Published: May 02, 2008 05:57 pm            

BRETT HOFFMAN: Bell puts on a show at local PRCA event

Former National Finals Rodeo qualifier Joey Bell Jr., of Athens, won the steer wrestling title with a blistering time of 3.9 seconds and earned $912 at the April 25-26 Elder Dodge Henderson County PRCA Stampede in Athens.

Bell has qualfied for the National Finals Rodeo four times. Last year, he finished 14th in the steer wrestling world title race after earning $81,762.

Other champions and their times or scores were: Dustin Murray, bareback riding, 80, $714; Marty Eakin,saddle bronc riding, 82, $654; Bud Ford, tie-down roping 7.8 seconds, $1,102; Savanah Koeing, barrel racing 16.29 seconds, $771; Jay Morrow, bull riding 86 points, $897.

The team roping concluded with a tie between Caleb Mitchell/Boogie Ray and Shane Durbin/Tommy Zuniga. Each team turned in a time of 4.4 seconds and each roper earned $881.

The Henderson County Stampede was sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the prize money that contestants earned counted toward qualifying for the December National Finals Las Vegas. Sammy Andrews, who owned the late world champion bucking bull Bodacious, supplied the stock.

Class of 2008

Tom Reeves, the 2001 world champion saddle bronc rider who coached Ranger College’s men to a national college championship last year, will be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 12.

The other inductees are all-around cowboy Paul Tierney team roper Bobby Hurley, the late steer roper Shaun Burchett, the late stock contractor Feek Tooke, the late saddle bronc Trails End, contract act performers Leon and Vicki Adams, bull rider/judge Duane Howard and the late rodeo judge Buddy Lytle.

The hall also opted to induct 16 PRCA rodeo committees and the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo was among four Texas shows that will be honored. The others are in San Antonio, Houston and Pecos.

PBR update

Brazilian Adriano Moraes, a former Keller resident who lives near Tyler, earned $23,740 after sharing the title at the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tour stop last weekend in Rosemont, Ill. Moraes, a three-time world champion, announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of the 2008 season. He is scheduled to compete at the San Antonio tour stop in May 17 and in Dallas on Jan. 21-22.

A PBR Discovery Tour show is scheduled for May 17 in Palestine. While the Discovery Tour is a lower-level tier, fans can expect to see some up-and-coming stars who are working their way onto the Built Ford Tough Series Tickets for the Boston Porter Memorial can be charged by phone by calling 713-906-3263. Tickets are priced at $15.

Brett Hoffman is a 20-year rodeo columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. He can be reached at brett@myrodeoinsider.com.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.