PIONEER DAYS RODEO: First-go leaders unsure times will hold up

Jake Cooper won Friday's first go-round in tie down roping in the 43rd annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Pioneer Days Rodeo at Curry County Events Center, but he was less than satisfied.

Cooper's time of 9.3 seconds was more than two seconds ahead of runnerup Cody Jordan of Hobbs, but he doesn't think it'll hold up in the final two days of the rodeo. New contestants will go at it tonight and again on Sunday.

CMI photo: Tony Bullocks

Kyle Broce of La Junta, Colo., received a no-score on his steer wrestling effort during Friday's 43rd annual PRCA Pioneer Days Rodeo at Curry County Events Center.

"I drew a good calf," said Cooper, a Hobbs High graduate from Monument, N.M., which is near Hobbs. "It really wasn't as fast (a time) as it should've been. I made a couple of mistakes."

Cooper, who turns 29 in less than two weeks, still hopes to finish in the money (top eight), but soon after he competed in tie down and team roping on Friday night he was on his way to Garden City, Kan., for another rodeo tonight.

"If I'd have done my job, I should've been (at) 8.5," he said of Friday's performance. "I'm sure I won't (win). I'm hoping to place."

Cooper said he enjoys the Pioneer Days event.

"I've been to this rodeo a few times, and it worked out I could come this year," he said. "This is probably considered a medium to smaller (PRCA) rodeo, but it's a really good rodeo.

"We had a nice crowd tonight; it's fun coming when fans appreciate you."

On the women's side, three-time world champion Sherry Cervi took the first go in barrel racing, posting a time of 17.53 seconds.

"I felt like I had a good run," she said, also implying she perhaps won't end up winning. "You never know. Hopefully, it'll hold up for some money."

Cervi, from Marana, Ariz., near Tucson, said this is her third time at the Pioneer Days Rodeo. A 15-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, she also is on her way to another rodeo today, this one in Elizabeth, Colo.

After that, she'll head for Alberta, Canada, and a series of about a half-dozen rodeos over the next couple of weeks or so.

"Summer is here," she said. "It'll be busy for the next couple of months."

About 300 entrants are competing this weekend. The second performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today, with the finale at 2 p.m. on Sunday.