Author: PRCA

Omaha, Neb., Sept. 24-25
Bareback riding: First round leaders:1. (tie) David Peebles, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls’ Bad Moon, and Steven Peebles, on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Sugar Daddy, 84 points each; 3. (tie) Clint Laye, and Orin Larsen, 83 each; 5. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Winn Ratliff, George Gillespie IV, Jessy Davis, and Richmond Champion, 82 each.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders:1. (tie) Bray Armes, and Joshua Clark, 3.6 seconds each; 3. (tie) Stockton Graves, and Trevor Knowles, 4.0 each; 5. Tyler Waguespack, 4.3; 6. (tie) Olin Hannum, and Tyler Pearson, 4.4 each.
Team roping: First round leaders:1. Cody Snow/Dugan Kelly, 4.1 seconds; 2. Jake Cooper/Tyler McKnight, 4.4; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 4.5; 4. (tie) Matt Sherwood/Quinn Kesler, and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.7 each; 6. David Key/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 5.3.
Saddle bronc riding: First round leaders:1. Wade Sundell, 86 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls’ Shining Mountain; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 85; 3. Jesse James Kirby, 81; 4. (tie) Tyrel Larsen, and Joe Lufkin, 80 each; 6. (tie) Cort Scheer, and Heith DeMoss, 79 each.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders:1. Trevor Brazile, 7.3 seconds; 2. Cade Swor, 7.4; 3. Marty Yates, 7.9; 4. Timber Moore, 8.1; 5. (tie) Hunter Herrin, and Reese Riemer, 8.3 each.
Barrel racing: First round leaders:1. Jana Bean, 14.93 seconds; 2. Sarah Rose McDonald, 14.95; 3. Taylor Jacob, 15.17; 4. Sherrylynn Johnson, 15.24; 5. Callie DuPerier, 15.34; 6. Vickie Carter, 15.40.
Bull riding: First round leaders:1. Jacob O’Mara, 88 points on J Bar J’s Twisted Tea; 2. Parker Breding, 84; 3. (tie) Jeff Askey, and Kody DeShon, 81 each; 5. Scottie Knapp, 78; 6. Guthrie Murray, 74.
Total payoff: $201,965. Stock contractor: Cervi Championship Rodeo. Sub-contractors: Korkow Rodeos, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls, Sutton Rodeos, Three Hills Rodeo, J Bar J, The Cervi Brothers and Summit Pro Rodeo. Photos by Peggy Gander

 

IN THIS RELEASE YOU’LL FIND:
1. Hardwick tops talented WCC Spanish Fork field
2. Bach, Cooper Continue Family Tradition of Success
3. Canada native Larsen wins in Grand Prairie
4. News & Notes from the rodeo trail
5. Next Up
6. 2015 World Standings Leaders
7. 2015 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings
8. 2015 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Standings
9. 2015 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Standings

1. Hardwick tops talented WCC Spanish Fork field
SPANISH FORK, Utah – Since joining the PRCA in 2011, bareback rider Seth Hardwick has been chasing a coveted bid to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – but has come up empty.
That appears to be on the verge of changing in 2015.
Hardwick has been near the top of the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings the last several weeks and only helped his cause at the May 30 Wrangler Champions Challenge, presented by Justin Boots, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.
The Laramie, Wyo., cowboy registered an 86-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Rockin Ruby to capture the title before a capacity crowd of 8,400.
“I had never even seen that horse before,” said Hardwick, 26. “I talked to Caleb Bennett about him because he knows a lot about the Bar T horses and he told me I had a good one. It was an awesome ride. I didn’t know if my score would hold up. There were some good guys and some great matchups after me, but it all worked out.”
Hardwick moved up one spot – to fourth – in the June 1 world standings, thanks to pocketing $5,440 at Spanish Fork.
“It’s absolutely great to fill up the bank account,” said Hardwick, who finished a career-best 17th in the world in 2013.
The Wrangler Champions Challenge events have definitely given Hardwick a jolt this year, as he also won the May 16 Redding (Calif.) WCC event with an 87.5-point ride on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Raggidy Ann.
“When I get to come to (Wrangler Champions Challenge events) it’s great because it gives me another opportunity to keep up with the other guys and the Champions Challenges have been treating me really good this season because I’ve won a lot of money at them,” Hardwick said.
With all his success this season, Hardwick has some lofty expectations.
“Step 1 is getting to the NFR, but I have higher goals than just making it,” Hardwick said. “I’ve tried to rodeo a lot smarter this season, and my traveling partner (Orin Larsen) and I haven’t killed ourselves with a bunch of overnight drives and stuff like that. There are a lot of rodeos left and we’re going into this summer run feeling fresh and healthy and we should do really well.”
Other winners at the $123,600 rodeo were steer wrestler Seth Brockman (3.8 seconds), team ropers Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill (4.6 seconds), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Maple Leaf), tie-down roper Hunter Herrin (7.8 seconds), barrel racer Lisa Lockhart (17.17 seconds) and bull rider Beau Hill (84 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Broken Arrow).
DeMoss’ score tied the WCC record set by Taos Muncy in Logandale, Nev., earlier this year.

2. Bach, Cooper Continue Family Tradition of Success
FORT SMITH, Ark. – Joel Bach celebrated his team roping win at the Old Fort Days Rodeo May 30 in a special way Saturday – he got married.
Bach, and new heeling partner Jim Ross Cooper, won the May 25-30 rodeo at Harper Stadium with a time of 9.2 seconds on two head. They competed earlier in the week, and hung on for the win.
That made Saturday even sweeter for Bach, who married Cassidy Cabot, 2012 Miss Rodeo Colorado, in Hamilton, Texas.
“Joel and I just became partners about three weeks ago, and I don’t think we’d ever roped together before that,” Cooper said. “We both needed a partner, and thought we’d give it a go. Team roping is a fickle beast, I guess, and chemistry doesn’t always work out, but so far, so good for us.”
It helps that Cooper and Bach have known each other since they were kids, and that their famous dads roped together at three National Finals Rodeos.
Cooper and his twin brother, Jake – they were the first identical twins to qualify for the WNFR in team roping – are the sons of Jimmie Cooper, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2005. Bach is the son of four-time World Champion Team Roper Allen Bach.
“It’s kind of funny that my dad and Allen roped together, and my dad was the header,” Cooper said. “Allen taught me how to heel – through what he taught my dad. I used to rope at their house, and Allen was always a mentor for me.
“I’ve pretty much known Joel all my life. We rode dirt bikes together when I was about 14.”
Cooper, who celebrates his 31st birthday June 20, has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo five times (2007, 2011-14), while Bach, 25, is seeking his first trip to the Finals in Las Vegas.
Bach finished 21st in the 2014 header world standings, while Cooper – who roped with partner Brandon Beers – finished 10th.
Bach is 18th among headers in the June 1 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings. Cooper moved into the top 50 and currently sits 45th, but said it’s a long season and he hasn’t been to many rodeos. He still figures to reach his fifth consecutive WNFR.
“I’d say I’m really confident,” Cooper said. “You have to believe in yourself at this level. I’ve had a history of slow winters. I definitely have high hopes.”
The team roping partners have something else in common: both won team roping Rookie of the Year honors. Cooper was the top rookie heeler in 2004 and Bach was the premier rookie header in 2008.
Bach and Cooper finished three-tenths of a second ahead of the second-place team of JoJo LeMond and Dakota Kirchenschlager, who had a time of 9.5 seconds on two head. LeMond also won the steer roping, with a time of 21.6 seconds on two head.
Other winners at the $140,267 rodeo were all-around cowboy LeMond ($4,739 in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping), bareback rider Clint Cannon (87 points on Pickett Rodeo’s Shady Nights), steer wrestler Josh Peek (8.6 seconds on two head), saddle bronc rider Cody DeMoss (85 points on J Bar J’s In The River), tie-down roper Marcos Costa (15.4 seconds on two head), barrel racer Michele McLeod (16.47 seconds), steer roper LeMond (21.6 seconds on two head) and bull rider Sage Kimzey (88 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Hell Pony).

3. Canada native Larsen wins in Grand Prairie
GRAND PRAIRIE, Alberta – Tyrel Larsen was nervous and excited as he drove toward western Alberta.
The Inglis, Manitoba, saddle bronc rider was traveling to Grand Prairie, where a date with Vold Rodeo’s Eclypce awaited May 27.
“I’ve been going to that rodeo for a few years now, and to know that I’d drawn that horse had me nervous when I was driving up there,” said Larsen, 25. “He’s a big, intimidating sucker, but he was worth the trip. I had seen him a lot the past three years, and was excited to get on him.”
Larsen’s maiden voyage on Eclypce was worth the wait. He scored 86.5 points – which stood up over the five-day rodeo, May 27-31 – to win the Grand Prairie Stompede, edging Cort Scheer by a half point.
Larsen said the horse’s size and unpredictability made him a bit anxious.
“He’s one of the biggest horses up here, and is a little unorthodox, and you never know what he’s going to do,” Larsen said. “I saw Taos Muncy win Wainwright (Alberta) on him (in 2013, with an 87-point ride). “For me, he blew up in one spot and was outstanding, and then he stayed good for the whole ride. Hopefully I’ll draw him again this summer.”
The win aboard Eclypce was Larsen’s first trip to the winner’s circle in the 2015 season. With the win, he moved to 21st in the June 1 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings.
While he’s hoping to do enough to make it to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December, Larsen is thrilled to simply be able to compete in rodeo after tearing the PCL ligament in his knee and missing most of the 2014 season. Pair that with finishing 16th in the 2013 standings and just missing the WNFR, and you get a motivated cowboy.
“Two years ago I had a really good season, but didn’t make the cut by one spot,” he said. “Last year, I blew my knee out and had to sit out. It wasn’t fun sitting around waiting and watching and not knowing when my knee was going to be good enough to ride again. It was really frustrating. But this year I came back with a clear mind, and I want to win more than ever. I’m just happy to be rodeoing again.”
Larsen says winning his first Grand Prairie Stompede title is special, and that he wants to collect a lot more wins at Canadian rodeos.
“It’s always fun to go down to the U.S. and represent Canada, but winning a big rodeo up here means that much more to me,” he said.
Other winners at the $113,459 rodeo were bareback rider Ty Taypotat (89 points on Vold Rodeo’s Mucho Dinero), steer wrestler Josh Harden (4.4 seconds), team ropers Dustin Bird and Chase Tryan (4.0 seconds), tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa (7.3 seconds), barrel racer Deb Guelly (15.296 seconds) and bull riders Kyle Lozier (86.5 points on Vold Rodeo’s Cooper’s Comet), and Jesse Torkelson (86.5 points on Vold Rodeo’s Stellar Revival).
• JoJo LeMond had quite the weekend with his steer roping/all-around parlay in Fort Smith and an equally profitable stopover at the Hugo (Okla.) PRCA Rodeo. He paired with Dakota Kirchenschlager in Hugo to win the team roping with a time of 3.6 seconds, which is the fastest of the 2015 season and equal to the 13th fastest all-time. He also tied for second in the steer roping in Hugo to win the all-around title. Between Fort Smith and Hugo, LeMond won $8,694. Nobody should be surprised by LeMond putting up the season’s fastest time; he is tied for third on the all-time list with a 3.4-second run at the 2009 Wrangler NFR, and tied for sixth all-time with a 3.5 at the 2009 Buc Days Rodeo in Corpus Christi, Texas – both with 2007 World Champion Randon Adams.
• Brazile Watch: Twenty-one time World Champion Trevor Brazile won checks in all three roping events over the weekend for total earnings of $8,267 to lift his lead over Tuf Cooper in the all-around world standings to $31,648. Brazile won the steer roping title in Hugo, while finishing fifth in the team roping with Patrick Smith. Brazile and Smith won a round at the Old Fort Days in Fort Smith, Ark., then earned a fifth-place check at the Spanish Fork (Utah) Wrangler Champions Challenge to go with Brazile’s fourth-place check in tie-down roping.
• Oklahoma tie-down roper Hunter Herrin moved to third in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings with his win at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Spanish Fork, Utah, and a tie for second place in Fort Smith, Ark. His total earnings of $9,005 allowed him to move up three spots from sixth last week.
• Cody DeMoss upped his lead in the saddle bronc riding world standings by parlaying his win in Fort Smith, Ark., with a tie for second place at the Licking (Mo.) PRCA Rodeo and a fifth-place check at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Spanish Fork, Utah. Younger brother Heith DeMoss jumped seven spots from 16th to ninth by winning the WCC, the Maah Daah Hey Stampede in Grassy Butte, N.D., and the North Central Championship Rodeo in Medford, Wis. He also earned a fifth-place check at the Cherokee (Iowa) Chamber PRCA Rodeo, giving him total weekend earnings of $9,137.
• Tryan times: The team roping Tryan clan from Montana seemed to be everywhere, all at once, this weekend. World Champion Header Clay Tryan teamed with Jade Corkill to capture the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Spanish Fork, Utah – their record fourth WCC win this year – while brother Brady Tryan paired with B.J. Campbell to win the Central Point (Ore.) Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo and cousin Chase Tryan (the only heeler in the bunch) won the Grand Prairie (Alberta) Stompede with Dustin Bird and tied for second place at the Leduc (Alberta) Black Gold Rodeo.
• Canadian consistency: The 2013 World Champion Tie-down Roper, Shane Hanchey, has apparently found the key to picking up some momentum. All he has to do is leave the country. Hanchey won the Hand Hills Lake Stampede in Craigmyle, Alberta, and the Leduc (Alberta) Black Gold Rodeo over the weekend – each in a time of 7.7 seconds – to earn $3,831 and move from outside the top 50 to 34th in the world.

4. News & Notes from the rodeo trail
California Rodeo Salinas has announced its 2015 Hall of Fame class, with ProRodeo Hall of Famers John Hawkins and Harley May leading the way. Hawkins, the 1963 bareback riding world champion and a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, also won a record five bareback riding titles in Salinas (1954, ’58, ’60, ’62 and ’68). May won steer wrestling gold buckles in 1952, 1956 and 1965, and was the president of the Rodeo Cowboys Association from 1957-59. His large Salinas resume includes winning the steer wrestling in 1965, 1970 and 1972, the saddle bronc riding in 1955-56, and capturing the all-around title in 1956 and 1965. Joining Hawkins and May are Harry Rose Sr. – an inductee in the track contestant category – and Salinas committee member Homer Hayward. The induction ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. July 16. For more information, visit www.carodeo.com/events/2015/hall-of-fame-induction-2015 … The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has elected a new president and vice president to the Executive Committee. After serving as vice president/secretary on the Executive Committee for six years, Cody Davenport has been elected president of the organization. “I am honored to be elected as president for such a respected organization,” Davenport said. “The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo serves as a pillar for the community and the state of Texas by supporting youth through their educational and agricultural endeavors.” Additionally, Mark Colaw – who has served as assistant vice president since 2011 – moves into Davenport’s former position as vice president … David Wibirt, a pickup man from the First Frontier Circuit, was killed May 31 when a drunk driver crossed the median on Highway 59 near Birmingham, Ala., and struck him head on. He was 40. Wibirt, a native of Lake Luzerne, N.Y., was hauling a 40-foot trailer with bulls inside at the time of the accident, and his truck came to rest in an embankment where he was found unresponsive. The driver of the SUV was taken into custody at a local hospital … For the third straight year, the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up will not feature a flyover from the Air Force. The Air Force recently denied Pendleton’s request, in which the rodeo argued that it met the requirements of being both a national sporting event and a patriotic holiday – the two requirements the Air Force now uses for flyovers. Flyovers had previously occurred on championship Saturday in Pendleton for many years … The Kittitas County (Wash.) government and the Ellensburg Rodeo Board plan to study how to fix dilapidated seating in the rodeo arena at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds. County commissioners recently approved hiring an architectural and engineering consulting firm to plan how best to replace the seating and related structures, what it would cost and how to pay for it. The non-profit Ellensburg Rodeo Board and county government will contribute $50,000 each to pay for the study. The county owns and manages the arena … The inaugural Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer event was held over the weekend by the Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo to give a group of women a behind-the-scenes tour of the rodeo. Professional cowboys provided lessons in roping, bucking and other rodeo clinics, with the proceeds going to Mission Hope Cancer Center. “You have world champions and hall of fame cowboys, and they’re all doing this to give back to Santa Maria,” said Darci Agin, a coordinator of Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer. Participants were treated to a whiskey and wine tasting as well as a Santa Maria-style barbecue. Cowboys were also auctioned off, with the highest bidder escorted into Saturday night’s show with the cowboy they won in the auction … Four-time Bareback Riding World Champion Bobby Mote and wife, Kate, have opened a coffee shop in Stephenville, Texas. The name? Rodeo Grounds. Located at 230 West College St., the shop serves espresso and coffee, bagels and pastries for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, oatmeal brownies and smoothies. It even delivers to shops and offices on the downtown square. “We didn’t want a chain store,” Bobby said. “We wanted a friendly, positive place with good food and good people and that’s what people get when they come in here.” … The Kiwanis Club of Clarksville (Tenn.) Rodeo, which was completed May 30, will have a new name starting in 2016. The rodeo will be named after Bill Hoy, a longtime Kiwanis club member who helped to bring the rodeo to Clarksville in 1985. He is also a member of the University of Tennessee Martin Rodeo Hall of Fame.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I used to go to the rodeo in Mesquite (Texas) with my grandparents. I remember telling my grandfather I wanted to be a bull rider, and he laughed at me. It’s something I had my eye on for a long time.”
– Bull rider Tanner Learmont, telling the Fort Smith (Ark.) Times Record about
how he got serious about riding bulls at age 14, after playing other sports early
in his life.

5. Next Up
June 4 Pioneer Days Rodeo, Clovis, N.M., begins
June 4 Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo, Moab, Utah, begins
June 4 Wild, Wild West ProRodeo, Silver City, N.M., begins
June 4 Flint Hills Rodeo, Strong City, Kan., begins
June 4 Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo, El Paso, Texas, begins
June 5 Elizabeth Stampede Division 2 Xtreme Bulls
June 5 Kinsmen ProRodeo, Brooks, Alberta, begins
June 5 American Heroes PRCA Rodeo, Hawley, Minn., begins
June 5 Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo, Herriman, Utah, begins
June 5 135th Silver Spurs Rodeo, Kissimmee, Fla., begins
June 5 Mesquite (Texas) ProRodeo Series begins
June 5 Lea Park Rodeo, Marwayne, Alberta, begins
June 5 Rocky ProRodeo, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, begins
June 6 Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.
June 6 Elizabeth (Colo.) Stampede begins
June 7 Glennville (Calif.) Round-Up

6. 2015 World Standings Leaders

AA: Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $68,014
BB: Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas $49,759
SW: Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. $43,811
TR-1: Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $61,061
TR-2: Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. $61,061
SB: Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. $62,896
TD: Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas $42,934
BR: Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. $64,823
SR: Neal Wood, Needville, Texas $34,943

7. 2015 WINDHAM WEAPONRY HIGH PERFORMANCE
PRCA WORLD STANDINGS
Unofficial through June 1, 2015

All-around
1 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $68,014
2 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 36,366
3 JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 35,968
4 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 33,898
5 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 33,306
6 Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 31,143
7 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 30,310
8 Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 29,341
9 Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 24,644
10 Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 24,184
11 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas 23,361
12 Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss. 23,195
13 Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 21,397
14 Doyle Hoskins, Chualar, Calif. 20,482
15 Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho 17,946
16 Chant DeForest, Wheatland, Calif. 17,233
17 Morgan Grant, Granton, Ontario 15,749
18 Blake Hirdes, Turlock, Calif. 15,368
19 Blake Deckard, Wagoner, Okla. 14,797
20 Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 13,985

Bareback Riding
1 Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas $49,759
2 Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa 46,024
3 Evan Jayne, Marseille, France 43,746
4 Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo. 43,025
5 Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 41,062
6 Luke Creasy, Lovington, N.M. 40,824
7 Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah 34,432
8 Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah 33,639
9 Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash. 29,694
10 Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta 28,804
11 David Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 27,781
12 Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 24,384
13 Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas 23,762
14 Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 22,818
15 Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 21,217
16 Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 21,072
17 Tyler Nelson, Victor, Idaho 19,908
18 George Gillespie IV, Hamilton, Mont. 17,881
19 Jake Brown, Hillsboro, Texas 17,823
20 Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 17,597

Steer Wrestling
1 Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. $43,811
2 Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 40,632
3 Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas 35,692
4 Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho 31,204
5 Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 28,859
6 Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 28,820
7 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 26,913
8 Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. 25,635
9 Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss. 25,419
10 Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont. 24,925
11 K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 24,367
12 Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 22,333
13 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 21,775
14 Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho 19,630
15 Baylor Roche, Tremonton, Utah 18,908
16 Adam Strahan, McKinney, Texas 18,658
17 Cody Cabral, Hilo, Hawaii 17,468
18 Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alberta 17,179
19 Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore. 15,920
20 Matthew Mousseau, Hensall, Ontario 15,553

Team Roping (header)
1 Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $61,061
2 Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. 41,599
3 Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 34,554
4 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 30,889
5 Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M. 29,381
6 Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, Okla. 28,138
7 Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz. 27,223
8 Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. 26,144
9 Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 26,111
10 Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 26,093
11 Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 26,090
12 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 23,385
13 Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 22,439
14 Jesse Stipes, Salina, Okla. 21,303
15 Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 21,034
16 Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta 20,696
17 Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz. 19,677
18 Joel Bach, Mount Vernon, Texas 18,024
19 JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 17,206
20 Doyle Hoskins, Chualar, Calif. 14,826

Team Roping (heeler)
1 Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. $61,061
2 Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 47,039
3 Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif. 34,830
4 Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 34,554
5 Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas 30,889
6 Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 27,319
7 Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz. 27,223
8 Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 26,144
9 Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 26,090
10 Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo. 24,199
11 Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas 24,191
12 Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 23,385
13 Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 23,053
14 Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas 20,743
15 Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, British Columbia 20,696
16 Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla. 19,778
17 Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan. 17,605
18 Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas 15,663
19 Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb. 14,313
20 Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas 14,226

Saddle Bronc Riding
1 Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. $62,896
2 Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 54,834
3 Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. 44,980
4 Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah 38,810
5 Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 30,897
6 Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 30,604
7 Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 28,212
8 Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 27,383
9 Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La. 26,787
10 Wade Sundell, Colman, Okla. 25,658
11 Bradley Harter, Loranger, La. 25,277
12 Joe Lufkin, Sallisaw, Okla. 24,993
13 Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 23,990
14 Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta 23,980
15 Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta 23,060
16 Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah 21,297
17 Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas 18,492
18 Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 18,207
19 Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 17,996
20 Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 16,426

Tie-down Roping
1 Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 42,934
2 Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas 41,867
3 Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 38,429
4 Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 37,652
5 Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas 37,409
6 Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 32,464
7 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 30,336
8 Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. 28,927
9 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 27,154
10 Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas 26,051
11 Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas 24,669
12 Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas 23,959
13 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 23,867
14 Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas 23,073
15 Randall Carlisle, Athens, La. 22,400
16 Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 21,710
17 Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 18,837
18 J.C. Malone, Hooper, Utah 17,663
19 Michael Otero, Lowndesboro, Ala. 17,038
20 Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss. 16,744

Steer Roping
1 Neal Wood, Needville, Texas $34,943
2 Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 34,812
3 Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 30,072
4 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 26,730
5 Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 25,862
6 Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 22,951
7 Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 22,192
8 Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 19,027
9 J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 18,782
10 Shay Good, Midland, Texas 18,090
11 JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 17,181
12 Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas 15,368
13 Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo. 13,118
14 Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. 13,066
15 Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla. 12,118
16 Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 11,613
17 Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas 11,511
18 Jason Evans, Huntsville, Texas 9,821
19 Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 9,692
20 Brady Garten, Claremore, Okla. 9,676

Bull Riding
1 Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. $64,823
2 Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah 56,158
3 Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 40,909
4 Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas 38,858
5 Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont. 36,367
6 Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas 36,119
7 Tanner Learmont, Cleburne, Texas 35,704
8 Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla. 33,496
9 Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 28,506
10 Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah 27,339
11 Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 23,194
12 Kody DeShon, Helena, Mont. 23,060
13 Caleb Sanderson, Hallettsville, Texas 22,536
14 Zack Oakes, Tonasket, Wash. 21,899
15 Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah 21,892
16 Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 21,217
17 Jacob O’Mara, Baton Rouge, La. 21,138
18 Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo. 20,912
19 Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore. 20,833
20 Clayton Savage, Yoder, Wyo. 19,918

*2015 Barrel Racing (through June 1, 2015)
Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.

