Locals shine at Great Northern Ram Open Rodeo

In an annual tradition at the Great Northern Fair at the Havre Fairgrounds, the Great Northern Ram Rodeo was held last Thursday and those who turned out, were treated to quite a show.

The rodeo featured all the usual events and saw competitors from all across Montana and beyond, as cowboys and cowgirls battled it out for belt buckles and prize money. Of course, one of the main attractions at any rodeo is the bull riding, the event saved for last and this year, only one cowboy managed to earn a score and that was T.J. Allen, who scored a 76 to win first place.

In another event, saddle bronc riding, there were also just a pair of scores, as Allen Gobert won the event with 67 points, finishing ahead of second-place finisher Shane Birdrattler, who posted a score of 62. In the wild bronc riding, there were also just two scorers as Makae Nack took first with 70 points, one better than Joel Baker, who wound up with 69.

Another winner was Haven Meged, who won the tie-down roping by more than two seconds to take first. Albert Koenig finished second with a time of 13.62, compared to 11.32 for Meged. Hank Hallenback got third after posting a time of 13.65.

In the first ladies event of the night, Brenna Krueger took home the crown in barrel racing, finishing with 16.91, just a few-tenths of a second faster than Haley Glasrud, who got second with a time of 19.95. Kava Huestis also finished third with a time of 17.03. Talyssa Horn won the junior barrel race, finishing with a time of 17.7.

Team roping was another very competitive event, but in the end, Chris and Jim Cole barely edged out Shawn and Casey Bird for the team title. Chris and Jim Cole posted a time of 5.10, and the Birds had a time of 5.11. Nolan Conway and Casey Bird finished third after a 5.75 run.

Casey Solomon of Havre put together a stellar ride in the ladies breakaway, finishing with a winning time of 3.04. She finished ahead of Caydee Johnson in second and Anna Callaway, who got third. In the junior breakaway roping, Carson Campbell got first with a time of 4.71. The only other junior to register a time in breakaway roping was second-place finish Caleb Cole, who completed the event in 21.47.

Great Northern Ram Rodeo

Wild bronc ride - 1. Makae Nack, 70; 2. Joel Baker, 69.

Tie-down roping - 1. Haven Meged, 11.32; 2. Albert Koenig, 13.62; 3. Hank Hallenbeck, 13.65; 4. Nolan Conway, 13.79; 5. George Marcenko, 14.01.

Saddle bronc riding - 1. Albert Gobert, 67; 2. Shane Birdrattler, 63;

Ladies barrel race: 1. Brenna Krueger, 16.9; 2. Haley Glasrud, 16.9; 3. Kava Huestis, 17.0; 4. Lauren Viles, 17.04; 5. Paige Swinney, 17.04;

Junior barrel race: 1. Talyssa Horn, 17.7; 2. Aidan Wiese, 18.3; 3. Shelby Schweers, 19.5; 4. Allie Bartlett, 20.9.

Team Roping - 1. Chris Cole/Jim Cole, 5.1; 2. Shawn Bird/Casey Bird, 5.11; 3. Nolan Conway/Casey Bird, 5.7; 4. Shawn Bird/Casey Cummins, 5.93; 5. Wade Doney/Chase Cole, 7.77.

Ladies breakaway roping - 1. Casey Solomon, 3.04; Caydee Johnson, 3.27; 3. Anna Callaway, 3.28.

Jr breakaway roping - 1. Carson Campbell, 4.71; 2. Caleb Cole, 21.47;

Bull riding - 1. TJ Allen, 76.