Weekend winners

Covers win calf scramble; see more results from 65th Roundup

Pros and local residents alike competed in a number of events Saturday and Sunday at the 65th Mother Lode Roundup Rodeo, hosted by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse and sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

The arena at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora was packed with spectators both days to see who would claim the top prizes in professional competitions such as bull riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing, along with amateur events like the calf scramble, mutton busting and kiddie rodeo.

Hayden Everhart was the winner of Saturday’s mutton-busting event, while Brody Richey won the event Sunday, according to results provided by Dan Durnall, chairman of the rodeo committee.

Charli Stone was the winner of the stick horse race during Sunday’s kiddie rodeo, while Cooper Higginbotham won the boot race.

Jethro and Josiah Cover were the overall winners of the calf scramble, which pits teams of two against one another in a race to remove a half from a calf loose in the arena and return it to the start line as fast as possible. Their finishing time of 25.07 on Saturday was the fastest of all 19 teams that competed in the event over both days.

CJ and Garrett Richey finished in second place overall, with a time of 30.06 on Sunday, followed by Hunter Andersen and Reghan Miller in third place, with a time of 31.35 on Sunday.

Teams for the calf scramble were auctioned off at the Calcutta on Thursday, which raised about $21,000. The buyers of the winning teams were to split about $15,700 of the total pot, while about $5,200 went to the Posse’s scholarship fund and other charitable causes.

Mike Suess, general chairman of the Roundup, commended Durnall for his work on

this year’s rodeo.

Nearly $35,000 in prize money was awarded across all of the professional competitions throughout the weekend. See all the results provided by the PRCA below.

Rodeo results

Bareback riding:

1. Jaceklane Frost, 84.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Whipski, $1,128; 2. Clayton Biglow, 82, $846; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling:

1. Dane Browning, 5.2 seconds, $1,124; 2. Tucker Allen, 5.8, $931; 3. Grant Peterson, 7.4, $737; 4. Josh Garner, 10.2, $543; 5. Bryar Byrne, 11.3, $349; 6. Joey Rawls, 17.3, $194.

Team roping: 1. Daniel Green/elijah Green, 5.5 seconds, $1,505 each; 2. Blake Hirdes/mike George, 5.7, $1,245; 3. Seth Mielke/ Rhett Kennedy, 6.0, $986;

4. Dan Williams Jr./cody Stewart, 6.1, $727; 5. Bryor Minton/brushton Minton, 6.7, $467; 6. Tyson Perez/ Frank Perez, 8.4, $259.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tucker Bourdet, 85.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Small Package, $1,132; 2. Cameron Messier, 81, $858; 3. Mitch Pollock, 78, $618; 4. Reno Mcgill, 73, $412; 5. Ace Belvoir, 67, $240; 6. Sid Skiver, 64, $172.

Tie-down roping:

1. Colton Farquer, 10.5 seconds, $1,084; 2. Caden Farquer, 10.9, $897; 3. Dan

Williams Jr., 11.0, $710;

4. Jason Andersen, 11.1, $523; 5. Tyler Forsberg, 11.3, $336; 6. Drew Madden, 12.0, $187.

Barrel racing: 1. Kathy Petska, 17.37 seconds, $1,200; 2. Kay Cochran, 17.51, $1,029; 3. Miley Bravos, 17.57, $857; 4. Maren Powers, 17.62, $743; 5. Shelley Holman, 17.63, $572;

6. Emily Harryman, 17.64, $457; 7. Ann Mcgilchrist, 17.67, $343; 8. Kaiden Ayres, 17.70, $229; 9. Shelby Bates, 17.71, $171; 10. Macee Nunes, 17.82, $114.

Bull riding: 1. Cody Russell, 82 points on Big Stone Rodeo Inc’s Misunderstood, $1,106; no other qualified rides.

All-around cowboy: Daniel Williams, $1,436, tie-down roping and team roping.

Total payoff: $34,936.

Dominic Massimino / Union Democrat Carsenn Cummings rides a tractor to spread awareness about autism (above). Emmy Lou (left photo, middle) celebrates her sixth birthday on a float. Parade spectators (below left, from left) Reagan Royce, Gavin Hall, Maverick Kerzich, Oliver Kerzich and Nathaniel Kerzich cheer at a passing float. Joel Casler (below right, left) and Skeeter Alderson announce the parade.

Dominic Massimino / Union Democrat 2024 Mother Lode Roundup Queen Delaney Grace waves at the crowd from horseback during the 65th Mother Lode Roundup Rodeo (above).the Columbia Elementary School band performs in Hawaiian shirts (left). Tuolumne County Sheriff David Vasquez waves to the crowd during the parade (below).

Dominic Massimino / Union Democrat Kylie Bartels, 7, of Sonora, holds on for dear life in the mutton busting competition at the 65th Mother Lode Roundup Rodeo Saturday (top), as did Calvin Scharli (second from top) and Lane Kerns (third from top). Hayden Everhart, 7, of Sonora (above), won Saturday’s mutton busting competition.the first riders in Saturday’s team competition take off (below).

Dominic Massimino / Union Democrat Wyatt Denny is helped off his horse during the saddle bronc riding competition (top). Reno Mcgill is bucked from his horse during saddle bronc riding (above). Brushton Minton lassoes a calf during the tie-down roping event (below).