Your future, our focus
By DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
The Buffalo Bill Cody Stampede Rodeo opened Tuesday night at Stampede Park in
Cody, and contestants and spectators were greeted with rain, wind, lightning and even a brief power outage that occurred during the rodeo's first event - the bareback bronc riding.
But for those who braved the poor weather conditions during the rodeo's early stages, there was plenty to see as far as top-notch performances in events ranging from bareback bronc riding to bull riding.
Among the highlights Tuesday was the performance world champion bull rider Wesley Silcox of Payson, Utah. Silcox, who finished first during the bull riding competition at the 2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, notched a score of 88 points during his ride on Mataska. His effort put him in the top spot at the conclusion of day one and eight points ahead of Douglas' Josh Johnson, who posted a score of 80 points Tuesday night.
Rodeo action continued Wednesday and is slated to begin at 8 p.m. Thursday (today) and 5 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, Stampede Park will serve as the venue for the Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour event, which has a 6 p.m. start time.
The Xtreme Bulls rodeo will feature 40 of the world's top bull riders, including Powell's Kanin Asay. Last season, Asay won the Xtreme Bulls event in Cody and went on to claim that tour's season title. He also earned a spot in the 2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where he finished third behind Silcox and Chance Smart of Philadelphia, Miss.
Asay also is scheduled to compete in the Stampede Rodeo's bull riding competition Friday, July 4.