Corey Rides For The Record Kennewick Bareback Ace Stays On For An Arena-Best 82-Point Score

Clint Corey isn’t getting older, just better.

Now 36, the Kennewick cowboy picks his spots and is just as successful as when he tried to ride everything he spotted.

Corey kicked off the first performance of the General Store Wrangler Prorodeo Classic at the Arena Friday night with an 82-point bareback ride, a record for the 6-year-old rodeo.

“If a horse will turn out of the chute and kick real well,” Corey said, “I have a pretty good idea. The timing of the horse (is the key).”

Corey and his ride, Dilligent, were in perfect time and it seemed as if he could have ridden all night.

The previous Arena record was an 80 and the second-best score Friday night was a 72 by Colbert veterinarian Jed McKinlay on Scout.

Corey’s ride in the first event quickly got the crowd of 5,155 into the rodeo. They were rewarded with a strong section of steer wrestling, led by a 4.3-second run by C.J. Fleishman of Lewiston, and bull riding, with nine of 14 cowboys scoring, topped by an 81 on Skoal Long by Gregory Whitlow of Water Valley, Alberta.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event continues with a performance at 8 tonight and concludes with a 2:30 show Sunday afternoon.

Corey was all smiles after his only ride in Spokane.

“That’s a nice warm-up for Denver,” he said, referring to his next rodeo, which comes tonight.

Of course, every horse he gets on is a good warm-up for his next ride.

In December, the 1991 world champion was second in the ten-round average at his 13th National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, which placed him third in the year-end standings. Then he clinched a ninth straight Columbia River Circuit championship at the finals in Yakima.

His theory is quality, not quantity, though his goal remains the same - make the NFR and go for a championship.

“Last year I went to 65 or 70 rodeos instead of my usual 85 to 90,” he said. “I enter most all the big rodeos, the good rodeos, and hope for a good draw. I’m at the point in my career I have to work out. It takes more time, but I feel stronger and I’m able to go when I want. That’s kind of a plus. I can pick and chose.”

Though he wants to spend more time on the ranch with his family, he has no plan to hang up his spurs.

“I love riding bucking horses,” he said. “When I started, the money wasn’t an object, just a plus. It’s still the same.”

After Denver, Corey will hit major indoor rodeos in San Antonio, Houston, Tucson, El Paso and Jackson, Miss., then wait for the big outdoor rodeos, which start in June.

“I’ll feel comfortable with $10,000 or above,” he said. “Anything less and I might have to kick in a few more.”

He will stay close to home, entering about 32 of the 42 circuit rodeos.

He appreciates the warm receptions he receives at the circuit rodeos such as Spokane.

“It’s nice to go and be appreciated for my accomplishments,” he said. “And I like winning. I know someday I won’t be able to go, I’ll be up in the stands with everybody else.”

Steer wrestler Tyler Woodland of Weiser, Idaho, set a record with a 3.2 run in slack after the performance. Slack is the session that handles the overflow of entrants. There were 15 steer wrestlers and seven calf ropers, including leader Seth Hooper with a 9.9, in slack. Nine-time Canadian champion Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alberta, leads in saddle bronc riding with a 77 on Downtown Cophenhagen.

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