1999 Rodeo season began last month in Kansas City

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 3:49 a.m.

While 118 contestants are focusing on the $4.2 million 1998 National Finals Rodeo this week in Las Vegas, other already have their sights set on the 1999 NFR.

The $184,285 American Royal Rodeo in Kansas City, held Nov. 6-14, marked the start of the 1999 rodeo competition and sent several rodeo contestants home with their first checks of the new season.

Rex Phillips of Elko won the one-round bull riding on Harry Vold Rodeo Company's #170. Phillips, 33, stayed aboard the required eight seconds and scored 81 points, earnings $8,730, the largest check of the rodeo.

Blair Burk, who heads to the NFR fourth in the calf roping world standings, earned checks totaling $5,194 at the American Royal calf roping competition. Burk, of Durant, Okla., tied for first in the opening round with a 7.9-second effort for $2,510. The 25-year-old roper claimed the $2,685 calf roping top average check with 18.0 seconds on two head.

Rodney Burks of Benton, Ark., claimed $5,013 and the steer wrestling title. Burks, 24, downed his first-round steer in 4.0 seconds for fifth place and $1,576. The fourth-year PRCA member posted 4.5 seconds in the second round to tie for eighth place and claim $286. However, his 8.5-second total on two head was quick enough to top the steer wrestling field and put his name on the $3,295 steer wrestling average check.

Brett Crowser of Tucson rode both saddle bronc horses he drew for a total haul of $4,780. Crowser, 28, rode Harry Vold's Centennial to 77 points, second place and $1,055 in the first round. He went on to win the second round with an 81-point rendezvous aboard Vold's three-time Saddle Bronc of the Year, Bobby Joe Skoal that translated into another $1,862. Crowser's two-head score of 158 points won him the $1,862 saddle bronc riding average title.

Justin Henderson, 22, left Missouri with the bareback riding average title and $3,635. Henderson made the eight-second whistle aboard Harry Vold's I'm A Tiger Skoal for 86 points and the first-round win worth $1,817. Though the Hereford, Texas, cowboy failed to place in the money in the second round, his 159-point total on two head earned him the average win and another $1,817.

Texas cowgirl Melissa Hubier won $3,121 in the barrel racing competition. Hubier, of Cleveland, Texas, ran the cloverleaf pattern in 15.11 seconds in the first round to tie for ninth place with two-time world champion Charmayne James of Stephenville, Texas. James and Hubier have qualified to compete in this week's NFR.

The 19-year-old Hubier answered in the second round with 14.93 seconds and $1,354 for a No. 2 finish. Hubier's 30.04-second time in two runs was good enough for the average title and an additional $1,579.