ProRodeo Sports News - September 21, 2018

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR & RODEO

Dream Run BY TRACY RENCK L ooking to supply a cushion for himself to make the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, team roping header Derrick Begay went to compete at the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo in Albuquerque. The problem was his normal partner – reigning team roping heeler world champion Cory Petska – couldn’t make the trip because of an obligation in Wisconsin. So Begay gave heeler Rich Skelton a call. Skelton was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 4. “Rich was entered in Albuquerque with Caleb Smidt, and Caleb couldn’t make it, so Rich and I got together,” Begay said.

Team roping heeler Rich Skelton, left, and header Derrick Begay clocked a 4.0-second time to win the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo in Albuquerque, which ended Sept. 16. Begay and Skelton earned $4,487 each.

Team ropers Begay, Skelton win Albuquerque

Ric Andersen photo

dominated. I always pretended to be Speed Williams. Then, at Albuquerque I got the chance (to be SpeedWilliams).”

RUN FORTHE MEMORY BANK Begay made the most of the opportunity the night of Sept. 14. Begay and Skelton clocked a 4.0-second time to capture the rodeo title at Tingley Coliseum. “It worked out good, and I can knock (being SpeedWilliams) off my bucket list,” Begay said. “It was more about the memory than winning the rodeo. Even if it didn’t work out like it did, I could always say I backed in there with him (Skelton).” Begay and Skelton each earned $4,487 for their run, which was crucial for Begay because it moved him up to ninth in the Sept. 17 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $81,853. “That win definitely came at the right time,” Begay said. “I needed to win a little bit more and that happened. Albuquerque was a great rodeo. It also was a (Turquoise) Circuit rodeo for me, and the main thing was I got to rope with

Skelton was inducted into the Hall with his heading partner Ken “Speed” Williams. From 1997-2004, Skelton andWilliams each won eight consecutive PRCA world championships. “Rich and I had never roped in a PRCA rodeo together, but I had seen him around forever,” Begay said. “When I was growing up as a kid, it seemed like I watched Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper, and then I felt like I was old enough to understand what Speed and Rich were doing and how good they were. Speed and Rich

TOPS AT ALBUQUERQUE — Sept. 11-16

ALL-AROUND COWBOY Steven Dent $3,400

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Bill Tutor ................................ 91.5 pts. 2. Steven Dent ..................................... 90 3. (tie) Wyatt Denny ......................... 89.5 Caleb Bennett ............................... 89.5

STEER WRESTLING 1. J.D. Struxness ............. 8.4 sec. on two 2. (tie) Tanner Brunner ....................... 8.7 Ty Erickson ..................................... 8.7 4. Dirk Tavenner ................................. 8.8

TEAM ROPING 1. D. Begay/R. Skelton ................ 4.0 sec. 2. (tie) C. Francis/C. Passig ................ 4.2 J. Cooper/L. Medlin ........................ 4.2 P. Tierney/T. Braden ........................ 4.2

bareback riding and saddle bronc riding

ProRodeo Sports News 9/21/2018

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