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Open Sort Class

18 Teams for $630.00 Total Purse

1^st: Brad Schoepf, Cress Mummert, 30H /172.98, $189.00 each

2^nd: Merle Browning, Johnny Wisnewski, 29H/ 156.2, $126.00 each

#7 Sort Class

34 Teams for $850. Total Purse

1^st: Patti Waldoch, Mike McMahon, 18H/111.44, $170.00 each

2^nd: Patti Waldoch, Brad Tank, 18H/110.17, $127.50 each

3^rd: Julie Abney, Ed Chevallier, 17H/ 108.08, $85.00 each

4^th: Cress Mummert, Sara Miller, 17H/113.85, $42.50

Youth Sort

6 Teams for $180.00 Total Purse

1^st: Jessica Chevallier, Amber Chevallier, 17H/142.16, $90.00

#5 Sort Class

45 Teams for $900. Total Purse

1^st: Ed Chevallier, Mike McMahon , 18H/115.54 ~ $126.00 each

2^nd: Kyle Kisse, Kirsten Taylor, 17H/105.59 ~ $99.00

3^rd: Dawn Lee, Julie Abney, 17H/108.18 ~ $72.00 each

4^th: Brad Tank, Peggy Miller, 16H/103.7 ~ $49.50 each

5^th: Patti Waldoch, Cathy Foppiano, 16H/106.51 ~ $40.50 each

6^th: Sara Miller, Kirsten Taylor, 16H/110.99 ~ $36.00 each

7^th: Joette Brown, Barry Nelson, 16H.118.62 ~ $27.00 each

Draw Sort Class

35 Teams for $700. Total Purse

1^st: Cathy Foppiano, Brad Tank, 16H/93.24 ~ $140.00 each

2^nd: Mike McMahon, Franchelle Wisnewski, 15H/111.08 ~ $105.00 each

3^rd: Ed Chevallier, Sara Miller, 14H/107.98 ~ $70.00 each (10 Head 1^st Go)

4^th: Bill Abney, Dawn Lee, 14H/102.82 ~ $35.00

#3 Sort Class

29 Teams for $580. Total Purse

1^st: Joette Brown, Kristi Nelson, 14H/110.57 ~ $87.00 each

2^nd: Randy Stewart, Ed Chevallier, 14H/114.21 ~ $72.50 each

3^rd: Amber Chevallier, Randy Stewart, 13H/112.05 ~ $58.00 each

4^th:Ed & Kay Chevallier , 13H/113.8 ~ $43.50 each

5^th: Teri Iversen, Kristi Nelson, 12H/102.49 ~ $29.00 each

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - Sorting Finals Revised

Greetings everyone.

It was brought to my attention that I posted the wrong results for the NWMTPA Sorting Finals for July 11th.

By mistake I reposted the results from the Murdoch's Challenge....Go Figure! Anyhow, they are now updated and should be correct results. Sorry for the confusion.

Your Web Editor.

Thursday, June 24, 2010 - BCW Highlights

May 15th & 16th, 2010 was the 3rd Annual BCW All Novice Event. This year many of the novices were in total awe as they got to play in the wonderful indoor facility of the Majestic Valley Arena just North of Kalispell. Participants traveled from Belgrade, Gallatin Gateway, the Bitterroot Valley, Helena, Superior, Hot Springs, Missoula, Arlee, as well as the surrounding towns of Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Somers & Kalispell. Although many riders were very familiar with the events of Team Penning and Ranch Sorting, for several this was their first actual competition.

This event is produced by 3 Upper Level Riders of the NWMTPA for the sheer pleasure of watching the Novices & Beginners have a great time. Although Barry Nelson (B) Cress Mummert (C) Patti Waldoch (W) are the events main producers, it couldn't be done with out the help of many others.

Special thanks goes out to: Bob & Cathy Foppiano & Merle Browning for helping with getting the cattle hauled in and out. To Franchelle & Phillip Wisnewski, Kimmy Nelson, Sara Miller for cattle changes. Nate Nye for his help with tagging the cattle and Mitch Miller for Judging. Kristi Nelson, Julie Abney for helping in the office, Bill Abney for running the gates,

and whom ever I may have overlooked..... Thank-You!

Over the course of the two-day event 10 Gist Trophy Buckles were awarded and they were all sponsored by the following people:

Bill & Julie Abney of Helena Insulation Inc., & JoAnn Rider & Jim Clayton of Clayton's Card Room, sponsored the Buckles for the Sort Pick Class and they were won by Natalya McLees & Kristi Nelson.

Judy Hembd & Chris & Nikki Stinauer, sponsored the Buckles for the Sort Draw Class and they were won by Linda Habeck & Gayle Stoeber.

Randy Stewart of Big Sky Trucking, Sherri Walla & Shelli Hilde of Pro-Clean Car Wash & Valvoline Express Care, Shawn Tucker of Towne Printer, sponsored the Buckles for the Pen Pick Class and they were won by Deborah Davidson, Joette Brown, Natalya McLees.

Rich & Joette Brown of Sound Air, Inc., Mike McMahon, Mitch & Sara Miller, sponsored the Buckles for the Pen Draw Class and they were won by Kimberly Buls, Joette Brown, Natalya McLees.

Thank you to each of our Buckle Sponsors.

Your BCW Producers sponsored 3 Hi-Point Trophy Breast Collars:

Patti & Joe Waldoch sponsored the Hi-Point Sorter and it was awarded to Bonnie Brown.

Cress Mummert & Franchelle Wisnewski sponsored the Hi-Point Penner and Joette Brown took home that award.

Barry & Kristi Nelson, were the sponsors of the Over-All Hi-Point and JoAnn Rider secured that win.

CHS of Kalispell sponsored a total of 5 Fly Sheets that were awarded to the teams with the 'Fastest Go" of the day.

Posting the only 10 cow sort run of the weekend with a time of 59.66 was the team of Jerry Jones and Cat Taylor, and the fastest team penning run of the weekend was put together by the team of Bonnie Brown, Steve Fetviet and Steve's granddaughter Victoria Buls, with 3 head in 32.35 seconds.

Rounding out the weekend was a drawing for a $50. Gift Certificate from Gina Rasmussen of Performance Tack & Feed, and the lucky winner was Sue Sampson of Belgrade.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thank you to all that came and participated.

Posted below are all the results from the weekend.

Till next year...... your BCW Team: Barry, Cress, & Patti

RESULTS For BCW Novice Event 5-15 & 5-16 -2010

Sort Pick Class

68 Teams for $1020 Total Purse

1^st: Natalya McLees, Kristi Nelson - $127.50 each ~ 16H/107.20

2^nd:Bonnie Brown, Deb Hall - $91.80 each ~ 16H/110.48

3^rd: Cathy Foppiano, JoAnn Rider - $66.30 each ~ 14H/114.17

4^th: Joette Brown, Deborah Davidson - $51.00 each ~ 13H/111.1

5^th: Dick Crain, Colter Miller - $43.35 each ~ 13H/113.97

6^th: Deborah Davidson, Randy Stewart - $35.70 each ~ 12H/100.97

7^th: Missy Miller, Colter Miller - $30.60 ~ 12H/106.48

8^th: Sherlynn Richeson, Randy Stewart - $25.50 each ~ 12H/107.57

9^th: Jerry Jones, Matt Ellerman - $20.40 each ~ 12H/114.56

10^th: Peggy Miller, Linda Habeck - $17.85 each ~ 12H/115.76

Sort Draw Class

68 Teams for $1020 Total Purse

1^st: Linda Habeck, Gayle Stober - $127.50 each ~ 15H/114.92

2^nd:Cheryl Serfoss, Nate Nye - $91.80 each ~ 15H/118.04

3^rd: Bonnie Brown, Matt Ellerman - $66.30 each ~ 14H/101.97

4^th: Deb Hall, Liessa Nye - $51.00 each ~ 14H/115.17

5^th: Sandi Gipe, April Fulbright - $43.35 each ~ 13H/113.6

6^th: Brad Tank, Randy Stewart - $35.70 each ~ 12H/110.48

7^th: Cat Taylor, Nate Nye - $30.60 ~ 12H/113.75

8^th: Missy Miller, Roxanne Birdeau - $25.50 each ~ 12H/114.2

9^th: Joette Brown, Nikki Stinauer - $20.40 each ~ 11H/112.81

10^th: Teri Iwerson, Walt Newberry - $17.85 each ~ 11H/114.8

Pen Pick Class

38 Teams for $855. Total Purse

1^st: Natalya McLees, Joette Brown, Deborah Davidson - $82.65 each ~ 6H/ 86.19

2^ndJoette Brown, Natalya McLees, Sam Fetviet - $65.55 each ~ 6H/ 88.9

3^rd: Joann Rider, Sandi Gipe, Steve Fetviet - $51.30 each ~ 6H/ 97.96

4^th: Pearl Jeske, Cat Taylor, Bonnie Brown - $34.20 each ~ 6H/ 100.94

5^th: Bonnie Brown, Elarian Nichols, Julia Nichols - $28.50 each ~ 6H/ 108.04

6^th: Pearl Jeske, Elarian Nichols, Julia Nichols - $22.80 each ~ 5H/ 97.36

Pen Draw Class

38 Teams for $855. Total Purse

1^st: Natalya McLees, Joette Brown, Kimberly Buls - $82.65 each ~ 6H/ 72.65

2^ndMissy Miller, Collette Maxwell, Carolyn Cruson - $65.55 each ~ 6H/ 76.77

3^rd: Cheryl Serfoss, Elarian Nichols, Dick Crain - $51.30 each ~ 6H/ 93.26

4^th: Brad Tank, Gayle Stober, Kimberly Buls - $34.20 each ~ 6H/ 94.33

5^th: Cheryl Serfoss, Collette Maxwell, Jerry Jones - $28.50 each ~ 6H/ 99.23

6^th: Debbie Richardson, JoAnn Rider, Pearl Jeske - $22.80 each ~ 6H/ 99.82

Thursday, June 24, 2010 - A Record Team Count For Local Rancher

2 years ago when it was getting harder and harder in the late spring and early summer to get cattle in the Flathead Valley for a team penning event, the NWMTPA's Board thought "Why not go to where the cattle are?" That was the conception of the Powell Penning in St Ignatius, which is growing to be one of the most fun events of the season.

Local rancher Brent Powell had often supplied cattle to area events in the past, so getting cattle from Brent wasn't a problem. It was the hauling, handling, and the leasing of the cattle that put a strain on the club. So now with the help of the club, Brent produces the show and has it sanctioned by the NWMTPA Club out of Kalispell.

The Friday evening before the event, trucks and horse trailers gather in the grassy pastures on the north end of the arena setting up portable pens of panels or electric fence. People haul out BBQ Grills, generators, and of course coolers of ones favorite beverages. They all gather and visit and camp out for the night. If the weather permits, the view of the Mission Mountains is usually spectacular, and one might also see the roaming buffalo from the bordering Bison Range.

On Saturday morning as the rest of the participants arrive for the day, the overnighters are found wandering around getting horses ready with a fresh cup of hot coffee in hand. It always amazes me how we all great each other like long lost friends, and it doesn't matter that we may have all seen each other just the weekend before at another event.

Saturday, June 12th, 110 teams, consisting of 38 riders competed for the Cash Jackpots. This was the last event for the season at the Powell Ranch, and a good season it was. As I type this, I all of a sudden fill sad, because the Powell Penning is my favorite place to play. Thanks Brent, for allowing the NWMTPA to play in your own back yard. It is truly appreciated.

Points are now posted under "OUR CLUB" "NEWS" Archive- View Document.
Results are as follows:

6-12-2010 Powell Penning

OPEN Pen Class
13 Teams for $682.50. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Cress Mummert, Brad Schoepf, $136.50 each ~9H/ 111.41
2nd: Bill & Julie Abney, Cress Mummert, $91.00 each ~ 9H/ 126.08

#9 Pen Class
21 Teams for $787.50 Total Purse
1st; Polly & Bill Black, Natalya McLees, $131.25 each ~ 6H/ 74.71
2nd: Mitch Miller, Merle Browning, Ed Chevallier, $78.75 each ~ 6H/88.14
3rd: Bill Abney, Kyle Kisse, Jesse Johnston, $52.50 ~ 6H/90.34

Youth Pen
4 Teams for $180 Total Purse
1st: Jessica & Amber Chevallier, Emily Hilde, $60.00 each ~ 3H/104.07

#7 Pen Class
28 Teams for $840. Total Purse
1st: Barry & Kristi Nelson, Joette Brown, $112.00 each ~ 6H/ 96.07
2nd: Ed & Kay Chevallier, Brad Schoepf, $84.00 each ~ 6H/99.31
3rd: Natalya McLees, Brad Schoepf, Kirsten Taylor, $56.00 each ~5H/93.2
4th: Nancy Condit, Sandy Meyers, Collette Maxwell, $28.00 each ~ 5H/96.03

Draw Pen Class
26 Teams for $780. Total Purse
1st: Cress Mummert, Amber & Ed Chevallier, $130.00 each~ 6H/ 93.85
2nd: Bill Black, Debbie Richardson, Kirsten Taylor, $78.00 each ~ 6H/103.90
3rd: Brad Schoepf, Brad Tank, Kyle Kisse, $52.00 each ~ 5H/101.64

#5 Pen Class
18 Teams for $540. Total Purse
1st: Nancy Condit, Debbie Richardson, Collette Maxwell, $90.00 each ~ 6H/ 87.99,
2nd: Ed, Kay, Jessica Chevallier, $54.00 each ~ 6H/ 106.81
3rd: Ed, Kay, Amber Chevallier, $36.00 each ~ 5H/108.87

Check out the calendar for the HTPA Summer Series!!!!

Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - Murdoch's Challenge Hosts 228 Teams

This weekend was all about the points. With custom monogramed breast collars to be given out to each high point division for both penning and sorting... the constant buzz word was "points". But when it came time to award the trophy breast collars there was both excitement and of course disappointment. For some, they had not a clue they were in the running for the Hi-Point award, and for others, a slight miscalculation missed the mark.

Long time standing member Merle Browning can now dress each of his mounts in new breast collars as Merle secured the Hi-Point Award for the #4 rated riders in both Penning & Sorting. Kyle Kisse also walked away with two Hi-Points, one for the #3 rated Penners and another for the #2 rated Sorters, just make sure you dress your little mare appropriately for each event, Kyle. Ed Chevallier took the Hi-Point for #2 rated Penners, while Mike McMahon secured top spot in the #3 rated Sorters. The #1 Divison for Sorting was won by Dawn Lee, and the #1 rated Penning Division was won by....... and drum roll please........ "SuperStar" Randy Stewart! This is Randy's first year penning and he was the one person that didn't have a clue! Which really makes it fun. Of course the Youth Awards are always a highlight. Jessica Chevallier & Victoria Buls tied for Hi-Point in the Penning and Jessica tied with Emily Hilde for Hi-Point in the Sorting. So all three youth were awarded breast collars for their mounts. Great job girls!

