Author: PRCA

LAS VEGAS – The youngest is now first. Spencer Wright beat his older brothers and the rest of the world’s best saddle bronc riders to win Round 4 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo before a sellout crowd of 17,600 at the Thomas & Mack Center Sunday.

At age 23, he is the youngest of four record-setting Wright brothers – the first set of four siblings ever to qualify for the Wrangler NFR, let alone all in the same year.

It is Spencer Wright’s first WNFR, and he is celebrating in fine fashion. He leads the average with 323 points on four head, and also tops all saddle bronc riders here this week with $40,150 earned in four rounds.

“This really is a dream come true,” said Wright, 23. “I’ve dreamed of winning several rounds at the NFR for a long time, so I’m tickled to have won my first one.”

The oldest of the Wright brothers, 37-year-old Cody, won world saddle bronc riding championships in 2008 and 2010, and has a dozen WNFR qualifications.

Twins Jesse and Jake Wright, 25, also have enjoyed success. Jesse has five WNFR qualifications and won a gold buckle in 2012, while Jake has earned three trips to the Finals.

“One of the four of us had to kick this off and win a round, and I’m glad it was me,” Spencer Wright said.

He rode for 84 points on Calgary Stampede’s Mata Fact, a half-point better than Cody DeMoss. Cody Wright took third in the round when he rode for 82 points.

“Being here with my brothers has been amazing, and who better to be here with than your family,” Spencer Wright said. “They’re here rooting for me and helping me out, and it’s been much easier to have them here with me. The first few days I just followed Jake around and learned the routine for myself.

“This has been a great experience, and I think this is something that’s going to fuel next season, because it’s been so great to be here.”

Mata Fact shot up in the air straight out of the chute, and made it tough on Wright early in the ride.

“It’s definitely more challenging to ride those kind of horses, but you have to ride them just like any other horse,” he said. “Out of the chute, I was just thinking to myself that I needed to hold my feet and not miss him out. I feel like I’m riding solid right now, and I just want to keep it up and see what happens.”

Steer wrestler Seth Brockman, in his second WNFR, won his first round with a time of 3.6 seconds. The Wheatland, Wyo., cowboy sits 12^th in the average with a time of 19.5 seconds on three steers.

“Basically, I need to show up (Monday night) and try to blow the barrier out,” Brockman said. “I’m going to try and win every round, because I’m already out of the average here.”

Four-time World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho finished second in Round 4 with a time of 3.7 seconds, and leads the average with 14.9 seconds on four head.

Branquinho also moved into the world standings lead with $122,539. He led the world on July 18 when he was injured at California Rodeo Salinas and was sidelined until the WNFR.

Rookie bull rider Sage Kimzey won his second consecutive round, when he rode for 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Kojack. Kimzey, 20, said he’s felt in a groove all year long.

“Every time I get on a bull, I’m confident and I slide up with conviction, and things are absolutely clicking right now,” he said. “That’s a great bull from Frontier Rodeo that bucks really hard, but is also rider-friendly.”

Although Kimzey is first in the average and comfortably leads the world standings by $40,605, he’s taking nothing for granted. He could become only the second rookie to win the bull riding gold buckle; Bill Kornell did it in 1963.

“I’m not even thinking about the gold buckle until it’s perma-frosted,” Kimzey said. “There’s no icing anything. I’ve been thinking and dreaming about winning a world title for a long time, but I haven’t really put those thoughts into reality yet. I know that I have a good shot to win it, and I just want to keep coming and taking care of my business and it’ll work out the way I want it to.

“This is what I’ve been working for since I was 3 years old. Hopefully, this is the year that dream turns into a reality.”

The bareback riding was a story of old and young, as the veteran of the group, four-time World Champion Bobby Mote, shared the round win with the youngest contestant, Missouri Valley College student Tim O’Connell.

Mote, 38, extended his record for bareback riding round wins at the Finals to 25, which is eight more than Marvin Garrett’s total. For O’Connell, in his first WNFR, it was his first round win.

O’Connell rode for 84 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s On Tap and Mote matched him when he rode for 84 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Rylee’s Raisin Cain.

Mote shared one round win in 2013, but knows how difficult it is to finish first at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“Rounds are hard to win here,” Mote said. “The first year I rode here (in 2001), I won the first round and I thought this place was made for me and that I could do no wrong here. I got the wrong impression. It’s really hard to get round wins here. I never take it for granted, and it feels great.”

Mote entered the WNFR in sixth place, and moved up to fourth in the world with six rounds remaining.

“You always wonder if you’ll come back here, and there’s no guarantee you’ll make it,” he said. “It’s all about how deep you want to dig.”

Mote is just $6,204 shy of winning $1 million in his WNFR career. Six others have achieved that rare feat: Trevor Brazile, Cody Ohl, Billy Etbauer, Sherry Cervi, Fred Whitfield and Joe Beaver.

“That’s a big accomplishment at one rodeo,” Mote said. “I wish I had it all now.”

O’Connell has a big future ahead of him. He was the PRCA Bareback Riding Permit Holder of the Year in 2012 and the PRCA Resistol Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year in 2013.

