Published: March 30, 2008 12:48 am      

Harris posts an 89 to take top bull riding honors at Walker Country Rodeo

A big, bad bull named Yahoo got the best of a slick, red remote-controlled car, but J.W. Harris got the best of Yahoo on Saturday night. Harris rode the yellow-haired behemoth to a score of 89, which was good enough to claim first place and a fat paycheck at the 2008 Walker County Fair and Pro Rodeo.

Harris, who hails from May, Texas, a tiny town north of Brownwood, showed some true agility and nerve as Yahoo roared out of the bucking chute. The bull spun left, then right, jumped high and got low, trying like crazy to fling Harris from his mount.

Nothing worked.

Harris stayed on top for the required eight seconds, then celebrated when he surpassed the leader after Friday’s first performance, Cameron Bland of Glen Flora. For his work, Harris earned a check worth $1,805.76. Bland won $1,368 for second and Bobby Welsh, who rode Buzz Saw to an 87 score, took home $985.

After Harris jumped off Yahoo, the bull turned his anger toward a toy car being driven by rodeo clown/barrelman Tim Lepard. Trying to outrun and frustrate the bull further, the car wasn’t quite fast enough. Yahoo stomped one of its powerful front feet on the car’s hood and ground it into the dirt.

That was just a small part of Saturday’s excitement enjoyed by a full house at the 30th annual Walker County Fair and Rodeo.

No one bettered Trevor Brazile’s average on three head in the tie-down roping. The reigning all-around world champion, Brazile posted a 24.9-second time during three runs in the rodeo’s weeklong competition. Tuf Cooper, who like Brazile is from Decatur, tied for second with Sulphur, La., cowboy Shane Hanchey. Hanchey posted an 8.9-second time Saturday, which earned him $2,003.

Brazile, who roped Friday night, claimed $2,491 for his average victory. He also pocketed $1,552 for winning the progressive go, $1,011 in the first go and $1,335 in the second go.

In steer wrestling, Casey McMillen, a Craig, Colo., cowboy, made a serious move up the leaderboard and claimed the top prize in the three-head average when he turned in a 3.9-second time Saturday. McMillen, who earned more than $5,475 for his week’s work, surpassed Hunter Cure of Holliday, Texas, with Saturday’s super-quick run.

Red Lemmel, who made his way to Texas from his home in Faith, S.D., had the top ride in the saddle bronc competition Saturday. Lemmel rode a horse called Amarillo to a score of 81, which was good enough for second place and a payday of $1,111.50.

“That was a nice little horse that’s always good,” said Lemmel, who has been riding saddle bronc horses professionally since 1985. “It circles around about right and gets more jam.”

Gets more jam? Lemmel, 44, said that means the horse likes to jump.

“It gets up underneath itself and gets more air,” he explained. “That 81 is a good score. It’s good enough for second, and that’ll work. I won this rodeo last year, but I’ll take second.”

Rowdy Rathmell of Wills Point won the saddle bronc riding with the 85 score he posted Friday. That was worth $1,467.

Another rodeo veteran won the barrel racing title and the $1,715 prize that comes with first place. Mary Burger, a 59-year-old cowgirl from Pauls Valley, Okla., rode her horse, “Fred,” into the arena, around the cloverleaf and back past the timer in 17.88 seconds. With her run, Burger overtook Layna Kight of Ocala, Fla., in first place.

“That felt really good,” said Burger, the 2006 world champ. “My horse really hustled. It tried to turn and run and work.”

For her work, Burger cashed a check for $1,715.

Team ropers Chance Kelton and Boogie Ray turned in a 4.9-second time Saturday, which placed them first in the progressive go. Cody Odell and Dee Rampy won the team roping average with their 17.0-second time on three head. Kevin Stewart and Clay O’Brien Cooper placed second in the average.

Finally, in the Walker County team roping competition, Terry Winfrey and Tim Fryar won the first-place saddle for their total on four head-time of 36.52 seconds. Danny McGlothern and Cody Thornton took first in the short go with their time of 7.2 seconds.