The Arena

From the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association:

The voice of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, December 3-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada, is going to have a very familiar ring to it.

The announcers–Boyd Polhamus, Bob Tallman and Randy Corley–have worked the “World Series” of professional rodeo a combined 46 times. This is the 14th appearance in a row for Polhamus and the 14th in 15 years for Tallman and 22nd overall. Corley, a 10-time PRCA Announcer of the Year, will work the Wrangler NFR for the 10th time. All three of them are on the short list for the 2009 PRCA Announcer of the Year award, which they have won a combined 20 times.

Sunni Deb Backstrom of Congress, Ariz., will serve as the rodeo secretary for the Wrangler NFR for the seventh time and the fourth in succession.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Contract Personnel

Announcers:  Boyd Polhamus, Brenham, Texas; Bob Tallman, Poolville, Texas, and Randy Corley, Silverdale, Wash.

Secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom, Congress, Ariz.

Assistant Secretary: Debi Davis, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.

Office Manager: Vickie Shireman, Elk City, Okla.

Timers: Cynthia Barnes, Sutherland, Iowa; Dollie Riddle, Vernon, Texas, and Kathy McCloy, Ottumwa, Iowa

Timed Event Chute boss: John Farris, Addington, Okla.

Livestock Superintendent: Ted Groene, Pahrump, Nev.

Assistant Livestock Superintendent: John Barnes, Sutherland, Iowa

Barrelman: Keith Isley, Goldston, N.C.

Alternate Barrelman: Donnie Landis, Gooding, Idaho

Bullfighters: Darrell Diefenbach, Azle, Texas; Dusty Tuckness, Meeteetse, Wyo., and Clay Collins, Garland, Texas

Pick-up Men: Paul Peterson, Southland, Texas, and Bobby Marriott, Woods Cross, Utah

Alternate Pick-up Man: Gary Rempel, Fort Shaw, Mont.

Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping Contract Personnel

Announcers: Charlie Throckmorton, Grandview, Texas, and Doug Mathis, Cleburne, Texas

Secretary: Irene Singer, Calhan, Colo.

Timers: Danna McFarland, Okeechobee, Fla., and Melissa Navarre, Weatherford, Okla.

Chute Boss: Art Alsbaugh, Alamosa, Colo.

Todd Bergen qualified four horses for the open finals at the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity. But he undoubtedly left Reno, Nevada, wondering what might have been. A 221 in the reining left Bergen and Smart Luck with a 2.5-point lead going into the fence work.

Bergen and Smart Luck were first up in the random draw. The two had a great run going when Bergen went to circle his cow. He was mere seconds away from establishing a score that would have left him nearly impossible to beat. But Smart Luck stumbled, went down and sent Bergen crashing to the arena floor–along with his championship dreams. The no-score left the door open for Zane Davis and Reymanator.

Up last in the fence work, Davis and Reymanator turned in a 220-point run and easily edged Todd Crawford on  Shiners Nickle and Boyd Rice on Picka Patcha Pepto. Quarter Horse News Editor Katie Tims described Reymanator as a “cage fighter.” The horse definitely excelled in the cow events. He turned in a 218.5 in the herd work–easily the highest score of the morning competition. And he did it despite being the last horse to work before the cattle change.

Congratulations to Davis and Reymanator owner John Semanik.