Two-time World Champion bareback rider Bobby Mote and his protégé Steven Peebles tied for first place in the Nov. 14-16 Dodge Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Redmond, Ore., with Peebles earning the trip to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, presented by US Smokeless Tobacco, next April because he had a higher-scored ride than Mote.

Each man scored 248 points on three head, with Peebles coming back from a 78-point ride in the first round to score 85 points in rounds two and three. Mote's best score was an 84 in round two.

"It fet really good," Peebles told the Bend Bulletin. "I just wanted to set my goals high and see if I could pull it off. It feels really good to be able to compete with him (Mote) now and kind of stay up with him, even though I'm not nearly as good as he is. He makes me better."

Peebles trained at Mote's Culver, Ore., ranch while he was still in high school.

Ryan Gray of Cheney, Wash., who travels with Mote, Jason Havens and Brian Bain during the ProRodeo season, won the bareback riding season standings with earnings of more than $27,000.

The other Columbia River Circuit Finals average champions were: steer wrestler Blake Knowles; team ropers Jake Stanley and Justin Davis; saddle bronc rider Shawn Morehead; tie-down roper Nathan Steinberg; bull rider Tylee Lanham; and barrel racer Brenda Mays.

Hometown favorite Scott Miller, 32, won the saddle bronc riding at the Dodge California Circuit Finals Rodeo in Norco's George Ingalss Equestrian Center, Nov. 14-16, with 235 points on three head.

Miller won two of the three rounds and placed in a tie for third in the other. He was the only competitor to complete all three rides. Joaquin Real was second with 153 points on two head.

"I've probably got a few years left in me," Miller said. "As long as I love doing it, I will still get on a horse."

The other champions at Norco were: bareback rider Tyson Thompson; steer wrestler Billy Bugenig; team ropers Blaine Linaweaver and Brandon Bates; tie-down roper J.D. Miller; bull rider Josh Verburg; and barrel racer Stacy A. Dial.