Tough draw for Murphy in rodeo

RENO - You had to feel sorry for bull rider Sonny Murphy, who rode so well at the Xtreme Bulls event last week, and followed that up with an 83-point ride at the 87th annual Reno Rodeo earlier this week.

Murphy drew Reindeer Dippin', considered the nastiest bull around, for his final round. The bull has bucked riders off nearly 98 percent of the time, and has been ridden just once in the Pro Bull and PRCA tours combined.

Murphy opted to pass on his final ride, electing to go to Idaho for another rodeo.

The rodeo elected to have a $5,000 jackpot ride at the end of last night's session. The Red Bluff and Reno rodeos and Cotton Rosser put up $1,500 apiece, and announcers Bob Tallman and Wayne Brooks ponied up another $500 combined.

J.W. Harris, who won the Xtreme Bulls with a 96 last week, was elected for the jackpot ride. Harris lasted about three bucks before being discarded like a rag doll.

CORKILL MAKES FINALS

Fallon's Jade Corkill first trip to the Reno Rodeo was an unqualified success.

Corkill, 18, and on his way to resistol Rookie of the Year honors as the top heeler, qualified sixth with his partner Matt Tyler.

The duo were unable to score in the championship round.

2005 FINALISTS MISSING

Several 2005 champions either didn't compete or didn't make it back to the finals this season.

Dustin Elliott (bulls), Monty Lewis (tie-down roping), Todd Suhn (steer wrestling), Steve Purcella (team roping), Britt Bockius (team roping) and Davey Shields (co-winner bareback).

AWARD PRESENTATION

John Solari, the president of the Reno Rodeo Foundation, handed out a check to representatives from Moms on the Run for $27,380.

Moms on the Run was founded by J.P, and Barbara Pinochio in 2000, and through a partnership with the Reno Cancer Foundation, provides financial support to women with breast cancer. The money will be used to ease the financial strain that many women face when they are diagnosed with cancer.

REBROADCAST TIMES

The champinship round of the rodeo will be rebroadcast on Fox Sports West on July 3 at 8 p.m., July 6 at 3 p.m. and July 8 at 3 p.m.

On July 4 at 8 p.m., Fox Sports Bay Area will broadcast the finals. It will also be aired on July 6 at 3 p.m.

WORTH NOTING

The day sheets the Reno Rodeo produces had several inaccuracies of who the finalists were and what scored they qualified with. This event is famous for adjusting scores and not informing the media ... Lacy J. Dalton, a Virginia City resident, sang the national anthem.

•Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1281