“It’s an honor just to ride with these guys, the best bareback riders in the world,” O’Connell said. “It feels great, and it’s really exciting.”

O’Connell earned his first WNFR check of $17,010. He was bucked off by Andrews Rodeo’s PTSD Power Play in Round 2 and suffered a similar fate when he drew Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage in Round 3.

“You can’t stub a toe, that’s what I learned the last two nights,” said O’Connell, 23. “I’ve not drawn badly, that’s for sure, but when you make mistakes on great horses, they put you in the ground hard. When I did my backflip over (PTSD) Power Play, I tore a lot of microfibers in my hamstring. I’ve been spending two hours every morning at (Justin) Sportsmedicine. They’ve done a great job for me.”

Tie-down roper Marty Yates, in his first WNFR, won his second round in four tries, and his time of 6.7 seconds was just .1 slower than Cody Ohl’s fourth-round record set in 2009.

“I knew I had a good calf and I got a great start,” Yates said. “It was pretty cool to get a good start and it all came together. It all happened really fast, so I knew I was going to be flirting with it being pretty dang fast.”

The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy has won $41,070 at this WNFR, which has moved him into fourth place in the world standings with $124,257.

“I feel grateful for being here and being able to rope to my best ability and win go-rounds,” Yates said. “I’ve always lived with a kind of live-by-the-sword, die-by-the-sword type of style, so nothing changes for me.”

Yates said the arena suits his horse, 8-year-old Chicken, who was second in the 2014 AQHA/PRCA Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year voting.

“In this setup, he’s great,” Yates said. “To me, this setup was built for me and him. He makes everything so easy on me.”

Team ropers Luke Brown and Kollin VonAhn won the round in 3.6 seconds and were just one-tenth off the round record set in 2010 by Brady Tryan and Jake Long.

“Getting a good start here is the key to the whole deal,” Brown said. “It makes it so much easier when you get out right. That back end comes fast.”

It was the first check of the WNFR for Brown and VonAhn, who won the average title here a year ago.

“We practiced as hard or harder this year to do the same thing we did here last year,” Brown said. “I hickeyed a horn (which is an illegal head catch) in the second round, but we’re not going to change anything.”

They sit ninth in the average with a time of 26.3 seconds on three head.

“I don’t think anybody ever comes here just thinking about the average,” VonAhn said. “That’ll start playing a bigger role later in the week, in about the seventh round. You can’t really back off in this arena anyway, because it’s so small. If you miss the barrier here it’s really hard just to catch.

“We feel like we have a pretty consistent run. Luke’s been getting out and getting it on them so quick that all I have to do is catch. The situation determines how fast you can throw. If you’re in the right spot, it’s pretty easy.

“I can only go as fast as he (Brown) turns them. Last night he turned one so fast I wasn’t even ready. I’ve just been trying to do my job, and most of the time it’s good enough.”

VonAhn is riding Frank, who’ll be 21 next month and is competing in his sixth WNFR.

“I’ve ridden him here four times,” VonAhn said. “Shannon Frascht and Travis Graves have also ridden him here.”

Brown, who rides 21-year-old Slim Shady, said, “I’ve ridden him all but three rounds in the seven years I’ve been here. He’s really easy to get a good start on and he won’t duck. I’ve ridden him so much, I know him like the back of my hand. It’d be crazy not to ride him here.”

Fallon Taylor won her second go-round, her time of 13.85 seconds edging Lisa Lockhart by three-tenths. Reigning World Champion Sherry Cervi was third in 13.90.

“It’s the coolest thing ever,” Taylor said. “Two round wins means more to me than anything, especially after such a rocky year last year and putting in a lot of hard work when nobody was watching all the long hours in the practice pen with the blood, sweat and tears. To now be able to showcase all the hard work on such a national level is really rewarding, and (my horse) Baby Flo deserves all the credit.”

Branquinho leads the RAM Top Gun Award standings with $56,547. Kimzey and Taylor are tied for second with $49,345 while bareback rider Justin McDaniel is fourth with $45,463.

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Monday with the fifth 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 4, Dec. 7

Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s On Tap, and Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., on Andrews Rodeo’s Rylee’s Raisin Cain, 84 points, $17,010 each; 3. (tie) Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 83, $9,654 each; 5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 82, $4,904; 6. (tie) Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, and Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 81.5, $1,532 each; 8. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, 80.5; 9. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 80; 10. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 77; 11. (tie) Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb.; Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., and J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 76.5 each; 14. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 72.5 (Steven Peebles injured-DNC). World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $195,370; 2. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 3. Austin Foss, $143,405; 4. Bobby Mote, $128,563; 5. Tim O’Connell, $119,900; 6. Will Lowe, $113,571; 7. Justin McDaniel, $110,641; 8. Richmond Champion, $91,467; 9. Jake Vold, $89,649; 10. Winn Ratliff, $88,057; 11. Steven Dent, $85,664; 12. Caleb Bennett, $84,225; 13. Tilden Hooper, $78,499; 14. J.R. Vezain, $70,208; 15. Jessy Davis, $67,686.

