While Mortensen won’t win all-round title, he still had good year

Bill Bowman

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 11:24 a.m.

For Dan Mortensen, it's been quite a run -- eight seconds at a time.

But for Mortensen, the 1997 World Champion All-Around Cowboy, the run is about over.

Mortensen will turn over his title on Sunday, most likely to Ty Murray for what will be the latter's record-setting seventh crown. But Mortensen won't forget the memories.

"I really gave up the all-around title a long time ago because I didn't qualify this year," he said Wednesday during round six of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center. "But it was a goal of mine last year and it was a goal I accomplished."

Just because he won't win the all-around crown doesn't mean Mortensen won't be a champion. In fact, the Manhattan, Mont., cowboy is breezing to the crown in the saddle bronc event. It would be his second straight saddle bronc championship and fifth in six years.

It looks like a sure thing.

He has earned $37,437.60 in this year's NFR, including two go-round victories. Mortensen has made $168,266.08 for the year and holds a lead of more than $66,000 over second-place Tom Reeves.

"It's been a good year," Mortensen said. "And this week I feel like I'm riding pretty good right now."

But his week didn't start out on a positive note.

A case of nerves hampered him during the first part of the week. Mortensen was thrown off his bronc in each of the first three rounds.

"I didn't ride as well as I should have," he said. "(But) the fourth and fifth rounds ... I won both of them and I placed (Wednesday) on a pretty decent horse. So, things are going better."

In fact, Mortensen said the whole year has been a solid one and he has enjoyed it more than last season.

"There's a lot less pressure this year without the all-around," he said.

With his all-around reign coming to an end, Mortensen said he's glad he had the chance to enjoy the prestige that comes with being the world's best all-around cowboy.

As for his future, Mortensen said that one's easy.

"I always like to go home and take about a month off and not even think about rodeo," he said. "I'll spend Christmas with my family and around the first of the year, we'll kind of re-evaluate the situation and make a plan for next year."

That plan will definitely include making a date for next year's NFR.

"I'm having fun right now," he said. "I'll be rodeoing next year riding saddle bronc horses.

"You're always trying to improve," he said. "If you ever get to a point where you think you don't need to improve, it's probably time to quit."

Wednesday's winners

Bareback: Denny McClanahan with an 83.

Steer wrestling: Byron Walker with a time of 3.10 seconds.

Team roping: Matt Tyler and Mike Beers with a time of 4.6 seconds.

Saddle bronc: Tom Reeves with a score of 81.

Calf roping: A tie between Blair Burk and Brad Goodrich with times of 7.6 seconds.

Barrel racing: Janet Stover with a record run of 13.75 seconds which beat the old mark of 13.8 seconds set in 1994.

Bull riding: Blu Bryant with a score of 85.

Behind the chutes

Blu Bryant leads the bull riding with $118,117.52, having passed Ty Murray who is now second with $110,012.87. ... During Wednesday's action, two riders ran into major problems. Robert Bowers got hung up on a bull and it took all three bull fighters about a minute to free him. Despite the problems, Bowers' worst injury appeared to be a broken tooth. Also in the event, Josh O'Byrne was knocked out and off his bull but was given a clean bill of health after the event by the Justin Sports Medicine team.