Photo by George Lauby Korrina Lynn Hughes and her speedy pony. Hughes braided the mane so she wouldn't inadvertently grab it.

Photo by George Lauby Nathan Klassen

Korrina Lynn Hughes rode into first place on her second-choice horse Saturday in the barrel race at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

FREE Mobile Banking NOW AVAILABLE!

Hughes opened the barrel races with a time of 17.62 seconds, putting her in a tie with Delores Toole of Manter, Kan.

The winners each received a check for $1,891.07.

Hughes, 27, grew up in Utica and now lives in Glenwood, Iowa with husband Allen and two children. She picked a small horse to ride after her favorite cut his foot earlier in the day.

“He’s a small pen horse,” she said. “He’d never run the big pen (arena). He was a little wide in the turns but he ran hard. He really fired home.”

The win is Hughes’ first on the Prairie Circuit of Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma rodeos this year. She was 17th in the standings last season.

Her husband Allan and partner Lonnie Oestmann had a good team roping outing on the final night of the four-day rodeo, tying up in 7.6 seconds, the best time of the night, but they fell short of the winnings.

Bull riding

In bull riding, Nathan Klassen of Broken Arrow, Okla. had the best ride of the night – an 83 -- good for a tie for third.

“I drew a good bull,” Klassen said. “He went out and jumped twice, then turned. I lost a little of my grip and held on with three fingers, but I kept charging on it until I heard the buzzer go off.”

Klassen grew up on a farm in Buhler, Kan. He’s been riding bulls for 12 years and said he is looking to move up from the prairie circuit.

Klassen earned $1,369.90 Saturday.

Nebraska steer wrestlers did well in the rodeo against some of the best in the country.

Dean Gorsuch of Gering won the steer wrestling. He took home a check for $1,322.40 with an aggregate score of 8.6 on two go-rounds. Brady Hageman of McCook tied for second and Dan Barner of Hershey was fifth.

Other top Nebraska finishers include Travis Sturdy of Palmyra, who was second in the saddle bronc competition.

Corey Evans of Hyannis rode to third place in bareback riding, three points behind winner Zach Curran of Arvada, Colo.

Rhonda Richardson of Fullerton tied for third in barrel racing with a time of 17.71 seconds. And, Todd Graff of Ainsworth had the fifth-best aggregate score in tie-down roping.

Final results, 2009 Buffalo Bill Rodeo:

Bull Riding (total purse-$9,785): 1. Cole Taylor, 86. 2. Lonnie Carpenter, 84. 3&4 (tie): Tyler Smith, Nathan Klassen, 83. 5. Bobby Loren Welsh, 82. 6. Cody Whitney 81. 7. Dustin Elliot 80. 8. Cody Sundby, 79.

Bareback (purse-$7,695): 1. Zach Curran, 87. 2. Wes Stevenson, 85. 3. Corey Evans of Hyannis, 84. 4&5 (tie) Jared Keylon & Caine Riddle, 82. 6,7,8 (tie): Joe Gunderson, Craig Wisehart, Tom McFarland, 81.

Saddle Broncs ($9,310): 1. Morgan Forbes, 85. 2,3,4 (tie): Travis Sturdy, Bryce Miller, Jesse Kruse, 81. 5&6 (tie): Tyler Corrington & Shank Stephens, 80. 7. Wade Sundell, 79. 8&9 (tie): Colin Stalley & Andy Clarys, 77.

Steer Wrestling ($13,680): 1. Dean Gorsuch, 8.6. 2&3 (tie): Brady Hageman & Stockton Graves, 9.0. 4. Spud Duvall, 9.2. 5. Dan Barner 10.0. 6. Leon Garrett, 10.3.

Tie Down Roping (purse ($14,820): 1. Ryan Jarrett, 19.2. 2. Hunter Herrin, 19.6. 3. Boe Brown, 20.5. 4. Steve Brickey, 21.2. 5. Todd Graff, 21.6. 6. Russell Wells, 22.5.

Team Roping ($18,810): 1. Nick Sartain & Kollin Von Ahn, 11.8. 2. Chris Lawson & Jett Hillman, 14.1. 3. Mark Brockmueller & Coy Thompson, 14.6. 4. Tyler Kaess & Chad Wahlert, 15.3. 5. Brian Dunning & Chance Frazier, 16.3. 6 (tie) Cody McMinn & Joe Day; Scott Smith & Randy Mekelburg, 20.2.

Barrel Racing ($10,222): 1&2 (tie) Delores Toole, 17.62 & Korrina Lynn Hughes, 17.62. 3&4 (tie) Taryn Weil & Rhonda Richardson, 17.71. 5. Colette Flaharty, 17.75. 6. Jeanne Anderson 17.78. 7. Christy Loflin, 17.81. 8&9 (tie) Tana Poppino & Lanita Powers, 17.83. 10. Patti Roberts, 17.88. 11. Jackie Jatzlau, 17.89. 12. Shannon Porch 17.96.