Mortensen sets arena record with 92

Sunday December 15, 2002

LAS VEGAS (AP) Dan Mortensen set an arena record and matched the best saddle bronc score of his career with a 92-point ride Saturday night in the ninth round of the National Finals Rodeo.

Mortensen, of Billings, Mont., leads the world standings with $212,466 going into the final round Sunday. The five-time world saddle bronc champion rode a horse named Painted Smile Dip.

``It's a great horse,'' Mortensen said. ``I had my hands full. I felt I had to bear down and make a good ride. I did it right tonight.''

Scott Johnston of Gustine, Texas, was second with an 88, and Jesse Bail of Camp Crook, S.D., and Ryan Mapston of Geyser, Mont., tied for third with 86s.

Mortensen is chasing his sixth championship, which would tie him with Casey Tibbs for number of titles. Second-place Glen O'Neill of Dudsbury, Alberta, trails by $26,063 but sits second in the NFR average worth $28,968.

The previous arena record was a 90 by Billy Etbauer in 1999. Mortensen has had two 92s in his career.

``To set an arena record at the NFR is cool,'' he said ``It's cool to do it on the rankest horse in the world. It's a horse I wanted tonight.''

Calf roper Trevor Brazile of Anson Texas, was third in his event, but it was good enough to take the lead in the all-around with $240,089. Bail is second with $238,987.

Larry Sandvick of Belle Fourche, S.D., won bareback riding with an 87. Average leader Jason Jeter of Fort Worth, Texas, was second with an 85, and Cody Jessee of John Day, Ore., and J.D. Garrett of Belle Fourche, S.D., had 84s. Bobby Mote of Redmond, Ore., leads the world standings going into the final round with $143,612.

In bull riding, Colby Yates of Azle, Texas, won with a 92. Robey Condra of Dayton, Texas, was second with an 89, and Blue Stone of Ogden, Utah., was third with an 87. Myron Duarte of Auburn, Wash., leads the world standings with $132,072. Stone leads the average.

Houston Hutto of Del Rio, Texas, and Shawn Franklin of Wetumka, Okla., split first in calf roping with 6.9-second runs. Brazile was third at 7.2 seconds. Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, leads the world standings with $199,013 and also is first in the average.

In steer wrestling, world leader Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., won the round with a 3.5-second run. Ivon Nelson of Williston, Fla., was second at 3.6 seconds, and average leader Cash Myers of Athens, Texas; K.C. Jones of Las Animas, Colo.; and Bryan Fields of Conroe, Texas, had 3.7s. Branquinho has earned $120,866.

Two teams split first in team roping at 4.1 seconds, Wade Wheatley of Hughson, Calif., and Kyle Lockett of Ivanhoe, Calif., and the team of Kevin Stewart of Glen Rose, Texas and Martin Lucero of Stephenville, Texas. Speed Williams ($158,648) and Rich Skelton ($159,003), both of Llano, Texas, lead the world standings, while the team of J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colo., and Bobby Harris of Gillette, Wyo., tops the average.

Carol Barr of Cowley, Alberta, won barrel racing at 14.05 seconds. Kelly Kaminski of Bellville, Texas, was second at 14.05 seconds and Tami Fontenot of Ethel, La., and Brandie Halls of Cheyenne, Wyo., split third at 14.09. Tammy Key of Ledbetter, Texas, is the world leader with $158,896, and Rachael Sproul of Arlee, Mont., leads the average.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)