Rains dampen reins in Gatesville
Posted On: Saturday, Aug. 1 2009 06:07 AM
By Kevin Posival
Killeen Daily HeraldGATESVILLE – Chance Lee's homecoming was sloppy, at best.
The 22-year-old Gatesville native tied down his calf in 24.45 seconds, added a 10-second penalty for breaking the barrier early but still walked away smiling. He was drenched and muddy, but still smiling after his disappointing run on the second day of the 72nd Annual Gatesville Riding Club Rodeo.
"Yeah, it feels good to come home," said Lee, who just transferred to Tarleton State University from Hill Community College. "When I'm here, I do roping work at my dad's and grandpa's ranch."
Nine-year-old Hallie Foote didn't fair much better in the breakaway roping division but she, at least, wasn't covered in mud."It was good," Foote said of her no-give up no-time.
Due to heavy storms that soaked much of Central Texas, the wet conditions made for a soggy rodeo floor and particularly hampered the steer wrestlers, who had just three of 10 competitors post times. Foote said the wet conditions didn't affect her run because she's ridden in the rain and mud before – she's raced barrels since she was five, her father said.
"I'm still doing barrels," Foote said. "I just wanted to do more."
Foote competes in the event, against women three- and four-times her age. She couldn't lasso her calf, but neither did seven of the 10 event's competitors Friday night.
"It's pretty good," Foote said of finally getting to compete.
Ashely Moreau still leads after her 2.44-second time on Thursday.
Lee said the wet conditions may have contributed to his calf's apprehension about leaving the chute.
"Sometimes, the calf won't start and they also don't want to run as much in the mud," Lee said. "It's not much different (for the rider).
Chris Demases, who roped his calf in 8.34 seconds Thursday night, still holds the overall lead. George Thomas started the rodeo's second night by claiming the overall lead in the bareback riding division. Thomas, of Sunnyside, topped Shawn Lane's Day 1 score of 74 with a 77 as the first rider out of the chute. Sterling Crawley's 83 score in the saddle bronc riding division still leads the pack after Rosebud's Dustin Fox was the only Day 2 competitor to post a score (55).
Shawn Dollery's Day 1 time of 4.2 seconds in the steer wrestling division is still tops, but it was threatened in back-to-back runs by Elgin's Patrick Maass and Simonton's Wesley Baird. Maass, running fifth, posted a time of 4.4 seconds just before Baird bested him with a 4.3 racing sixth.
Aaron Pass held the bull riding lead after the first day with a score of 85. The rodeo finishes Saturday night with a 7:30 grand entry.
Contact Kevin Posival at
kposival@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7562.