Cowboy Up: It’s rodeo time again in Southern Nevada

The National Finals Rodeo in December isn’t he only time when America’s original extreme sport is news in Southern Nevada. So check back to see latest local news from LVRJ.com.

Ridin’ and ropin’ Rebels roll

The UNLV rodeo team had a successful weekend recently at a college rodeo in Coalinga, Calif. The men’s team placed fourth out of eight teams while the women wranglers were runner-up in the their division.

Some of the standout performances of the weekend were delivered by senior stars Chelsea Hoff, Tarah Lappin, Jaymie Leach, and Orie Lemmons. They led the way for newcomers Heather Richard, Bailey Corkill, Olie Fowler, and Tyler Richard to contribute to the overall success of UNLV.

Lappin of Kimberly, Idaho, won goat tying and Heather Richard of Las Vegas won barrel racing. Hoff of Las Vegas placed second in breakaway roping and goat tying while Leach of Roseburg, Ore., was second in barrel racing and fifth in goat tying.

On the men’s team, Las Vegan Richards was second in calf roping and Lemmons of Castro Valley, Calif, was third in steer wrestling and fifth in team roping.

Visit www.UNLVrodeo.com for information.

Champ to miss April 8-11 Logandale rodeo

The Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale is April 8-11 and most of the top contestants will compete in the popular event on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association tour.

But two-time and reigning world champion steer wrestler Lee Graves of Canada will miss the rodeo after undergoing surgery March 23 to repair a torn bicep tendon in his left arm. He is expected to be sidelined for up to six months.

Two years ago, Graves was out of action for eight months recovering from surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in his right knee but came back last year to edge Luke Branquinho for the world championship.

Graves is 17th in the current PRCA World Standings.

Visit www.ccfair.com for information.

U.S. lineup shuffled for PBR World Cup

The third annual Professional Bull Riders World Cup will be April 16-18 at the Thomas & Mack Center and held in the United States for the first time.

But two of the American riders — Kody Lostroh and McKennon Wimberly — who were selected for the five-man team will miss the Cup due to injuries.

Even with the loss of Lostroh, the reigning PBR world champion, the U.S. team likely will be favored when it faces teams from Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Australia.

Austin Meier of Checotah, Okla., will be the team leader. He is the only three-time winner this season and is the top-ranked PBR rider heading into this weekend’s event in New Orleans.

U.S. captain J.W. Hart is considering Josh Koschel, Jody Newberry, L.J. Jenkins and Ryan McConnel as replacements to join Meier, J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) and Jordan Hupp (Cheyenne, Wyo).

The following are rosters for the other countries:

Team Canada —Devon Mezei (Scandia, Alberta, Canada), Tyler Thompson (Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada) and Tanner Girletz (Cereal, Alberta, Canada). The trio joins Aaron Roy (Asquith, Saskatchewan, Canada) and Scott Schiffner (Strathmore, Alberta, Canada).

Team Brazil — Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil), Fabiano Vieira (Perola, PR, Brazil), Silvano Alves (Catanduva, SP, Brazil) and Edimunco Gomes (Brazil) will join Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil). Brazil was forced to replace Valdiron de Oliveira who is projected to miss the next few months with a shoulder injury.

Team Australia — Brothers Jared and Pete Farley (Kempsey, NSW, Australia), Ben Jones (Sunset, Texas), David Kennedy (Kyogle, Australia), and Rhys Angland (Wagga Wagga, Australia).

Team Mexico — Francisco Morales (Jrapunto, Gua, Mexico), Nile Lebaron (Chihuahua, Mexico) and Lorenozo Rios (Guanajuato, Mexico), Rocky McDonald (Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico) and Gustavo Pedrero (Jalisco, Mexico). Hugo Pedrero declined Team Mexico’s invitation to participate in the 2010 World Cup due to injuries.

Teams can make adjustments to their rosters until April 12, after which changes will only be allowed due to injury.

Over the course of three nights, fans will witness world-class rides during six rounds of action, with all 25 riders competing in each round. This means that fans will have the opportunity to watch at least 50 show-stopping rides each night! The top three scores for each country in each round will count toward the team total. The team accumulating the most points during the six rounds will be

Visit www.PBR.com for information.