The American Bullriding Association's July Events

The American Bullriding Association’s Latest Results

by Sheila Totten

The Littrell clan of Circle 13 Rodeo Company put on a great two day event at Circle 13 on July 14th and 15th.Quite a few of us camped out there overnight and we had a great time. Melissa Perez and I had the grills running while we cooked up several types of chicken, a venison roast, sweet corn and more. Just a real fun time. Then it was breakfast tacos on Sunday morning and left overs for lunch. There will be two more of these sleep over events so come on down and join the fun.

The event rodeo clown was Mike Russell and he always keeps all of us laughing. His son Dusty did a Jr bull riding exhibition and this boy has talent. He might have come down early but our bull (CWR Bucking Bulls) Blue Norther was a good match for Dusty. as Blue took two big leaps out of the chute  with lots of rear and drop, high kicking and  a twist. Dusty was happy and watch out for him. This is a future World Champion. He’s got heart. I can see in Dusty just what I saw when I watched Chris Shivers in High School competition; and I imagine just what Clarissa Hedeman saw in her youngest son Tuff at the same age.Dusty's older brother Josh rides and when not riding judges.

 The bull pen was loaded with talent and although the extreme heat kept some of the bulls,mostly those  who were darker colored,  from performing their normal trips even the bad trips were not bad enough for reride options.Seems the white or mostly white bulls fare much better in the type of heat we have had.

 The first of the competition riders to come out was Matt Littrell aboard Circle 13’s 180 Beavis who took one leap out then faked left, faked right and kept changing direction as he hop, skipped and jumped across the arena. Matt came down hard on the dismount, hurting his wrist but he scored 74  and was second in the round.

The judge for the event were Johnny Bird and Shane Adams.

JM Cox drew Circle 13’s Buzzard Bait who exploded out and had JM in the dirt on the third leap. It looked like Jessie Perez was going to make a good ride aboard another good Circle 13 bull, White Demon when the bull pulled Jessie down in front causing Jessie to slap the bull. I spoke with Matt Littrell and he told me it was not his wrist that he injured but his shoulder. A true cowboy, Matt said” It kind of pushed my shoulder out of socket but its all right now.” Ouch! That’s some kind of pain but that’s some kind of cowboy.

Circle 13 had its eliminators out as 14K Golddigger bucked Mathew White off. Brent Sisco was next on Circle 13’s A10 Rimshot who walked out of the chute then faked left and faked right with energy to get Brent down early. This is one mean bull!

Altus Dieterlen drew CWR’s TN Two Hawks who didn’t have his normal trip but bucked in a wide circle to the left then faked right and left.  Altus, who finished fourth in the round scored 65, ending Two Hawks’ unridden streak. The #1 rider in the ABA, former PBR Finals qualifier Shawn Turner drew Marv Littrell’s 49% Marvelous Marv who took one leap straight out before spinning to the right. He jumped out of the spin then faked left. Shawn scored 80 to lead the round. I am glad to say Corey Bailey is ok after his wreck aboard Copenhagen Drifter who exploded out with lots of rear and drop and high kicks. Drifter threw Corey into the chute gate as he bucked him off.

During intermission there was a banana eating contest and barrel racing.

The action resumed with Buck Friskillo aboard CWR’s Cat Five Hurricane who power bucked straight before reversing to the left. Buck scored 64 while finishing fifth in the long go.

Colby Criswell lost hold when Circle 13’s 54 Super Dave jumped out of a fast right spin. Circle 13’s Boo didn’t have his usual trip as he made a wide circle to the left with no kick to it but Zach Jackson stayed centered to score 70 and finish third in the round. Circle 13’s White Knight exploded out then faked left and reversed right to set Jarrett Melton down early. The next rider was Matt McCarley aboard Rafter C’s Macho Man who took one huge leap forward then faked right as matt hit the dirt. Kevin Ables was the final rider in the long go aboard Circle 13’s EG Get You Some who took one leap out with a high kick before turning back to the right close to the chutes to get Kevin off.

Altus Dieterlen was unable to ride in the short go as his knee was injured when he dismounted Two Hawks. Mathew McCarley was drawn back to take Altus’ place.

