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Sisters, Oregon
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Bronc rider sets new rodeo record
By Jim Cornelius

The Sisters Rodeo roped in some great action.

The weather was bone-numbing cold, but the action was as hot as ever at the 62nd annual Sisters Rodeo last weekend.

Glen O'Neill of Alberta, Canada, made a spectacular 84-point ride on Sunday, June 9, to claim the saddle bronc title. His 84-point ride on Sunday and his total combined score of 161 were new arena records.

Calf roper Ryan Gallagher of Pendleton, took All-Around honors.

Let 'er buck!

The action was by no means confined to the riding. legendary bullfighter Rob Smets took a horn hook under his protective vest on Saturday, but he was back in action on Sunday, seemingly none the worse for wear from a cracked rib.

Rodeo clown Flint Rasmussen put on his usual comic show, bantering with rodeo announcers Curt Robinson and Wayne Brooks.

On Sunday, Rasmussen begged, badgered and cajoled Sisters resident and hall-of-fame NFL quarterback Dan Fouts into passing a football to him. Fouts, standing in the box seats, waved Rasmussen to go deep and Fouts threw a bullet halfway across the arena.

Rasmussen proved he was not just clowning around, making a nice snag just as a bucking bronc burst out of the chutes.

A young cowgirl watches the action in the Sisters Rodeo Arena.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the show for many was the heart-pounding performance of John S. Payne, the One Arm Bandit.

Payne, who lost an arm -- and nearly his life -- in an electrical accident back in 1973, controlled his horse with his knees as he performed whip cracking tricks and herded three massive Watusi-Longhorn cows around the arena and onto the top of his towering stock trailer.

Payne's control, grace and grit astounded the crowd and the audience held its breath as his horse whirled on the top of the trailer.

The One Arm Bandit's performance was the talk of Sisters and one audience member said, "he's the best we've ever had."

But the action that counted was in the main events, as top cowboys and cowgirls vied to get off to a good start on the "Road to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo." The NFR is held in Las Vegas in December.

As part of the tour, the Sunday Sisters rodeo performance will be televised by TNN.

The early season rodeo gives cowboys and cowgirls a chance to start accumulating winnings to qualify for the NFR.

Jeff Rupert of Jerome, Idaho, conquered the Beard Rodeo bull pen, putting together a combined score of 163 to win the bull riding event. Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, California, won the steer wrestling; Clay Tryan and Caleb Tesselman won the team roping event; Patty Childers of Stanwood, Washington, was the champion barrel racer; Chad Klein of Clinton, Louisiana, won the bareback; Houston Hutto of Del Rio, Texas, took calf roping honors.

The Sisters Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

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