Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Jessica Stewart, Photographer
Sean Rutherford came to St. Joe poised to claim his first Federation Cup title as he received his # 1 back number during the opening banquet at the St. Joe Frontier Casino. He had held the lead most of the year but knew it was no time to relax. He had Kenny Hickman right behind him along with multi time finals qualifier Jack Guerin and two time Federation Cup Champion Justin Carlton all in the hunt. Rutherford was no stranger to the finals with 3 other trips under his belt. He had been very close to winning the title before.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Jessica Stewart, Photographer Dan Welsh |
It
was obvious that the rest of the field was not going to make it easy on Rutherford.
About half way through round one Carlton
was holding down the lead with an 81 point effort on Jackson Bull Co. bull L40.
Rutherford had been 79 points
on Joe Simon's bull +1. Hickman failed to
make the whistle and Guerin
scored 76 points so he would not place in the round, however every bull
counted for the average hunt so Guerin
would set himself up among the average race. Rookie bull rider Corey Montana Davis made his presence known in round one with an 80
point effort on Double S Bull Co.
bull LJ. There was a four way
split for the fourth position in the round to go along with Sean Rutherford's 79. George
Faskell turned 79 points on Joe
Simon's bull #92. Matt
Werries rode Double S Bull Co’s bull #96
and Shawn Guerin got by Jackson
Bull Companies # 70. The round winning effort was turned in by Matt
Pojanowski. Pojanowski
knocked out 87 points on Grand
River Rodeo Companies bull 6X.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Todd Weddle, Photographer DJ Vaughn |
Round
two went to Jack Guerin. He
made a spectacular ride aboard Jim
Bollinger's bull # 8 to
earn 85 points. Bert Hershberger was
second with an 82 on Jerry Copp's #
77. George Faskell struck
again teaming up with Copp's #956 for
81 points. Justice Baker, Will
Hellentall and Matt Werries all
tied for fourth with 80 point markings.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Todd Weddle, Photographer Burney Crenshaw |
Matt
Pojanowski struck again showing he had some kind of fire lit in round
three with 84 points on Bollinger's # 66. Corey
Montana Davis made a 83 point showing aboard Scott Burruss's bull # 747.
Jack Guerin showed why he has
made so many trips to the finals with his 81 point ride on - 5 of Joe Simon's herd. Not to be overlooked Rutherford spoke back with a 76 point score on McDonald Rodeo Companies bull #
H2 to end up fourth in the round.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Jessica Stewart, Photographer Chris Caudle signing an autograph for a fan. |
Round four found three guys sharing the top spot with 84 point efforts. All three were on Joe Simon's bulls. Justice Baker rode -7 . Will Hellentall found his spot on # 58 and Matt Werries rode +1. Adam Mace followed the pack of three with an 83 point ride on L40 of the Jackson Bull Co. pen.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Jessica Stewart, Photographer Shawn Guerin |
In round 5 multiple time Federation Finals qualifier Todd Mowery jumped out to remind everyone why he has made the trip 6 times. He stuck an 81 pt. effort on #8 of Jim Bollinger's herd. Hickman and Rutherford split the second spot and Levi Yoder who had been quiet all weekend came alive to grab the last spot.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Jessica Stewart, Photographer Kenny Hickman in front of Saturday nights crowd. |
Round six saw the high marked ride of the Finals. Wisconsin bull rider Adam Mace teamed up with Double S Bull Co bull # 81 for 89 points. Corey Montana Davis was second with an 84 on Double S bull # 100. Baker found his way to the money again with an 83 point ride on Double S Bull Co’s bull # 718. Arkansas cowboy Ryan Clark was 82 on Jerry Copp's bull # 12 to grab the bottom spot.
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Jack Guerin and Kenny Hickman take over secretary duties for a night. |
Two things that brought special emotions out of everyone was Woody Porter's honoring during the last performance. That was tough to have a dry eye during. We will all miss you more than we can tell you Woody. The other was Devon Cogdill, he was the young man that sang the National Anthem each performance. There was something special there! We hope he will return again.
Everyone enjoyed the awards banquet hosted by the St. Joe Frontier Casino. It was a full house to see everyone receive and accept the awards they had worked so hard for.
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Sean Rutherford receiving his year-end awards from Miss NFPB 2003 Christy Porter and Miss NFPB 2002 Kelsea Walker. |
Sean Rutherford claimed his first Federation Cup Championship and placed third in the Average. Everyone is very proud to see him wear that buckle. Corey Montana Davis was the Average winner and Rookie of the Year. Year-End Awards(more photos)
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Todd Weddle, Photographer Corey Montana Davis |
The VIP Rodeo was just as expected, awesome!!!! That is one of the biggest highlights for everyone. A huge thank you to everyone that helped in that.
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Tuffy Gessling and his bull Scout with Vicky. |
Woody Porter helping with the horse back riding. |
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Levi Yoder lends a helping hand. |
Producer of the Year went to Rockin K Productions. Stock Contractor of the Year went to Scott Burruss. Bull of the Year and Bull of the Finals went to bull #359, Stroker Ace, owned by Frank and Jeff Walkowe of Walkowe Bull Co.
A big thank you to all of our personnel at the finals(more photos). Judges, Joel Chaffin, Todd Crase and Michael Grimes. Bullfighters, Curt Anderson, Todd Pettigrew and Chris Lewis. Barrelman, Kent "Woody" Porter, Announcer, Chris Pyle, Arena Director, Clay Jackson and Pick-Up Man, Brian Latterner.
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Todd Weddle, Photographer Pick-Up Man, Brian Latterner |
Special note: The Wednesday following the Finals, Brian Latterner, our pick-up man, was seriously injured. He was bucked off a horse and broke his back. He will be in a body cast for at least three months. Brian is getting around much better now and we wish him a speedy recovery.
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Congratulations to Christy Porter of Lowell, AR, for being named Miss NFPB 2003. We know Christy will be an excellent representative of the NFPB. |
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Jessica Stewart, Photographer Dan Welsh |
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Photos |
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Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph News Press, Todd Weddle, Photographer