There's nothing like a few first-time winners to keep an old rodeo fresh.

Not that the annual Montana Pro Rodeo Finals is showing its age, but the uplifting victories of several young stars Sunday helped the event retain its emotional edge as another sellout crowd packed into Four Seasons Arena.

For bull rider Steven Lambert, eight seconds of excitement will last a lifetime. Lambert won the average and the circuit championship after making a qualified bull ride for the third straight performance, an effort that cost him a bum leg.

"I don't even know how I hurt it," he said with a grin while limping behind the chutes. "I think it's a (knee) ligament."

Turns out Lambert has something good going at Four Seasons.

"I'm pretty pleased," he said. "I've rode in this barn now 14 times and I've only ever bucked off one bull. I'd have to say this is my spot. I like this place."

The secret?

"Gotta be the fans," said the 24-year-old Manhattan Christian graduate. "It's great how they support us."

A paid crowd of more than 4,500 jammed into Four Seasons Sunday to watch cowboys and barrel racers complete the weekend. The stakes were high -- year-end circuit champions and MPRF average winners earn trips to the Dodge National Circuit Finals later this winter -- and the tension was thick as the $120,000 event concluded.

Lambert's victory provided a championship saddle by a mere $300 over runner-up Cody Buller. It was one of several close championship chases that required a calculator's precision to figure out. For instance, Bozeman's Andy Bolich won the year-end circuit bareback title by about $350 over runner-up Dale Stoller of Great Falls.

Shelly Anzick of Livingston won the barrel racing circuit crown by about $200 over second-place finisher Shelley Murphy of Helena.

And in the all-around, Bozeman's Curt LaDuke won the year-end title by just $150 over Ryan Siemsen of Huntley, the two-time defending champion.

Anzick, Lambert, LaDuke, Siemsen (tie-down roping), Jason Handy-Chase Gauger (team roping) and Ken Holland (steer wrestling) each won circuit championships for the first time.

LaDuke, a native of Valentine, Neb., who attended the University of Wyoming and now works on a ranch near Bozeman, had a spectacular weekend. He earned more than $7,000 in three performances and made his first MPRF memorable by winning the average in the steer wrestling and claiming the year-end all-around title.

During Sunday's go-round, LaDuke placed second in the steer wrestling with a clutch 4.7-second effort.

He's a good hand," said Steve Blixt, regarded as one of the finest steer wrestling technicians in Montana. "He rides a lot of horses and he rides 'em good. Plus he bull-dogs really good."

None other than the great Rod Lyman credits Blixt for helping jump-start his career way back when. Blixt said his little brother Shannon, the former Helena Capital football star who won Sunday's go-round with a fine 4.5-second effort, is also worthy of praise.

Shannon Blixt owns a lot of natural strength, quickness and determination. He's gifted, you might say.

"He works at it, too," said Steve. "He works at it hard and that makes a lot of difference. He practices twice a week every week all through the winter. That makes a lot of difference."

There wasn't much difference between first and second place throughout the year-end standings, including the bareback where Bolich prevailed for the sec