Points are now posted under "OUR CLUB" "NEWS" Archive- View Document.
Results are as follows:
5-1-2010 Murdoch’s Challenge Penning

OPEN Pen Class
16 Teams for $1460. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Brad Schoepf, Julie Abney, 9H/ 119.41, $292.00 each
2nd: LeAnn Siderius, Merle Browning, Eddy Chevallier, 9H/ 141.01, $84.00 each
3rd: Merle Browning, Brad Schoepf, Lyle Potts, 7H/ 143.93, $52.64 each

#9 Pen Class
28 Teams for $1050. Total Purse
1st; Patti Waldoch, Kirsten Taylor, Kyle Kisse, 6H/ 73.67, $224.17 each
2nd: Barry Nelson, Sara & Peggy Miller, 5H/ 93.59, $134.50 each
3rd: Jessica Chevallier, Julie Abney, Patti Waldoch, 5H/ 98.13, $89.67 each

Youth Pen
1 Teams for $15. Total Purse
1st: Victoria Buls, Jessica Chevallier (Julie Abney), 3H/121.00 $15.00 each

#7 Pen Class
17 Teams for $1037.50 Total Purse
1st: Brad Tank, Randy Stewart, Roy Rasmussen, 6H/ 107.46 $172.92 each
2nd: Dawn Lee, Julie Abney, Kirsten Taylor, 6H/ 108.09, $103.75 each
3rd: Merle Browning, Natalya McLees, Ed Chevallier, 3H/ 105.88, $69.17 each

Draw Pen Class
18 Teams for $1025.00 Total Purse
1st: Kirsten Taylor, Kyle Kisse, LeAnn, 6H/ 64.11 $205.00 each
2nd: Ed Chevallier, Bill Abney, Brad Schoepf, 6H/ 85.12, $136.67 each

#5 Pen Class
10 Teams for $725. Total Purse
1st: Kellie Henderson, Sam Fetveit, Natalya McLees, 3H/ 110.66, $145.00 each
2nd: Ed & Jessica Chevallier, 3H/ 117.91, $96.67 each

5-1-2010 Murdoch’s Challenge Sorting

Open Sort Class
25 Teams for $1500.Total Purse
1st: Brad Schoepf, Merle Browning, 28H /169.37, $375.00 each
2nd: Phillip Mainey, Drew Lewis, 28H/ 172.55, $225.00 each
3rd: Merle Browning, Cress Mummert, 25H/ 175.05, $150.00 each

#7 Sort Class
29 Teams for $1270. Total Purse
1st: Julie Abney, Mike McMahon, 20H/106.69, $317.50 each
2nd: Dawn Lee, Phil Mainey, 17H/106.06, $190.50 each
3rd: Julie Abney, Kyle Kisse, 17H/, 114.00, $127.00 each

Youth Sort
3 Teams for $45.00 Total Purse
1st: Jessica Chevallier, Emily Hilde, 1H/96.26, $45.00

#5 Sort Class
34 Teams for $1250. Total Purse
1st: Joe Waldoch, Cathy Foppiano, 15H/110.74 ~ $187.50 each
2nd: Brad Tank, Mike McMahon, 15H/ 116.05 ~ $156.25 each
3rd: Dawn Lee, Merle Browning, 14H/ 115.41 ~$125.00 each
4th: Dawn Lee, Francelle Wisnewski, 11H/107.97 ~ $93.75 each
5th: Patti Waldoch, Cathy Foppiano, 11H/110.98 ~ $62.50 each

Draw Sort Class
28 Teams for $1050. Total Purse
1st: Ed Chevallier, Julie Abney, 17H/110.2 ~ $262.50 each
2nd: Kirsten Taylor, Julie Abney, 12H/115.98 ~ $157.50 each
3rd: Dawn Lee, Kyle Kisse, 11H/104.72 ~ $105.00 each

#3 Sort Class
26 Teams for $1000. Total Purse
1st: Kyle Kisse, Dawn Lee, 14H/112.11, $200. each
2nd: Sara Miller, Lathan Deloe, 9H/106.23, $150.00 each
3rd: Ed Chevallier, Randy Stewart, 9H/108.91, $100. each
4th: Brad Tank, Victoria Buls , 9H/114.84, $50.00 each

Friday, April 30, 2010 - Murdoch Challenge "UPDATE"

Due to issues with cattle availablity, the order of go for this weekends MURDOCH CHALLENGE has been changed to the following:
Saturday's Penning will be:                          Sunday's Sorting will be:
OPEN                                                             OPEN
#5                                                                   #3
Youth                                                             Youth
#9                                                                  #7
#7                                                                   #5
Draw                                                              Draw

Start time is scheduled for 9:00 am
Please email entires to Christy : novak427@centurytel.net

Thank you,
Your NWMTPA Board

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - NWMTPA Kicks Off Penning at Powell's Arena

April 17th & 18th brought 177 teams to play at the Powell Ranch in the beautiful Mission Valley.
Going to Powell's is kind of like going to camp for the weekend. It's just such a relaxed atmosphere because Brent and his crew do all the cattle changes and keep things running smoothly. Most participants pull in on Friday night and set up camp for the weekend. Horses are contained in little electric paddocks or portable pens, camp fires are going and the conversations get deep.

Even though the main focus is the penning event, it is everything else that makes going to Powell's so fun! As usual, Brent provided the club with tough cattle. Just when you think you are getting really good at the game, we go to Powell's and it again humbles us and makes us go back and work on our penning skills.

And as usual, the event did produce some drama. Saturday morning kicked off with Tamer Rask taking a spill with his horse in the wet grass, producing a broken foot for Tamer that required surgery later that day. We all wish you well Tamer and wish you a speedy recovery. Kay Chevallier also hit the dirt on Saturday when her little grey horse zigged to catch a cow and Kay forgot to go with her, Kay was thinking ahead though when she bought 2 cold packs of beer for hitting the dirt, as both her and her horse hit the dirt again on Sunday do to the ground being alittle heavy. Both were unharmed and Kay was a good sport.
Julie Abney took a big spill and scared the daylights out of all of us, as she held her little mare down on the ground till she could get her foot out of the stirrup. Julie took a hard bang to her leg when her horse was scrambling to get up and the horse was alittle shook up herself. Nothing that alot of Ibprophen and alittle bute couldn't fix though. Joette Brown also took alittle roll in the dirt just as her team was headed to the pen, and as Joette was getting up her little horse ran down and stood in the hole, still determined to do her job..rider or not. In the youth class, new member Emily Hilde got un-seated and as we all held our breath she was able to pull herself back into position and complete her run... and like I said, just alittle drama.

Several members from the Bitterroot Club ventured up the valley to play with us, we would just like to thank the following for joining us. Julia & Elarian Nichols, Tamara Graf, Carolyn Cruson, Debbie Richardson and Lara Gover. Jane Clapp from Polson stopped by to play as well as Jesse Johnston from Missoula.

Next stop: Murdoch's Challenge. May 1st & 2nd. Majestic Valley Arena. See you there!
Points are posted under "OUR CLUB" "NEWS" (Select an Archive) View Document.

Results for the Weekend was as follows:

4-17-2010 Powell Penning

OPEN Pen Class
12 Teams for $630. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Cress Mummert, Brad Schoepf, $126.00 each ~9H/ 138.39
2nd: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Barry Nelson, $84.00 each ~ 8H/ 149.1,

#9 Pen Class
19 Teams for $712.50 Total Purse
1st; Ed Chevallier, Mike McMahon, Sandy Meyers, $142.50 each ~ 6H/ 94.05
2nd: Bill Abney, Merle Browning, Kay Chevallier, $95.00 each ~ 6H/101.45

Youth Pen
4 Teams for $180 Total Purse
1st: Jessica & Amber Chevallier, Emily Hilde, $60.00 each ~ 2H/99.25

#7 Pen Class
22 Teams for $660 Total Purse
1st: Barry & Kristi Nelson, Julia Nichols, $88.00 each ~ 5H/ 109.51
2nd: Ed & Kay Chevallier, Brad Schoepf, $66.00 each ~ 5H/113.15
3rd: Kay Chevallier, Bill Abney, Kirsten Taylor, $44.00 each ~4H/88.89
4th: Barry & Kristi Nelson, Elarian Nichols, $22.00 each ~ 4H/104.81

Draw Pen Class
19 Teams for $570 Total Purse
1st: Kirsten Taylor, Joette Brown, Brad Schoepf, $114.00 each~ 6H/ 84.13
2nd: Randy Stewart, Joe Waldoch, Kellie Henderson, $76.00 each ~ 5H/108.49

#5 Pen Class
13 Teams for $390 Total Purse
1st: Ed, Jessica, Amber Chevallier, $78.00 each ~ 5H/ 108.07,
2nd: Joette Brown, Nataly McLees, Kellie Henderson ~ $52.00 each, 4H/ 108.49

4-18-2010 Powell Penning

OPEN Pen Class
12 Teams for $630. Total Purse
1st: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Barry Nelson, $126.00 each ~9H/ 140.26
2nd: Merle browning, Julie Abney, Brad Schoepf, $84.00 each ~ 8H/ 138.2

#9 Pen Class
20 Teams for $750. Total Purse
1st; Ed Chevallier, Julie Abney, Kyle Kisse, $150. each ~ 6H/ 91.94
2nd: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Mike McMahon, $100.00 each ~ 6H/112.68

Youth Pen
4 Teams for $180 Total Purse
1st: Jessica Chevallier, Emily Hilde, Victoria Buls, $60.00 each ~ 2H/70.28

#7 Pen Class
21 Teams for $630 Total Purse
1st: Sara Miller, Kirsten Taylor, Kyle Kisse, $105.00 each ~ 6H/ 69.52
2nd: Ed & Kay Chevallier, Merle Browning, $63.00 each ~ 6H/85.58
3rd: Kellie Henderson, Natalya McLees, Brad Schoepf, $42.00 each ~ 5H/87.17

Draw Pen Class
18 Teams for $540 Total Purse
1st: Julie Abney, Lara Gover, Randy Stewart, $108.00 each~ 6H/ 109.23
2nd: Merle Browning, Kellie Henderson, Julie Abney, $72.00 each ~ 5H/84.76

#5 Pen Class
13 Teams for $390 Total Purse
1st: Jesse Johnston, Debbie Richardson, Pearl Jeske, $78.00 each ~ 5H/ 101.83
2nd: Jesse Johnston, Jane Clapp, Pearl Jeske ~ $52.00 each, 4H/ 100.83

Sunday, April 11, 2010 - Tough Cattle Give NWMTPA Sorters Rough GO!

Holy buckets, when the cattle handlers have to spend more time putting the cows back into the sorting pens, versus the time spent trying to sort them clean, well then it's time to tie up the horses and break out the beer. It got alittle western on Saturday March 27th at Thomsons arena, do to the cattle being alittle more wild than usual.

As you know, I always like to give a little extra focus to the player that has the most success for the day, giving them the Golden Horse Shoe title for that weekend, but for this event our Golden Horse Shoe needs to be put away and instead we will honor the cattle handlers with the TRUE GRIT award! NWMTPA President Bob Foppiano, Director Nate Nye, and member Lyle Potts, (and anyone else I failed to mention) tried to keep the cattle somewhat contained and moving in and out of the pens. But when they were jumping the panels like Santa's reindeer, well there just wasn't alot to controling the situation. And it wasn't just one or two, there seemed to be one in every herd.

37 people showed up to play making up a total of 98 teams for the day. That was a pretty light show by NWMTPA's standards, but everyone showed great patience and understanding with the delays the cattle caused. By early afternoon, when it was suggest to cancel the Draw Class and call it a day, everyone agreed. We all come to play and have fun, and once in a great while the cattle just know how to rain on our parade.

On the upside, it was great to see everyone and visit, and the people that we on hand to serve food did a great job! Thanks Johnnie Wisnewski for arranging the Food Vendor.

Next event will be in the beautiful Mission Valley at Brent Powell's home arena. If the weather cooperates, the view is increadable this time of year. Saturday April 17th, will be our regular scheduled penning event and Sundaythe 18th, will be another penning event, to make up for the one we had to cancel in February. Directions and details can be found on the calendar.

Results are as follows: and Points can be found under "Our Club" "News" - "View Document"

*Select from drop down box which one you would like to view.

3-27-2010 SORTING

Open Sort Class
16 Teams for $560.Total Purse
1st: Joe Waldoch & Bill Abney, $168.00 each, 11H / 140.56
2nd: Merle Browning, Johnnie Wisnewski, $112.00 each, 8H/ 145.19

#7 Sort Class
24 Teams for $600. Total Purse
1st: Sara Miller, Brad Schoepf, $150.00 each, 10H/114.18
2nd: Mitch Miller, Cress Mummert, $90.00 each, 6H/89.56
3rd: Julie Abney, Mike McMahon, $60.00 each, 4H/78.06

Youth Sort
1 Team for $30.00 Total Purse
**No Payout, didn’t sort clean

Beginner Sort
1 Team for $22.50 Total Purse
**No Payout, didn’t sort clean

#5 Sort Class
30 Teams for $600. Total Purse
1st: Julie Abney, Gail Thomson, $90. each, 10H/99.77
2nd: Kirsten Taylor, Mitch Miller, $75.each, 8H/87.82
3rd: Joe Waldoch, Christy Novak, $60.each, 8H/99.59
4th: Mike McMahon, Kristi Nelson, $45. each, 7H/104.38
5th: Merle Browning, Christy Novak, $30. each, 5H/111.06

Draw Sort Class Canceled

#3 Sort Class
26 Teams for $520. Total Purse
1st: Joette Brown, Natalya McLees, $104. each, 10H/118.2
2nd: Sam Fetveit, Nikki Stinauer, $78. each, 7H/99.78
3rd: Liessa Nye, Cathy Foppiano, $52. each, 7H/111.56
4th: Sherri Walla, Christy Novak, $26.00 each, 5H/99.53

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - Feb. 27th Penning Canceled.

Greetings,

We regret to inform you that after much debate.... and I do mean much...... that you NWMTPA Board has elected to postpone this Saturday's penning (Feb 27th) at Thomson's arena.

One of the cattle suppliers informed us that some of the cattle have been ill and he has lost 3 in the last few days for unknown reasons. We need to put the welfare of the cattle first, and cannot

use them till we know they are all healthy.

The NWMTPA Board will make every attempt to make this date up, so that we still have the same number of events as originally planned. But for now... take this time to get caught up at home and we will see you in the sort pen on March 27th.

And don't forget the Bitterroot has a 2 day Sorting Event on March 13th & 14th....

Check the calendar for details.

On behalf the of the NWMTPA Board,

Patti

Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 2009 Awards Dinner

To those of you that were unable to attend our Annual Awards Dinner this past Saturday, you missed some fabulous food put on by the Buffalo Hills Golf Club. To those of you that were able to make it, Thank you, especially everyone that had to travel. It was a great time to visit with fellow NWMTPA Members and their families. After dinner, 2009 President Barry Nelson gave a brief message and thanked all of our 2009 Sponsors who were as followed:

MURDOCH'S: Event Sponsor
Craig Reinke/ Kalispell & Kathy Simkins Bozmen Office

Class Sponsors:
LaSalle Equine Clinic:Drs. John Erfle, Bob Genvese, Denise Steel
Cover-All Buildings: Bill & Julie Abney
CHS- Ken Sederdahl
Crossroads Truck Stop of Missoula: Bill Nooney & Earl Allen
Earl Produced the Banners
Brunz Photography: Will & Andrea, provided graphics for banners.
Loomis Car Co: John & Melissa Loomis
Hub International Insurance Co. :Mark Kurh
Advance Fence: Sean & Kelly Currier

Cow Sponsors:
Carson Bros./Comfort Systems: Cress Mummert
Big Sky Lanes & Casino: Brad Schoepf
N8 Construction: Nate & Leissa Nye
H&S Quarter Horses & Paints: Sandy & Howard Gipe
Properites Northwest Real Estate: LeAnn Siderius
New Castle Electric: Geoff Robson
Ez Money: Melissa Loomis
North Valley Ag: Mike & Wes Davis, Ladelle Reynolds
Big O Tires: Tim Christensen
North Lake Diesel: Rich
3 Rivers Bank: AJ King
Glacier Bank: Jennifer Winters
Mikey's Gas & Diesel: Mike & Tammy Wiherski
Whitefish Credit Union: Mike Cuffe/Barb Pearson
Withey's Health Foods: Joe Withey/Deb McAdams
Meredith Construction: Jennings Johnson
Currier Welding:
Midway Mini Mart: Dan Scheffer
First Call Solutions: Matt Manley,
for all the work on the website, and for providing support to our Pen 3 Program, that runs our events.

2009 Awards

Chuck Sheilds Memorial Penning Finals: (Buckles)
#7 Pen Class: Julie Abney, Franchelle Wisnewski, Colter Miller
High Point Youth Penner: Victoria Buls
High Point #1 Penner: Ed Chevallier
High Point #2 Penner: Kyle Kisse
High Point #3 Penner: Roy Rasmussen
High Point # 4 Penner: Merle Browning

NWMTPA Sorting Finals: (Buckles)
High Point Youth Sorter: Colter Miller
High Point #1 Sorter: Kirsten Taylor
High Point #2 Sorter: Kathy Sutton
High Point #3 Sorter: Sara Miller
High Point #4 Sorter: Franchelle Wisnewski

Year End Awards:
YOUTH PENNING: 3rd Place: Casey Pearson (Sweatshirt)
YOUTH SORTING: 3rd Place: Dillon Ellerman (Sweatshirt)
YOUTH Penning & Sorting: 2nd Place: Colter Miller (Vest)
YOUTH Penning & Sorting: 1st Place: Victoria Buls (Jacket)

3rd Place Winners: Receiving Monogramed Horse Sheets:
#1 Rated Penner: Ed Chevallier
#1 Rated Sorter: Nate Nye
#2 Rated Penner: Kathy Sutton
#2 Rated Sorter: Kyle Kisse
#3 Rated Penner: Joe Waldoch
#3 Rated Sorter: Tim Pearson
#4 Rated Penner: Merle Browning
#4 Rated Sorter: Patti Waldoch

2nd Place Winners: (Recieving Monogramed 3 Season Jackets)
#1 Rated Penner: Hal Bauer
#1 Rated Sorter: Dawn Lee
#2 Rated Penner: Kyle Kisse
#2 Rated Sorter: Mith Miller
#3 Rated Penner/Sorter: Mike McMahon
#4 Rated Penner: Julie Abney
#4 Rated Sorter: Brad Schoepf

1st Place Winners:( Recieving Monogramed Wool Coats)
#1 Rated Penner: Kellie Henderson
#1 Rated Sorter: Kirsten Taylor
#2 Rated Penner: Mitch Miller
#2 Rated Sorter: Gina Rasmussen
#3 Rated Penner: Roy Rasmussen
#3 Rated Sorter: Sara Miller
#4 Rated Penner: Brad Schoepf
#4 Rated Sorter: Franchelle Wisnewski

Rookie Of The Year (Buckle)
Ed Chevallier

Presidents Award(Recieving a Monogramed Wool Coat)
Barry Nelson

Year End Points for everyone are now posted, under "OUR CLUB" - " NEWS"

Friday, February 05, 2010 - NEW> NEW> NEW

With the start of the New NWMTPA Season, comes New Ratings, New Combinations of teams, New faces, and of course New Point Standings.

Saturday Jan 30th, kicked off the first Sort event for the Season, with 55 players attending, making up 195 Sort teams. Even the layout of the sorting pens was new for Thomson's Arena, and very well received. Also New, was the little Beginner class that was added for those beginners that wanted to give our sport a try. Making up a total of 6 teams were Tracy Engebritson, Cody Miller,placing 1st with a total of 4 head, and Cheryl Favre with Randy Stewart placed 2nd with 2 head. Shawna Able, Sherri Walla also added to the team line up. Leslie Dyer was also a newcomer for the day, as she stepped up and gave her luck a try in the draw class. It was great seeing the new faces and we hope to see you around the Pen again soon.

So... who gets the Golden Horseshoe for the Weekend? Well this time it goes to Johnny Wisnewski who topped the leader board with 32 points for the day in his #2 rated division, he edged out Charlie Miller who topped his #1 Division with a combined total points of 30. Leading the #4 Divsion was Merle Browning with 28 points , just sneaking by Julie Abney's 27. Sara Miller took a good lead in the #3 Division with 26 sort points for the day.

It was also great to see the youth class back up and running with 7 teams. Helena Member Ed Chevallier brought the whole family out this time, which includes his (better half) Kay, and daughters Amber & Jessica, we added Colter Miller's little brother Cody to the mix of youth teams and Matt Ellerman's son, Dillon, aboard Bonnie Brown's little mare Lilly rounded out a nice youth class. Victoria Buls was missing from the line up do to skiing with her mom, but she will be back as soon as the snow melts.

It was so good to see everyone, and the next event is Penning on Feb. 27th, also at Thomson's Arena.

Don't forget to rsvp by Feb. 10th, for the Awards Dinner on Feb 13th. to Christy Novak at novak427@centurytel.net.

Payouts are as follows: and Points can be found under "OUR CLUB" "NEWS" "Select Archive" "View Document"

1-30-2010 SORTING

Open Sort Class
21 Teams for $735.Total Purse
1st: Joe & Patti Waldoch, $183.75 each, 18H / 138.24
2nd: Julie & Bill Abney, $110.25 each, 16H/ 149.98
3rd: Ed Chevallier & Bill Abney, $73.50 each, 15H/ 129.65

#7 Sort Class
35 Teams for $875. Total Purse
1st: Johnny Wisnewski, Merle Browning, $175.00 each, 12H/112.39
2nd: Kristi Nelson, Lyle Potts, $131.25 each, 11H/109.69
3rd: Charlie Miller, Peggy Miller, $87.50 each, 11H/114.73
4th: Sara Miller, Merle Browning, $43.75 each, 10H/98.95

Youth Sort
7 Teams for $210.00 Total Purse
1st: Amber & Jessica Chevallier, $105. each, 6H/133.98

Beginner Sort
6 Teams for $90.00 Total Purse
1st: Tracy Engebritson, Cody Miller, $27.00 each, 4H/97.54
2nd: Cheryl Favre, Randy Stewart, $18. each, 2H/86.35

#5 Sort Class
50 Teams for $1000. Total Purse
1st: Johnny Wisnewski, Sara Miller, $130. each, 13H/110.63
2nd: Joe Waldoch, Megan Winderl, $105.each, 12H/116.45
3rd: Joe Waldoch, Cathy Foppiano, $75.each,11H/106.55
4th: Kyle Kisse, Brad Tank, $50. each, 11H/109.53
5th: Johnny Wisnewski, Kriss Frank, $45. each, 10H/104.88
6th: Merle Browning, Christy Novak, $40. each, 10H/104.91
7th: Bonnie Brown, Mike McMahon, $30.each, 9H/99.67
8th: Mitch Miller, Kristi Nelson, $25. each, 9H/111.86

Draw Sort Class
41 Teams for $820. Total Purse
1st: Julie Abney, Lyle Potts, $123.00 each, 15H/111.94
2nd: Sara Miller, Kyle Kisse, $102.50 each,14H/111.89
3rd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Julie Abney, $82.00 each, 14H/112.13
4th: Peggy Miller, Charlie Miller, $61.50, each, 13H/111.88
5th: Merle Browning, Kyle Kisse, $41.00 each, 12H/ 112.32

#3 Sort Class
35 Teams for $700. Total Purse
1st: Amber Chevallier, Randy Stewart, $105 each, 13H/112.83
2nd: Bonnie Brown, Charlie Miller, $87.50 each, 11H/97.65
3rd: Christy Novak, Colter Miller, $70.00 each, 11H/113.65
4th: Ed & Jessica Chevallier, $52.50 each, 10H/110.31
5th: Mike McMahon, Randy Stewart, $35.00 each, 10H/111.92

Monday, January 18, 2010 - New Season Kicks Off with Ranch Sorting

NWMTPA will kick off their 2010 season with a day of 2 man Ranch Sorting to be held Jan. 30th, at Thomson's arena. Sign-ups will start at 8:00 am and the event will start at 9:00. Check the Website calendar for directions, Classes offered, Order of Go, and misc. details.

Also, 2010 Memberships will be due. You can go to "Our Club" "News" and find a 2010 Membership Form, print one off if you would like to have yours all filled out before coming.

Travel safe and we will see you on the 30th!

Monday, January 04, 2010 - Chuck Shields Memorial Finals

NWMTPA brought in the New Year with the 1st Annual Chuck Shields Memorial Penning Finals held at Majestic Valley Arena this past weekend.
34 Penners showed up to build a total of 113 Penning teams to compete for Hi-Point Buckles for each Division as well as #7 Class Champion Buckles in honor of our good friend Chuck Shields.
All the Buckles for the day were sponsored by the Shields Family and they were on hand to present the 3 Buckles to the winners of the #7 Class, who were Julie Abney, Franchelle Wisnewski, and Colter Miller. The remaining winners for Hi-Point were as follows.........

Oh yeah, I forgot, we aren't telling till our Awards Dinner that will be held on February 13th, at the Buffalo Hills Golf Course.
So needless to say, I can't do my "Golden Horse Column" or else that might give it away as to who some of the winners may have been.

But lets just say it was great to be back at Majestic,and to see everyone after a lengthy hiatus. New President Bob Foppiano and fellow board member Nate Nye did a great job handling the cattle. Steve Fetveit announced and it was great hearing his voice over the mic. Christy Novak, ran the show just as smooth as glass, with no computer cliches, and the usual set up team was there, moving panels, hanging tarps, and once again making sure things were in order.

Thanks to all that stepped in and judged the classes, and it was especially nice to hear the laughter and the rekindeling of friendships once again.

Sunday's Sorting Finals bought out 35 players to build 157 Sort teams. The cattle made honest Sorters of us all, and the competition was good.
As the day progressed, people were trying to calculate point standings and figure were they might end for the year. But I like surprises, so now everyone will just have to wait.

I will how ever give you the payout results, and you can 'figure' all you want... but only "I" know the final point results.

Don't forget, we will kick off our 2010 Season with a Sorting at Thomson's Arena on January 30th. We encourage everyone to come out to play and don't forget your 2010 memberships will be due at that Event.

In the mean time, stay warm!

1-2-2010 Chuck Shields Memorial Penning

OPEN Pen Class

16 Teams for $840. Total Purse

1^st: Roy Rasmussen, Kathy Sutton, Kyle Kisse, 8H/ 120.66, $140.00 each

2^nd: Roy Rasmussen, Mike McMahon, Sara Miller, 7H/ 141.01, $84.00 each

3^rd: Merle Browning, Brad Schoepf, Lyle Potts, 7H/ 143.93, $56.00 each

#9 Pen Class

28 Teams for $1050. Total Purse

1^st; Peggy & Sara Miller, Cress Mummert, 6H/ 89.84, $140.00 each

2^nd: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Tamer Rask, 6H/ 95.34, $105.00 each

3^rd: Ed Chevallier, Julie Abney, Merle Browning, 6H/ 105.57, $70.00 each

4^th: Anise & Tamer & Travis Rask, 6H/ 109.27, $35.00 each

Youth Pen

2 Teams for $30. Total Purse

1^st: Victoria Buls, Colter Miller (Mike McMahon), 4H/79.8, $30.00 each

#7 Pen Class

23 Teams for $690 Total Purse

1^st: Colter Miller, Julie Abney, Franchelle Wisnewski, 6H/ 62.75, $69.00 each

2^nd: Joette Brown, Roy Rasmussen, Mitch Miller, 6H/ 83.5, $57.50 each

3^rd: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Ed Chevallier , 6H/ 90.99, $46.00 each

4^th: Kellie Henderson, Brad Schoepf, Mitch Miller, 6H/ 94.93, $34.50 each

5^th: Natalya McLees, Anise Rask, Travis Rask, 6H/ 96.93, $23.00 each

Draw Pen Class

23 Teams for $690.00 Total Purse

1^st: Julie Abney, Kellie Henderson, Kyle Kisse, 6H/ 98.1, $69.00 each

2^nd: Merle Browning, Bill Abney, Colter Miller, 6H/ 111.33, $57.50 each

3^rd: Natalya McLees, Merle Browning, Anise Rask, 5H/ 93.27, $46.00 each

4^th: Ed Chevallier, Mitch Miller, Travis Rask, 5H/ 96.70, $34.50 each

5^th: Sara Miller, Roy Rasmussen, Dawn Lee, 5H/ 105.37, $23.00 each

#5 Pen Class

15 Teams for $450. Total Purse

1^st: Kyle Kisse, Kathy Sutton, Natalya McLees, 5H/ 114.08, $75.00 each

2^nd: Charlie Miller, Colter Miller, Chris Stinauer, 4H/ 113.35, $45.00 each

3^rd: Dawn Lee, Kyle Kisse, Kirsten Taylor, 3H/ 119.04, $30.00 each

1-3-2010 SORTING FINALS

Open Sort Class

22 Teams for $840.Total Purse

1^st: Franchelle Wisnewski, Patti Waldoch, 18 head, $154.50. each

2^nd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Bill Abney, 14 head, $115.50 each

3^rd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Barry Nelson, 11 head, $77.00. each

4^th: Roy Rasmussen, Mike McMahon, 13 head,$38.50.00 each (In 2 Goes)

#7 Sort Class

38 Teams for $950. Total Purse

1^st: Mitch Miller, Cress Mummert, 17 head, $123.50 each

2^nd: Sherri Ohs, Kathy Sutton, 14 head (104.99), $99.75 each

3^rd: Mitch Miller, Kathy Sutton, 14 head (110.98), $71.25. each

4^th: Roy & Gina Rasmussen, 14 head (111.65), $47.50 each

5^th: Patti Waldoch, Mike McMahon, 13 head, $42.75 each

6^th: Cress Mummert, Sara Miller, 12 head (108.3) $38.00 each

7^th: Merle Browning, Sara Miller, 12 head (108.64) $28.50 each

8^th: Franchelle Wisnewski, Missy Miller, 11 head, $23.75

Youth Sort

1 Teams for $30.00 Total Purse

1^st: Victoria Buls, Colter Miller, 10 head, $30.00 each

#5 Sort Class

39 Teams for $780. Total Purse

1^st: Dawn Lee, Merle Browning, 15 head, (114.42) $101.40 each

2^nd: Sara Miller, Kyle Kisse, 15 head, (114.60) $81.90

3^rd: Colter Miller, Bill Abney, 13 head, (94.27) $58.50 each

4^th: Roy Rasmussen, Victoria Buls, 13 head (112.82) $39.00 each

5^th: Kathy Sutton, Sherri Ohs, 12 head, (103.37) $35.10 each

6^th: Roy Rasmussen, Kirsten Taylor, 12 head (108.78) $31.20 each

7^th: Joette Brown, Julie Abney, 11 head (106.04), $23.40 each

8^th: Mike McMahon, Mitch Miller, 11 head (116.18), $19.50 each

Draw Sort Class

32 Teams for $640. Total Purse

1^st: Sara Miller, Colter Miller, 15 head, $89.60 each

2^nd: Patti Waldoch, Sara Miller, 14 head (112.51), $70.40 each

3^rd: Bill & Julie Abney, 14 head, (112.71)$51.20 each

4^th: Kirsten Taylor, Kellie Henderson, 12 head, $35.20 each

5^th: Kirsten Taylor, Charlie Miller, 11 head, $28.80 each

6^th: Bill Hawk, Franchelle Wisnewski, 10 head $25.60 each

7^th: Sherri Ohs, Missy Miller, 9 head, $19.20 each

#3 Sort Class

26 Teams for $520. Total Purse

1^st: Kellie Henderson, Joette Brown, 13 head, $75.40 each

2^nd: Kyle Kisse, Dawn Lee, 12 head, $59.80 each

3^rd: Kirsten Taylor, Kyle Kisse, 11 head, $46.80 each

4^th: Jo Ann Rider, Natalya McLees, 10 head (91.42), $31.20 each

5^th: Victoria Buls, Kathy Sutton, 10 head (106.98), $26.00 each

6^th: Natalya McLees, Teri Iwerson, 10 head (116.50) $20.80 each

Sunday, December 27, 2009 - 09 Finals Jan. 2nd & 3rd, 2010

Happy Holidays from NWMTPA!

Happy Holidays everyone, and I hope you all had a nice Christmas and will have a Safe and Joyous New Year.
Don't forget we will have out 2009 Finals Jan. 2nd & 3rd, at Majestic Valley arena.

Saturday is Penning and the order of go is as follows:
Open, Draw, Youth, #5, #9, #7

Sunday will be Sorting, and the order of go will be:
Open, #3, Youth, #7, #5, Draw

Pre entering is always appreciated, and that can be done by emailing Christy Novak at:
novak427@centurytel.net
or call: 406-756-9383

Please check the calendar for all details.

See you in the PEN!

Monday, November 30, 2009 - President's Message

Dear Fellow NWMTPA Members,

Happy Thanksgiving
Here's a short note to let you know about two upcoming events so you can plan to ride.
We are working on a newsletter that will include our full schedule of events for 2010.
Our 2009 club finals will be at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell, January 2nd and 3rd. Remember, to be qualified,
you must have ridden in at least two (2) NWMTPA Penning events to Pen at the finals and one (1) Sorting Event to Sort -
during the 2009 competition year.
And our 2010-kickoff event is a one day sorting scheduled for January 30, 2010 at Thompson Arena in Columbia Falls.
At our November General Membership Meeting we added Mitch Miller to the cast of characters on our board of directors.
Mitch and Peggy have been among the most dedicated workers at club events and we welcome Mitch to the board.
The rest of us played rock-paper-scissors for positions and I ended up as president. I still think somebody cheated!!

Seriously, we are fortunate to have such a talented, cooperative and experienced board.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the club finals. You can contact me at bfoppiano@centurytel.net.

Sincerely,

Bob Foppiano

President: Bob Foppiano
V.President: Barry Nelson
Secretary: Sam Fetveit
Treasurer: Christy Novak
Director: Mitch Miller
Director: Nate Nye
Director: Cress Mummert
Director: Patti Waldoch

If you are uncertain if you have qualified for the finals, please go to the tab at the top of the page that says:
"OUR CLUB" -Use the Drop down box and click on - "NEWS" View the document that says: "2009 Finals Qualifiers"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - NMWTPA General Membership Meeting

NWMTPA Board gears up to finish out 2009 season, and put things in motion for 2010.

A General Membership meeting is scheduled for November 16th at 7:00 pm at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
This is a must attend meeting if you are interested in the future of your local Team Penning/ Ranch Sorting Club.

Current President, Barry Nelson, will bring the membership up to date on what your board has in mind for finishing out the 2009 season and the thoughts for 2010.

Election of Officers for the new season will also be held at this meeting. Please bring your thoughts, concerns and any questions you may have.

We look for to seeing everyone on Monday.

Thursday, June 11, 2009 - Penners Show Grit

Is it grit or addiction?

By 7am Saturday morning the St. Ignatius Powell Arena was receiving a steady rainfall. But penners were already in route from Helena,Kalispell & Missoula. As the trailers arrived loaded with horses, people emerged clad in rain gear while horses remained in the trailers. Everyone continued to gather in the arena to discuss what the day would bring. With a few more cups of coffee and the slowing of the rain, the catch pen was put up and we were penning by 10:45! The rain held off for most of the day, and started back up lightly with the last class of the day. The only bad part of the day was not getting to enjoy the view of the fabulous Mission Mountains that were concealed by clouds, but the good part was NO DUST!!!! Show secretary Christy Novak was especially delighted with that issue, as she wouldn't have to spend days cleaning all the computer equipment after the event.

Eddy Chevallier gets the Golden Horse for this event by talling 53 points for the day, giving him a total of 81 points for the year in the #1 Division.With 81 points that ties Eddy with Joette Brown for 4th & 5th for the year. Now here's the fun part, Eddy didn't even drive the 150 mile trip from Helena, he tagged along with the Helena girls and that includes Joette. The topper is he just LOVES the horse he rides, but it belongs to Joette and she has no intentions of selling the horse to Eddy. So needless to say, not only did Eddy have a great day Team Penning, he also has some pretty awesome friends. But to be honest....we all do! That's just PENNIN!

Other penning highlights include #4 riders Julie Abney & Merle Browning both talling 40 points for the day. Roy Rasmussen and Mike McMahon added up 47 & 45 points in the #3 Division. #2 riders Kathy Sutton with 47 points and Kristi Nelson with 37, and Kellie Henderson followed Eddy's points with 36 of her own, plus I believed Kellie was Eddy's chauffeur.

All points from this event, as well as the Year to Date Points are posted under "Our Club" - NEWS.
This concludes our regular season and we will have our finals in the fall. Date and location will be announced as soon as confirmed.
Remember, you must have attended 2 pennings to Pen at Club Finals and 1 sorting to Sort at Club finals.

Penning Results
6-6-2009

Open Pen Class
12 Teams for $630. Total Purse
1st: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Mike McMahon: 9 Head, 151.68, $126. each
2nd: Bill Abney, Barry Nelson, Roy Rasmussen: 9 Head, 152.08, $84.00 each

#9 Pen Class
23 Teams for $862.50 Total Purse
1st: Bill & Julie Abney, Hal Bauer: 6 Head, 98.49, $112.50 each
2nd: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Kristi Nelson: 6 Head, 110.62, $67.50 each
3rd: Cress Mummert, Merle Browning, Ed Chevallier : 5 Head, 112.76, $45.00 each

Youth Pen Class
4 Teams for $120. Total Purse
1st: Victoria Buls, Colter Miller (Peggy Miller) : 3 Head, 104.58, $60.00 each

#7 Pen Class
23 Teams for $690. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Ed Chevallier, Johnny Wisnewski: 6 Head, 74.26, $69.00 each
2nd: Roy Rasmussen, Mike McMahon, Chris Stinauer: 6 Head, 86.78, $57.50 each
3rd: Julie Abney, Kyle Kisse, Natalya McLees: 6 Head, 100. 48, $46.00 each
4th: Barry & Kristi Nelson, Ed Chevallier: - 6 Head, 102.76, $34.50 each
5th: Kristi Nelson, Mike McMahon, Kathy Sutton : - 5 Head, 100.65 $23.00 each

Draw Pen Class
22 Teams for $660. Total Purse
1st: Joette Brown, Barry Nelson, Brad Schoepf: 6 Head, 76.34, $66.00 each
2nd: Patti Waldoch, Merle Browning, Kathy Sutton: 6 Head, 85.43, $55.00 each
3rd: Peggy Miller, Mike McMahon, Bill Abney: 6 Head, 101.69, $44.00 each
4th: Cress Mummert, Kathy Sutton, Kathy Tash: - 6 Head, 102.79, $33.00 each
5th: Karen Miller, Barry Nelson, Julie Abney: - 6 Head, 107.5 $22.00 each

#5 Pen Class
19 Teams for $570. Total Purse
1st: Kathy Tash, Kathy Sutton, Ed Chevallier: 5 Head, 94.2, $95.00 each
2nd: Kellie Henderson, Joette Brown, Johnny Wisnewski: 5 Head, 110.56, $57.00 each
3rd: Kellie Henderson, Mitch Miller, Johnny Wisnewski: 3 Head, 97.85, $38.00 each

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - Chris Stinauer Sweeps BCW All Novice Event

NWMTPA Member Chris Stinauer was unbeatable as he won all four classes that were offered over the weekend at the annual BCW ALL Novice event held at Thomson's Arena in Columbia Falls.

Saturday he paired up with fellow member Sandi Gipe to sort 11 head clean in 113.37 seconds to take the buckles in the Sort Pick Class. Chris then drew up with the Arena Host Gail Thomson, in the Draw Sort Class, and together the team sorted 13 head in 112.42 giving Gail her first ever Sort Buckle along with Chris's second for the day.
Buckles were sponsored by Barry & Kristi Nelson - Nelson Electric - and Cress Mummert with gal pal Franchelle Wisnewski and Patti & Joe Waldoch.
2nd place winners were awarded Saddle Covers donated by Kristi & Patti, and 3rd place winners received Cattle counters or Equine Body Wash from Lucky T's /Teri Iwersen. Jeremy Phillips of Gurgi’s Gutters sponsored Door Prizes.A total of 106 sort teams competed on Saturday.

Sunday brought 58 penning teams to the Thomson Arena to again compete for buckles and prizes. In the Pen Pick Class, Chris Stinauer teamed up with Kristi Nelson and Steve Fetveit and made it to the top of the leader board by penning 6 head in 87.99. The penning classes were so close that the top 5 teams all penned 6 head with the times ranging from 87.99 - 95.99. In the Pen Draw Class, Mitch Miller and Charlie Miller had the good fortune to draw up with Stinauer, and catch a ride to the winner circle with him as he collected his fourth buckle of the weekend. Mitch Miller was one of the BCW buckle winners last year, but this was Charlie Miller's first buckle. The team penned 6 head in 78.52, and the remaining 4 teams placing, all penned 6 head with times up to 90.16.
Buckle sponsors for the Pen Classes were, Mitch & Peggy Miller - Hal & Becky Bauer - Denise Belt - Mike McMahon - Jim Clayton/Clayton's Card Room - and Shawn Tucker/Towne Printery.

BCW Promoters were Barry Nelson, Cress Mummert, & Patti Waldoch. A special Thank You to Dan & Gail Thomson for the use of their beautiful facility.

The rest of the results are as follows:
Sort Pick Class
53 Teams for $1030 Total Purse
1st: Chris Stinauer, Sandi Gipe, 11H/ 113.37, $133.90 each
2nd: Colter Miller, Mitch Miller - 11H/ 116.68 $108.15 each
3rd: Mitch Miller, Nate Nye - 10H/110.46, $77.25 each
4th: Leah Mitchell, Joanne Rider - 10H/ 112.31, $51.50 each
5th: Dan & Gail Thomson – 9H/ 103.02, $46.35 each
6th: Ken Stoeber, Johnnie Wisnewski - 8H/ 95.29, $41.20 each
7th: Nikki Stinauer, Natalya McLees - 8H/105.17, $30.90 each
8th: Nikki Stinauer, Sandi Gipe - 7H/ 90.92, $25.75 each

Sort Draw Class
53 Teams for $1030 Total Purse
1st: Chris Stinauer, Gail Thomson, 13H/ 112.42, $133.90 each
2nd: Charlie Miller, Mitch Miller - 12H/ 111.32 $108.15 each
3rd: Peggy Miller, Colter Miller - 12H/112.83, $77.25 each
4th: Nikki Stinauer, Joanne Rider - 10H/ 102.51, $51.50 each
5th: Dan Thomson, Karen Miller – 10H/ 115.17, $46.35 each
6th: Debbie Newman, Johnnie Wisnewski – 9H/ 105.65, $41.20 each
7th: Cathy Foppiano, Cheryle Farve - 9H/112.61, $30.90 each
8th: Ken Stoeber, Charlie Miller - 9H/ 115.15, $25.75 each

Pen Pick Class
29 Teams for $902.50 Total Purse
1st: Chris Stinauer, Kristi Nelson, Steve Fetveit - 6H/ 87.99, $90.25 each
2nd: Mitch Miller, Kellie Henderson, Johnnie Wisnewski - 6H/ 88.31- $75.21 each
3rd: Kellie Henderson, Joette Brown, Denise Belt - 6H/89.29 - $60.17 each
4th: Peggy Miller, Johnnie Wisnewski, Joette Brown - 6H/ 94.93, $45.13 each
5th: Kristi Nelson, Sam Fetveit, Sue Sampson - 6H/ 95.99, $30.08 each

Pen Draw Class
29 Teams for $902.50 Total Purse
1st: Chris Stinauer, Charlie Miller, Mitch Miller - 6H/ 78.52, $90.25 each
2nd: Chris Stinauer, Natalya McLees, Steve Fetveit - 6H/ 86.82- $75.21 each
3rd: Kellie Henderson, Peggy Miller, Karen Miller - 6H/88.75 - $60.17 each
4th: Franchelle wisnewski, Johnnie Wisnewski, Sue Sampson - 6H/ 89.85, $45.13 each
5th: Peggy Miller, Dan Thomson, Colter Miller - 6H/ 90.16, $30.08 each

Monday, May 11, 2009 - May 2009 Newsletter Posted

The May issue of the NWMTPA Newsletter hit newstands today. Get yours? If not, you'll find it right here under "Our Club" and the sub-heading "News"

Thursday, May 07, 2009 - NWMTPA's "RUN For The POINTS"

Typically the first weekend in May is known amoung horse folks as the "Run for The Roses", as some of the countries best 3 yr old Thoroughbreds gather together for the Kentucky Derby. So it may be fitting to nick name the Annual Murdoch's Montana Challenge, which was held by your local Northwest Montana Team Penners Association this past weekend at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell, "The Run For The Points".

In the past this event has been a larger scale event with up to $20,000 added money and was Sanctioned by the United States Team Penning Association, drawing riders from all over the US andCanada. The fees were more costly and the payouts higher, which sometimes prohibited locals from playing. So this year in the plight of our local economy, NWMTPA down scaled the event and made it more attractive to local members. With the help of our own local Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, we were still able to have a nice amount of added money, which we hope will end up back into the Flathead Community, and of course partically Murdoch's.

By having this event Sanctioned by NWMTPA, not only was there purse money to be had, but points were also awarded towards year end awards. As we near the end of our season, the competition gets fierce and points sometimes are more important then the cash. The braggin rights that comes with finishing first for the season in a rider's division, are supported proudly by club coats that are worn for years to come. When the jackpot money is long gone, it is the club award coats and the belt buckles that are held dear to members and make life time memories.

304 teams competed over the two day event for a total of $15,116. in purse money. Bigfork resident, Kristi Nelson had the most success for the weekend taking home $860. of the purse money, while Helena member Bill Abney tallied the most penning points for Saturday with 43, he was closely followed by Plain's member Joe Waldoch's 42 points. On Sunday, Sorting points were dominated by our own Kalispell member Brad Schoepf with a total of 37, followed closely my another Helena member Gina Rasmussen with 34.

Results are as follows and points are posted under "Our Club" "News"
Penning Results for Saturday May 2nd, 2009

Open Pen Class
17 Teams for $1564. Total Purse
1st: Joel Lesh, LeAnn Siderius, Julie Abney: 8 Head, 104.59, $260.67 each
2nd: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Julie Abney: 8 Head, 138.17, $156.40 each
3rd: Kyle Kisse, Kathy Sutton, Roy Rasmussen, 7 Head, 156.27, $104.27 each

#9 Pen Class
27 Teams for $2117.50 Total Purse
1st: Kristi Nelson, LeAnn Siderius, Roy Rasmussen: 6 Head, 82.15, $282.33 each
2nd: Bill Abney, Anise Rask, Kirsten Taylor, 6 Head, 85.53, $211.75 each
3rd: Kristi & Barry Nelson, Joe Enger : 6 Head, 100.21, $141.17 each
4th: Roy Rasmussen, Joe Enger, Mike McMahon: 6 Head, 101.49, $70.58 each

Youth Pen Class
3 Teams for $90. Total Purse
1st: Victoria Buls, Casey Pearson (Franchelle Wisnewski) : 4 Head, 109.58, $45.00 each

#7 Pen Class
28 Teams for $1550. Total Purse
1st: Kristi & Barry Nelson, Hal Bauer: 6 Head, 98.91, $149.83 each
2nd: Bill Abney, Travis Rask, Emily Lynch: 5 Head, 92.5, $118.83 each
3rd: Mitch, Peggy , Sara Miller: 5 Head, 92.62, $93.00 each
4th: Patti & Joe Waldoch, Steve Fetveit: - 5 Head, 112.42, $62.00 each
5th: Dawn Lee, Julie Abney, Kyle Kisse: - 3 Head, 107.82 $51.67 each
6th: Patti Waldoch, Samantha & Steve Fetveit: - 2 Head, 107.53, $41.33 each

Draw Pen Class
28 Teams for $1050. Total Purse
1st: Tamer Rask, Julie Abney, Joe Waldoch: 6 Head, 84.63, $101.50 each
2nd: Bill Abney, Anise Rask, Joe Waldoch: 6 Head, 84.64, $80.50 each
3rd: Cress Mummert, Roy Rasmussen, Joe Enger: 6 Head, 87.24, $63.00 each
4th: Tim Pearson, LeAnn Siderius, Roy Rasmussen: - 6 Head, 87.49, 42.00 each
5th: Joel Lesh, Sara Miller, Johnny Wisnewski: - 6 Head, 106.67, $35.00 each
6th: Bill Abney, Casey Pearson, Patti Waldoch: - 6 Head, 106.67, $28.00 each

#5 Pen Class
18 Teams for $1035. Total Purse
1st: Mitch & Peggy Miller, Kellie Henderson: 6 Head, 116.4, $138.00 each
2nd: Ken & Gail Stoeber, Hal Bauer: 5 Head, 98.16, $103.50 each
3rd: Samantha & Steve Fetveit, Kristi Nelson: 5 Head, 98.64, $69.00 each
4th: Ken & Gail Stoeber, Sue Sampson, 3 Head, 106.58, $34.50 each

Sorting Results for Sunday May 3rd, 2009

Open Sort
25 Teams for $1800. Total Purse
1st: Cress Mummert, Brad Schoepf – 17H, (138.2), $360.00 each
2nd: LeAnn Siderius, Joel Lesh – 15H, (167.3), $270.00 each
3rd: Patti Waldoch, Franchelle Wisnewski – 14H, (157.23), $180.00 each
4th: Joe Waldoch, Barry Nelson – 14H, (167.05) $90.00 each

#7 Sort
47 Teams for $2110. Total Purse
1st: Brad Schoepf, Mitch Miller, - 14H, (95.33) $295.40 each
2nd: Sara Miller, Cress Mummert – 12H, (107.51) $232.10 each
3rd: Joel Lesh, Victoria Buls, – 11H (114.23) $168.80 each
4th: Johnny Wisnewski, Brad Schoepf – 10H, (104.2) $116.05 each
5th: Barry & Kristi Nelson – 10H (104.92) $94.95 each
6th: Joel Lesh, Gail Thomson – 9H (98.1) $84.40 each
7th: Joe Waldoch, Tim Pearson – 9H (102.76) $63.30

Youth Sort
5 Teams for $135. Total Purse
1st: Victoria Buls, Colter Miller – 8H, (124.51) $67.50 each

#5 Sort
52 Teams for $1800. Total Purse
1st: Gina Rasmussen, Kathy Sutton – 11H, (98.52) $225.00 each
2nd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Gail Thomson – 11H (109.26), $162.00 each
3rd: Gina Rasmussen, Kyle Kisse, - 9H, (104.16) $117.00 each
4th: Johnny Wisnewski, Peggy Miller – 9H, (108.96) $90.00 each
5th: Ken Stoeber, Patti Waldoch – 8H (93.17) $76.50 each
6th: Gayle Stoeber, Patti Waldoch – 8H (93.20) $63.00 each
7th: Mike McMahon, Hal Bauer – 8H (97.23) $54.00 each
8th: Franchelle Wisnewski, Kirsten Taylor – 8H head (101.64) $45.00 each
9th: Mitch Miller, Samantha Fetveit, 8H (104.15) $36.00 each
10th: Kristi Nelson, Samantha Fetveit, 8H (110.41) $31.50

Draw Sort
18 Teams for $450. Total Purse
1st: Franchell Wisnewski, Lyle Potts -8H (113.88) $90.00 each
2nd: Kirsten Taylor, Mike McMahon –7H (114.55) $67.50 each
3rd: Missy Miller, Rober Nerlin – 5H, (108.54) $45.00 each
4th: Colter Miller, Johnny Wisnewski – 4H (76.08) $22.50 each

#3 Sort
36 Teams for $1400. Total Purse
1st: Dawn Lee, Mitch Miller – 12H (103.94) $182.00 each
2nd: Gina Rasmussen, Steve Fetveit – 9H (94.15) $147.00 each
3rd: Missy & Charlie Miller – 8H (98.79) $105.00 each
4th: Charlie & Colter Miller – 8H (106.49) $70.00 each
5th: Dawn Lee, Kyle Kisse – 8H (108.70) $63.00 each
6th: Kristi Nelson, Liessa Nye – 8H (108.86) $56.00 each
7th: Mitch Miller, Kirsten Taylor – 8H (110.99.00) $42.00 each
8th: Gail Thomson, Kristi Nelson – 8H (111.55) $35.00 each

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - May 2nd & 3rd Event

MURDOCH'S 12TH ANNUAL MONTANA CHALLENGE

$5000. est. ADDED MONEY -

NWMTPA

SORTING RESULTS – 2-21-2009

Open Class

24 Teams for $840. Total Purse

1^st: Roy Rasmussen, Joe Enger – 20 head, (162.12), $168.00 each

2^nd:Joe Enger, Brad Schoepf - 20 head, (164.33), $126.00 each

3^rd: Joe Waldoch, Julie Abney - 20 head, (170.04), $84.00 each

4^th: Joe Enger, Kipp Belt - 17 head, (170.57) $42.00 each

#7 Class

38 Teams for $950. Total Purse

1^st: Cress Mummert, Mitch Miller, - 16 head, (107.22) $137.75 each

2^nd: Joe Enger, Tim Pearson - 15 head, (97.89) $109.25 each

3^rd: Barry Nelson, Mitch Miller – 15 head (115.9) $85.50 each

4^th: Julie Abney, Mike McMahon - 14 head, (109.16) $57.00 each

5^th: Arlen Raggl, Joe Waldoch - 14 head (111.95) $47.50 each

6^th: Barb Pearson, Brad Schoepf – 12 head (110.72) $38.00 each

No Youth Class

#5 Class

53 Teams for $1060. Total Purse

1^st: Mitch & Sara Miller - 16 head, (112.98) $137.80 each

2^nd: Dawn Lee, Merle Browning - 14 head (105.10), $100.70 each

3^rd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Kirsten Taylor, - 13 head, (103.60) $68.90 each

4^th: Jerry Loutherback, Lacy Lee Erskin - 13 head, (106.94) $53.00 each

5^th: Barry Nelson, Nate Nye - 13 head (114.45) $47.70 each

6^th: Barb Pearson, Sandi Gipe – 12 head (115.32) $42.40 each

7^th: Mike McMahon, Mitch Miller - 12 head (116.48) $31.80 each

8^th: Nan Potts, Mike McMahon - 11 head (99.86) $26.50 each

9^th: Bonnie Brown, Matt Ellermann, 11 head (115.67) $21.20 each

Draw Class

31 Teams for $620. Total Purse

1^st: Joe Waldoch, Brad Schoepf -20 head (106.22) $89.90 each

2^nd: Dawn Lee, Franchelle Wisnewski -16 head (115.26) $71.30 each

3^rd: Kristi Nelson, Mike McMahon - 11 head, (101.15) $55.80 each

4^th: Lacy Lee Erskin, Brad Schoepf - 10 head (110.42) $37.20 each

5^th: Patti Waldoch, Brad Schoepf - 9 head (119.28) $31.00 each

6^th: Patti Waldoch, Teri Iwersen - 8 head (114.1) $24.80 each

#3 Class

35 Teams for $700. Total Purse

1^st: Nate Nye, Gina Rasmussen – 14 head (108.51) $98.00 each

2^nd: Steve Fetveit, Kyle Kisse - 12 head (105.49) $77.00 each

3^rd: Louie Raggl, Gina Rasmussen – 12 head (108.81) $56.00 each

4^th: Peggy Miller, Leah Mitchell - 11 head (112.94 $38.50 each

5^th: Arlene Raggl, Leah Mitchell - 10 head (99.04) $31.50 each

6^th:Denise Belt, Brad Abell - 9 head (99.09) $28.00 each

7^th: Mike McMahon, Dawn Lee - 9 head (106.00) $21.00 each

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER POSTED

Check your mailbox or your member news. The February Newsletter has been put to bed!

Monday, February 02, 2009 - Youth Penner Crowned Miss Teen Rodeo Montana 2009

Most of us at NWMTPA have watched Sam Manley grow up penning. Considering she is only 14 years old and has been penning since the ripe ol' age of 7, that's half of Sam's life. Many of us have ridden with her as well as younger sister Belle, and they both are always a delight to ride with. When you take a group of old time penners, new penners and kids, it really becomes one close knit family. So needless to say, this group of penners take pride in watching one of our Club Kids succeed.

So....on behalf of the NWMTPA , we are pleased to introduce Samantha Manley, Miss Teen Rodeo Montana 2009. Sam was the youngest of four ladies vying for the title this year and is the youngest Miss Teen Rodeo Montana since the inception of the program five years ago. All of the contestants competed side-by-side and on the same agenda as the Miss Rodeo Montana contestants during the 2009 pageant held in conjunction with the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls in mid January. The areas of measured competition included Horsemanship, Speech, Personality, Style Show, Photogenic, Appearance, Projection & Presentation. The public events included a Horsemanship demonstration, Public Speech, Fashion Show and several public appearances where the girls were asked impromptu questions. Additionally, there were a number of written and oral tests and interviews which were conducted in private. Awards were presented for Sportsmanship, Speech, Horsemanship, Personality, Style Show, Photogenic, Projection & Presentation, Appearance and the ever coveted Miss Congeniality.

In addition to the overall title win, Samantha took top honors in Speech, Horsemanship, Personality and was voted by her peers (including the Miss Rodeo Montana contestants) to share the Miss Congeniality award with Miss Shantelle Frame of St. Ignatius.

Sam is a proud member of the Northwest Montana Team Penning Association, The Helena Team Penning Association, The United States Team Penning Association as well as the Blue Mountain 4h club. Sam is a Freshman at Loyola Sacred Heart High School and was voted into the role of Class President of the Freshman Class 2009. She is looking forward to her role as Teen Ambassador of Rodeo for the State of Montana in 2009 and will be attending a significant number of PRCA Rodeo events throughout the state this year.

Her official web site is up and running, you are invited to stop by and see what Sam is up to at: http://www.mtrmt.org. Samantha can be contacted via e-mail @ sam@mtrmt.org.

You can also learn more about the Miss Rodeo Montana organization by visiting their web site at http://www.missrodeomontana.com

Monday, February 02, 2009 - Visiting Penner Sweeps The Show

Our January 24th Penning event seemed to be more like old times. A smaller one day event held out at Thomson's Arena northeast of town.
39 members and one guest came out to play making up just 100 teams for the day. The day seemed very relaxed, layed back and fun. The way it used to be. The only thing missing was our youth. No youth class was held this event.

So who had the golden horse shoe this weekend? Well that would have to go to visiting penner Joel Lesh.

Joel's physical address is Oklahoma, but for the most part you can run into him just about anywhere in the US and Canada. Joel was making a trip from Colorado to Canada when he stopped over to visit fellow club member LeAnn Siderius and decided to come out and play. It was a treat watching Joel ride and for those that were on teams with him, it was even more of a treat. Joel was on teams that won 3 of the 5 classes offered. The best part was watching him ride with our #1 & #1n rated riders. With Joels rating being a #7, highest possible, he had to build teams with the novices for the #9 & #7 classes. Joel's point tally for the day was 59, but he also helped alot of others increase their point standings for the year.

It was also Helena member Roy Rasmussen's day to shine. Roy racked up 50 points for the day, putting him in 1st place on the leader board for the #3 penners. Sara Miller penned up 40 points to make her way to the top of the #2 penners, while Hal Bauer also tallied 40 points, giving him a significant lead over the #1 rated riders. Brad Schoepf held his 1st place position for the #4 rated penners by adding up another 33 points for the day.

Points for the day and Year To Date are posted in PDF format under OUR CLUB - News.

February 7th & 8th is the Roger Braa Sorting Clinic, and our next event is February 21st, Sorting at Thomson's Arena... See ya Then!

Penning Results
1-24-2009

Open Pen Class
18 Teams for $945. Total Purse
1st: Joel Lesh, Leann Siderius, Cress Mummert: 8 Head, 104.35, $157.50 each
2nd: Sara Miller, Mike McMahon, Roy Rasmussen: 8 Head, 162.8, $94.50 each
3rd: Joel Lesh, Leann Siderius, Lyle Potts: 6 Head, 166.45, $63.00 each

#9 Pen Class
27 Teams for $1012.50 Total Purse
1st: Joel Lesh, Hal Bauer, Natalya McLees: 6 Head, 91.84, $157.50 each
2nd: Julie Abney, Barb Pearson, Kyle Kisse: 6 Head, 101.13, $101.25 each
3rd: Tim Pearson, Joe Enger, Hal Bauer: 5 Head, 112.32, $67.50 each
4th: Lyle Potts, Denise Belt, Mitch Miller: 5 Head, 113.8, $33.75 each

Youth Pen Class
No Youth this weekend(;-

#7 Pen Class
22 Teams for $660. Total Purse
1st: Jim Brown, Peggy & Sara Miller: 6 Head, 86.2, $66.00 each
2nd: Jim Brown, Barb Pearson, Hal Bauer: 6 Head, 94.89, $55.00 each
3rd: Mike McMahon, Chris Stinauer, Roy Rasmussen: 6 Head, 95.22, $44.00 each
4th: Roy Rasmussen, Sara & Peggy Miller: - 6 Head, 100.97, $33.00 each
5th: Dawn Lee, Gail Thomson, Joel Lesh: - 3 Head 92.91 $22.00 each

Draw Pen Class
18 Teams for $540. Total Purse
1st: Joel Lesh, Brad Schoepf, Ed Chevallier: 6 Head, 79.14, $72.00 each
2nd: Joe Waldoch, Lyle Potts, Bill Abney: 6 Head, 80.96, $54.00 each
3rd: Bill & Julie Abney, Brad Schoepf: 6 Head, 84.46, $36.00 each
4th: Jim Brown, Merle Browning, Ed Chevallier: - 6 Head, 91.46, 18.00 each

#3 Pen Class
15 Teams for $450. Total Purse
1st: Dan & Gail Thomson, Denise Belt: 6 Head, 97.77, $75.00 each
2nd: Sara Miller, Mitch Miller, Jerry Miller: 5 Head, 97.0, $45.00 each
3rd: Denise Belt, Chris Stinauer, Bob Foppiano: 5 Head, 106.42, $30.00 each

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - NWMTPA Kicks Off 2009 Season.

More than 50 some NWMTPA members turned up their noses at old man winter December 27th & 28th, and gathered one more time at the Majestic Valley arena to kick off the Club's new season for Penning and Sorting.
Team count was down from past years, but that was to be expected with the weather and the current economy. For those that did rally to play and spend time together as fellow team penners, there were both good times and sad times.
It was great to see everyone and play after a 3-month break, but it was also a sad time due to fellow member Gary Habeck being hospitalized in critical condition from injuries sustained in a fall. We all shared our memories and prayers for Gary through out the weekend, but before the two day event was over our maker above had called him home. NWMTPA has been blessed to have had Gary in our club and he will certainly be missed.

As we start the new season, that also means a clean slate for points and standings. So just who made it to the top of the leader board?
Well, Brad Schoepf gets the golden horseshoe for Penning on Saturday as he tallied 47 points for the day, and leads the #4 rated riders over Merle Browning's 38. The Ranch Sorting held on Sunday was dominated by Helena member Gina Rasmussen who secured 41 points putting her on top for the #1 rated sorters over Nate Nye's 21 points. Other members making the top of the leader boards were the mother-daughter team of Teresa & Callie Roberts. Mom tallied 26 points for penning in the #3 division over Helena's Kriss Frank's 25, while daughter Callie scored 35 penning points over Mitch Miller's 23 in the #2 Division. Even little Elizabeth Roberts tallied 15 points to put her 6th in the #1 Division, while dad Gil posted 20 points to place him 8th for the #4 Penners, making their 200 mile trek from Hamilton worthwhile. Others having success over the weekend in Penning were Hal Bauer with 30 points over Joette Brown's 24 for the #1 rated riders, and the three youth of Callie, Elizabeth and Casey Pearson ended in a 3-way tie with 27 points each. While in the #4 Sorting Division, Patti Waldoch's 31 points squeaked by Franchelle Wisnewski's 30. #3 rated Sara Miller leads Mike McMahon, 32 to 26, and Sherri Oh's 26 sorting points edged out the 24 for Mitch Miller in the #2 Division. Victoria Buls heads up the Youth with 19 points.

Total Points are posted under Our Club - News.

12-27-08 PENNING RESULTS,

OPEN Pen Class
14 Teams for $735. Total Purse
1st: Tamer Rask, Julie & Bill Abney, 9H/ 145.01, $147.00 each
2nd: Roy Rasmussen, Mike McMahon, Sara Miller, 8H/ 130.74 $98.00 each

#9 Pen Class
32 Teams for $1200.00 Total Purse
1st; Merle Browning, Julie Abney, Kirsten Taylor, 6H/ 87.77, $108.75 each
2nd: Bill Abney, Teresa & Callie Roberts, 6H/ 88.32, $90.63 each
3rd: Gina Rasmussen, Kipp Belt, Lyle Potts, 6H/ 88.53, $72.50 each
4th: Merle Browning, Brad Schoepf, Johnny Wisnewski, 6H/ 90.89, $54.38 each
5th: Teresa, Callie, Gil Roberts, 6H/ 91.57, $36.25 each

Youth Pen
4 Teams for $144. Total Purse
1st: Elizabeth & Callie Roberts, Casey Pearson, , 4H/81.96, $48.00 each

#7 Pen Class
29 Teams for $1087.50 Total Purse
1st: Gil, Callie Roberts, Hal Bauer, 6H/ 89.85, $105.13 each
2nd: Joette Brown, Kellie Henderson, Brad Schoepf, 6H/ 93.48, $83.38 each
3rd: Mitch, Peggy, Sara Miller, 6H/ 101.42, $65.25 each
4th: Tim & Casey Pearson, Jessica Ekegren, 6H/ 101.61, $43.50 each
5th: Mike McMahon, Teresa Roberts, Hal Bauer, 6H/ 104.7, $36.25 each
6th: Julie Abney, Teresa Roberts Elizabeth Roberts, 6H/ 106.19, $29.00 each

Draw Pen Class
20 Teams for $600.00 Total Purse
1st: Cress Mummert, Anise Rask, Kriss Frank, 6H/ 80.42, $80.00 each
2nd: Kriss Frank, Kipp Belt, Lyle Potts, 6H/ 82.05, $60.00 each
3rd: Brad Schoepf, Merle Browning, Cress Mummert, 6H/ 82.6, $40.00 each
4th: Gina Rasmussen, Barb Pearson, Johnny Wisnewski, 6H/ 89.26, $20.00 each

#5 Pen Class
15 Teams for $450. Total Purse
1st: Dawn Lee, Mitch & Peggy Miller, 6H/ 93.13, $75.00 each
2nd: Sherri Ohs, Gina Rasmussen, Kyle Kisse, 6H/ 100.98, $45.00 each
3rd: Hal Bauer, Natalya McLees, Sam Fetveit, 6H/ 106.89, $30.00 each

12-28-08 SORTING RESULTS

Open Sort Class
18 Teams for $630.Total Purse
1st: Barry Nelson, Joe Waldoch, 19 head, $157.50. each
2nd: Phillip & Johnny Wisnewski, 17 head, $94.50 each
3rd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Sara Miller, 16 head, $63.00. each

#7 Sort Class
38 Teams for $950. Total Purse
1st: Sara Miller, Cress Mummert, 13 head, $137.75 each
2nd: Tim Pearson, Patti Waldoch, 12 head (104.73), $109.25 each
3rd: Barb & Tim Pearson, 12 head (112.32), $85.50. each
4th: Franchelle Wisnewski, Sara Miller, 12 head (113.02), $57.00 each
5th: Mitch Miller, Cress Mummert, 10 head, (105.74) $47.50 each
6th: Julie Abney, Mike McMahon, 10 head (105.99) $38.00 each

Youth Sort
2 Teams for $30.00 Total Purse
1st: Victoria Buls, Cress Mummert, 8 head (146.62), $30.00
2nd: Victoria Buls, Brad Schoepf, 4 head (147.01),

#5 Sort Class
47 Teams for $940. Total Purse
1st: Phillip & Johnny Wisnewski, 15 head, $117.50 each
2nd: Mitch Miller, Mike McMahon, 14 head, (112.05) $84.60 each
3rd: Gina Rasmussen, Brad Schoepf, 14 head (113.75) $61.10 each
4th: Gina Rasmussen, Sara Miller, 12 head (105.58) $47.00 each
5th: Gina Rasmussen, Roy Rasmussen, 12 head, (111.5) $39.95 each
6th: Hal Bauer, Mike McMahon, 11 head (97.91) $32.90 each
7th: Cress Mummert, Steve Fetveit, 11 head (103.67), $28.20 each
8th: Cress Mummert, Nate Nye, 11 head (108.69), $23.50 each
9th: Dawn Lee, Roy Rasmussen, 11 head (115.36), $18.80 each
10th: Sandi Gipe, Peggy Miller, 10 head (97.3), $16.45 each

Draw Sort Class
32 Teams for $640. Total Purse
1st: Pattti Waldoch, Brad Schoepf, 14 head, $89.60 each
2nd: Sandi Gipe, Franchelle Wisnewski, 12 head, $70.40 each
3rd: Kristi Nelson, Tim Pearson, 11 head, $51.20 each
4th: Cathy Foppiano, Roy Rasmussen, 10 head, (102.2) $35.20 each
5th: Kirsten Taylor, Nate Nye, 10 head, (113.36) $28.80 each
6th: Nate Nye, Sherri Ohs, 10 head, (115.01) $25.60 each
7th: Kirsten Taylor, Joette Brown, 9 head, $19.20 each

#3 Sort Class
25 Teams for $500. Total Purse
1st: Gina Rasmussen, Peggy Miller, 13 head, $75.00 each
2nd: Fidel Alejendre, Mitch Miller, 10 head, (91.50)$62.50 each
3rd: Kirsten Taylor, Sherri Ohs, 10 head, (96.58) $50.00 each
4th: Travis Rask, Emily Lynch, 9 head (108.79), $37.50 each
5th: Nate Nye, Teri Iwersen, 9 head (112.67), $25.00 each

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - Mentor Clinic Has Surprise Ending

Four of NWMTPA top rated riders donated their time this past weekend to mentor over 30 club members over two days in Team Penning and Sorting.
Merle Browning lead the Mentor team which consisted of himself, Cress Mummert, Barry Nelson & Brad Schoepf. This was the first clinic of this kind and the response was terrific. On Saturday the day was spent penning, or at least trying to pen. The cows were as fresh as could be, and even the Mentors had a hard time getting them to the pen. Everyone had the opportunity to make lots of runs, and the mentors were able to help each one on a individual basis over the course of the day.
On Sunday, the pens were broke down and rearranged for a day of Sorting. Most of the morning was spent with the participants doing herd work, while the Mentors coached from the side lines. In the afternoon, we were just getting into the flow of making sorting runs when all of a sudden the arena went dark.
And I am telling you... it was DARK!
Over 25 head of horses, 12 cows, and 25+ people and we couldn't even see our hands in front of our faces. The power had gone out and it was staying out. I couldn't even find my horse and he was standing right next to me. I had to slide my hand down my rein to find him at the end of it, so I could touch him and comfort him. People started doing voice checks in the dark to find out the where abouts of the little kids. The horses started nickering to each other, low at first and then building with momentum as they got more concerned with the blackness. It was pretty chilling. Finally someone made it to one of the walk through doors and it casted just enough light for people to start moving around and getting the rest of the doors open.
I later found out that our little girls were in the lunch room when the blackness hit. 9 year old Victoria Buls managed to take Blyke Foppiano and Megan Nye by their hands and feel their way down the wall to get them to an outside door. Needless to say... team work doesn't only apply to penning and sorting. Good job to 3 of our youngest members!

Unfortunatley we had to cut the clinic alittle short, but wow....who can top that? I'm just going to say our Mentor Clinic was a memorable one!
Thank you to our Mentors and to Dan & Gail Thomson for having us at their beautiful arena. But Dan... next time you want us to go home.... just ask...OK?

Monday, December 01, 2008 - December Newsletter

The December Newsletter is now posted! Don't miss the 2009 Rider Ratings!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 2008 Season Comes to Close

The NWMTPA closed out the 2008 season with a fabulous awards dinner on Nov. 15th at Sherwoods in Whitefish. It was a time to come together and share in the victories of many of the club members, to honor retiring member Gerry Banzet and to share our memories of our passing member Chuck Shields.

Jody Siderius again out did her self with the line up of beautiful awards. 1st place winners in each division were awarded the famous "Club Coats"..
2nd place winners were awarded embroidered 3 season horse blankets for their equine partners. 3rd place winners were given the new Club 3 Season Jacket, which was also embroidered.
YTD point standings are posted under "Our Club" News.

New officers were also put in place, Barry Nelson was elected as President and Annie Britz will remain on the board as past President.
Tim Pearson, Sam Fetveit, Christy Novak, Cress Mummert were all reinstated in their current positions.

I took the elections to say, that our general membership is happy with the way the board has conducted business this past year and that they have the blessing to "CARRY ON!"

The evening was delightful, the food fabulous and the conversations flowed. We are blessed to have the organization that we have. As I watched the evening unfold, I was reminded of how many great friends I have made with in our club, and I am sure there are many others that feel the same way!

At the writing of this article, the board is busier than the elves at Santa's shop. Steve Fetveit is working on yet another wonderful newsletter that will also recap the awards dinner. A sponsorship drive is in place, ratings have been done and will be in the news letter. A Mentor Clinic is being organized for Dec. 6th & 7th.

But for now...congratulations to ALL of the 2008 winners! and have a safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - OCTOBER - NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED

Just in case you missed it in your email Inbox...the October-November NWMTPA Newsletter is now On Line. Just click on the Our Club tab and select News from the dropdown list. Then, click on the dropdown list and select the Oct-Nov 2008 Newsletter.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - Thanks for the ride!

On Oct 4th, during the #7 Penning class, the NWMTPA suffered a huge loss when treasured club member Chuck Shields stepped off his horse right after a penning run and collapsed to the arena floor with a massive heartattack. The club members rushed to Chuck's side and like a true team applied CPR until Paramedics arrived and took over. The last two classes for the day were canceled, and the membership quietly broke down the arena and set up for Sundays sorting event. As we all worked quietly, we shared our tears and prayers for Chuck as we waited to hear from the hospital. But before the day was over, we were told our beloved friend did not make it. Grief strucken that we all were, we all agreed that Chuck was blessed to have exited this world the way he did. He was doing what he loved best, he was well mounted on a great horse, and he had just had a successful run with great team mates. You will be missed Chuck Sheilds... but never forgotten.....and from all of us that had the pleasure to have teams with you.. "Thanks for the RIDE!"

Monday, October 20, 2008 - 2008 PENNING FINALS

2008 PENNING FINALS OCT. 4th,

OPEN Pen Class
22 Teams for $1155. Total Purse
1st: Joe Enger, Cress Mummert, Bill Abney, 9H/ 105.27, $154.00 each
2nd: Tom Britz, Geoff Robson, Lyle Potts, 9H/ 118.72, $115.50 each
3rd: Tom & Annie Britz, Gil Roberts, 9H/122.67, $77.00 each
4th: Bill & Polly Black, Julie Dolan, 9H/124.82, $38.50 each

#9 Pen Class
32 Teams for $1200.00 Total Purse
1st; Tom & Annie Britz, Sandi Gipe, 6H/ 61.58, $120.00 each
2nd: Merle Browning, Mitch Miller, Barb Pearson, 6H/ 79.65, $100.00 each
3rd: Barry Nelson, Bob Foppiano, Cress Mummert, 6H/ 86.18, $80.00 each
4th: Geoff Robson, Lyle Potts, Kristi Nelson, 6H/ 90.96, $60.00 each
5th: Polly & Fairley Black, Sam Fetveit, 6H/ 91.82, $40.00 each

Youth Pen
4 Teams for $144. Total Purse
1st:Callie Roberts, Casey Pearson, Belle Manley, 4H/73.61, $48.00 each

#7 Pen Class
43 Teams for $1612.50 Total Purse
1st: Annie Britz, Sandi Gipe, Kyle Kisse, 6H/ 76.45, $139.75 each
2nd: Barb & Tim Pearson, Kyle Kisse, 6H/ 82.42, $102.13 each
3rd: Mike McMahon, Bob Foppiano, Barry Nelson, 6H/ 82.76, $82.76 each
4th: Julie Dolan, Bill Abney, Elizabeth Roberts, 6H/ 87.76, $53.75 each
5th: Barb & Casey Pearson, Phillip Wisnewski, 6H/ 90.21, $48.38 each
6th: Bill Abney, Callie Roberts, Kirsten Taylor, 6H/ 93.42, $43.00 each
7th: Julie Dolan, Callie Roberts, Kirsten Taylor, 6H/ 98.52, $32.25 each
8th: Matt Manley, Kirsten Taylor, Cathy Foppiano, 6H/99.82, $26.88 each
9th: Gary Habeck, Geoff Robson, Chuck Shields, 5H/93.29, $21.50 each

Draw Pen Class
Canceled.

#5 Pen Class
Canceled.

2008 SORTING FINALS, Oct. 5th

Open Sort Class
31 Teams for $1085.Total Purse
1st: Julie Dolan, Gil Roberts , 27 head, $162.75. each
2nd: Joe Enger, Brad Schoepf, 26 head, (166.7)$135.63 each
3rd: Tom Britz, Annie Britz, 26 head, (168.94)$108.50. each
4th: Joe Enger, Roy Rasmussen, 25 head, (169.49) $81.38 each
5th: Merle Browning, Gary Habeck, 25 head, (172.89) $54.25 each

#7 Sort Class
35 Teams for $875. Total Purse
1st: Franchelle Wisnewski, Bill Abney, 17 head, $131.25 each
2nd: Bill Abney, Patti Waldoch, 16 head (100.04), $109.38 each
3rd: Merle Browning Julie Dolan, 16 head (107.93), $87.50. each
4th: Bonnie Brown, Mitch Miller, 16 head (118.03), $65.63 each
5th: Julie Dolan, Brad Schoepf, 15 head, $43.75 each

Youth Sort
5 Teams for $112.50 Total Purse
1st: Margot Myers, Callie Roberts, 6 head (92.57), $33.75 each
2nd: Victoria Buls, Callie Roberts, 7 head (140.79), $22.50 each

#5 Sort Class
59 Teams for $1180. Total Purse
1st: Kyle Kisse, Roy Rasmussen, 17 head, $147.50 each
2nd: Hal Bauer, Franchelle Wisnewski 15 head, $106.20 each
3rd: Sara Miller, Phillip Wisnewski, 14 head (107.67) $76.70 each
4th: Joe Enger, Bob Foppiano, 14 head (111.69) $59.00 each
5th: Merle Browning, Dan Thomson, 13 head, $50.15 each
6th: Barb & Casey Pearson, 12 head (104.82)$41.30 each
7th: Bill Abney, Kirsten taylor, 12 head (105.), $35.40 each
8th: Bonnie Brown, Sam Fetveit, 12 head (106.89), $29.50 each
9th: Patti Waldoch, Natalya McLees, 12 head (110.17), $23.60 each
10th: Ken Sipe, Merle Browning, 12 head (111.46), $20.65 each

Draw Sort Class
42 Teams for $840. Total Purse
1st: Joe Waldoch, Kyle Kisse, 16 head (115.68), $109.20 each
2nd: Tim Pearson, Brad Scheopf, 16 head (115.85), $79.80 each
3rd: Julie Dolan, Patti Waldoch, 15 head, $54.60 each
4th: Merle Browning, Joe Waldoch, 14 head, $42.00 each
5th: Kirsten Taylor, Kyle Kisse, 13 head, $37.80 each
6th: Bob Foppiano, Margot Myers, 12 head, $33.60 each
7th: Nate Nye, Sandy Johnston, 11 head, $25.20 each
8th: Cress Mummert, Tim Nostrun, 10 head, $21.00 each
9th: JoAnn Rider, Hal Bauer, 9 head, $16.80 each

#3 Sort Class
40 Teams for $800. Total Purse
1st: Sandi Gipe, Dan Thomson, 16 head, $104.00 each
2nd: Kirsten Taylor,Mitch Miller, 14 head, $84.00 each
3rd: Matt Ellerman, Sara Miller, 13 head, $60.00 each
4th: Ken Sipe, Nate Nye, 12 head (112.53), $40.00 each
5th: Hal Bauer, Natalya McLees, 12 head (112.84), $36.00 each
6th: Kyle Kisse, Phillip Wisnewski, 12 head (113.03), $32.00 each
7th: Hal Bauer, Sam Fetveit, 12 head (114.38) $24.00 each
8th: Louis Raggl, Phillip Wisnewski, 12 head (114.61) $20.00 each

Sunday, September 28, 2008 - Count Down To Club Finals

NWMTPA will be closing out the 2008 Season with Club Finals to be held Oct. 4th & 5th at Majestic Valley Arena. Over all, I think most will agree that it has been a good season for the Club in general. Four sanctioned penning events were held, and one non sanctioned at Brent Powell's in the Mission Valley. With the help of a 3 Sort Series from the Britz Ranch, the Club was able to offer 6 sanctioned sorting events as well.
The points race is very close in several divisions, both in Sorting and Penning. So it will come down to the club finals to determine who our 2008 Champions are. You can review point standings by going to "Our Club" - "News" and view the PDF files that are posted.

We invite everyone to attend, as the qualifications for this event has been dropped. It is now open to everyone, to play.
Order of Go is posted on the "Calendar".

Come play at the Northwest Montana Team Penning/Sorting Finals!

Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - Record Turnout at CHS Series Ranch Sorting Finale

A record-setting 222 Ranch Sorting teams competed August 23 at the Britz Ranch near Whitefish for a $5,015 purse, with trophy buckles and bragging rights being determined for the summer series.
            The NWMTPA-sanctioned Ranch Sorting event features teams of two riders and herds of ten numbered cattle with 0-9, along with one or two blanks. Teams are required to sort cattle from one 60’ x 60’ working pen through a 12’ gate opening into a catch pen, in typical feedlot ranch sorting style. Teams are given a random starting number and must sort all cattle in numerical order, with no cattle out of order, no un-numbered cattle can cross the foul line, and all sorted cattle must not cross back across the foul line. And riders are given 60 seconds for their run.
            Kalispell’s Merle Browning won $989.66 over the 3-event series to win the highest-rated-rider trophy buckle for the #4-rated riders, beating out a late charge from Franchelle Wisnewski of Kalispell, who overtook Eureka’s Brad Schoepf for second place.
            Barb Pearson of Kalispell won her second-straight series buckle, despite having her rating bumped to a #3 this season, with $696.10 in series winnings. Julie Dolan and Kriss Frank, both of Helena, finished in second and third place respectively with $460.95 and $419.53, respectively.
            Among the #2 riders, Philip Wisnewski had a strong third event to win the trophy buckle over Jarrett Raggl and Travis Rask, both of Helena. Wisnewski finished with $576.55 over Raggl’s $396.50 and Rask’s $381.40.
            Winning his second Novice #1 series in a row, Hal Bauer of Kalispell held off Helena’s Kyle Kisse to win the trophy buckle, $582.25 to $519.40. Cathy Foppiano of Kalispell came on strong to finish in third place with $358.80 in winnings.
            In the Youth Division, Terra Hawk of Columbia Falls finished with $66 in winnings to win her first Ranch Sorting buckle over Margo Myers and Taylor Loomis, who finished in second and third place, respectively.
            In show classes for the day, Merle Browning and Cress Mummert, of Kalispell won the 28-team Open Class handily by being the only team with three clean sorts on 10-head.
            The Draw Class, with 55 teams was the largest class of the day and the largest single class purse with $1,100 up for grabs. Julie Dolan teamed with Bob Foppiano of Kalispell to win the class.
            Victoria Buls teamed with Casey Pearson, both of Kalispell, teamed to win the Youth Class with two clean sorts, and Kyle Kisse and Philip Wisnewski teamed to win the #3 class with 19 head sorted over two go-rounds.
            In the #7 Class, Gary Habeck of Corvallis teamed with Tim Pearson of Kalispell to record the fastest 2-go time of the day, winning the closely contested class with a 93.82 second combined time. It took 20 cleanly sorted head to place in the class, where was an 8.88-second difference between second place and sixth place.
            Barb Pearson teamed with Philip Wisnewski to win the final class of the day, the #5 class, boosting both competitors in their respective trophy buckle winning standings.
            The next NWMTPA-sanctioned event is the Finals, featuring both team penning and ranch sorting at Majestic Valley Arena on October 4-5.

FULL RESULTS – 8-23-2008

Open Class
28 Teams for $980. Total Purse
1st: Cress Mummert, Merle Browning – 30 head, (148.69), $196.00 each
2nd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Barb Pearson - 29 head, (164.58), $147.00 each
3rd: Joe Waldoch, Lyle Potts - 26 head, (174.71), $98.00 each
4th: Bill Abney, Franchelle Wisnewski - 25 head, (161.60) $49.00 each

#7 Class
37 Teams for $925. Total Purse
1st: Gary Habeck, Tim Pearson, - 20 head, (93.82) $134.13 each
2nd: Merle Browning, Johnny Wisnewski, - 20 head, (102.57) $106.38 each
3rd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Phillip Wisnewski - 20 head (103.08) $83.25 each
4th: Bill Abney Gary Habeck - 20 head, (105.09) $55.50 each
5th: Kriss Frank, Brad Schoepf - 20 head (109.08) $46.25 each
6th: Casey Pearson, Annie Britz – 20 Head (111.45) $37.00 each

Youth Class

6 Teams for $90. Total Purse
1st: Victoria Buls, Casey Pearson - 20 head, (140.35) $27.00 each
2nd: Margot Myers, Taylor Loomis - 10 head, (62.57) $18.00 each

#5 Class
52 Teams for $1040. Total Purse
1st: Barb Pearson, Phillip Wisnewski - 20 head, (100.8) $130.00 each
2nd: Annie Britz, Ken Sipe - 20 head (105.56), $93.60 each
3rd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Johnnie Wisnewski, - 20 head, (105.74) $67.60 each
4th: Tamer & Travis Rask - 20 head, (107.4) $52.00 each
5th: Hal Bauer, Gary Habeck - 20 head (109.05) $44.20 each
6th: Annie Britz, Nate Nye – 20 Head (118.19) $36.40 each
7th: Cathy Foppiano, Cress Mummert - 19 head (106.41) $31.20 each
8th: Melissa Loomis, Patti Waldoch - 19 head (112.93) $26.00 each
9th: Patti Waldoch, Hal Bauer, 19 head (108.70) $20.80 each
10th: Melissa Loomis, Brad Schoepf – 19 head (115.08) $18.20 each

Draw Class
55 Teams for $1100. Total Purse
1st: Julie Dolan, Bob Foppiano -20 head (105.97) $137.50 each
2nd: Travis Rask, Franchelle Wisnewski -20 head (108.80) $99.00 each
3rd: Dawn lee, Merle Browning - 20 head, (109.29) $71.50 each
4th: Kyle Kisse, Travis Rask - 19 head (108.41) $55.00 each
5th: Annie Britz, Julie Dolan - 19 head (112.67) $46.75 each
6th: Bill Abney, Anise Rask - 19 head (116.95) $38.50 each
7th: Gary Habeck, Sandi Gipe - 19 head, (118.72)$33.00 each
8th: Johnnie Wisnewski, Lyle Potts - 18 head (115.95) $27.50 each
9th: Kellie Henderson, Gary Habeck – 18 head (108.94) $22.00 each
10th: Sherry Berg, Kirsten Taylor – 17 head (117.29) $19.25 each

#3 Class
44Teams for $880. Total Purse
1st: Kyle Kisse, Phillip Wisnewski – 19 head (105.99) $114.40 each
2nd: Chuck Shields, Hal Bauer - 18 head (116.13) $83.60 each
3rd: Cathy Foppiano, Kyle Kisse – 17 head (110.98) $57.20 each
4th: Sam Fetveit, Kyle Kisse - 17 head (113.54) $44.00 each
5th: Chuck Shields, Bob Foppiano, - 17 head (117.51) $39.60 each
6th: Kirsten Taylor, Louie Raggl - 15 head (104.04) $35.20 each
7th: Kriss Frank, Dawn Lee - 15 head (110.75) $26.40 each
8th: Chuck Shields, Arlene Raggl - 15 head (113.98) $22.00 each
9th: Melissa Loomis, Christy Novak – 15 head (113.47) $17.60 each

Full results for the Buckle series is posted under "OUR CLUB" "News" as Britz Final results 2008

Thursday, August 21, 2008 - Team Penning at the Northwestern Montana Fair

NWMTPA had their annual Fair Penning this last Sunday and I wasn't disappointed. Every year someone usually wins their very first buckle at the fair penning and that usually means a dip in one of the rough stock water tanks as a little initiation. This year it was one of our younger riders, Catie Birk, who won the Youth Class with the sister team of Sam & Belle Manley.

The day kicked off just about 7:00am with the arrival of the cattle. The turn out of NWMTPA Members for tagging of the cattle and setting up the arena was fantastic. It didn't take long to have everything ready and we all had plenty of time to warm up our horses and change into our Fair attire.

Just after 10:00am Jessica Ekegren again blessed us with our National Anthem, while the new Miss Missoula Stampede Rodeo Princess, Sam Manley lead the color guard in the arena. She was escorted by Belle Manley, Casey Pearson & Catie Birk. As usual, it brought great big fat tears to my eyes. We

just have such awesome youth in our club!!

Will Brunz from Brunz Photography also spent the afternoon with us and if you are interested in the photos he took, please visit his website at:
http://www.printroom.com/studio_homepage.asp?evgroupid=0&domain_name=brunzphoto

FAIR PENNING RESULTS 8-17-2008

OPEN Draw Class
16 Teams for $840. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Tim Pearson, Kipp Belt - 6H/ 64.33, $140. each
2nd: Julie Dolan, Gerry Banzet, Brad Schoepf - 6H/ 68.87, $84.00 each
3rd: Barry Nelson, Bonnie Brown, Lyle Potts - 6H/90.84, $56.00 each

NOVICE Draw Class

20 Teams for $1050. Total Purse
1st: Jessica Ekegren, Chris Stinauer, Hal Bauer - 6H/ 86.88. $140.00 each
2nd: Geoff Robson, Natalya McLees, Bob Foppiano - 6H/ 96.48, $105.00 each
3rd: Phillip Wisnewski, Catie Birk, Sam Fetveit, – 4H/110.36, $70.00 each
4th: Kristi Nelson, JoAnn Rider, Kimberly Buls - 3H/ 105.28, $35.00 each

YOUTH Draw Class
4 Teams for $240. Total Purse
1st: Catie Birk, Sam Manley, Belle Manley - 4H/70.34 $48.00 each
2nd: Casey Pearson, Phillip Wisnewski, Taylor Loomis - 4H/97.32, $32.00 each

Monday, August 11, 2008 - August 2008 Newsletter Posted

Just in time! Not a moment too soon! Your August 2008 Newsletter is in the email box and posted to the web page. See you soon!

Saturday, August 02, 2008 - Britz Ranch CHS Sorting Series Well Under Way.

The Britz Ranch CHS 3 event Sorting Series is well under way with two events completed and one to go.
June 21st bought the longest day of the year with blue skies,sunshine and perfect weather to sort.
It also bought a record 221 teams out to play which created a marathon day finishing the last teams in a near dark arena. However you should have seen how bright the timer board was getting as the sky continued to darken long after the sun set and huge storm cloud rolled in. As luck would have it the last team was ran 'before' the cloud burst settled the dust from the hectic day.

Tom and Annie Britz were exceptional hosts with a gala type atmosphere. . Annie, who was the recipient of many appreciative comments about the new and improved facilities, said she was “thrilled to see such a positive response to the cattle pens that I didn’t know that I wanted.”
A full lunch was provided by the Britz Ranch to all riders (and whoever else seemed to have shown up to watch), as well as an awesome smoked pork BBQ that slow-cooked all day. The band Blue Onion played under cover in the hayshed until the last dog was hung.

Results for June 21st are as follows:
Open Class
26 Teams for $910. Total Purse
1st: Annie Britz , Barb Pearson – 19 head, 152.58, $182.00 each
2nd: Jarrett Raggl, Phillip Wisnewski - 19 head, 160.98, $136.50 each
3rd: Brad Schoepf, Cress Mummert - 19 head, 165.73 $91.00 each
4th: Joe Waldoch, Julie Dolan - 19 head, 168.75 $45.50 each

#7 Class
36 Teams for $900. Total Purse
1st: Julie Dolan, Patti Waldoch - 16 head, (113.95) $130.50 each
2nd: Brad Schoepf, Jarrett Raggl, - 16 head, (114.39) $103.50 each
3rd: Jarrett Raggl, Kriss Frank - 16 head (110.91) $81.00 each
4th: Sherri Ohs, Kyle Kisse - 15 head, (108.4) $54.00 each
5th: Jarrett Raggl, Kipp Belt - 13 head (117.2) $45.00 each
6th: Joe Enger, Bonnie Brown - 13 head (104.93) $36.00 each

Youth 1
11 Teams for $165. Total Purse
1st: Margot Myers, Terra Hawk - 10 head, (128.21) $41.25. each
2nd: Terra Hawk, Taylor Rask - 3 head, (99.57) $24.75 each
3rd: Casey Pearson, Rylie Hartman - 3 head, (68.35) $16.50 each

#5 Class
61 Teams for $1220. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Ken Sipe - 16 head, (110.20) $152.50 each
2nd: Franchelle Wisnewski, Hal Bauer - 15 head (106.39), $109.80 each
3rd: Barry Nelson, Hal Bauer - 15 head, (118.32) $79.30 each
4th: Travis & Tamer Rask - 14 head, (110.42) $61.00 each
5th: Patti Waldoch, Hal Bauer - 14 head (118.67) $51.85 each
6th: Barb & Casey Pearson - 13 head (101.63) $42.70 each
7th: Barb Pearson , Jessica Ekegren - 13 head (109.57) $36.60 each
8th: Jarrett Raggl, Phillip Wisnewski - 12 head (110.68) $30.50 each
9th: Brad Schoepf, Melissa Loomis – 12 head (111.65) $24.40 each
10th: Chuck Shields, Kristi Nelson – 12 head (114.75) $21.35 each

Draw Class
44 Teams for $880. Total Purse
1st: Travis Rask, Tom Britz -20 head (106.61) $114.40 each
2nd: Bill Abney, Debra Mc Adams-18 head (111.21) $83.60 each
3rd: Kipp Belt, Julie Dolan - 16 head, (108.42) $57.20 each
4th: Sandi Gipe, Anise Rask - 16 head (119.32) $44.00 each
5th: Sandi Gipe, Cress Mummert - 15 head (116.92) $39.60 each
6th: Tamer Rask, Franchelle Wisnewski - 15 head (117.51) $35.20 each
7th: Ken Sipe, Cress Mummert - 13 head, (101.85)$26.40 each
8th: Julie Dolan, Louie Raggl - 13 head (101.85) $22.00 each
9th: Cress Mummert, Nate Nye – 13 head (112.64) $17.60 each

#3 Class
43 Teams for $860. Total Purse
1st: Kriss Frank , Sherry Berg – 14 head (109.43) $111.80 each
2nd: Kyle Kisse, Louie Raggl - 13 head (109.82) $81.70 each
3rd: Kyle Kisse, Kathy Foppiano - 13 head (116.25) $55.90 each
4th: Louis Raggl, Sherri Ohs - 12 head (100.11) $43.00 each
5th Sherri Ohs, Joette Brown - 12 head (111.8) $38.70 each
6th: Nikki Stinauer, Christy Novak - 12 head (111.97) $34.40 each
7th: Barb Pearson, Matt Ellermann - 11 head (1011.19) $25.80 each
8th: Julie Dolan, Andrea Brunz - 10 head (96.02) $21.50 each
9th: Sandi Gipe, JoAnn Rider – 10 head (109.49) $17.20 each

The second event hosted July 26th returned 193 teams to the sort pen.
This event ran increadibly smooth. Tom had given the arena floor a great deal of attention and the cattle changes were taken up several notches to be done in record time. The event was finished in a reasonable amount of time and the final August event should prove to follow suit.

Results for the July show are:
Open Class
24 Teams for $840. Total Purse
1st: Brad Schoepf, Merle Browning – 30 head, (159.46), $168.00 each
2nd: Annie & Tom Britz - 29 head, (157.24), $126.00 each
3rd: Gary Habeck, Merle Browning - 29 head, (160.7), $84.00 each
4th: Annie Britz, Barb Pearson - 29 head, (173.51) $42.00 each

#7 Class
31 Teams for $775. Total Purse
1st: Brad Schoepf, Johnny Wisnewski, - 20 head, (103.14) $116.25 each
2nd: Merle Browning, Tim Pearson, - 19 head, (112.04) $96.88 each
3rd: Joe Waldoch, Tim Pearson - 19 head (114.29) $77.50 each
4th: Kriss Frank, Brad Schoepf - 18 head, (102.5) $58.13 each
5th: Kriss Frank, Patti Waldoch - 18 head (106.53) $38.75 each

Youth 1
5 Teams for $75. Total Purse
1st: Tyler Moulding, Taylor Loomis - 13 head, (144.19) $37.50 each

#5 Class
50 Teams for $1000. Total Purse
1st: Joe Waldoch, Cathy Foppiano - 18 head, (117.15) $125.00 each
2nd: Barb & Casey Pearson - 18 head (117.73), $90.00 each
3rd: Lyle Potts, Louis Raggl, - 16 head, (107.89) $65.00 each
4th: Cathy Foppiano, Gary Habeck - 16 head, (112.09) $50.00 each
5th: Kellie Henderson, Denise Belt - 16 head (113.82) $42.50 each
6th: Lyle Potts, Johnny Wisnewski – 16 Head (114.89) $35.00 each
7th: Patti Waldoch Arlene Raggl - 16 head (116.03) $30.00 each
8th: Hal Bauer, Gary Habeck - 16 head (118.19) $25.00 each
9th: Cathy Foppiano, Cress Mummert – 15 head (114.61) $20.00 each
10th: Franchelle Wisnewski, Tyler Moulding – 15 head (114.89) $17.50 each

Draw Class
44 Teams for $880. Total Purse
1st: Merle Browning, Gary Habeck -19 head (104.1) $114.40 each
2nd: Joe Waldoch, Franchelle Wisnewski -19 head (11o.74) $83.60 each
3rd: Kyle Kisse, Kriss Frank - 18 head, (116.35) $57.20 each
4th: Tom Britz, Joette Brown - 17 head (113.52) $44.00 each
5th: Gary Habeck, Arlene Raggl - 17 head (114.36) $39.60 each
6th: Patti Waldoch, Franchelle Wisnewski - 15 head (113.11) $35.20 each
7th: Kirsten Taylor, Louis Raggl - 14 head, (112.45)$26.40 each
8th: Patti Waldoch, Tim Pearson - 14 head (113.19) $22.00 each
9th: JoAnn Rider, Gary Habeck – 13 head (109.27) $17.60 each

#3 Class
39 Teams for $780.. Total Purse
1st: Hal Bauer, Chuck Shields – 17 head (100.93) $101.40 each
2nd: Phillip Wisnewski, Louie Raggl - 17 head (118.21) $81.90 each
3rd: Kellie Henderson, Kirsten Taylor - 16 head (113.86) $58.50 each
4th: Nikki Stinauer, Christy Novak - 15 head (117.5) $39.00 each
5th: Hal Bauer, Sam Fetveit - 14 head (113.95) $35.10 each
6th: Natalya McLees, Hal Bauer - 14 head (116.60) $31.20 each
7th: Kristi Nelson, Nate Nye - 13 head (113.27) $23.40 each
8th: Cathy Foppiano, JoAnn Rider - 12 head (105.91) $19.50 each

Currently leading the CHS Series for the Open Riders is Merle Browning with a total of $615.78 over 2nd place Brad Schoepf's $578.88. Barb Pearson with a total of $419.10 leads Kriss Frank's $346.88 for the #3 rated riders. The #2 rated riders is lead by Jarrett Raggl with $396.50 followed by Phillip Wisnewski's $248.90. Hal Bauer currently leads with $433.65 over Louis Raggl's $320. for the #1 rated riders. While Terra Hawk leads the Youth with $66. over Margot Myers $41.25.

The final event for this series is August 23rd. This will also be the last chance to qualify for the Sorting Finals to be held in October.

Friday, August 01, 2008 - CAN AM Canceled

Attention penners,
We are sorry to announce that despite our best efforts, we have been put in a position to cancel the 2008 CanAm Top Hand Penning, which had been scheduled for August 2-3 in Kalispell, Montana.

In the end, we were no match for diesel fuel prices.

Our entries were far below what would have made it worthwhile for penners who wanted to drive any distance, in terms of potential payback. Clearly the pre-entries were far below what was even close to a breakeven on the event as well.

We tried very hard to make the event work for everyone. We looked at a variety of ways of making the event still work, at the last minute. There was some innovative thinking, and the creation of an integrated online team entry tool will be a lasting legacy that can be utilized elsewhere for other team penning and ranch sorting events.

We had the arena, the cattle, the judges & other officials and everything else necessary to make this unique version of the CanAm Cup happen. But given the state of the US economy and the unprecedented price of fuel...this outcome is not really a total surprise to us.

We want to thank the large and surprising number of Novices and Amateurs who pre-entered in their respective Top Hand classes. That alone told us that there is a market for an event with this Top Hand format, perhaps in a future event somewhere. We also want to thank the large number of Canadians who stepped to the plate as usual, with their intent to support this event. However, it was just not anywhere close to being enough to make the event pencil, for all sides.

We hope to see you in the arena, sometime in the future, down the road.

The CanAm Cup Top Hand Challenge Producers
Tom Britz • Matt Manley

Thursday, July 10, 2008 - JULY NEWSLETTER ON LINE

The July issue of the NWMTPA Newsletter has been posted in the Our Club, News area.

Thursday, June 05, 2008 - JUNE 2008 NEWSLETTER POSTED
The June 2008 Newsletter has been posted under "Our Club" ... "News".

Monday, June 02, 2008 - "Mission Accomplished" at BCW Event

From Barry Nelson:

Our goal in putting this event on was to allow the Novice penners and sorters to just go out and have fun, and hopefully pick up a check and some prizes. From what I’ve heard I believe that was accomplished.

I would like to thank everyone involved in the BCW Novice Only Event. That includes sponsors, all the people that helped, and the contestants themselves. If it were not for all the great attitudes of the contestants and their willingness to be prompt and lined up at the gate ready to go, we would not have finished in the timely manner that we did both days.

Congratulations to all the winners and again “Thank You” for allowing this to be a success!