Fans have treat with area talent

SIKESTON -- With nine competitors from Missouri, there was a local flavor Thursday night during Round 2 of the 55th Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo inside Art Saunders Arena at the Sikeston Rodeo Grounds.

Naylor natives Amanda Clayman and Lori Amoss, who are sisters and barrel racers, along with Ben Ray from Bertrand, and his team roping partner, Jason Stroup, from Pollard, were some names area rodeo fans might have as neighbors. Also hailing from the Show-Me State was bareback rider Josh Shackleford, from McGee, barrel racer Court Shakleford, from McGee, tie-

down roper Kadin Boardman, from Jackson, and team ropers Gabe Gwaltney, from Carthage, and Eddie Ruth, from Golden City.

"You would think this race would be my home-court advantage. I should be able to get over here and practice a little more," said Clayman, who rode her sister's horse, Fanny, to a time of 16.69 seconds and a second-place finish. "Actually, I only get to be here at one time of the year, which happens to be the hottest time of the year."

By the slimmest of margins (0.04 seconds to be exact), Court Shackleford's time of 16.65 seconds in the barrel race bested Clayman. Amoss completed the course in 17.22 seconds to finish fifth.

"It's definitely a hometown advantage for me," said Amoss, who guided her horse, Persona, around the barrels. "Especially, when you're coming around that third barrel and you hear everyone yelling. It makes me want to work harder. I don't know if I was kicking my horse harder (during the home stretch), but I know I was kicking harder than I normally do. The crowd sure helps, and they have a great crowd here.'

But Clayman had a different take on performing in front of a local crowd.

"It can be a little nerve-racking because everyone knows your name and where you're from. It's (barrel racing in Sikeston) is not as tough as it has been in the past. I don't know what is the cause of that -- if it's the ground (conditions) or the contestants. I just wanted to get through it without struggling or tipping a barrel," Clayman said.

Still, there are many preparations that go into becoming a top barrel racer.

"You prepare for this, physically, by keeping as agile as you can (be) and, of course, your horse needs to be ready. But this time of year, when I feel like I'm in a sauna, it's difficult to keep them (the horses) good. Actually, being mentally prepared has to the biggest key to winning in this event," Clayman said.

Ray and Stroup and Gwaltney and Ruth were among six squads of team ropers who recorded no times. The team of Chad Masters and Britt Bockus appeared to have defeated Jimmy Tanner and his partner, Manny Egusquiza, but a penalty was the difference in the event, 4.9 seconds to 14.7.

Boardman was one of three tie-down ropers who failed to qualify. The event was claimed by Seth Crain, who had a time of 10.0 seconds, which was 0.02 seconds faster than Quinlan Thomas.

Josh Shakleford placed third in bareback riding after posting a score of 80. Jason Jeter's 85-point ride has him tied for the lead with Jason Havens, who competed in Round 1 on Wednesday.

Steer wrestler Casey McMillen scored a time of 3.7 seconds to tie aggregate leader Ken Lewis.

Round 1 leader Tyler Corrington held onto his advantage with an 81 as Thursday's saddle bronc riders scored no higher than 80 (Cody DeMoss).

Bull rider Jesse Bail forged an 87-all tie with Round 1 leader Cody Buller. To make the even more hotly-contested on Thursday, Ardie Maier added an 86-

point ride to put him in second place overall.

"That was a really good little bull (Hummer) that kicked really good. I have ridden a bull like for, what seems like, a long time. I've been on some junk and I've been sore," said Bail, who had a bag of ice wrapped over his right wrist.

"I wasn't going to get on tonight because my wrist has been bothering me pretty bad. But they talked me into it by saying that he's one that you have to get on. I'm tickled that they did that," Bail said.

Bail broke his wrist about a year ago. He said that, when he rode at the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo last year, he had a cast over it.

Early Thursday, Maier came to Sikeston on a late-night, red-eye flight from Oregon.

"We were at Hermiston, Ore., last night (at the Farm City Pro Rodeo) when we decided to fly here to Sikeston, and we didn't get much sleep," Maier said. "I drew a good bull (California Dream) that I had been on about a year ago. I've seen that other guys have scored high 80s and 90s on him."

Maier said California Dream was a bull that he could not refuse to pass up.

"It was a good matchup for me. I've seen him go to the left a lot of times but, today, he was wanting to go to the right. It kept getting faster and faster, and I didn't know if I was going to stay on for the eight (seconds). But it worked out good. There's a lot of good bulls and a lot of good bull riders here. So, there will definitely be some really good matchups," Maier said.

But Bail is confident that his tie with Buller might end up paying off some way.

"I would think 87 is a good score that will me a shot to get into the money.