El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 75

El Paso Times A Friday, Jan. 30, 1998 JL7 RODEO Mark Garrett Bareback Riding Champion He stands but 5 and half feet tall and he's the younger brother of one of the greatest bareback riders in the history of the sport. But don't let that fool you. Mark Garrett walks in the shadow of no one. Fred Whitfield Calf Roping Champion Hometown: Hockley, Texas.

Date of Birth: Aug. 5, 1967. HeightWeight: 6'37210. 1996 Earnings: $155,336. NFR Earnings: $58,305.

Biggest Win of 1996: $10,712 in Reno, Nev. Career Earnings: $799,229. PRCA Membership: 1990. NFR Qualifications: 7: 1990-96. World Titles: 3: 1991, '95-96 Calf Roping.

Billy Etbauer Saddle Bronc Rider Hometown: Edmond, Okla. Date of birth: Jan. 15, 1963. HeightWeight 5-6140. 1996 earnings: $190,257.

NFR earnings: $66,304. Biggest win of 1996: $15,597 in Houston. Career earnings: $1,005,529. PRCA membership: 1988. NFR qualifications: 8 1989 to 1996.

World titles: 2: 1992 and 1996 saddle bronc riding. Terry West Bull Riding Champion Hometown: Henryetta, Okla. Date of Birth: Oct. 7, 1965. HeightWeight: 5'87140.

1996 Earnings: $125,425. NFR Earnings: $70,807. Biggest Win of 1996: $8,320 in Houston. Career Earnings: $331,471. PRCA Membership: 1987.

NFR Qualifications: 2: 1995-96. World Titles: 1996 Bull Riding I Garrett, 31, of I Spearfish, S.D., entered the National Finals Rodeo fourth in the Crown Royal World Standings, trailing the leader, pi his brother Garrett final round. Then Greenough made a solid ride only to be disqualified for not marking out. Sandvick went next and was the victim of a spectacular buck off Finally, Marvin was called for touching his horse with his free hand. When it was said and done, Mark took the victory laps and won the average championship with a record 786 points on 10 head.

At last, he is no longer the champ's little brother, he's just the champ. But true to his humble attitude. Garrett made it clear that he hadn't wanted to profit from the misfortune of his friends, and credited his traveling companions for the success he's had in his career. "My traveling group makes this possible; it makes coming here and having fun possible," he said just after the 10th round. "These guys are good friends and the best competitors." Ken Lensegrav of Piedmont, S.D., rounds out the four-man bareback riding earnings machine.

When the curtain dropped in Las Vegas, the 1996 accomplishments of the group were nothing short of remarkable. Mark was the world champ with $139,868, Lensegrav was the runner-up with $113,399, Marvin held onto third with $111,875. And the newly crowned world champ said that it borders on criminal that they can make so much doing what they enjoy. "I guess that's what it boils down to; you take away the buckles and money and everything else, you've still got to love what you do," said Garrett. The Casino Apach Ina Da Card Room Marvin Garrett, by a whopping $30,000.

But the $3.2 million NFR in Las Vegas has a way of turning things around. The six-time NFR contestant climbed to the top of the bareback riding heap by winning two rounds and placing in six others, garnering an NFR bareback riding record of $78,517 in the Thomas and Mack Center. While it sounds like Garrett ran away from the pack en route to the title, it was not all roses for him in Las Vegas. On the contrary, it appeared to many he had the fourth-best chance in the field of winning the crown when the final round opened. He held the No.

2 spot in the average race. But his friend and traveling partner, Larry Sandvick of Kaycee, had been on a rampage of his own and trailed Garrett by a single point in the NFR average standings. Deb Greenough, the 1993 world champ from Red Lodge, had placed in fight of nine rounds and appeared to have a choke-hold on the average lead. Marvin Garrett of Belle Fourche, S.D., who also travels with Mark, still had an $8,000 lead in the world standings with a good chance to move up in the average placings. Mark Garrett not only had to go for broke in the final stanza; Sandvick, Greenough and Marvin who had raked in a combined 19 checks in the first nine rounds -all had to stumble.

The unlikely happened. Mark Garrett scored 83 points, giving himself for a shot at winning the 1 (Sim iMD) Garrett Hometown: Spearfish, S.D. Date of Birth: August 19,1965. HeightWeight: 5'67150. 1996 Earnings: $139,868.

NFR Earnings: $78,517. Biggest Win of 1996: $9,345 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Career Earnings: $586,685. PRCA Membership: 1987.

NFR Qualifications: 6: 1989-9194-96. World Titles: 1996 Bareback Riding. "The Cleanest, Friendliest Casino In New Mexico" Come and see our beautiful Expanded Casino we have over 1000 machines, a brand new non-smoking area Plus our new Souvenir Shop! We've expanded to serve your needs! Come play and have fun! Off US'70 Mescalero OPEN DAILY tradition for Black and her sisters, Janelle, Angela and Kayla. Participating in rodeos helped Black learn the value of hard work, sportsmanship, dedication and responsibility at an early age, she said. Beside barrel racing, her interest include, softball and snow skiing.

As Miss Rodeo Southwest, Black succeeds her two older sister who represented the Southwest International Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1990 and 1993. She is the daughter of Bill J. and Pamela Black and is a senior at Socorro High School. She plans to enter college in the fall to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Candace Black Rodeo Queen Candace Black has been selected to represent the Southwestern International Livestock Show and Rodeo as Miss Rodeo Southwest 1998.

As Miss Rodeo Southwest, Black will take part in may activities during the Livestock Show and Rodeo including the Rodeo grand entries, Rodeo Day at Sunland Park Race Track and the Downtown Rodeo Parade, said Betty Best, chairwoman of the Miss Rodeo Southwestern selection committee. Working on the family ranch and rodeos have been a family.