GERRY – “One of our most successful rodeos in recent years” is how officials of the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department responded to their 74th consecutive PRCA rodeo that concluded on Saturday night with nearly 3000 fans in attendance, bringing the total for the four performances to 7700.
With 236 pro rodeo athletes from 30 states and four Canadian provinces paying entry fees ranging from $80 to $225, depending on the event, the total prize purse set a new payout record of just under $80,000. This means that this rodeo, which is now the longest consecutively running rodeo east of the Mississippi, is also among the three highest paying. In addition to the prize money, the winner of each event received a Montana Silversmith pair of spurs from the fire department.
Money earned here in Gerry goes toward qualification for the finals in the First Frontier Circuit here in the East held in January in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Only the top twelve money winners in each of the seven rodeo events qualify for the finals. The top fifteen in the nation then will compete in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in January where the total prize money is $10 million.
The top three competitors in each event for this week here in Gerry are as follows:
Bareback Riding
1.Ethan Anderpont Deridder, Louisiana $1873
2.Tanner Phipps Dalton, Georgia $1419
3.Tyler Waltz Martin, Tennessee $1021
Saddle Bronc Riding
1.Logan Hullinger Davis City, Iowa $1690
2.Eddie Parlier Johnson City, Tennessee $1690
3.Ray Hostetler Rochelle, Georgia $1049
Steer Wrestling
1.Matt Fisher Edwards, Ontario $1331
2.Big Jim Banff Deep Water, New Jersey $1102
3.Wayne Van Dover Mannington, New Jersey $872
Tie Down Roping
1.Justin Thigpen Waycross, Georgia $1450
2.Ned Kilgus Watsontown, Pennsylvania $1087
3.Dawson Turner Sidney, Arkansas $725
Team Roping (Two cowboys working as a team)
1.John Alley Adams, Tennessee $2734
1.Clark Adcock Smithville, Tennessee $2734
2.Nelson Linares Hialeah, Florida $2378
2.Spunk Sasser San Antonio, Florida $2378
3.Rob Toth Wolcott, Connecticut $2021
3.Shawn Quinn Schuylerville, New York $2021
Bull Riding (Only two qualified rides)
Austin Beaty Bedford, Virginia $4420
Will Crain St. Peter, Illinois $3841
Barrel Racing
Rebecca Weiner Ocala, Florida $3525
Christina Mulford Franklinville, New Jersey $2580
Kaylee Gallino Wasta, South Dakota $2096
The rodeo committee under the leadership of chairman Tom Atwell will begin planning next month for the 2019 rodeo which promises to have a number of special events to celebrate the 75th anniversary of professional rodeo in this small town. Additional information regarding the rodeo, including its 74-year history, is available at the website www.gerryrodeo.org
Photo: Justin Thigpen (right)from Waycross, Georgia, receives a set of Montana Silversmith silver spurs from Gerry Rodeo chairman Tom Atwell in addition to the $1450 cash he received for winning the tie-down roping event. Photo by Sharon Atwell.
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