Rapid City, S.D.; Feb. 5, 2010 --- Rapid City’s own Nick Guy, now living in Sparta, Wis., was on fire in steer wrestling at the Black Hills Stock Show on Friday.

He posted a 3.5-second run to go to the lead in the first round Friday afternoon, then stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds that evening to take the lead in the average by a full half-second. Meanwhile, five-time Linderman Award winner Kyle Whitaker’s 3.6-second run moved him to second place in the second round and second in the average.

Fans in Rapid City Friday night were also treated to a world-class performance of saddle bronc riding that included – count ’em – three former world champions.

Edging out 2006 gold-buckle holder Chad Ferley and 2008 champ Cody Wright, 28-year-old Jeff Willert came out on top with an 80-point ride aboard Sutton Rodeo’s Firefly to move to third with two performances remaining.

Willert, 28, lives just 100 miles from Rapid City in tiny Belvidere and is “cowboy tough,” enough to have won the 2005 world championship just two years after losing the sight in his left eye when a bronc kicked him.

Also Friday night, NFR bronc rider Chet Johnson was stepped on by his bronc after dismounting at the fence and suffered a concussion, along with incurring four stitches near his right eye. Justin SportsMedicine personnel will keep an eye on Johnson’s recovery.

In team roping, Jesse Sheffield of South Weber, Utah, and Wes Miller of Big Piney, Wyo., put together runs of 5.0 and 5.9 seconds to move to second in the average standings of their event. They’re also placing third in the first round.

During the matinee performance of barrel racing, South Dakota’s own Melissa Bachand moved into third in the first round and third in the average. Friday night, Britany Fleck and local favorite, NFR barrel racer Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, moved into fourth and fifth, respectively, in the second round.

The two qualified rides in the bull riding Friday night, by Clayton Williams and Thad Newell, also claimed the top two spots in the rodeo thus far.

All timed-event contestants in Rapid City compete in two long rounds, with roughstock riders competing just once. The fourth performance begins at 1 p.m. Friday, followed by a 7 p.m. performance and matinee and evening performances again on Saturday.

 RAPID CITY, S.D., Feb. 5, 2010 --- Following are results from the second (matinee) performance of the Black Hills Stock Show.

Bareback Riding:  1, Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, 81 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Wyatt Earp. 2, Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 80. 3 (tie), Dustin Reeves, Owanka, S.D., and Evan Jayne, Marseille, France, 78 points each. 5, Cleve Schmidt, Piedmont, S.D., 76.

 Tie-Down Roping:  1, Jesse Sheffield, Austin, Colo., 10.0  seconds. 2, Doug Pharr, Cuero, Texas, 12.4. 3, Jason Thorstenson, Rapid City, S.D., 12.6. 4, Jake Hamilton, Casper, Wyo., 14.0. 5, Scott White, Oelrichs, S.D., 18.1

 Saddle Bronc Riding:  1, Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D., 76 points on Burch Rodeo’s Bar Dancer. 2, Ty Manke, Rapid City, S.D., 75. 3, Shane Moran, Roundup, Mont., 72. 4, Kane Gjermundson, Marshall, N.D., 70. 5, Tyrel Larsen, Goodwell, Okla., 66.

 Steer Wrestling:  1, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 3.5 seconds. 2, Garrett Nokes, McCook, Neb., 3.7. 3, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 4.2. 4, Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 5.4. 5, Nik Hamm, Watertown, S.D., 5.8.

 Team Roping:  1, Jesse Sheffield, Austin, Colo., and Wes Miller, Big Piney, Wyo., 5.0 seconds. 2, Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo., and Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas, 9.7. 3, Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore., and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 15.5.

 Barrel Racing:  1, Melissa Bachand, Spearfish, S.D., 12.59. 2, Caren Lamb, Fort Sumner, N.M., 12.61. 3, Pam Rolph, Camp Crook, S.D., 12.82. 4, Melinda Mattson, Deadwood, S.D., 12.98.

