Wilderness Circuit champions crowned in Ogden, Utah on New Year's Eve
Rodeo athletes from Idaho, Nevada, and Utah spent New Year's Eve at the Golden Spike Arena in Ogden, Utah to compete for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo championship. Also on the line, was a qualifying trip to the Dodge National Circuit Finals (DNCFR) which is held in Pocatello, Idaho each year in March. The year-end winner and the average winner from the circuit finals rodeo each earn a trip to DNCFR.
Two world champions and a host of contestants from the National Finals Rodeo were on hand to compete for top honors in the Wilderness Circuit. Lan LaJeunesse of Morgan, Utah is a two-time world champion in the bareback event and he came into the finals as the year-end winner in his event, giving him an automatic qualification for the DNCFR in March. He won the DNCFR title last year along with a gold medal at the 2002 Olympiad Rodeo.
Blue Stone recently won his second world title in the bull riding event and he also captured the year-end honors in the bull riding event and will return to Pocatello in a couple of months to compete for a national circuit title to add to his trophy cabinet.
Fate also played a role in the championship as a few qualifiers were injured and a few others failed to enter the rodeo despite earning the qualification. Jerry Shepherd, Glen O'Neil, Robert Bowers, Charley Gardner and Rod Hay were all missing from the rodeo for one reason or another.
Kelly Wardell is the traveling partner for LaJeunesse and the veteran bareback rider slipped past his buddy to win the average title during the Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo. The pair will now travel together to compete for the national circuit crown.
"This is a nice way to finish off the year, Wardell reported on New Year's Eve. I didn't hit too many rodeos last year because my girl friend was diagnosed with Cancer, but now she is doing much better and I plan to get out and hit some rodeos again this year."
The steer wrestling title went to Craig Smith as he topped all-around champion Clint Robinson of Farmington by less than one second to claim the average title. Smith will join year-end champion Matt Goins to represent the Wilderness Circuit at DNCFR.
Robinson finished second in the steer wrestling event and calf roping event and also competed in the team roping event along with his father Lance, a former circuit champion. The younger Robinson earned enough points in calf roping and steer wrestling to win the all-around title and will add this circuit all-around title to an already full trophy case. Robinson was also a member of the Utah high school rodeo squad that won a national high school rodeo title.
The team roping title at year-end went to the familiar team of Brian Winn and Brian Roundy. The two Brian's have a string of circuit titles to their credit. They finished fourth in the average race with the team of Cody Young and Jason Eiguren winning the average with a time of 22.9 to earn the trip to DNCFR.
Charley Gardner won the year-end title in the saddle bronc event, but suffered a season ending knee injury during NFR and was unable to compete during the circuit finals. Stormy Sagers topped the field for the average title with a score of 258 points on three broncs to earn a trip to Pocatello. Rusty Allen will most likely move up to replace Gardner and represent the circuit during DNCFR.
Veteran calf roper Kyle Kosoff from West Haven, Utah added another circuit title to his list of accomplishments. Kosoff also won a national calf roping title as a high school rodeo contestant. He drives a school bus during his day job and chooses to rodeo close to home these days.
Kosoff finished a full two seconds faster than the rest of the field in the calf roping event. Nate Baldwin of Rigby, Idaho will return to Pocatello as the year-end champion. Baldwin finished third in the average race behind Kosoff and Robinson and also made his first appearance at NFR this year.
McKenzie Miller finished second to Teri Wood-Gates last year and topped the field this year to win her first circuit title. Miller also won the year-end title and made an appearance at the College National Finals Rodeo to cap off an outstanding year in rodeo.
Buskin Wilson of Jackson Hole, Wyoming rode all three bulls during the finals to move past world champion Blue Stone and the rest of the contestants to win the bull riding crown for the Wilderness Circuit.
Wilson placed fourth in the first round with 81 points and came back with another 81-point ride in round two for a third place finish. He left no doubt about the championship as he scored 88 points in round three to wrap-up the title in the bull riding event. Stone was the year-end champion and will join Wilson in Pocatello to represent the Wilderness Circuit at the Dodge National Circuit Finals rodeo in March.
Wilderness Circuit qualifiers for Dodge National Circuit Finals
Year-End winners listed first ~ Circuit Finals Rodeo Champions listed second in each event
Bareback
1. Lan Lajeunesse -- Morgan, Utah
2. Kelly R Wardell -- Bellevue, Idaho
Steer Wrestling
1. Matt Goins -- Ogden, Utah
2. Craig James Smith -- Liberty, Utah
Team Roping
1. Brian W Winn -- Annabella, Utah
1. Brian K Roundy -- Richfield, Utah
2. Jason A Eiguren -- Jordan Valley, Oregon
2. Cody Young -- Goshen, Utah
Saddle Bronc
1. Charley W Gardner -- Ruby Valley, Nevada (INJURED)
2. Stormy Sagers -- Rush Valley, Utah
3. Rusty Allen -- Lehi, Utah
Calf Roping
1. Nate Baldwin -- Rigby, Idaho
2. Kyle D Kosoff -- West Haven, Utah
Barrel Racing
1. McKenzie Miller -- St Anthony, Idaho
Bull Riding
1. Blue Stone -- Ogden, Utah
2. Buskin Wilson -- Jackson, Wyoming