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Myers Shines At Pendleton Rodeo

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Special to Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2008

PENDLETON, OREGON - The 98th rendition of the Pendleton Round-Up wrapped up on Saturday with a familiar face, Cash Myer's, showing up in the award photos. For the second year in a row Myers, 28, of Athens, Texas, one of the top-ranked cowboys in the world standings, captured Pendleton's top award.

In other action, local favorite Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Oregon, captured first in calf roping; Linzie Walker, Conway, Washington, captured first in the only women's event, barrel racing for a record third consecutive year and bull rider Clayton Foltyn, El Campo, Texas, who took a stomping from his bull, Dippin Dots, was carried off the field but is reportedly recovering.

A member of one of the top rodeo families in the sport-his father Butch was the world steer wrestling champ in 1980, his brother, Rope, took that prize in 2001, and his cousin, Ty Murry, holds the record for the most All Around world titles ever-Myers competes in steer wrestling, steer roping and calf roping.

"I had a good week," said Myers. "In steer ropin' I did real good in the first round and calf ropin' was just a steady thing. In steer ropin' I really need to win and this was a big boost. I got a couple of rodeos left before the NFR." The annual National Finals Rodeo takes place later this fall in Las Vegas and is the final destination for winning cowboys who compete in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

Asked about his feelings on the Pendleton Round-Up, Myers was ecstatic. "Man, this is an awesome place! Everybody comes here that matters. You know how great and special this place is. It's just an honor to come here and compete. The wildness on the grass . . . it just all comes together to make it special." Pendleton is unique with its grass competition field, which leads some cowboys to complain that it causes their horses to slip in the roping and steer wrestling events. But apparently, some like it.

Asked if he had a special place for his All Around trophy, Myers said he had a "whole new house to go around it. My wife's got some ideas about that," he quipped.

Another Texan, 25-year-old Will Lowe of Canyon, who took first place at last year's Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and who has won over $1.1 million since joining the PRCA at 19, also did well at Round-Up this year, taking first in the bareback event.

In the only team event Luke Brown, Rock Hill, SC, and Monty Joe Petska, Turlock, CA, took first in team roping. Brown, 34, is one of the top ranked headers in professional rodeo competition as is his heeler, Petska, 46, who has competed eight times in NFR roping competitions. In team roping the header must first rope the steer's head and turn the animal. The heeler then ropes both hind legs. A miss earns no score.

Morgan Forbes, Kaycee, Wyoming, captured first in the saddle bronc competition. Forbes has been a world competitor in the event since he won the championship title in the 2000 National High School Rodeo Finals. Like Myers, Forbes hails from a rodeo family with father John qualifying for the NFR in 1973 and 1975-1978 while older brother Sandy also competes nationally in the saddle bronc event.

Casey Martin, Sulphur, Louisiana, took first in steer wrestling, Martin, 27, is also a nationally ranked competitor, who took the steer wrestling title at rodeos in Washington and Texas this summer.

Yet another Texan, Scott Snedecor, 33, of Uvalde, won the steer roping event. Snedecor has enjoyed an outstanding summer, winning the roping or All Around titles at ten rodeos this year. He was the College National Finals Rodeo team roping champ in 1995 and earlier took the title of Texas state roping champion, in 1992. He has competed several times at the NFR.

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