lived up to all its expectations. Countless former IPRA world champions and contestants were among the crowds at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City paying homage to the rodeo that put their names in the history books and the gold buckles on their belts. They viewed one of the toughest IFR’s in history with each title race coming down to the wire before naming the world champion. The IPRA’s premier cowboy, Dan Dailey, was on hand through the week to witness Shawn Minor claim his fifth All-Around Cowboy title.
Bareback Riding
Joseph Courville of Manteno, IL came into IFR40 in the driver’s seat for the bareback riding world title. Courville had a $2,600 lead over reigning world champion Shawn Minor of Camden, OH coming into IFR action. Neither Courville nor Minor was able to draw a check in the first round. Rookie of the Year Tim Wilkinson of Steelville, MO claimed the win aboard Iron Mountain of Oubre Rodeo Company with an 80.5 point ride. In the second round, Courville received a no-score while Minor collected a fourth place check for an 80 point ride aboard Big Gun from Rawhide Rodeo Company. Wilkinson claimed his second go-round win with an 82.5 point ride aboard Sweet Thing from Latting Rodeo Company.
Courville and Minor both were shut out of the money in the third round. Josh Cragar of Columbia, TN and Socks from Latting Rodeo Company took the round with an 81 point score. Although Minor still trailed Courville in the world standings, he held the number two seat in the average while Joseph had slipped to twelfth.
In the fourth round Courville felt his world championship hopes fade when he received a no-score aboard Jitterbug from Wagon Wheel Rodeo Company. Minor earned an 80.5 point score aboard Chip-N-Dale from Universal Rodeos, LLC to split third and fourth in the round. Josh Cragar and Ragin Angel from Latting Rodeo Company and Erik Wolford aboard Sunflower, also from Latting, split first and second in the round with 83.5 point rides. Minor earned the win in the average with a total of 315.5 points on four head and claimed his sixth world title.
Steer Wrestling
The steer wrestling was one of the tightest races coming to IFR40. Reigning world champion Matthew Mousseau of Dashwood, ON, Canada was number one in the world standings at the start of IFR40. With a mere $800 separating he and the number two man, Tooter Silver of Quitman, AR, it was going to be a round to round race for the gold buckle. Mousseau failed to draw a check with his 4.7 second run in round one while Silver drew a fourth place check for a time of 4.4. Former world champion Jordan Wiseman of McAlester, OK took the win in the round with a 4.1.
Brian Barefoot of Dunn, NC got the flag in 3.4 seconds to win the second round. Joe Cook of Charlotte, NC and Tyler Foster of Watford, ON, Canada split second and third in the round with their 4.0 second runs. Mousseau and Silver were both out of the money with their 6.7 and 7.0 second runs.
Mousseau felt a turn in the competition during the third round. Matthew got his steer on the ground in 4.1 seconds that was good enough for a fourth place check while Silver was out of the money with his 4.3. The win in the round was split between Donnie Tyner of Huntersville, NC and rookie Bobby Abernathy of Athens, AL with matching 3.5 second runs. Mousseau was second in the average at this point with Silver sitting in third.
Jason Bagwell of Garner, NC got to the pay window when he won the fourth round with a 4.0. Mousseau split second and third with rookie Rodney Weese of Alvington, ON, Canada, both cowboys were 4.5 seconds. Silver failed to get a time on his fourth steer dashing his hopes for a shot at the world title. Walt Sherry earned the average win with a total time of 17.7 seconds on four head. Mousseau finished second in the average with a total of 20.0 and claimed his second consecutive world title.
Team Roping
Cody Heflin of Sperry, OK and Stephen Britnell of Maryville, TN both had their sights set on leaving Oklahoma City with gold buckles, but with fifteen of the top headers and heelers in the IPRA going head to head, it wasn’t safe to assume anything until the final loops had been thrown. Jesse and Casey Stipes of Salina, OK turned their first round steer in 5.4 seconds to take the win. Heflin and Shawn Kreder’s 7.2 second run failed to draw a check. Britnell and Ross Lowry were also shut out of the money.