Zack Jackson who also rides for UT Martin was the first one out. He drew Rafter C’s Krazy Kat who had lots of kick as he took one leap out then one spin to the right before reversing and bucking straight left. Zack came down before the buzzer but finished third with his long go score of 70. Circle 13’s Full House came out with a vengeance as he took two huge leaps forward with lots of power and high kicking to set Matt McCarley down early. Shawn Turner was given the option of a reride when Denmark Biggs faked left then faked right before turning back right and stopping then went back to bucking left. Shawn scored 72 and kept the score giving him 152 on two. Rafter C’s Spin To Win hipped himself as he bucked with no kicks but managed to unseat Buck Friskillo early. The bull was scheduled to buck on Sunday also but Guy said he was hurt and at his age it was time for him to retire to breeding. Buck finished fourth with his score of 64 on Cat Five Hurricane. It just wasn’t Matt Littrell’s night as Rafter C’s Intimidator bucked in the chute and matt had to be pulled out twice. Another cowboy would have called for a reride but not Matt. Even with the bull hurting Matt’s leg, Matt was determined to get out on him. Finally he did but got yanked forward and slapped the bull. Matt was second with his score of 74 from the long go.

After the event we headed back up to the campsites for a fun night of good food and good company.

On Sunday Dusty Russell did his exhibition on CWR’s MM’s TN Twister who took one leap out then a right spin with lots of kick then jumped out of the spin and bucked left throwing in a belly roll. Dusty hung on and he actually had the high score though not a carded rider as the judges (Josh Russell and Johnny Byrd) scored him at 80.

It was great to see Wes Cryer there. Wes was the first one to ever mount our first two bulls TN Tornado and Dairy Queen Bob-O. Wes is a good rider and also like Matt and Brent can double as a bullfighter. Wes drew Boo, who took 4 leaps straight before turning right and nearly came through the fence, I didn’t have a day sheet so if I mess up a name or two maybe the riders will forgive me. Bear Creek’s Shorty B was not his usual self though he bucked Blake Climor off as he took one jump forward then took one spin to the left. It was a bulls’ day as even Ronnie Maness came down early. The first qualified ride was J.M. Cox aboard 49% Marvelous Marv who loped out, bucking straight to the left, turned back right in a straight line then reversed straight left. JM scored 75 for second place in the long go. Next to go was Altus Dieterlen aboard CWR’s Two Hawks who bucked while kicking straight left then faked right then faked left. Altus scored 67 and was sixth in the round. A lot of the riders who made it here f or Sunday had been at the Gulfport, MS PBR event on Saturday night so you know they had to be tired. Tye Allen finished fourth down there but only made it to 7.98 on the official time clock on Circle 13’s White Knight..

Corey Bailey scored 80 on P1 Prince Albert, another great Circle 13 bull to lead the long go. Although he bucked straight left all the way to the left fencing Prince Albert was a handful as he power bucked. This bull is always exciting.

Matthew McCarley drew 54 Super Dave who took two leaps straight left then reversed right with a hop, skip and jump. Matt scored 71 tying with Jessie Perez for 4th place. Trey Allen drew Cat Five Hurricane who power bucked straight down the arena before turning left. Trey scored 73 to finish third in the long go.

Jessie Perez made his fourth place ride aboard 13X Joker’s Wild who faked left then circled right in a wide circle while Jessie maintained perfect position; remaining in complete control.

Trey Allen hurt his leg in the short go as he came down off of Full House early. Trey ended up in third place for the event. Buzzard bait took 4 leaps to the left   and JM Cox lost his rope but finished in second place withhis long go score of 75.

Jessie Perez looked like a helicopter as Krazy Kat spun hard to the left and sent Jessie spinning off. Jessie remained tied with Matt McCarley who bucked off Rafter C’s Intimidator.  Corey Bailey drew Circle 13’s Jordan’s Pet who exploded out of the chute with lots of kick then faked left and right. Corey looked great and remained centered while scoring 83 to give him the win with163 on two

All in all it was another great event at the Circle 13. Don’t forget to attend their next two-day event on August 25th and 26th.