1 Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah $60,700
2 Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 57,171
3 Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga. 54,616
4 Callie Duperier, Boerne, Texas 53,801
5 Fallon Taylor, Collinsville, Texas 51,013
6 Alexa Lake, Richmond, Texas 42,116
7 Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 40,404
8 Cassidy Kruse, Gillette, Texas 33,817
9 Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M. 33,782
10 Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas 32,933
11 Layna Kight, Ocala, Fla. 30,360
12 Victoria Williams, Kiln, Miss. 27,194
13 Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas 26,324
14 Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla. 25,077
15 Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D. 24,346
16 Shelly Anzick, Livingston, Texas 24,311
17 Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas 23,938
18 Kelly Tovar, Rockdale, Texas 23,331
19 Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas 22,174
20 Carley Richardson, Pampa, Texas 22,170

8. 2015 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Standings
Unofficial through June 1, 2015

Bareback Riding
1 Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah $23,315
2 Evan Jayne, Marseille, France 22,829
3 Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo. 19,074
4 Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas 15,072
5 Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 14,932
6 Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta 13,562
7 Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah 13,545
8 Luke Creasy, Lovington, N.M. 12,701
9 Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 11,516
10 Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 9,527
11 Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba 9,302
12 Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 6,840
13 Jake Brown, Hillsboro, Texas 6,773
14 Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 6,665
15 Brian Bain, Powell Butte, Ore. 5,477

Steer Wrestling
1 Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. $23,988
2 Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas 19,784
3 K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 17,830
4 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 13,587
5 Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho 12,151
6 Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alberta 10,530
7 Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 9,800
8 Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore. 8,464
9 Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho 8,341
10 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 8,295
11 Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. 7,862
12 Cole Edge, Durant, Okla. 7,276
13 Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas 7,164
14 Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla. 6,843
15 Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 6,831

Team Roping-Header
1 Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $24,954
2 Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 21,034
3 Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. 19,814
4 Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 18,613
5 Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M. 15,296
6 Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta 13,638
7 Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 10,472
8 Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, Okla. 8,831
9 Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 8,694
10 Ty Blasingame, Sugar City, Colo. 8,602
11 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 7,241
12 Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas 6,805
13 Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont. 6,678
14 Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 6,629
15 Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas 6,558

Team Roping-Heeler
1 Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. $24,954
2 Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif. 21,595
3 Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 19,814
4 Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 18,613
5 Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, British Columbia 13,638
6 Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 11,112
7 Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas 10,912
8 Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 10,472
9 Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas 8,738
10 Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 8,694
11 J.W. Borrego, Weston, Colo. 8,602
12 Cody Doescher, Roosevelt, Utah 8,588
13 B.J. Campbell, Aguila, Ariz. 7,640
14 Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 7,241
15 Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles, Calif. 7,223

Saddle Bronc Riding
1 Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah $26,504
2 Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. 18,948
3 Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 16,876
4 Wade Sundell, Colman, Okla. 14,906
5 Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 14,857
6 Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 13,775
7 Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 12,925
8 Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 12,261
9 Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. 9,781
10 Bradley Harter, Loranger, La. 8,504
11 Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah 6,558
12 Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba 6,246
13 Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 5,940
14 Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn. 5,319
15 Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta 4,991

Tie-down Roping
1 Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas $27,002
2 Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 23,458
3 Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas 17,700
4 Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 12,853
5 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 12,617
6 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas 10,995
7 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 10,253
8 Cody McCartney, Ottawa Lake, Mich. 9,374
9 Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 9,143
10 Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas 8,717
11 Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. 8,454
12 Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 8,420
13 Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas 7,699
14 Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas 7,336
15 Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M. 7,269

Bull Riding
1 Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas $24,855
2 Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah 23,862
3 Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. 21,569
4 Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah 17,645
5 Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas 13,359
6 Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo. 9,059
7 Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho 8,663
8 J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas 8,269
9 Dallee Mason, Weiser, Idaho 7,487
10 Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo. 6,814
11 Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont. 6,273
12 Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 6,226
13 Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo. 6,193
14 Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D. 5,618
15 Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas 5,036

9. 2015 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Standings
Unofficial through June 1, 2015

1 Tanner Learmont, Cleburne, Texas $27,730
2 Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. 27,649
3 Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. 11,753
4 Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas 11,621
5 Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo. 11,609
6 Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 11,500
7 Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah 11,352
8 Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas 10,391
9 Zack Oakes, Tonasket, Wash. 8,799
10 Clayton Foltyn, Winnie, Texas 8,742
11 Cain Smith, Pendleton, Ore. 7,693
12 Caleb Robinson, Coolidge, Texas 7,593
13 Ricky Aguiar, Stephenville, Texas 7,361
14 Tanner Bothwell, Rapid City, S.D. 6,871
15 Dalton Votaw, Liberty, Texas 6,695
16 Caleb Sanderson, Kissimmee, Fla. 6,593
17 Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla. 5,790
18 Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D. 5,729
19 Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas 5,679
20 Chris Roundy, Spanish Fork, Utah 5,095

The PRCA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the largest and oldest professional rodeo-sanctioning body in the world. The recognized leader in ProRodeo, the PRCA is committed to maintaining the highest standards. The PRCA, a membership-based organization, sanctions approximately 600 rodeos annually, and there are more than 30 million fans in the U.S. The PRCA showcases the world’s best cowboys by televising the sport’s premier events, including the Wrangler Champions Challenge and the world-renowned Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on CBS Sports Net (DISH channel 158, DirecTV channel 221). The Justin Boots Playoffs and Championships, Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, All American ProRodeo Finals, and the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour will also air on CBS Sports Net, as well as live stream at wranglernetwork.com. PRCA-sanctioned rodeos raise more than $26 million for local and national charities. For comprehensive coverage of the cowboy sport, read the ProRodeo Sports News, the official publication of the PRCA, and for daily updates of news and results visit the PRCA’s official website, www.prorodeo.com.

© Copyright 2013 ProRodeo Cowboys Association. All rights reserved.

IN THIS RELEASE YOU’LL FIND:  1.   Eldridge grabs another large victory in Redding 2.   Kimzey comes up big at Redding WCC event 3.   Skelton seriously injured in road accident 4.   Jim Gladstone, Nov. 18, 1942 – May 16, 2015 5.   News & Notes from the rodeo trail 6.   Next Up 7.   2015 World Standings Leaders 8.   2015 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings 9.   2015 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Standings 10. 2015 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Standings

 

 

1. Eldridge grabs another large victory in Redding REDDING, Calif. – Dakota Eldridge is quickly putting together a résumé which shows he’s one of the best young bulldoggers in the game today. The 23-year-old Elko, Nev., native won his third big rodeo of the 2015 season when he took the steer wrestling average title at the May 13-15 Redding (Calif.) Rodeo, a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver rodeo, presented by Justin Boots. Eldridge tied for fourth in the first round, and was fourth in the second round en route to a time of 9.7 seconds on two head, which was enough for the average title and total earnings of $4,039 in Redding. “I’ve never had as great of a spring as I’m having right now, and this year I’ve done things better and taken advantage of the steers that I drew,” Eldridge said. “I’ve practiced a little more at home this season, and I’ve tried to mount my horse (Rusty) out less. It’s paid off so far.” Eldridge won the Kissimmee (Fla.) Wrangler Champions Challenge event in October 2014, and then took the title at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale, Nev., last month. Aboard 16-year-old Rusty, Eldridge is brimming with confidence – and with good reason. Rusty has helped make Eldridge one of the most dangerous bulldoggers in the world in a short amount of time. “I used to calf and team rope a lot, and didn’t really focus as much on steer wrestling, but I knew I had to capitalize on having this horse right now while he can still go,” Eldridge said. “The cards that were dealt to me were to bulldog, and I stuck my neck out on the line and went all-in, and luckily it worked. “Everything has happened pretty fast for me. I’m only 23, but I got in with the right guys and I’ve had things fall into place. Now, my goal is a gold buckle. I have the horsepower and crew to do it, and I want to have as much won as I can before the Finals.” Entering the weekend, Eldridge sat 13th in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, but he moved up to seventh with his win in Redding, a fourth-place finish at the Redding Wrangler Champions Challenge and a sixth-place result in Hayward, Calif. He’s qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the past two years, finishing third in the WNFR average race in 2014, and second in 2013. He and traveling partner Sterling Lambert – a Fallon, Nev., native – are in their third year of hitting the road together. Lambert hazes for Eldridge, and he has as much confidence in Lambert as he does in Rusty. “Sterling has this great new haze horse, so we have quite a bit of horsepower behind us, which is what it’s all about,” Eldridge said. “Having good horses is the only way to be successful. I couldn’t ask for a better hazer, which is another thing that’s helped me out this spring – his horse can keep up with Rusty.” Other winners at the $171,737 rodeo were all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile ($5,422 in team roping and tie-down roping), bareback rider Luke Creasy (85 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Rusty Slim), team ropers Bubba Buckaloo and Russell Cardoza (11.5 seconds on two head), saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley (86 points on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Blazing Gun), tie-down roper Clint Robinson (17.1 seconds on two head), barrel racer Brittany Kelly (17.29 seconds) and bull riders Wesley Silcox (87 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Big Cool) and Brennon Eldred (87 points on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s No. 922). Brazile Watch: Trevor Brazile took full advantage of his time in Redding, capturing two all-around titles and earning a total of $6,702 between the May 13-15 Redding Rodeo and the May 16 Wrangler Champions Challenge. Brazile earned $5,422 at the Redding Rodeo after placing in both rounds of the tie-down roping and finishing second in the average with a time of 18.0 seconds on two head. He and Patrick Smith won the second round of the team roping with a time of 4.7 seconds. Brazile took fifth in the tie-down roping at the WCC the next night, earning $1,280. His lead over Tuf Cooper in the all-around world standings is $26,617, while he’s fifth in steer roping, sixth among team roping headers and 13th in tie-down roping. Seth Brockman is starting to open a few eyes. After finishing 14th (2011) and 15th (2014) in the world in his two previous Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs, the Wheatland, Wyo., cowboy is starting to gather momentum for a serious run at the 2015 steer wrestling gold buckle. By winning the Las Vegas (Nev.) Elks Helldorado Days, finishing second at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Redding, Calif., and fifth in the Redding Rodeo, Brockman regained the steer wrestling lead in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World standings after a month spent chasing down Olin Hannum of Malad, Idaho. Hannum dropped all the way to fourth this week behind Brockman, Ty Erickson and 2013 World Champion Hunter Cure. Back on track: After a five-week break to rehab a shoulder injury, five-time World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho returned to competition over the May 15-17 weekend and earned checks at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Hayward, Calif., and the Ramona (Calif.) Rodeo. Seventh in the world standings at the time of his injury April 8 at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale, Nev., Branquinho dropped only three spots in his time away. He competed in five rodeos in his first week back and showed he is not too far from top form with three runs of 6.0 seconds or faster. With his wins at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Redding, Calif., and the Las Vegas Elks Helldorado Days, tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa jumped from 33rd in the world to 17th. Clint Robinson moved from 13th to eighth among tie-down ropers with his wins at the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo and the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Hayward, Calif. Laramie, Wyo., bareback rider Seth Hardwick’s bid to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is looking stronger than ever after winning the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Redding, Calif., with a score of 87.5 points (just a half-point off the series record) and finishing in a tie for second at the Las Vegas Elks Helldorado Days. He moved up from seventh to fifth in the world standings, trailing only four-time World Champion Bobby Mote, Tim O’Connell, Frenchman Evan Jayne and Austin Foss.

 

 

2. Kimzey comes up big at Redding WCC event REDDING, Calif. – Sage Kimzey’s 2014 rookie season was one for the ages. The Strong City, Okla., cowboy capped his amazing campaign with a bull riding gold buckle after winning $318,631. This year, he hasn’t missed a beat. Kimzey has been atop the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings most of the season, and remained there after he won the May 16 Wrangler Champions Challenge, presented by Justin Boots, with an 84-point ride on Growney Brothers Rodeo Company’s Mr. Big. “I had been on him before at Puyallup (Wash.) last year, but he bucked me off,” Kimzey said of Mr. Big. “He’s a good bull, and he usually is out to the left, and that’s kind of what I was expecting, but bucking bulls are animals, and they have a mind of their own. He actually went to the right, and was a good bull to get on.” Kimzey, 20, who has $59,966­­­­­ in the May 18 standings, stayed in the No. 1 position after collecting a $5,440 check at the Redding WCC. “This year has been awesome,” Kimzey said. “I haven’t gone to as many rodeos and it’s kept me real fresh for the ones I’ve been to. Last year, I got on over 300 head of bulls, and it definitely took a toll on my body. This year, I’m just picking and choosing the (rodeos) I’m going to, and it’s really working out.” Although Kimzey has had immense success the last 18 months, he hasn’t quenched his thirst at all. “I’m taking care of myself and getting ready for the summer run,” Kimzey said. “I’m craving bull riding like I’ve never craved the sport before. I have a fire inside me, and it can’t be matched as far as my motivation to ride bulls right now.” Other winners at the $123,600 rodeo were all-around cowboyTrevor Brazile ($1,280 in tie-down roping and team roping), bareback rider Seth Hardwick (87.5 points on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Raggidy Ann), steer wrestler Ty Erickson (4.4 seconds), team ropers Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill (5.2 seconds), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (86.5 points on Big Stone, Moreno & Growney Rodeo’s Big Muddy), tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa (7.8 seconds) and barrel racers Nancy Hunter and Meghan Johnson (17.50 seconds each).

 

 

3. Skelton seriously injured in road accident COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Eight-time World Champion Team Roping Heeler Rich Skelton was seriously injured in a road accident May 15 near the Llano (Texas) Municipal Airport on Highway 16 North. According to a report in the Llano County News, a truck pulling a livestock trailer was unable to slow down and rear-ended a passenger vehicle, slamming it into the rear of the tractor that Skelton was driving. He was ejected through the top of the canopy on the tractor as it was knocked on its side. Skelton was located about 25 feet from the tractor and was airlifted to an Austin, Texas-area hospital for treatment, along with the driver of the passenger vehicle. Skelton’s family reported on Facebook that he is awake, the ventilator has been removed and he is breathing on his own in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The family appreciates the messages of concern and good wishes, but requests that people please refrain from calling them or the hospital at this time.

 

 

4. Jim Gladstone, Nov. 18, 1942 – May 16, 2015 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jim Gladstone, the first Canadian to earn a world championship in a timed event, and still the only Canadian to have won a tie-down roping gold buckle, died at his home on the Blood Reserve May 16. He was 72. A versatile athlete as a youth who excelled in basketball, and track and field before finally concentrating on rodeo, Gladstone won the 1969, 1971 and 1973 Canadian tie-down roping championships and went on to win the world championship in 1977, upsetting Roy Cooper and Tom Ferguson at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Gladstone roped 10 calves in 119.7 seconds, setting an NFR record and beating the previous mark by almost five-and-a-half seconds, all while competing with a broken finger. He was carried out of the arena on the shoulders of his countrymen, waving the maple leaf flag. He would ultimately qualify for the NFR four times (1972-73 and 1977-78), always as a tie-down roper, but he also competed in steer wrestling and team roping. He is an inductee in both the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame. The funeral service will be held at noon May 23 in the Cardston (Alberta) Agridome. Friends may meet the family for a visitation from 10-11:30 a.m. May 23 at the Legacy Funeral Home in Cardston. Interment will be in the family plot at the Blood Reserve. Condolences may be e-mailed to legacycardston@gmail.com. Gladstone is survived by his six children: Stacey (Greg) Schmidt, Quincey (Troy) Atkin, Chad (Kim) Gladstone, Skye (Martin) Carroll, Lincoln Gladstone and Zac Gladstone; and 12 grandchildren, Trentin and Trey Atkin; Ashton and Tennison Schmidt; Madi, Miles, Chase and Callay Gladstone; and Solia, Atalya, Steele and Azure Carroll.

 

 

5. News & Notes from the rodeo trail The Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Hall of Fame has announced its 2015 class, headlined by nine-time PRCA World Champion Ty Murray.Murray, a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee, won the 1990 all-around and 1993 saddle bronc riding titles in Cheyenne. Joining Murray are Bobby Romer (bullfighter), Reva Gray (winner of the Denver Post Ladies Relay Race event in 1932, 1934 and 1936), Dr. Norman Swanson (arena veterinarian for Cheyenne Frontier Days for 44 years), Spiro ‘Sam’ Contos (longtime cook/volunteer), Kay Jessen (30 plus-year volunteer with the CFD Western Art Show and Sale) and the W.E. Dinneen Family.The induction ceremony will take place Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Cheyenne. For more info, visit www.oldwestmuseum.org… Bull rider Joe Frost, who finished second in both the world and WNFR average standings in 2014, suffered a concussion when he was bucked off Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Sweet Sinner at the Redding (Calif.) Wrangler Champions Challenge May 16. Frost is also set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on both his knees May 19 in Bountiful, Utah. He expects to return to PRCA action at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo, June 19-27. Frost is 10th in the May 18 world standings. WNFR bull rider Brett Stall is expected to be sidelined six weeks after suffering a broken right ankle at the Redding Rodeo May 13. He is 11th in the May 18 world standings. WNFR steer wrestler Ethen Thouvenell suffered a herniated disc in Redding, and will visit a spine specialist to decide whether surgery will be necessary … Paul Luchsinger, a gifted multi-sport athlete who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo five times as a steer wrestler, died May 12 of cancer. He was 59. Luchsinger attended a Walt Linderman steer wrestling school in Bozeman, Mont., in 1976, bought his PRCA permit in 1977 and started competing full time as a card-holder the following year. He qualified for the NFR in 1979-81 and 1984-85, enjoying his best season in 1981 when he finished seventh in the world standings … Greg Rumohr, the 1990 world champion freestyle bullfighter and a three-time reserve world champion, died May 11 when a piece of heavy equipment he was delivering to a ranch in Cranfills Gap, Texas, fell on him. He was 53. Rumohr, a native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, joined the PRCA in May 1988 and spent the next 24 seasons developing a reputation for being one of the toughest and most athletic bullfighters the sport has ever seen. Rumohr worked the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb., for 23 years, until his retirement in 2011, when he was presented with the committee’s Trail Boss Award for his longtime service. He also worked the 2003 Tour Finale in Dallas and served as a bullfighter at the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1991 … Robert “Bobby” Adair, the leading rider at Los Alamitos (Calif.) Race Course for much of the 1970s, one of Quarter Horse racing’s leading all-time jockeys and a PRCA team roper, died on May 16 after a lengthy battle with cancer, according to a statement released by Los Alamitos. Adair, a PRCA Gold Card member, was 71. He won 1,705 Quarter Horses races at Los Alamitos, including 114 stakes. He won his first race at a recognized racetrack in 1962 and rode until 1984 when he sustained a shoulder injury in a wreck at Los Alamitos …The Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame has announced three new inductees for 2015. Five-time World Champion Lewis Feild headlines the 2015 class, being inducted in the rodeo contestant category. Feild won six Pendleton titles in his career (bareback riding in 1984, 1989-90; saddle bronc riding in 1989 and all-around in 1989-90). He also served as a pickup man in Pendleton from 2001-04. The other two inductees are Cecelia Bearchum in the Native American participant category and Leo Moomaw in the early years’ category. The Hall of Fame banquet is Sept. 13. Tickets can be purchased at the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon office, or by calling 1-800-45-Rodeo beginning Aug. 1 … The Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo Hall of Fame has elected board member Joel Smith as president for a two-year term. Smith is a lifelong Ellensburg area resident and past Ellensburg Rodeo Board director. He is also a founding member of the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame. Others elected included Jack Wallace, vice president; Joe Crawford, treasurer and Joe Powell, recorder … Edge of Tomorrow and Into the Woods actress Emily Blunt is set to star as the bull riding lead role in the upcoming rodeo movie Bronco Belle. Blunt will play the role of Raylene Jackson, a spirited woman who dreams of becoming a champion in bull riding. First-time writer-director Khurram Longi says the idea for the script came during a road trip. “We were driving down from New York and ended up in Texas where, by chance, we stumbled across the world of rodeo,” Longi said. “I had never been to one before. We started to follow the rodeo trail and the world inspired me to write this script.” Production is set to start this fall … Montana State University is looking for a head rodeo coach. For more details, visit https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/2103 … The city of Wolf Point (Mont.) is planning a celebration marking its 100th anniversary around the Wild Horse Stampede, July 8-11. In addition to the rodeo, a parade and carnival will also be included in the festivities … The California Rodeo Salinas Heritage Museum will open its doors to 1,000 local elementary school students from May 18-29 to tour the facility and learn about the history of California Rodeo Salinas. Members of the Museum Committee will serve as tour guides to the students and teachers, and answer questions. To learn more about the museum visit www.CARODEO.com.   QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It feels nice to come home and see my family and friends. It’s nice to come home from time to time and relax, go down memory lane, and remember all the things I used to do. It’s important to remember where you come from. That’s why I always say I’m from Jay (Okla.). I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. If it wasn’t for the people around here, and all the support, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” -Team roper Travis Graves talking to the Grand Lake News about what it’s like to go home to Jay, Okla.

