Top marks highlight final night of Horse Heaven Round-Up

Tim O’Connell has nearly a $50,000 lead over the next man in the bareback world standings, but the reigning world champion is happy to stuff more money in his pockets.

O’Connell turned in an 88-point ride Saturday night on the back of a young bronc named Yipee Kibitz during the finals of the Horse Heaven Round-Up. Coupled with his 83 points from his ride earlier in the week, he rode out of Kennewick with a shiny new buckle and more than $4,600.

“That is brand new horse this year,” O’Connell said. “I have heard amazing things, and they were right. What a great night for bareback, from start to finish. You had to show up and ride tonight. You had to have an 85.5 to place. We are down on numbers (riders), but not on quality. This is an amazing group of guys.”

And while O’Connell might appear greedy, he’s on a quest.

“I know there is no lead that is safe for the NFR,” he said. “I’ve won one and I have five to go to be the best ever (Joe Alexander has five world titles).”

While O’Connell has made three trips to the NFR, steer wrestler Rowdy Parrott of Mamou, La., is looking for his first trip.

Sitting 21st in the world standings, and about $6,800 out of the top 15, Parrott had the top run of the night at 3.4 seconds. With a combined time of 11.8 seconds on three runs, Parrott, 23, picked up the title and more than $5,000.

“I was really nervous coming in,” Parrott said. “Olin (Hannum) had a 4.2 and I knew I had to be fast. That is my second-best time ever.”

Parrott also credited his horse George for the hot run.

“He is a great horse,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without him.”

The tie-down title went to Caleb Smidt of Bellville, Texas, who had a time of 25.1 seconds on three runs. Timber Moore had the top run of the night at 8.1 seconds and finished third overall.

Heith DeMoss won his first title in Kennewick after coming to the Horse heaven Round-Up for years.

The Louisiana cowboy turned in an 84.5 ride on Wild Cherry, and had a two-day total of 168.5 to edge Canadian cowboy Zeke Thurston by one point.

“It’s much needed for dang sure,” said DeMoss, who is 11th in the world standings. “I just got through building a house and the bank is calling.”

DeMoss was a crowd favorite Saturday night, and he appreciated their support.

“This crowd is so frickin’ fun,” he said. “You can’t help but to want to come back.”

The team roping title went to Dustin Egusquiza and Kory Koontz, who had a time of 15.5 seconds on three runs, while Sydni Blanchard took home the barrel racing title with a time of 34.67 seconds on two runs.

On a night where there were some pretty spectacular bull rides, Chase Dougherty and Eli Vastbinder each scored an 87.5, but Doughtery’s combined rides added up to 171.5 points — 3 1/2 points better than Vastbinder — to take home the top prize.

This story was originally published August 27, 2017 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Top marks highlight final night of Horse Heaven Round-Up."