Steer wrestling: 1. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 3.6 seconds, $19,002; 2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.7, $15,018; 3. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.0, $11,340; 4. (tie) Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 4.1, $6,436 each; 6. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 5.5, $3,065; 7. (tie) K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 6.0 each; 9. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 6.6; 10. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 6.9; 11. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 8.8; 12. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 14.3; 13. Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 16.5; 14. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 17.7; 15. Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, NT. World standings: 1. Luke Branquinho, $122,539; 2. Nick Guy, $113,001; 3. Trevor Knowles, $108,048; 4. Casey Martin, $102,959; 5. Kyle Irwin, $100,653; 6. K.C. Jones, $82,055; 7. Bray Armes, $80,249; 8. Clayton Hass, $76,576; 9. Cole Edge, $72,424; 10. Seth Brockman, $71,935; 11. Dru Melvin, $70,897; 12. Dakota Eldridge, $69,452; 13. Curtis Cassidy, $65,418; 14. Ty Erickson, $63,503; 15. Wyatt Smith, $57,188.

Team roping: 1. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., 3.6 seconds, $19,002; 2. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 3.9, $15,018; 3. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 4.5, $11,340; 4. (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., and Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 4.6, $6,436 each; 6. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.8, $3,065; 7. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 6.1; 8. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 9.4; 9. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., and Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 9.6 each; 11. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 13.9; 12. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 19.1; 13. (tie) Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas; 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, $139,144; 2. Dustin Bird, $124,663; 3. Trevor Brazile, $121,321; 4. Erich Rogers, $110,923; 5. Turtle Powell, $107,314; 6. Riley Minor, $98,214; 7. Brandon Beers, $97,267; 8. Kaleb Driggers, $96,028; 9. Coleman Proctor, $94,712; 10. Luke Brown, $92,065; 11. Charly Crawford, $86,577; 12. Jake Barnes, $83,375; 13. Nick Sartain, $80,028; 14. Aaron Tsinigine, $68,074; 15. Tom Richards, $66,744. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $139,144; 2. Paul Eaves, $127,755; 3. Travis Graves, $121,321; 4. Cory Petska, $111,270; 5. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $103,954; 6. Brady Minor, $98,214; 7. Jim Ross Cooper, $97,267; 8. Patrick Smith, $96,028; 9. Jake Long, $95,712; 10. Kollin VonAhn, $89,065; 11. Shay Carroll, $87,636; 12. Rich Skelton, $80,028; 13. Junior Nogueira, $73,367; 14. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $60,255; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $58,515.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 84 points on Calgary Stampede’s Mata Fact, $19,002; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 83.5, $15,018; 3. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82, $11,340; 4. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 81, $7,969; 5. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 76.5, $4,904; 6. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 75, $3,065; 7. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 73; 8. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 71 each; 10. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La.; Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, and Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, NS. World standings: 1. Taos Muncy, $141,437; 2. Cort Scheer, $139,499; 3. Cody Wright, $122,425; 4. Heith DeMoss, $120,771; 5. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 6. Wade Sundell, $105,942; 7. Spencer Wright, $100,415; 8. Tyler Corrington, $84,130; 9. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 10. Cody DeMoss, $81,701; 11. Chad Ferley, $81,674; 12. Jesse Wright, $77,495; 13. Bradley Harter, $74,836; 14. Dustin Flundra, $70,697; 15. Jake Wright, $67,764.

Tie-down roping: 1. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 6.7 seconds, $19,002; 2. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.4, $15,018; 3. (tie) Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, and Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 7.5, $9,654 each; 5. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 7.6, $4,904; 6. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas; Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 8.3, $1,022 each; 9. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 8.7; 10. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 9.0; 11. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 9.6 each; 13. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 10.0; 14. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 10.2; 15. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $159,748; 2. Trevor Brazile, $131,854; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $131,541; 4. Marty Yates, $124,257; 5. Cade Swor, $115,243; 6. Clint Robinson, $102,137; 7. Hunter Herrin, $99,309; 8. Shane Hanchey, $92,867; 9. Cody Ohl, $92,253; 10. Timber Moore, $85,472; 11. Clint Cooper, $81,958; 12. Tyson Durfey, $72,209; 13. Adam Gray, $69,401; 14. Ryan Watkins, $69,218; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.85 seconds, $19,002; 2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.88, $15,018; 3. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 13.90, $11,340; 4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 13.91, $7,969; 5. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 13.99, $4,904; 6. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.00, $3,065; 7. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 14.01; 8. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 14.02; 9. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 14.04; 10. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.15; 11. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.19; 12. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 14.23; 13. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 18.99; 14. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 19.03; 15. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 23.79. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $180,816; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $163,606; 3. Kaley Bass, $160,183; 4. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 5. Nancy Hunter, $122,372; 6. Sherry Cervi, $117,261; 7. Michele McLeod, $115,050; 8. Britany Diaz, $102,947; 9. Mary Walker, $102,777; 10. Trula Churchill, $102,233; 11. Carlee Pierce, $101,464; 12. Christy Loflin, $96,640; 13. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 14. Jana Bean, $83,288; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577.

Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Kojack, $19,002; 2. Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas, 85, $15,018; 3. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas, 84.5, $11,340; 4. Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont., 78, $7,969; 5. (tie) 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.; Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo.; Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $192,510; 2. Trey Benton III, $151,905; 3. Cody Teel, $128,947; 4. Joe Frost, $104,498; 5. Tim Bingham, $100,652; 6. J.W. Harris, $90,179; 7. Beau Hill, $86,467; 8. Aaron Pass, $85,548; 9. Elliot Jacoby, $80,057; 10. Brennon Eldred, $77,830; 11. Reid Barker, $76,227; 12. Tyler Smith, $73,105; 13. Josh Koschel, $72,837; 14. Jordan Spears, $72,139; 15. Ty Wallace, $67,577.

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 – Trevor Brazile doubled down on his gold buckle count for the season when he hit No. 21 by clinching the all-around world championship Saturday night before a sold-out crowd of 17,858 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The King of the Cowboys has won a record 12 all-around titles, and an unprecedented nine straight.

“This is awesome,” Brazile said. “Every time that number gets bigger, it gets harder to believe. I never expected anything like this, so it almost doesn’t seem real.”

Brazile has earned $361,046 during the 2014 season. That’s $197,605 more than Tuf Cooper, who is second in the all-around standings.

The incomparable Brazile won the steer roping gold buckle Nov. 8 and sits second in both team roping and tie-down roping, so he has a chance to win two more gold buckles.

“What makes it extra exciting is the chance at another Triple Crown,” said the Decatur, Texas, cowboy. “After tonight, one more (gold buckle) will complete it. So getting this one done gives me some piece of mind. I never take winning championships for granted.”

Brazile claimed Triple Crowns – three world titles in one season – in 2007 and 2010. A third Triple Crown would equal the record set by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Jim Shoulders (1956-58), who always accomplished the feat in the same three events: all-around, bull riding and bareback riding. If Brazile wins the team roping title for a third Triple Crown, he will have done it with three different combinations of events.

No cowboy has ever achieved a Grand Slam – winning four gold buckles in one season.

“I think they (world titles) mean more to me the older I get,” said Brazile, who turned 38 last month. “It seems like my competition gets younger every year. That’s why I keep enjoying it more. At some point, there’s going to be a changing of the guard. So every gold buckle means more as time marches on.”

Brazile, a team roping header, and partner Travis Graves were second in Round 3 with a time of 4.0 seconds, just .1 behind round winners Dustin Bird and Paul Eaves.

Ever the perfectionist, Brazile said, “I was really disappointed with my execution in the team roping (Friday) night, but I’m looking forward and taking every calf and every steer for what he is. I’m just going to keep doing my best every night.”

Brazile finished fourth in Round 3 tie-down roping with a time of 7.4 seconds.

Brazile is $17,823 behind team roping header leader Clay Tryan. He’s $26,873 behind tie-down roping leader Cooper, who is his brother-in-law.

Dustin Bird and Paul Eaves claimed the team roping win, and both sit third in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings.

“We decided not to be more conservative, but to try to be a little more consistent,” Eaves said. “I want to make sure I catch ’em all. I don’t have to worry about Dustin, so I just have to focus on doing my job, which keeps my hands full. That run was what we’ve been practicing. We’re going to keep trying to make the same runs without doing anything crazy. There are a lot of steers left, and there’s a lot of money to be won. So I don’t want to get too excited about tonight. It’d be nice to win something in the average, too, but this is a good start right here.”

Bird rode a different horse, using fellow WNFR header Kaleb Driggers’ Fast Time. Bird rode his own horse, Dolly, in the first two rounds.

“I wasn’t having very good rhythm with my mare (Dolly) – she was getting a little too excited, and I broke the barrier last night – so I decided to try something different,” Bird said. “Kaleb’s horse gives you a lot of time, so you don’t have to get in a rush all the time.

“I want to catch every steer as fast as I can, but I don’t want to miss. Fast Time’s a horse you can catch a lot of steers on, because he doesn’t get quick. That was the first steer I ever ran on that horse. I’ll be back on him tomorrow.”

Kyle Irwin won Round 3 in steer wrestling after sharing the win last night and earning a fifth-place check on opening night. He leads the average with 10.9 seconds on three steers, and moved into third place in the world standings, just $12,348 behind leader Nick Guy.

“It’s a little bit surreal,” said the Robertsdale, Ala., cowboy, who earned $19,002 with the Round 3 win. “I also don’t mean this (to sound) arrogantly, but I always knew if I got here, I would at least try and win first every night. I’m going to try and go as fast as I can with the opportunity I have and the steers that I have. Hopefully, I will make no mistakes and the rest will take care of itself.”

Irwin, who is making his Finals debut, is just the second steer wrestler from Alabama to qualify for the WNFR, after Victor Deck (1996-97), who tied for one round win.

Irwin just missed breaking the Round 3 steer wrestling record at the WNFR. The late Ricky Huddleston holds that mark with a 3.1-second time in 1985. Steve Duhon (1986) and Bryan Fields (2001) share the WNFR record at 3.0 seconds.