Cory Kidd of Charlotte, NC and Adam Plyler of Pageland, SC claimed the win in the second round with their 4.3 second run. Clay and Jake Pinalto of Lincoln, AR turned in a 4.8 second run for second in the round. The Stipes brothers earned third with a 4.9 second run. Ben Hogan of Vian, OK and Joel Maker of Tahlequah, OK earned the win in the third go with a 5.6 second run. Jesse and Casey Stipes were again in the money when they earned second with an 8.3 second run. Ross Lowry and Stephen Britnell picked up third place checks for their 9.6 second run. Cody Heflin and Shawn Kreder finished fourth in the go with a 10.7.
The fourth round was the deciding factor in who would leave the State Fair Arena with a world championship. Tyler Waters of Coshocton, OH and rookie heeler Blake Stocker of Krum, TX set the pace in the round with a 4.1. Rookie header Cale Markham of Vinita, OK and partner Wade Freeney of Mounds, OK claimed second in the round with a 4.3 second run. Heflin and Kreder picked up the third place check with their 5.9 time. Jesse and Casey Stipes made a businessman’s run and stopped the clock in 6.8 to move into fourth in the round but first in the all important average race. Jesse and Casey Stipes are the new IPRA world champion team ropers.
Saddle Bronc Riding
Shawn Minor came into the finals with a very slim lead over Stacy Belt of Harrisonville, MO and he was going to need IFR40 to go off without a hitch if he were to claim a second world title in this event. Erik Wolford, the 2006 World Champion, decided he would start it off by riding Girlfriend from Wild Horse Rodeo Productions to an 83 point ride and take the win in the first round. Reigning champion Sean Prater of Burbank, OK and his bronc, Cinnamon Stick, from Wagon Wheel Rodeo Company finished second with a 78.5 point ride. Minor picked up a third place check for a 78 point ride aboard Rowdy from Broken Horn Rodeo Company. Belt finished out of the money with his 75 point score.
Wolford was again the man to beat in the second round when he turned in a 79 point ride on Whiskey from Universal Rodeos, LLC. Keith Brauer of Smithton, IL and Buckshot from Wagon Wheel Rodeo Company picked up second with 77.5 points. Minor picked up a third place check with a 77 point ride aboard The Stuff from Broken Horn Rodeo Company. Belt was no match for Wicked Witch from Latting Rodeo Company and failed to make the whistle.
Minor was the one getting the “no score” in the third round and Belt picking up a fourth place check for his 77.5 point ride aboard Action Cat of Wagon Wheel Rodeo Company. The win in the round went to Keith Brauer and Black Widow of Hampton Rodeo Company for their 81 point score. Wolford was again the man to beat in the fourth round when he and The Stuff from Broken Horn Rodeo Company got together for an 84 point ride. Former world champion Jet McCoy of Ada, OK made the eight seconds with Drama Queen from Hampton Rodeo Company for second in the round with 82.5 points. Minor’s 82 point ride aboard Easy Money from Wooten Rodeo Company finished third and moved Shawn fourth in the average. Tyler West of Ft. Scott, KS finished the round with 79 points on Black Widow from Hampton Rodeo Company. Erik Wolford claimed the average win with a total score of 322.5 points on four broncs. Shawn Minor claimed his second gold buckle in the saddle bronc riding.
Tie-Down Roping
The world championship was Justin Thigpen’s to lose, pure and simple. He came into the IFR with a solid lead over Dustin Oswalt of Purcell, OK but didn’t plan to skate through the finals without the other fourteen cowboys keeping him on his toes. Seven time world champion Walt White of Ochelata, OK took control of the first round with an 8.2 second run. Thigpen was close behind for second in the round with an 8.3 second run.
Two time world champion Ken Bailey of Henryetta, OK set an arena record with his 7.4 second run in the second round. Former world champion Trent Creager of Stillwater, OK earned second with an 8.0 second run. Thigpen’s 8.1 run earned third and Steve Reagor of Tulsa, OK finished fourth with an 8.4.
