Article & photos by Tommy and Nancy Brannon
Cook’s Lake in northwest Memphis, Tennessee was the site of the IPRA-produced, first annual St. Jude Memphis Stampede Rodeo over the 4th of July weekend – July 5-6, 2019. Hosted by Wes Cook and his wife, the rodeo raised funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Cook partnered with Rocking K Rodeo Company and J&K Productions to provide all the set-up, livestock, and rodeo personnel to put on the professional event. Performances started at 8:00 p.m. both nights with a combination of national champion contestants and local top performers. Total payout for the rodeo was $13,284.
In the Tie Down Roping event, the first roper Seth Driggers set the pace with a time of 8.9, but fell to third with two other faster times. The second cowboy posted a time of 10.6, and the third roper Cole Walker posted a score of 9.7. But the winner of the top prize was Will Bradley with a time of 8.3. Blake Deckard was second at 8.5.
In Girls’ Breakaway Roping, Kyla Matthews had the best score, 2.1, to win the top cash prize. Johanna Setzer was almost as fast (2.3) and Holland Sloan Brewer and Megan Rinehart split thire (2.7).
In Saddle Bronc, the scores were close and the contestants included 2018 IPRA Saddle Bronc World Champion Raymond Hostetler. The first rider Travis Gardner claimed a 78 point ride. The second rider Raymond Hostetler was close with a 74.5 point ride. But the last cowboy to ride, Cody Goertzen of Tuttle, Oklahoma, on a horse that had not been ridden before, walked away after an 81-point ride.
In Bareback Bronc it was Josh Cragar taking the top prize with an 81-point ride. Luke Herbert was a close second (80), and Houston Herbert posted a score of 77.
There were plenty of cowgirls in Barrel Racking, with Kenzie Cook having the fastest time: 14.434. Bailey Gilchrist was a close second at 14.844, and Allison DeJournett turned in a time of 14.953 for third. Rounding fourth was Madison Ann Lager at 15.124.
In Steer Wrestling, only one cowboy scored: Casey Greer (5.0).
In Team Roping, the team of Seth Driggers and Justin Pruitt had the best score (5.9). But three teams were just 0.1-second off at 6.0 and split second: Blake Deckard and Ken Bailey, Brent Mibb and Jeff Brown, Mitch Rinehart and Will Bradley.
In Bull Riding, last to go was 2018 IPRA Bull Riding World Champion Corey Bailey (27) of Buchanan, Tennessee, who pulled off an 86-point ride for the win. [DSC_0146 – 0166] Lucas Mooningham scored 80 points and Daryl Guenther scored 74 points.
Entertaining the crowd with corny jokes and banter with announcer Tyler Brown was rodeo clown “Colt 45.” Midway through the rodeo he brought out his pony “Magic Mike,” who did tricks for to wow the crowd.
Get the full results and find out more about IPRA rodeos at: www.ipra-rodeo.com
Cook’s Lake in northwest Memphis, Tennessee was the site of the IPRA-produced, first annual St. Jude Memphis Stampede Rodeo over the 4th of July weekend – July 5-6, 2019. Hosted by Wes Cook and his wife, the rodeo raised funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Cook partnered with Rocking K Rodeo Company and J&K Productions to provide all the set-up, livestock, and rodeo personnel to put on the professional event. Performances started at 8:00 p.m. both nights with a combination of national champion contestants and local top performers. Total payout for the rodeo was $13,284.
In the Tie Down Roping event, the first roper Seth Driggers set the pace with a time of 8.9, but fell to third with two other faster times. The second cowboy posted a time of 10.6, and the third roper Cole Walker posted a score of 9.7. But the winner of the top prize was Will Bradley with a time of 8.3. Blake Deckard was second at 8.5.
In Girls’ Breakaway Roping, Kyla Matthews had the best score, 2.1, to win the top cash prize. Johanna Setzer was almost as fast (2.3) and Holland Sloan Brewer and Megan Rinehart split thire (2.7).
In Saddle Bronc, the scores were close and the contestants included 2018 IPRA Saddle Bronc World Champion Raymond Hostetler. The first rider Travis Gardner claimed a 78 point ride. The second rider Raymond Hostetler was close with a 74.5 point ride. But the last cowboy to ride, Cody Goertzen of Tuttle, Oklahoma, on a horse that had not been ridden before, walked away after an 81-point ride.
In Bareback Bronc it was Josh Cragar taking the top prize with an 81-point ride. Luke Herbert was a close second (80), and Houston Herbert posted a score of 77.
There were plenty of cowgirls in Barrel Racking, with Kenzie Cook having the fastest time: 14.434. Bailey Gilchrist was a close second at 14.844, and Allison DeJournett turned in a time of 14.953 for third. Rounding fourth was Madison Ann Lager at 15.124.
In Steer Wrestling, only one cowboy scored: Casey Greer (5.0).
In Team Roping, the team of Seth Driggers and Justin Pruitt had the best score (5.9). But three teams were just 0.1-second off at 6.0 and split second: Blake Deckard and Ken Bailey, Brent Mibb and Jeff Brown, Mitch Rinehart and Will Bradley.
In Bull Riding, last to go was 2018 IPRA Bull Riding World Champion Corey Bailey (27) of Buchanan, Tennessee, who pulled off an 86-point ride for the win. [DSC_0146 – 0166] Lucas Mooningham scored 80 points and Daryl Guenther scored 74 points.
Entertaining the crowd with corny jokes and banter with announcer Tyler Brown was rodeo clown “Colt 45.” Midway through the rodeo he brought out his pony “Magic Mike,” who did tricks for to wow the crowd.
Get the full results and find out more about IPRA rodeos at: www.ipra-rodeo.com
