Nine up, nine down.

Things were looking pretty bleak at that point for the bull riders on Friday night during the opening performance of the Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo at Majestic Valley Arena.

The bulls were clearly in charge, discharging the first nine cowboys in quick order.

Kody DeShon, a 29-year-old cowboy from Helena, finally ended the run by the bulls.

On a twister named Action Cat, DeShon made the whistle and was rewarded with an 83-point ride by the judges. That turned out to be the only score of the evening, putting him atop the leader board heading into tonight’s second and final performance.

“Started (twisting) right but then went to the left,” DeShon said of his bull.

“I really don’t care how they go, just as long as they don’t run.”

It was his first time on Action Cat.

“Shane (Gunderson) told me he (Action Cat) was getting better the last couple times he bucked him,” DeShon said.

“Bubba (Brandon Seidler) said he was a good bull.”

Gunderson and Seidler should know. Gunderson is the stock contractor while Seidler transports the bulls to all the rodeos.

The bulls, however, finished the night with 12 riders netting no scores.

DeShon, ironically enough, won this event a year ago by also posting the only score. He did that on the final ride during the second performance. There were no scoring rides in the first performance.

The Flathead Valley had two barrel racers turn in the top two times.

Carissa Krueger of Kalispell had a 15.89-second run. Ashley Sudan of Whitefish was next at 15.90.

Travis Winters of Joliet and Kory Mytty of Lolo had the best showing in team roping with a time of 8.2 seconds.

Shawn Dunagan of Whitefish leads the steer wrestlers with a time of 6.2 seconds.

Seth Shelton of Kennewick, Wash., posted an 81 for the best score in bareback riding while Jake Brown of Ponoka, Alberta, and Doug Fitzgerald of Babb both had 72s in the saddle bronc to share the top spot.

Austin Barstow of Springfield, Nebraska, leads tie-down roping with his 11.4 second effort.

The final performance begins tonight at 7:30.

Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo

Friday

Majestic Valley Arena

Bareback riding — 1. Seth Shelton, Kennewick, Wash., 81 on Wyatt Earp; 2. George R. Gillespie IV, Hamilton, 78; 3. Nick Gutzwiler, Cheney, Wash., 70.

Saddle bronc — 1. (tie) Jake Brown, Ponoka, Alberta, 72 on Sun Seeker; and Doug Fitzgerald, Babb, 72 on Afternoon Delight; 3. Chad Thomson, Black Diamond, Alberta, 71; 4. Philip Shields, Dillon, 56.

Steer wrestling — 1. Shawn Dunagan, Whitehall, 6.2; 2. Duston Stephens, Corvallis, 7.6; 3. Ian Austiguy, Dillon, 8.7; 4. Ben Ayre, Glendive, 9.4.

Tie-down roping — 1. Austin Barstow, Springfield, Neb., 11.4; 2. Ben Ayre, Glendive, 11.8; 3. Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Ore., 12.2; 4. Kirk Robinson, , Red Deer, Alberta, 12.3.

Team roping — 1. Travis Winters, Joliet/Kory Mytty, Lolo, 8.2; 2. Shayne Bishop, Malta/Jordan Handy, Chinook, 22.3.

Barrel racing — 1. Carissa Krueger, Kalispell, 15.89; 2. Ashley Sudan, Whitefish, 15.90; 3. Darcy Mapston, Belt, 15.91; 4. Taylour Russell, Conrad, 16.03;  5. Donna Johnson, Belt, 16.21; 6. (tie) Kahley Anzick, Livingston, and Kim Wermling, Great Falls, 16.40 each; 8. Tracy Matz, Missoula, 16.43.

Bull riding — 1. Kody DeShon, Helena, 83 on Action Cat (only scoring ride).