DEADWOOD, S.D. Two-time Wrangler NFR saddle bronc riding qualifier Jeffery Willert used a win at the Days of '76 Rodeo in Deadwood, S.D., to remain atop the Jack Daniel's World Standings.
Willert (Belvidere, S.D.) rode Korkow Rodeo's Lil Rose for 86 points and a check worth $4,093. Anthony Bello (Oakley, Utah) finished one point behind Willert and collected $2,138. Willert, who has been plagued with physical setbacks during his career, is taking advantage of his healthy year, putting forth a serious effort for another Wrangler NFR qualification and a shot at a world title.
In 2003, Willert finished ninth in the world with $86,209 and last year got the opportunity to compete at the Wrangler NFR after Dan Mortensen was sidelined following the Pace Classic in Dallas with a broken ankle. Willert finished 17th in the world with $66,465.
Jason McClain finished atop the leaderboard in the bull riding in Deadwood with an 89-point ride aboard Andrews Rodeo's Culpepper. McClain (Lewis, Colo.) pocketed $3,449 and outdistanced Greg Fuller (Dimmitt, Texas) who finished with an 87.
Even though he didn't win the title, bull rider Matt Austin (Wills Point, Texas) picked up a check totaling $1,954 to extend his lead even more in the Jack Daniel's World Standings. He finished third with an 85 and now leads the world standings with $154,045.
Tie-down roper Doug Pharr rolled to victory, winning the first round in a time of 8.2 seconds and finishing fifth in the second round after stopping the clock in 9.1 seconds. Pharr (Resaca, Ga.) won the average with a time of 17.3 seconds on two head and collected checks worth $4,371. Fellow Georgian Ryan Jarrett took second with a time of 17.9 and won $3,374. Jarrett (Summerville, Ga.) finished in a tie for second in the first round with a run of 8.5 seconds and placed sixth in the second round with a time of 9.4.
Barrel racing rookie Meagan Reichert (Mt. Pleasant, Texas) is making a name for herself and her 6-year-old horse Marvin. Reichert smoked the field with a run of 16.54 seconds to win a check worth $2,842. Melanie Southard (Scurry, Texas) was second with a time of 16.87 and picked up $2,415.
Reichert's win comes on the heels of victories at the Dinosaur Days Roundup in Vernal, Utah, and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Other winners in Deadwood were:
Scott Drennan (Buffalo, Texas), bareback riding, 82 points on Korkow Rodeo's Boogers Pet, $3,021;
Dru Melvin (Weatherford, Okla.), steer wrestling, 9.1 seconds on two head, $2,847;
Alfred Hansen (Dickinson, N.D.) and Seth Weishaar (Belle Fourche, S.D.), team roping, 12.4 seconds on two head, $2,882 each; and
Lawson Plemons (Chilton, Texas), steer roping, 34.6 seconds on three head, $6,123.