Beaver Keeps Title

Two quick ties in the final two rounds of the National Finals Rodeo helped Joe Beaver jump two positions and win his second straight All-Around championship.

“I’m tickled to death,” said Beaver, who won the calf roping go-round Sunday in the Thomas & Mack Center to pass both Roy Cooper and Herbert Theriot for the title.

There was little suspense, unlike last year when Beaver clinched the tile after the eighth go-round.

Beaver won $78,770 at the NFR to raise his season earnings to $166,103.

Fred Whitfield, of Hockley, Texas, won the world calf roping title with $155,336. In bull riding, Terry West won with $125,424. Billy Etbauer, of Edmond, Okla., won the saddle bronc title with $190,256, breaking his own record for season earnings.

In bareback riding, Mark Garrett, of Spearfish, S.D., won the championship with $139,867. Chad Bedell, of Jensen, Utah, won the steer wrestling title with $120,783. In team roping, Steve Purcella, of Hereford, Texas, and Steve Northcott, of Odessa, Texas, won with $91,039 each. Kristie Peterson, of Elbert, Colo., won the barrel racing championship with $170,082.