Dan Mortensen loves the Fourth of July.

The six-time and reigning world saddle bronc champion from Billings, Mont., came away the biggest money winner during the busy Fourth of July weekend that is commonly known as “Cowboy Christmas” for the large number of lucrative rodeos during this time period. Mortensen cashed in for $27,519 at five of the six rodeos he entered.

“I had a good Fourth,” Mortensen said. “The biggest win was at Greeley and I won just a hair over $15,000 there. I split the average (title) at Ponoka (Alberta) and also won the short round there.”

Mortensen credits Bennie Beutler’s horse “Golden Chances” for the win at Greeley.

“I won the first round on him. I was 87 points and he was just outstanding,” he said.

Mortensen wasn’t the only one celebrating a big weekend over the holiday.

Bareback rider Kelly Timberman of Mills, Wyo., who is seeking his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification this year, was a close second in overall earnings with $26,302 at four rodeos.

Glen O’Neill, the 2002 saddle bronc riding world champion, made sure Mortensen didn’t begin to run away with the standings lead by having a stellar weekend of his own, with $24,711 at five rodeos.

Eight cowboys topped $15,000 for the weekend and six of those competed in the riding, or roughstock, events.

Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alberta, a seven-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association saddle bronc riding champion, won $23,950 by placing in six rodeos.

Reigning world steer wrestling champion Teddy Johnson topped timed-event competitors by bagging $18,417 at three rodeos, while calf roping standings leader Stran Smith of Childress, Texas, won $17,613, also at three rodeos.

Bull rider Jerry Shephard of Levan, Utah, earned $17,577.

Mortensen, who in 2003 tied the late Casey Tibbs for most titles in saddle bronc riding, says this was one of his better efforts.

“This might be my best (Fourth) ever,” Mortensen said. “Greeley paid a big part in that and setting me up.”

Cody Ohl of Stephenville, Texas, who was suspended May 14 by the PRCA for disciplinary reasons, returned to PRCA competition last week. Ohl, who is appealing the suspension, has posted a bond in accordance with PRCA rules that allows him to compete during the grievance process. While the PRCA has not officially commented, published reports state that Ohl was suspended for six months and fined $10,000 after an altercation with a PRCA official during the Pace Picante Chute-out in Las Vegas.

Ty Murray has replaced Tuff Hedeman as President of the Professional Bull Riders. Murray, 34, of Stephenville, Texas, and Adriano Moraes, 34, of San Paulo Brazil, were unanimously elected to the PBR board recently.

Murray is the PRCA’s seven-time world all around champion and two-time PRCA bull riding champion. Moraes is the PBR’s only two-time world champion.

Hedeman of Morgan Mill, Texas, a four-time world champion, recently resigned as president. It had been widely rumored that Hedeman has had fundamental differences with the PBR board.

Butch Thurman of Pendleton has covered professional rodeo for 24 years. His column appears in the East Oregonian each Wednesday and his email address is bthurman@oregontrail.net.