July was rounded out by the July 28th event put on by Rafter C’s Guy Cox at the annual Good Luck Fire Dept. Rodeo in Rutherford, TN. We didn’t make the event but I heard it was a packed house. Jessie Perez and Matt White had the only qualified rides in the event. Jessie rode P&M’s 23 Flatliner for 72 points to finish second in the event. Matt White rode Rafter C’s Krazy Kat for 74 points to get the win. If you can make sure you get over to Circle 13 on the 25th and 26th of August for the two day event. Don’t forget to check the ABA site for the rest of the schedule.

For those of you wanting to ride at a practice pen don’t forget there is one every Thursday at Circle 13 in Denmark, TN.

Tags: Bull Riding

The ABA At Circle 13-June 30th

The ABA at Circle 13 – June 30th

It was another exciting event at Circle 13.Once again we had really rank bulls against some of the best young riders. Matt Littrell started the night off aboard Circle 13’s Prince Albert and its no shame to come down early from this rank bull. Prince Albert took two huge leaps straight to the left and jerked Matt forward causing him to slap the bull. Matt jumped off and then got ready to continue the event as one of the ABA’s top bullfighters. Like the CBR’s Matt Baldwin, Matt Littrell handles both positions well. Just a postscript here for those of you who might want to become a top bullfighter, Matt Baldwin honed his talents riding and bullfighting at Circle 13 several summers ago. If you want to learn things the right way see Scott and Matt Littrell. They sure can teach you how to ride and /or be a bullfighter.

Intercollegiate champion Jon Roberts drew one of my favorite Circle 13 bulls Super Dave 1, a good spinner. The bull took one leap out then went into a right spin then jumped out of it and had Jon down early.  PBR Finals Qualifier from the late nineties, Shawn Turner drew C W’s White Lightning who took two leaps straight out before going into a slow left spin away from Shawn’s hand with lots of elevation including leaps with all fours off of the ground. Shawn scored 78 and was headed to the short go.

Buck Friskillo was next to ride and he drew Marvin Littrell’s 49% Marvelous Marv who had a bad trip as he faked right and left with barely any kick and then bucked in place to unseat Buck. Circle 13’s White Demon took two long leaps out then faked left, faked right and faked left again to unseat bullfighter Brent Sisco. Colby Criswell went flying off of the explosive 14K Golddigger (Circle 13) as the bull exploded out of the chute then faked left and right several times with power. Rodeo Clown Mike Russell kept the audience laughing during breaks as he picked on Scott Littrell and others including my husband Norman in a cute little skit. Mike began by making a list of people he was going to “whoop” and finally he challenged my husband Norman to a fight in the arena during a break. Norman went out there and he was clowning around and really hamming it up. Scott kept telling Mikehe would not be able to whoop Norman, a former navy Seal but Mike kept challenging until Scott and Brent came in to back Norman up and suddenly it was the Indians against the lone white man as they pulled their cowboy hats off to reveal their Mohawks and they all let out their war whoops. The crowd roared as Mike booked it out of the arena. We were all letting out the war whoops as many of us as is the norm in about all rodeo/bull-riding events are of American Indian descent. After all the first real cowboys were Indians who were trained by the Spaniards to herd their cattle.

The next rider up was Mike’s son Josh Russell who drew Circle 13’s Joker’s Wild who took two huge leaps out then faked left hard to make Josh hit the ground. Matt Smith drew Circle 13’s Boo who didn’t have his normal trip, as he faked left then bucked straight down the arena before circling to the left with not much kick. Matt scored 71.

J.M. Cox drew my (CWR Bucking Bulls) bull TN Two Hawks who power bucked with speed as he circled to the left with his high kicks. This was the first time he has ever been rode and the score was 72.Normally he has the rider off by the fourth leap. PBR lower tier rider Altus Dieterlen drew Circle 13’s Beavis who faked left then bucked in place to get Altus down early.D.L.Goodman drew CW Ranch’s (that’s Craig Whitman Ranch not to be confused with our CWR [Cherokee Wolf Ranch]) Black Chief who took two leaps straight out then circled left to get D.L. down. We had a lot of Matt’s there, as the next to ride was NABA World Champion Matthew White aboard Circle 13’s Rimshot. The bull walked out then took two good bucking leaps before faking left then circled left alternating kick with no kick making for a harder ride. Matt scored 75.

