Steve Hohmann got bucked off his bull in a hurry Sunday at the BCNE Great Northern Rockin' Rodeo but three out of four ain't bad.
He was a busy guy in the bucking chutes at Exhibition Park, entering four rough stock events, and had already made three qualified rides before he had a chance to get the wraps on his bull, Headhunter.
Being a multitasker is old hat to Hohmann, the 46-year-old Quesnel cowboy, who's been riding raging bulls and rank horses for the better part of three decades, and for his efforts on a sunny Sunday afternoon he left town with close to $800 in winnings.
"It's still feeling good," said Hohmann, who says he's no hurry to retire from rodeoing. "Bull riding's my favourite but I didn't go far today. I got second in Quesnel a few weeks ago.
"I've been a little sore this year, I hurt my neck a few weeks ago but it's getting better. I've been busy working this year more than usual and I missed a couple BCRA rodeos but I've been doing most of them.
Lane Cork of Quesnel appeared to be on his way to winning the bull riding when he stuck with Boiler Maker long enough to score a 78. He also had a good ride Saturday in Redstone, west of Williams Lake which should improve his fifth-place standing in the BCRA money standings. It came down to the last two riders and Cork got knocked down to second when C.J. Davidson stuck high on the haunches of his ride, Rockhound, and spurred him to an 80-point ride -- the top score out of the three Great Northern performances on the weekend. Nick Smith of Williams Lake took third in the bulls with a 72 on Saturday.
"Lane will be close to first now, it's a pretty good race this year with a lot of guys who could still win it," said Hohmann.
There are now seven events left to decide the season champions of the BCRA series, which resumes Aug. 28 in Smithers.
In steer wrestling, Hohmann tipped his steer over in 17.1 seconds, but Dustin Shields of Vanderhoof topped that with a 15.9-second showing. In bareback, Christoph Muigg's 68 from Saturday's show stood tup as the best of the weekend. Hohmann made it close with a 66 Sunday on Little Dude to wrap up second place and he placed third in saddle bronc with a 61 on Kiss This. Clint Quesnel of Lumby, the only other bronc rider entered Sunday, scored a 63 on Mercury Rising but Ryland Derose of Kamloops won it with a 66-point ride on Saturday.
Hohmann started the weekend seventh overall in the B.C. Rodeo Association second overall in the saddle bronc standings, third in saddle bronc, seventh in bull riding, and 13th in steer wrestling. He was glad to add to his winnings close to home.
"It was good today, it looked like a decent crowd and hopefully everybody enjoyed it, it was a good rodeo," said Hohmann. "It's only an hour and a half from home and there's some good money added."
Jolene Seitz of Savona won the ladies barrel racing title Sunday, clocking 14.625 seconds. Her sister from Savona, Sarah Girard, posted a 14.799 on Saturday, the second-quickest time of the weekend. Callie Hume won in junior barrel racing (15.373) and Riley Beier of Vanderhoof captured the peewee barrels event (15.587).
Isaac Jansen of Savona took the overall junior steer riding title with a 69, which beat Spencer Lewis of Vanderhoof and third-place Lane Paley of Quesnel, each with 68s.
Ryan McNaughton of Quesnel and Dustin Shields of Vanderhoof hooked up in team roping to win Sunday with a time of 6.4 seconds. They lead the BCRA series standings. Richard Glassford of Quesnel nailed down the breakaway title with a Sunday run of 2.5 seconds, while Brianna Billy of Springhouse needed just 2.9 seconds to win the junior breakaway event.
