Tuesday's Regional Sports Briefs: Horses of Year named

Horses owned by Erickson, Tryan honored by PRCA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Horses owned by Montana rodeo stars Ty Erickson and Clay Tryan were among those honored as AQHA Horses of the Year, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced Tuesday.

Three horses were named in each of the six categories, with the lone repeat champion being team roping heeling horse Rey Shines On Top (Rey), owned by Brady Minor. Aboard Rey, Minor was able to move from 19th to 14th in the world standings in the final week of the regular season to qualify for his seventh Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Clay Tryan's Dew the Dash (Dew) is 16 years old and has never been named the top horse in his event — until now. The horse has helped Tryan and heeling partner Jade Corkill to the last two team roping world championships, with the duo in good position to make it a three-peat at the 2015 WNFR after finishing first in the regular season.

"You can't be dominant in this sport — and be in the lead a lot — without riding one of the best horses around, and I think Dew is one of the best horses there has ever been," said Tryan, of Billings. "I'm glad he won it now, because he was getting to the age where I didn't think he'd ever win it. He's been good since the first day I cracked him out six years ago."

Erickson's steer wrestling horse KR Montana Shake Em (Shakem) is tops in the event. Erickson — who heads into the WNFR third in the world — and traveling partner Clayton Hass — the world standings leader — both had great success on Shakem this season. The horse is co-owned by Erickson and the Kyler Ranch in Cascade.

Other winners included tie-down roping horse Sweet As Time (Flea), owned by Renato Antunes, and barrel racing horse French First Watch (Custer), owned by Jill Welsh.

Second and third-place horses were also named in each event. The No. 2 barrel racing horse, Louie, is owned by Montana native Lisa Lockhart, who lives now in South Dakota.

STEER WRESTLING: 1. KR Montana Shake Em (Shakem), owners Ty Erickson and Kyler Ranch; 2. Lenas Little Dasher (Charlie) owners Hunter and Bristi Cure; 3. Landrys Cadillac (Cadillac), owner Frank Sterling Wallace

TEAM ROPING-HEADING: 1. Dew the Dash (Dew), owner Clay Tryan; 2. Freckle Wilson (Bull), owner JoJo LeMond; 3. Madison Oak (Clint), owner Chad Masters

TEAM ROPING-HEELING: 1. Rey Shines On Top (Rey), owner Brady Minor; 2. CD Starbucks (Starbucks), owner Ryan Motes; 3. Freckles Taz (Taz), owner Kinney Harrell

TIE-DOWN ROPING: 1. Sweet As Time (Flea), owner Renato Antunes; 2. MFO Harvey (Colonel), owner Timber Moore; 3. Popular Lil Lena (Squirrel), owner Monty Lewis

STEER ROPING: 1. Weavers Diamond Bar (Rowdy), owner Tim Tillard; 2. White Hot Ike (Bullseye) owner Chance Kelton; 3. Tonk Champ (Champ), owner Chris Glover

BARREL RACING: 1. French First Watch (Custer), owner Jill Welsh; 2. An Oakie With Cash (Louie), owners Grady and Lisa Lockhart; 3. Blazin Ta Fame (Blaze), owners Annette and Rachel Hendrix