SPORTS

RODEO: 4X Arena is a place to ride

Published

9 years ago

07/15/2015

4X Arena was the brainchild of Libby Clayton and Johnny Uselton of rural Nocona.
On Saturday night, the one-year-old arena played host to a World Senior Professional Bull Riders event as well as a film crew shooting a documentary on small-time rodeo in Texas.
“We constructed it from scratch,” Clayton said of 4X Arena. “It was originally a team-roping arena with chutes, but we removed all that.”
4X Arena is located off United States Highway 82, less than five miles west of Nocona, on Eureka School Road.
“It’s a source of pride for us,” Clayton said. “We love the Nocona area. It has a small-town feel, and it was nice for me to come back to that. It was heartwarming.”
Clayton grew up in rural Illinois, and she met Uselton at a rodeo. Uselton is a former rider on the WSPBR circuit – competing until 2011.
The WSPBR is a not only relatively young, but it also is a rapidly growing circuit.
“It’s a dream come true,” Uselton said. “I’ve wanted to do this for years (build an arena). Nocona is a really a perfect place. We can draw cowboys from Oklahoma and from the Metroplex.”
WSPBR co-founder Robert Long, who competed in Saturday’s event, agreed with Uselton – saying Montague County is an ideal spot for a tour stop. Long founded this organization along with Morgan Saunders and Troy Moseley.
“We go all the way to Wichita, Kansas, now in just six short years,” Long said, “and we go all the way to Galveston in the south. This is a great centralized location.” Read more in the mid-week Bowie News.

A contestant rides a bull at 4X Arena, less than five miles west of Nocona, during Saturday evening’s World Senior Professional Bull Riders tour stop. The WSPBR is specifically designed for senior bull riders ages 35 on up. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)

SPORTS

Nocona gets delivered new press box

Published

1 hour ago

07/20/2024

bowienews

(Courtesy photo)

Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.

SPORTS

Richey repeats at IFYR

Published

2 hours ago

07/20/2024

bowienews

(Courtesy photo)

Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.

SPORTS

Youth rodeo awards presented

Published

2 hours ago

07/20/2024

bowienews

The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo presented awards for its summer season this week. Tess Egenbacher won the top cowgirl buckle for the 13-18 age division, which was presented to her by Kyle Bishop. (Courtesy photo)

The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.

To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.