Days of '47 Rodeo: Echols hangs tight for tie for first place

West Valley City • Cole Echols won his battle, but the bulls won the war Saturday night during the third performance of the Days of '47 Rodeo at the Maverik Center.

Echols moved into a tie for first place in the overall standings after a sensational 86-point effort aboard a bull named Little Dave.

In all, however, only two of 14 contestants finished their eight-second ride.

"I had a really good bull," said Echols, a 25-year-old from Elm Grove, La.. "He's just about all you could ask for in a bull — just great to ride — and I did my job."

With two rounds remaining at the Days of '47 — the rodeo resumes Monday night — Echols shares the lead with Jake Wade of Alamo, Nev.

"It's been a pretty good season," Echols said. "The last few weeks have been hard, but you're going to have that from time to time. Maybe I turned it around tonight and can keep going."

Echols' best year was 2007, when he finished 20th in the world and just missed qualifying for what would have been his only appearance at the National Finals Rodeo.

"I haven't really rode too hard since then," Echols explained.

Hutch Haslam of Morgan, Utah, was the only other competitor to complete a ride during the third performance. His score of 83 moved him into fourth place overall.

In other events:

• Rhen Richard of Roosevelt posted a time of 8.4 seconds to win the round and move into second place in the overall tie-down roping standings. Roger Nonella of Klamath Falls, Ore., continues to lead with a time of 8.3 seconds.

• Jake Wright of Milford and Dustin Flundra of Pincher Creek, Alberta, tied for first place in saddle bronc with identical scores of 80. Wright and Flundra share fourth place in the overall standings behind Heith DeMoss of Heflin, La., who had an 85 on Thursday night.

• Orin Larsen of Twin Falls, Idaho, won bareback, but his score of 76 failed to move him into the top six in the standings. Jessy Davis of Power, Mont., and Heath Ford of Slocum, Texas, continue to run 1-2 after respective scores of 84 and 83.

• Jacob Shofner of Huntsville, Texas, dominated the round in steer wrestling with a time of 6.1 seconds. Overall, he moved into a fourth-place tie. Jason Tapley continues to lead after posting a time of 4.2 seconds.