By Mike Maltais
The 43rd annual Methow Valley Memorial Day Rodeo drew contestants from points as far away as Oregon, Idaho and Montana last Saturday and Sunday (May 24 – 25), but it was bronc and bull rider Aaron Hammer of Twisp who won Sunday’s ranch saddle bronc event.
“I drew a good horse,” Hammer said of his Sunday mount that helped him to his winning 81-point score.
He rode his bronc on Saturday but finished out of the money and didn’t make it to the whistle on his bull.
A 2007 graduate of Liberty Bell High School, Hammer has been on the Professional Rodeo Cowboy (PRC) circuit since he was 19. He competed at Coulee City the day before the Methow rodeo and was back to compete at Grand Coulee Saturday afternoon. Next weekend Hammer will ride bulls at Tonasket.
Following a lighter Saturday attendance, a near-record crowd turned out Sunday, said Methow Valley Rodeo president Dennis Gardner. And the number of rough stock riders was up this year as well.
“It was almost a little overwhelming,” Gardner said of the roster of riders who showed up for the $5,000 added prize money.
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Saturday results
Ranch saddle bronc:
Steve Gillen, 77, Prineville, OR
Dustin Hennigs, 72, Tonasket
Pistol Pearce, 69, Kennewick
Lou Kness, 67, Pendleton, OR
Travis Yutzie, 67, Ione, OR
David Gordon, 67, Pilot Rock, OR
Saddle bronc:
Francis Marchand, 72, Omak
Bulls:
Shawn Best Jr., 77, Omak
Francis Marchand, 72
Jr. bulls:
Mason Payne, 68, Ford
Chase Nigg, 67, Chesaw
Tyson Sundust, 64
Barrels:
Phyllis White, 17.93, Omak
Chris Vick, 17.97, Selah
Kylee Schwartz, 18.50, Stanwood
Catherine Bishop, 18.66, Idaho
Mallory Bridgman, 18.82, Bow
Jr. poles:
Jadyn Mitchell, 1st
Kyler Mitchell, 2nd
Jr. barrels:
Kyler Mitchell, 8 yrs & under, 1st
McKayla Spradlin, 9 to 14 yrs, 1st
Jadyn Mitchell, 2nd
Autumn Frye, 15 to 18 yrs., 1st
Taylor Isaacson, 2nd
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Sunday results
Ranch saddle bronc:
Aaron Hammer, 81, Twisp
Wade Kane, 72, Ellensburg
Travis Yutzie, 70, Ione, OR
Miles Binger, 69, Billings, MT
Dustin Hennigs, 68, Tonasket
Saddle bronc:
Francis Marchand, 66
Wyatt Grant, 62
Bulls:
Bulls won, 14 – 0
Jr. bulls:
Chase Nigg
Barrels:
Riata Marchant, 17.65, Omak
Lindsay Tonkyn, 17.91, Lyman
Chris Vick, 17.97, Selah
Morgan Busby, 18.13, Arlington
Shawna Beeman, 18.28, Omak
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G A L L E R Y
