Rodeo, Demo Derby come back through Othello
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald The flag presentation before the Othello Rodeo has become widely known as one of the most popular opening ceremonies around the state.
Casey McCarthy/ Sun Tribune #84, with rodeo queens in tow, makes his way around the track as the Demolition Derby gets set to begin on Wednesday in Othello.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald A pair of cars collide during a heat race near the finish, as #369 rolls over #71 at the Demolition Derby in Othello.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald Cars line up outside the arena on Wednesday night as they wait for their race to begin at the Othello Demolition Derby.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald Karson Dockins, #369, gets sandwiched in between two drivers during the Demolition Derby on Wednesday night in Othello.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald Butch Daniels, #67 races ahead of the pack in Heat Race #6 at the Othello Demolition Derby on Wednesday night.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald Preston Peterson chases down the steer in the tie-down roping event at the Othello Rodeo on Saturday night.
Casey McCarthy/ Sun Tribune Sparks fly as performers circle the arena at the Othello Rodeo on Saturday night.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald A cowboy is flung off during the bull-riding competition on Saturday night at the Othello Rodeo.
Casey McCarthy/ Columbia Basin Herald Mary Ann Munkers makes her way around the arena during the barrel racing event at the Othello Rodeo on Saturday night.
OTHELLO — For the 71st time, the Othello Rodeo has come and went, presented by the Othello Rodeo Association. With its first iteration in 1948, the rodeo has come to be known as one of the best rodeo’s around. The Othello PRCA Rodeo is the last stop on the Columbia River Circuit, with top competitors coming out to try and secure their chance at the National Finals Rodeo.
Events included: bareback bronc riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing, bull-riding, and the wild cow ride, with teams competing to saddle a wild cow and ride it past the barrel in a short time.
With a new lighting system, sponsored by community donations, the arena was able to sport new lights, with power efficient poles, and remove many of the electrical lines crossing the arena to make way for many speciality acts to come out.
Caleb McMillan took home the All-around cowboy award for the weekend, competing in bull riding, tie-down roping, and team roping. A total payoff of more than $30,000 in prize money was awarded to competitors.
Kristy Rattray, who has been with the rodeo on and off since her daughter was a rodeo queen in 2005, said the event draws some of the top competition from all over. Rattray said the Othello Rodeo just has a different feel than some of the other rodeos she’s been to.
“We definitely have a hometown feel,” Rattray said. “We probably have one of the best opening ceremonies in all of rodeo. We just have a unique opening with the flag presentation.”
Rattray, who works on the queen’s committee as well as working with publicity and social media for the Othello Rodeo, said the sport of rodeo is really like a family. Unlike other sports, she said everyone is always rooting for each other.
“Rodeo, you’re always supporting that ride,” Rattray said. “You never know when that perfect ride is coming. It might be you. It might be the guy next to you. But everybody is so very friendly, so very supportive of each other.”
While it may not be the biggest rodeos, Kristy said she feels its “one of the best little rodeos around.”
In addition to the rodeo on Friday and Saturday, the Othello Demolition Derby sent the dirt flying on Wednesday night at the arena. Drivers came out from around the area to compete in a series of events, including the heat races, trophy dash, powder puff races, Australian pursuits, and, of course, the demolition derby.
The Derby had a record number of cars at 114, with more heat and powder puff races than ever before. The Wednesday night event brought in drivers from all across Washington to compete.
Below is a complete list of results from the Othello Rodeo and Demolition Derby.
Bareback riding: 1. Clay Stone, 84 points on Flying 5 Rodeo’s No. 730, $1,278; 2. Steven Peebles, 83, $968; 3. Mason Clements, 82, $697; 4. Will Lowe, 81.5, $465; 5. Cole Reiner, 76, $271; 6. Tony Barrington, 65, $194.
Steer wrestling: 1. Taylor Gregg, 4.8 seconds, $959; 2. Wayne Schaffeld, 4.9, $719; 3. Jacob Stacy, 5.4, $479; 4. Brandon Mackenzie, 6.5, $240.
Team roping: 1. Cody Barney/Daniel Holland, 6.5 seconds, $1,043 each; 2. Ryan Readmond/Zalin Arritola, 6.6, $863; 3. Jack Fischer/Joey Bergevin, 6.7, $683; 4. Jake Stanley/Bucky Campbell, 10.0, $503; 5. Tyler Smith/Andy Carlson, 10.8, $324; 6. Justin Marcus/Tee Jay Brown, 14.0, $180.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Isaac Diaz, 85 points on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Bronci Blue, $1,464; 2. Chase Brooks, 84, $1,109; 3. Tegan Smith, 80.5, $799; 4. (tie) Joe Harper and Stetson Wright, 80, $421 each; 6. Ryder Wright, 79.5, $222.
