Hausauer hot heading into ‘Christmas’

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It’s Cowboy Christmas and Dusty Hausauer is receiving gifts aplenty.

Fresh off winning the average at the Reno Rodeo, the Dickinson saddle bronc rider has likely sewed up a place in the short round at the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede after scoring an 83 on Monday night.

“I’ve been getting on some good horses,” Hausauer said. “Over the Fourth (of July), I’ve got some pretty good ones drawed. The ones I should do good on, it’s been working out where I’ve been placing on them.”

Hausauer won $8,268 for the weekend at Reno after an 86-point ride in the short round put him at a 255 for his three-round average.

That paycheck bumped Hausauer from eighth to sixth in the world standings. He has accumulated $38,858 so far this season.

A win at Greeley could bump him into the top five. The rodeo is listed among the PRCA’s top 10 rodeos for purses.

Like most cowboys at this time of year, Hausauer has a nonstop week ahead. He’ll be in Oakley, Utah, today and in Cody, Wyo., on Thursday and plans to do a double dip in Montana at the Livingston Roundup and the Home of Champions rodeo in Red Lodge on Friday.

The Fourth of July, however, will be one of Hausauer most hectic days of the year on a day most people barbecue and relax.

He’ll be back in Greeley for the short round Saturday afternoon before hopping on a plane in Denver and flying to Portland, Ore., so he can compete at the Molalla (Ore.) Buckeroo Rodeo and at the St. Paul (Ore.) Gold Rodeo that night.

Hausauer doesn’t know for sure if he’ll be able to make all three performances, but he says there’s no harm in trying.

“There’s so many rodeos,” Hausauer said. “A guy can have a good week and win $25,000.”

But, no matter how he does this week, Hausauer is gearing up for a run at the big bucks north of the border.

He’s been invited to ride at the lucrative Calgary Stampede and is slated to compete in four rounds from July 7-10. Two groups of 10 bronc riders compete on separate sets of four days.

Each round pays $10,000 to the winner and the Stampede champion earns $100,000 on July 12.

It’ll be Hausauer’s first time competing at the Calgary Stampede as a pro. He previously competed in the novice category. Hausauer believes his championship at last season’s Canadian Professional Rodeo Finals helped him earn a spot at Calgary.

“Everybody’s going to be up there and everybody is going to come riding,” Hausauer said. “With that much money on the line, you’re going to have to ride at your very best. … It’s pretty exciting to be invited to that.”

Stroh taking time off before Calgary Stampede

Some bad draws and an aching body have Dickinson saddle bronc rider Shaun Stroh taking it easy this week.

Stroh earned a share of the purse at the Reno Rodeo but said he didn’t like his draws in Greeley, Cody, St. Paul or Molalla so he’s headed back to Dickinson for a couple days before he must leave for the Calgary Stampede.

“I didn’t draw worth a darn here for the next three days and got the tar beaten out of me last weekend,” Stroh said. “I’m just going to wait until Calgary starts.”

The 36-year-old is scheduled to compete in the group opposite Hausauer. His four-round run begins Friday and ends Tuesday, July 7.

Although he won’t be back in Dickinson very long, Stroh said it’s better than not coming back at all.

“I’ve been gone for a while, so that’ll be a really good feeling to get home,” Stroh said.

North Dakotans competing at NJHFR

Thirty-five North Dakotans, including several cowboys and cowgirls from the southwestern part of the state, are competing at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo this week in Gallup, N.M. The rodeo began on Sunday.

Just like the high school finals, each contestant competes in two long rounds and has a chance to reach the short round, which is on the Fourth of July.

On Monday night, Jade Benson of Dunn Center had a 51-point ride in the junior bull riding to place second in his performance. He’s tied for fifth place in the first round.

The first round ends Wednesday morning and the second round begins Wednesday night.

On tap for this weekend

r The PRCA Mandan Rodeo Days is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. MDT Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

r The PRCA Killdeer Mountain Roundup Rodeo is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

r Three North Dakota Rodeo Association events are scheduled for this weekend. The Sheyenne Fourth of July Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. CDT Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Four Bears Casino Fourth of July Rodeo in New Town is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The Medora Rodeo is at 3 p.m. Sunday.

r The Roughrider Rodeo Association has three rodeos scheduled for this weekend. The Towner Rodeo is scheduled for Friday and Saturday and the Maddock Rodeo and Dunseith Rodeo are both scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Tags: dusty hausauer, shaun stroh, sports, rodeo