SPRINGDALE -- Bill Tutor has a thing for Miss Dunny.
Tutor took the lead in the bareback riding competition aboard Miss Dunny, the same horse he rode while winning a championship in Goliad, Texas, earlier this year. Tutor and Miss Dunny earned 84 1/2 points Friday after totaling 84 when they were paired at Goliad.
Rodeo of the Ozarks
WHEN — Today at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m.
WHERE — Parsons Stadium, Springdale
COST — $15 to $23 for grandstand seating; $25 for box seats; $38 for Buckle Club seats; children, $7 for grandstand seating.
INFO — rodeoftheozarks.org, 877-927-6336.
Rodeo of the Ozarks
Friday’s results
NAME^POINTS/TIME
BAREBACK RIDING
Bill Tutor^84 1/2
Chad Rutherford^84
Winn Ratliff^76
Heath Ford^74 1/2
STEER WRESTLING
JD Strunxness^4.4
Jacob Elder^5.7
Tim Thurman^5.8
Jason Tapley^6.4
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Joe Sonnier^75
Curtis Garton^72 1/2
Joaquin Real^67
Taygen Schuelke^65
TEAM ROPING
Berryhill/Evans^4.6
Ward/Ward^5.1
Kent/Porter^6.9
Hogan/Heflin^7.2
Barham/Deckard^11.9
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Zac Wilson^8.8
Alex Caudle^10.3
Tim Phart^10.9
BARREL RACING
Shelley Morgan^17.24
Gayle Jones^17.66
Mattie Jackson^17.58
Julie Thomas^17.80
BULL RIDING
Sage Kimzey^87
Cody Teel^87
Jordan Sparks^81
"I've been so nervous all week because I knew she was going to be good," said Tutor, who is from Huntsville, Texas. "She's awesome and fun to ride. It's a blessing to get on and do as well as I did here."
Tutor and his traveling partner, Chad Rutherford of Lake Charles, La., turned in the top scores in bareback riding to get the Rodeo of the Ozarks off to a good start Friday. Rutherford scored 84 points and added some excitement in bareback riding after the horses routinely threw their mounts on the first two days of the competition.
Tutor and Rutherford arrived in a van from Pecos, Texas, where they competed earlier this week. They'll take a couple of days off before returning to competition in Colorado, Wyoming and up into Oregon.
The final night of the 72nd Rodeo of the Ozarks begins at 7:30 after gates open at 6. A parade will begin at 10 a.m. today on Emma Avenue in downtown Springdale.
Only four cowboys managed to score on the bulls at the Rodeo of the Ozarks entering Friday's competition, but the most dangerous event brought fans to their feet Friday because of the performance of two former national champions. Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla., and Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas, each scored 87 points to share the lead heading into the final night of the rodeo.
"The bottom line is to be consistent," Teel said. "You've got to show up ready to win, even when it doesn't always happen."
The Rodeo of the Ozarks is usually held during the Fourth of July week,ut organizers moved the event up in part to attract more top competitors. Cowboys who are originally from Brazil, Australia, and France participated in the rodeo in addition to the home-grown competitors, including Arkansas.
Teel applauded the move by the Rodeo of the Ozarks.
"I've been here once before, but changing the dates helped, for sure," said Teel, who won the championship in bull riding in 2012. "It gives you a better chance to get over here, where you know you're going to get on some great stock. So, I was pumped to see that when they changed the dates."
Tonight's finale will include the crowning of the queen for the 72nd Rodeo of the Ozarks.
Sports on 06/25/2016