 

 

6. Next Up May 21         Rodeo Killeen (Texas) begins May 22         Pony Express Rodeo, Eagle Mountain, Utah, begins May 22         Ringgold (La.) Round-Up begins May 22         Bandera (Texas) ProRodeo begins May 22         Will Rogers Stampede, Claremore, Okla., begins May 23         Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J. May 23         PRCA Last Stand Rodeo, Coulee City, Wash., begins May 23         Marysville (Calif.) Stampede begins May 23         Crown Motors Ram Regional Rodeo, Park Hills, Mo., begins 2015 WINDHAM WEAPONRY HIGH PERFORMANCE PRCA WORLD STANDINGS Unofficial through May 18, 2015   All-around 1 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $59,510 2 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 32,893 3 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 32,147 4 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 30,249 5 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 29,031 6 JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 27,274 7 Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 26,940 8 Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 24,184 9 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas 23,361 10 Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss. 22,249 11 Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 21,397 12 Doyle Hoskins, Chualar, Calif. 19,389 13 Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 18,784 14 Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho 17,077 15 Morgan Grant, Granton, Ontario 15,905 16 Chant DeForest, Wheatland, Calif. 14,921 17 Cody Doescher, Roosevelt, Utah 13,780 18 Wesley Brunson, Terry, Miss. 13,668 19 Blake Deckard, Wagoner, Okla. 13,537 20 Trenten Montero, Winnemucca, Nev. 12,982 Bareback Riding 1 Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas $45,418 2 Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa 44,047 3 Evan Jayne, Marseille, France 43,746 4 Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 38,493 5 Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo. 37,585 6 Luke Creasy, Lovington, N.M. 37,128 7 Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah 34,432 8 Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah 29,660 9 Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash. 29,351 10 Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta 26,400 11 David Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 25,361 12 Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 21,363 13 Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas 21,010 14 Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 20,825 15 Tyler Nelson, Victor, Idaho 19,908 16 Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 19,646 17 Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 18,956 18 Zachariah Phillips, Casper, Wyo. 16,957 19 Jake Brown, Hillsboro, Texas 16,412 20 Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas 15,629 Steer Wrestling 1 Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. $38,371 2 Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 36,472 3 Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas 33,612 4 Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho 31,204 5 Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 26,943 6 Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. 25,635 7 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 25,633 8 Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss. 25,119 9 Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont. 24,925 10 Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 23,309 11 Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 22,333 12 K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 22,185 13 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 20,850 14 Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho 19,630 15 Baylor Roche, Tremonton, Utah 18,726 16 Adam Strahan, McKinney, Texas 18,658 17 Cody Cabral, Hilo, Hawaii 17,468 18 Jason Thomas, Benton, Ark. 15,551 19 Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore. 15,341 20 Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore. 15,275 Team Roping (header) 1 Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $55,621 2 Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. 41,599 3 Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 31,514 4 Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, Okla. 27,320 5 Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M. 27,301 6 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 26,633 7 Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. 26,144 8 Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 26,111 9 Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 26,090 10 Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 24,461 11 Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz. 23,063 12 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 22,775 13 Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 22,439 14 Jesse Stipes, Salina, Okla. 21,303 15 Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 21,034 16 Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta 20,696 17 Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz. 19,677 18 Doyle Hoskins, Chualar, Calif. 14,826 19 Joel Bach, Mount Vernon, Texas 13,877 20 David Key, Stephenville, Texas 12,970 Team Roping (heeler) 1 Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. $55,621 2 Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 47,039 3 Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif. 32,750 4 Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 31,514 5 Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 26,709 6 Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas 26,633 7 Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 26,144 8 Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 26,090 9 Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo. 24,199 10 Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas 24,191 11 Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz. 23,063 12 Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 22,775 13 Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 21,421 14 Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas 20,743 15 Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, British Columbia 20,696 16 Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla. 19,778 17 Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan. 15,911 18 Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas 14,436 19 Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb. 14,313 20 Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas 12,970 Saddle Bronc Riding 1 Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. $58,866 2 Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 54,834 3 Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. 42,776 4 Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah 38,597 5 Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 30,604 6 Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 25,652 7 Wade Sundell, Colman, Okla. 24,463 8 Joe Lufkin, Sallisaw, Okla. 24,284 9 Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 24,202 10 Bradley Harter, Loranger, La. 23,769 11 Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 23,130 12 Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta 22,677 13 Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 21,861 14 Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah 19,653 15 Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta 17,469 16 Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 17,103 17 Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La. 16,974 18 Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas 16,529 19 Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 16,426 20 Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 15,884 Tie-down Roping 1 Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas $42,509 2 Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas 40,259 3 Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 37,652 4 Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas 33,249 5 Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 30,856 6 Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 29,423 7 Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. 27,319 8 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 26,687 9 Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas 26,051 10 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 24,114 11 Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas 23,959 12 Randall Carlisle, Athens, La. 22,400 13 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 21,787 14 Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas 21,178 15 Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas 20,549 16 Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 18,837 17 Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 18,478 18 Michael Otero, Lowndesboro, Ala. 17,038 19 Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss. 16,469 20 Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 16,378 Steer Roping 1 Neal Wood, Needville, Texas $34,943 2 Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 32,402 3 Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 30,072 4 Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 25,556 5 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 24,562 6 Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 22,192 7 Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 20,724 8 Shay Good, Midland, Texas 18,090 9 J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 16,384 10 Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas 15,368 11 Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 15,118 12 JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 13,548 13 Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. 12,724 14 Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo. 12,222 15 Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla. 12,118 16 Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 10,187 17 Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 8,877 18 Lawson Plemons, Axtell, Texas 8,835 19 Jason Evans, Huntsville, Texas 8,802 20 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 8,779 Bull Riding 1 Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. $59,966 2 Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah 50,923 3 Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas 38,858 4 Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 36,598 5 Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas 35,985 6 Tanner Learmont, Cleburne, Texas 35,704 7 Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont. 35,229 8 Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 27,899 9 Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla. 27,553 10 Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah 27,339 11 Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 23,194 12 Caleb Sanderson, Hallettsville, Texas 21,826 13 Jacob O’Mara, Baton Rouge, La. 20,988 14 Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo. 20,912 15 Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah 20,369 16 Zack Oakes, Tonasket, Wash. 20,000 17 Kody DeShon, Helena, Mont. 19,398 18 Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore. 19,169 19 Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo. 18,448 20 Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 17,409   *2015 Barrel Racing (through May 18, 2015)  Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.   1 Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah $60,700 2 Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga. 53,374 3 Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 51,731 4 Callie Duperier, Boerne, Texas 50,165 5 Fallon Taylor, Collinsville, Texas 41,955 6 Alexa Lake, Richmond, Texas 41,321 7 Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 40,404 8 Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M. 33,782 9 Cassidy Kruse, Gillette, Texas 33,530 10 Layna Kight, Ocala, Fla. 27,550 11 Victoria Williams, Kiln, Miss. 27,194 12 Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas 26,324 13 Shelly Anzick, Livingston, Texas 24,311 14 Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla. 23,895 15 Kelly Tovar, Rockdale, Texas 23,331 16 Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D. 23,066 17 Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas 22,916 18 Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas 22,593 19 Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas 22,174 20 Sammi Bessert, Grand Junction, Colo. 21,640

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – When Josh Peek was asked what he was going to do next after winning the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo he said – what else? – that he was taking his family to Disney World in neighboring Orlando. Of course they were going there anyway. It’s been planned for weeks. But it’s nice to make the trip when you have a newly-issued check for $18,171 in your pocket and knowing you’ve just gone and done something historic.

Peek, of Pueblo, Colo., won the RNCFR steer wrestling title Saturday night with a time of 4.8 seconds, earning a buckle that will go in the trophy case as a nice companion piece to the RNCFR tie-down roping bauble he won a year ago at the 2014 RNCFR in Guthrie, Okla. It’s an achievement matched only by Ty Murray, who won the National Circuit Finals saddle bronc riding in 1993 and came back to Pocatello, Idaho, the following year to win the bull riding.

“This is a complete blessing,” Peek said. “To win RNCFR titles in back-to-back years, in different events … that’s just amazing. You couldn’t write a better outcome than that.”

Just sixth in the two-head average, Peek found another gear in the final performance of this $749,316 rodeo. He won the semifinal round in 4.1 seconds and then won the finals in 4.8 seconds as the last man out of the box.

It was deceptively tricky ground, because Eli Lord and Aaron Vosler already had no-times and defending RNCFR champion Kyle Irwin was on the board with a 13.9 (including a 10-second broken barrier) and, as Peek said, “sometimes it’s easier to be under 3.9 than it is to be under 13.9. You want to make a solid, businessman’s run and just not make any stupid mistakes by being too careful.”

Ironically, Peek didn’t earn a dime in his tie-down roping title defense, but that $18,171 in the steer wrestling easily gave him the all-around title over the only other multi-event contender, Zach Kilgus.

Peek wasn’t alone in the history-making realm on Saturday night, as Marty Yates continued a weekend-long assault on the RNCFR tie-down roping record with a run of 6.9 seconds to win the finals over Jerome Schneeberger by seven-tenths of a second. Schneeberger had started the run on Friday night when he tied Matt Shiozawa’s record of 7.3 seconds (2008, 2010). Jesse Clark dropped the mark to 7.2 during the Saturday matinee performance, and Yates then blew it away in the four-man round.

The other champions at the Silver Spurs Arena were bareback rider Steven Peebles (88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Flaxey Lady), team ropers Drew Horner and Buddy Hawkins II (4.6 seconds), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Goin South), barrel racer Carmel Wright (16.42 seconds) and bull rider Joe Frost (72 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Double Play).

Peebles’ win in the bareback riding gave the Columbia River Circuit five wins in that event in the last six years and fellow Oregonian Austin Foss gave the circuit a 1-2 sweep by riding for 86 points.

“The tradition started with Clint Corey and it’s awesome to be a part of that with guys like Bobby Mote, Ryan Gray, Brian Bain and Austin,” Peebles said. “It’s great to have your name on the board next to theirs.”

Texas won the team title with $108,557, just edging out the Wilderness Circuit ($104,779), with Montana third ($92,665). It was the second win in three years for Texas and the Lone Star State now has a record 12 titles in the event’s 29-year history.

Event winners each received a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new RAM Truck and a Polaris RANGER utility vehicle in addition to their winnings.

Highlights from the RNCFR will be televised on CBS Sports Net; see ProRodeo.com/TV for the telecast schedule.

 

RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo

Kissimmee, Fla., March 25-28

All-around cowboy: Josh Peek, $18,171, steer wrestling and tie-down roping.

Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross, $6,182; 2. Joe Gunderson, 80, $4,683; 3. Jessy Davis, 79, $3,372; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Micky Downare and Austin Foss, 78, $1,499 each. Second round: 1. Kaycee Feild, 84 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Sadie’s Gal, $6,182; 2. Casey Breuer, 80, $4,683; 3. (tie) Austin Foss and Jessy Davis, 79, $2,810 each; 5. (tie) Bill Tutor and Caleb Bennett, 78, $1,124 each; 7. Caine Riddle, 77. 8. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Seth Hardwick, 76 each. Average: 1. Kaycee Feild, 162 points on two head, $6,182; 2. Tim O’Connell, 159, $4,683; 3. Jessy Davis, 158, $3,372; 4. Austin Foss, 157, $2,248; 5. Joe Gunderson, 154, $1,311; 6. (tie) Seth Hardwick and Steven Peebles, 153, $1,124 each; 8. Micky Downare, 151. Semifinals: 1. Steven Peebles, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal, $7,493; 2. Austin Foss, 84, $5,620; 3. Kaycee Field, 81, $3,747; 4. Jessy Davis, 80, $1,873. Finals: 1. Steven Peebles, 88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Flaxy Lady, $7,493; 2. Austin Foss, 86, $5,620; 3. Kaycee Feild, 82, $3,747; 4. Jessy Davis, 80, $1,873. Total event earnings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $21,355; 2. Austin Foss, $17,796; 3. Steven Peebles, $15,455; 4. Jessy Davis, $13,300; 5. Tim O’Connell, $10,865; 6. Joe Gunderson, $5,995; 7. Casey Breuer, $4,683; 8. Micky Downare, $1,499; 9. (tie) Bill Tutor and Caleb Bennett, $1,124 each; 11. Seth Hardwick, $468.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Wade Steffen, 4.5 seconds, $6,182; 2. Beau Clark, 4.6, $4,683; 3. Tooter Silver, 4.9, $3,372; 4. Josh Peek, 5.2, $2,248; 5. Austin Manning, 5.6, $1,311; 6. Aaron Vosler, 5.7, $937. Second round: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.3 seconds, $6,182; 2. Jacob Shofner, 4.6, $4,683; 3. (tie) Sterling Lambert and Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $2,810 each; 5. Beau Clark, 4.8, $1,311; 6. Baylor Roche, 5.2, $937. Average: 1. Beau Clark, 9.4 seconds on two head, $6,182; 2. Aaron Vosler, 10.4, $4,683; 3. Jacob Shofner, 10.9, $3,372; 4. Wade Steffen, 11.0, $2,248; 5. Austin Manning, 11.2, $1,311; 6. Josh Peek, 12.0, $937; 7. Kyle Irwin, 12.7; 8. Eli Lord, 13.6. Semifinals: 1. Josh Peek, 4.1 seconds, $7,493; 2. Eli Lord, 4.5, $5,620; 3. Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $3,747; 4. Kyle Irwin, 4.8, $1,873. Finals: 1. Josh Peek, 4.8 seconds, $7,493; 2. Kyle Irwin, 13.9, $5,620; 3. (tie) Eli Lord and Aaron Vosler, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Josh Peek, $18,171; 2. (tie) Beau Clark and Aaron Vosler, $12,176 each; 4. Wade Steffen, $8,430; 5. Jacob Shofner, $8,055; 6. Kyle Irwin, $7,493; 7. Stockton Graves, $6,182; 8. Eli Lord, $5,620; 9. Tooter Silver, $3,372; 10. Sterling Lambert, $2,810; 11. Austin Manning, $2,623; 12. Baylor Roche, $937.

Team roping: First round: 1. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, 4.9 seconds, $6,182 each; 2. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens; Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, and Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 5.0, $3,434 each; 5. (tie) Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost and Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.2, $1,124 each. Second round: 1. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, 4.2 seconds, $6,182 each; 2. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.0, $4,683; 3. Quisto Lopez/Joe Mattern, 5.1, $3,372; 4. Clint Gorrell/Levi O’Keeffe, 5.2, $2,248; 5. Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, 5.3, $1,311; 6. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.8, $937. Average: 1. Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, 10.3 seconds on two head, $6,182 each; 2. Drew Horner, Plano/Buddy Hawkins II, 10.4, $4,683; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 11.0, $3,372; 4. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 11.3, $2,248; 5. Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens, 11.5, $1,311; 6. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, 14.2, $937; 7. Garrett Rogers/Brent Falon, 14.5; 8. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, 15.2. Semifinals: 1. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 4.7 seconds, $7,493; 2. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.7, $5,620; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 6.6, $3,747; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, 11.7, $1,873. Finals: 1. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.6 seconds, $7,493; 2. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 4.8, $5,620; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 9.1, $3,747; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Drew Horner/Buddy Hawkins II, $22,479 each; 2. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, $18,795; 3. Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, $12,925; 4. Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, $10,977; 5.Garrett Tonozzi/Jared Bilby, $8,055; 6. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, $6,182; 7. Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens, $4,746; 8. Quisto Lopez/Joe Mattern, $3,372; 9. Clint Gorrell/Levi O’Keeffe, $2,248; 10. Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost, $1,124; 11. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, $937.

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s, $6,182; 2. Wade Sundell, 83, $4,683; 3. Jeff Willert, 81, $3,372; 4. Jesse Wright and Taos Muncy, 80, $1,780 each; 6. Cody Taton, 79, $937. Second round: 1. Wade Sundell, 85 points on Sutton Rodeo’s South Point, $6,182; 2. Zeke Thurston, 82, $4,683; 3. Jeff Willert, 81, $3,372; 4. Ben Londo, 80, $2,248; 5. (tie) John Redig and Bradley Harter, 78, $1,124 each. Average: 1. Wade Sundell, 168 points on two head, $6,182; 2. Jeff Willert, 162, $4,683; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 161, $3,372; 4. Ben Londo, 156, $2,248; 5. Zeke Thurston, 154, $1,311; 6. (tie) Coburn Bradshaw, Ryan Mackenzie and Heith DeMoss, 152, $312 each. Semifinals: 1. Heith DeMoss, 83 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Spade, $7,493; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 81, $5,620; 3. Ben Londo, 80, $3,747; 4. Ryan Mackenzie, 78, $1,873. Finals: 1. Heith DeMoss, 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Goin South, $7,493; 2. Ryan Mackenzie, 85, $5,620; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 82, $3,747; 4. Ben Londo, NT. Total event earnings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, $18,920; 2. Wade Sundell, $17,047; 3. Heith DeMoss, $15,299; 4. Jeff Willert, $11,427; 5. Ben Londo, $8,242; 6. Ryan Mackenzie, $7,805; 7. Zeke Thurston, $5,995; 8. (tie) Jesse Wright and Taos Muncy, $1,780 each; 10. (tie) Bradley Harter and John Redig, $1,124 each; 12. Cody Taton, $937.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Rhen Richard, 7.8 seconds, $6,182; 2. (tie) Jesse Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 8.0, $4,028 each; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, 8.3, $2,248; 5. Marty Yates, 8.4, $1,311; 6. Jared Kempker, 8.8, $937. Second round: 1. Jesse Clark, 7.2 seconds (breaks RNCFR record of 7.3 held by Matt Shiozawa, 2008, 2010; Jerome Schneeberger, 2015), $6,182; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, 7.3, $4,683; 3. (tie) Ryle Smith and Blair Burk, 7.9, $2,810 each; 5. Seth Hopper, 8.0, $1,311; 6. Riley Pruitt, 8.4, $937. Average: 1. Jesse Clark, 15.2 seconds on two head, $6,182; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, 15.6, $4,683; 3. Seth Hopper, 16.9, $3,372; 4. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Marty Yates, 17.3, $1,780 each; 6. Riley Pruitt, 17.4, $937; 7. Jared Kempker, 19.7; 8. Ryle Smith, 20.3. Semifinals: 1. Marty Yates, 8.2 seconds, $7,493; 2. Jared Kempker, 9.9, $5,620; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 10.0, $3,747; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, 14.6, $1,873. Finals: 1. Marty Yates, 6.9 seconds, $7,493; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, 7.6, $5,620; 3. Jared Kempker, 8.3, $3,747; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 8.5, $1,873. Total event earnings: 1. Jerome Schneeberger, $19,108; 2. Marty Yates, $18,077; 3. Jesse Clark, $16,391; 4. Ryan Jarrett, $11,427; 5. Jared Kempker, $10,303; 6. Rhen Richard, $6,182; 7. Seth Hopper, $4,683; 8. (tie) Ryle Smith and Blair Burk, $2,810 each; 10. Riley Pruitt, $1,873.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 16.44 seconds, $6,182; 2. Lindsay Kruse, 16.45, $4,683; 3. Natalie Foutch, 16.49, $3,372; 4. Nancy Hunter, 16.53, $2,248; 5. Carmel Wright, 16.54, $1,311; 6. Cheyenne Schnelle, 16.59, $937. Second round: 1. Sarah McDonald, 16.27 seconds, $6,182; 2. Pamela Capper, 16.41, $4,683; 3. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, and Nancy Hunter, 16.57, $2,810 each; 5. Kassidy Dennison, 16.59, $1,311; 6. (tie) Lindsay Kruse and Sarah Griffin, 16.71, $468 each. Average: 1. Sarah McDonald, 32.97 seconds on two runs, $6,182; 2. Lisa Lockhart, 33.01, $4,683; 3. Nancy Hunter, 33.10, $3,372; 4. Pamela Capper, 33.15, $2,248; 5. Lindsay Kruse, 33.16, $1,311; 6. Carmel Wright, 33.36, $937; 7. Kassidy Dennison, 33.38; 8. Sarah Griffin, 33.48. Semifinals: 1. Pamela Capper, 16.30 seconds, $7,493; 2. (tie) Carmel Wright and Sarah McDonald, 16.47, $4,683 each; 4. Kassidy Dennison, 16.63, $1,873. Finals: 1. Carmel Wright, 16.42 seconds, $7,493; 2. Sarah Mcdonald, 16.45, $5,620; 3. Pamela Capper, 16.47, $3,747; 4. Kassidy Dennison, 16.49, $1,873. Total event earnings: 1. Sarah McDonald, $22,667; 2. Pamela Capper, $18,171; 3. Carmel Wright, $14,424; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $13,675; 5. Nancy Hunter, $8,430; 6. Lindsay Kruse, $6,463; 7. Kassidy Dennison, $5,058; 8. Natalie Foutch, $3,372; 9. Cheyenne Schnelle, $937; 10. Sarah Griffin, $468.

Bull riding: First round: 1. Mike Adams, 84 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Footloose, $6,182; 2. Joe Frost, 76, $4,683; 3. Bart Miller, 74, $3,372; 4. Josh Frost, 69, $2,248; no other qualified rides. Second round: 1. Aaron Pass, 85 points on Smith, Harper and Morgan Rodeo Company’s Back Woods Bandit, $6,182; 2. Daniel McAllister, 80, $4,683; 3. Josh Frost, 79, $3,372; 4. (tie) Joe Frost and Parker Breding, 78, $1,779 each; 6. (tie) Dylan Vick Hice and Lon Danley, 72, $468 each. Average: 1. Joe Frost, 154 points on two head, $6,182; 2. Josh Frost, 148, $4,683; 3. Aaron Pass, 85 on one, $3,372; 4. Mike Adams, 84, $2,248; 5. Daniel McAllister, 80, $1,311; 6. Parker Breding, 78, $937. 7. Bart Miller, 74; 8. (tie) Dylan Vick Hice and Lon Danley, 72. Semifinals: 1. No qualified rides. Finals: 1. Joe Frost, 72 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Double Play, $7,493; 2. (tie) Mike Adams, Aaron Pass and Josh Frost, NS. Total event earnings: 1. Joe Frost, $20,138; 2. Josh Frost, $10,303; 3. Aaron Pass, $9,554; 4. Mike Adams, $8,430; 5. Daniel McAllister, $5,995; 6. Bart Miller, $3,372; 7. Parker Breding, $2,716; 8. (tie) Dylan Vick and Lon Danley, $468 each.

Team standings: 1. Texas, $108,557; 2. Wilderness, $104,779; 3. Montana, $92,665; 4. Columbia River, $77,585; 5. Prairie, $74,120; 6. Badlands, $47,769; 7. Mountain States, $47,488; 8. California, $38,121.

Total payoff: $749,316. Stock contractors: 4L & Diamond S Rodeo, Barnes PRCA Rodeo, Cowtown Rodeo, Klein Brothers Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, MJM Rodeo, Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo, Sutton Rodeo, Three Hills Rodeo and United ProRodeo. Rodeo secretary: Carole Martinez. Officials: Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Cliff Overstreet and Glenn Sullivan. Timers: Amy Muller and Mary Borgen. Announcers: Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney. Specialty act: Troy Lerwill. Bullfighters: Lucas Littles and Josh Rivinius. Clown/barrelman: Dennis Halstead. Flankman: Various. Chute boss: Gerry Byrn. Pickup men: Jeremy Willis and Shawn Calhoun. Photographers: James Phifer and Mike Rastelli. Sound: Benje Bendele.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A lot of young men from the Northeast are in Florida this week for the annual rite of extreme behavior that is spring break. Not a one of them is going home with better memories or demonstrable reason for pride than Pennsylvania bull rider Mike Adams.

