ONE AND DONE

TAKING FLIGHT: Mitch Coleman of Molalla Oregon hung on tight while crowds rose to their feet during his ride on Heat during the 60th Annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. (For The Observer/Michelle Bloker).

Tony Adame

Sports Editor

JOSEPH – Cimmaron Gerke's reconstructed elbow has him in fits.

Not because of the pain, however, but because it made him get a late start on this year's rodeo season.

"I busted my elbow up pretty good last year, they basically had to build me a new one," said Gerke, who finished third in bareback riding at last year's National Finals Rodeo. "So I've been playing catch-up so far this season."

Gerke, from Fort Worth, Tex., posted a 78 Friday at the Chief Joseph Days rodeo and was staring down the barrel of a 12-hour drive to Medicine Hat, Alberta to compete in another rodeo.

Bobby Mote had Friday's top bareback ride with a score of 84.

Gerke estimates that one season of rodeoing costs him about $50,000.

With $30,000 in winnings so far this season, that means he's got some catching up to do.

"Sometimes people don't understand how hard and how expensive this is," Gerke said. "But that's part of it. I wouldn't want to do anything else."

Chief Joseph Days, Gerke said, has become appealing to big names on the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association circuit because of the great competition and the setting.

For Gerke, the rodeo also appeals to his heritage.

"I'm one-third Cherokee," Gerke said. "And I'm kind of a history buff so I know the story of Chief Joseph and that's another thing that appeals to me about coming here, it's part of who I am.

"It is a little bit out of the way but with the mountains and the great western atmosphere it's one you don't want to miss."

Another participant at CJD Friday who didn't want to miss out on the weekend's activities was Barbra West.

West, from Oak Harbor, Wash., finished with a time of 17.47 seconds Friday in barrel racing, the best time through three days of competition.

Kristie Hurn finished just behind West in Friday's go with a time of 17.51 seconds.

"This is a great rodeo because it's the start of a bunch of good rodeos with a lot of money," West said. "And us circuit girls, if the money is there, we'll be there."

The rodeo also appealed to West's husband, Brian, a calf roper.

"Brian loves the calf roping here," West said. "And it's a great family atmosphere."

Brian West finished third in Friday's round of calf roping with a time of 14.4 seconds.

Seth Hopper was Friday's top time in calf roping, completing his run in 9.4 seconds.

Also coming out on top Friday, Travis Immel and Justus Snyder had the top time in team roping with 6.6 seconds.

Gary Alger was tops in saddle bronc riding with a 77 and Zeb Lanham shot out to the front in bull riding with a score of 86.

The CJD rodeo concludes tonight, with action starting at 7 p.m. at the Harley Tucker Memorial Arena.

General admission tickets are $12.

Chief Joseph Days Rodeo

Friday results

Bareback Riding — Bobby Mote 84, Jason Havens 83, Cimmaron Gerke 78, Lee Lantz 72, Trevor Mulroney 69. Team Roping – Travis Immel & Justus Snyder 6.6, Jack Purchase & Larry Stewart 9.0. Saddle Bronc Riding – Gary Alger 77, Nick Laduke 73. Calf Roping – Seth Hoper 9.4, Andy Bowden 13.8, Brian West 14.4. Steer Wrestling – Trevor Knowles 4.8, Dally Taylor 5.1, Tony Currin 6.1, W. Ross Murrow 10.9. Barrel Racing – Barbra West 17.47, Kristie Hurn 17.51, Sabrina Lay 17.53, Amy Coelho 17.69, Karen Gleason 17.77, Jackie Jackson 17.78. Bull Riding – Zeb Lanham 86, Jim Crosby 81, Marcus Michaelis 79, Buck Gramps 70.