Rodeo hits another ‘home run’ | Sports

It was no small task to find a spectator who wasn’t smiling during the two performances last weekend of the Lincoln County Fair Rodeo, held outside on a blustery Saturday night and a balmy Sunday afternoon at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Newport.

“Looks like we hit another home run,” Todd Williver, fair director, told News-Times staff via phone late Monday morning. “We just keep knocking it out of the park with the rodeo, and this community sure loves to come out and support those athletes and the cowboy way they represent.”

The Northwest Professional Rodeo Association-sanctioned event is traditionally a highlight of the fair for young and old alike. Add the July Fourth holiday weekend to the mix with some of the top rodeo athletes and stock in the Pacific Northwest — provided by Howell Rodeo Co. of Veneta — and the Lincoln County Fair rodeo boasts a recipe for success.

Though the ever-popular bull riding event produced just one qualifying ride throughout the two performances — Marco Suarez’s ride Sunday afternoon scored an 86 by NPRA judges — the saddle bronc, bareback riding, breakaway roping, barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping and steer wrestling events provided attendees with enough thrills, spills and feats of athleticism to last the weekend.

In the ultra-competitive breakaway roping draw, Terrebonne cowgirl Stevie Rae Willis claimed victory in 2.8 seconds, edging Carissa Bottensek, from Deadwood, by a tenth of a second. Yakima, Washington’s Sidney Adams was third in 3.0 seconds, and BraileyShaye Murray, of Harrisburg, took fourth in 3.8.

Jo Frost from Browns Valley, California, won bareback by scoring 83 points to best runner-up Garrett Blackwell from Sandy, the lone other scoring rider, by 19 points.

The barrel racing crown went to Rachel Stoller, from Molalla, who finished her ride in 17.51 ​​seconds, nipping Sammi Lane, from Arlington, by six-tenths of a second. They were followed by Amanda Marriott from Canby in 17.83, Audrey Averill from Tillamook in 17.93, Chloe Jo May from Junction City (18.06) and Blakely Herbert from Dorena (18.16).

Joe Scott Jr., from Madras, claimed the saddle bronc competition by scoring 74 points, while Cody Faulkner from Gooding, Idaho, and Ryan Verling of Stanfield tied for second with identical 73 scores.

The team toping title went to teammates Jason Stewart, from Pendleton, and BJ Campbell, of Junction City, who clocked in at 5.0 seconds, while the combo of Eugene’s Chris Westbrooks and Austin Thompson from Yoncalla placed second in 5.1 seconds.

Burns cowboy Chase Joyce won the tie-down roping competition in 9.1 seconds, and Cord Gomes, from Antelope, took the steer wrestling championship in 5.3 seconds.

After the NPRA series moves to Philomath for competitions Thursday through Saturday at the 2022 Frolic & Rodeo, 14 more series events in Oregon and Washington are scheduled prior to the Sept. 23-24 NPRA finals.

Lincoln County Fair Rodeo

July 2-3, Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Newport

Breakaway roping — 1, Stevie Rae Willis, Terrebonne, 2.8; 2, Carissa Bottensek, Deadwood, 2.9; 3, Sidney Adams, Yakima, Washington, 3.0; 4, Brailey Shaye Murray, Harrisburg, 3.8.

barrel racing — 1, Rachel Stoller, Molalla, 17.51; 2, Sammi Lane, Arlington, 17.57; 3, Amanda Marriott, Canby, 17.83; 4, Audrey Averill, Tillamook, 17.93; 5, Chloe Jo May, Junction City, 06/18; 6, Blakely Herbert, Dorena, 18.16.

team roping — 1, Jason Stewart, Pendleton/BJ Campbell, Junction City, 5.0; 2, Chris Westbrooks, Eugene/Austin Thompson, Yoncalla, 5.1; 3, Lexis Andrade, Kennewick, Washington/ Dillon Bahem, Parma, Idaho, 5.6; 4, John Ganna/Steven Ganna, 5.7.

Tie down roping — 1, Chase Joyce, Burns, 9.1; 2, Garrett Robinson, Heppner, 11.0; 3, Jason Andersen, Salinas, California, 11.1; 4, Sam Willis, Terrebonne, 11.7.

steer wrestling — 1, Cord Gomes, Antelope, 5.3; 2, Bryce Harrison, Condon, 7.2; 3, Travis Thompson, Vancouver, Wash., 8.0; 4, Beau Lewis, Dufur, 8.2.

Bareback riding — 1, Jo Frost, Browns Valley, California, 83; 2, Garrett Blackwell, Sandy, 64.

Saddle bronc — 1, Joe Scott Jr., Madras, 74; 2 (tie), Cody Faulkner, Gooding, Idaho, and Ryan Verling, Stanfield, 73; 4, Clancy Glenn, Parma, Idaho, 72; 5, Davey McMillan, Soap Lake, Washington, 65; 6, Matt Shannon, Prineville, 64.

Bull riding — 1, Marco Suárez, 86.

novice bareback — No qualifying rides.