FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bonner Cooper and Jennifer Paladino, Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo/Rodeo Austin
512.919.3000 phone
512.919.3005 fax
BonnerCooper@gmail.com; Jennifer@RodeoAustin.com
www.RodeoAustin.com
FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER - RODEO RESULTS MARCH 18th
Austin, Texas, March 18, 2011 – Tilden Hooper of Carthage, Texas is one of the top young bareback riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and is currently positioned to make a run at his first World Championship. The twenty-three-year-old is in 2nd place in the Bareback Riding World Standings with over $31,000 in earnings, trailing only $2,000 behind three-time World Champion and his former mentor, Will Lowe. Hooper is definitely riding well and is coming off a big win at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo as well as a Co-Championship at the Marshall ProRodeo last weekend, both in Texas. If Hooper can continue this level of success into December, his name will most certainly be in contention for the gold (World Champion) buckle.
Hooper mentions that it was the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund (JCCF) Thanksgiving Rodeo School he attended in 2006 that helped jump-start his career. Instructors at the school included Wes Stevenson, Will Lowe and Royce Ford, among several other World Champions. He was a quick learner, taking their advice and using it to win the Resistol Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year Award in 2007 and to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) the year after. Hooper says about the experience, “It was really cool to be able to go to the WNFR with those guys, especially after I was their student just two years prior.”
Today, he is an instructor at that very school, a topic that means a lot to the young man, as all of the school’s profits go back to benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund (JCCF). Hooper says, “This is my one chance to truly give back to the JCCF and all that they do for rodeo cowboys.” Hooper is definitely a familiar face to most rodeo fans. The two-time WNFR qualifier was not only the 2007 Rookie of the Year, but currently ties the World Record for highest marked ride with the 94-points he scored on Classic ProRodeo’s Big Tex in 2010. In addition to his achievements within the PRCA, Hooper won the 2007 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Championship in bareback riding while competing for Panola Junior College. Despite all of his prior success, the bareback rider says this year is the most fun he’s ever had. He credits this enjoyment in large part to his travelling buddies, Kaycee Feild, Joe Gunderson and Jessy Davis. “It’s a lot more fun when all of your buddies are winning too,” states Hooper. Feild, Gunderson and Davis are currently sitting 3rd, 5th and 21st in the PRCA World Standings. All hope to better those standings at Rodeo Austin. Hooper did just that in Friday’s performance, taking first in Bareback Riding with a total of 84 points.
Bareback Riding
1. Tilden Hooper - 84.0 points
2. Tim Shirley - 82.0 points
3. Tyler Scales - 73.0 points
4. Bryan Jones - 72.0 points
5. Jessy Davis - 71.0 points
6. Brian Bain - 70.0 points
7. David Streweler - 68.0 points
Steer Wrestling
1. Ben Goodman - 3.8 seconds
2. Glen Chape - 4.3 seconds
3. Clayton Hass - 5.2 seconds
4. Reagon Walker - 6.1 seconds
5. Brian Bauerle - 13.8 seconds
6. Cody Moore - 14.9 seconds
7. Monty Eakin - 17.2 seconds
Team Roping
1. Logan Olson/Chase Tryan - 4.7 seconds
2. Justin Davis/Cole Davidson - 5.4 seconds
3. Justin Lovell/J.W. Cotton - 5.7 seconds
4. Jess Tierney/Paul David Tierney - 22.2 seconds
Saddle Bronc Riding
1. Tyler Corrington - 77.0 points
2. Sterling Crawley - 75.0 points
3. Jeremy Melancon - 72.0 points
3. Dean Wadsworth - 72.0 points
5. Kaleb Asay - 71.0 points
6. Tol Cawley - 69.0 points
7. Ty Thompson - 68.0 points
8. Will Smith - 67.0 points
9. Brent Smyth - 61.0 points
Tie-Down Roping
1. Chris Demases - 8.3 seconds
2. Clayton Hamil - 8.7 seconds
3. Sterling Smith - 9.5 seconds
4. Clay Long - 12.4 seconds
5. Paul David Tierney - 20.5 seconds
Barrel Racing
1. Cassie Mosely - 15.16 seconds
2. Lindsay Karp - 15.30 seconds
3. Lee Ann Rust - 15.36 seconds
3. Mattie Little-Jackson - 15.36 seconds
5. Aimee Olson - 15.37 seconds
6. Morgan Montello - 15.54 seconds
7. Andrea Busby - 15.68 seconds
8. Mary Burger - 20.21 seconds
9. Jessica Watkins - 20.56 seconds
10. Casey Sharp - 21.35 seconds
Bull Riding
1. Travis Atkinson - 85.0 points
2. Jace Savoie - 80.0 points
The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, contributes more than $1.6 million annually to the youth of Texas with the help of over 2,500 volunteers, donors and sponsors. Through its acclaimed Livestock Show, Fair, Rodeo and other fundraisers, the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo continues to work towards the advancement of its mission, Promoting Youth Education - Preserving Western Heritage. While delivering superior entertainment and boasting an economic impact that exceeds $54 million annually, the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo is an established community tradition founded in 1938. Staying true to the official sport of Texas, Austin is home to the world’s 5th largest indoor, regular season ProRodeo known as Rodeo Austin. For more information visit www.RodeoAustin.com.
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