The recent graduate of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades showed plenty of trade craft in riding Footloose of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo string for 84 points and the first-round win at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo worth $6,182.

“I have high expectations for myself,” Adams said, “so this doesn’t shock me. I had a good bull and I made it work. He went out around to the left and got me over his head, but I sat up and got (centered) again. I didn’t feel real comfortable out there, but I hope I looked comfortable.”

The judges seemed to think so. His 84-point score was eight points better than 2014 Reserve World Champion Joe Frost in second place, and was one of only four qualified rides in 24 tries in Silver Spurs Arena over the first two nights of this national championship event.

To understand how utterly unexpected this win might seem to the casual rodeo fan, a little background is in order.

Adams, 22, didn’t start rodeoing until 2010, just before he turned 18. He went to one of the Cowtown Rodeos that the Harris family has been running for more than 50 years in Pilesgrove, N.J., and just decided that bull riding was something he wanted to try.

There was no family background here – father, Dale, is a carpenter and mother, Sue, is a school aid. More than that, his family wasn’t openly dubious about this change in sports from baseball, football and lacrosse to something more, well, life threatening.

“They didn’t really try to talk me out of it,” Adams said, “but they weren’t for it either. That’s for sure. They were just trying to be good parents.”

Adams learned the basics of bull riding by going to a small practice facility called the Luck of the Draw in Woodstown, N.J., and another practice pen about 90 miles from his home in Oxford, Pa., which had sessions every Monday.

“And I was there every Monday,” Adams said, “When Gary Leffew held a bull riding school in Grantville (Pa.) I went to that. I went to his school a couple of times. A First Frontier rider named Jason Power really helped with the mental side of bull riding, and I just kept working to get better.”

Despite the fact that Adams never felt like he had a natural gift for the sport, he has progressed rapidly. Since his first Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in 2011, he has qualified for the RNCFR each of the last three years and is now in position to become the first bull rider from the First Frontier Circuit to ever win this rodeo.
“That’s the plan,” Adams said.

The other first-round winners at this edition No. 29 of the RNCFR were bareback rider Tim O’Connell (83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross), steer wrestler Wade Steffen (4.5 seconds), team ropers Rob Webb and Dan Webb (4.9 seconds), saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley (84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s), tie-down roper Rhen Richard (7.8 seconds) and barrel racer Lisa Lockhart (16.44 seconds).

In addition to Adams, Steffen, Richard and Lockhart all had their winning efforts on the Thursday night session that completed the first round. The second round begins Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. (ET) performance.

The tournament-style RNFCR format determines the national circuit champions in each event. All 24 qualifiers from the 12 circuits compete in the two preliminary rounds of the rodeo. The top eight contestants from each event advance to the semifinal round, with all previous scores and times thrown out. The top four move on to the final round, a sudden-death competition that determines the national circuit champion in each event.

Because the top four contestants begin that final round with a clean slate, each one has an equal opportunity to claim an RNCFR title.

Event winners each receive a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new RAM Truck and a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle in addition to their winnings.

Wrangler Network is airing live webcasts of the rodeo’s first four performances and, after the event, highlights from the RNCFR will be televised on CBS Sports Net; see ProRodeo.com/TV for the telecast schedule.

 

RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo

Kissimmee, Fla., March 25-28

Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross, $6,182; 2. Joe Gunderson, 80, $4,683; 3. Jessy Davis, 79, $3,372; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Micky Downare and Austin Foss, 78, $1,499 each.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Wade Steffen, 4.5 seconds, $6,182; 2. Beau Clark, 4.6, $4,683; 3. Tooter Silver, 4.9, $3,372; 4. Josh Peek, 5.2, $2,248; 5. Austin Manning, 5.6, $1,311; 6. Aaron Vosler, 5.7, $937.

Team roping: First round: 1. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, 4.9 seconds, $6,182 each; 2. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Billie Saebens; Rhett Anderson/Cole Wilson, and Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 5.0, $3,434 each; 5. (tie) Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost and Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.2, $1,124 each.

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s, $6,182; 2. Wade Sundell, 83, $4,683; 3. Jeff Willert, 81, $3,372; 4. Jesse Wright and Taos Muncy, 80, $1,780 each; 6. Cody Taton, 79, $937.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Rhen Richard, 7.8 seconds, $6,182; 2. (tie) Jesse Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 8.0, $4,028 each; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, 8.3, $2,248; 5. Marty Yates, 8.4, $1,311; 6. Jared Kempker, 8.8, $937.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 16.44 seconds, $6,182; 2. Lindsay Kruse, 16.45, $4,683; 3. Natalie Foutch, 16.49, $3,372; 4. Nancy Hunter, 16.53, $2,248; 5. Carmel Wright, 16.54, $1,311; 6. Cheyenne Schnelle, 16.59, $937.

Bull riding: First round: 1. Mike Adams, 84 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Footloose, $6,182; 2. Joe Frost, 76, $4,683; 3. Bart Miller, 74, $3,372; 4. Josh Frost, 69, $2,248; no other qualified rides.

Total payoff: $749,316. Stock contractors: 4L & Diamond S Rodeo, Barnes PRCA Rodeo, Cowtown Rodeo, Klein Brothers Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, MJM Rodeo, Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo, Sutton Rodeo, Three Hills Rodeo and United ProRodeo. Rodeo secretary: Carole Martinez. Officials: Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Cliff Overstreet and Glenn Sullivan. Timers: Amy Muller and Mary Borgen. Announcers: Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney. Specialty act: Troy Lerwill. Bullfighters: Lucas Littles and Josh Rivinius. Clown/barrelman: Dennis Halstead. Flankman: Various. Chute boss: Gerry Byrn. Pickup men: Jeremy Willis and Shawn Calhoun. Photographers: James Phifer and Mike Rastelli.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Rob and Dan Webb had a good night at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo March 25 – even putting themselves in position to make a little history – and they were fairly certain their dad, Kirk, didn’t get to see any of it on the WranglerNetwork.com webcast.

“You can bet he was out feeding the cattle,” said Dan Webb, with a grin, “taking care of the farm’s 400 mother cows. Our mom (Stevia) might have watched us, but dad was pretty sure to be out there working.”

That’s how it has always been on the Webb farm in Wendell, Idaho. Work comes first. Rob and Dan learned their work ethic and how to rodeo from their dad, a nine-time RNCFR qualifier. Even if Kirk’s not watching, he’s present in their every run.

It’s part of the reason that Rob, 26, and Dan, 31, have become the best team roping pair in Idaho and are now in position to make a run at becoming the first team in Wilderness Circuit history to win a title at the RNCFR. They took the first-round lead on Wednesday night with a 4.9-second run.

There is reason for the Webb brothers to draw extra inspiration from their dad these days. He had a really bad horse wreck a couple of years back and ended up in a coma. The first weeks were rough. Doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it.

“But now he’s back driving and working,” Dan said. “It’s been great.”

The Webb brothers feel like they were born into their rodeo life. They live across a hay field from each other in Wendell, practice their roping on a regular schedule while balancing farm work, developing Rob’s fencing company and other endeavors.

“I was probably in middle school when we started roping together full time,” said Rob Webb, “and we’ve just stayed with it.”

They had their best year in 2014 when they finished second at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo and split a round at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. Rob finished No. 47 among headers in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, and Dan was No. 56 among heelers.

They won the Wilderness Circuit year-end title and the RAM Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo.

Other first-round leaders to come out of Wednesday night’s performance at the Silver Spurs Arena were bareback rider Tim O’Connell (83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross), steer wrestler Beau Clark (4.6 seconds), saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley (84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s), tie-down ropers Ryan Jarrett and Jesse Clark (8.0 seconds), barrel racer Lindsay Kruse (16.45 seconds) and bull rider Joe Frost (76 points on Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Nutcase).

Crawley is the defending champion and is trying to join Jesse Wright (2010-11) as the only cowboys to win back-to-back saddle bronc riding titles in the 29-year history of this rodeo.

The tournament-style RNFCR format determines the national circuit champions in each event. All 24 qualifiers from the 12 circuits compete in the two preliminary rounds of the rodeo. The top eight contestants from each event advance to the semifinal round, with all previous scores and times thrown out. The top four then move on to the final round, a sudden-death competition that determines the national circuit champion in each event.

 

Because the top four contestants begin that final round with a clean slate, each one has an equal opportunity to claim an RNCFR title.

Event winners each receive a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new RAM Truck and a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle in addition to their winnings.

Wrangler Network is airing live webcasts of the rodeo’s first four performances and, after the event, highlights from the RNCFR will be televised on CBS Sports Net; see ProRodeo.com/TV for the telecast schedule.

RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo

Kissimmee, Fla., March 25-28

Bareback riding: First round leaders: 1. Tim O’Connell, 83 points on Silver Spurs Club’s Ned Ross; 2. Joe Gunderson, 80; 3. Jessy Davis, 79; 4. (tie) Micky Downare and Austin Foss, 78 each; 6. Andy Carter, 74

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Beau Clark, 4.6 seconds; 2. Tooter Silver, 4.9; 3. Josh Peek, 5.2; 4. Austin Manning, 5.6; 5. Jacob Shofner, 6.3; 6. Eli Lord, 8.3

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Rob Webb/Dan Webb, 4.9 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 5.0; 3. (tie) Zach Kilgus/Justin Yost and Blake Hirdes/Joseph Shawnego, 5.2 each; 5. Jason Carlson/Sam Levine, 5.4; 6. Ty Blasingame/J.W. Borrego, 5.8

Saddle bronc riding: First round leaders: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Famous Dave’s; 2. Wade Sundell, 83; 3. Jesse Wright, 80; 4. Cody Taton, 79; 5. (tie) Jeremy Meeks and Jace Angus, 78

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jesse Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 8.0 seconds each; 3. Riley Pruitt, 9.0; 4. Blake Ash, 12.1; 5. Ryle Smith, 12.4; 6. Josh Peek, 15.4

 

Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Lindsay Kruse, 16.45 seconds; 2. Cheyenne Schnelle, 16.59; 3. Mary Walker, 16.65; 4. (tie) Ann Scott and Sarah McDonald, 16.70 each; 6. Sarah Griffin, 16.77

Bull riding: First round leaders: 1. Joe Frost, 76 points on Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Nutcase; no other qualified rides

Total payoff: $749,316. Stock contractors: 4L & Diamond S Rodeo, Barnes PRCA Rodeo, Cowtown Rodeo, Klein Brothers Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, MJM Rodeo, Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo, Rafter H Rodeo Livestock, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Smith, Harper & Morgan Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo, Sutton Rodeo, Three Hills Rodeo and United ProRodeo. Rodeo secretary: Carole Martinez. Officials: Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Cliff Overstreet and Glenn Sullivan. Timers: Amy Muller and Mary Borgen. Announcers: Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney. Specialty act: Troy Lerwill. Bullfighters: Lucas Littles and Josh Rivinius. Clown/barrelman: Dennis Halstead. Flankman: Various. Chute boss: Gerry Byrn. Pickup men: Jeremy Willis and Shawn Calhoun.

LAS VEGAS – The Wright brothers made history as four of them qualified for this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. But it was the most unlikely brother – the youngest of the bunch, Spencer Wright – that amazed the rodeo world when he won the gold buckle in saddle bronc riding Saturday night.

Wright entered the 10-day rodeo – which set a record for attendance with 177,565 – in 11^th place, but gradually moved up the list and won the average title to claim the world championship in his first WNFR.

“I knew this was a possibility, but it’s just a little hard to take it all in right now,” Wright said. “I’m speechless, and I really don’t know what to say at this moment. All I can say right now is that I’m proud and happy.”

Seven of the world champions crowned before a Thomas & Mack Center crowd of 18,095 – the fourth-highest attendance for one night in the 56-year history of the Finals – were also the average title winners. That group included bareback rider Kaycee Feild, steer wrestler Luke Branquinho, team ropers Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, Wright, tie-down roper Tuf Cooper and bull rider Sage Kimzey.

On a night when the world’s greatest cowboys shared the spotlight, it was the 23-year-old Wright who was the unlikeliest champion. After all, he had to work hard just to qualify for his first WNFR and he had always competed in the shadow of his more famous brothers: two-time world champion Cody (2008, 2010), and twins Jesse (2012 gold buckle winner) and Jake, who finished second in the world in 2013.

They’re the first set of four brothers to ever qualify for the WNFR – let alone in the same year.

The three older Wrights were ecstatic when it became official that their little brother was the world champ.

“I would hope they’re happy for me and proud me of,” Spencer Wright said. “They’re my brothers and it makes me happy that they were going crazy for me. I came in here expecting to do the best I could do, and I guess I really have. This is hard to describe.”

Cody Wright, who missed Rounds 8 and 9 of the Finals with a dislocated shoulder, came back to ride in Round 10 and finished ninth in the world. He was thrilled to talk about Spencer’s victory.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Cody Wright said. “He came in here and lifted on his rein, marked every horse out and took advantage of every opportunity he had. It’s exciting to see him have that kind of success. When we found out he had won it, it was an awesome moment for our whole family.”

Trevor Brazile, who has a record 21 gold buckles, clinched his 12^th all-around world championship – and his ninth straight – in Round 3. He finished with $494,369; it’s the second-highest total in ProRodeo history, and Brazile owns the top eight marks.

Another sensational story involved Branquinho, who won his fifth gold buckle despite missing more than two months of the season with an injury. He earned $202,380 in 2014, and won his third WNFR average title with a time of 41.6 seconds on 10 head.

“This one feels good because I sat out two-and-a-half months with an injury and had surgery, so to be able to win it is pretty meaningful to me,” Branquinho said. “Every time you have to have surgery on a tendon repair, there’s a chance you may not come back, but I took the risk and my therapist at home and the doctor that put me back together said everything healed up and looked great.”

Branquinho was atop the world standings when he injured his right lat (latissimus dorsi) muscle July 18 at Rodeo California Salinas. He was sidelined until the WNFR – and had dropped to eighth in the world. The Los Alamos, Calif., cowboy won checks in the first five rounds of the Finals to take control of the average race and shoot back to first place in the world standings.

“I just tried to get as close to the barrier as I could and throw them all down,” said Branquinho, who earned checks in seven of the 10 rounds. “Drawing good had a lot to do with that.”

Branquinho also won gold buckles in 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2012; he’s just one behind steer wrestling record holder Homer Pettigrew, a ProRodeo Hall of Famer who has six world championships.

He previously won average titles in 2008 and 2011, and said, “I wanted to win the average. There are not many guys who have three average championships.”

All-time leader John W. Jones Sr. won four average titles (1965, 1968-70) while Tom Ferguson (1977-78, 1981) is the only other bulldogger with three average titles.

Feild continued to rewrite the record book as he claimed a fourth consecutive gold buckle and fourth straight WNFR average title. A year ago, he became the first contestant in any event to win three in a row of each.

“I’m a blessed young man, just to stay healthy for four years and have so much success,” Feild said. “Vegas has been very good to me. I’ve had a lot of luck and I draw good.”

This year, Feild was in a danger of not winning the average title. But he won Round 9 and vaulted from third to first in the average. He finished strong and placed second in Round 10 to clinch the average title with a score of 818.5 points on 10 head, four points ahead of Richmond Champion, who finished third in the world. Austin Foss was second in the world standings with $201,025 while Feild earned $294,980.

Feild is just the second contestant to win four consecutive average titles; team roping heeler Leo Camarillo won four straight from 1968-71.

Feild, who also won Round 1, knew the average title – and even the gold buckle – was in doubt with two rounds left.

“Before the ninth round, I was nervous if I would draw good enough, or ride good enough,” he said. “It all worked out. To feel as healthy in the ninth and 10th rounds as I did in the first round felt really good. It was really important to achieve my goals I set at the first of the year. I set my goals higher and higher each year and it’s great when I can achieve them. It makes me more excited for next year.”

Feild said his career goal is simple.

“I want to win seven world titles,” he said. “In my mind, Joe Alexander could’ve won seven straight; he won five (as did Bruce Ford) and (Alexander) could’ve won the next two based on how much he won for the year, but they decided the world champ those two years based on who won the average title, so he didn’t win the gold buckle. In my eyes, he’s the best bareback rider of all time.”

Tryan and Corkill repeated as world champions – Corkill has won three straight gold buckles as a heeler – and broke the earnings record for the year in the event with $220,058. The old record was $202,189 by heeler Patrick Smith in 2010, when his partner, Trevor Brazile, earned $201,392 as a header.

“I knew I was capable of winning multiple championships, but it took me awhile,” said Tryan, who has competed in 13 WNFRs and won a third gold buckle in 2005. “I feel like I gave a few away along the way, and that fuels the fire to make sure you try harder and it doesn’t happen again.

“My goal when I go out and practice every day is to be in the conversation when they’re talking about the best ever. I still have a lot of work to do, and a lot more winning to do, but this is another big step.”

Corkill knew the partners just had to record a qualified time to win the average.

“All I was thinking about was catching two feet,” he said. “We were the only team who had ’em all caught before tonight, and the average alone was worth $48,000. We do this for a living, so the money is the main thing.”

Corkill was also tremendously satisfied to take another victory lap after Round 10.

“This gold buckle makes it all feel real,” he said. “You win (the world) once and it doesn’t sink in. It still wasn’t real for me last year. Three in a row makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing.”

Cooper returned to the top of the tie-down roping world after a year’s absence – he won gold buckles in 2011-12 – and also won the average with a time of 89.7 seconds on 10 head. Cooper shared the Round 7 win, and finished the season with $241,734.

Cooper knew he could be cautious in Round 10 and wrap up the world title. Brazile finished second and Matt Shiozawa was third.

“I just had to go tie one down,” Cooper said. “Those guys (Brazile and Shiozawa) were going for a world title. They weren’t backing off and playing it safe. They wanted a gold buckle just like everybody grows up roping wants, and hats off to them for sticking to that. It’s great (to win the gold buckle and average). It’s such an honor. You want to win a round, you want to win the average and you want to win a world title – and I’m so blessed to do all three in one year.”

This is the first time Cooper has won a gold buckle and the average in the same year. He also won the WNFR average title in 2009.

Kimzey, the amazing 20-year-old from Strong City, Okla., put an exclamation point on his historic bull riding season by winning the average title at the Finals. He’s just the second bull rider to win the world championship and Rookie of the Year in the same season; Bill Kornell was the first in 1963.

Kimzey was a revelation at the WNFR as he won four rounds and dominated the competition while also winning the RAM Top Gun Award as the top money earner in any event with $175,466. His four round wins tied the record shared by Bob Wegner, Denny Flynn, Cody Custer, Blue Stone, B.J. Schumacher and J.W. Harris.

The red-hot Kimzey shattered Steve Woolsey’s record of $202,128 earned in a rookie season. He failed to ride for eight seconds in Round 10, when earning a check would’ve pushed him past Matt Austin’s single-season earnings record of $320,766 in 2005 and would’ve made him the first bull rider since Adriano Moraes in 1996 to cover nine of 10.

Kimzey’s earning total is 11^th on the all-time single season list. Brazile owns the top eight totals, followed by Austin and Feild ($319,986 in 2011).

“The record books are the Holy Grail for us,” Kimzey said. “Matt (Austin) is a great guy and role model, and has always been someone I looked up to – inside the arena and out. He’s one of the best bull riders to ever put his hand in a bull rope.”

Fallon Taylor won the barrel racing world championship in a close battle with Lisa Lockhart. Taylor earned $276,441 and finished second in the average while Lockhart won the average and totaled $265,514.

“Oh, my gosh, I am breathless,” Taylor said. “It was so very close. I give all the credit to (my horse) Baby Flo. I am thrilled. I have had such great support. The fans are wonderful. I just wanted to put on a good show for them. It’s such an honor to have competed with such tough competition and still get the win. It’s just so wonderful.”

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 10, Dec. 13, 2014

Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, $19,002; 2. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, 86, $15,018; 3. (tie) Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas; Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., and Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 85, $8,071 each; 6. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 84, $3,065; 7. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 83.5; 8. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, and Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 82.5 each; 10. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 82; 11. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 80.5; 12. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 77.5; 13. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 76.5; 14. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 72.5; 15.Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., OUT. Average: 1. Kaycee Feild, 818.5 points on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Richmond Champion, 814.5, $39,537; 3. Winn Ratliff, 813, $31,262; 4. Jake Vold, 812.5, $22,987; 5. Austin Foss, 811, $16,550; 6. Bobby Mote, 809, $11,953; 7. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 797, $8,275; 8. Tilden Hooper, 790.5, $4,597; 9. Steven Dent, 782; 10. Caleb Bennett, 776; 11. Jessy Davis, 770.5; 12. Justin McDaniel, 742 on nine head; 13. J.R. Vezain, 668.5; 14. Tim O’Connell, 570.5 on seven head; 15. Steven Peebles, 232 on three head. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $294,980; 2. Austin Foss, $201,025; 3. Richmond Champion, $198,075; 4. Bobby Mote, $171,625; 5. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 6. Jake Vold, $142,774; 7. Winn Ratliff, $142,408; 8. Tim O’Connell, $131,240; 9. Justin McDaniel, $126,885; 10. Will Lowe, $126,444; 11. Tilden Hooper, $117,219; 12. Caleb Bennett, $111,299; 13. Steven Dent, $108,651; 14. Jessy Davis, $75,757; 15. J.R. Vezain, $70,208.

Steer wrestling: 1. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 3.4 seconds, $19,002; 2. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.0, $15,018; 3. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 4.1, $11,340; 4. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.2, $7,969; 5. Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 4.4, $4,904; 6. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 4.5, $3,065; 7.(tie) Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., and Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.0 each; 9. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 5.3; 10. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 5.4; 11. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 5.7; 12. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 26.1; 13. (tie) K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas; Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, and Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, NT. Average: 1. Luke Branquinho, 41.6 seconds on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Ty Erickson, 49.3, $39,537; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 56.0, $31,262; 4. Kyle Irwin, 60.7, $22,987; 5. Cole Edge, 71.8, $16,550; 6. Casey Martin, 41.1 on nine, $11,953; 7. Nick Guy, 43.3, $8,275; 8. Clayton Hass, 44.5, $4,597; 9. Dru Melvin, 55.3; 10. Trevor Knowles, 57.4; 11. K.C. Jones, 38.6 on eight head; 12. Seth Brockman, 45.1; 13. Bray Armes, 67.4; 14. Curtis Cassidy, 70.9; 15. Wyatt Smith, 18.4 on four head. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $202,380; 2. Kyle Irwin, $147,699; 3. Casey Martin, $143,569; 4. Nick Guy, $140,585; 5. Dakota Eldridge, $136,726; 6. Trevor Knowles, $134,406; 7. Ty Erickson, $123,116; 8. Clayton Hass, $114,274; 9. Dru Melvin, $107,370; 10. Curtis Cassidy, $101,431; 11. Bray Armes, $101,397; 12. K.C. Jones, $101,058; 13. Cole Edge, $97,863; 14. Seth Brockman, $81,436; 15.Wyatt Smith, $75,271.