Irwin was riding Sketch, a horse owned by Tyler Pearson, and gave much of the credit to the horse.

“He got me the win at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo (in Guthrie, Okla.),” Irwin said. “I’ve been riding that horse since October of 2013 and I sure like him.”

Bareback rider Justin McDaniel, the 2008 world champion, took advantage of his dream draw and rode for 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Delta Ship to win the event. Back in 2007, McDaniel set the arena record when rode for 91.5 points on Delta Ship, also in Round 3.

In three outs on the horse, McDaniel had three wins. Make it four now.

So what did McDaniel think when he saw the draw with Delta Ship next to his name?

“That I had a chance to break the record and win the round, and that it was all up to me,” he said. “I knew the horse would do his part. I just wanted to stay calm, be confident and have fun. I’ve had that horse three times and been 91.5, 87 and 92 on him. He’s my favorite horse.”

He said the horse was as good as advertised.

“He’s exactly what you want in a bucking horse,” McDaniel said. “He’s big and strong and kicks hard. At about six seconds, he jumped so high and I was right in time with him, and that’s what I’ve dreamed about when I was a kid. And when the crowd at the NFR stands up and cheers for you, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

McDaniel moved to fifth in the world standings and leads the average. He’s earned $110,641 in 2014, but that puts him far behind three-time defending world champion Kaycee Feild, who tied for fifth place in Round 3, and leads all bareback riders with $195,370.

“I came in 14th and still have a lot of ground to cover,” McDaniel said. “I need to keep winning rounds and see what happens.”

McDaniel also leads the RAM Top Gun Award standings, which recognizes the contestant who wins the most money in a single event at the WNFR. He has $45,463, while steer wrestler Luke Branquinho is second with $41,529 and Irwin is third with $40,916. Brazile is tied for fourth at $38,005 with team roping partners Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager.

Five-time World Champion Tie-down Roper Cody Ohl broke his own round record when he won in 6.6 seconds, .1 faster than the mark he set a year ago.

“I knew I was fast, and it’s funny to say, but I could’ve broke the arena record right there,” Ohl said. “I was already like a quarter of a way to the calf and I didn’t think there was any way I got out. I kind of had a little hitch there when I flanked him, but my mind was like, ‘Man, I broke the barrier. I broke the barrier.’ Then I throw my hands up and I’m looking at the judge and he’s holding the barrier up there and it’s not broke. I thought, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

Ohl’s victory was especially satisfying, since it came one night after his rope broke in Round 2, which led to a no-time.

“Everybody was like, ‘Oh man,’ and it was (just) the second round and this thing had not even started yet,” Ohl said. “There were eight more go-rounds at $19,000. My confidence and attitude hadn’t changed one ounce since (Friday), and that’s what it takes to move on, and then come back and bounce back, like I did tonight.”

Ohl set the arena record of 6.5 seconds in 2003’s Round 10, and he owns six of the 10 round records. He has 10 rounds of less than 7 seconds. He’s won 50 rounds at the Finals in tie-down roping, also a record. Ohl has a total of 53 career round wins, counting three at the National Finals Steer Roping, which is three shy of Brazile’s overall record of 57.

Rookie bull rider Sage Kimzey, who leads the world standings, was thrilled to win Round 3. He rode for 84.5 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Line Man, and said it was just as good as he’d imagined.

“It was everything I thought it would be, and more,” Kimzey said. “I’ve said it over and over again this season, but I’m living out my childhood dream, and it’s everything I hoped it would be. I can’t even describe the feeling of the crowd going crazy for me, and it’s a feeling I’ve never been close to experiencing in my life. It’s something else, and I don’t know how many people get a feeling like that in their lives.”

Kimzey said he gets pumped up to perform in front of large crowds – and that he is confident about excelling in the Finals.

“The greater the pressure, the better I feel I perform,” he said. “It’s been that way since I was a little kid, and I’m not sure why, but it seems like the big moments are when I thrive and do the best. Every moment in my life has led up to me riding here.”

Wade Sundell claimed the Round 3 saddle bronc riding win for the second year in a row when he rode Rafter G Rodeo’s Low Bucks for 87 points.

“I had never been on that horse before, but I had seen him quite a few times, and he always looked like he’d be a good one to have,” said Sundell, who is sixth in the world. “You always want to ride those horses that buck real hard and will buck you off if you stub your toe. You can have fun and show off on those kind of horses, and it worked out awesome for me tonight.”

The Coleman, Okla., cowboy has qualified for the last six Finals, and said it’s still a thrill to take a victory lap.

“It absolutely doesn’t get old to win here,” he said, “and I wish I could do this again seven more nights.”

Kassidy Dennison won the barrel racing with a time of 13.94 seconds and sits fourth in the world. Fallon Taylor, who won Round 1, took over the lead in the barrel racing world standings when she earned a check for third place.

“I am so excited I can hardly speak,” said Dennison, who is competing at her first Finals. “I can hardly believe it. It is so exciting having so many of my family here with me to share this victory.”

