NW Montana Fair PRCA rodeo saves best for last

The Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo saved its best for last.

In the last event of the final night, Jordan Hansen and Tanner Girletz brought the crowd to its feet with dazzling performances in bull riding, but it was Beau Hill who stole the show.

The 38-year-old West Glacier native announced his ride — the final one on Saturday night — would be his last at the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo, and he received the loudest ovation even after he was bucked by Flight Plan in front of approximately 50 family members and friends.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Hill said.

“I really don’t know how to feel right now. I’ve had a long career, and this rodeo means a lot to me.

“Obviously, a guy wants to go out with a bang, and I had the bull to do it there. I just didn’t do my part.”

The 20-year bull riding veteran said he decided this would be his last appearance in early July after suffering an injury at a rodeo in Alberta.

“My injuries from the past just aren’t letting me ride to the best of my ability anymore, how I used to be able to ride,” Hill said. “I still love riding, but I don’t like feeling hurt. It’s not as fun anymore for me. I still love the sport, and I’ll try to do as much as I can to stay involved.”

While Hill’s ride ended in disappointment, the packed house at the Flathead County Fairgrounds was treated to not one, but two jaw-dropping rides in the nightcap.

Girletz, a Red Deer County, Alberta, native, vaulted himself to the top of the leaderboard with a 90 on Everyday Hustler, and it appeared that would be plenty to hold off the field.

But fellow Alberta native Jordan Hansen had something to say about that.

Hansen, the 12th-ranked bull rider on the PRCA circuit and a first-timer at the Northwest Montana Fair, posted a 92 on Excessive Force, eliciting a roar from the crowd when his first-place score flashed on the videoboard.

As he sat in the chute preparing for the ride, the only thing on Hansen’s mind were his previous two rides on Excessive Force, both of which ended with him in the dirt before the eight-second buzzer.

“I just knew I couldn’t let him win three times,” Hansen said. “The third time’s the charm.

“I got some redemption on him and finally got him rode, so it was an awesome feeling.”

Only one other bull rider scored on the night, and no one else came close to touching Hansen.

Even after a 90, Girletz was forced to settle for the second-place check.

“It’s unusual, but that’s rodeo,” he said.

Bull riding was not the only event that saved the drama for the third and final night of the rodeo.

Dirk Tavenner blew away the field and matched his personal-best time of 3.2 seconds in steer wrestling, a mark that was half a second better than the second-place finisher, to take home his first check in several tries at the Northwest Montana Fair.

“I knew I had a good chance (at a fast go),” Tavenner said. “I knew they’d been fast on that steer before.

“That steer was phenomenal. My hazer did a great job. My horse has been working good. It’s been a good year so far.”

Just minutes later, shortly after the conclusion of the always-popular Indian relay races, 14th-ranked Matt Shiozawa recorded an 8.7-second mark in tie down roping to take top prize by a tenth of a second.

“It was a good draw, and this time of year, it was needed,” Shiozawa said. “It’s my fastest time here ever.

“My fastest time ever is 6.5. But for this arena, this setup, these calves, 8.7 is pretty fast.”

The best, however, was saved for last.

Between Hansen’s and Girletz’s theatrics and Hill’s farewell, there was plenty to send the thousands of fans — and the riders themselves — home happy.

“A 92 and a 90 in one performance for these fans, I’m glad I was here for that,” Hill said.

“To be here for Beau Hill’s last one means everything in the world to me,” Girletz said. “My rookie year, I got travel with Beau. He took me down the road, so it means a lot to be here.”

Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo

Saturday at Flathead County Fairgrounds

Final results

All-around cowboy — Josh Peek, $1,821, tie-down roping and steer wrestling.

Bareback riding — 1. Jessy Davis, 84 points on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Journal Keeper, $2,126; 2. Shane O’Connell, 77, $1,630; 3. (tie) Blade Elliott and Dantan Bertsch, 76, $992 each; 5. Chase Erickson, 75, $496; 6. Cavan Wrzesinski, 71.5, $354; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling — 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.2 seconds, $2,184; 2. Hunter Cure, 3.7, $1,899; 3. Josh Peek, 3.9, $1,614; 4. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Trell Etbauer, 4.0, $1,187 each; 6. (tie) Bryant Mikkelson and Josh Boka, 4.1, $617 each; 8. (tie) Tanner Milan and Nick Guy, 4.3, $95 each.

Team roping — 1. Travis Nichols/Shane Bessette, 5.7 seconds, $1,547 each; 2. Clayton Hass/John Robertson, 6.1, $1,280; 3. Brady Williams/Josh Hodge, 6.5, $1,014; 4. Cody Tew/Justin Viles, 6.7, $747; 5. Max Kuttler/Kory Mytty, 6.9, $480; 6. Delon Parker/Ryan Zurcher, 7.0, $267.

Saddle bronc riding — 1. Jade Blackwell, 85 points on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Spanish Pair, $2,555; 2. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Jacobs Crawley, 84, $1,703 each; 4. Cody Wright, 83, $937; 5. Spencer Wright, 81.5, $596; 6. Ryder Wright, 79.5, $426; 7. Leon Fountain, 77, $341; 8. Wyatt Hurst, 71.5, $255.

Tie-down roping — 1. Matt Shiozawa, 8.7 seconds, $2,378; 2. Riley Pruitt, 8.8, $2,068; 3. Tyson Durfey, 9.0, $1,758; 4. Cooper Martin, 9.2, $1,448; 5. Cody Quaney, 9.4, $1,137; 6. (tie) Tim Pharr and Reese Riemer, 9.9, $672 each; 8. Josh Peek, 10.2, $207.

Barrel racing — 1. Jana Bean, 17.41 seconds, $2,215; 2. Shelly Anzick, 17.47, $1,882; 3. Ashley Sudan, 17.65, $1,550; 4. Kellie Collier, 17.68, $1,329; 5. Callahan Crossley, 17.76, $1,107; 6. Shelby Blixt, 17.83, $775; 7. Tammy Carpenter, 17.85, $554; 8. Heather Knerr, 17.86, $443; 9. Kiana Simonson, 17.89, $388; 10. Cathy Grant, 17.90, $332; 11. Keira Simonson, 17.94, $277; 12. Kim Wermling, 17.96, $221.

Bull riding — * 1. Jordan Hansen, 92 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Excessive Force, $2,558; 2. Tanner Girletz, 90, $2,006; 3. Dakota Louis, 87, $1,532; 4. Jacob Smith, 78, $1,058; 5. Jared Parsonage, 71, $742; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).

Total payoff: $66,977. Stock contractor: Kesler Championship Rodeo. Sub-contractor: Kesler Rodeo.