Bareback Rider Sandvick Records Win On Motown

Larry Sandvick has been a slow starter in his four previous opening nights of the National Finals Rodeo.

After drawing a horse named Motown, it didn’t seem the Kaycee, Wyo., bareback rider was going to buck that trend Friday in the first go-round of the $3.4 million National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The only other time Sandvick had attempted to ride Motown, the horse smashed the rider’s leg against the chute.

This time, Sandvick stayed on Motown and scored an 82 for first place in the go-round.

“He jumped and he bucked,” Sandvick said. “That’s kinda what you want them to do. It’s pretty simple. The higher they jump and the harder they kick, the better the ride. It looks difficult but it really isn’t.”

The win pulled Sandvick within $7,449 of first-place Denny McClanahan of Canadian, Texas, in the world standings. McClanahan didn’t place.

Jeff Collins of Wister, Okla., was second in the go-round with an 80. Lance Crump of Cooper, Texas, and Mark Gomes of Hutchinson, Kan., tied for third with 79s.

In saddle bronc riding, Tom Reeves of Eagle Butte, S.D., scored an 81 to win the go-round. Dan Mortensen of Manhattan, Mont., tied for second with Robert Etbauer of Goodwell, Okla., with an 81. Mortensen leads the world standings in saddle broncs as well as the all-around.

Scott Breding of Edgar, Mont., won the bull riding with an 88 on Short Fuse. Mike White of Lake Charles, La., and Scott Mendes of Weatherford, Texas, tied for second, with 86s.

In steer wrestling, Rope Myers of Van, Texas, recorded a 3.7-second run for first place in the go-round. Ivan Tiegen of Camp Crook, S.D., was second with a 3.8 run and Lee Graves of Calgary, Alberta, was third at 4.1.

Speed Williams and Rich Skelton, both of Llano, Texas, won the team roping go-round with a 4.1 second run. Steve Purcella of Hereford, Texas, and Steve Northcutt of Odessa, Texas, were second at 4.8 seconds and Matt Tyler of Corsicana, Texas, and Mike Beers of Powell Butte, Ore., were third at 5.4.

In calf roping, Cody Ohl of Orchard, Texas, and Jeff Chapman of Athens, Texas, tied for first in the go-round with 7.9-second runs. Ricky Hyde of Conway, Texas, was third at 8.5.

Nina Binder of Eagle Point, Ore., won the go-round in barrel racing with a 14.36 second run.

Kristie Peterson of Elbert, Colo., was second at 14.47 seconds and Sherry Cervi of Midland, Texas, was third at 14.49 seconds.