As things turned out, he won even more than he’d hoped for.
Peebles, 21, broke Jessy Davis’ four-year-old arena record with a 90-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Mad Money to win the short round and the two-head average at the Gold Tour rodeo presented by Justin Boots.

“Man, it’s outstanding,” said Peebles, who picked up $1,650 for the short-round win and an additional $3,846 for winning the average to push his earnings to $8,893 for the weekend. “I’m happier than heck to break an arena record at a rodeo like this.”

In addition to the big check, Peebles and Calgary Stampede each received $4,500 for their contribution to the new arena record. (Peebles’ share is unofficial and doesn’t count toward the PRCA World Standings.)

“When I was crawling into the chute, I heard them talking about the bonus for the arena record,” Peebles said. “I listened and smiled and just looked down at my horse, because I knew I had the horsepower to do it. I just thought, ‘I’m going for it.’”

Ninety also turned out to be the magic number for saddle bronc rider Cody Wright, who entered Ellensburg in a similar position as Peebles: inside the Top 15 but looking to gain a little breathing room as the regular season enters its final weeks.

Wright stuck to Flying Five Rodeo’s Spring Planting for 90 points to defeat last year’s Ellensburg champ and reigning World Champion Jesse Kruse for the finals win and the two-head average.

Even though he was facing a familiar foe (including past matchups in Las Vegas and Pocatello, Idaho), Wright said the Flying Five horse threw him a little bit of a change-up in Ellensburg.

“She’s been awesome every time,” Wright said of Spring Planting. “I never had her have those moves, though. She was kind of back and forth out of the gate. She’s usually just around the post, jumping and kicking back around to the right. That’s an awesome horse. My hat’s off to her.”

Steer wrestler Billy Bugenig’s mission to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo received a big boost in Ellensburg. The 29-year-old California cowboy’s 4.5-second run in the finals was good enough to split third place with Sean Mulligan and earn the top spot in the average and the $3,684 that came with it.

In team roping, the new partnership between Keven Daniel and Caleb Twisselman continued to pay dividends. A 6.3-second run in the finals proved to be enough to push them from third in the average to first and matching $4,046 checks.

Gold-buckle contenders Charly Crawford and Russell Cardoza (who won the all-around in Ellensburg) jumped from eighth place to second in the average Monday.

The team of Joel Bach and Paul Eaves of Millsap, Texas, set an arena record when they won the second round in 4.2 seconds, breaking the record of 4.5 seconds set by Chance Kelton and Bucky Campbell in 2002.

Seth Childers was a surprise contender in the tie-down roping coming into the Sept. 6 finals, and the Cameron, Texas, cowboy finished the job in Ellensburg. He finished third in the short round to defeat Wrangler NFR contenders Blair Burk and Clint Cooper by four-tenths of a second.

The bull riding was won by Tylee Lanham, whose 86-point ride on Corey & Horst’s Blue Northern (the bull who helped D.J. Domangue win the long round at Saturday night’s Xtreme Bulls Tour finale) was the only qualified ride in the short round.

The other champions at Ellensburg were steer roper Chet Herren (22.6 seconds on two head) and barrel racer Lindsay Sears (51.85 seconds on three runs).

Final round: 1. Bobby Welsh, 92.5 points on Burns Rodeo’s Kid Twist, $5,273; 2. Clayton Williams, 91.5, $3,995; 3. Justin Koon, 90.5, $2,876; 4. D.J. Domangue, 90, $1,918; 5. Jarrod Craig, 89, $1,119; 6. Allen Helmuth, 88, $799.

Average: 1. D.J. Domangue, 180 points on two head, $11,985; 2. Bobby Welsh, 175.5, $9,189; 3. Clayton Williams, 174.5, $6,792; 4. Jarrod Craig, 174, $4,395; 5. Justin Koon, 173, $2,797; 6. Allen Helmuth, 170, $1,998; 7. Stormy Wing, 88 points on one head, $1,598; 8. Clayton Savage, 86, $1,199.

