Thatcher pulls ahead in saddle bronc riding

Cooper Thatcher surged to the front of the saddle bronc riding competition with an 84.5 aboard Pop A Top from the Beutler and Son Rodeo Company but he won’t be receiving a check until the completion of the 85th Lawton Rangers Rodeo.

Fans will have one more chance to see some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in professional rodeo tonight starting with opening ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. at the LO Ranch Arena east of Lawton.

Thatcher, who comes from from Australia, got the right draw and made it pay off with a strong ride that caught the eyes of the judges and sent him to the top of the standings.

Team roping saw a big change Friday as Jake Clay Cooper and Trey Yates showed why they are regulars at the National Finals Rodeo and where they have won a big chunk of their money over the years.

They turned in a sizzling 5.2 Friday night and that combined with their first go-round time of 4.6 gave them a total of 9.8 on two head and should give them a good check come about 10 p.m. tonight.

Former world champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor, the 2014 champ, was expected to challenge in the barrel racing but turned in a 17.85 and was well down the standings entering tonight’s final performance.

There was once again a shortage of bareback bronc riders which meant that all Luke Thrash of Waverly, Kan., had to do was stay aboard Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Gray Goose and he’d not only get into the standings but he also pocketed the $500 rough-stock bonus from Liberty National Bank.

He did get a huge score but his 81 got him into a tie for third but more importantly he got the bonus to fill that vehicle up with fuel before leaving Lawton.

For years Lawton drew a full field of 60 bull riders but in recent years the number of riders has dropped dramatically and while there were five bull riders entered, two had medical releases from their doctor and another turned out, or failed to show.

That means that Fulton Rutland may take home a pretty good check after his 87 on Thursday aboard Beutler and Son’s Gangster Walk. He will have to wait to see how the seven bull riders scheduled to compete Saturday will show but if his score stands he could take home all the money including day money.

Stock contractor Bennie Beutler said it has become a numbers game.

“I barebacks there are only about 60 who really enter up and right now, on this weekend there are 25 rodeos around the country and several big ones, so they are splitting the numbers up and that’s leaving all these rodeos fighting for contestants, especially in bareback and bull riding.”

The biggest change this week is Logan, Utah, which went from $10,000 added last year to $20,000 and that has lured more contestants out west.

“Turnouts are going to happen but it hurts the local committees that are fighting the numbers game, hoping riders show up,” Beutler said.

Case in point was Rocker Steiner, who is currently No. 2 in the world standings and who turned out Wednesday in Lawton.

There were reports he might have hurt a leg but his Facebook page showed him barefoot skiing Wednesday. Yes the temperatures were hot that day but last night rodeo fans were treated to a cool north wind and temperatures in the mid-80s.