RENO - Steve Purcella and Casey Chamberlain teamed up to win first prize at the 30th annual Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic Monday morning at the Indoor Arena at the Reno Livestock Events Center.
The projected first-place money for Purcella and Chamberlain was approximately $140,00 ($70,000 each). The duo was timed in 46.92 for five attempts.
Lance Brooks and Kyle Lockett were second at 47.56, Charly Crawford and Cody Hintz were third at 47.72. Fourth place went to Travis Bard and Brock Hanson, who were timed in 47.90. Danny Necohea and Tommye Flenniken were fifth at 48.45, while former champs Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper teamed up for a 49.32 and sixth place.
Jason Williams and Kyon Sayer were seventh at 50.33, while Blaine Linaweaver and Richard Durham were eighth at 50.65. Fallon's Jade Corkill and Chris Lawson teamed up for a 51.06 and a ninth-place finish and Colby Schneeman and Justin Davis were 10th at 51.7.
ON TAP TONIGHT
A new group of bareback, saddle bronc riders and bull riders will be in the arena tonight.
Elko's Paul Jones and Utah's Jess Davis are 17th and 11th, respectively on the bareback money chart.
Defending Reno champ Chad Ferley, who is currently 20th on the money list, heads the saddle bronc contingent. Also in the field are Jeff Willert, Cody DeMoss, Rod Hay and Jesse Bail all in the top 40.
Top barrel racers are Kelly Kaminski and Annessa Self.
Fred Boettcher, who missed by .05 of advancing in Xtreme Bulls on Thursday, and defending world champ B.J. Schumacher head the bull riders. Schumacher lasted just .03 on his Xtreme ride on Thursday.
A NEW FACE
Tim O'Connor, 25, has big shoes to fill this year. He was tabbed to replace Joe Baumgartner, who was the PRCA Bullfighter of the Year, the past three years.
O'Connor has been paired with veteran Rowdy Barry, and thus far the new combination seems to be working.
O'Connor has mostly been working Flying U rodeos in California. Reno is his biggest assignment to date.
"It was kind of a last-minute thing," said O'Connor, who is on a 1-year contract.
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
It's a busy day at the 88th annual Reno Rodeo with a plethora of events scheduled on Jack Daniels Fan Appreciation Night.
Team roping and tie-down roping is scheduled for 7 a.m., and there is no admission charge to attend the event.
At 8 a.m., the annual Perry DiLoretto roping event is scheduled at the Indoor Arena.
A performance horse sale is set for 5 p.m. at the Indoor Arena and second Special Kids Rodeo is at 6 in the Outdoor Arena.
The rodeo runs through Saturday night.
•Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1281