Wild weekend in the dirt

If you did not attend the Great Northern Rodeo this weekend, you missed cowboys and cowgirls from across the state, and the country putting on a show at the arena inside the Great Northern Fairgrounds.

The two-day Great Northern Rodeo, held Friday and Saturday, attracted more than 1,110 to watch some of the top talent that the Northern Rodeo Association and the national Indian rodeo associations has to offer.

The event included all the classic rodeo events and the contestants, who were able to best both the competition and the animals walked away with belts and prize money.

The biggest winner of the weekend was Chinook’s own Ryan Walter, who took home first place in the bull riding competition with the a score 67, earning him a $2,749.

Phillip Shields, the top all-around point leader in the NRA standings made his presence felt, winning in saddle bronc riding with a score of 71, just ahead of Cody Miller of Dillon and Chase Casterline of Wolf Point.

In bareback riding, it was J2 Bridges of Melrose with a score of 74 besting Havre’s Ben Richmond for first prize, while Montana State University-Northern standout Charlie Mack and Danny Webb of Big Timber and East Glacier finished third and fourth, respectively. Mack just wrapped up his senior season at MSU-N with last month’s College National Finals Rodeo.

Another local area talent that had a solid showing was Emily Kallenberger of Havre, who finished third in the lady's barrel racing behind Becky Fuson of Conrad and Kiana Simonson of Loring.

Other winners included Kellee Hersrud of Columbus in the lady’s breakaway roping with a time of 2.5, Dillon’s Royce Tamcke in steer wrestling with a time of 5.2 and Zane Holdbrook from Roberts in calf roping with a time of 10.0.

In the team roping competition, the team of Shawn Bird and Justin Vines of Cut Bank and Cody, Wyoming tied with Delon Parker and Sid Sporer, each from Wyoming with times of 4.8.

Tayla Moeykens of Three Forks won the junior barrels with a time of 17.47 and Logan Beattie won the junior breakaway with a time of 3.5.

Great Northern Rodeo

Bull riding – Ryan Walter, 67, $2,749..

Saddle bronc riding – Phillip Shields, 71, 1,028; Cody Miller, 70. 791; Chase Casterline, 68, 553.

Bareback – J2 Bridges, Melrose, 74, 723; Ben Richmond, Havre, 73, 524; Charlie Mack, Big Timber, 70, 271; Danny Webb, East Glacier, 70, 271.

Lady barrels – Becky Fuson, 17.36, 1,280; Kiana Simonson, Loring, 17.39, 1,024; Emily Kallenberger, 17.47, 717; Kava Huestis, 17.51, 614; Shelby Blixt, 17.52, 461; Donna Johnson, 17.64, 307; Heather Knerr, 17.65, 256; Keira Simonson,17.72, 204; Kaela Murphy, 17.74, 153; Kati Maclsaac, 17.80, 102.

Lady breakaway - Kellee Hersrud, 2.5, 1, 237; Tammy Jo Carpenter, 3.0, 1,016; Megan Lunak, 3.1, 795; CadeeTew, 3.2, 574; Tanya Getten, 3.3, 353; Chrissie Hansen, 3.6, 220; Dani Dowton, 3.8, 110; Heather McRae, Bozeman, 3.9, 110.

Junior barrels – Tayla Moeykens, 17.47, 182; Alexis McDonald, 17.65, 136; Shai McDonald, 17.78, 91; Stephanie Rollins, 18.51, 45.60.

Junior breakaway – Logan Beattie, 3.5, 201; Luke Murphy, 3.9, 151; Tayla Moeykens, 4,7, 50.

Steer wrestling – Royce Tamcke, 5.2, 1,214; Josh Boka, 5.6, 928; Daniel Muchmore, 6.0, 714; Kevin Peterson, 6.1, 464; Dennis Bartha, 6.4, 250.

Calf Roping – Zane Holdrickm 10.0, 1,214l; OrryFruit, 11.5, 928; Ben Ayre, 11.9, 714; Andy Bolich, 12.0, 464; Jade Gardner, 12.1, 125; Donnie Benson, 12.1, 125.

Team roping – Shawn Bird/Justin Vikes, 4.8, 1,155; Delon Parker/Sid Sporer, 4.8, 1,155; Chase Holt/Matt Robinson, 4.9, 828; Shawn Bessette/Shane Bessette, 5.4, 610; Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 5.6, 392; Terry Doka/Ray Champ, 5.7, 217.