Sports / Columnists

13 - 12:44am

In the money

Three-time world champion Will Lowe of Canyon won the bareback riding title at the inaugural Wrangler Champions Challenge show last weekend in Redding, Calif. Lowe finished No. 1 after turning in a score of 86 points aboard a bronc named Friendly Fire, owned by the Burch Rodeo Co. He earned $4,000.

Leschper: Boaters abiding by rules sail on safter waters 05/19/13 - 12:50am

It’s National Safe Boating Week, which means there’s no better time to brush up on the intricacies of Texas’ rules and regulations — and why they’re in place. With that in mind, here’s a glimpse at common boating safety questions. What are Texas’ boater education requirements? Anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, must pass a boater education course to operate vessels over 15 horsepower and wind-blown vessels over 14 feet. The course also must be passed to operate all personal watercraft.

Hoffman: Former National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Andrews dies 05/17/13 - 12:36am

PBR update

Mildred Farris, an Andrews native who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 12 times and was the PRCA’s Secretary of the Year nine times, died from pancreatic cancer Monday at age 79 at her Addington, Okla., home. As a barrel racer, Farris finished runner-up in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world title race three times. She was the WPRA’s Secretary of the Year two times.

Hoffman: Former Tech standout Gray misses qualifier for first time in seven years 05/09/13 - 12:37am

PBR update

Ryan Gray, a former Texas Tech star, missed qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year after making the cut for seven consecutive seasons. But he’s on pace to return to the Las Vegas championships this year. During the past weekend, Gray, who has homes in Cheney, Wash., and the West Texas community of Petersburg, won the bareback riding title at the Helotes Festival Association Rodeo in Helotes. Gray clinched the title after turning in a score of 85 aboard a bronc named Lynn Bottoms, owned by the Sammy Catalena Rodeo Co.

Leschper: Some of nation's best bass fishing in Texas 05/06/13 - 10:48am

Texas bass fishing is way ahead of the pack. And you can thank biologists and even Mother Nature for helping our state harbor the best largemouth angling in the country.

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Willick, Ery qualify for College National Finals Rodeo 05/03/13 - 12:37am

PBR update

Two South Plains College competitors have qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo. In order to earn a spot in the CNFR, which is scheduled for June 9-15 in Casper, Wyo., a competitor must finish within the top three in a single event in regional competition. Two South Plains bulldoggers met that criterion in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region. The 2012-2013 regular season, which consisted of 10 regional shows, concluded April 20 at the Tarleton State Rodeo in Stephenville.

Tech women's rodeo team heading to College National Finals 04/25/13 - 12:41am

Cutting horse update

Texas Tech’s women’s rodeo team has qualified for the 2013 College National Finals. The Lady Raiders advanced to the CNFR, which is scheduled for June 9-15 in Casper, Wyo., as the result of finishing second in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region. Texas Tech finished runner-up after competing in the Tarleton State Rodeo last weekend in Stephenville, which was the 10th show for 2012-2013. From there, the region’s top two teams, and the top three competitors in each single event, will move onto the Casper championships.

Leschper: ShareLunker program more than a big fish tale 04/21/13 - 12:11am

Allen Kruse, of Nacogdoches, caught the fish of a lifetime April 13 from Lake Naconiche, a new impoundment near the East Texas city. The 12.54-pound largemouth bass was submitted as a water body and catch-and-release record for the lake. However, this isn’t just any big fish tale. It’s also a defining moment showing that Texas biologists are making progress in producing lunker largemouths for anglers across the state.

Hoffman: Tech cowgirl wraps up regional title 04/19/13 - 12:53am

PRCA update

Texas Tech barrel racer Taylor Langdon will enter this weekend’s Tarleton State Rodeo with the regional title clinched. After winning the Howard College Rodeo last weekend in Big Spring, Langdon, a senior exercise sports science major, is ranked No. 1 in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region barrel racing standings with 1,010 points. Kynder Lucile Starr of Tarleton is ranked second with 660.

Leschper: Spring turkey season offers chance to renew tracking skills 04/14/13 - 1:06am

Tracking has become a lost art. For generations, learning the signs left by critters meant the difference between finding something for the dinner table or relying on leftovers — or simply not eating. In this day and age of the high-resolution game camera and apps and smartphones, numerous devices have made hunting pursuits easy, or at least easier to a large degree.