Team roping: 1. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 4.1 seconds, $19,002 each; 2. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 4.6, $15,018; 3. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 5.5, $11,340; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 6.0, $7,969; 5. (tie) Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., and Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 6.5, $3,984 each; 7. (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., and Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.4 each; 9. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 12.9; 10. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 14.2; 11. (tie) Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo.; Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla.; Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., and Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, NT. Average: 1. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 70.1 seconds on 10 head, $48,732 each; 2. Jake Barnes/Junior Nogueira, 57.1 on nine head, $39,537; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 71.4, $31,262; 4. Coleman Proctor/Jake Long, 52.8 on eight, $22,987; 5. Trevor Brazile/Travis Graves, 60.5, $16,550; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Patrick Smith, 61.2, $11,953; 7. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 73.8, $8,275; 8. Turtle Powell/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 58.0 on seven, $4,597; 9. Brandon Beers/Jim Ross Cooper, 63.6; 10. Tom Richards/Cesar de la Cruz, 45.9 on six head; 11. Dustin Bird/Paul Eaves, 53.9; 12. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 30.5 on five head; 13. Luke Brown/Kollin VonAhn, 56.8; 14. Charly Crawford/Shay Carroll, 25.4 on four head; 15. Nick Sartain/Rich Skelton, 8.7 on two head. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $220,058; 2. Trevor Brazile, $176,183; 3. Aaron Tsinigine, $153,585; 4. Coleman Proctor, $149,574; 5. Jake Barnes, $148,045; 6. Dustin Bird, $146,731; 7. Kaleb Driggers, $139,243; 8. Erich Rogers, $134,216; 9. Turtle Powell, $126,930; 10. Brandon Beers, $116,270; 11. Riley Minor, $115,377; 12. Tom Richards, $101,071; 13. Charly Crawford, $99,756; 14. Nick Sartain, $99,030; 15. Luke Brown, $92,065. World standings (heeler): 1. Jade Corkill, $220,058; 2. Travis Graves, $176,183; 3. Jake Long, $150,574; 4. Paul Eaves, $149,823; 5. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $145,766; 6. Patrick Smith, $139,243; 7. Junior Nogueira, $138,036; 8. Cory Petska, $134,563; 9. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $123,570; 10. Jim Ross Cooper, $116,270; 11. Brady Minor, $115,377; 12. Shay Carroll, $100,815; 13. Rich Skelton, $99,030; 14. Cesar de la Cruz, $92,842; 15. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 86 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistols Top Hat, $19,002; 2. Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 83, $15,018; 3.Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 82, $11,340; 4. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 81.5, $7,969; 5. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 79.0, $4,904; 6. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 78, $3,065; 7. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 77; 8. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 71; 9. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 69.5; 10. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M.; Cody Wright, Milford, Utah; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., and Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, NS. Average: 1. Spencer Wright, 807.5 points on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Cort Scheer, 764, $39,537; 3. Jake Wright, 704.5 on nine, $31,262; 4. Jesse Wright, 688, $22,987; 5. Wade Sundell, 647.5 on eight head, $16,550; 6. Jacobs Crawley, 623.0, $11,953; 7. Taos Muncy, 612.5, $8,275; 8. Dustin Flundra, 598.5, $4,597; 9. Heith DeMoss, 559.5 on seven head; 10. Cody DeMoss, 547; 11. Cody Wright, 524.5; 12. Tyler Corrington, 321.5 on four head; 13. Chad Ferley, 319; 14. Bradley Harter, 301.5; 15. Cole Elshere, 233 on three head. World standings: 1. Spencer Wright, $205,388; 2. Cort Scheer, $195,586; 3. Wade Sundell, $180,726; 4. Heith DeMoss, $163,833; 5. Jake Wright, $155,420; 6. Taos Muncy, $149,712; 7. Jacobs Crawley, $147,421; 8. Jesse Wright, $134,502; 9. Cody Wright, $130,394; 10. Cody DeMoss, $115,722; 11. Tyler Corrington, $104,052; 12. Dustin Flundra, $88,167; 13. Chad Ferley, $88,110; 14. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 15. Bradley Harter, $81,885.

Tie-down roping: 1. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 6.8 seconds, $19,002; 2. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 7.2, $15,018; 3. (tie) Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, and Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 7.3, $9,654 each; 5. (tie) Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.6, $3,984 each; 7. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 8.6; 8. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 9.4 each; 10. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 9.5; 11. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 10.3; 12. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 15.2; 13. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 17.5; 14. (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, NT. Average: 1. Tuf Cooper, 89.7 seconds on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Trevor Brazile, 93.1, $39,537; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 97.6, $31,262; 4. Ryan Watkins, 100.7, $22,987; 5. Cade Swor, 110.4, $16,550; 6. Shane Hanchey, 123.3, $11,953; 7. Clint Robinson, 108.2 on nine head, $8,275; 8. Reese Riemer, 110.1, $4,597; 9. Hunter Herrin, 64.6 on eight head; 10. Adam Gray, 77.5; 11. Tyson Durfey, 91.6; 12. Cody Ohl, 51.3 on seven head; 13. Timber Moore, 55.8; 14. Clint Cooper, 57.8; 15. Marty Yates, 42.5 on five head. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $241,734; 2. Trevor Brazile, $210,315; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $199,888; 4. Cody Ohl, $148,954; 5. Cade Swor, $148,804; 6. Marty Yates, $141,268; 7. Adam Gray, $119,665; 8. Hunter Herrin, $119,231; 9. Shane Hanchey, $116,160; 10. Timber Moore, $114,435; 11. Clint Robinson, $114,397; 12. Clint Cooper, $108,316; 13. Ryan Watkins, $98,335; 14. Tyson Durfey, $83,396; 15. Reese Riemer, $80,569.

Barrel racing: 1.  Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 13.90 seconds, $19,002; 2.  Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.96, $15,018; 3. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.97, $11,340; 4. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.99, $7,969; 5. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 14.00, $4,904; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.02, $3,065; 7. (tie) Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, and Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 14.05 each; 9. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.08; 10. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 14.15; 11. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.17; 12. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 14.28; 13. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.58; 14. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 18.79; 15. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 24.11. Average: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 144.93 seconds on 10 runs, $48,732; 2. Fallon Taylor, 145.10, $39,537; 3. Kaley Bass, 147.15, $31,262; 4. Britany Diaz, 147.37, $22,987; 5. Michele McLeod, 151.06, $16,550; 6. Carlee Pierce, 151.61, $11,953; 7. Jana Bean, 151.97, $8,275; 8. Trula Churchill, 154.84, $4,597; 9. Nancy Hunter, 160.37; 10. Sherry Cervi, 161.80; 11. Kassidy Dennison, 165.97; 12. Mary Walker, 175.14; 13. Christine Laughlin, 176.87; 14. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 139.11 on nine runs; 15. Christy Loflin, 158.21. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $276,441; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $265,514; 3. Kaley Bass, $214,432; 4. Michele McLeod, $163,476; 5. Britany Diaz, $154,590; 6. Carlee Pierce, $154,181; 7. Mary Walker, $145,686; 8. Trula Churchill, $142,076; 9. Nancy Hunter, $136,777; 10. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 11. Sherry Cervi, $122,165; 12. Christy Loflin, $112,884; 13. Jana Bean, $100,758; 14. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 15. Samantha Lyne, $81,917.

Bull riding: 1. Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 84.5 points on D & H Cattle’s Hot Wired, $19,002; 2. Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., 60.0, $15,018; 3. (tie) Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla.; Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas; J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas; Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah; Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas; Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo.; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah; Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla.; Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas; Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., NS. Average: 1. Sage Kimzey, 671 points on eight head, $48,732; 2. Joe Frost, 490.5 on six head, $39,537; 3. Beau Hill, 374 on five head, $31,262; 4. Tyler Smith, 322.5 on four head, $22,987; 5. Cody Teel, 322, $16,550; 6. J.W. Harris, 310.5, $11,953; 7. Elliot Jacoby, 254 on three head, $8,275; 8. Trey Benton III, 252.5, $4,597; 9. Jordan Spears, 250.5; 10. Aaron Pass, 173 on two head; 11. Ty Wallace, 171.5; 12. Tim Bingham, 170; 13. Josh Koschel, 144; 14. Brennon Eldred, 84.5 on one head; 15. Reid Barker, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $318,631; 2. Joe Frost, $174,378; 3. Trey Benton III, $164,471; 4. Beau Hill, $148,991; 5. Cody Teel, $148,562; 6. Tyler Smith, $131,031; 7. Tim Bingham, $115,670; 8. Elliot Jacoby, $113,311; 9. J.W. Harris, $109,182; 10. Aaron Pass, $104,550; 11. Jordan Spears, $100,030; 12. Ty Wallace, $93,935; 13. Brennon Eldred, $89,170; 14. Reid Barker, $76,227; 15. Josh Koschel, $72,837.

Total payout: $6,375,000. Stock contractors: Various. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Assistant secretary: Jackie Higlin. Contestant office manager: Vickie Shireman. Officials: Wade Berry, Terry Carlon, Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Chuck Hoss, Allan Jordan Jr., Bruce Keller, Butch Kirby, Steve Knowles, Joe Bob Locke, Cliff Overstreet, Harry Rose Jr., Rocky Steagall and Mike Todd. Timers: Sherry Rice Gibson, Tammy Braden and Jessi Franzen. Announcers: Wayne Brooks, Randy Corley and Boyd Polhamus. Specialty acts: Rider Kiesner, Madison MacDonald and Kenny Petet. Bullfighters: Chuck Swisher, Dusty Tuckness and Cody Webster. Barrelman: Justin Rumford. Barrelman alternate: Mark Swingler. Livestock superintendent: John Barnes. Assistant livestock superintendent: Ryan Brown. Roughstock chute boss: Tom Neuens. Timed-event chute boss: Tony Amaral. Pickup men: Josh Edwards and Chase Cervi. Pickup man alternate: Matt Twitchell.

LAS VEGAS – Kaycee Feild responded like a champion Friday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and was one of several gold buckle winners that moved to the brink of earning another world championship.

Feild won the bareback riding in Round 9 before a sellout crowd of 18,083 at the Thomas and Mack Center, and grabbed the lead in the race for the average title. Last year, he became the first cowboy in any event to win three consecutive world championships while also claiming three straight average titles.

The goal-driven Feild wants to make it four of each.

“That was the deal that fired me up,” he said. “They were saying that Austin (Foss) and Winn (Ratliff) were ahead of me. I was mad. That fired me up. I got in the chute tonight with a different attitude; I was glazed over and pissed off. I’m usually bouncing around behind the chutes and encouraging everybody; tonight I was focused and quiet.”

That approach worked just fine, as Feild rode for 85.5 points on J Bar J’s Dirty Rags. That was enough to vault him past Foss and Ratliff. If he wins a fourth straight average title, he’ll tie the mark set by team roping heeler Leo Camarillo from 1968-71.

When Foss won Round 8 on Thursday, he moved close enough in the world standings to Feild to put both the gold buckle and average title in question.

“I was feeling pressure, for sure,” Feild said. “Austin is riding outstanding. I could see his confidence growing every night. I stubbed my toe a few times this week, and I was really disappointed in how everything was going. It got better tonight and now I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I’m real excited about tomorrow.”

Also moving into position to add to their gold buckle count were steer wrestler Luke Branquinho, tie-down roper Tuf Cooper, and team ropers Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill. Branquinho and the team ropers should clinch world championships if they post a time in Round 10.

Cooper has a more precarious lead over Matt Shiozawa, who could prevail if he wins Round 10 and Cooper fails to win a check. That would give Shiozawa the average title – he’s currently first in the average and Cooper is second – and push Cooper down to second in the world.

Trevor Brazile and Cade Swor split the tie-down roping in Round 9, as each had a time of 7.6 seconds. Brazile sits third in the world standings – he’s $22,224 behind Cooper – and is third in the average race while Swor is fifth in both standings.

“I didn’t do well enough in this event in the regular season to have a great shot at the title, so I’ve been playing catch-up all week,” Brazile said. “I just have to stay with it and decide if I’m going to gamble that (third place in the) average to try and win a world championship.”

Swor was thrilled to take another victory lap, just as he did after winning Round 2.

“I’m fired up,” Swor said. “I had a good calf tonight, and I just got lucky, I guess. It feels really good to win again.”

Rookie Sage Kimzey clinched his first gold buckle Thursday and continued his dominance of the bull riding by winning Round 9 and clinching the average title. He became the seventh bull rider to win four rounds at one WNFR; four-time World Champion Bull Rider J.W. Harris was the last to accomplish the feat, in 2010.

Kimzey, 20, rode for 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Foolish Man.

“Everything I’ve accomplished this season and this week in Vegas has been pretty surreal,” he said. “It’s special enough to make it here during my rookie year, but to do everything I’ve been able to do feels amazing.”

He said winning the average title was an important goal to reach.

“It was a very big deal to me, because the NFR average is the second most prestigious buckle you can win in rodeo,” he said. “I did have some big wins throughout the year that gave me the standings lead coming into Vegas, but I had a bit of a personal thing coming here because I wanted to prove to everyone that my regular season wasn’t a fluke. I’d say this Finals definitely proved that.”

Kimzey clinched the RAM Top Gun Award, which goes to the top money winner in one event at the Finals. Kimzey has earned $126,734 through nine rounds and will collect another $48,732 for winning the bull riding average.

“That truck (one of the prize for the Top Gun Award) will be at the house,” he said, “and we can always use another truck on the ranch.”

Nick Sartain and Rich Skelton won the team roping event with a time of 3.9 seconds to turn around what’s been a disappointing Finals. Despite the win, they sit 15^th in the average race.

“We’ve had more trouble than a man on the wrong train this week,” Sartain said. “This run will help us salvage some money out of here. This is a lot more fun than losing. I’ve been getting tired of smiling about that all week.”

Skelton, who is competing at his 21^st WNFR, extended his team roping record for WNFR round wins to 35.

“This rodeo is always exciting,” said Skelton, 48. “If you don’t get excited to win a round here, you need to quit. This win is especially exciting, because we’ve been getting our butts handed to us. And most of it’s been self-inflicted.”

Still, ProRodeo Hall of Famer Joe Beaver, one of the television analysts for the WNFR, picked Sartain and Skelton to win Round 9 before the perf.

“Joe and I have been tight a long time,” Skelton said. “I guess he can see into the future.”

Sartain said the partners plan to stay together for the 2015 season.

“Rich and I have become good friends, and we have a good time traveling together,” he said. “This week hasn’t been great for us, but we’re already talking about reloading and going again next year. Rich is such a legend in this sport. He’s always prepared, he always does his job and nothing bothers him.”

Brazile, who already won the steer roping and all-around gold buckles in 2014, was in close contention for the team roping title until he missed in Round 9. Brazile and his partner, Travis Graves, slipped two spots to fifth in the average but they could still surpass world standings leader Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, who took sixth in the round to increase their season earnings to $163,357. Brazile and Graves each have $159,632, although Tryan and Corkill also lead the race for the average title.

If Tryan and Corkill record a time in Round 10, they’re likely to repeat as world champs. For Corkill, it would be three consecutive gold buckles.

Dakota Eldridge won the steer wrestling with a time of 3.3 seconds, just .1 shy of the Round 9 record set by three cowboys, most recently by Luke Branquinho in 2007. Eldridge tied Curtis Cassidy for the Round 7 win.

“I would like to have one more win (Saturday night),” Eldridge said. “I’m just going to go at it again. If you try to back off, then stuff starts going south. You try to nail the barrier every time and have a good steer and just go have fun.”

Eldridge, 23, of Elko, Nev., moved up to sixth in the world standings with $105,464 and is third in the average with a time of 50.7 seconds on nine head.

“You can’t give up until after Round 10,” Eldridge said, “so you might as well go at ’em because it’s almost $20,000 a round. That’s a lot of money, and life-changing money. I can still get out of here with average money and another round, and get out of here with $80,000. That would be a great week.”

Branquinho is on the verge of his fifth gold buckle as he sits first in the world standings with $153,648 and is also first in the average with a time of 33.6 seconds on nine head.

Saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell won for the third time at this Finals when he rode for 82.5 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Broken Camp. Sundell, who is competing in his sixth WNFR, was the worse for wear as he immediately went to the Justin Sportsmedicine room for treatment following his victory. He was listed on the injury report with a contusion of the lumbar spine and is listed as probable for Round 10.

Sundell, who sits seventh in the average, is third in the world standings with $152,835. He also won Rounds 3 and 5.

WNFR rookie Spencer Wright, who was third in Round 9, is in prime position to become the third Wright brother to win a gold buckle, following in the footsteps of older brothers Cody (2008, 2010) and Jesse Wright (2012).

The Wrights made history this year when they became the first set of four brothers to qualify for the Finals.

Jake Wright was second in Round 9 and Jesse Wright placed sixth.

The brothers made more history when three of them placed in Rounds 7-9 this year, as that’s only been accomplished once before, in any event, when the Etbauer brothers – Billy, Robert and Dan – did it in 1996.

Spencer Wright continues to lead the average race by a wide margin over Cort Scheer (728.5 points to 693), and they’re the only saddle bronc riders to post a score in all nine rounds.

Wright, 23, has earned $151,752 and is fourth in the world standings. Heith DeMoss leads the world standings with $163,833, but sits 11^th in the average. The 28-year-old Scheer has $156,049 and could win his first gold buckle in his fifth Finals if he earns a big check in Round 10.

Trula Churchill won the barrel racing with a time of 13.67 seconds. This is her third WNFR and her first go-round win.

“I set some goals, and getting a go-round win was one of them,” Churchill said. “Of course, I tipped some barrels this week, which has cost me some money, but I got around them tonight for the win, so one goal is down.”

Fallon Taylor and Lisa Lockhart are battling to the finish for the barrel racing gold buckle. Taylor has a lead of $8,168 in the world standings, but sits second in the average while Lockhart is first.

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR concludes Saturday with the 10th round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. (PT) with hosts Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles.

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 9 – Dec. 12

Bareback riding: 1. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, 85.5 points on J Bar J’s Dirty Rags, $19,002; 2. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 84, $15,018; 3. (tie) Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 83, $9,654 each; 5. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 82.5, $4,904; 6. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 82.0, $3,065; 7. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 79.5; 8. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 79; 9. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 78; 10. (tie) Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., and Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 77.5 each; 12. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 75; 13. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 74; 14. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 70; 15. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., NS. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $231,230; 2. Austin Foss, $184,475; 3. Bobby Mote, $159,672; 4. Richmond Champion, $150,467; 5. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 6. Tim O’Connell, $131,240; 7. Justin McDaniel, $126,885; 8. Will Lowe, $115,104; 9. Tilden Hooper, $112,621; 10 Jake Vold, $111,716; 11. Steven Dent, $108,651; 12. Winn Ratliff, $103,076; 13. Caleb Bennett, $92,296; 14. Jessy Davis, $75,757; 15. J.R. Vezain, $70,208.

Steer wrestling: 1. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 3.3 seconds, $19,002; 2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.9, $15,018; 3. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 4.1, $11,340; 4. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.2, $7,969; 5. (tie) Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., and  Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 4.3, $3,984 each; 7. (tie) Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.6; 9. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.9; 10. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 5.8; 11. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 6.0; 12. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 8.0; 13. (tie) Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas; Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., and Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, NT. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $153,648; 2. Trevor Knowles, $134,406; 3. Nick Guy, $132,309; 4. Kyle Irwin, $121,647; 5. Casey Martin, $116,597; 6. Dakota Eldridge, $105,464; 7. Curtis Cassidy, $101,431; 8. Bray Armes, $101,397; 9. K.C. Jones, $101,057; 10. Clayton Hass, $98,337; 11. Dru Melvin, $88,367; 12. Ty Erickson, $83,579; 13. Cole Edge, $76,409; 14. Wyatt Smith, $75,271; 15. Seth Brockman, $73,468.

Team roping: 1. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 3.9 seconds, $19,002; 2. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 4.1, $15,018; 3. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 4.4, $11,340; 4. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 4.5, $7,969; 5. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.6, $4,904; 6. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 5.2, $3,065; 7. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 6.5; 8. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 9.0; 9. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 13.7; 10. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 14.0; 11. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 19.1; 12. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla.; Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash.; Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., and Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., NT. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $163,357; 2. Trevor Brazile, $159,632; 3. Dustin Bird, $146,731; 4. Kaleb Driggers, $127,290; 5. Coleman Proctor, $126,587; 6. Erich Rogers, $125,941; 7. Turtle Powell, $122,332; 8. Riley Minor, $111,393; 9. Aaron Tsinigine, $110,982; 10. Jake Barnes, $104,523; 11. Charly Crawford, $99,756; 12. Nick Sartain, $99,030; 13. Brandon Beers, $97,267; 14. Luke Brown, $92,065; 15. Tom Richards, $86,053. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $163,357; 2. Travis Graves, $159,632; 3. Paul Eaves, $149,823; 4. Jake Long, $127,587; 5. Patrick Smith, $127,290; 6. Cory Petska, $126,288; 7. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $118,972; 8. Brady Minor, $111,393; 9. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $103,164; 10. Shay Carroll, $100,815; 11. Rich Skelton, $99,030; 12. Jim Ross Cooper, $97,267; 13. Junior Nogueira, $94,515; 14. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $77,824.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 82.5 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Broken Camp, $19,002; 2. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 82, $15,018; 3. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 81.5, $11,340; 4. (tie) Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., and Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 79.5, $6,436 each; 6. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 76.5, $3,065; 7. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 76; 8. Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 75.5; 9. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 70; 10. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 68.5; 11. (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah; Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La.; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., NS. World standings: 1. Heith DeMoss, $163,833; 2. Cort Scheer, $156,049; 3. Wade Sundell, $152,835; 4. Spencer Wright, $151,752; 5. Taos Muncy, $141,437; 6. Cody Wright, $130,394; 7. Jake Wright, $121,094; 8. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 9. Tyler Corrington, $104,052; 10. Jesse Wright, $103,547; 11. Cody DeMoss, $96,719; 12. Chad Ferley, $88,110; 13. Dustin Flundra, $83,570; 14. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 15. Bradley Harter, $81,885.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.6 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.7, $11,340; 4. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.8, $7,969; 5. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 7.9, $4,904; 6. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 9.2, $3,065; 7. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 9.8; 8. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 9.9; 9. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 10.5; 10. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 16.4; 11. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 19.3; 12. (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas; Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas; Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, and Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $193,002; 2. Trevor Brazile, $170,778; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $168,626; 4. Marty Yates, $141,268; 5. Cade Swor, $132,253; 6. Cody Ohl, $129,952; 7. Hunter Herrin, $115,247; 8. Timber Moore, $114,435; 9. Clint Cooper, $108,316; 10. Adam Gray, $104,647; 11. Shane Hanchey, $104,207; 12. Clint Robinson, $102,137; 13. Ryan Watkins, $75,348; 14. Tyson Durfey, $73,742; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 13.67 seconds, $19,002; 2. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.90, $15,018; 3. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 13.94, $11,340; 4. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., and Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 13.96, $6,436 each; 6. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.04, $3,065; 7. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.09; 8. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.10; 9. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 14.11; 10. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 14.14; 11. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.23; 12. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.24; 13. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 14.26; 14. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.40; 15. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 24.08. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $221,886; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $213,717; 3. Kaley Bass, $183,170; 4. Michele McLeod, $138,956; 5. Trula Churchill, $137,479; 6. Nancy Hunter, $136,777; 7. Britany Diaz, $131,604; 8. Carlee Pierce, $130,887; 9. Mary Walker, $126,683; 10. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 11. Sherry Cervi, $122,165; 12. Christy Loflin, $107,980; 13. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 14. Jana Bean, $92,483; 15. Samantha Lyne, $81,917.

Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Foolish Man, $19,002; 2. Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah, 86.5, $15,018; 3. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 83.5, $11,340; 4. Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas, 82.5, $7,969; 5. (tie) Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas; J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas; Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont.; Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas; Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo.; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla.; Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo.; Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $269,899; 2. Trey Benton III, $159,874; 3. Joe Frost, $134,841; 4. Cody Teel, $132,012; 5. Tim Bingham, $115,670; 6. Elliot Jacoby, $105,036; 7. Aaron Pass, $104,550; 8. Beau Hill, $102,711; 9. Jordan Spears, $100,030; 10. J.W. Harris, $97,228; 11. Ty Wallace, $93,935; 12. Brennon Eldred, $89,170; 13. Tyler Smith, $89,042; 14. Reid Barker, $76,227; 15. Josh Koschel, $72,837.

Total payout: $6,375,000. Stock contractors: Various. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb  Backstrom. Assistant secretary: Jackie Higlin. Contestant office manager: Vickie Shireman. Officials: Wade Berry, Terry Carlon, Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Chuck Hoss, Allan Jordan Jr., Bruce Keller, Butch Kirby, Steve Knowles, Joe Bob Locke, Cliff Overstreet, Harry Rose Jr., Rocky Steagall and Mike Todd. Timers: Sherry Rice Gibson, Tammy Braden and Jessi Franzen. Announcers: Wayne Brooks, Randy Corley and Boyd Polhamus. Specialty acts: Rider Kiesner, Madison MacDonald and Kenny Petet. Bullfighters: Chuck Swisher, Dusty Tuckness and Cody Webster. Barrelman: Justin Rumford. Barrelman alternate: Mark Swingler. Livestock superintendent: John Barnes. Assistant livestock superintendent: Ryan Brown. Roughstock chute boss: Tom Neuens. Timed-event chute boss: Tony Amaral. Pickup men: Josh Edwards and Chase Cervi. Pickup man alternate: Matt Twitchell.

LAS VEGAS – On a night when the King of the Cowboys reigned yet again, a young star also was crowned. The incomparable Trevor Brazile won the team roping with heeling partner Travis Graves, then shared the tie-down roping win with Matt Shiozawa for a memorable Round 8 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. No cowboy had won two events in one night at the WNFR since Jesse Bail won the bull riding and shared the win in saddle bronc riding in Round 4 in 2001. It’s happened 11 times in the 56 years of the Finals that a cowboy won two events in one night. A sellout crowd of 17,811 at the Thomas & Mack Center was thrilled by Brazile – who has won a record 21 world championships – and also delighted in the performance of 20-year-old rookie Sage Kimzey, who clinched the bull riding gold buckle. “To reach the pinnacle of ProRodeo in my first year is pretty special,” Kimzey said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.” He’s just the second bull rider to win Rookie of the Year and the gold buckle in the same season. Bill Kornell did it in 1963. Kimzey placed third in the round – Jordan Spears was the winner – and is the only bull rider to ride seven bulls in eight attempts at this Finals; Joe Frost is next with five. So Kimzey is close to clinching the average title – something Kornell didn’t do in 1963. For Kimzey not to win the average, he’d have to be bucked off twice and Frost would have to average 88 points on his next two rides. “There are very few times when you can get in a zone like this,” Kimzey said. “Baseball players always refer to it as seeing a beach ball coming toward you, and it’s slow and you know exactly where it’s going. I feel like there’s nothing that can throw me off.” Spears, who is a Finals rookie, was equally thrilled. “This was a dream come true,” he said. “To be able to set a goal as a little kid and then achieve it is something special. Being here and competing against people I look up to like J.W. Harris, I feel really blessed. To ride to the best of my ability and win tonight makes me ecstatic, and I’m so excited to be here to experience Las Vegas for the first time.” Brazile, who has 45 Finals qualifications (which ties him for that record with Tee Woolman), knows all about the spotlight. He won the steer roping gold buckle last month and clinched his 12th consecutive all-around world championship in Round 3 of the WNFR, and still has a chance to win two other titles – which would be unprecedented. Brazile sits third in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings in tie-down roping and third in the average. In team roping, he’s second in the world and third in the average. “Trevor’s the king,” Graves said. “He’s a great competitor, and it’s an honor to get to rope with him. We’ve had a blast this year. He’s a great partner all the way around. You couldn’t ask for a better partner. He’s a great competitor and a great person, and he has a great work ethic.” Brazile remains focused on the final two rounds. “We’ve come a long ways, but we still have a long way to go,” he said. “Two rounds doesn’t sound like much when you say it fast, but there’s still a lot of rodeo left.” Brazile and Graves have each won $159,632 in team roping. Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill lead the world with $160,292 and also lead the average; they’re the only team to record a time in all eight rounds, while Brazile and Graves are among three teams to post a time in seven rounds. Brazile has won $153,768 in the tie-down roping event this year, and is third in the average with a time of 75.2 seconds on eight head. Two-time World Champion Tie-down Roper Tuf Cooper – who is Brazile’s brother-in-law – leads the world standings with $181,662 and is second in the average with a time of 72.6 seconds on eight head. Shiozawa is second in the world standings with $165,561, and first in the average with a time of 70.9 seconds on eight head. “There’s no secret in tie-down,” Brazile said. “I have to blast. I have to do all I can do every night. I’m the one having to catch up, not sustain. It obviously makes it more fun. What people don’t understand when you come out here with a lead to protect (is that) there are just some things you have to do, and sometimes it’s not the glamorous way to rope. You’re just tending to business and I’ve done that a lot out here. It’s always more fun to be the underdog.” Shiozawa has been consistently fast all year, but said luck could help determine the champ. “The draw is going to play a factor in it some, and you’re going to have to draw good and use what you get,” Shiozawa said. “Overall, the next two sets of calves should be good. If you can’t look forward to this, then you’re missing it.” Brazile has earned $421,271 in 2014, the fourth highest total in ProRodeo history. It’s the fifth time in history for a contestant to surpass $400,000 – and each time it’s been by Brazile. His record for annual earnings is $507,921 in 2010. Bareback rider Austin Foss is making it hard on Kaycee Feild, who is chasing a fourth consecutive gold buckle and a fourth straight WNFR average title. Foss won for the second time in three rounds – he also claimed Round 6 – and pulled within $27,752 of Feild, who’s the world standings leader. Foss rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Black Kat for 85.5 points to top the field and jump from fourth to first in the average race. The winner of the average earns an additional $48,732. Feild is third in the average, which would earn him $31,262. Brimming with confidence, Foss said he can knock off the reigning champ. “Anything’s possible. I’m set on one thing and one thing only,” Foss said. “There’s not much of a gap in the world standings and it pays ($19,002) to win a round. I just want to put two and two together and see what happens. “It’s my job to take him down. This is about my goals, my dreams, and what I’m living for.” He smiled, and added, “I hope it’s out with the old and in with the new.” Foss has won $61,758 in eight rounds of this Finals, and said it’s a bit mind-boggling. “To be in this position and talk about that kind of money is something a lot of people my age (22) will never get to do,” he said. “It’s a blessing and an honor and a privilege.” This is Foss’ second trip to the WNFR, and he said it’s a different feeling. “It’s a different game the second year you come here,” he said. “The first year is fun, and you kind of take it all in. The second one is all business.” Heith DeMoss regained the world standings lead by winning his first round of the Finals when he rode for 84 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Hell’s Fire Hostage. “I couldn’t be any happier than I am, and that’s exactly what I needed,” DeMoss said. “I’ve been drawing good horses and riding decent the first seven nights, but tonight I drew a good horse and finally rode really well.” DeMoss has $163,833 while Cort Scheer is second with $156,049 and Taos Muncy is third in the world championship race with $141,437. Lurking in fourth place with $140,412 is WNFR rookie Spencer Wright, who also leads the average with 647 points on eight head. Scheer, with 624.5 points, is the only other saddle bronc rider to have eight qualified rides. Two-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Cody Wright doctor released from Round 8 – the rule requires him to also miss the following round – due to a dislocated left (riding) shoulder he suffered during Round 7. It’s not certain if Wright, who sat fourth in the world and third in the average after Round 7, will compete in Round 10. Wright, who won gold buckles in 2008 and 2010, was one of only three saddle bronc riders to earn a score in the first seven rounds, so he was in hunt for the average title before being injured; he won the WNFR average in 2010. Kyle Irwin grabbed at least a share of his third round win, as he tied Ty Erickson for first place in Round 8 with a time of 3.7 seconds. Irwin split the Round 2 win and took Round 3 outright; he’s won $57,927 in his first WNFR. “This is great and in a humble way, I always thought if I got here I could do some good because I like to go fast and this is a fast setup,” Irwin said. “It’s been a great experience and I’m lovin’ it.” Erickson, also competing in his first Finals, was thrilled to take his first victory lap and earn a trip to the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa for the go-round buckle presentation. “I couldn’t be happier right now,” Erickson said. “My first Finals and I get to make a trip out to the South Point. It’s exciting. I just had a good steer. I’ve been kind of late a couple times this week, and tonight I finally got a good start and made a good run on the ground.” Barrel racer Mary Walker, the 2012 world champion, claimed her first round win of this Finals with a time of 13.79 seconds. “It’s been a bit frustrating this week because I have hit so many barrels,” Walker said. “Tonight I did a bit change, which I have never done before, but I talked to my friend (former WNFR qualifier) Sue Smith and she gave me a few suggestions of things to try and it all seemed to work. I am just so glad that things turned around and I was able to get this win.” Lisa Lockhart placed second in the round in 13.81. Lockhart is second in the world and moved within $11,540 of world leader Fallon Taylor. Lockhart leads the average with a time of 116.95 seconds, and Taylor is second with 117.10. Kimzey leads the RAM Top Gun Award standings with $107,731. Taylor is second with $87,350, followed by Lockhart with $85,664 and Spencer Wright at $80,147. The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Friday with the ninth round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. (PT) with hosts Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles.   Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas Round 8, Dec. 11, 2014 Bareback riding: 1. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 85.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Black Kat, $19,002; 2. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 83.5, $15,018; 3. Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 82, $11,340; 4. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 81.5, $7,969; 5. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 80.5, $3,984 each; 7. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 80; 8. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 76; 9. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 75.5; 10. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 72.5; 11. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 71.5; 12. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 69.5; 13. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 68; 14. (tie) Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, NS. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $212,227; 2. Austin Foss, $184,475; 3. Bobby Mote, $150,017; 4. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 5. Richmond Champion, $140,812; 6. Tim O’Connell, $131,240; 7. Justin McDaniel, $121,981; 8. Will Lowe, $115,104; 9. Tilden Hooper, $109,556; 10. Steven Dent, $108,651; 11. Winn Ratliff, $103,076; 12. Jake Vold, $96,698; 13. Caleb Bennett, $92,296; 14. Jessy Davis, $75,757; 15. J.R. Vezain, $70,208. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.7 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 3.8, $11,340; 4. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 3.9, $7,969; 5. (tie) Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, and Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.1, $3,984 each; 7. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 4.2; 9. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.3; 10. Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 4.8; 11. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 5.2; 12. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 6.1; 13. (tie) Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta; Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., NT. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $138,630; 2. Trevor Knowles, $134,406; 3. Nick Guy, $124,341; 4. Kyle Irwin, $117,663; 5. Casey Martin, $116,597; 6. Curtis Cassidy, $101,431; 7. K.C. Jones, $101,058; 8. Clayton Hass, $98,337; 9. Bray Armes, $90,057; 10. Dru Melvin, $88,367; 11. Dakota Eldridge, $86,462; 12. Ty Erickson, $83,579; 13. Wyatt Smith, $75,271; 14. Seth Brockman, $73,468; 15. Cole Edge, $72,424. Team roping: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 3.8 seconds, $19,002 each; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., and Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 4.0, $13,179 each; 4. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 4.6, $7,969; 5. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 6.1, $4,904; 6. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 9.3, $3,065; 7. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., 9.4; 8. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 10.9; 9. (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz.; Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M.; Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.; Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo.; Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, and Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., NT. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $160,292; 2. Trevor Brazile, $159,632; 3. Dustin Bird, $146,731; 4. Erich Rogers, $125,941; 5. Turtle Powell, $122,332; 6. Coleman Proctor, $121,684; 7. Kaleb Driggers, $112,272; 8. Riley Minor, $111,393; 9. Jake Barnes, $104,523; 10. Aaron Tsinigine, $103,014; 11. Charly Crawford, $99,756; 12. Brandon Beers, $97,267; 13. Luke Brown, $92,065; 14. Nick Sartain, $80,028; 15. Tom Richards, $74,713. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $160,292; 2. Travis Graves, $159,632; 3. Paul Eaves, $149,823; 4. Cory Petska, $126,288; 5. Jake Long, $122,684; 6. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $118,972; 7. Patrick Smith, $112,272; 8. Brady Minor, $111,393; 9. Shay Carroll, $100,815; 10. Jim Ross Cooper, $97,267; 11. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $95,195; 12. Junior Nogueira, $94,515; 13. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065; 14. Rich Skelton, $80,028; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $66,484. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 84 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Hell’s Fire Hostage, $19,002; 2. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 83, $15,018; 3. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 82.5, $11,340; 4. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 80.5, $7,969; 5. (tie) Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, and Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 79, $3,984 each; 7. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 77.5; 8. (tie) Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb.; Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, and Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 74.5 each; 11.Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 73; 12. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 70; 13. (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah; Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., NS. World standings: 1. Heith DeMoss, $163,833; 2. Cort Scheer, $156,049; 3. Taos Muncy, $141,437; 4. Spencer Wright, $140,412; 5. Wade Sundell, $133,833; 6. Cody Wright, $130,393; 7. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 8. Jake Wright, $106,075; 9. Tyler Corrington, $104,052; 10. Jesse Wright, $100,482; 11. Cody DeMoss, $96,719; 12. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 13. Bradley Harter, $81,885; 14. Chad Ferley, $81,674; 15. Dustin Flundra, $77,133. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 6.8 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 6.9, $11,340; 4. (tie) Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., and Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 7.2, $6,436; 6. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 7.3, $3,065; 7. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.4; 8. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 7.7; 9. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.0; 10. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 8.7; 11. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 18.1; 12. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 18.8; 13. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 24.7; 14. (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $181,662; 2. Matt Shiozawa, $165,561; 3. Trevor Brazile, $153,768; 4. Marty Yates, $141,268; 5. Cody Ohl, $129,952; 6. Cade Swor, $115,243; 7. Timber Moore, $109,531; 8. Clint Cooper, $108,316; 9. Hunter Herrin, $107,278; 10. Adam Gray, $104,647; 11. Shane Hanchey, $104,207; 12. Clint Robinson, $102,137; 13. Ryan Watkins, $75,348; 14. Tyson Durfey, $73,742; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317. Barrel racing: 1. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 13.79 seconds, $19,002; 2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.81, $15,018; 3. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 13.85, $11,340; 4. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 13.91, $7,969; 5. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 13.93, $4,904; 6. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 13.94, $3,065; 7. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.02; 8. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.03; 9. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.10; 10. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 14.12; 11. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.13; 12. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 14.62; 13. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 19.04; 14. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 19.10; 15. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 30.80. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $218,821; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $207,281; 3. Kaley Bass, $183,170; 4. Michele McLeod, $138,956; 5. Britany Diaz, $131,604; 6. Nancy Hunter, $130,341; 7. Mary Walker, $126,683; 8. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 9. Sherry Cervi, $122,165; 10. Trula Churchill, $118,477; 11. Carlee Pierce, $115,870; 12. Christy Loflin, $107,980; 13. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 14. Jana Bean, $92,483; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577. Bull riding: 1. Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., 85.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Johnny Ramone, $19,002; 2. Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo., 85, $15,018; 3. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 84.5, $11,340; 4. Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 82.5, $7,969; 5. Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., 81.5, $4,904; 6. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 79, $3,065; 7. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 78; 8. Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo., 70.5; 9. (tie) Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas; Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah; Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., and Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $250,897; 2. Trey Benton III, $159,874; 3. Cody Teel, $132,012; 4. Joe Frost, $123,500; 5. Aaron Pass, $104,550; 6. Beau Hill, $102,711; 7. Tim Bingham, $100,652; 8. Jordan Spears, $100,030; 9. J.W. Harris, $97,228; 10. Elliot Jacoby, $97,067; 11. Ty Wallace, $93,935; 12. Brennon Eldred, $89,170; 13. Tyler Smith, $89,042; 14. Reid Barker, $76,227; 15. Josh Koschel, $72,837. Total payout: $6,375,000. Stock contractors: Various. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Assistant secretary: Jackie Higlin. Contestant office manager: Vickie Shireman. Officials: Wade Berry, Terry Carlon, Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Chuck Hoss, Allan Jordan Jr., Bruce Keller, Butch Kirby, Steve Knowles, Joe Bob Locke, Cliff Overstreet, Harry Rose Jr., Rocky Steagall and Mike Todd. Timers: Sherry Rice Gibson, Tammy Braden and Jessi Franzen. Announcers: Wayne Brooks, Randy Corley and Boyd Polhamus. Specialty acts: Rider Kiesner, Madison MacDonald and Kenny Petet. Bullfighters: Chuck Swisher, Dusty Tuckness and Cody Webster. Barrelman: Justin Rumford. Barrelman alternate: Mark Swingler. Livestock superintendent: John Barnes. Assistant livestock superintendent: Ryan Brown. Roughstock chute boss: Tom Neuens. Timed-event chute boss: Tony Amaral. Pickup men: Josh Edwards and Chase Cervi. Pickup man alternate: Matt Twitchell.

LAS VEGAS – Sage Kimzey put another exclamation point on his amazing rookie season Wednesday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The 20-year-old bull riding sensation shared the Round 7 win with Elliot Jacoby before a sellout crowd of 17,528 at the Thomas & Mack Center. It was Kimzey’s third round win of the Wrangler NFR – he won outright in Rounds 3 and 4 – and solidified his big leads in the world standings and average races.

Kimzey said moving closer to his dream of winning a gold buckle might keep him awake the next few nights.

“I won’t be sleeping at all,” he said. “It’ll probably be me staring at my hotel room wall the next 72 hours when I try to sleep. But it’s all going to be worth it in the end. This is the scenario I wanted coming into Vegas, to be leading and have a chance to win the world if I did my job, and it’s been cool to see my dreams come true so far.”

Kimzey is trying to become only the second bull rider to win the gold buckle and PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year award in the same season. Bill Kornell accomplished the feat in 1963.

“We still have three more rounds, so I’ll just keep pushing and hopefully finish the job,” Kimzey said. “My mindset tonight was the same as every other night, which was to just stay on my bull. If I do that each night, I can’t be too upset, and as long as I’m doing my job, I’m happy.”

Kimzey, the last cowboy to compete in Round 7, rode for 86.5 points on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Haunted Mesa, after Jacoby had covered Hurst Pro Rodeo’s Cactus Juice for the same score.

Kimzey said he was pleased to split the win with Jacoby.

“It’s awesome getting to tie a great bull rider like Elliot for a round win,” Kimzey said. “Vegas has never really seen the true Elliot Jacoby out here, and he kicks butt all year long to get here, so it’s nice to see him have this success right here with me.”

Jacoby’s first NFR was last year, and he was relieved to claim his first round win.

“This has been a long time coming,” he said. “I have the jitters out of the way now. The first time I was here, I didn’t feel comfortable, but this time I’ve been a lot better. I want to be able to show everyone what I can do and ride these great bulls and make them look dumb. I can ride these bulls, and now I just have to prove it.”

Rodeo royalty ruled the tie-down roping as six-time World Champion Cody Ohl and two-time champ Tuf Cooper shared the round win with a time of 7.3 seconds.

It was Ohl’s 51^st round win in tie-down roping, which tied saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer for the most ever in a single event.

“Every one of them are special,” Ohl said. “I just can’t wait until I get that record, and it’s going to be very special. It’s all my kids talk about, and it’s going to be awesome.”

Cooper leads the world standings by $33,111 over Matt Shiozawa, who leads the average with a time of 64.1 seconds on seven head. Cooper is second in the average with a time of 64.6 seconds.

“I just want to stay aggressive and win as much as I can,” Cooper said. “It’s a dream to win a round and a dream to win the average, and it’s especially a dream to win the world title.”

Spencer Wright, the youngest of the four Wright brothers competing at the Finals, again bested his siblings and the rest of the field when he rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Pretty Boy for 85 points. Wright leads the average with 564.5 points on seven head and has climbed into the crowded group that is fighting for the gold buckle.

“I feel like I’m riding well and I’ve been lucky, too,” Wright said. “I’d love to win the average and world titles; I mean, I don’t want to be greedy, but that’s what everybody who comes here wants to do. Hopefully, I’ve put myself in a position where I have a chance to win a world title.”

He sits sixth in the world standings with $129,972, and the average winner collects another $48,732.

Cort Sheer took over the world standings lead, though, by taking second place in the round and earning $15,018. He has $156,049 and is second in the average with 550 points on seven head; second place in the average pays $39,537.

Wright brothers took three of the top four spots in the round, as Jake Wright was third and Jesse Wright, the 2012 world champ, was fourth to earn his first check of the Finals.

Spencer Wright, who is competing at his first WNFR, praised his brothers for influencing his success.

“I couldn’t ask for better hands to help me learn the ropes here,” he said. “I have to give a lot of credit to my brothers for the reasons I’m here, and for me having success here. Those guys helped me so much going down the road, and with my bronc riding. I’m very appreciative of them.”

Cody Wright suffered a dislocated left (riding arm) shoulder, and had to pass on a re-ride option. He was transported to a local emergency room and is doubtful to compete in Thursday’s Round 8.

