NFR notebook: Bull riding race grows tighter

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 11:19 a.m.

The closest of the seven events being contested at this year's National Finals Rodeo just got even closer.

Rob Bell failed to cash in bull riding Monday night at the Thomas & Mack and slipped from first to third in the world standings while Cody Hancock has climbed from 15th to first in four rounds.

Bell entered Monday's go-round with a slim $1,344 lead over Hancock. Only $4,505 separates the top four bull riders going into tonight's fifth go-round.

Hancock, who won the first two rounds, finished fourth Monday to take the lead in the world standings with $88,001.95. Jesse Bail is second at $84,787.07; Bell is third with $83,838.42; and Tyler Fowler, who held the lead coming into the NFR, is fourth with $83,496.58.

Dan Wolfe and Greg Potter tied for first Monday with identical scores of 84 while Bail took third with a 79. Wolfe and Potter both earned $11,756.56.

In addition to taking over the lead in the world standings, Hancock remained in the NFR average lead with three rides for a total of 258 points. The Taylor, Ariz., cowboy has earned $31,774.50 at this NFR.

Monday night's other go-round winners:

Collins, the only bareback rider to cash in all four rounds, continues to lead both the world standings and the NFR average.

Rod Lyman, who finished out of the money Monday, retained his lead in the world standings, but lost his lead in the NFR average to Sean Mulligan.

Speed Williams and Rich Skelton finished fourth and cashed for the first time in this NFR and continue to lead the world standings.

All-around leader Scott Johnston failed to cash for the third straight night but continues to lead the saddle bronc world standings by nearly $10,000 over Billy Etbauer. Mapston took the lead in the NFR average from Steve Dollarhide.

Brent Lewis finished sixth and continued to lead in the NFR average while Blair Burk remained in the lead in the world standings.

Allen remained in the lead in the NFR average while James, a 10-time world champion, increased her lead in the world standings to nearly $22,000 over defending champ Sherry Cervi.

Matt's $11,461.80 payday allowed him to take the lead in the world standings with $26,421.80.

In the yearlong Original Coors Chute Out Rodeo Series, points are awarded based an individual finishes at each of 50 rodeos that are held across the country.

Scott Johnston, who won the saddle bronc portion of the OCCORS and was the overall points leader, is leading the all-around world standings through four rounds of the NFR.

Jeff Collins, the OCCORS bareback champion, is first in the world standings in bareback, as are OCCORS champions Speed Williams and Rich Skelton (team roping), Blair Burk (calf roping) and Rob Bell (bull riding).

Kappy Allen, the OCCORS barrel racing champion, is leading the NFR average in her event.