 Bull Riding :  1, Cody Hodges, Omaha, Texas, 72 points on Burch Rodeo’s White Legs. 2, Joe Smith, Sheridan, Wyo., 71. 3, Will Wakley, Malad, Idaho, 69. 4, Taryl Smith, Litchville, N.D., 67.

 RAPID CITY, S.D., Feb. 5, 2010 --- Following are results from the third (evening) performance of the Black Hills Stock Show.

 Bareback Riding:  1, Bryan Jones, Elko, Nev., 83 points on Burch Rodeo’s Angel Dust. 2, Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 77. 3, Karlon Knudson, Arvada, Wyo., 75. 4, Logan Hodson, Telkwa, British Columbia, 73. 5, Donald Miller, Raleigh, N.D., 71.

 Tie-Down Roping:  1, Jake Hamilton, Casper, Wyo., 9.2 seconds. 2, Scott White, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.9. 3, Doug Pharr, Cuero, Texas, 17.7. 4, Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 18.8. 5, Shank Edwards, Roswell, N.M., 18.9.

 Saddle Bronc Riding:  1, Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., 80 points. 2, Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 79. 3, Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 78. 4, Jay Olson, Whitewood, S.D., 77. 5, Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 75. 6, Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 74.

 Steer Wrestling:  1, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 3.6. 2, Jeff Johnston, Seneca, Neb., 3.7. 3, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 3.9. 4, Kelsey Anderson, Kettle Falls, Wash., 4.0. 5, Erik Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., 4.3.

 Team Roping:  1, Jeff Johnston, Seneca, Neb., and Quincy Opela, Stapleton, Neb., 5.5 seconds. 2, Scott White, Oelrichs, S.D., and Rory Brown, Edgemont, S.D., 5.6. 3, Jesse Sheffield, Austin, Colo., and Wes Miller, Big Piney, Wyo., 5.9 seconds. 4, Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo., and Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas, 9.7. 5, Steve Brandt, Stephenville, Texas, and Blake Stocker, Grandview, Texas, 10.2

 Barrel Racing:  1, Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 12.50 seconds. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 12.56. 3, Brenda Rechtenbaugh, Colton, S.D., 12.67. 4, Laura McPherson, Wolf Point, Mont., 12.82. 5, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 12.86.

 Bull Riding:  1, Clayton Williams, 75 points on Dakota Rodeo Company’s Override. 2, Thad Newell, Muskogee, Okla., 72.

 RAPID CITY, S.D., Feb. 4, 2010 --- The following are leaders in each event at the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo as of Feb. 5, 2010. Roughstock contestants earn the championship based on their one ride, while timed-event champions are determined based on their aggregate time over two long rounds.

 Bareback Riding:  1, Kaycee Field, Payson, Utah, 87 points on Southwick Rodeo’s Hard Times. 2, Bryan Jones, Elko, Nev., 83. 3, Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, 81. 4 (tie), Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., and Jared Smith, Williston, Fla., 80 points each.

 Tie-Down Roping:  (First Round):  1, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 8.6 seconds. 2 (tie), Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., and Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., 8.7 seconds each. 4, Justin Scofield, St. Lawrence, S.D., 9.4. 5, Grady Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 9.6. 6, Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash., 9.8.  (Second Round):  1/2 (tie), Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., and Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., 8.4 seconds each. 3/4 (tie), Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 8.8 each. 5/6/7 (tie), Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash.; Skyler Moore, Mt. Vernon, Mo.; and Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.1 each. (Average):  1, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 18.3 seconds on two head. 2, Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash., 18.9. 3, Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah, 19.1. 4, Grady Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 20.5. 5, Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 21.3. 6, Rhett Ridling, Rocky, Okla., 21.4.

 Saddle Bronc Riding:  1 (tie), Cody Martin, Eagle, Colo., and Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 81 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Ruby and Burch Rodeo Company’s Sand To Stone, respectively. 3, Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., 80. 4 (tie), Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, and Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 79 each. 6, Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., 78.  

