Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
FORT SUMNER — Able to survive its “one bad event,” Singleton Ranches of Lamy and Elida clinched a berth in the Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Finals with a victory in the Fort Sumner Ranch Rodeo here June 14-15 at the De Baca County Fairgrounds.
Singleton put together 100 points over the two-day event — despite missing two team members sidelined due to injuries. With regulars Tanner Hart on crutches and Gregg Gudgell in a shoulder sling, Singleton won both the bronc riding and the team branding, piling up 54 points in those two events. And, they finished with 20 points in the wild cow milking to help overcome a less-than-Singleton finish in the team sorting.
It was the second win in Fort Sumner in three years for Singleton Ranches, who also won the 2022 title. They got off to big starts both nights as bronc rider Garrett Fry posted scores of 72.5 on Friday (first) and 74 on Saturday (three-way tie for first).
Coming out of the bronc riding with the lead, Singleton found its challenge, the team sorting.
The sorting was especially difficult on the first night when just four teams managed the five-head limit. It was better on Saturday, but Singleton was 13th on three head on a night that saw 10 of the 14 teams post five-head times. But they bounced back with 27 points over two nights in the team branding to get back into the race for the team title and by the final event (the wild cow milking), Singleton held a five-point lead over Pettigrew/White and a six-point margin over Davis McGee.
Singleton’s put together a 32.19 time in the milking, placing third on the night and fourth overall. Their 20 points in the milking clinched the team title and the $4,000 first prize. They also took home handmade bits by Dan McCloy and earned $1,200 for each of the two individual event wins.
Pettigrew/White, of Santa Rosa and Fort Sumner, put up 19 points in the milking and finished second overall with a total of 94. They picked up $3,000 and handmade breast collars by Kyle Tack for their efforts.
Third went to Circle M8 Land and Cattle of Silverton, Texas, with 90 points. They also won the sorting title, adding $1,200 to the $2,000 third prize. They also won RTIC coolers.
Fourth and $1,000 went to Thompson Ranch of Munday, Texas, with 87.5 points. They won $1,000 and ropes.
Tying for fifth, just out of the money, were Crossroads Ranches of Elida and Davis Ranch/McGee Ranch of Texico. Both ended the event with 81 points.
