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Opening-Night Action

Thigpen Gets Jump On All-Around Cowboy Title

Carl Bernier of Weedon, Quebec, competes in bareback bronc riding during the 74th annual Gerry Rodeo on Wednesday night. P-J photos by Alex Shipherd

GERRY — The 74th consecutive Gerry Rodeo, featuring 230 professional cowboys and cowgirls from 30 states, got off to one of its most unusual starts ever Wednesday night.

Fans learned how tough rodeo performers can be as one of the three flag bearers in the opening ceremonies, 11-year-old Lexi Graham, daughter of the rodeo contractors, was thrown from her horse. She refused medical help, limped to her feet, and got back on her horse to ride out of the arena.

Following a tribute to past and present members of the military and first responders, the national anthem and the grand entry featuring more than 50 riders on horseback, the competition in the seven rodeo events got underway with the bareback bronc riding.

Two cowboys whose homes are more than 1,000 miles apart posted scores only 1 point apart. Tyler Waltz, from Martin, Tennessee, rode Painted Pony Rodeo’s National Finals Rodeo qualifier, Bad Cat for 80 points, edging Carl Bernier from Weedon, Quebec, who had 79 points on a bronc named Rock Star.

In steer wrestling, Justin Thigpen traveled from Waycross, Georgia, to throw his steer to the arena dirt in 4.5 seconds, followed by Matt Fisher of Edwards, Ontario, in 6.1 seconds. Last year’s First Frontier Circuit champ, Joe Brown from Oxford, Pennsylvania, was third at 7.7 seconds.

Steer wrestler Matt Fisher of Edwards, Ontario works to bring down a steer.

The team ropers, where one cowboy ropes the steer’s horns while his partner ropes the hind legs, saw only two of the seven teams post qualified times. The top time of 6.9 seconds went to Tee Luttrell and Andrew Hill, who traveled to Gerry from Choudrant, Louisiana. Waylon Cameron of Oxford, Pennsylvania, and Ryan Whetham of Woodstown, New Jersey, were second at 12.8 despite incurring a 5-second penalty for roping only one hind leg.

The closest competition of the night was in the saddle bronc event with only 1 point separating the top three cowboys. A Rochelle, Georgia cowboy, Ray Hostetler, scored 76 points on a bronc called Skinnylicious. He was followed at 75.5 points by Jake Barnes of Madill, Oklahoma, and Tyler Baeza of Lake Charles, Louisiana, at 75 points.

Justin Thigpen, who won the steer wrestling earlier in the evening, took a giant step toward winning the All-Around Cowboy title which goes to the cowboy who wins the most money for the week while competing in at least two events as he also placed first in the tie-down roping event, roping his calf and tying its legs in 11.0 seconds. LaFayette, Georgia’s Zeb Chapman was second with a time of 16.3.

The arena footing seemed to be in perfect condition for the barrel racers as four ladies circled the cloverleaf circuit of barrels in less than 15 seconds, with only three-tenths of a second between first and fourth places. The top time was posted by Wendy Chesnut from Poultney, Vermont at 14.65 seconds followed by a Western New York rider, Dawn Powell, from Dansville at 14.73 seconds.

Painted Pony Rodeo’s bulls came out of the pasture angry and posted a shutout as none of the eight cowboys was able to post an 8-second ride. Even John Leinaweaver, who makes his home in Ortanna, Pennsylvania, and is the reigning champion in both bull riding and steer wrestling in the First Frontier Circuit, was shown no mercy by a bull aptly named Hookin’ Jesse. Coleman Rude of Silver Lake, Indiana, was hoping for a big score on Holly Holy, the No. 1-ranked bull in the circuit, but got tossed early in the ride.

Chef Bruce Gustafson and his wife Paula and their kitchen crew reported that they served more than 600 dinners on opening night. The dinners, highlighted by beef cooked outdoors over wood fires for eight hours and served in the air-conditioned dining hall, will be served each evening through Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.

The rodeo itself has three more performances — tonight, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and will have all seven rodeo events in action with nearly $50,000 in prize money to be awarded.

World Champion trick roper Rider Kiesner thrilled the crown with his skill, not only as a roper on horseback, but with his gun twirling and whip tricks. The midway with more than 20 vendors offering everything from fried dough to Western wear also opens at 5 p.m. This evening’s performance will honor the military and first responders who will be admitted for $10 by showing valid ID at the rodeo office.

The Gerry Rodeo is now the longest consecutively running rodeo east of the Mississippi and all proceeds go to the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department as they work year long to make the area safer. Additional information is available at the rodeo website www.gerryrodeo.org or by phone at 985-4847.

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