He was followed by Zack Jackson aboard CW’s Chief Page who spun to the right away from Zach’s hand then stopped at 7 seconds and went back to bucking at 7.9. Somehow Zach scored a 79 for the ride, which I would have scored lower because of the bull stopping when he did. Zach was in complete control though.

Matt McCarley drew one of my favorite Circle 13 bulls, TNT Dynamite. I love these white spotted Plummers and Dynamite makes me think of the late Freddy Cordell’s J.D.’s Happy Hour. Unfortunately Dynamite didn’t have his normal trip and he just hop, skipped and jumped straight left but Matt scored 72. Chris Stackler drew our bull Cat Five Hurricane and was off by the fifth high kicking jump. Kevin Ables drew Circle 13’s Jordan’s Pet and was in the dirt right out of the chute as the bull put the power to him.

Jessie Perez drew Circle 13’s White Lightning who took one leap out then made a fast, sharp left turn with rear and drop and high kicks before reversing to the right to buck Jessie off. It’s no shame to come down from a great bull like this one. Now come on guys. We have Super Dave 1 and Super Dave II and now there is Beavis and Beavis 2nd.I guess it’s the George Forman trend with his sons named George 2,George 3,etc. Jarrett Melton scored 83 to take the lead when he made a great ride aboard Circle 13’s Beavis 2nd, who put some power to the hop, skip and jump trip he had before going into a fast left spin with lots of action. Jarrett, like Jessie Perez and so many others makes a point of riding at Circle 13’s practice pen on Thursday nights even when he has a two-day event on the weekend.

Super Dave 2 took one leap out before going into his fast right spin to put Shaun Mehling down early. Corey Bailey was the last rider and he scored 74 aboard Circle 13’s EG Get You Some who ran out of the chute faked left then hop, skipped and jumped straight left.

 In the short go the first rider up was Matthew White aboard CW Ranch’s Big Show not to be confused with the bull of the same name you see on television. So many bulls carry the same or similar names that the only way you know who is who is normally by their number and the contractor’s name. This bull took 5 leaps straight out before spinning to the left with kick and action. Matthew scored 85 and had 160 on two head.

Zach Jackson drew Circle 13’s Buzzard Bait who took a leap straight out then circled left with high kicks and lots of power. Zach scored 79 and had 158 on two. Jarrett Melton drew Circle 13’s Full House, an 8 year old who still has it. Its no shame to come down from his as he exploded out of the chute faking left and right with power. Shawn Turner drew Denmark Biggs who turned back to the chute then jumped out of it and faked left then spun to the left with lots of action away from Shawn’s hand. Shawn scored 87 and took the lead with 165 on two head. Corey Bailey drew Circle 13’s Copenhagen Drifter, another of Scott’s explosive bulls. Even in the heat Drifter never has a bad trip. He blew out of the chute with super high kicks, took one left spin into Corey’s hand then jumped out of it and bucked straight with lots of kick and action. Corey scored 83 and finished with 158 points on two.

Shawn Turner won the event with 165 points while Matthew White was second with 160 on two. Corey Bailey and Zach Jackson tied at 158 and Jarrett Melton who won the long go was fifth. The next ABA event will be at Circle 13 on July 14th and 15th. Don’t forget to check the website for upcoming events and try and make it to the Thursday night Practice Pen and Futurities.

 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Tags: Bull Riding

Timothy Caffrey

The following is the article that Stephanie Schwartz  forwarded to me.I hope my readers will contact the SD governor  and ask him to commute this sentence.

From Betty Aitchison:  Request for Letters Recommending Clemency for Timothy Caffrey

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

PICTURE OF ABUSED CHILD CONTINUES TO HAUNT WOMAN

 

By Betty Adams Aitchison

Caldwell, Idaho

Published: August 7, 2007 - ARGUS LEADER

 

I am a voice from the faraway past of Timothy Sean Caffrey. I am Betty Adams Aitchison, whose husband pastored the little Faith Missionary Church in Martin, S.D., for 10 years. This was in the mid-1960s and 70s. The Bill and Olive Caffrey family attended our church. I knew them well.

