Gray trio will be right at home
No matter what Mother Nature offers this weekend, it’s going to be Gray in Cheney.
The Gray brothers – Ryan, Corey and Kayle – are all entered in the 38th annual Cheney Rodeo, the largest rodeo in Spokane County.
Ryan is the headliner among the former Cheney High School wrestling trio, currently sitting second in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association standings in bareback riding.
With a solid Fourth of July, Gray has more than $52,000, putting him in a good position to make his first National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.
He helps get the rodeo off to a good start, competing Friday in the three-day PRCA event.
The Friday and Saturday performances start at 8 p.m., and Sunday’s matinee starts at 2.
Corey and Kayle ride Sunday, Corey in bareback and bull riding, Kayle in saddle bronc.
The defending champions are back in six of the seven events, which mostly feature the best cowboys and cowgirls in Columbia River Circuit.
Ryan Gray was second to Tyler Barnes last year. Barnes, from Prineville, Ore., is up on Sunday. That is also the day former world champion Bobby Mote of Redmond, Ore., is entered.
Tie-down calf roping champ Shane Erickson of Terrebonne, Ore., competes Friday.
Jared McFarlane of Adrian, Ore., won the saddle bronc title a year ago. He is up Saturday along with Josh Bruce of Jordan Valley, Ore., and Patrick Woodcock of St. Anthony, Idaho, who took the team roping title.
Another top team on Saturday is Jake Stanley of Hermiston, Ore., and B.J. Campbell of Benton City, Wash. Stanley is 14th in the PRCA standings for headers and Campbell is eighth among heelers.
Sunday’s lineup includes defending champions in bull riding (Haydn Reece, Prineville) and barrel racing (Cindy Woods, Sherwood, Ore.,)
Big Bend Rodeo Co. of Ritzville is providing the stock.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $14 at the gate with advanced reserved seats $15 and children 7-12 $6.
There is a dance after the Friday and Saturday night performances and a parade at 11:30 Saturday morning.