Senior Pro Rodeo Athletes Gathering Gold

The Apache Gold Casino in San Carlos, Arizona to host the 2023 NSPRA Finals.

The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association found a new home for the 2023 finals in San Carlos, Arizona at the Apache Gold Casino and Resort. October 25 – 28, 2023 the event center of the casino will be full of cowboys and cowgirls aged 40 and over. Don’t let the age fool you, these are true competitors who bring stiff competition to the arena. What this association also brings is a lot of comradery and family time.

The week will start out with a beautiful back number ceremony Tuesday evening hosted by RS Rodeo and the amazingly talented Dana Matthews-McNeil. Wednesday will be the first full round of competition for all contestants in the slack. Three performances will be held for rounds two through four with slack taking place in the mornings.

All standard rodeo events are held along with a few additions that are sure to be crowd pleasers such as ribbon roping. The age groups range from 40 – 49, 50 – 59, and over 60. Contestants will travel from sixteen different states to compete in the finals.

The bareback riding will host four contestants, two over fort and two over fifty. Cody Miller from Ontario, Oregon leads the 40 and over division.

The saddle bronc riding will have three contestants with two over fifty years old. Fletcher Tigner coming from San Antonio, New Mexico.

Sherry Terrell

Roque Velarde, Julius Begay, and Lyle Hogue will be the headliners in the bull riding event covering all three age groups. In total, there will be 12 bull riders bucking out every night. Three of those are over 60 years of age and still crawling down on those big beasts Hogue talked about his NSPRA experience, “I compete in the NSPRA because of the people involved. To me it’s my second family. I look forward to seeing everyone at the rodeos. The camaraderie is what brings me back. I never ever thought I would be riding bulls in my 50’s let alone being almost 67 and still be able to do it and be competitive by winning four consecutive world championships.”

The ribbon roping always brings loud cheers from the crowd as these ladies can blaze a trail on the ground. Here, the roper is the man who must rope the calf, get off his horse, and then get his hands on the calf before the lady can grab the ribbon off the calf’s tail and run back across the starting line. Brian Garr and Kim Coleman have teamed up again this year and currently lead the standings in the 40-59 age division. Then, the names stay a lot the same with the leaders of the 60 and over age group being husband and wife team Jack and Carol Garr who also happen to be the mother and father of Brian Garr.

Coleman talks about ribbon roping, “The thrill of never really knowing the outcome and being a team is what drew me to the event. Honestly, I gained a best friend that I probably never would have met had it not been for entering the ribbon roping!”

The association also boasts the up-and-coming event of breakaway but here it is offered to men over 65 and all the ladies. Doug Johnson from , Colorado is the world standings leader coming in for the men but, Larry Swanson gets the most attention regardless of where he sits in the standings. Swanson is a living, walking, roping testament that age is just a number. At 90 years old, Swanson will be the oldest competitor of the week. He is a military veteran who takes advantage of every day. He will be competing in the tie down roping and the breakaway.

In the women’s breakaway, Jerre Danley has out roped the competition all year to be leading the standings coming into the week. Jerre and her husband Todd will travel from Graham, Texas to be a part of the competition. Danley will compete in the breakaway, barrel race, and ribbon roping. Just like at some of the pro rodeos, the women’s breakaway got the most entries at the finals.

Danley sums up the feelings of most of the current competitors, “Todd and I have a passion for horses, competing, and traveling. The NSPRA gives us an opportunity to do all of that! We have met the most amazing people and have made strong friendships we cherish. I took a very long break from roping. This year I have worked hard at becoming a better roper and improving my mental game. I am blessed to get to ride some great horses. It is a thrill to come into the SNFR in the lead for the Ladies Breakaway event. That was one of my big goals this year.”

The tie down roping splits the age groups a little different with 40-59, over 60 and over 68. A familiar name, Brian Garr, leads the standings in the 40-59 division as does his dad Jack in the 60 and over tie down. Those over 68 can choose the older division. Kersey, Colorado will bring Curt Johnston and Dan Johnson who are ranked first and second respectively.

Sherry Terrell

The steer wrestling will showcase six cowboys who are all over 50 years old. Four of the six competitors are over 60! Jeff Bowden will be driving from Yerington, Nevada to show off his skills and work toward a World Title. Bowden commented, “My passion for steer wrestling does not seem to have any age limits, but my body tells me different at times. I try to stay active and keep moving to allow me to continue to do what I love. The NSPRA is a great place to compete along with meeting new people, seeing new places, and hanging out with old friends.”

The team ropers have a host of talent including NFR qualifier and World Champion David Motes. The world standings show Dale Whitlow and Shotgun Passig at the top of the 40-59 group. The 60-age division has unmatched pairs at the top with Fred Ennist winning the heading division and John Bassett winning the heeling. The two are not roping as a pair at the finals. With four rounds and an average to be paid and points awarded, the world champions are far from being crowned.

The association added mixed team roping to the event line up this year. The ladies took advantage of the opportunity! Cindy Gruwell from Wickenburg, Arizona leads the heading side and Brenda Howard is leading the heeling. Gruwell has been a member of the NSPRA for 20 plus years now. “I love the fact that the association added mixed team roping this year. For me, it is a way to stay competitive in the race for the all-around title,” Gruwell said.

The barrel racers include former NFR barrel racers Jeanne Davis from Jackson, Nebraska, and Vickie Carter from Panquitch, Utah, along with Lyndee Stairs who is a two-time Dodge National Circuit Finals qualifier. The saying “pretty ladies and fast horses” still fits this group of competitors. Kim Coleman will be taking home the season leader buckle for the 50 age division but the world title will be determined at the finals.

The Apache Gold casino may be just the perfect home for the people who are in their golden years looking to put their hands on a gold buckle. Dirt Terrell, the chairman of the executive committee for the NSPRA said, “The opportunity to have our finals at the Apache Gold Casino in Globe, AZ is extremely exciting. The atmosphere, warm climate, and added money are going to make this a great finals.”