For a local cowboy or cowgirl, winning at the East Helena Rodeo once is pretty sweet. Win twice and they’re in a select group. To take home a third title, well, that means they’re kind of a big deal around here.

Townsend’s Roddy Cameron knows the feeling after pulling out at five-second run to win his third steer-wrestling title in East Helena Sunday.

“I really like this rodeo,” Cameron said, with good reason.

He added that he couldn’t have done it without the help of his hazer - the steer wrestler’s partner - and his hazer’s horse.

“I’m riding the best horse on the circuit in Shannon Blixt’s mare and when my steer jumped over, Shannon got him locked off,” he said in describing the hazer’s job of getting in front of the steer and moving him back over to the bull-dogger.

Cameron was riding Blixt’s horse, Rosie, and it was Blixt who had the hazing chores.

“With his horse you don’t have to worry about what the horse is going to do, which is pretty nice,” he said of the experienced Rosie.

Moments earlier it was Blixt who moved into the lead with a 5.3-second run. In the sport of rodeo, however, teammate takes on its ultimate meaning as it is a regular occurance for someone to haze for another competitor, who then jumps ahead in the standings.

In Blixt’s case he not only hazed, but supplied his 16-year-old horse.

“Me, Roddy, Walt (Anseth) and Steve (Blixt) have all been touring together for three years,” Blixt said. “Roddy’s rode her since she was a colt, so he’s paid his dues and I always trust him to ride her.”

Cameron was the only cowboy to jump into first place on Sunday. The rest of previous leaders held on, including East Helena bull rider James Warfield.

Warfield took home the biggest check of all the cowboys, as he collected $1,356.19 from his 78-point ride Friday night.

Helena’s Levi Stefanik was fourth with a 72.

But the biggest payout went to a woman, as Billings barrel racer Theresa Walter, who is also the NRA secretary, won what could be the biggest check in East Helena rodeo history by claiming $1,704.22 for her 17.42-second ride on Friday.

The Helena area was well represented in the barrel racing. Darcie Anderson of Townsend took second and won the second biggest payout with $1,399.60 coming her way. Helena’s Annie Novotny worked her way into third with a 17.90 and also cleared four digits with $1,095.57. Jodie Irish-Ryan and Shelby Blixt, both of Helena, took fifth and sixth.

It was a solid weekend for Blixt, who also won the Montana Circuit event in Butte.

Kasey Greany of Helena tied with Jenny Gilbert for first in the breakaway roping and took home $1,318.35 for her effort.

Ben Wrzesinski of Boulder hung on to win the bareback and J.C. Augere of Browning did the same in saddle bronc, which saw East Helena’s John Hagan move into third place with a 74 on Sunday.

Brett Fleming posted a 7.8-second run in the slack on Saturday and won the tie-down roping. Team ropers John Robertson of Augusta and J.P. Holland will each cash a check for $1,158.55 for their 5.3-second time.

East Helena Valley Rodeo

Final results

Bareback - 1, Ben Wrzesinski, Boulder, 79, $799.00. 2, Andy Bolich, Bozeman, $611.00. 3, Quentin McCauley, Boulder, 69, $470.00. 4, A.J. St. Goddard, Browing, 65, $305.00. 5, Ricardo Oliverira, Lovell, 56, $164.50.

Steer wrestling - 1, Roddy Cameron, Townsend, 5.0, $967.73. 2, Jeremy Marn, Belt, 5.2, $800.88. 3, (tie) Matthew Irish, Lewistown and Shannon Blixt, Helena, 5.3, $550.61. 5, Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, 5.5, $300.33. 6, (tie) Steve Blixt, Helena and Jim Pat Smith, Melrose, 5.8, $83.43.

Saddle bronc - 1, J.C. Augare, Browning, 80, $967.73. 2, B.J. Schall, Arlee, 75, 800.88. 3, John Hagen, East Helena, 74, $634.03. 4, (tie) Cole Thoreson, Lovell and Boe Reeverts, Browning, 72, $383.76. 6, Jason Beil, Glasgow, 68, $166.85.

Tie-down roping - 1, Brett Fleming, Worden, 7.8, $1,090.40. 2, (tie) Ryan Siemsen, and Kody Lahaye, Wilsall, 8.8, $808.40. 4, (tie) Chance Bernall, Brett Heggie, Roundup and Jody Wacker, Melstone, 9.1, $350.93.

Team roping - 1, J.P. Holland, Billings and John Robertson, Augusta, 5.3, $1,158.55. 2, Brant Davis, Sand Coulee and Kory Mytty, Sand Coulee, 6.0, $958.80. 3, Jason Handy and Charlie Lenning, 6.1, $759.05. 4, Brady Tryan, Billings and Chase Tryan, Helena, 6.8, $559.30. 5, Ronald Lund and Justin Lund, Lewistown, 7.9, $359.55. 6, Trevor Sunvison, Billings and Anna Haaland, Billings, 8.5, $199.75.

Barrel racing - 1, Theresa Walter, Billings, 17.42, $1,704.22. 2, Darcie Anderson, Townsend, 17.79, $1,399.90. 3, Annie Novotny, Helena, 17.90, $1,095.57. 4, Becky Toavs, Stevensville, 17.96, $791.25. 5, Jodie Irish-Ryan, Helena, 17.98, $486.92. 6, Shelby Blixt, Helena, 18.02, $304.33. 7, Niki Baumann, 18.05, $182.60. 8, (tie) Billie Harms and Kahley Anzick, Billings, 18.06, $60.57.

Breakaway - 1, (tie) Kasey Greany, Helena and Jenny Gilbert, Huntley, 2.5, $1,318.35. 3, Tracey Bolich, Bozeman, 2.6, $930.60. 4, (tie) Anna Haaland, Billings and Chris McQueary, Belgrade, 2.7, $542.85. 6, (tie) Hannah Sharon, Dillon and Stephanie Newman Melstone, $206.80. 8, (tie) Torie Eiker, Glendive and Cadie Tew, Belgrade, 3.0, $51.70.

Junior barrels - 1, Kiana Simonson, 18.04, $228.29. 2, Celie Salmond, Choteau, 18.35, $188.93. 3, Amanda Stenseth, 18.48, $149.57. 4, Laren Reiser, Townsend, 18.60, $110.21. 5, Jill Harris, Florence, 18.64. $70.85. 6, Quade McQueary, Belgrade, 18.68. $39.36.

Junior breakaway - 1, Jessie Marreel, 3.6, $228.29. 2, Dalton Carr, 3.9, $188.93. 3, Clay Robertson, Augusta, 4.2, $149.57. 4, Colton Johns, Deer Lodge, 4.9, $110.21. 5, (tie) Celie Salmond, Choteau and Tyler Young, Belgrade, 5.0, $55.10.

Bull riding - 1, James Warfield, East Helena, 78, $1,356.19. 2, Kirby Nemitz, Geraldine, 77, $1,122.36. 3, Jeffrey Marn, Belt, 73, $888.54. 4, (tie) Levi Stefanik, Helena and Cayd Kluesner, Rigby, 72, $537.80. 6, (tie) Cole Plouffe, Glasgow and Matt Aipperspach, Ronan, 70, $116.92.

Reporter Tom Stuber: 447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com