Rodeo News, Chris Harris, Bareback Riding

Harris kicks off Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo with early lead
Lauranne Smith

FORT WORTH --- After an agonizing layoff in 2009, six-time Wrangler National Finals bareback rider (and local favorite) Chris Harris wowed the crowd at the 114^th annual Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo with an 80-point ride on Neal Gay’s bronc Willy Buck.

The capacity Friday-night performance was the first of 30 to be held during the annual show, and it showcased one of Harris’ first competitive rides back after recovering from surgery on his riding arm last summer.

“Before the surgery, it felt like my bone was coming out of my skin every time I nodded,” Harris said. “I’ve been in this sport long enough and had enough surgeries to know that it’s not the surgery that bothers the cowboy – it’s the time off and where he goes mentally.”

Harris kept telling himself to be strong, and his hard work rehabilitating the arm is paid off handsomely as he went to the lead in Fort Worth’s first round. He’ll compete again tomorrow for a chance to make the top-12 finals at Fort Worth on Feb. 7.

Going to the lead in team roping was Derrick Begay and Cesar de la Cruz, both 26 and looking to qualify for their second straight NFR as a team. They were the first team out and stopped the clock in 5.2 seconds.

Tie-down roper Adam Gray slid into sixth place in the first round of his event with his 8.6-second run Friday night, while 2009 PRCA Bull Riding Rookie of the Year Tayler Cowan went to the early lead in bull riding, covering Rafter G Rodeo’s black-and-white spinner, Get Smart, for 80 points.

The second and third performances are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

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The following are results from the first performance of the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo, presented by the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show on Friday, January 22, 2010.

First Performance --

Bareback Riding: 1, Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, 80 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Willy Buck. 2, Evan Jayne, Marseille, France, 74. 3, Ryan Stutes, Sulfur, La., 71. 4, Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 70. 5, Zane Grey Caddell, La Grange, Texas, and Logan Hodson, Telkwa, British Columbia, 69 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, 4.2 seconds. 2 (tie), Olin Hannum, West Haven, Utah, and Adam Strahan, Kankakee, Ill., 4.6 each. 4, Clayton Morrison, Casper, Wyo., 5.7. 5, Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 6.1. 6, Justin Morehouse, New Ross, Ind.,10.7.

Team Roping (two times): 1, Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.2 seconds. 2, Tommy Edens, Gatesville, Texas, and Justin Hendrick, Rosenberg, Texas, 6.9.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 81 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Billings. 2, Frank McKay, Ontario, Ore., 77. 3, Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., 75. 4, Roy Johnson, Etna, Calif., 73. 5, Logan Hodson, Telkwa, British Columbia, 72. 6, Cody Rud, Greenfield, Wis., 58.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.6 seconds. 2, Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., 10.4. 3, Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 11.0. 4, C.R. Bradley, 11.2. 5, P.J. Spencer, Collinsville, Okla., 12.3. 6, Jared Turner, Lawton, Okla., 12.6.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Lacy Wilson, Artesia, N.M., 17.14 seconds. 2, Lindsay Knaff, Helena, Mont., 17.63. 3, Jessica Watkins, Dublin, Texas, 17.71. 4, Sheri Dubard, Iowa, La., 18.02.

Bull Riding: 1, Taylor Cowan, Ft. Pierre, S.D., 80 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Get Smart. 2, Kyle German, Crossfield, Alberta, 73.

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