The barrel riding was crisp Wednesday at Bell County Expo Center, with just three barrels knocked over between the eight contestants and four riders within .2 seconds of each other. The bulls were just as tough, with just one of six cowboys hanging on for the full 8 seconds.
Midlothian’s Liz Cloud had the top barrel ride time of the night, finishing the loop in 16.55 seconds, just ahead of the 16.61 posted by both San Angelo’s Bobbi Wagner and Jodye Smathers of Marble Falls. Robinson’s Lesley Hines started the event with a 16.71 to take fourth.
Rogers’ Sandra Richter finished in 17.55, but was penalized 5 seconds for knocking over a barrel. Bowie’s Holly Clamon had the fastest time at 16.5 but knocked over the final barrel of her circuit, adding 5 seconds to her time.
Chad German was the only bull rider to last the required time on the bull to receive a score. The Groesbeck resident - ranked No. 11 in the state - scored a 79 riding Blue Bell.
On a night where the bulls were particularly wild, Nolanville resident G.J. Ratliff was saddled with Ugly Joe. His run had to be delayed when twice Ugly Joe attempted to attack handlers by jumping out of his holding pen. Slated to be the fifth rider, Ratliff did not last long on Ugly Joe as the sixth and final rider of the night.
The team ropers struggled as well. Only one of the nine teams managed to rope its steer. The Louisiana duo of Derrick Miller and Justin Babineaux finished in 7 seconds to start the event, followed by eight straight failures - including Caleb Mitchell (Texas’ No. 17 header) and Jacky Stephenson (No. 19 heeler).
The night started with bareback riding, won by Jared Smith, ranked No. 48 in the world - the only world-ranked cowboy to compete Wednesday. Smith scored a 75.
The No. 17 steer wrestler in the state, Huntsville’s Britt Walters, could not tackle his steer, allowing Whitney’s Brody Curbo’s 4.8 second time to stand as the best of the evening.
Only two saddle bronc riders finished among the four who competed, and both scored a 71 - Bryan Hammons (ranked ninth in Texas) and James Savoie. Kaila Mussell-Goulet, a woman competing in the event, could not stay for the required eight seconds.
In tie-down roping, only four of the nine contestants roped his calf without a penalty. Shawn Felton of Dublin did it in 8 seconds, .5 seconds faster than runner-up Jeff Davis of Fort Worth.
The event continues until Saturday at the Expo Center, starting at 7 p.m. each day.
ecarifio@temple-telegram.com