The newly elected board of the Crosby (Texas) Fair & Rodeo has raised its annual scholarship awards from five of $3,000 each to five of $5,000 each …

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price took his mind off his status as a restricted free agent this summer by team roping in British Columbia Rodeo Association events. Price, who competes as a heeler, earned $935 with partner Virgil Poffenroth in two appearances, and is 16th in the BCRA standings and sixth among rookies…

Bull rider Mario Ramirez of Morgan Hill, Calif., is sidelined with a broken left arm.

Speaking of neck problems – three-time and reigning world champion bareback rider Bobby Mote had neck surgery earlier this week in Dallas. He had been suffering from numbness in his arm and after a rough ride in the semifinals on Pocatello for the DNCFR, where his arm went numb on the back of a bareback horse, he decided it was time to get it fixed. They were able to relieve the pressure on the nerves in his neck that was getting pinched and causing the numbness. He is hoping to be back by June.

And like they say traveling partners stick together and that couldn’t have been more true this week with Ryan Gray, one of Bobby’s traveling partners, also having surgery in Dallas. Ryan had knee surgery to repair some torn meniscus and then Ryan’s wife Lacy took care of both following their surgeries. I think she definitely deserves a gold star for taking care of those two.

I am sure all of you know by now that Trevor Brazile and his beautiful wife Shada welcomed a little girl into the world on April 1. Her name is Stella Bell so congrats to them.

Another interesting note that is on the PRCA’s homepage (www.prorodeo.com) is that the sixth of seven Wright brothers won money in Auburn, Calif. The Etbauer brothers entertained rodeo fans for years and now we all can look forward to the Wright brother clan, who is lead by world champion Cody Wright. Keep an eye on those guys.

Speaking of Etbauers, Billy is on the verge of surpassing $3 million in career earnings. What an amazing feat and to have done it almost all in just one event of saddle bronc riding. Yes, I said almost as Billy has a little over $1,000 of his career earnings that came from team roping. Keep an eye on prorodeo.com for information on when he hits that mark.

Until next time,
Codi

RodeoHouston was his first rodeo back and he appeared to have returned in top condition turning in an 80-point ride to finish in a four-way tie for first in the first round of Super Series V. He will compete again on Monday and Tuesday night (March 15-16) in Houston, in hopes of finishing in the top four money earners in bracket V to advance to the semifinal round either on March 17 or 18. He collected $875 on his first ride. For more information on Will visit www.willlowe.net.

What a weekend for sports from the U.S. vs. Canada men’s hockey game to some good rodeo action in San Angelo and Tucson. Congrats to our Canadian friends for winning the gold in the hockey but I am proud to say Team USA gave them a run for their money. Also Canada did a great job of welcoming the world.

Cashing in big in San Angelo were team ropers Travis Tryan and Michael Jones, two-time and reigning world champion barrel racer Brittany Pozzi and bull rider Dusty Elkinton, who has competed in the Toughest Cowboy series the past couple of years. Congrats to them and all the other winners.

Our condolences go out to barrel racer Shelley Morgan, who had to put her seven year old gelding My Playboy Champ “Short Go” down just prior to the final round in San Angelo after a very unfortunate happening. Shelley qualified for her first Wrangler NFR in 2009 where she road this wonderful horse. We hope she can find another great horse.

The mud didn’t dampen the competition in Tucson very much on Sunday afternoon with Jason Miller winning the average in the steer wrestling, Clint Robinson won the all-around title and 2008 World Champion Barrel Racer Lindsay Sears captured her second win of the year, coming on the heels of her big win in San Antonio.

Now all eyes turn toward Reliant Stadium for RodeoHouston. It should be some great competition. Also be sure to check out the new video blog from The Pride of the PRCA. I don’t know about you but these guys make me laugh every time I watch their blogs. Be sure to check out the first episode of 2010 and keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more clips.

Last night I enjoyed watching Jet and Cord McCoy on the Amazing Race. One of their tasks was to rope a steer head on a bale of hay. Pretty easy for these cowboys but not so much for everyone else. So far these brothers have won two episodes. Be sure to catch the rest of the episode on CBS every Sunday night or learn more at www.cbs.com. Good luck guys.

