By Nancy & Tommy Brannon
"Boom, boom! Clap! Boom, boom! Clap! We will, we will rock you!" The Show Place Arena in Memphis, TN, indeed, was rockin' Tuesday night December 28 at the Liberty Bowl Rodeo, as rodeo fans were joined by athletes, cheerleaders, and lots of young folks in town for the Liberty Bowl game. Cowboys and cowgirls showed off their speed and staying power to a packed house, the crowd prompted into loud shrill cheers by Rodeo Clown Dusty Myers.
Justin Thigpen of Waycross, GA was Steer Wrestling Champion a time of 3.00.
First kudos to a local cowboy went to Champion Calf Roper, Cliff Goodrich of Humboldt, TN, with a time of 8.4.
Morgan Jones of Leighton, AL and Ty Ethridge of Franklin, GA took the Team Roping Championship with a fast time of 4.5.
Maggie Reinhart of Guys, TN was the Breakway Roping Champion with a time of 2.7.
The first rider in Saddle Bronc, Stacy Belt of Harrisonville, MO, looked like he would take the evening's championship with a score of 80 points, despite plenty of air between the cowboy and the saddle. But last to go, Ty Atchison of Oak Ridge, MO, scored an amazing 84 points to take the Saddle Bronc Championship. After his ride, he hopped aboard the hazer's horse behind the saddle and pulled the bucking strap off the bronc he had just ridden.
Josh Cragar of Columbia, TN and Billy Griffin of Oak Grove, MO were Bareback Bronc Co-Champions, as both earned a score of 83.
Sallye Williams of Skiatook, OK sped away with the Cowgirls Barrel Racing Championship, rounding the barrels in a searing 15.889 seconds.
Last event of the evening, Bull Riding, is the most dangerous, yet usually a crowd favorite. Many of the bulls had perfected their "whirling dervish" routine, able to sling a heavy-duty rear end as deftly as a duck slinging water off its back. Yet Justin Koon of Grapevine, AR was able to stay on the tilt-a-whirl the longest to take the Bull Riding Championship with a score of 86!
As part of the "half-time" entertainment, Children competed in a boot/shoe race for the prize of a $500 scholarship in the form of a US Savings Bond. Ricky Rasco was the winner!
"Boom, boom! Clap! Boom, boom! Clap! We will, we will rock you!" The Show Place Arena in Memphis, TN, indeed, was rockin' Tuesday night December 28 at the Liberty Bowl Rodeo, as rodeo fans were joined by athletes, cheerleaders, and lots of young folks in town for the Liberty Bowl game. Cowboys and cowgirls showed off their speed and staying power to a packed house, the crowd prompted into loud shrill cheers by Rodeo Clown Dusty Myers.
Justin Thigpen of Waycross, GA was Steer Wrestling Champion a time of 3.00.
First kudos to a local cowboy went to Champion Calf Roper, Cliff Goodrich of Humboldt, TN, with a time of 8.4.
Morgan Jones of Leighton, AL and Ty Ethridge of Franklin, GA took the Team Roping Championship with a fast time of 4.5.
Maggie Reinhart of Guys, TN was the Breakway Roping Champion with a time of 2.7.
The first rider in Saddle Bronc, Stacy Belt of Harrisonville, MO, looked like he would take the evening's championship with a score of 80 points, despite plenty of air between the cowboy and the saddle. But last to go, Ty Atchison of Oak Ridge, MO, scored an amazing 84 points to take the Saddle Bronc Championship. After his ride, he hopped aboard the hazer's horse behind the saddle and pulled the bucking strap off the bronc he had just ridden.
Josh Cragar of Columbia, TN and Billy Griffin of Oak Grove, MO were Bareback Bronc Co-Champions, as both earned a score of 83.
Sallye Williams of Skiatook, OK sped away with the Cowgirls Barrel Racing Championship, rounding the barrels in a searing 15.889 seconds.
Last event of the evening, Bull Riding, is the most dangerous, yet usually a crowd favorite. Many of the bulls had perfected their "whirling dervish" routine, able to sling a heavy-duty rear end as deftly as a duck slinging water off its back. Yet Justin Koon of Grapevine, AR was able to stay on the tilt-a-whirl the longest to take the Bull Riding Championship with a score of 86!
As part of the "half-time" entertainment, Children competed in a boot/shoe race for the prize of a $500 scholarship in the form of a US Savings Bond. Ricky Rasco was the winner!
