Las Vegas the goal at Spokane rodeo

A couple dollars here or there can really add up for a rodeo cowboy.

In a sport where most of the participants are paid eight seconds at a time, prize money is more than just a livelihood.

It’s how they keep score.

Score high enough and you earn a trip to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo and a shot at a world championship belt.

When the rodeo portion of the Spokane County Interstate Fair and Rodeo wound up its three-day run Sunday evening, Goldendale’s J.C. Bean wasn’t any closer to a first-time berth, but neither was he any farther away.

Bean entered Sunday’s bull riding go-round in 17th place in the national standings with total winnings so far in 2006 of $57,597, just $1,435 behind Jason McClain of Lewis, Colo., for the 15th and final berth at the NFR, which opens November 30.

“I’ve been close (to the NFR) before, but never quite this close,” Bean said. “And it always ended up the same.”

Bean was unable to last eight seconds on his bull Sunday, but with two months remaining in the rodeo season, there still are opportunities aplenty.

“It’s going to take a lot of good rides (to earn a ticket to Las Vegas,” he said. “I should be able to make about 20 rodeos before the end of the season.”

Tag Elliott’s 87 Saturday night held up to win the bull riding. The Thatcher, Utah, cowboy earned $1,642.74.

B.J. Schumacher, from Hillsboro, Wisconsin, finished second with an 84, earning a $1,244.50 check. Schumacher entered Sunday’s go-around in 10th place in the world rankings

Jesse Bail entered Sunday’s saddle bronc go-around a mere $28 behind Jess Martin in a battle for the final NFR berth.

Bail, from Camp Crook, South Dakota, turned in a 76 on Special Delivery, but finished out of the money. Martin never made it out of the chute on Heads Up.

Bale was in eighth place in the All-Around competition with total winnings of $66,334.

Sunday’s top ride came from veteran Larry Sandvick, who’s headed to the NFR for the 13th time. The Worden, Montana cowboy turned in an 85 on Hippy to win the bareback riding, topping the defending national champion, Bobby Mote, who scored an 80 in Friday night’s first go-around. Sandvick, who entered Sunday’s action in 14th place with $44,564 in 2006 prize winnings, added $1,454.64 first-place money.

Ryan MacKenzie saw his high score of 84 stand up to win the saddle bronc and take home $1,812.03.

Seth Childers won the tie-down roping with a time of 8.3 seconds, a half-second better than Shane Erickson, earning a $1,832.07 first-place check.

Levi Wisness won the steer wrestling with a time of 3.8 seconds, taking home $1,682.45.

Jimmy Edens and Ryan Motes, from Gatesville and Weatherford, Texas, respectively, turned in a time of 4.9 seconds Sunday to win the team roping, earning $955.98 each.

Brittany Pozzi turned in time of 17.38 to win the barrel racing and a check for $1,366.60.