Also winning for the second time – he also claimed the buckle in Round 5 – was bareback rider Richmond Champion. He rode for 86 points on his first time aboard Three Hills Rodeo’s Angel Eyes.

“It’s a dream come true, and it just keeps getting better,” Champion said. “It’s incredible, it’s insane. I didn’t expect it. I had goals coming in, but I didn’t picture round buckles, because I had the end goal in mind of winning the world.”

The happy-go-lucky 22-year-old from The Woodlands, Texas, said he’s enjoying the lights of Las Vegas and being in the spotlight.

“I’m just having fun,” Champion said. “Sometimes you do better when you don’t worry about it. I’m just enjoying the experience, and I’m loving it.”

He said the trip on Angel Eyes was fast and furious.

“I heard the horse was good, and I’d seen her once,” he said. “I remember Tim O’Connell won on her in Omaha (Neb.) at the (Wrangler) Champions Challenge, but I couldn’t picture it until I got on. She’s a semi-eliminator.”

Champion was up third in the event, and nervously watched while the best bareback riders in the world tried to beat his score.

“When you go so early in the perf, you never get comfortable,” he said, “not with those two guys at the end (Bobby Mote and Kaycee Feild) and with so many world champs riding after me.”

Mote and Feild tied for fourth in the round, and while Feild moved up a spot to third in the average, he failed to gain on Mote, who leads the average with 572 points on seven head. Feild, who is chasing his fourth straight average title and fourth consecutive gold buckle, has a score of 566.5 points on seven head. Feild comfortably leads the world standings with $208,243 – that’s $42,771 ahead of second-place Austin Foss.

Team ropers Dustin Bird and Paul Eaves came through under pressure – they were the last team to leave the box – and won the round in 3.7 seconds.

Bird said that “6.5 was winning fourth in the round when we backed in there, so I thought about what Joe Beaver always says when you go at the end of a round like this – ‘just use your head and catch.’ But I got a good start and things happened so fast, so I tried it on him. We’re out of the average, so we have no choice but to win as much as we can in the rounds. That’s how we roll anyway.”

“Dustin does it about like that every time,” Eaves said. “That’s what I get to throw at everywhere we go. He got it on him fast and gave me a great handle. That’s the run we try to make all the time. It’s just a little faster than usual in this smaller building.”

Bird and Eaves both sit second in the world standings, but they’re 11^th in the average (at 30.6 seconds on only four head). Good news is they’ve pocketed $53,023 at the Finals.

“This is the most we’ve ever won here, and there are still three rounds left,” Eaves said. “This is more than we’d won after 10 rounds the other two years we roped together here.”

Taking over the average lead were world standings leaders Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, as previous leaders Jake Barnes and Junior Nogueira went out after Barnes lost his rope.

Canadian steer wrestler Curtis Cassidy, who won Round 5, shared the Round 7 victory lap with Dakota Eldridge, who lives nearby in Elko, Nev. They each had a time of 3.7 seconds and pocketed $17,010 for the win.

“The other guys that had him, he wanted to let off pretty good, and I had such a good start tonight, he was stopping,” Cassidy said. “Luckily, he jumped forward as I caught him, and he stopped and I jumped around there.

Cassidy has won $43,981 at the WNFR and is fifth in the world standings with $101,431.

This was just Eldridge’s second check at the 2014 Finals – it’s the second WNFR for the 23-year-old – but he hopes for a fast finish.

“Last year I won $91,000 here,” he said. “I’m going to have to start doing some catching up the next few days and I started it out right. I haven’t had the week I wanted, but a guy can’t get down. I just have to stay positive and start drawing good, and things will be good the rest of the week.”

Four-time World Champion Luke Branquinho tied for third in the round with Casey Martin with a time of 3.9 seconds. Branquinho tops the world standings with $138,630 – he’s won $72,638 here through seven rounds – and leads the steer wrestling average with a time of 28.5 seconds on seven head; Martin is second with 33.0 seconds on seven head.

Barrel racer Lisa Lockhart, who won Round 2, took another victory lap after she won the event with a time of 13.73 seconds, the second fastest time at this year’s WNFR. Lockhart was the first to compete in the event, and said it was beneficial.

“I do think running at the top helped some tonight,” she said. “It did seem that some of the horses were struggling a bit, so being first proved to be the time to ride smart and take advantage of that position.”

Fallon Taylor, who took second, leads the world standings with $218,821 – that’s $26,558 more than Lockhart. Taylor leads the average with a time of 103.08 seconds, just .06 ahead of Lockhart.

Kimzey leads the RAM Top Gun Award standings with $96,391. Taylor is second with $87,350, followed by Branquinho with $72,638 and Lockhart with $70,646. Spencer Wright is fifth at $68,807.

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Thursday with the eighth round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. (PT) with hosts Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles.

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 7, Dec. 10

Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 86 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Angel Eyes, $19,002; 2. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 84, $15,018; 3. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 83.5, $11,340; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 81.5, $6,436 each; 6. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 81, $3,065; 7. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 79.5; 8. (tie) Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, and Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 79 each; 10. (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 78.5 each; 12. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 76; 13. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 75.5; 14. (tie) Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., and J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., NS. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $208,243; 2. Austin Foss, $165,473; 3. Bobby Mote, $150,017; 4. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 5. Tim O’Connell, $131,240; 6. Richmond Champion, $129,472; 7. Justin McDaniel, $121,981; 8. Will Lowe, $115,104; 9. Winn Ratliff, $103,076; 10. Tilden Hooper, $101,588; 11. Steven Dent, $93,633; 12. Jake Vold, $92,713; 13. Caleb Bennett, $92,296; 14. Jessy Davis, $75,757; 15. J.R. Vezain, $70,208.

Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 3.4 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. (tie) Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., and Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.9, $9,654 each; 5. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 4.1, $4,904; 6. Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 4.4, $3,065; 7. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.5; 8. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 5.2; 9. (tie) Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 6.5 each; 11. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 6.8; 12. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 7.1; 13. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 10.6; 14. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 15.9; 15. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $138,630; 2. Nick Guy, $124,341; 3. Trevor Knowles, $123,066; 4. Casey Martin, $112,613; 5. Curtis Cassidy, $101,431; 6. K.C. Jones, $101,058; 7. Kyle Irwin, $100,653; 8. Clayton Hass, $94,353; 9. Bray Armes, $90,057; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $86,462; 11. Dru Melvin, $80,399; 12. Wyatt Smith, $75,271; 13. Seth Brockman, $73,468; 14. Cole Edge, $72,424; 15. Ty Erickson, $66,568.

Team roping: 1. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 3.7 seconds, $19,002 each; 2. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 3.9, $15,018; 3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.0, $11,340; 4. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 4.2, $7,969; 5. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 6.5, $4,904; 6. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 8.2, $3,065; 7. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 8.7; 8. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 10.6; 9. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., 21.1; 10. (tie) Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash.; Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M.; Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo.; and Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., NT. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $147,113; 2. Dustin Bird, $143,666; 3. Trevor Brazile, $140,630; 4. Erich Rogers, $125,941; 5. Turtle Powell, $122,332; 6. Coleman Proctor, $121,684; 7. Riley Minor, $111,393; 8. Charly Crawford, $99,756; 9. Jake Barnes, $99,619; 10. Kaleb Driggers, $99,093; 11. Brandon Beers, $97,267; 12. Aaron Tsinigine, $95,045; 13. Luke Brown, $92,065; 14. Nick Sartain, $80,028; 15. Tom Richards, $74,713. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $147,113; 2. Paul Eaves, $146,758; 3. Travis Graves, $140,630; 4. Cory Petska, $126,288; 5. Jake Long, $122,684; 6. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $118,972; 7. Brady Minor, $111,393; 8. Shay Carroll, $100,815; 9. Patrick Smith, $99,093; 10. Jim Ross Cooper, $97,267; 11. Junior Nogueira, $89,611; 12. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065; 13. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $87,227; 14. Rich Skelton, $80,028; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $66,484.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 85 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Pretty Boy, $19,002; 2. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 80.5, $15,018; 3. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 80, $11,340; 4. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 78, $7,969; 5. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 77.5, $4,904; 6. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 77, $3,065; 7. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 76; 8. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 73; 9. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 65; 10. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D.; Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., and Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., NS. World standings: 1. Cort Scheer, $156,049; 2. Heith DeMoss, $144,831; 3. Taos Muncy, $141,437; 4. Cody Wright, $130,394; 5. Wade Sundell, $129,848; 6. Spencer Wright, $129,072; 7. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 8. Tyler Corrington, $104,052; 9. Jake Wright, $98,107; 10. Cody DeMoss, $96,719; 11. Jesse Wright, $85,464; 12. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 13. Chad Ferley, $81,674; 14. Bradley Harter, $77,901; 15. Dustin Flundra, $77,133.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 7.3 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.7, $11,340; 4. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 8.0, $7,969; 5. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 8.8, $4,904; 6. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 8.9, $3,065; 7. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 9.0; 8. (tie) Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, and Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 9.3 each; 10. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 9.4; 11. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 12.0; 12. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 13.6; 13. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 23.6; 14. (tie) Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., and Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $181,662; 2. Matt Shiozawa, $148,551; 3. Marty Yates, $141,268; 4. Trevor Brazile, $136,757; 5. Cody Ohl, $126,887; 6. Cade Swor, $115,243; 7. Clint Cooper, $108,316; 8. Shane Hanchey, $104,207; 9. Timber Moore, $103,095; 10. Clint Robinson, $102,137; 11. Hunter Herrin, $100,842; 12. Adam Gray, $93,307; 13. Ryan Watkins, $75,348; 14. Tyson Durfey, $73,742; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.73 seconds, $19,002; 2. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.89, $15,018; 3. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 14.04, $11,340; 4. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.08, $7,969; 5. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.11, $4,904; 6. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.14, $3,065; 7. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 14.15; 8. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.28; 9. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 14.34; 10. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.51; 11. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 18.87; 12. (tie) Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, and Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 19.20 each; 14. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 24.22; 15. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $218,821; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $192,263; 3. Kaley Bass, $175,201; 4. Michele McLeod, $138,956; 5. Britany Diaz, $131,604; 6. Nancy Hunter, $130,341; 7. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 8. Sherry Cervi, $117,261; 9. Carlee Pierce, $115,869; 10. Christy Loflin, $107,980; 11. Mary Walker, $107,681; 12. Trula Churchill, $107,136; 13. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 14. Jana Bean, $89,418; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577.

Bull riding: 1. (tie) Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Haunted Mesa, and Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas, on Hurst Pro Rodeo’s Cactus Jungle, 86.5 points, $17,010 each; 3. Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., 84.5, $11,340; 4. Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 82.5, $7,969; 5. (tie) J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., 80, $3,984 each; 7. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 76.5; 8. Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo., 73.5; 9. (tie) Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah; Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont.; Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, and Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo., NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $239,556; 2. Trey Benton III, $159,874; 3. Cody Teel, $128,947; 4. Joe Frost, $123,500; 5. Aaron Pass, $104,550; 6. Tim Bingham, $100,652; 7. Beau Hill, $97,807; 8. J.W. Harris, $97,228; 9. Elliot Jacoby, $97,067; 10. Brennon Eldred, $89,170; 11. Tyler Smith, $81,074; 12. Jordan Spears, $81,027; 13. Ty Wallace, $78,917; 14. Reid Barker, $76,227; 15. Josh Koschel, $72,837.

Total payout: $6,375,000. Stock contractors: Various. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Assistant secretary: Jackie Higlin. Contestant office manager: Vickie Shireman. Officials: Wade Berry, Terry Carlon, Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Chuck Hoss, Allan Jordan Jr., Bruce Keller, Butch Kirby, Steve Knowles, Joe Bob Locke, Cliff Overstreet, Harry Rose Jr., Rocky Steagall and Mike Todd. Timers: Sherry Rice Gibson, Tammy Braden and Jessi Franzen. Announcers: Wayne Brooks, Randy Corley and Boyd Polhamus. Specialty acts: Rider Kiesner, Madison MacDonald and Kenny Petet. Bullfighters: Chuck Swisher, Dusty Tuckness and Cody Webster. Barrelman: Justin Rumford. Barrelman alternate: Mark Swingler. Livestock superintendent: John Barnes. Assistant livestock superintendent: Ryan Brown. Roughstock chute boss: Tom Neuens. Timed-event chute boss: Tony Amaral. Pickup men: Josh Edwards and Chase Cervi. Pickup man alternate: Matt Twitchell.

LAS VEGAS – Matt Shiozawa is chasing an elusive gold buckle, and the veteran tie-down roper put himself in great position to get it done Tuesday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The Chubbuck, Idaho, cowboy broke the Round 6 WNFR record with a run of 6.9 seconds before a sellout crowd of 17,495 at the Thomas & Mack Center, and it was good enough to share the round win with 20-year-old Marty Yates, who had already won two rounds in his first Wrangler NFR.

Shiozawa, who is competing in his seventh Finals, took over the average lead and sits second in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings with $148,551. He trails world leader Tuf Cooper, a two-time world champion, by $16,101.

The 10-day rodeo concludes Saturday.

“We were at halftime (of the WNFR), and it was time to score,” said Shiozawa, 34. “I came in behind in the average and we still have four more to run, but I have to win money on the ones I’m supposed to, and get by on the ones that I’m supposed to get by on. It’s that simple.”

Shiozawa and Yates each earned $17,010 by splitting the win. They each broke Cody Ohl’s Round 6 record of 7.1 seconds, set in 2003.

Yates is third in the world standings, but sits 12^th in the average because he’s had two no-times.

Cooper is second in the average with a time of 57.3 seconds on six head. Shiozawa has a time of 54.8 seconds on six head.

“A guy has to keep going at ’em,” Shiozawa said. “There’s still a lot of game left in this deal and it’s definitely not any time to coast. The average will play a factor, but you can’t worry about that until it’s over.”

The average winner will add $48,732 to his bank account, and that could determine who wins the gold buckle.

Yates said he’s determined to stay aggressive, and would even if he was fighting for the average title.

“I kind of have a run-and-gun style, and I’ve been really running at the barrier every night and getting a good start,” he said. “The ones I have won on, I’ve been really aggressive. The two I missed, I backed off a little bit. I just have to stay focused and stay aggressive.”

Bareback rider Austin Foss rode for 86 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Movie Madness, then sweated out three re-rides by other cowboys before he was officially declared the winner. It was the first career round win for Foss, who is competing in his second Wrangler NFR.

“Sitting on that horse and taking a victory lap at Thomas & Mack was just incredible,” Foss said. “The people are whooping and hollering, and it was all for me. It’s just an indescribable feeling. It’s the most moving feeling I’ve had all year. It could be an addicting feeling, it felt so good.”

The 22-year-old Terrebonne, Ore., cowboy was the 2012 PRCA Resistol Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year. He won 10 rodeos outright in 2014, and shared the title at five others, and said it was all he had hoped for.

“It’s absolutely beyond expectations,” Foss said. “I was hovering around the 1-2-3 spots all year and it was a really good feeling to be able to stay there. I was very consistent all year, and it just kept adding up.”

Of the three re-rides, only Bobby Mote’s was good enough to earn a check as the four-time world champion bareback rider took second when he rode for 83 points.

“You sit there and grit your teeth,” Foss said. “There’s not much you can do, because the cards are going to fall the way they’re going to fall. It’s a great feeling to know you won.”

Mote’s check for $15,018 pushed him past $1 million in career earnings at the WNFR. He’s the seventh contestant to reach that mark, joining Trevor Brazile, Cody Ohl, Billy Etbauer, Sherry Cervi, Fred Whitfield and Joe Beaver. Mote is in eighth place in overall career earnings with $2,576,039 after passing ProRodeo Hall of Famer Dan Mortensen when he finished third in Round 3.

Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho had won a check in each round of this year’s Finals until Round 6; he’s within $25,722 of reaching $1 million in WNFR competition.

K.C. Jones broke through to earn his first check of this Finals in a big way, when he took the steer wrestling round buckle in 3.5 seconds. Jones, an eight-time qualifier for the WNFR, improved to second in the average with a time of 28.3 seconds on six head. Jones is fifth in the world with $101,058.

Branquinho is first in the world standings with $128,976 and leads the average with 24.6 seconds on six head.

“It’s anybody’s game right now,” Jones said. “There are a lot of guys who could still walk out of here with that gold buckle. I’m just lucky I’ve got all (my steers) down and I won a little money tonight. I’m also glad I have four more steers.”

Jones changed horses, after riding Tebow for five rounds.

“We were making good runs, but we just haven’t been able to light up the leaderboard,” Jones said. “He came up with a sore suspensory (ligament), so we were going to give him some time off. I got on the black mare of Judd Little’s called Smoker I rode here the last two years. She’s really electric and I got a great start.

“I’m just throwing all caution to the wind, and I’m just going to try and blow that barrier out every night and see how much we can win.”

Bull rider Aaron Pass claimed his second round win – he also took Round 2 – when he scored 83.5 points on Honeycutt Rodeo’s Pair a Dice. He was the first cowboy to ride Pair a Dice.

“I didn’t know that going in, and all I was told was the bull was big, strong and gave people a bunch of trouble,” Pass said. “It’s always nice to break a bull’s streak, just like to break a great athlete’s streak. The bull was good and did what he was supposed to do, and I just had to stay on and do my part.

“I feel good. I wanted to win more rounds by now, but I’ve had some bad rides. I’m happy that I’ve won two rounds, and I told my wife on the way to Vegas that I wanted to win three rounds out of 10. So I guess I have four more nights and maybe I can win more than three. That’s the plan.”

Only three bull riders stayed aboard for eight seconds. World standings leader Sage Kimzey, a rookie at age 20, took second with 73.5 points while 35-year-old Beau Hill was third with 72.

Kimzey, who leads the average, is trying to become just the second bull riding rookie to win a gold buckle; Bill Kornell accomplished the feat in 1963.

Jake Wright won the saddle bronc riding in Round 6 when he rode for 79 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Rich N Fancy.

“That was the best 79 points I’ve ever had,” said Wright, who earned a check for $19,002.

Wright finished second in the world standings last year when he won four rounds at the WNFR. In 26 career rounds at the Finals, the Milford, Utah, cowboy has won seven times.

“This is a rodeo that’s close to home for me, and I love to ride in front of a hometown crowd,” Wright said. “It’s a great atmosphere, and everybody is excited to be here and it’s the best broncs and bronc riders in the world. You just try to bring your ‘A’ game.

“Tonight was the horses’ second trip this NFR, and they seemed a little tired compared to Round 1. But I’ll still take the win.”

Heith DeMoss took the lead in a red-hot world saddle bronc riding race, where $735 separates him from third-place Cort Scheer. Taos Muncy, who entered the Finals in first place, is second. Spencer Wright, who tied for third in the round, leads the average with 479.5 points on six head; Scheer and Cody Wright are the only other cowboys to make the whistle in all six rounds.

The four Wright brothers – Cody, Jake, Jesse and Spencer – are the first set of brothers to qualify for the WNFR, and all did it in the same year. Spencer and Jake both have round wins at this Finals, while two-time World Champion Cody (2008, 2010) and 2012 World Champion Jesse have yet to take a victory lap.

“Cody rode great last night, but Wade (Sundell) is also riding great right now and it just depends on who rides the best each night,” Jake Wright said. “It’s been awesome to be here competing with my three brothers, and it’s everything we thought it would be.”

Team ropers Aaron Tsinigine and Clay O’Brien Cooper won their first check of the WNFR with a run of 4.0 seconds. The 28-year-old Tsinigine is competing in his first Finals while Cooper, 53, is roping at his 28^th. The legendary Cooper is a seven-time world champion (1985-89, 1992, 1994) and ProRodeo Hall of Famer.

“My confidence is higher roping with the Champ,” Tsinigine said of Cooper. “He knows everything. And if he doesn’t know something, he knows how to figure it out. I don’t want to get too excited. I’ve seen guys win go-rounds and not do good the next night. I like to stick to my game plan – get out of the barrier and catch every steer.”

Cooper, whose last round win at the WNFR was in 2006 in Round 5 when he was roping with Speed Williams, praised his heading partner and said the Thomas & Mack Center is ideal for Tsinigine.

“Aaron’s been roping great and turning steers fast all week,” Cooper said. “This short setup is right up his alley, because it’s a fast track. Aaron has a hair trigger. He can take one swing and just wham ’em right there. It happens so fast, and I’ve felt like I was behind all week because I wasn’t riding my position so great and was riding in too early. I needed to be more patient. I was finally able to get it right tonight. I couldn’t have asked for a more clear shot.”

Britany Diaz, aboard her horse Rootie, won the barrel racing with a time of 13.89 seconds, and sits third in the average and fifth in the world. Fallon Taylor was fourth in 14.08 seconds and leads the world with $203,803 – which is $25,602 ahead of Kaley Bass.

“I am so excited,” said Diaz, who earned her first round win in her second WNFR. “Rootie has been really consistent. It’s been a great ride thus far.”

Kimzey leads the RAM Top Gun Award standings with $79,381. Taylor is second with $72,332 and steer wrestler Luke Branquinho is third with $62,984.

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Wednesday with the seventh round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. (PT) with hosts Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 6 – Dec. 9

Bareback riding: 1. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 86 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Movie Madness, $19,002; 2. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 83.0, $15,018; 3. (tie) Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, and Jessy Davis, Power, Mont.; and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 81, $8,071 each; 6. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 80, $1,532 each; 8. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 79; 9. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 78.5; 10. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 77.5; 11. Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 74.5; 12. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 71; 13. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 70.5; 14. (tie) Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., and Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., NS. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $201,807; 2. Austin Foss, $162,408; 3. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 4. Bobby Mote, $143,581; 5. Justin McDaniel, $121,981; 6. Tim O’Connell, $119,900; 7. Will Lowe, $115,104; 8. Richmond Champion, $110,470; 9. Winn Ratliff, $103,076; 10. Steven Dent, $93,633; 11. Jake Vold, $92,713; 12. Caleb Bennett, $92,296; 13. Tilden Hooper, $86,570; 14. Jessy Davis, $75,757; 15. J.R. Vezain, $70,208.

Steer wrestling: 1. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 3.5 seconds, $19,002; 2. Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 3.6, $15,018; 3. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7, $11,340; 4. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 4.1, $7,969; 5. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 4.2, $4,904; 6. (tie) Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.8, $1,532 each; 8. Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 5.2; 9. (tie) Casey Martin, Sulphur, La.; Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 5.5 each; 12. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 8.5; 13. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 19.0; 14. (tie) Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., and Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., NT. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $128,976; 2. Nick Guy, $124,341; 3. Trevor Knowles, $123,066; 4. Casey Martin, $102,959; 5. K.C. Jones, $101,058; 6. Kyle Irwin, $100,653; 7. Clayton Hass, $94,353; 8. Bray Armes, $85,153; 9. Curtis Cassidy, $84,421; 10. Dru Melvin, $80,399; 11. Seth Brockman, $73,468; 12. Cole Edge, $72,424; 13. Wyatt Smith, $72,206; 14. Dakota Eldridge, $69,452; 15. Ty Erickson, $66,568.

