Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

LYNDEN PRCA RODEO: Two-day event opens with a kick; 18-year-old from Oregon tops field in bareback competition

LYNDEN - Just a few months into his professional career and R.C. Landingham has already been called everything from a future superstar to the future of rodeo.

All the 18-year-old can do is shrug when the talk turns to his bright future in the sport. For every top ride he's put together since turning pro less than a year ago he can just as easily point to a time he's failed to score at all.

"I don't like to get a big head or anything," Landingham said. "After the college finals I think a lot of people saw what I did and started talking. The only way I can look at it is that I hope it helps me reach my goals."

Among those goals for the youngster from Pendleton, Ore., is reaching the National Finals Rodeo and earning PRCA Rookie of the Year honors. In June he won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association bareback riding title while riding out of Blue Mountain Community College.

On Friday, Aug. 28 at the Lynden PRCA Rodeo at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Landingham topped the field in the bareback competition with a 75 points. Others turning in the fastest times in their events were Shane Hanchey with 7.3 seconds in tie-down roping, and Trevor Knowles at 3.4 in steer wrestling. Jake Wright and Ad Bugenig each scored 79 in saddle bronc.

On Friday most of the cowboys and cowgirls were pink shirts to help raise awareness for cancer. Complete results from the event were not available at press time. The rodeo continues on Saturday. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

"I had a really good steer and I knew it," Knowles said. "When you know you got a good draw you have to make the most of it. Sure there are a lot of variables, but if those other guys had a steer like that would have done well, too."

For Landingham, Friday's stop in Lynden was his second rodeo in as many days. He competed in Bremerton on Thursday, is headed to Kennewick on Saturday, and will wrap up the weekend in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on Sunday. And just in case he was starting to get a big head, he did fail to score in Bremerton.

"I'm a little beat up right now," he said. "In Bremerton I didn't get anything."

While Landingham has grown up riding rough stock and at times can make it look easy, he's still learning how to handle the travel and the wear and tear it's put on his body. He limped out of the arena on Friday and has been battling a torn groin. He said he might be done bareback riding for the season and just concentrate on bull riding.

"I'm not really used to going to three of four rodeos in a week every week," Landingham said. "It's starting to wear on me, but it's just something I have to get used to."