Rodeo official: Winner CCHS benefit sees 3 perfect nights

WINNER — The 42nd Winner Elk’s CCHS Benefit Rodeo went off without a hitch over the weekend.

The rodeo, which started Friday and finished Sunday, went great, according to the rodeo secretary Maureen Hollenbeck.

“I think it’s kind of the first time ever that we had three perfect night of weather,” she said. “There was no rain, no bugs and we usually have at least one miserable night. But it was pleasant and we had great crowds every night, no injuries and everything went great.”

Hollenbeck’s company — Hollenbeck Rodeo Company — also provided the livestock for the rodeo.

A Winner native finished on top of the standings in an event. Lane Hall, who competed in the saddle bronc at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., last week, won the saddle bronc over the weekend with a score of 82, which won him $389.76.

Wessington Springs’ Lennis Fagerhaug tied with Francis Knippling, of Wessington, in the senior men’s breakaway event as both had a time of 3.1 seconds. Each cowboy earned $356.16.

Allen Auer, of Whitewood, won the bull riding competition with a score of 76 and won $403.68. Avon’s Joe Bertus, who finished in 30th at the NHSFR in the same event, claimed second place with a score of 74 and won $334.08.

In calf roping, Casey Redman, of Burwell, Neb., had the best time of 10.7 seconds and won $471.28. Josh Cole, of Norfolk, Neb., finished in second place with a time of 11.1 seconds and earned $391.68. Cole is originally from the Colome area.

In team roping, Josh Cole teamed up with his brother, Jake Cole, of Colome, for a fifth-place finish. The tandem had a time of 6.8 seconds and earned $177.12 each. Jerry Buckles, of Burwell, Neb., and Mark Swanson, of Arthur, Neb., won the competition with a time of 5.3 seconds and won $570.72 each.

Swanson combined with Winner’s Dori Hollenbeck for a fifth-place finish in the mixed team roping with a time of 10.8 seconds. Swanson and Hollenbeck earned $155.52 each. Hannah Brown and Lynn Williams, both of Faith, won the event in a time of 6.7 seconds and earned $501.12 each.

Hartford’s Dru Wilking and Corey Evans, of Valentine, Neb., tied for first place in bareback riding with 78 points and each earned $279.84.

In steer wrestling, Adam Sawyer, of Bassett, Neb., took home the top prize of $403.68 with the best time of 4.2 seconds.

Mission’s Samantha Flanner won the barrel racing competition in a time of 16.90 seconds to claim the $542.88 prize. Mitchell’s Wendy Halweg rode Dually, a horse that has recovered from injuries two years ago when it was stolen, to a second-place finish in a time of 17.02. Halweg earned $449.28. Hollenbeck finished in fifth place with a time of 17.14 seconds and earned $131.04.

Kennebec’s Abby Jo Eckstaine finished in fourth place in goat tying with a time of 8.3 seconds and earned $91.20. Tabitha Sigman, of Box Elder, won the competition in a time of 7.5 seconds and earned $364.80.

Jessie Knott, Hyannis, Neb., and Hannah Schmitz, Johnston, Neb., tied for first in ladies breakaway with a time of 2.5 seconds. Each cowgirl earned $660.48. Brandi Hollenbeck, of Hutchinson, Kan., finished in fourth place with a time of 2.8 seconds and earned $337.92. Brandi Hollenbeck won the breakaway roping competition at the NHSFR this past week.

In team penning, Jim Dunkelberger, Chuck Nelson and Terry Tower, all of Hartford, put together a time of 41.5 seconds to win the event and earned $268.80 each. Mick Varilek, of Geddes, Tom Varilek, of Geddes, and Steve Klein, of Sioux Falls finished in second in team penning with a time of 48.5 and earned $201.68 each. Mary Pat Fawcett, of Colome, Bart Blum, of Reliance, and Lennie Steffen, of Colome, claimed third place in team penning with a time of 53.6 seconds and earned $134.40 each.

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