Mike Solberg competes on Friday night in the bareback riding competition during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo a Cortez classic
A large crowd packed the stands Friday night to enjoy the variety of events and fun atmosphere at the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo in Cortez.
A record 354 contestants signed up to compete in the three-night professional rodeo event, held at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.
Rock and country music blasted through the summer air as contestants competed in bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing and a crowd favorite — bull riding.
Staying on a raging bull as it bucks and twists for the required 8 seconds was elusive for most riders Friday. Only cowboys Corye Daily, of Dublin Texas, and JaCauy Hale, of Ganado, Arizona, rode the 8 seconds needed to earn a score.
Chisum Docheff competes on Friday night in the steer wrestling competition during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Going into Saturday, the bull riding standings had JC Mortensen, of Paulden, Arizona, holding onto the lead with his score of 89 set Thursday night — a Ute Mountain Rodeo arena record.
Daniel Labright, of Divide, Colorado, was in second with a score of 82, and Corye Daily in third place with a score of 79.5.
Chenae Vest competes on Friday night in the barrel racing during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Bareback Bronc Riding
Jade Taton, 82.5 points
Spur Lacasse, 82 points
Logan Patterson, 81.5 points
Evan Betony, 80.5 points
Steer Wrestling
Zack Jongbloed, 4.2 seconds
Bill Claunch, 5.0 seconds
Austin Eller, 5.2 seconds
Josh Frost, 5.7 seconds
Tie-Down Roping
Garrett Jacobs, 9.6 seconds
Josh Jennings, 9.6 seconds
Marvin Tarverez Jr., 12.3 seconds
Zack Jongbloed, 12.3 seconds
Monty James, 12.3 seconds
Saddle Bronc Riding
Reed Neely, 78 points
Kolby Kittson, 74.5 points
Josh Davison, 74.5 points
Jade Taton, 69.5 points
Breakaway Roping
Lakota Bird, 2.8 seconds
Bailey Bates, 2.8 seconds
Teri James, 3.7 seconds
Bethanie Shofner, 3.8 seconds
Team Roping
Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 4.4 seconds
Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 4.8 seconds
Wyatt Lacey/Tye Reddell, 6.0 seconds
Josh Siggins/Kolt Campbell, 6.6 seconds
Barrel Racing
Molly Otto, 17.26 seconds
Leia Plummer, 17.54 seconds
Shali Lord, 17.56 seconds
Cheyenne Hattesen, 17.65 seconds
Bull Riding
JC Mortensen, 89 Points
Daniel Lambright, 82 points
Corye Daily, 79.5 points
JaCauy Hale, 70 points
In women’s barrel racing, Molly Otto, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, also set a new Ute Mountain Rodeo record, sprinting to a finish in 17.2 seconds.
Going into Saturday, Otto held the overall lead in the event. Leia Plummer, of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, is in second place with 17.54 seconds, and Shali Lord 17.56 seconds.
Before the event, contestants enjoyed Montezuma County hospitality, relaxed in the chow tent, and were in good spirits. A few took the time to speak with The Journal about their events and jobs.
Professional bull rider Jess Davison, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, competes in 60-75 rodeos per year, and enjoys the Cortez event.
For him rodeo “is a way of life, an adrenaline rush.” At age 26, Davison has ridden professionally for eight years, and plans to keep up the sport while he is still young.
He held on for 5 seconds Friday before being thrown off. The challenge and “enjoyment of “conquering the beast” keeps him motivated.
He’s got the scars from previous battles with the bulls including broken rib, forearm, and scapula, torn knee tendons, and a few concussions.
“Bull riders have a high pain tolerance,” he says matter-of-factly.
The traveling and the crowds are also nice perks, Davison said.
“Bull riding is great entertainment for the crowd, it is something not many people can do,” he said. “When they are out there cheering, it is a whole lot of fun for us.”
Mike Solberg competes on Friday night in the bareback riding competition during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Bull fighter Zach Dezol, of Elbert Colorado, was there to help keep bull riders safe after they get bucked off and are scrambling away from the animals that weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds.
During the ride, two bullfighters on foot distract the bull and lead it away from the rider. They actually reach in and raise the head of the bull in the midst of the violent bucking so it does not see the rider on the ground.
Meaner bulls will try and go for the fallen rider, Dezol said.
“It is our job to get the bull to follow us, and not the rider,” he said. “Sometimes the ones with attitudes will go after us too.”
Dezol has been a bullfighter for eight years, and was previously a bull rider. The people of the rodeo and excitement of the event have him hooked.
“It’s an adrenaline rush. What I love is that as bullfighters we work 15 or more bull rides in a night, whereas the bull riders are done in 8 seconds or less,” Dezol said.
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Ute Mountain rodeo entertains Friday night crowd - The Journal
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