Rangely Rock ‘N’ Bull results are in

RANGELY | The arena has been packed up, the stock has headed back out to their different homes, the cowboys have rolled on to the next rodeo, and now the dust has settled on the eighth annual Rangely Rock ‘N’ Bulls.
From a production standpoint, of the previous seven years, this was our greatest event yet. The CNCC rodeo team worked tirelessly from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon setting up the arena, hanging banners, cleaning the grandstands, running a flawless community event, and then packing it all up again.
“I can’t begin to thank them enough for being where they needed to be, and giving 100 percent at every job,” said coach Jed Moore.
The town of Rangely and surrounding areas along with our great spectators really stepped up this year with sponsorships and donations and filled the grandstands and lawn at Columbine Park. Without their support this event would not be possible.
Champion cowboy Jacob Smith from La Salle, Colo., has competed at Rock ‘N’ Bull five of the eight years and claimed his first championship here in Rangely as the only cowboy to make a qualified ride, not once but twice. Smith pocketed $4,900 for his efforts. The championship round featured the top six cowboys from the first round, four of whom were either current or past CNCC rodeo cowboys. Current team members Ethan Cook and Brandon Olson qualified for the final round with alumni Rhett Nielson and Strider Leverton. Though none of them made a qualified ride, it was a great accomplishment to make it that far in such a difficult pen of bulls.
The Champion Bull Team, brought to us from Summit Pro Rodeo from Kiowa, Colo., amassed 260 team points including the high marked bull of the event, 2015 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year Cross the Line. Jesse Hill, co-owner of Summit Pro Rodeo and his trio of great bucking bulls earned $2,950 and the trophy belt buckle for their win.
Our local sponsor who was paired with the championship bull team, and also received a trophy belt buckle, was W.C Striegel. “Bud Striegel and family have been tremendous supporters of this event since its inception and we were happy to see their team win,” Moore said.
Donations and expenses are still being finalized but it looks like this year’s Rock ‘N’ Bull has raised close to $7,000 for the CNCC Rodeo Team Scholarship-Foundation account. These monies are used for scholarships, training aids, and travel expenses for these hard working cowboys and cowgirls.
“Those that were able to attend, we thank you all for your support of our event and we’re already putting plans in motion to make the 2018 Rock ‘N’ Bull bigger and better! Those who missed it, put Sept. 1, 2018 on your calendar!”
For some great photos of the event, check out the Rio Blanco Herald Times Facebook page: www.facebook.com/theheraldtimes/ as well as the Colorado Northwestern page.