Very Bullish On Furniture Cowboy Collects Record Check As Prorodeo Classic Ends

You’ve heard of the bull in the china shop, but Brittney Nordahl saw a bull in a furniture store.

“Daddy, the whole time you were riding, I kept saying, ‘Bedroom furniture, bedroom furniture,’ ” 10-year-old Brittney said breathlessly, throwing out her right arm to mimic her father’s ride.

Kevin Nordahl, who recently moved his family from Helena to Frenchtown, Mont., had just capped the biggest payday in the five-year history of the Wrangler Prorodeo Classic, with a record 87-point bull ride Sunday afternoon at the Arena.

The ride aboard Quik Way paid $1,344.42. Combined with his second-place, 4.5-second run in steer wrestling, Nordahl took home $2,426.04.

The previous best bull ride was an 85 by Deer Park cowboy Rob Sweeny last year. The previous big winner was Tom Camarillo, who won $1,743.08 in steer wrestling and calf roping in 1994 when the rodeo was in the Coliseum.

Shane Hull of Ellensburg also gave the crowd of 5,193 something to cheer about, roping and tying his calf in an Arena record 8.8-seconds for a $1,164 check.

Other winners held up from the Friday or Saturday performances in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, which drew 18,333 spectators in three days.

While her embarrassed husband stood by, Sheryl Nordahl sheepishly confirmed she had told Kevin on the ride over Sunday morning it would be nice if he won enough money to buy them bedroom furniture. They had given the children their furniture after the move and she was using a box for a dresser.

Request granted - in style.

Nordahl suspected he had a chance to do well riding Quik Way, which used to belong to an old friend in Canada.

There were seven successful rides Sunday afternoon after just four over the previous two days, including an 84 by Bryan Barker of Caldwell, Idaho, but Nordahl’s on Quik Way proved to be the difference.

“He just jumped out there and turned back to the right,” said Nordahl. “It felt like my bull was kicking and had a lot of action. The kick creates more degree of difficulty.”

The tight spin also allowed Nordahl to spur, which is not a requirement for bull riding but helps the score.

“That’s something I told myself (as a rookie) I would spur my bull every time,” he said. “As soon as the animal starts, I start my spurs or I’m in trouble. Maybe I spur too much, but if I have a chance to spur a bull, I’ll spur.”

Longevity and luck also played a big role in the 37-year-old cowboy’s successful run in steer wrestling.

He came to Spokane without a horse, hoping someone he knew would be competing so he could borrow a mount. Checking in the rodeo office, he found out Les Patterson of Pasco had brought his horse.

The grandfatherly Patterson had provided rides for Nordahl in the past, but the last time was about nine years ago.

As he was giving Nordahl an address where he could send Patterson’s 25 percent share of the winnings, Patterson told him the secret. While Nordahl walked down the arena to the timed-events chute, Patterson sent his horse into the arena through the middle gate while other competitors went through the side gate.

“Some horses are going to leave the chute and go to the gate they come in,” Nordahl explained. “If he wants to go through the middle gate, he’s going to run straight. Some horses don’t care.”

Hull suspected he had a chance to place because the calf he drew had provided paychecks at two rodeos.

“He ran good and straight. He didn’t run too hard and he was pretty gentle on the ground,” Hall, 23, said.

Knowing he had a calf he could cash in on, Hall said the key is, “Just kind of try to slow down and not beat yourself. Good calves let you win.”

The draw was important because, with 3 feet of snow still on the ground in Ellensburg, he had just two practice rounds this week.

“A lot can happen, especially during the winter when guys aren’t practicing as much,” he said.

All the other winners came out of Saturday night’s performance.

Saddle bronc rider Todd McKay of Fossil, Ore., picked up $1,109.68 after his record ride of 79 aboard Canday Cane. Joe Ketter of Roy, Wash., who matched the bareback record of 80 on Rawhide, earned $1,078.64. Oregon team ropers Brent Palmer and Curtis Pederson picked up $679 each for their 7.3-second run. Steve Currin, of Heppner, Ore., received $1,153.33 for his 4.3 steer wrestling run.

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