Greenough rides his way closer to first place at NFR

Bill Bowman

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997 | 11:50 a.m.

Deb Greenough isn't one to get mad -- he gets even.

Sunday night, the bareback rider missed his horse out and came up with a zero for the round.

Monday and Tuesday he made up for it by winning go-rounds during the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Tuesday, Greenough rode Copenhagen Jake to an 86 for the victory that now gives him $24,889.12 through the first five go-rounds of the NFR.

"I just have to battle the rest of the way," Greenough said.

That battle includes wiping out the memory of his zero on Sunday night.

"It's not only a rule, it's one of the basics," he said of missing the horse out. "It gets you in position for a good ride."

Tuesday night was a prime example of how to ride a horse.

"He's a big son-of-a-gun," Greenough said of his draw. "He was scary ... he stands up and snorts. He kind of plays mind games with you."

But after the chute opened, rider and horse worked well together.

"If there's a horse who feels good when he bucks, it's Jake," Greenough said of the horse he had never ridden before. "He's unreal. He's a real helper. If you're doing things right, he'll help you have a good ride."

The victory moved Greenough to within a little over $6,000 of first place in the chase for the world title.

"I've been dreaming about that title for a long time," Greenough said. "I just have to keep riding well and we'll see what happens."

Other winners during Tuesday's action included:

Young and Lehmkuhler recognized

Rick Young and Butch Lehmkuhler, two of the most popular clowns who add entertainment to pro rodeos across the country while protecting competitors from rampaging bulls, have received the two highest Original Coors Rodeo annual awards for 1997.

Young was honored as the 1997 Original Coors Man in the Can (for the fourth time) while Lehmkuhler was named the Original Coors Clown of the Year (for the fifth time). Both received commemorative gold buckles while Young also picked up a bonus check of $10,000.

The Original Coors Man in the Can Award has been presented annually since 1984 to the PRCA barrelman who scores the highest in a variety of categories as judged by Wrangler Bullfight Tour participants, bull riders and pro rodeo announcers.