Gray comes up big in Reno

Just in time for “Cowboy Christmas”, the busy Fourth of July portion of the PRCA schedule, Cheney cowboy Ryan Gray got a big momentum boost.

 The bareback rider who entered the weekend 31st in the standings with just shy of $12,000, won more than $7,700 at the Reno Rodeo. He scored an 87 on Spotted Mountain of the Big Bend Rodeo Co., Saturday night to win the final go-round. That moved him into a tie with defending world champion Kaycee Feild in the average at 249 for three rides. Gray also tied for third in the second-go round with an 82.

 Spotted Mountain wasn’t the only horse from the Big Bend chain, owned by Don Hutsell of Ritzville and Sonny Riley of Pomeroy, to come up big in Reno. Saddle bronc rider Brady Harter won the finals with an 88 on Kool Toddy.

 Flying Five Rodeo Company, also owned by Hutsell and Riley, produced two winners. Cody DeMoss, who topped the saddle bronc average, won the second round on Spring Blues, and bareback rider Wes Stevenson tied for first in the first go-round of the nine-day rodeo on Crooked Sky.