Reno Rodeo Media Release6/17
It was a happy Father's Day indeed in Reno, Nev., for Oregon's Bobby Mote, who has three kids with wife Kate. The four-time world champion bareback rider is already placing second in the aggregate standings of his main event at the famed rodeo, but on Sunday he put a rope in his hand and went to the lead in the second round of team roping, too.
Mote struggled with his dally in the first round, but connected on his second steer with world champ Mike Beers in a smoking 4.8 seconds. The time could be worth about $4,600 and help Mote win the coveted Reno Rodeo all-around championship. Mote is attempting to become the first cowboy since the likes of Ace Berry and Phil Lyne in the early 1970s to qualify for the Wrangler NFR in both a roughstock and timed event.
Rosser Rodeo Company's bucking mare, Lady Black Hawk, and her colt, Lil Hawk, took their riders, Utah's Caleb Bennett and Texas' Richie Champion, to 84 and 82 points, respectively, in the third performance of bareback riding at the Reno Rodeo.
World-famous all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile and his partner, Patrick Smith, went to the lead in the first round of team roping on Sunday, but fell out of the running for a Reno title when Smith missed their second steer.
Defending Reno Rodeo saddle bronc riding champion Jesse Wright of Utah is on track to repeat. He scored 85 points on Flying U Rodeo's Long Walk Home on Sunday to take the lead in the first round of his event, and will compete again Monday alongside three of his brothers – Cody, Alex and Jake.
Brenda Mays of Oregon raced her way to a commanding lead in the second round and average of barrel racing with a time of 17.11. She placed eighth in Reno last year on her 2010 AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year, Jethro. And bull rider Bryan Richardson of Dallas, Texas, spurred 85 points on a Rosser bull named Chili to take the lead in his event.
Reno Rodeo contestants compete in two preliminary rounds with the top 12 in each event coming back for the June 23 short round. The $2.1 million, 10-day rodeo boasts almost 700 contestants and roughly 140,000 fans, and is a Gold stop on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.
The fourth performance begins at 7 p.m. Monday. Tickets are available at www.renorodeo.com or by calling 800-325-7328. For more information, please call 775-329-3877.
