Archive for Monday, August 18, 2008
Photo by Joel Reichenberger
Brandon Munn rides in the Pat Mantle Saddle Bronc riding competition Saturday at the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series. Munn won the competition for the second time, adding the 2008 title to his 2004 victory. He collected a belt buckle for winning the season-long saddle bronc riding championship and $684 for winning the weekend's competition.
Saturday rodeo wraps up; familiar face wins award again
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He stood idly by Saturday night, a warm smile the only evidence that he had again won the Pat Mantle Saddle Bronc riding championship, the crown jewel competition of the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo series.
His friends, meanwhile, flung open the box holding his prize, a Winchester rifle. They looked the gleaming gun over, checked its sights, offered a heap of praise and demanded invitations to travel to Munn's Wheatland, Wyo., home to crack off a few rounds.
"Anytime you want," Munn answered.
Despite his calm demeanor, the 28-year-old cowboy and two-time Mantle champion said winning the contest and collecting the rifle and a $2,000 check is anything but old hat for him.
"Winning this is always one of my goals," he said. "Pat Mantle - I used to work for his son, so it's neat to win."
Munn, who also won the award in 2004, capped off another great summer in Steamboat by beating five other top bronc riders in a winner-take-all showdown at the end of Saturday night's rodeo, the season's 20th and final rodeo series event.
He rode his horse successfully and scored 78.5 - 1.5 points better than any other rider could manage.
"It was a real good ride for me," Munn said. "He tried to turn around to the right, so I had to hustle to stay ahead of him."
Munn's big weekend didn't all revolve around the Mantle competition. He also won the season's saddle bronc riding competition for the second consecutive summer, along with first place and $684 in the night's regular saddle bronc ride.
Mario Baleztena won the season's all-around cowboy competition, while David Streweler, Clayton Savage, Joe Colletti, Wyatt Johnson, Jay Tittel, Kelly Koeppen, Leland Reinier and Amber Salazar also captured season awards.
A total of $13,213.75 was awarded during the final weekend of the 2008 rodeo series. Each of the season winners took home a belt buckle.


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