NFR 2005-Austin Wins Bull Riding's Triple Crown!

Matt Austin Does It All
The 23 year old bull riding phenomena from Wills Point, Texas added the third jewel to Bull Riding's Triple  Crown at the NFR when  he won the PRCA's  World Championship. Austin also won the  CBR's World Championship and the PRCA's Xtreme Bull's  National Championship. But this was not all for Austin.During the regular season he broke the record for most earnings in one season  for bull riding held by Oklahoma's Terry Don West and went on to best Ty Murray's  record for most money earned in one season period with earnings of $320,765 all from bull riding while it took Ty three events to set the former $297,896 record.Matt who attends Hill College won the  College National Finals Rodeo and the event title  at the Xtreme Finals  along with the aggregate at the NFR.He has set a record  no other bull rider has even come close to; and watch out guys as Matt is going for All Around next year!
American Indian  Participants  in Pro Rodeo/Bull Riding.
Some carry Tribal Nation memberships; some carry just CDIB cards while others like so many out here are of American Indian descent without cards.The common thread-they all rodeo. The 2005 WNFR is now over but there were many of American Indian blood among the top 15 riders in the various events.Others  who didn't make the cut were there to sign autographs or just to root their friends on. Also at the Country Christmas  Trade Show were Kendra and Preston Williams of Sterling on Silver,an Indian owned business.The Inter tribal Agricultural Council had its annual symposium there .My friend Carmella Scott was there to represent her  tribal council and she  gave me a list of some of the riders who attended the symposium or signed autographs .Among them were INFR's World Champion Marty Hebb and  PRCA's Butch Knowles  who hosted the symposium kick-off party.
Tee Woolman, a member of the Cherokee Nation and Fred Whitfield,who is of Cherokee/Afro-American descent   signed autographs along with the Choctaw Nation's Blair Burke and Marty Hebb. At IAC's Prime Rib Luncheon the following riders  attended: Blair Burke,Ryan Mapston,Billy Etbauer,Trevor Knowles, Cash Myers (Chickasaw heritage) , Myron Duarte (Hawaiian), Shawn Greenfield, Zach Oakes, Matt Marvel, Ronnie Fields, Fred Whitfield, Jesse Bail, Charley Crawford, Bobby Mote,Ross Coleman and Wiley Petersen(Shoshone /Bannock).
Autograph sessions for all those recognized by the IAC were held .Barrel Man extraordinaire Flint Rasmussen was also part of the session along with the riders. According to Carmella the session went well and Rowdy Buechner, Darnell Tipton,Tee Woolman,Zack Oakes, Ronnie Fields,Fred Whitfield,Dakota Longbrake and Marty Hebb were there to represent the IAC while Carmella had Darnell,Dakota,and Marty acting as models for her later and bid callers at the Art Auction.

NFR Results

Although he didn't win the  tie down title, and finished 13th in the average, Shoshone -Bannock/Japanese rider Matt Shiozawa won three consecutive rounds during the ten days  and felt really good about his draws and the way his horse's performed. I expect good things from this rider in the future.


Blair Burke started hot but finished 11th in the average While World Champion Fred Whitfield added another buckle to his collection"Singing" Fred Whitfield won his seventh tie down roping title just $4000 ahead of his friend  four time World Champion Cody Ohl. Along with his All Around several years ago Fred now has 8 World Championships.You can catch Fred singing on The American Cowboy CD where he does a great job on "Calf-Ropin' Son of a Gun." Whitfield has promised to return next year  a she tries to tie  Deal Oliver's all time record of 8 World Championships  in tie-down roping.
There were a lot of rookies at this year's NFR and several stole the show from the veterans.It was 21 year old Ryan Jarrett from Summerfield.GA. who won the All Around title by earning $114,715 in calf roping and steer wrestling.Lee Graves finished second while defending champion Trevor Brazile  was third.Jarrett has the same attitude as Matt Austin.Jarrett just goes steer for steer ,calf for calf while Matt takes it jump for jump aboard  the bulls.Graves won the aggregate in steer wrestling.Jarrettt won the average in tie down roping.
It was the last event for as a team for Rich Skelton and Speed Williams .After winning 8 consecutive titles they have decided to go their separate ways.The team Roping Titles were won by the Clay Tryan(header) and Patrick Smith(healer).The team entered the NFR in first place, set the NFR  arena record and tied the World  Record  with a 3.5 run in Saturday's round. The Cherokee Nation's Tee Woolman  and partner Cory Petska  won the average in team roping.
Kelly Timberman and Cimmaron Gerke tied for first in the aggregate in bareback bronc  riding but it was Will Lowe who won the world title.
Canada's Lee Graves won the Steer Wrestling Title.
23 year old Jeffrey Willert won the saddle bronc title and set an event record with $278,168 in earnings.Willert nearly lost his everything two years back in Reno when a horse kicked him in the head and he suffered nerve damage and loss of sight in his left eye.The fact that he was able to return to riding let alone win this title  shows the courage these modern day warriors have.Rod Warren was the aggregate winner.
Former teacher and barrel racer Kelly Kaminski  won her second World title in a row aboard her great horse Rocky while Liz Pinkston won the average.
Matt Austin led the pack coming into the NFR and topped off his stellar year by winning  the World  Championship in bull riding along with the average.
Bull of the Year was one of my favorites; the great Smokeless War Dance owned by Broken Arrow Rodeos.This bull is the ultimate eliminator with 44 unridden trips prior to the NFR.Flint Rasmussen was C;own of the Year but  announced prior to the NFR that he has signed an exclusive contract with the PBR for 2006.This was his eighth straight title and his seventh for Coors man in the Can.PRCA fans are sorry Flint  has left them.Joe Baumgartner was Bullfighter of the year while Stace Smith was Stock Contractor of the Year.
Miss Congeniality was Saddle Bronc of the year while Real Deal was  the Bareback Horse of the Year.