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Sunday with the fourth 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 Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles announcing.

 

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 3, Dec. 6

Bareback riding: 1. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Delta Ship, $19,002; 2. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 87.5, $15,018; 3. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 82.5, $11,340; 4. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 80.0, $7,969; 5. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 78, $3,984 each; 7. (tie) Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, and Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 75.5 each; 9. (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas; Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 75 each; 12. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 71.5; 13. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 69; 14. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 68.5; 15. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, NS. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $195,370; 2. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 3. Austin Foss, $133,751; 4. Bobby Mote, $111,553; 5. Justin McDaniel, $110,641; 6. Will Lowe, $108,668; 7. Tim O’Connell, $102,890; 8. Richmond Champion, $89,935; 9. Jake Vold, $88,116; 10. Winn Ratliff, $88,057; 11. Steven Dent, $85,664; 12. Caleb Bennett, $84,225; 13. J.R. Vezain, $70,208; 14. Tilden Hooper, $68,844; 15. Jessy Davis, $67,686.

Steer wrestling: 1. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 3.2 seconds, $19,002; 2. Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 3.8, $15,018; 3. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.9, $11,340; 4. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.0, $7,969; 5. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.2, $4,904; 6. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.4, $3,065; 7. (tie) K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 4.6 each; 9. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.9; 10. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 5.1; 11. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 5.8; 12. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 6.8; 13. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 10.2; 14. (tie) Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, and Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, NT. World standings: 1. Nick Guy, $113,001; 2. Luke Branquinho, $107,521; 3. Kyle Irwin, $100,653; 4. Trevor Knowles, $96,707; 5. Casey Martin, $96,522; 6. K.C. Jones, $82,055; 7. Bray Armes, $80,249; 8. Clayton Hass, $76,576; 9. Cole Edge, $72,424; 10. Dru Melvin, $67,832; 11. Curtis Cassidy, $65,418; 12. Ty Erickson, $63,503; 13. Dakota Eldridge, $63,015; 14. Wyatt Smith, $57,188; 15. Seth Brockman, $52,933.

Team roping: 1. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 3.9 seconds, $19,002 each; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.0, $15,018; 3. (tie) Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., and Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 4.2, $9,654 each; 5. (tie) Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., and Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.3, $3,984 each; 7. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 4.8; 8. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 5.2; 9. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 6.6; 10. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 9.2; 11. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 9.6; 12. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., 13.3; 13. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 14.0; 14. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 14.7; 15. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, NT. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $139,144; 2. Trevor Brazile, $121,321; 3. Dustin Bird, $109,645; 4. Turtle Powell, $107,314; 5. Erich Rogers, $104,486; 6. Kaleb Driggers, $96,028; 7. Coleman Proctor, $94,712; 8. Brandon Beers, $90,831; 9. Riley Minor, $86,873; 10. Charly Crawford, $86,577; 11. Jake Barnes, $83,375; 12. Nick Sartain, $76,963; 13. Luke Brown, $73,062; 14. Aaron Tsinigine, $68,074; 15. Tom Richards, $66,744. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $139,144; 2. Travis Graves, $121,321; 3. Paul Eaves, $112,737; 4. Cory Petska, $104,834; 5. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $103,954; 6. Patrick Smith, $96,028; 7. Jake Long, $95,712; 8. Jim Ross Cooper, $90,831; 9. Shay Carroll, $87,636; 10. Brady Minor, $86,873; 11. Rich Skelton, $76,963; 12. Junior Nogueira, $73,367; 13. Kollin VonAhn, $70,062; 14. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $60,255; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $58,515.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 87 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Low Bucks, $19,002; 2. (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., and Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 84, $13,179 each; 4. (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 83.5, $6,436 each; 6. Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 82.5, $3,065; 7. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 81.5; 8. (tie) Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 77 each; 10. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., and Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 76 each; 12. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 75.5; 13. Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 74; 14. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 63; 15. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., NS. World standings: 1. Taos Muncy, $136,533; 2. Cort Scheer, $136,434; 3. Heith DeMoss, $120,771; 4. Jacobs Crawley, $120,450; 5. Cody Wright, $111,085; 6. Wade Sundell, $105,942; 7. Tyler Corrington, $84,130; 8. Cole Elshere, $82,449; 9. Spencer Wright, $81,413; 10. Jesse Wright, $77,495; 11. Bradley Harter, $74,836; 12. Chad Ferley, $73,705; 13. Dustin Flundra, $70,697; 14. Jake Wright, $67,764; 15. Cody DeMoss, $66,683.

