This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There will be a new saddle bronc champion at the Days of '47 Rodeo.
On opening night of the 2013 event, defending champion Heith DeMoss of Heflin, La., failed to post a score.
Riding despite a sore knee, DeMoss was thrown just a fraction before completing his eight-second ride.
In all, five of the 11 competitors in the saddle bronc competition failed to post a score in the first go-around. Joaquin Real of Woody, Calif., and Jade Blackwell of Rapid City, S.D., took the lead after the opening round with identical 81s.
It's been a hit-and-miss season for DeMoss, a 28-year-old who is a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier.
He already has 10 wins to his credit, including titles at Laramie, Wyo.; Fort Smith, Ark.; and Silver City, N.M. But he is only 13th on the season's money list with earnings of $31,620.
"My rides are either dang good and I win the rodeo or they are so poor I hardly place," said Moss. "But for the most part, it's going all right. I'm keeping my head above water."
An hour before the start of the Days of '47, DeMoss sat on a table in the Justin Sports Medicine room, deep within the arena.
He leaned against a wall as Dr. Pepper Murray worked on his extremely sore left knee, which he injured only 24 hours earlier in Salinas, Calif.
"I just got bucked off and came down on my saddle," DeMoss said. "My knee landed right in the middle of it. It swelled up, got all big and looked as ugly as heck."
Glancing at Murray, DeMoss smiled.
"When you've got him here — and all the Justin Sports Medicine people — they take care of you like Mama would," he said. "... The older I get, the more I realize how lucky we are these guys are here. I can't imagine doing it without them."
DeMoss is locked in a close fight for a berth in the 2013 National Finals Rodeo in December. The top 15 money-winners in each event qualify so, at No. 13, he has to keep winning to punch his ticket to Las Vegas.
"That's a goal," DeMoss said. "I've been there before and I'd like to go back. But I've got my sights set on the world championship. That's the next step. That's what I want next."
Like all rodeo contestants, DeMoss' schedule in July will remain hectic.
He was supposed to compete in Ogden on Saturday night, but he will bypass the event because he is also entered in the rich Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyo.
After that, DeMoss returns to Utah on July 24 for the Fiesta Days Rodeo in Spanish Fork.
Sore knee or not, DeMoss said, "You've got to keep going." —
Friday's results
Bareback
1. Ty Breuer (Mandan, N.D.), 87; 2. Joe Gunderson (Agar, S.D.), 84; 3. Richmond G. Champion (The Woodlands, Texas), 82.
Steer wrestling
1. Hunter Cure (Holiday, Texas) and Jule Hazen (Ashland, Kansas), 4.1; 3. Nick Guy (Sparta, Wis.), 4.6.
Tie-down roping
1. Nate Baldwin (Blackfoot, Idaho), 8.1; 2. Ryle Smith (Oakdale, Calif.), 8.9; 3. Trampus Quarnberg (Annabella, Utah), 9.0.
Saddle bronc
1. Joaquin Real (Woody, Calif.) and Jade Blackwell (Rapid City. S.D.), 81; 3. Sam Spreadborough (Snyder, Texas), 77.
Team roping
1. Jimmy Tanner (Tifton, Calif.) and Shawn Harris (Searcy, Ark.), 5.3; 2. Rob Webb (Wendell, Neb.) and Dan Webb (Wendell, Neb.), 6.0; 3. Pete Jones (Twins Falls, Idaho) and Ben Tibbitts (Blackfoot, Idaho), 7.9.
Barrell racing
1. Benette Little (Ardmore, Okla.), 13.59; 2. Jessi Eagleberger (Stringtown, Okla.), 13.89; 3. Jamie Gee (Winnemucca. Nev.), 14.16.
Bull riding
1. Wesley Silcox (Santaquin, Utah), 89; 2. Matt Pojanowski (Woodbury, Minn.), 83; 3. Shawn Hogg (Gardendale, Texas), 80; 4. J.W. Harris (Mullin, Texas), 78; 5. Tate Stratton (Kellyville, Okla.), 74. —
If you go
O What • Days of 47 Rodeo
Where • Energy-Solutions Arena
Days • Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Time • 6:30 p.m.
Tickets • ESA box office, Smith's Tix
INSIDE • For Friday's results, see Page D4.
ONLINE • For a photo gallery of Friday's events, visit
> sltrib.com/sports