A near-capacity crowd showed up for the opening night of the 81st annual Gerry Rodeo on Wednesday. Rodeo spokesperson Paul Cooley reports that rainfall in the area stopped and the skies cleared in time for the first of four performances at the rodeo grounds off Route 60. Here are the results from Wednesday's competition:
Bareback bronc riding: Matthew Smith (Missouri), 80 points; Tim Murphy (South Carolina), 78.5 points; Lane Evans, 71 points; Tyler Ferguson (Colorado), 69 points
Steer wrestling: Gavin Sloat (New Jersey), 5.8 seconds; John Leinaweaver, 10.0 seconds; Clay Harp, Jr. (New Jersey), 14.1 seconds; Coy Dyer (New Jersey), 14.8 seconds; Chase Brantmeyer (New Jersey) 16.8 seconds
Team roping: Braxton and Brad Culpepper, 5.6 seconds; Darren Morgan and Shane Jenkins, 7.4 seconds; David Ballantyne and T.R. Serio (Pennsylvania), 8.6 seconds; Terry Shetron and Josh Offutt, 14.5 seconds; Chaz McGuire and Chris Taylor, 15.5 seconds
Saddle bronc riding: Colt Bass (North Carolina), 79 points; Ray Hostetler, 78.5 points
Breakaway roping: DeNiess Kilgus (Pennsylvania), 3.7 seconds; Sarah Pita, 3.8 seconds
Tie-down roping: Riley Webb (Texas), 8.8 seconds; J.R. Myers, 10.8 seconds
Barrel racing: Willie Horzepa (New Jersey), 15.56 seconds; Bobbie Griswold, 15.71 seconds
Bull riding: No successful rides, but all riders escaped serious injury
Prior to the rodeo competition, Chef Kyle VanAkin and his kitchen crew served about 625 barbecue beef dinners, which feature beef cooked for eight hours over wood fires and served with the secret sauce, salad, corn, cottage cheese, kettle-browned potatoes, ice cream and a drink. The dinners are served for the next three evenings from 5:00-8:00 PM.
Thursday night's performance features a special admission for military members and first responders who are admitted to the rodeo for $10 with proper ID. These tickets must be purchased at the rodeo office.
Photo from the Gerry Rodeo Facebook page