Tie-down roping: 1. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 6.6 seconds, $19,002; 2. (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., and Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.2, $13,179 each; 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 7.4, $7,969; 5. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.6, $4,904; 6. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 7.9, $3,065; 7. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 8.4; 8. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.1; 9. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 9.3; 10. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 9.5; 11. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 10.6; 12. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 11.1; 13. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 17.8; 14. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 18.8; 15. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $158,726; 2. Trevor Brazile, $131,854; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $121,886; 4. Marty Yates, $105,255; 5. Cade Swor, $100,225; 6. Hunter Herrin, $99,309; 7. Clint Robinson, $97,233; 8. Shane Hanchey, $92,867; 9. Cody Ohl, $92,253; 10. Clint Cooper, $80,936; 11. Timber Moore, $75,817; 12. Tyson Durfey, $72,209; 13. Adam Gray, $69,401; 14. Ryan Watkins, $68,197; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 13.94 seconds, $19,002; 2. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 13.99, $15,018; 3. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.05, $11,340; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.07, $7,969; 5. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 14.08, $4,904; 6. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 14.10, $3,065; 7. (tie) Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., and Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 14.20 each; 9. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.21; 10. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 14.25; 11. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.27; 12. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 14.32; 13. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.36; 14. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 19.20; 15. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 24.04. World standings: 1. Fallon Taylor, $161,814; 2. Kaley Bass, $160,183; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $148,588; 4. Kassidy Dennison, $126,072; 5. Nancy Hunter, $122,372; 6. Michele McLeod, $111,985; 7. Sherry Cervi, $109,292; 8. Britany Diaz, $102,947; 9. Mary Walker, $102,777; 10. Carlee Pierce, $101,464; 11. Christy Loflin, $96,640; 12. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 13. Trula Churchill, $90,892; 14. Jana Bean, $78,384; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577.

Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 84.5 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Line Man, $19,002; 2. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas, 82, $15,018; 3. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 81.5, $11,340; 4. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 80.5, $7,969; 5. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 74.5, $4,904; 6. Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 73, $3,065; 7. (tie) 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; Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $173,508; 2. Trey Benton III, $140,565; 3. Cody Teel, 128,947; 4. Joe Frost, $104,498; 5. Tim Bingham, $100.652; 6. J.W. Harris, $90,179; 7. Aaron Pass, $85,548; 8. Beau Hill, $78,498; 9. Brennon Eldred, $77,830; 10. Reid Barker, $76,227; 11. Tyler Smith, $73,105; 12. Josh Koschel, $72,837; 13. Jordan Spears, $72,139; 14. Ty Wallace, $67,577; 15. Elliot Jacoby, $65,039.

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 – Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager remain perfect at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and one of them called it a life-changing experience.

The red-hot team ropers won Round 2 before a sellout crowd of 17,858 at the Thomas & Mack Center Friday, and for the second consecutive night they set a record for the round. Powell and Kirchenschlager won Round 1 in 4.0 seconds and bettered that the second time around with a time of 3.8 seconds.

It’s the sixth time that the same team ropers won both Rounds 1 and 2 at the same Finals.

The partners earned $19,002 each for the second straight night and again climbed several spots in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings. Powell entered the Wrangler NFR in 13^th place and has shot up to second, while Kirchenschlager has moved from 12^th to fourth.

Kirchenschlager said winning more than $38,000 in two nights is a dream come true.

“This money changes my life,” he said. “I told my fiancé (Whitney Godinez) last night we can buy a new house now. This changes life greatly for me and my family.”

And the ropers aren’t done yet.

“We’re just going to stick to our guns and keep going as fast as we can go,” Powell said.

Powell, who is competing in his ninth Finals, won a gold buckle with heeler Jhett Johnson in 2011. After just two nights, he’s in position to do it again.

“I’m just glad to see our plan’s coming together,” Kirchenschlager said. “We need eight more rounds just like the first two.”

This is the second Finals for the 23-year-old Kirchenschlager.

“It’s so great to be here,” he said. “This is my dream. This is what I’ve always wanted to do, right here. Our game plan of going at every single steer just like we did all year long is what we’re here for. There’s no sense changing what got us to this point.

“Now we just need to finish strong and do what we set out to do.”

Both ropers live in Stephenville, Texas, the current roping capital of the world. Powell, 41, said there’s no reason they can’t keep winning.

They’re also the early leaders for the Ram Top Gun Award, which goes to the top money winner in a single event at the Finals.

“Dakota roped that steer right there in the corner and we finished strong,” Powell said. “I think that’s what helped us the most in that run. My heeler will try it on every time, so we have a chance to win all 10 rounds if I catch ’em all.”

Another cowboy making a move toward the top of the standings is four-time World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho. He shared the Round 2 win with Kyle Irwin, as both bulldoggers had a run of 3.6 seconds.

Branquinho said would let Irwin be awarded the buckle for winning the round when the winners are recognized on stage at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa later in the night.

“Luke is a great guy, and a competitor and a winner, so to share this win with him just gives me more confidence,” said Irwin, who moved to sixth in the world standings.

Branquinho, who led the world standings before suffering an injury July 18 at California Rodeo Salinas, has cashed two checks in two nights for $30,189 and is fourth in the world. He had surgery the end of July, and was sidelined until the Finals.

“I’ve just been rehabbing and trying to make sure everything is strong,” he said. “My therapist at home made sure everything is tight and felt good, and he was right on par with what needed to get accomplished to be successful here.

“This feels good, especially since I was able to be home and spend a lot of time with my kids and family, more so than I ever have. I think that really freshened me up. I’ve been going to the gym and therapy a lot, and that helped my body heal up from years of traveling down the road.”