 Steer Wrestling:  (First Round):  1, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 3.5 seconds. 2 (tie), Ivan Teigen, Camp Crook, S.D., and Linn Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 3.6. 4 (tie), Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., Garret Nokes, McCook, Neb., Garrett Clarkson, Ludlow, S.D., and Todd Woodward, Lethbridge, Alberta, 3.7 each.  (Second Round):  1, Colt Floyd, Buffalo, S.D., 3.5 seconds. 2 (tie), Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., Hank Hollenbeck, Billings, Mont., and Travis Carnine, Moro, Ore., 3.6 each. 5 (tie), Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., Jeff Johnston, Seneca, Neb., and Preston Oyloe, Williston, N.D., 3.7.  (Average):  1, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 7.4 seconds. 2, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 7.8. 3 (tie), Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., Ivan Teigen, Camp Crook, S.D., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 7.9 seconds each. 6, Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 8.6.

 Team Roping:  (First Round): 1, Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 4.4 seconds. 2, Joel Bach, Millsap, Texas, and Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas, 4.8. 3, Jesse Sheffield, Austin, Colo., and Wes Miller, Big Piney, Wyo., 5.0. 4 (tie), Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., and Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan., and Brandon Bates, Temecula, Calif., 5.1 seconds each. 6, (tie), Shane Philipp, Washington, Texas, and Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., and Cody Graham, Everton, Mo., and Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 5.3 seconds each.  (Second Round):  1 (tie) Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla., and Kollin VanOhn, Durant, Okla., and Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., and Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D., 4.3 seconds each. 3, Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Monty Joe Petska, Turlock, Calif., 4.4. 4, Brandon Farris, Pocasset, Okla., and Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., 4.8. 5, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Caleb Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.0. 6, Jake Weddle, St. Joe, Ark., and Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 5.1. (Average):  1, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla.,10.3 seconds on two head. 2, Jesse Sheffield, South Weber, Utah, and Wes Miller, Big Piney, Wyo., 10.9. 3, Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 12.4. 4 (tie), Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan., and Brandon Bates, Temecula, Calif., and Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., and Terry Selland, Berthoud, Colo., 15.4 seconds each. 6, Tommy Edens, Gatesville, Texas, and Justin Hendrick, Rosenberg, Texas, 16.1.

 Barrel Racing:  (First Round):  1, Tammy Whyte, Eau Claire, Wis., 12.46 seconds. 2, Melissa Bachand, Spearfish, S.D., 12.70; 3 (tie), Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., and Jessica Holmes, Rapid City, S.D., 12.79 seconds each. 5, June Holeman, Arcadia, Neb., 12.81. 6, Pam Rolph, Camp Crook, S.D., 12.83.  (Second Round):  1, Tammy Whyte, Eau Claire, Wis., 12.30 seconds; 2, June Holeman, Arcadia, Neb., 12.42; 3, Rachel Reichenberg, Hershey, Neb., 12.46. 4, Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 12.50. 5, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 12.56. 6 (tie), Rachel Teideman, Rio, Wis., and Annie Novotny, Billings, Mont., 12.57 seconds each.  (Average): 1, Tammy Whyte, Eau Claire, Wis., 24.76 seconds on two runs; 2, June Holeman, Arcadia, Neb., 25.23; 3, Melissa Bachand, Spearfish, S.D., 25.29. 4, Rachael Tiedeman, Rio, Wis., 25.41. 5, Brenda Rechtenbaugh, Colton, S.D., 25.60. 6, Annie Novotny, Billings, Mont., 25.64.

 Bull Riding:  1, Clayton Williams, 75 points on Dakota Rodeo Company’s Override. 2 (tie), Thad Newell, Muskogee, Okla., and Cody Hodges, Omaha, Texas, 72. 4, Joe Smith, Sheridan, Wyo., 71. 5, Will Wakley, Malad, Idaho, 69. 6, Taryl Smith, Litchville, N.D., 67.