Tie-down roping: 1. Caleb McMillan, 9.8 seconds, $1,053; 2. Bo Pickett, 10.3, $790; 3. Seth Hopper, 10.7, $526; 4. Jason Minor, 11.3, $263.
Barrel racing: 1. Lexi Burgess, 17.70 seconds, $865; 2. Mary Ann Munkers, 17.80, $741; 3. Teri Bangart, 17.81, $618; 4. Lindsay Schulz, 17.98, $535; 5. Bobbie Correa, 18.10, $412; 6. Leia Pluemer, 18.35, $329; 7. Katie Davis, 18.38, $247; 8. Skylar English, 18.43, $165; 9. Britni Carlson, 18.70, $124; 10. Jessica Crouch, 18.99, $82.
Bull riding: 1. (tie) Austin Covington, on Big Bend Rodeo’s Bloody Mary Morning, and Caleb McMillan, on Flying 5 Rodeo’s White Noise, 82 points, $1,238 each; 3. Josh Frost, 81, $768; 4. Aaron Williams, 78.5, $512; 5. Jeff Askey, 72, $299; 6. Ruger Piva, 67, $213.
Demolition Derby
Demolition Derby (Payout 1st: 2000, 2nd:1000, 3rd: 500, Maddog: $500)
1st & 2nd Tie: Karson Dockins & Chuckie Keopke. 3rd: Chris Eckelbarger. Maddog: Austin Weber
Bill Bagwell Memorial Winners’ Races
Winners Race 1: 73 Tommy Pruneda
Winners Race 2: 7 Cruz Garza
Trophy Dashes
Trophy Dash A: 67
Trophy Dash B: 63
Ladies Trophy Dash: 24 Robyn Weber
Heat Races
Heat Race 1: 1st: 107 Scott Dorsing. 2nd :941 Jason Randall. 3rd: 50 Skyler Hoffer
Heat Race 2: 1st:x15 George Ottmar. 2nd : 86 Chris Campbell. 3rd: 369 Karson Dockins
Heat Race 3: 1st: 24 Chris Weber. 2nd : 100 Jake Neisnl. 3rd: 98 Dillon Brown
Heat Race 4: 1st: 74 Danny Martinez. 2nd : 626 Kameron Dockins. 3rd:113 Amy Clardy
Heat Race 5: 1st: 15 Brian Melbye
Heat Race 6: 1st:73 Tommy Pruneda. 2nd : 67 Butch Daniels. 3rd: 00 Kirk Baker
Heat Race 7: 1st: 941 Doug Chornuk. 2nd : 001 Kooper Yearout
Heat Race 8: 1st: 74 Benjamin Garza. 2nd : 14 Edgar Martinez. 3rd: : 532 Jared Cozzocrea
Heat Race 9: 1st: 17 Turrel Smith. 2nd : 16 Dewayne Smith. 3rd: 311 David Evans
Heat Race 10: 1st: 96 Brennen Olson. 2nd : 74 Danny Martinez. 3rd: 175 Arron Schrodt
Heat Race 11: 1st: 26 Josiah Guerra. 2nd : 94 Rylie Miller. 3rd: 701 Michael Valentine
Heat Race 12: 1st: 45 Oscar Cox. 2nd : 495 Chris McCart. 3rd: 62 Jeremy Larson
Heat Race 13: 1st: 810 Fred Moore. 2nd : 45 Oscar Cox. 3rd: 433 Zachary Moore
Heat Race 14: 1st: 107 Carter Dorsing. 2nd: 113 Arron Razey. 3rd: 0 Juan Rocha Jr
Heat Race 15: 1st: 99 Tyler Larr. 2nd : 31 Jordan Cobb. 3rd: 170 Trevor Tyas
Heat Race 16: 1st: 28 Austin Huss. 2nd : 412 Rick Gillespic
Powder Puff Races
Powder Puff 1: 1st: 86Sierra Burns. 2nd: 194 Sara Myers. 3rd: 63 Sabrina Bagwell
Powder Puff 2: 1st: 199. 2nd: 8x Joey Ermin. 3rd: 301 Jordan Colkitt
Powder Puff 3: 1st: 95 Veronica Garza. 2nd: 07 Sadelle Rose Garza. 3rd: 54 Taylor Garza
Powder Puff 4: 1st: 24 Robyn Weber. 2nd: 144 Kayla Golliday. 3rd: 17 Angie Smith
Powder Puff 5: 1st: 84 Sabrina Bagwell. 2nd: 74x Emma Goodman. 3rd: 10 Jamie Rorick
Australian Pursuits
Australian 1: 77 Zachary Nitta
Australian 2: 98 Dillon Brown
Australian 3: 199 Evan Mahn & 15 Brian Melbye
Australian 4: x15 George Ottmar
Australian 5: 1987 Josue Garza
Australian 6: 118 Rex Randal
Australian 7: 31 Jordan Cobb & 311 David Evans
Australian 8: 68 Steve Martinez