Stars
of the IFR
by Todd Newville
The 32nd Annual
International Finals Rodeo will be held on Jan. 17-20, inside State
Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. With world championships on the line
and a record $350,000 total payoff, rodeo fans will be treated to
some exciting performances from the best contestants belonging to
the International Professional Rodeo Association.
The
top 15 IPRA cowboys and cowgirls in bareback riding, steer wrestling,
team roping, saddle bronc riding, cowgirls barrel racing, calf roping
and bull riding will qualify for this prestigious event - the finale
to the 2001 IPRA rodeo season. IPRA world titles will be decided during
the five go-rounds of competition.
The first performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17. The
second performance will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18. The
third and fourth rounds of IFR 32 (presented by Ford) will be held
on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively, with
the fifth and final performance being staged at 2 p.m. on Sunday,
Jan. 20.
The matinee performance on Saturday is Kid's Day at IFR 32, sponsored
by OG&E and Braum's Ice Cream Stores. Prior to the third performance
on Saturday, children are invited onto the arena floor with IFR 32
cowboys and cowgirls to participate in simulated rodeo events and
meet their favorite contestants.
During the week of IFR 32, the 40th Annual IPRA Convention will be
held at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City. Various meetings and
seminars will be held for IPRA rodeo committees from across the country.
The Miss Rodeo USA Pageant will also be held during the week of IFR
32. As the official ambassadress of the IPRA, Miss Rodeo USA is responsible
for representing the association during the entire season at various
IPRA rodeos and functions throughout the United States and Canada.
Contestants in the Miss Rodeo USA pageant compete in various horsemanship,
speech, & modeling portions of the contest throughout the week
under the watchful eyes of experienced judges. The 2002 Miss Rodeo
USA will be crowned during the third performance of IFR 32.
The IFR 32 Trade Show will be held during the rodeo as various vendors
will be on hand to show off their products available for purchase
by rodeo fans. Western wear, tack, art, and other various commodities
will be in ample supply during the entire run of the rodeo for fans
to buy and enjoy.
The IFR 32 Bucking Stock Sale will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at
State Fair Arena. The morning session will begin at 9 a.m. and the
evening session will start at 7 p.m. Over 300 bucking horses and bulls
will be consigned with buyers coming from over 35 states and Canada.
The
Contract Acts Showcase will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18 inside
State Fair Arena. Specialty acts (both comedy and dress) along with
announcers and barrelmen will compete in front of judges to showcase
their talents in hopes of winning cash prizes and securing dates for
the upcoming season. Stock contractors and rodeo committees will be
on hand to witness these competitors in action. Both the bucking stock
sale and showcase competition are open to the public.
The 2001 IPRA rodeo season has been another exciting one and the competition
for gold buckles is fierce. In bareback riding, Raymond Cooper from
Center Ridge, Ark., leads the way entering IFR 32 with $35,421.00.
Scot Mitchell of Cooper, Texas, is the defending IPRA bareback riding
world champ and is No. 2 going into the Finals with $26,769.59.
Steer wrestler Ronnie Fields of Oklahoma City is making a strong bid
to repeat as IPRA world champion. Last year, he won his first IPRA
world title and became just the fourth black IPRA cowboy to win a
world championship. This year, he is No. 1 going into IFR 32 with
$23,390.34. IPRA president and 11-time world champion Dale Yerigan
of Pryor, Okla., is No. 2 with $17,155.46.
Veteran cowboy Terry Crow from Miami, Okla., is first among the heelers
in the team roping event with $26,435.87. He is a former IPRA world
champion, winning the team roping crowns in 1986 and '92. Rookie Nicky
Simmons of Colcord, Okla., leads the heelers with $25,613.65. Defending
IPRA saddle bronc riding world champion Ron Hogin from Bon Aqua, Tenn.,
goes into IFR 32 leading with $36,258.74. An eight-time IFR qualifier,
Hogin leads Jet McCoy of Tupelo, Okla., who has $22,711.39. McCoy
is a two-time defending IPRA all-around world champion cowboy and
will qualify for the Finals in all three rough-stock events - bareback
riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. With $42,930.57, McCoy
is in the lead for his third consecutive all-around crown.
Betty Roper of Oktaha, Okla., is a cinch to wrap up her sixth IPRA
world title. She leads her event once again going into IFR 32 with
$33,330.66. This record-setting cowgirl is trying to become the first
IPRA barrel racer in history to win four consecutive IPRA world titles.
Calf roper Trent Creager of Pawnee, Okla., leads the twine twirlers
heading into IFR 32 with $26,539.27. Right behind him is eight-time
IFR qualifier Wade White from Okmulgee, Okla., with $24,761.73 and
Rob Pierce of Locust Grove, Okla., with $23,082.65. None of these
cowboys has ever won an IPRA world title and this should be one of
the most exciting championship races at the Finals.
Also, the bull riding event will be a battle as three toro busters
have an excellent chance to come away with the 2001 crown. Tommy Apala
from Gordonsville, Tenn., is top dawg at the moment with $27,697.20.
Right behind him, though, is defending IPRA world champ Blaine Whipp
of Myersville, Md., with $24,585.64 and Jason Creekmore from Yukon,
Okla., with $24,457.93.
Tickets ($14.00 and $25.00) are on sale for IFR 32 by calling toll
free at 1-800-477 6849 or online at www.tickets.com. For more info
about the IPRA and the IFR, please see the official web site www.iprarodeo.com
or call (405) 235-6540.