Jody Green of Marlow, OK got his hands in the air in the third round in 7.8 seconds to take the win. Billy Hamilton of McAlester, OK earned second with an 8.2. Former world champion Shawn Coleman of Colfax, IN picked up a third place check for 8.6 seconds. Coleman matched Bailey’s arena record in the fourth round when he also turned in a 7.4 second run to take the win in the final round. Steven Reagor finished second with an 8.2. Thigpen’s 9.9 second run failed to be in the money in the round but did clinch the average win and earn his first world title.
Cowgirl Barrel Racing
Sindy Laliberte of Valcartier, QU, Canada was poised to be the first Canadian cowgirl to win the IPRA world championship. She had a strong lead coming into the finals but was well aware of the competition she was facing. Myle Ratchford of Kingston, AR took the win in the first round by being the first lady to break the 14-second barrier. Ratchford crossed the timer line in 14.882 seconds. Laliberte picked up a second place check for her 15.052 second run. Ratchford continued her streak in round two when she again stopped the clock in 14.779 seconds. Christina Dusendang of Lamar, OK earned second in the round with her 14.846 second run. Rookie Kelly Beeman of Inola, OK earned third with a 14.876 second run. Reigning world champion Mesa Leavitt of Blue Grass, IA collected the fourth place check with her 14.960 second run.
Leavitt took the win in the third round with a 14.881 second run and moved in the lead in the average. Laliberte’s 15.257 second run failed to pick up a check but held her third in the average. Natalie Overholt of Burr Oak, MI picked up the second place check in the round with a 14.917 run.
Mesa was on her game in the fourth round and cruised the pattern in 14.754 seconds to take the win in the round and the win in the average to add a fourth world title to her credit. Edesse Descoteaux of Lorrainville, QU, Canada picked up a second place check in the round. Shanna Simmons of Harrisville, PA earned third in the round with her 14.877 second run. Simmons also finished second in the average. Laliberte dropped to second in the world standings but earned the Rookie of the Year award.
Bull Riding
Shane Rickly of Lancaster, OH came into IFR40 with a $3,200 lead over Jared Long of Ramona, OK. But as Rickly had witnessed in the other six events, it’s not over until it’s over and anything can happen. Rickly was snake bit in the first round when he failed to make the whistle on Black Market from Wooten Rodeo Company. Shane Barratiere of Springfield, TN rode Uno from Broken Horn Rodeo Company for 83 points to take the first round win. Jared Long earned second with 82.5 points aboard Oochie Coochie from Universal Rodeos, LLC.
Round two didn’t shape up any better for Rickly when Toro of Broken Horn Rodeo Company won their match. Long picked up a third place check for his 80.5 score aboard Mission Impossible from Rafter M Rodeo Company. First and second in the go went to Raymond Postlethwait of Adrian, MI and Luke McCoag of Port Rowan, ON, Canada with matching 81 point rides. Long’s third place check in the third round was enough to elbow past Rickly for the lead in the world standings. Rickly was plagued again in the third round without a score on Over Drive from Hampton Rodeo Company. The round was won by rookie Carrson Hiatt of Rosalia, KS aboard Reload of Hampton Rodeo Company. The pair turned in a 79.5 point ride. Raymond Postlethwait and Spin Doctor from Wild Horse Rodeo Productions picked up a second place check with 79 points.
Long was shut out of the fourth round when he failed to ride Hell Yeah from 5M Rodeo Company. Neil Bourne of Springfield, TN and Scatman from Ken Treadway Rodeo Company took the win in the round with an 81 point score. Michael Bodick of Womelsdorf, PA picked up a second place check for his 80.5 points aboard Down Draft from Wild Horse Rodeo Productions. Barratiere claimed third in the round with a 76 point ride on Alltel from Wooten Rodeo Company. Postlethwait and Charlie’s Pet from Oubre Rodeo Company rounded out the top four with a 65 point ride. Jared Long earned the average win and his first IPRA world championship
#208 Dakota Moon from the Wagon Wheel Rodeo Company was named as the Bareback Bucking Horse of the IFR. The Saddle Bronc of the IFR went to #134 Drama Queen from Hampton Rodeo Company and the Bull of the IFR award went to #75 Hill Country from Universal Rodeos, LLC. Erik Wolford was named the IFR All-Around Cowboy and the IFR top money earner by winning $14,062.49.
