Local riders haul off the winnings in Arlee
(Jim Blow/Leader)<br>Tyler Dupuis of Polson was the first bareback rider out of the chutes at Arlee's Fourth of July Rodeo on Sunday. Unfortunately, he was also the first one to hit the dirt short of the 8-second whistle.
Despite mid-afternoon thunder and showers, the rodeo action was fast and furious at Sunday's Arlee 22nd Annual Fourth of July Open Rodeo at the rodeo grounds just east of town.
And local ropers and riders took full advantage of performing before a largely hometown crowd of appreciative fans.
The Hendrickson boys, Billy and younger brother Levi, both won two events apiece. The pair tied with B.J. Schall, also of Arlee, to earn 74 points and the saddle bronc title, plus split $220 of winnings. Billy went on to win the top four bronc ride-off with a score of 81 points and the $500 prize.
Levi won the bareback event with a 74-point ride to earn $300.
Sarah Guenzler just edged fellow Ronan cowgirl Stacy Harris to win the ladies breakaway roping title. Guenzler threw a rope in 3.6 seconds, a tenth faster than Harris, to earn the $312 prize.
Guenzler also finished second in barrel racing with a 15.8 second run, just behind Lisa Schaffer of Hamilton at 15.6. Schaffer won $494 and the Cameron Hendrickson Memorial buckle for her effort.
Dixon's Richard Wieder had an 83-point run to win the bull riding competition and take home $828, while St. Ignatius' Bruce Sabers had a 12.5 second run to win the $256 prize in calf roping.
"The weather probably held off some of the turn-out, but it wasn't bad at all," rodeo organizer Stephanie Hendrickson concluded.
Results
Arlee Open Rodeo
Bareback - 1) Levi Hendrickson, Arlee, 74, $300; 2) Chad Marquardt, Kalispell, 73, $200.
Calf roping - 1) Bruce Sabers, St. Ignatius, 12.5 seconds, $256; 2) Herb Harris, Ronan, 15.7, $192; 3) Levi Guenzler, Ronan, 22.3, $128; 4) Buck Rodoloph, Lolo, 23.0, $64.
Saddle bronc - 1) (tie) Billy Hendrickson, Levi Hendrickson, B.J. Schall, 74, split $220.
Top 4 saddle bronc ride-off - Billy Hendrickson, 81, $500.
Steer wrestling - 1) Brett Harris, Ronan, 6.5 seconds, $320.
Ladies barrels - 1) Lisa Schaffer, Hamilton, 15.6 seconds, $494; 2) Sarah Guenzler, Ronan, 15.8, $370.50, 3) Barb Peckham, Missoula, 15.9, $247; 4) Melva McDowell, Florence, 16.0, $123.50.
Ladies breakaway roping - 1) Sarah Guenzler, Ronan, 3.6 seconds, $312; 2) Stacy Harris, Ronan, 3.7, $208.
Team roping - 1) Joe and Buck Demers, Boulder, 7.7 seconds, $232 each; 2) Bruce Sabers and Lisa Schaffer, 10.2, $174 each; 3) Shorty and Shawn Matt, Moiese, 12.6, $116 each; 4) Levi Hendrickson and Steve Petry, Arlee, 19.2, $58.
Bull riding - 1) Richard Wieder, Dixon, 83, $828; 2) Allen Stevenson, Kalispell, 79, $246; 3) Dustin Jenkins, 78, $164; 4) Joseph Mad Plume, Browning, 77, $82.