Campbell Ropes Pal, Then Cash Call To Frazier Turns Out Profitable As They Combine To Win Roping Title

The phone call was good, the draw was better, the payday was best.

It was that simple for Troy Frazier and Bucky Campbell, who won the team roping and checks for $873 as the Wrangler Prorodeo Classic concluded at the Arena Sunday afternoon.

Campbell, a 20-year old roper from Prosser, is headed down the road but his regular partner is waiting for him in California. With a chance to make a buck before leaving, he called Frazier, who roped with him in the past but never in a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The pair turned in a 6-second run, the fastest in the history of the four-year old rodeo, to highlight Sunday’s performance before 5,949 fans. Their win ensured that all three performances, which drew a record 19,666 fans, produced at least one champion.

The biggest winner was Deer Park bull rider Rob Sweeney, who scored an 85 on Dog Face Saturday night for a $1,261.19 check. Daryl Palmantier of Riske Creek, British Columbia, gave him a run with an 82 on Clyde the Crusher Sunday afternoon. Palmantier, who earned $955.45, matched the score Sweeney had when he won this rodeo two years ago.

The second biggest check, $1,195.52, went to Jeff Green of Pendleton, Ore., for his 4-second run in the slack after Friday’s performance. In fact, all six cowboys who earned money in steer wrestling were in slack, used to accommodate the 59 entries, the most of any event.

Right behind Green was calf roper Jeff Coelho of Long Creek, Ore., who had a 9.3-second run Saturday to win $1,183.40.

Mike Hammer of Pasco, who had an 80 on Diligent Skoal on Friday, won the bareback riding for the third time in four years (he was second last year), picking up $954.48. Saddle bronc winner Skeet Thurston was also up on Friday, marking a 78 on Spring Rose to win $970.10.

Frazier and Campbell knew they drew a steer they could win on, which added to the pressure of having to beat 6.1-seconds.

“So much depends on what kind of steer you have,” said Frazier, 29, who lives at Lowden, near Walla Walla. “We knew we had a pretty good steer. You don’t necessarily try to beat a time, you just try to do your best. There’s probably a little (more pressure, knowing you can win) but it’s nice to know you have the opportunity to to win first or second. You still have to go rope him and not break the barrier (for a 10-second penalty).”

Frazier won the team roping at this rodeo two years ago with Shane Crossley of Hermiston, Ore., who finished second in calf roping this year.

Frazier finished 16th in the country in 1989, missing a trip to the National Finals Rodeo by one place but won the Columbia River Circuit title that year and again in 1990. His traveling days are done because the oldest of his two young daughters has started school and he just leased the sale yard in Walla Walla.

“That’s a good check to start a new business,” said Campbell, who added Frazier saved the day with his throw because the steer started to veer left when it left the chute.

“You have to read the situation,” Frazier said. “It’s more reaction from repetition.”

The pressure with a good steer or bad steer falls on the header, who has to rope the steer over the horns and turn it left so the heeler, circling around behind the steer as it turns, has a shot to catch both hind feet.

“It really doesn’t matter to me. I just throw (my rope) after he turns (the steer),” Campbell said. “Usually, with him, he’s a good on a bad one. You can’t win first if you don’t have a good steer. With a bad one, you can place down. “

Palmantier also had some pressure because he was spotlighted in the darkened arena along with Clyde the Crusher as the announcer described the dangers of bull riding. Also, a week earlier the flu-weakened 24-year old Canadian bucked off Clyde the Crusher in Portland.

“(The spotlight) kind of (helped) a little,” Palmantier said. “He’s just a good bull. I was happy to have him here.”

Clyde the Crusher stayed in front of the chute and turned in a tight circle to the left for eight seconds.

“You just try to get up on your legs and stay up on the front end,” Palmantier said. “That’s pretty much what you try to do on any bull, I guess.”

Boot Corral was the major sponsor for the three-day rodeo.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo