Ronan's Aipperspach takes bull-riding crown

By Trent Makela / Leader Staff

The big money of the bull riding bounced between a couple of Lake County locals in the hot, humid weather last weekend at the Mission Mountain PRCA Rodeo in the Polson Rodeo Grounds.

Arlee's Levi Hendrickson started the weekend on top of the bull-riding, registering a 72 in the only successful ride on Friday. Ronan's Matt Aipperspach bounced back, though, with a score of 81 atop Turned On under the lights on Saturday night, giving him the first-place check of $988 for the weekend.

Hendrickson placed fourth after the two rounds, gathering $340 for his troubles on Friday and $247 for finishing fourth.

A full grandstand gathered to watch the PRCA professionals who came from far and wide to fill out the night's events.

"We're glad that Polson Fairgrounds and local sponsors are able to come together to provide good family entertainment for the community and tourists alike to get outside and enjoy," rodeo committee member Una Rose Graham said. "There was several PRCA rodeos in eastern Montana - in Augusta and Chinook that I know of - and the senior pro rodeo in Hamilton this weekend. There was a lot for everybody to pick from, basically, but we're comfortable with competitors we were able to attract."

Graham mentioned that the number of participants for the event was slightly down, but said rodeos across the state are feeling the crunch as gas prices limit traveling for many competitors.

"How the fuel costs are going to effect cowboys and cowgirls traveling in the future remains to be seen," Graham said. "Some of the guys travel together and bunch up in cars. Some that are pulling horses can't do that so easily."

Polson local John Robertson also had a stellar weekend, grabbing third in the team roping with partner Chance Bernall after posting the second-best time in Saturday's second go-around. The pair's time of 22.2 seconds netted them roughly $130 apiece under the lights.

Another Polson cowboy, Tim Bagnell, grabbed third in the average for tie-down roping. Bagnell placed fourth in Friday's first go with a time of 17.1 seconds. He then improved to third on Saturday with a time of 15.5 seconds to take third overall and $133 home.

Three Forks' Wade Black and Malta's Guy Simanton tied with a score of 81 in the saddle bronc competition and split the top two checks to take home $964 apiece.

Cut Bank's Buck Lunak rode his way to a score of 82 on Who's Who under the lights to claim the bareback title and the first-place check of $950.

Jaren Whitman of Belgrade picked up the best time of 7.2 seconds in steer wrestling to take home the first-place money of $228.

Divide's Tim Garrison won the tie-down roping with a combined time of 24.9 seconds to take home the $266 first prize.

Augusta's Cleve Fuller and Dillon's Ike Folsom won the team roping with a time of 18.4 seconds to take home roughly $260 apiece.

Winston's Lindsay Knaff won the barrel racing in 17.29 seconds to take home the big prize of $627.

Mission Mountain PRCA Rodeo

Polson

June 27-28

Bull riding - 1, Matt Aippersbach, 81 on Turned On, $988; 2, Tyler Dellen, 77, $741; 3, Rick Wock, 73, $494; 4, Levi Hendrickson, 72, $247.

Saddle bronc - 1, (tie) Wade Black, and Guy Simanton, 81, $964 each; 3, (tie) Kevin Keller, and James Cole, 75, $413 each.

Steer wrestling (average) - 1, Jaren Whitman, 12.1, $228; 2, Jim Garrison, 14.9, $171; 3, Nick Stubblefield, 23.1, $114; 4, Roddy Watson, 5.7 on one, $57.

Tie-down roping (average) - 1, Tim Garrison, 24.9, $266; 2, Donnie Benson, 28.9, $199; 3, Tim Bagnell, 32.6, $133; 4, Sam Levine, 11.7 on one, $66.

Team roping (average) - 1, Cleve Fuller-Ike Folsom, 18.4, $259 each; 2, Kyle Greany-Tim Garrison, 20.4, $194; 3, Chance Bernall-John Robertson, 22.2, $129; 4, Pat Pendergrass-KJ Patterson, 23.0, $64.

Barrel racing - 1, Lindsay Knaff, 17.29, $627; 2, Shelly Anzick, 17.42, $545; 3, Kathy Grimes, 17.45, $463; 4, Laura McPherson, 17.69, $381; 5, Bobbie Reeves, 17.71, $299; 6, Deena Moeykins, 17.83, $218; 7, Jodie Irish-Ryan, 17.85.

Bareback - 1, Buck Lunak, 82 on Who's Who, $950; 2, (tie) John Collins and Dale Stoller, 77, $593 each; 4, Bronson Burbach, 76, $237.