Five Texans earn world titles at Nat’l Finals Rodeo 

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Kelly Kaminski of  Bellville won another world title. For the year, she earned $107,019. � NFR courtesy photo

Dec. 22, 2005 - Five Texans are celebrating the holidays with gold buckles and the title of world champion earned from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Dec. 2-11.

Riding to his second world title in three years was bareback competitor Will Lowe of Canyon. Lowe rode Sankey Rodeo’s Gus for 84.5 points in the last round and finished fourth in the average. He won over $57,000 during the 10-day event, finishing the year with $185,486.

�This one feels the same as the first one, and it is something you can�t describe,� said Lowe, who entered his fourth Wrangler NFR in the No. 1 spot. �The field of competitors this week was so tough ... and I was just happy to be among them.�

Coming into the big show, Patrick Smith of Midland and Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., had team roped to the No. 1 spot, but things turned at the finals. They started the first two rounds with a no score which eliminated them from the average race. Things got better after that and they wound up winning three rounds, including setting a new Wrangler NFR record with a 3.5 time in the ninth round. They won $71,683 during the event, with year-end earnings of $167,204.03. 

�It was a crazy NFR,� Smith said. �I think everybody had a plan coming in, but I don�t think anyone planned on what happened this week.�

During the week, one header got hurt, and one team announced their split after eight years. (See sidebar.)Winning his seventh tie-down world title was Fred Whitfield of Hockley. Whitfield didn�t win a round but still managed to pull out the win by a mere $4,000 over four-time world champion Cody Ohl of Hico, who finished second on the year.

The only one of last year’s world champions to defend their title was barrel racer Kelly Kaminski of Bellville. Kaminski turned and burned her way to her second title, winning $191,792, with $107,019 of that coming from the 10-day event. 

�When I came to Vegas this week, my goal was to win the average,� said Kaminski, who won three rounds at the 2005 Wrangler NFR. �After hitting two barrels last year, I told myself my goal this year would be the NFR average. The only thing that is a little disappointing is that I feel I played it a little safe to get it done. This has just been a wonderful week, and I am excited I can hardly see straight.�

Going into the finals, bull rider Matt Austin of Wills Point had a commanding led, of which he didn�t let up. By the eighth round, Austin had won the world champion title, but he still continued to ride his way into the record book.

Austin set the record for most money won in a single year in the PRCA, breaking Ty Murray�s record of $297,896 set in 1993. Austin won $320,766, with $92,380 of that coming from the finals. He also won the average title with a total of 586.5 on seven head.

�I never would have imagined I would win that much in a year,� Austin said. �To surpass one of the greatest cowboys in our sport is unbelievable. It all hasn�t soaked in yet. I hope to do as good next year. I am going to go out and try my hardest to keep the same mind frame. There is always that stepping stone.