ProRodeo Sports News - March 23, 2018

to show off is always going to be good watching.” Winning Arcadia bumped Feild from 22nd to 18th in the 2018 PRCA World Standings with $16,819. “These early winter rodeos, if you don’t do well at San Antonio, they’re important to get to in the winter season before you start the spring and summer run to get up there in the standings to where you can maintain it rather than having to grind and go to everything,” Feild said. “These winter rodeos like Arcadia and Montgomery (Ala.) are good rodeos with good horses and good money, and they’re fun – and with their new arena it was a fun day.” Arcadia boasted its biggest payout with $103,380 for the first rodeo in their new, $9 million, 107,000-square-foot facility. With 7,796 seats, there was a spot for nearly every resident of Arcadia. “It was a packed house and it was loud,” Feild said. “It’s a nice building, it’s impressive.” Although Arcadia is nearly 2,500 miles away from his home in Utah, Feild wasn’t the only westerner in the rig, since he’s traveling with Hooper and Mason Clements. “It’s one of those rodeos with $10,000 added, and it’s growing and getting better every year,” Feild said. “It’s important to go support them and show them it does make a difference when they add that much money and make it worth your time to go down there and spend the airfare and do what it takes to get there.” Feild has won a lot of rodeos since starting his ProRodeo career in 2007, including four-consecutive world titles (2011-14), but this was his first Arcadia title. “It’s a fun one to have on the belt and notch it off the list,” Feild said. Winning a fifth world title would match his father’s total. ProRodeo Hall of Famer Lewis Feild won five world titles, three in all-around (1985-87) and two in bareback riding (1985-86). Lewis Feild died Feb. 15, 2016. He was 59. “It’s pretty awesome, and I’m very blessed to have the

with Hooper and tries to stay at hotels with swimming pools. If Feild wants to retake the crown, he’ll have to duke it out with reigning two-time World Champion TimO’Connell. “It would be a lot of fun, and I think there’s going to be more than Tim,” Feild said. “There’s going to be three or four guys with a shot at it and it’s going to come down to the 10th round. I hope it comes down to the last horse – that’s kind of being a dreamer.” Feild mentioned Clements, Caleb Bennett, Hooper, J.R. Vezain, Clint Laye and Clayton Biglow as other contenders. “A lot of guys are hungry too and riding really good this year,” Feild said. “If they get on a hot roll and start drawing the right horses in Vegas, it’s anyone’s game there with how much it pays.” As common as camaraderie is in ProRodeo, it doesn’t overshadow the competitive nature of the sport. “Truth be known, we are more in a competition with each other and the guys in our vehicle than probably everybody else,” Hooper said. After Feild finishes competing in Texas this month, he’s planning to work out at home in April and May in preparation for the summer run. “In order to be the very best and be consistent throughout the year, you have to live it every day,” Feild said. “When I am home in April and May, I will focus on bareback riding and really pay attention to my body and where I’m at physically and try to ride horses every day to stay in tune to get ready for the summer run.” Feild is hoping to compete in at least 75 rodeos this year. As of March 19, he had competed in 12. Feild will get an extra workout while at home in the coming months, courtesy of his 2-year-old son, Huxyn Lewis. “He’s outside with me all day, scattering my tools and trying to work with me,” Feild said. “If I put a hammer down, it’s gone for sure.”

father I did, and to carry on the legacy and carry on the name is something special for my family,” Feild said. “My dad was my hero. Watching him and his career, in and out of the arena and then through life, he was a good man and a great example for me.” Feild has a game plan for his long list of 2018 goals. “…Do whatever it takes to get to Vegas, and then once I get to Vegas, ride perfect and not make any mistakes,” Feild said. “It’s going to take a lot of luck, but it takes a lot of skill. At the same time, you’ve got to be lucky to draw good horses and you’ve got to be lucky to stay healthy the whole time there and just be prepared before I go down there mentally and physically.” Keeping up with the physical demands of bareback riding means hitting the gym, so the 31-year-old cowboy trains

Will Lummus stopped the clock in 4.9 seconds March 8 to win the steer wrestling competition at the Arcadia All-Fla Championship Rodeo. James Phifer photo

Complete results on Page 34

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. (tie) Clay Elliott ......................... 86 pts. Chase Brooks .................................. 86 3. (tie) Bradley Harter ....................... 84.5 Rusty Wright ................................ 84.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Brad Hartt ............................... 8.4 sec. 2. Wesley Brunson ............................. 8.5 3. Scot Meeks ..................................... 9.0 4. Bart Brunson .................................. 9.1

BARREL RACING 1. Amie Tyre ........................... 17.52 sec. 2. Sarah Rose McDonald ................ 17.69 3. Nicole Love ................................. 17.74 4. Jodi Colton ................................. 17.84

BULL RIDING 1. (tie) Trey Benton III ................ 85.5 pts. Brennon Eldred ............................. 85.5 3. Three tied at .................................... 84

ProRodeo Sports News 3/23/18

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