AQHA - TEAM WRANGLER SHOWDOWN

SPECIAL NOTE:
2008 AQHA WORLD SHOW TENTATIVE DATES!
NOVEMBER 8-22, 2008 (dates tentative)

Read below for a special recap of this past year's world show.

TEAM WRANGLER SHOWDOWN

FOURTH CHALLENGE - BREAKAWAY ROPING

BY LARRI JO STARKEY, COPY EDITOR

Jason Martin swings his loop with
determination on Mr Talented Doc.

Holding a rope and a horse at the same time proved more difficult for Team Wrangler members participating in the breakaway roping.

First out of the box was trail specialist John Briggs riding Mr Native Eagle for Team Cowboy Cut. Swinging his loop, he chased his calf in circles around the arena, eventually missing his catch. The rules allowed for a second loop, so Briggs rebuilt and began chasing his calf again. His second toss actually looped his calf's neck. Briggs might have been surprised at his feat, because he almost forgot to stop his horse.

Briggs' time of just more than 16 seconds would hold up through the run of Joni Nelson, riding for Team 20X, who was said to have received nonhelpful, pithy advice in the alley before commencing her ride on Skip Light Leeroy. After two missed throws, Joni got a no-time.

Third in the draw was Charlie Cole, piloting Mr Talented Doc for Team 20X. He backed into the box, nodded and smoked his calf in 3.356 seconds before waving his hat in the air and blazing the gray horse around the arena. His celebratory maneuver, while not traditional in breakaway roping, was popular with the audience.

Sandy Vaughn rode Maxes Bar Five for Team Cowboy Cut. Her first miss was followed by her second miss.

Tony Burris lost his hat for Team Riata while chasing his calf with his first loop. He might have been distracted from rebuilding his second loop when announcer Clark Scoggin urged him to "lope with forward motion," because the second loop was no good, either.

Jason Martin also lost his hat for Team Riata, swinging his rope with determination, eventually sliding the loop off the calf twice on Mr Talented Doc.

After the dust settled, Team 20X claimed the Team Wrangler Showdown title for 2007.

THIRD CHALLENGE - WESTERN RIDING

BY LARRI JO STARKEY, COPY EDITOR

Lainie DeBoer twirls padding in the
air to garner crowd votes.

For the third challenge, Team Wrangler members would need skill, timing and strategy. Maybe some luck.

Halter exhibitor Chris Arentsen, riding for Team Riata, piloted Super Kat Man around the cones as "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" played, a homage to the blonde ponytail Chris had attached to his hat. Chris led off with a 218, though the judges were disappointed with his lack of spangles on his shirt.

Doug Leasor followed, also for Team Riata, on Howdy Doody Cutie, who took exception to some of Doug's cues and attempted to leave the arena. Judges Jackie Krshka, Bennie Sargent and Jet Thompson were fair but harsh, pointing out that they had to take a couple of penalties but admired Doug for being able to slow down from his usual speed events. He scored a 163.

The speedy Lance Graves followed on Chip Van Winkle, scoring a 213.5 for Team Cowboy Cut, followed by David Johnting for Team 20X on Show Diva, who broke to a trot in the pattern, dropping Johnting's score to 215.

Ted Turner walked in quietly for Team 20X, wearing blue instead of his signature orange. Majestic Scotch tried to evade the log, but Turner applied leg and sent the gelding forward. The laconic Turner, aptly described as "the straight man" in the introductions, answered the judges' questions with shakes and nods of his head, seguing into an extremely expressive tip of the hat. He was awarded a 215 for his effort.

Lainie DeBoer, riding Harley D Zip for Team Cowboy Cut, achieved some spectacular kick-outs from the athletic gelding but not enough lead changes for a complete pattern. At the end of her run, she pulled some large bills from her sparkling shirt to offer the judges. Fortunately, Two Bits intervened before the money exchange could take place. DeBoer then pulled some pieces of padding from beneath her shirt and whirled them in the air to show the judges the lengths she had been willing to go to for her performance.

Her theatrics were in vain, however, because the crowd ultimately crowned Turner the favorite and the judges gave her only a 175, good enough for fifth place.

After three events, the standings are Team 20X, 22 points; Team Riata, 21 points; and Team Cowboy Cut, 20 points.

SECOND CHALLENGE - HUNTER HACK

BY LARRI JO STARKEY, COPY EDITOR

Steve Orth rides Docs Genuine Jack
in the rail portion of hunter hack.

With barrel racing mastered, Team Wrangler members moved on to the hunter hack challenge.

Riding first, Gary Wells wowed judges Andy Moorman, Gigi Bailey and Vicky Holt by not running over them while riding Flamingo Bay around the course. Teddy Johnson and Bobby Lewis, both riding for Team 20X, performed similarly on Zipable Therapy and Blues Blazing Chip.

J.D. Yates, who seemed to take the challenge a bit more seriously, hacked Im Sucha Sam for Team Cowboy Cut, turning in a respectable performance.

Roper Steve Orth, riding for Team Riata, provided his own mount, Docs Genuine Jack, a horse that agreed to jump both fences before Steve broke the pattern by spinning and sliding to stops. Orth's nontraditional attire also might have been a point of concern for the judges.

Al Dunning finished up the jumping portion of the class for Team Riata on A Royal Asset while teammate Orth tried to distract the judges from any irregularities by jumping cross-course while Al worked.

In the rail work, bribery was again part of the plan with candy thrown to the audience and judges alike. Two Bits spontaneously joined the class and might have been the most consistent in his gaits. In the end, though, Yates was named the class winner, though Orth claimed the crowd favorite title.

With two events completed, all three teams are tied at 14 points.

FIRST CHALLENGE - BARREL RACING

BY LARRI JO STARKEY, COPY EDITOR

Crowd favorite Jim McKillips, riding
for Team Cowboy Cut, rounds his
second barrel November 14.

Team Wrangler members faced off against one another in the Team Wrangler Showdown that started Wednesday night.

Riding in at a run, Cindy Reddish blazed A Jet Of Money around the cloverleaf in a time of 18.434 that looked untouchable until Chuck Briggs flew past her on Jet Time Dillon with a time of 17.868.

Jim McKillips, third in the draw on Mr Native Eagle, bumped the second barrel before taking out the third and posting the slowest time of the evening, 27.782, a time that could have been brutal for Team Cowboy Cut's hopes. McKillips, however, perhaps anticipating the need for bribery, came prepared with candy that he tossed into the stands, earning him the crowd favorite honors -- a title that came with a one-second reduction of his time, sitll not enough to rocket him up the standings.

Mitch Leckey, piloting Shoot Bug, made a strong showing of 18.487, but the loss of his hat as he spun around the second barrel added five seconds to his time.

Barrels started falling after that, as Tommy Sheets and Randy Jacobs each took one out riding Toady Posttime and Miss N Fantasy, respectively.

By the time the barrels were put away and the crowd had voted, Chuck Briggs was the winner for the evening, thanks in part to a lesson the previous evening from known speedster Charlie Cole.

"I was impressed with every one of them," Cole said.

At the end of the first Team Wrangler challenge, Team 20X was leading on the speed of Reddish and Jacobs with nine points. Team Riata had eight points, and Team Cowboy Cut trailed with four.

WE'RE MAKING HISTORY JANUARY 16, 2008 - FORT DODGE VERSATILITY RANCH HORSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS