Blogger Luke Branquinho
Photos courtesy of Branquinho family: Cade Branquinho, son of two-time and reigning World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho, models his dad''s trophy saddle. Mom and Dad, Lindsay and Luke, are pretty proud of their future star, who was born last June. |
Can you believe it is already April? Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were getting home from the Finals and now we look at the rodeo season and realize we are already halfway through the 2009 season since the regular season ends in September. Sorry I have been so out of touch the last couple of months, but was hoping to tell you about a big win in Denver or San Antonio and unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
So far this year, I have let some opportunities slip through my fingers, but hopefully that will all change. Luckily, I have been placing in rounds (and won Laughlin, read below), so I am in the mix in the standings but could have had probably twice as much if things would have fallen differently. I missed one in the finals in Denver, broke a barrier in San Antonio and had about the same luck in Fort Worth. While I missed out, a couple of my traveling partners capitalized in Denver and Fort Worth. Curtis Cassidy tied for the average win in Denver and won RodeoHouston! (read below). Jason Miller won Fort Worth, so it wasn’t all bad. I did get the win at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D., the first of February with a total time of 8.3 seconds on two head, edging Ryan Jarrett by one-tenth of a second.
I went home for a couple days after my two runs in Tucson, which I didn’t have any luck there either. I try to get home when I can to see my little boy. He is growing like a weed and trying to crawl now. He hasn’t quite gotten it figured out yet and pretty much just drives his forehead in the ground. He is also trying to talk a little now or at least he is making more noises. I posted a few new photos to my photo gallery from the Finals and then Christmas, so be sure to check those out.
We spent most of March in Texas between RodeoHouston and Rodeo Austin. Billy Bugenig and I are in Pocatello, Idaho, for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo April 8-11. This is the first year that the event has been held in April, which is good for us since before it was on top of RodeoHouston and we had to make a decision. After the DNCFR, and most of April, we will be in California for those rodeos.
That is about all the news I have for now, so I guess I will sign off and hopefully have some good news for you all soon.
Luke
Two-time and reigning PRCA World Champion Steer Wrestler
Photos courtesy of Branquinho family: Cade Branquinho, son of 2004 and 2008 World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho, shows some of his dad''s out-going and friendly personality in this photo sent in by mom, Lindsay. |
DNCFR preview on Branquinho
The 2009 DNCFR will be a treat for those who love the bulldoggin’. Two-time and reigning World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho, 29, is teaming up with reigning AQHA Horse of the Year and five-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Horse of the Year Ltr Little Willy for the competition in Pocatello.
“It takes pressure off,” Branquinho said. “I’m on a horse that I won the world championship on last year, so the confidence level in the horse is very high. If I do my job – score well, bulldog well – I should be able to win a pile of money.”
Willy’s owner Greg Cassidy will be hazing for the Dodge California Circuit Year-end champion. Cassidy, of Donalda, Alberta, is a four-time Canadian Finals Rodeo champion.
Last year, Branquinho finished second to 2008 DNCFR champion K.C. Jones, but was the high-money earner in the event with $15,334. The cowboy who won his first world title in 2004 is a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier and has qualified for the DNCFR numerous times.
RodeoHouston, March 3-21, update
Branquinho advanced all the way through preliminary rounds to the RodeoHouston Shootout (final four), but it was Branquinho’s traveling partner and Canadian Curtis Cassidy who won the $50,000 round with a 3.3-second run. Branquinho finished fourth in 13.6 seconds and pocketed $2,500 in that round.
Branquinho came through Super Series III and won the first round in 5.1 seconds and collected $2,000. He tied for the top spot in the third round with Lee Graves in 4.0 seconds and pocketed $1,500. He won the Super Series III average in 14.5 seconds on three head, collected $7,500 and advanced to semifinals II. In the semis, Branquinho wrestled his steer in 4.9 seconds, won $1,000 and finished just behind the section winner Stockton Graves (4.8 seconds). Branquinho was fastest in the championship round, which proceeded the shootout, with a time of 3.8 seconds.
Laughlin (Nev.) River Stampede, March 26-29, update
Branquinho won the Laughlin, Nev., rodeo with a time of 9.2 seconds on two head, including winning the first round in 4.3 seconds. He collected a total of $3,536.
About Luke Branquinho
The 6-foot, 235-pounder is married to Lindsay and the couple has a son Mark Cade born June 7, 2008. His hobbies include training horses, fishing and hunting, playing golf. Diagnosed with Type II diabetes when he was 18 years old, he uses an insulin pen to get his insulin. His parents are ranchers John and Brandy Branquinho, who compete in team roping. He and his family survived a wreck in March 2002, when their rig hit a patch of ice and slid off the road. At the 2003 Redding (Calif.) Rodeo, both Luke andelder brother Casey won event titles. Eldest brother Tony is the rodeo coach at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. When he missed the 2005 Wrangler NFR due to injury he helped call the action for the ProRodeo Radio Network. He travelswith Jason Miller, Curtis Cassidy, Les Sheppersonand Gabe Ledoux. For more information visit his Web site: http://www.lukebranquinho.net
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