 

Tim Caffrey is an Oglala Sioux, adopted by the Caffreys when he was less than a year old. I was a part of Tim's formative years. I taught him in Sunday School and vacation Bible school.

 

Bill Caffrey was a politically powerful man as South Dakota regional director of health and welfare. He also was an abusive alcoholic. I witnessed some of the abuse of Tim and tried to intervene but to no avail.

 

One particular incident has continued to haunt me through the years. It is a picture of a little 14-year-old Sioux Indian boy, sitting in the living room of Bill and Olive Caffrey's home, being disciplined for sharing marijuana with a friend.

 

I was living in Idaho at the time but visiting Martin. Olive asked me to basically act as a mediator when they addressed this issue.

 

Olive began the questioning. I still remember exactly how we were all seated. I was on the couch. Olive was across the room to my left, Tim, to my right, and Bill, pacing the floor. Olive asked Tim where he had gotten the marijuana, and Tim reluctantly told her. She asked, "Why didn't you just say 'no' and tell us what had happened?"

 

Tim replied, "I made a mistake, and I'm sorry."

 

At this point, Bill stomped toward Tim. "You made a mistake. We are the ones who made the mistake. The biggest mistake we ever made was when we adopted you, you stupid Indian," Bill said, cuffing Tim on the head.

 

Tim burst into convulsive sobs, and Bill walked away.

 

I got up from my seat and went to Tim. I said, "Timmie, you are a good boy who did a bad thing. You are not a stupid Indian. You are a brilliant boy with a right and powerful heritage."

 

Bill Caffrey was an overbearing, abusive alcoholic who often inflicted physical and emotional abuse on Tim. Olive worked at the Gordon hospital, 50 miles away, and left home at 2 p.m., not returning until after midnight, leaving Tim at the mercy of Bill's drunken outbursts and hostilities.

 

I have never, nor do I now, condone Tim's handling of this situation. However, almost 27 years have passed since I sat through the trial of a 17-year-old Indian boy, tried as an adult, by a white judge, 12 white jurors and a white attorney, and I heard the sentence of life without parole.

 

There is no question that the boy acted wrongfully when he shot and killed his adoptive father. However, many years of agonizing remorse have made Tim the man he is today. He is a well-rounded, gentle man who has worked hard to prepare himself for life outside the prison walls. He has mastered the art of welding and continues his education as much as is available to him.

 

Tim has a very strong support group. It is headed by Arnie Berkeland, a Sioux Falls businessman, who has visited Tim more than 1,200 times in the past 27 years. Tim will be provided with good employment and housing as well as spiritual and emotional support.

 

I urge you to please write Gov. Mike Rounds, asking him to sign the unanimous recommendation of the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute Tim's sentence from life to time served. This is the third time the board has voted to reduce Tim's sentence.

 

Tim was never a 'murderer.' He was an abused child, pressed beyond measure and made a terrible mistake in dealing with his abuser. For this, I feel he has paid sufficiently.

 

White men charged with the same crime are walking free today. Please work for 'equal justice' in this case. -30-

 

Timothy S. Caffrey # 20483

S.D.S.P. Box 5911

Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5911 USA

 

Date of birth: May 28-1963

Nation/tribal affiliation: Oglala Sioux

Release date: none

Tags: Indian News

Unequal Justice

by Sheila Totten

I had never heard of Tim Caffrey until Stephanie Schwartz sent me a forward about him.

Tim was a mere infant when he had the misfortune of being adopted by a political powerhouse  of a man  named Bill Caffrey and his hard working wife Olive. Bill ,you see, was an abusive adoptive father and an alcoholic who many times took his alcoholic rages out on the Oglala youth he and his wife had adopted. If Tim had been lucky enough to have been adopted by a good family  then the tragedy which ensued would most likely never have happened.

