Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo

The Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo was held July 12-13th in Iron River, Michigan. It is largest and only PRCA sanctioned rodeo since 1968 in Michigan. Although the town may be small, the rodeo community comes shows up big each year packing the stands and supporting the local businesses.

Tanner Fine took first in the first round of the bareback riding with a big 86.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Peach, first in the second round with an 84.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Cry Me A River, and first in the average for 171 points on two head. Ben Kilburg took first in the steer wrestling with his 3.9 second run. Will Clark/Derrick Crawford took first in the team roping with their 4.5 second run. Logan Allen took first in the first round of the saddle bronc riding with an 84.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Dixie Cup, he tied on Three Hills Rodeo's Tennessee Whiske with Brady Irvine, on Three Hills Rodeo's Dixie Cup, and Chance Masters, on Three Hills Rodeo's Trouble Witha Curve who all had 81 point rides, and took first in the average with 165.5 points on two head. Austin Madison took first in the tie-down roping with a 10.2 second run. Sandi Brandli took first in the barrel racing with her 16.35 second run. There were no qualified rides in the bull riding. All-Around Cowboy went to Chance Oftedahl who competed in tie-down roping and team roping.

All-Around Cowboy: Chance Oftedahl, $1,401, tie-down roping and team roping.

Bareback Riding:

First Round: 1. Tanner Fine, 86.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Peach Juice, $348; 2. Briar Dittmer, 86, $261; 3. Dylan George, 76, $174; no other qualified rides.

Second Round: 1. Tanner Fine, 84.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Cry Me A River, $348; 2. Dylan George, 81, $261; 3. (tie) Briar Dittmer and Drew Lind, 79.5, $131 each.

Average: 1. Tanner Fine, 171 points on two head, $348; 2. Briar Dittmer, 165.5, $261; 3. Dylan George, 157, $174; 4. Drew Lind, 79.5 on one head, $87.

Steer Wrestling:

1. Ben Kilburg, 3.9 seconds, $1,050; 2. Fenton Nelsen, 4.6, $869; 3. Cody Metsker, 4.8, $688; 4. Jake Thomas, 4.9, $507; 5. Austin Madison, 5.0, $326; 6. Emmett Edler, 5.2, $181.

Team Roping:

1. Will Clark/Derrick Crawford, 4.5 seconds, $1,254 each; 2. Adam Rose/Gralyn Elkins, 5.0, $1,038; 3. (tie) Ranger Hill/Ryan Von Ahn and Chance Oftedahl/Brent Miller, 5.2, $713 each; 5. Dylan Breitsprecher/Cole Stevens, 5.8, $389; 6. Logan Allen/Jordan Rohlk, 6.2, $216.

Saddle Bronc Riding:

First Round: 1. Logan Allen, 84.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Dixie Cup, $392; 2. Chance Masters, 83, $294; 3. Cable Wareham, 82.5, $196; 4. Byron Gilliland, 80, $98.

Second Round: 1. (tie) Logan Allen, on Three Hills Rodeo's Tennessee Whiske, Brady Irvine, on Three Hills Rodeo's Dixie Cup, and Chance Masters, on Three Hills Rodeo's Trouble Witha Curve, 81 points, $294 each; 4. Cable Wareham, 79, $98.

Average: 1. Logan Allen, 165.5 points on two head, $392; 2. Chance Masters, 164, $294; 3. Cable Wareham, 161.5, $196; 4. Byron Gilliland, 145, $98.

Tie-Down Roping:

1. Austin Madison, 10.2 seconds, $1,050; 2. Steve Kuntz, 10.4, $869; 3. Chance Oftedahl, 11.2, $688; 4. Coy Nelson, 12.0, $507; 5. Andrew Forrer, 12.3, $326; 6. Zak Danison, 12.9, $181.

Barrel Racing: 1. Sandi Brandli, 16.35 seconds, $1,045; 2. Lori Smedberg, 16.55, $896; 3. Austyn Tobey, 16.57, $747; 4. Ashley Walstrom, 16.59, $647; 5. (tie) Amanda Olson and Karsyn Potter, 16.69, $448 each; 7. Kricket Gintner, 16.80, $299; 8. Sierra Steele, 16.82, $199; 9. Tierra Hauser, 16.83, $149; 10. (tie) Lexi Hall and Nicole Thomas, 16.91, $50 each.

Bull Riding: No qualified rides.

Total payoff: $27,768. Stock contractor: Three Hills Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Corey Morehead. Timers: Corey Morehead and Lindsey West. Announcer: Jody Carper. Bullfighters: Garret Oland and Dustin Nelson. Clown/barrelman: Kyle Lamon. Flankman: David Morehead. Chute boss: David Morehead. Pickup men: Patrick Crawford and Garrett Oland. Music director: Marla Morehead. Photographer: Dakota Cardenas.

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