Later,
Codi

So over the last couple months there have been some big winners with the large payouts in the top winter rodeos like Denver, Ft. Worth and the recently completed San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Wow, what a great finals in San Antonio. Some of you might have caught the action on prorodeolive.com with Steve Kenyon giving you a live play by play account over the internet, while others experienced it first hand in San Antonio.

One of the big winners in San Antonio was two-time world champion steer wrestler Luke Branquinho. It was great to see him back in the winner’s circle after a tough end to the 2009 Wrangler NFR. He struggled in Denver and Rapid City but won some money in Ft. Worth before hitting it big in San Antonio. For those who are Facebook and Twitter fans, be sure to look for Luke Branquinho on these social network sites as he has recently jumped on board these very popular trains. A congratulations goes out to Luke and his wife Lindsay who will increase their family size by one when they welcome their second child the first part of July. I will keep you posted on this.

It is exciting to see Tom McFarland back riding bareback horses and doing so well after breaking his wrist last June in 26 places. Let’s hope things continue to go well for him. The Wolf Pack will be back to full power in March with three-time world champion Will Lowe returning to action at RodeoHouston after shoulder surgery in December.

Speaking of the Wolf Pack and The Pride – three-time and reigning world champion Bobby Mote has been doing lots of team roping in Arizona this winter. He is team roping this week in Tucson with Willy Gould and in the first round they posted a 7.7 second run. Also Ryan Gray, a member of The Pride, has launched his very own website – www.ryangrayrodeo.com so be sure to check that out.

The shock news for the month was seeing Ty Murray in the annual swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated. No Ty was not in a Speedo but appeared in his starched jeans, shirt, hat and boots with his dancing partner Chelsie Hightower from ABC reality show Dancing With the Stars as one of four former dancing competitors. Congrats to Ty for making the issue and for continuing to get rodeo out in the mainstream media.

This weekend the rodeo road stops in San Angelo and Tucson before gearing up for RodeoHouston. I will try to stay in better touch in the coming months and best of luck to all those on the road.

Be safe –Codi

OK. I’ll admit it. I was having way too much fun at the WNFR and I just never had time to post any news. Well I can tell you this was the best rodeo I have ever been to — and believe me, I have been to a lot of rodeos.

Trevor B was absolutely totally awesome. Not only did he tie with TY for his 7th world champion but he is just a really nice and terrific person. He signed autographs, talked to fans, and made everyone proud to be a rodeo person.

Bobby Mote, Ryan Gray, and Jason Havens rocked the house. The PRIDE boys showed us how to be winners and not let it go to your head. Way to go Cowboys of Faith!

If you were in Las Vegas, I’m sure you stopped in at the Gold Coast’s National Finals Tonight show. This event just keeps getting better and better. Don Gay, Joe Beaver, and Dan Miller were a hoot and the guests they had were the best. I really had a good time here.

And a new young singer named Bridgette Tatum made a world premiere of her smok’n song “I Like My Cowboys Dirty”. The fan zone outside the Thomas & Mack was one giant party. You can even see the video at the PRCA’s www.prorodeofanzone.com.

There was so much more I can’t even remember it all. I’m heading back to the ranch to celebrate Christmas and New Years with my family. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the year. Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! and I’ll be back in January.

Lots and lots and lots of rodeo love.
Codi

And here is some fun stuff I hope you have a chance to see.

During the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Legends Ranch in Las Vegas will be teaming with World Champion bull rider Cody Hancock to produce the Cody Hancock Invitational Bull Riding nightly after the Wrangler NFR.

The event will feature live music, two 20 foot video screens showing the WNFR, and a 15 man bull riding with a 5 man short round nightly.

Legends Ranch is bringing the best in bull riding action and concert performances, opening daily at 5 pm for concerts and dining, and then featuring a live simulcast of the National Finals Rodeo. The nightly Cody Hancock Legends Ranch Bull Riding Challenge will be around 10:15 PM, that will be followed by the “Legends Ranch Party Zone” concert series and after party. This will be the best in full rodeo experiences for all facets of western lifestyles.

For more information on the event or to hear an interview with the event producer Josh Lucia visit the blog page at prorodeolive.com.

And if you’re in Las Vegas — look for me. I’ll be the one with the boots!!!!
See you soon.
Codi