After years of both physical and mental abuse,at age 17 Tim fought back and ended up murdering  his abusive adoptive father.He was arrested and tried as an adult not by a jury of his peers but by an all White  jury.Back when this happened the fact that he had been abused repeatedly  did not matter to prosecutor,judge or jury.I hate to say it but had he been a white boy from an influential family he would have received a much lesser sentence. Tim was given life without Parole and has been incarcerated for 27 years! Yet just this month a woman who murdered her abusive husband here in TN was released after 6 months in jail.Mary Winkler is a white woman whose abusive husband was a well known minister.She pleaded guilty and got a slap on the wrist.

The injustice Tim has suffered is just one of many in the court system when it involves American Indians.I personally saw  a friend railroaded to jail here in TN when his step daughter made false claims against him because he laid down the law to her.He was sentenced to 20 years while a influential white man who sexually abused his girlfriend's 15 yr old daughter got a slap on the wrist-community service,time served while awaiting court and mental health treatment.

Then there is the story Gary Fields brought out in the Wall Street Journal about Bobbi Jo Wing and her husband from  the Fort Belknap Reservation. They are serving  a mandatory life sentence for first degree murder because her second cousin died in  their hous ewhich they allegedly set on fire after a family argument. Because this happened on reservation the federal laws turned  a felony murder charge into first degree although neither knew the niece had returned to the house and was asleep in the basement.When advised she might be there both rushed in and tried to save the girl who died of smoke inhalationin her sleep. If this had happened off reservation they would have received a  state sentence for deliberate homicide carrying only ten years and would have probably been paroled within 2 and 1/2  years.

The tribes no longer have the right to dispense justice on their reservations although they are considered sovereign nations.Like so much more the federal Government has stripped them of this right; and in doing thus has created this unequal balance to the scales of justice.The laws were changed back in 1885 and it took away the Indians' rights to prosecute or punish anyone themselves for murder,manslaughter,rape,assault with intent to kill,arson,burglary or larceny.Of course back then many of these crimes on Indian land were being committed against Indians by whites but for those Indians accused whether rightly or framed  these crimes then could only be prosecuted by the Federal Government.

If this was not bad enough in the 1980's and since then the Federal Government has  made the penalties even tougher for Indian people on reservations. Add to that the abolishment of parole in the federal system and you have unequal justice !Indians who live on reservations  face the strongest mandatory sentences for crimes which otherwise would come under local jurisdiction .

So here we have a case of felony manslaughter because of the accidental death of MS.Wing's second cousin due to arson.We have the attempt to save her wherein Ms . Wing and her husband both injured. even the prosecutor felt it was unequal justice and unfair.

Of course the fact that Ms.Wing,27 was a student at Fort Belknap College who wanted to do research on water contamination  in my opinion may have colored what happened.I cannot forget the story of Thunderheart and the character of the school teacher who was doing just such research who ended up murdered on Pine Ridge.Maybe ,like her,Ms Wing was on to something.I don't know. She also was working with teens who were deemed to be at risk for drugs or delinquency by the tribal court.

Bottom line here is that no one remembers who decided to burn the house down as they had  been celebrating birthdays and all got very drunk when a dispute over the house ownership developed. Ms Wing and her husband may not even have been the ones who did set the fire.And more may have been involved just to end the dispute over the house as ther ewas more than one fire set in the house.Once again it was the FBI who railroaded the young couple. funny  but its so like what the FBI did at Pine Ridge.

And now Afro-American  California Congresswoman Diane E.Watson wants the Federal Government to sever diplomatic relations with the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma  which is a sovereign nation.This  is because the Cherokee Nation have taken away the rights of citizenship from the Freedmen or in actuality from those who are not Indian.Ones who are able to prove they do have Cherokee ancestors on the Dawes Rolls (1500) have remained as citizens. The BIA agreed that the Cherokee Nation had the right to ammend their constitution; and they have been named in a lawsuit by 6 Freedmen descendents along with the Cherokee Nation for the removal of the Freedmen from the rolls.If the shoe was on the other foot and the tribes wanted  their land back per the treaty.Well you can just guess how that would end.Watson's bill is still pending before Congress.

Tags: Inequalities In Indian Country