Team roping: 1. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 4.0 seconds, $19,002; 2. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 4.2, $15,018; 3. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 4.4, $11,340; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 5.0, $7,969; 5. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.3, $4,904; 6. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 5.5, $3,065; 7. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 8.8; 8. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 11.8; 9. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 15.2; 10. (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz.; Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo.; Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash.; Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M.; Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, and Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., NT. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $147,113; 2. Trevor Brazile, $129,290; 3. Dustin Bird, $124,663; 4. Turtle Powell, $122,332; 5. Coleman Proctor, $116,780; 6. Riley Minor, $111,393; 7. Erich Rogers, $110,923; 8. Charly Crawford, $99,756; 9 Jake Barnes, $99,619; 10. Brandon Beers, $97,267; 11. Kaleb Driggers, $96,028; 12. Luke Brown, $92,065; 13. Aaron Tsinigine, $87,076; 14. Nick Sartain, $80,028; 15. Tom Richards, $74,713. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $147,113; 2. Travis Graves, $129,290; 3. Paul Eaves, $127,755; 4. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $118,972; 5. Jake Long, $117,780; 6. Brady Minor, $111,393; 7. Cory Petska, $111,270; 8. Shay Carroll, $100,815; 9. Jim Ross Cooper, $97,267; 10. Patrick Smith, $96,028; 11. Junior Nogueira, $89,611; 12. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065; 13. Rich Skelton, $80,028; 14. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $79,258; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $66,484.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 79 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Rich N Fancy, $19,002; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 78.5, $15,018; 3. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 78, $9,654 each; 5. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 77.5, $4,904; 6. (tie) Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., and Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 76.5, $1,532 each; 8. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 75; 9. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 74; 10. (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 71 each; 12. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., NS. World standings: 1. Heith DeMoss, $141,766; 2. Taos Muncy, $141,437; 3. Cort Scheer, $141,031; 4. Cody Wright, $130,394; 5. Wade Sundell, $124,944; 6. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 7. Spencer Wright, $110,069; 8. Tyler Corrington, $104,052; 9. Cody DeMoss, $96,719; 10. Jake Wright, $86,767; 11. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 12. Chad Ferley, $81,674; 13. Bradley Harter, $77,900; 14. Jesse Wright, $77,495; 15. Dustin Flundra, $77,133.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, and Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 6.9 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. (tie) Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, and Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 7.3, $9,654 each; 5. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 7.5, $4,904; 6. (tie) Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., and Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 7.6, $1,532 each; 8. (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., and Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 8.0 each; 10. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 8.5; 11. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 9.6; 12. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 11.7; 13. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 15.7; 14. (tie) Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $164,652; 2. Matt Shiozawa, $148,551; 3. Marty Yates, $141,268; 4. Trevor Brazile, $131,854; 5. Cade Swor, $115,243; 6. Cody Ohl, $109,877; 7. Shane Hanchey, $104,207; 8. Clint Robinson, $102,137; 9. Hunter Herrin, $100,842; 10. Clint Cooper, $96,976; 11. Timber Moore, $95,126; 12. Adam Gray, $93,307; 13. Tyson Durfey, $73,742; 14. Ryan Watkins, $72,283; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 13.89 seconds, $19,002; 2. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 13.90, $15,018; 3. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 13.91, $11,340; 4. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.08, $7,969; 5. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 14.13, $4,904; 6. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.18, $3,065; 7. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.28; 8. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.29; 9. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.35; 10. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 18.72; 11. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 18.86; 12. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 18.90; 13. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 18.96; 14. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 19.00; 15. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 19.32. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $203,803; 2. Kaley Bass, $175,201; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $173,261; 4. Michele McLeod, $134,052; 5. Britany Diaz, $131,604; 6. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 7. Nancy Hunter, $122,372; 8. Sherry Cervi, $117,261; 9. Christy Loflin, $107,980; 10. Mary Walker, $107,681; 11. Trula Churchill, $107,136; 12. Carlee Pierce, $104,529; 13. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 14. Jana Bean, $86,353; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577.

Bull riding: 1. Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas, 83.5 points on Honeycutt Rodeo’s Pair a Dice, $19,002; 2. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 73.5, $15,018; 3. Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., 72, $11,340; 4. (tie) Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas; J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas; Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah; Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo.; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah; Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla.; Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas; Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo.; Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, 222,546; 2. Trey Benton III, $159,874; 3. Cody Teel, $128,947; 4. Joe Frost, $123,500; 5. Aaron Pass, $104,550; 6. Tim Bingham, $100,652; 7. Beau Hill, $97,807; 8. J.W. Harris, $93,244; 9. Elliot Jacoby, $80,057; 10. Ty Wallace, $78,917; 11. Brennon Eldred, $77,830; 12. Jordan Spears, $77,043; 13. Reid Barker, $76,227; 14. Tyler Smith, $73,105; 15. Josh Koschel, $72,837.

Total payout: $6,375,000. Stock contractors: Various. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Assistant secretary: Jackie Higlin. Contestant office manager: Vickie Shireman. Officials: Wade Berry, Terry Carlon, Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Chuck Hoss, Allan Jordan Jr., Bruce Keller, Butch Kirby, Steve Knowles, Joe Bob Locke, Cliff Overstreet, Harry Rose Jr., Rocky Steagall and Mike Todd. Timers: Sherry Rice Gibson, Tammy Braden and Jessi Franzen. Announcers: Wayne Brooks, Randy Corley and Boyd Polhamus. Specialty acts: Rider Kiesner, Madison MacDonald and Kenny Petet. Bullfighters: Chuck Swisher, Dusty Tuckness and Cody Webster. Barrelman: Justin Rumford. Barrrelman alternate: Mark Swingler. Livestock superintendent: John Barnes. Assistant livestock superintendent: Ryan Brown. Roughstock chute boss: Tom Neuens. Timed-event chute boss: Tony Amaral. Pickup men: Josh Edwards and Chase Cervi. Pickup man alternate: Matt Twitchell.

 

LAS VEGAS – Bull rider Joe Frost had extra incentive to win Round 5 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Monday. And he came through with flying colors on an emotional “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night” at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Frost, 22, is a senior at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and wore a “Riding for Craig” patch on his shirt and vest to honor his college rodeo coach, NFR saddle bronc rider Craig Latham, who is in a long-running battle with cancer.

Frost called Latham “my hero,” and said, “I’ve called him and talked to him each night before I ride. Today, he called me at noon and told me that he was here in Las Vegas to watch me ride, and we had an extra ticket, so he sat with my parents (Shane and Lisa Frost). This one was for him. There was no way I was getting bucked off tonight.”

After his victory lap, Frost was emotional while being congratulated by friends.

“I shed a tear,” said the tough bull rider, who is also the 2014 Linderman Award winner, which goes to the cowboy who wins the most money in at least three events, and a minimum of $1,000 in each, including at least one event at both ends of the arena.

Frost rode Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Bottle Rocket for 89 points to earn a check of $19,002.

“I was very focused,” Frost said. “That bull bucked me off in about one-and-a-half seconds at the short round in Ellensburg (Wash.) this year, but I knew I had him tonight. I knew I had the best bull out tonight, so as long as I got my job done, I knew that I would have a good ride and let the judges sort it out.

“My main goal coming into this week was to win a world title, and that’s still my goal. Bull No. 6 tomorrow night is the only thing I’m worried about right now.”

Frost also won Round 1, in an impressive performance at his first Wrangler NFR. He sits fourth in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings with $123,500, and is second in the WNFR average race with 329 points on four bulls.

WNFR rookie Sage Kimzey leads the world with $207,528 and tops the average with 339 points on four head.

“Tonight it especially was a big win because Sage Kimzey has won two rounds already,” Frost said, “so it was my turn to get my second tonight.”

Kimzey broke Steve Woolsey’s 2005 rookie earnings record for a full season in any event ($197,646), and Woolsey’s overall rookie earnings record ($202,128).

Kimzey took second in the round and earned $15,018.

A proven pairing teamed up again in the bareback riding as Richmond Champion got his dream draw and made the most of it. The 21-year-old cowboy from The Woodlands, Texas, won the bareback riding with a score of 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s 2014 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year Dirty Jacket.

Champion heard about his draw the night before, and got a jolt of positive energy.

“Me and Jake Vold and Caleb Bennett were signing autographs last night, and Caleb had the (bareback riding) stock (draw) on his phone,” Champion said. “They were kidding me, so I knew something was up. When they told me, I threw my Sharpie in the air and said, ‘Wow!’ I ran around the bar and was giving high-fives, then decided I’d go to bed early and not go out.”

Champion rode for a season-best 91 points on Dirty Jacket at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo.

“I thought he was just as good tonight,” Champion said. “I was really trying not to think about it. I tried to wipe Cheyenne out of my mind. He’s done different things. I just wanted to mark him out good, and I knew the rest would take care of itself. He’s a great athlete, just incredible. In the chute, you can feel every muscle he’s got. He’s like a spring that’s compressed. I’ve yet to be on another horse that feels like that.”

Dirty Jacket is a consistent performer; Steven Dent also rode him for 91 points at the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo in Stephenville, Texas, in September.

Champion is competing at his first WNFR, and said Round 5 is one he’ll always remember.

“To go 88-and-a-half, Thomas & Mack, the NFR, it doesn’t get any better,” he said. “I’m ecstatic.”

Champion is eighth in the world standings and sixth in the average.

World standings leader and three-time defending World Champion Bareback Rider Kaycee Feild took fifth in the round and earned $4,904 to crack the $200,000 barrier for 2014. Feild, who is fifth in the average, is shooting for his fourth consecutive average title. Justin McDaniel leads the average with 421.5 points on five head, while Feild has 405 points on five head.

A winner for the second straight night was saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell, who rode for 87 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Son of Sadie.

“I had been on Son of Sadie once before, and was 87 that time, too,” Sundell said. “Tonight, the horse yanked all the rein out of my hand on about the third jump, and thank goodness that I caught it. I mean, he really yanked it and it was about a foot of the rein that went up in my hand. I just grabbed for it, and luckily was able to get enough to finish the ride.”

The 29-year-old Coleman, Okla., cowboy, is taking an all-or-nothing approach after being bucked off two horses and seemingly being out of the race for the average title.

“Going out and being aggressive is the only way to do it when you’re two down in the average,” he said. “I have to win every round I possibly can to collect as much money as I can, and hopefully it’ll all work out.

“I need to keep drawing well and getting horses like that one that jam up and buck, and I need to keep doing my part. I’m going to wad this up and put it in the trash and go at tomorrow night fresh, because I need to keep winning rounds and not be happy with what I’ve done.”

Steer wrestler Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta, became the first Canadian to win a round at the WNFR since barrel racer Lindsay Sears in Round 8 in 2012.

The last bulldogger to win a round at the Finals? It was none other than Cassidy, who won Round 10 in 2010.

Cassidy’s time of 3.3 seconds was a personal best at the WNFR. Trevor Knowles, who led the world coming into the 10-day Finals and now sits third in the standings, took second in 3.9 seconds.

Nick Guy was third and is second in the average behind four-time World Champion Luke Branquinho, who also leads the world. Branquinho tied for third in the round with Nick Guy, who is second in the average.

Cassidy, who is sixth in the world standings with $84,421, didn’t think he had a chance to win the round. He thought for certain he’d broken the barrier and incurred a 10-second penalty.

“I didn’t think I broke the barrier, I thought I broke the barrier for sure,” he said. “When I was catching the steer, I remember thinking I broke the barrier and I’m catching this good sucker right here. I threw him down and I got back up slow, and I looked at the barrier and I figured the judges would be there for sure picking the pigtail up. The pigtail was still in the barrier and I couldn’t believe it. It was awesome. Then, to be 3.3 makes it even sweeter.”

Cassidy had quite a turnaround from his Round-4 performance, when he stopped the clock in 17.7 seconds.

“It’s rodeo, that’s exactly what it is all about,” he said. “One day it’s the depths of despair and another day you’re on top of the mountain. Rodeo is humbling. You can’t ever get too cocky, because it’s diamonds or dust, and it’s like that every day everywhere you go.”

Tie-down roper Adam Gray can relate to that sentiment, as he didn’t win a check in the first four rounds but bounced back to claim victory in Round 5 with a time of 7.3 seconds.

“The times were slower because these calves were a whole lot bigger and stronger,” Gray said. “The only way it changed anything in my thought process was I didn’t feel like I needed to put a wrap and a hooey on him, and take the chance of him getting up. I planned on putting two wraps on because they were quite a bit stronger and bigger.”

Gray is also going for broke in the final half of the world’s richest rodeo.

“I hadn’t won anything this week and I’m dang sure going at first or second every night,” Gray said. “I have nothing to lose.”

World standings leader Tuf Cooper took fifth in the round and leads the average with a time of 41.6 seconds on five head.

Longtime friends Coleman Proctor and Jake Long won the team roping with a time of 4.1 seconds.

“Jake’s made it here three times before,” Proctor said. “I was his biggest fan and talked to him every night. But I was home watching it on the couch, because I didn’t want to come until I made it. Jake’s like my brother; he’s family. We’ve been roping together since our diaper days, when he was 3 and I was 2. To win my first go-round here with him is a dream come true.”

Long said this trip to the Finals is special to him.

“I’ve had the privilege of experiencing this rodeo three other times, but to get to experience this with a guy who’s basically my brother and finally live it out is beyond words, really.”
Long praised Proctor for his Round-5 handle.

“Coleman did a great job making that steer easier for me to heel by really softening him up in the turn,” he said. “I told myself I was going to be more aggressive in my approach tonight. I decided to turn it up a notch, and it worked out really well.”

Proctor returned the respect.

“I have the best heeler in the world behind me – Jake’s one of the best heelers ever in the Thomas & Mack – so all I have to do is do my job and get out of his way,” Proctor said.

“I came here wanting to try to beat Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper’s average record on 10 steers. Then I missed our first steer and took care of that. I told Jake I used our mulligan, so now he’s going to have to be perfect. He’s doing a great job of that.”

Michele McLeod won the barrel racing in 13.66 seconds, the fastest run at this year’s WNFR. She was riding Skye, who replaced the horse she rode at the 2013 Finals, Slick, who is injured.

It’s McLeod’s first-ever WNFR round win.

“It is so exciting, because I always thought it would be with Slick,” she said, “but what’s meant to be is meant to be, and this is incredible, very incredible.

“I have a lot of confidence in Skye.  I’ve won several things on her.  Like at Nampa (Idaho) this year, she set the arena record.  I mean, she can do it. Once I got Skye in the arena, she was great. Getting around the barrels you don’t have to do anything.”

Kimzey and barrel racer Fallon Taylor, who won Rounds 1 and 4, share the lead in the RAM Top Gun Award standings with $64,363. Branquinho is third with $62,984.

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Tuesday with the sixth round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. (PT) with hosts Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles.

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Fifth round, Dec. 8, 2014

Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, $19,002; 2. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 87, $15,018; 3. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 86, $11,340; 4. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 85, $7,969; 5. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, 84.5, $4,904; 6. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 84, $3,065; 7. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 83; 8. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 82.5; 9. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 81.5; 10. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 81; 11. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 80.5; 12. (tie) Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., and J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 77 each; 14. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 73; 15. Steven Peebles, OUT-injured. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $200,274; 2. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 3. Austin Foss, $143,405; 4. Bobby Mote, $128,563; 5. Justin McDaniel, $121,981; 6. Tim O’Connell, $119,900; 7. Will Lowe, $113,571; 8. Richmond Champion, $110,470; 9. Winn Ratliff, $103,076; 10. Steven Dent, $93,633; 11. Jake Vold, $92,713; 12. Caleb Bennett, $84,225; 13. Tilden Hooper, $78,499; 14. J.R. Vezain, $70,208; 15. Jessy Davis, $67,686.

Steer wrestling: 1. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 3.3 seconds, $19,002; 2. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 3.9, $15,018; 3. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.0, $11,340; 4. (tie) Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, and Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.2, $6,436 each; 6. (tie) Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.6, $1,532 each; 8. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.8; 9. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.9; 10. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 5.6; 11. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 6.5; 12. Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 6.8; 13. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 7.1; 14. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 12.4; 15. Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, NT. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $128,976; 2. Nick Guy, $124,341; 3. Trevor Knowles, $123,066; 4. Casey Martin, $102,959; 5. Kyle Irwin, $100,653; 6. Curtis Cassidy, $84,421; 7. Clayton Hass, $83,012; 8. K.C. Jones, $82,055; 9. Bray Armes, $80,249; 10. Dru Melvin, $72,430; 11. Cole Edge, $72,424; 12. Seth Brockman, $71,935; 13. Dakota Eldridge, $69,452; 14. Ty Erickson, $65,036; 15. Wyatt Smith, $57,188.

Team roping: 1. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.1 seconds, $19,002 each; 2. (tie) Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., and Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 4.3, $13,179 each; 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.5, $7,969; 5. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.9, $4,904; 6. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 6.0, $3,065; 7. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 8.3; 8. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 9.3; 9. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 10.0; 10. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 11.4; 11. (tie) Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo.; Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla.; Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., and Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, NT. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $139,144; 2. Trevor Brazile, $129,290; 3. Dustin Bird, $124,663; 4. Coleman Proctor, $113,715; 5. Riley Minor, $111,393; 6. Erich Rogers, $110,923; 7. Turtle Powell, $107,314; 8. Charly Crawford, $99,756; 9. Brandon Beers, $97,267; 10. Kaleb Driggers, $96,028; 11. Luke Brown, $92,065; 12. Jake Barnes, $88,279; 13. Nick Sartain, $80,028; 14. Tom Richards, $69,809; 15. Aaron Tsinigine, $68,074. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $139,144; 2. Travis Graves, $129,290; 3. Paul Eaves, $127,755; 4. Jake Long, $114,715; 5. Brady Minor, $111,393; 6. Cory Petska, $111,270; 7. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $103,954; 8. Shay Carroll, $100,815; 9. Jim Ross Cooper, $97,267; 10. Patrick Smith, $96,028; 11. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065; 12. Rich Skelton, $80,028; 13. Junior Nogueira, $78,271; 14. Cesar de la Cruz, $61,580; 15. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $60,255.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 87 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Son of Sadie, $19,002; 2. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 86, $15,018; 3. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 85, $11,340; 4. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 84.5, $7,969; 5. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 82.5, $4,904; 6. Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 80, $3,065; 7. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 79.5; 8. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 78.5; 9. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 77.5; 10. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 75; 11. Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 73.5; 12. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 72.5; 13. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 72; 14. (tie) Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., NS. World standings: 1. Taos Muncy, $141,437; 2. Cort Scheer, $139,499; 3. Heith DeMoss, $132,111; 4. Cody Wright, $130,394; 5. Wade Sundell, $124,944; 6. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 7. Spencer Wright, $100,415; 8. Tyler Corrington, $99,148; 9. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 10. Cody DeMoss, $81,701; 11. Chad Ferley, $81,674; 12. Bradley Harter, $77,900; 13. Jesse Wright, $77,495; 14. Dustin Flundra, $75,601; 15. Jake Wright, $67,764.

Tie-down roping: 1. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 7.3 seconds, $19,002; 2. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.9, $15,018; 3. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 8.1, $11,340; 4. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 8.2, $7,969; 5. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.4, $4,904; 6. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 9.4, $3,065; 7. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 10.4; 8. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 11.7; 9. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 13.3; 10. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 18.2; 11. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 18.7; 12. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 22.0; 13. (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas; Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., and Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $164,652; 2. Trevor Brazile, $131,854; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $131,541; 4. Marty Yates, $124,257; 5. Cade Swor, $115,243; 6. Shane Hanchey, $104,207; 7. Clint Robinson, $102,137; 8. Cody Ohl, $100,222; 9. Hunter Herrin, $99,309; 10. Clint Cooper, $96,976; 11. Adam Gray, $88,403; 12. Timber Moore, $85,472; 13. Ryan Watkins, $72,283; 14. Tyson Durfey, $72,209; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.66 seconds, $19,002; 2. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.85, $15,018; 3. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., and Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 13.88, $9,654 each; 5. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 13.90, $4,904; 6. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.93, $3,065; 7. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.02; 8. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.29; 9. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 18.93; 10. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 18.95; 11. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 19.07; 12. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 19.12; 13. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 19.13; 14. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 19.28; 15. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., NT. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $195,834; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $173,261; 3. Kaley Bass, $160,183; 4. Michele McLeod, $134,052; 5. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 6. Nancy Hunter, $122,372; 7. Sherry Cervi, $117,261; 8. Britany Diaz, $112,601; 9. Mary Walker, $107,681; 10. Carlee Pierce, $104,529; 11. Trula Churchill, $102,233; 12. Christy Loflin, $96,640; 13. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 14. Jana Bean, $83,288; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577.

Bull riding: 1. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 89 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Bottle Rocket, $19,002; 2. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 87, $15,018; 3. Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo., 86.5, $11,340; 4. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas, 86, $7,969; 5. Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., 85, $4,904; 6. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 81, $3,065; 7. (tie) Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas; Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah; Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont.; Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas; Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo.; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla.; Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas, and Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $207,528; 2. Trey Benton III, $159,874; 3. Cody Teel, $128,947; 4. Joe Frost, $123,500; 5. Tim Bingham, $100,652; 6. J.W. Harris, $93,244; 7. Beau Hill, $86,467; 8. Aaron Pass, $85,548; 9. Elliot Jacoby, $80,057; 10. Ty Wallace, $78,917; 11. Brennon Eldred, $77,830; 12. Jordan Spears, $77,043; 13. Reid Barker, $76,227; 14. Tyler Smith, $73,105; 15. Josh Koschel, $72,837.

Total payout: $6,375,000. Stock contractors: Various. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Assistant secretary: Jackie Higlin. Contestant office manager: Vickie Shireman. Officials: Wade Berry, Terry Carlon, Skip Emmett, George Gibbs, Chuck Hoss, Allan Jordan Jr., Bruce Keller, Butch Kirby, Steve Knowles, Joe Bob Locke, Cliff Overstreet, Harry Rose Jr., Rocky Steagall and Mike Todd. Timers: Sherry Rice Gibson, Tammy Braden and Jessi Franzen. Announcers: Wayne Brooks, Randy Corley and Boyd Polhamus. Specialty acts: Rider Kiesner, Madison MacDonald and Kenny Petet. Bullfighters: Chuck Swisher, Dusty Tuckness and Cody Webster. Barrelman: Justin Rumford. Barrrelman alternate: Mark Swingler. Livestock superintendent: John Barnes. Assistant livestock superintendent: Ryan Brown. Roughstock chute boss: Tom Neuens. Timed-event chute boss: Tony Amaral. Pickup men: Josh Edwards and Chase Cervi. Pickup man alternate: Matt Twitchell.