Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Goodrich, Erickson hits at Spokane Interstate Fair Rodeo

The speed that news travels proved to be very lucrative for a pair of cowboys as the Spokane Interstate Fair PRCA rodeo concluded Saturday night.

For Brad Goodrich it was what he knew and for Chase Erickson it was what he didn’t know that made the difference.

Goodrich, from Hermiston, Ore., had the fast time of the night to finish second in tie-down roping while Erickson, from Helena, won the bareback riding with an 84-point ride on Lucky.

“I never heard of that horse so I had no idea,” Erickson said. “I came out here on a whim, but I knew on the first jump I had something.”

What he had was a $1,147.41 paycheck.

“When I hadn’t heard about that horse, there shouldn’t be anything bad,” Erickson said. “By bad, I mean strong, an eliminating horse that it’s hard to win on. So when I hadn’t heard anything bad, I thought he must be OK. Bad news travels faster than good news. Those kind of horses get a reputation quick.”

The big check also sent Erickson to the top of the Montana Circuit standings.

Goodrich took the opposite tact.

He knew he was roping for second because Cody Ohl, a five-time world champion out of Texas, went 7.8 seconds Friday night. Turns out Goodrich drew the same calf and with a quick phone call was all set.

“Information is key,” said Goodrich, a six-time NFR qualifier and nine-time Columbia River Circuit champion. “With cell phones, we all call to see what our calves did last night so we can make a better plan. Last night the guys had to go cold turkey.”

Ohl picked up $1,838.96. Goodrich went 9.1 seconds to tie Roger Nonella of Klamath Falls, Ore., and win $1,363.37 and wasn’t complaining.

Local calf roper Tyson Durfey decided not to travel from Puyallup, which is a Justin Boots playoff rodeo, after having two great runs on Friday, which put him into today’s final for a much bigger paycheck. He leads the average after placing third in both go-rounds.

There were some other impressive times.

Shawn and Shane Bessette of Vaughn, Mont., led the team ropers with a 4.9, picking up $1,618.56 each. They capped a string of four straight pairs to equal or better the previous leading 5.5. After that, teams pressed and three quick times of 4.6, 5.1 and 15.4 paid the price of a 10-second penalty for breaking the barrier.

Danna Stovner of Counsil, Idaho, won the barrel racing with a 17.33. The payoffs weren’t announced because the event ran late.

There was no change in saddle bronc riding or bull riding. Tyrell Smith of Great Falls won the broncs and $1,561.23 with an 80 on Old Crow. Cody Brixey of Nampa, Idaho, topped the bull riders with an 80. The payoff was $1504.60.