Irwin, who is competing in his first Finals, was thrilled with his success.

“This is great,” he said. “All the hard work, all the practice and the late-night drives, it all paid off tonight. It makes it all worth it, and I just hope the momentum can build and I keep up this success in the other eight rounds.”

Tie-down roper Cade Swor won a check for the second straight night and sits second in the average. Trevor Brazile took second place in Round 2 and earned a check for $15,018 to move within $29,938 of world leader Tuf Cooper.

Swor, who is fifth in the world and $53,597 behind Cooper, said the WNFR is “like 10 one-headers. When I back in there, I will not look at that average until the last go-round.”

Swor bought his horse, Floyd Money, in March and credits his mount with much of his success.

“He was awesome tonight,” Swor said. “This is the first time I’ve ever ridden my own horse here. That horse has been the key to my success.”

Steven Peebles recreated a bit of history by winning Round 2 in the bareback riding competition for the second straight year. He scored 85 points on New West Rodeo Productions’ Right Spur, and had high praise for his mount.

“That’s a strong bucking horse right there; the definition of a bucking horse,” Peebles said. “He threw everything he had at me, and tested me, for sure. He dang sure had my heart pumping.”

Peebles, 25, is battling a cold, along with a persistent pain in his lower back.

” I’ve had some lower back pain for a few years now; my right hip gets out of line and pinches some nerves,” Peebles said. “I didn’t feel it all summer, but then I did at my (RAM Columbia River) Circuit Finals.”

The pain didn’t keep him from winning the RCRCF, however. Peebles said he felt pain in his lower back in Round 1 also.

“I’ve ridden with pain all my career, and I’ve learned to block it out,” he said.

Peebles’ season earnings rose to $145,932 – he’s second in the world – but he still trails three-time defending World Champion Kaycee Feild by $45,454. Peebles said he’s a long shot to catch Feild, but still has hope of winning his first gold buckle.

“Kaycee would have to slip up and I’d have to pound it, but I’m ready,” Peebles said. “It’s an outside chance, but I’ve got a shot.”

Jacobs Crawley won the saddle bronc riding when he rode for 82.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Spade to claim his second career round win at the Finals.

Crawley was the first saddle bronc rider to climb on Spade, after the horse switched over from bareback competition in 2011.

“I won on him in Claremore, Okla., in his first-ever saddle bronc trip, so it was pretty special to draw Spade tonight and win on him,” Crawley said. “I’m looking forward to going to the South Point stage, thanks to Spade.”

Crawley moved within $19,148 of world standings leader Taos Muncy. First-round winner Cort Scheer is second, and Crawley said the world title is up for grabs.

“I’m excited, and I feel like I’m riding like I want to ride, which is consistent and take care of business,” Crawley said. “Winning the (NFR) average last year really made winning the world a possibility in my mind. If you would’ve asked me two years ago, winning the world would’ve seemed so far off, but now after winning the average here last year, I feel like if I can pick up a few round wins and grab the average again, that it’s anybody’s game this year.”

Only four bull riders stayed aboard for eight seconds for the second night in a row, and Aaron Pass claimed the victory when he rode for 89.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Seeing Red. He celebrated by throwing his hat in the air.

“The bull was great, and people had talked good about him,” Pass said. “I usually don’t throw my hat in the air like that, and I usually just throw my hands up in the air. I just bought this hat today and my buddy Trey (Benton III) told me I had to get it dirty, so that’s why I threw it. This is an exciting atmosphere and it’s hard to explain what that moment felt like. It’s a lifelong dream to be here, and I’m really hoping I get a few more go-round wins under my belt.”

Joe Frost, who won Round 1 and was fourth Friday, is the only bull rider with two qualified rides.

Lisa Lockhart rode her buckskin horse, Louie, to the barrel racing win in 14.29 seconds, just .02 faster than Kassidy Dennison. It’s the fifth time the Round 2 winner has prevailed by less than .03 seconds.

“I rode very conservatively tonight,” Lockhart said. “Although I couldn’t see what was going on in the arena, I could hear that the times were not what they have been in the past, so I had it in my mind to back off just a little and let Louie pick his pace.”

The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Saturday with the second 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 Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles announcing.
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Second Round

Bareback riding: 1. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 85 points on New West Rodeo Productions’ Right Spur, $19,002; 2. (tie) Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb.; Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, and Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 83, $11,442 each; 5. Bobby Mote, 82.5, $4,904; 6. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 81.5, $3,065; 7. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 81; 8. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 80.5; 9. Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 79.5; 10. (tie) Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., and J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 78 each; 12. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, 77.5; 13. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 76; 14. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 71; 15. Tim O’Connell, NS. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $191,386; 2. Steven Peebles, $145,932; 3. Austin Foss, $125,782; 4. Will Lowe, $108,668; 5. Tim O’Connell, $102,890; 6. Bobby Mote, $100,213; 7. Justin McDaniel, $91,639; 8. Richmond Champion, $89,935; 9. Steven Dent, $85,664; 10. Caleb Bennett, $84,225; 11. Jake Vold, $84,132; 12. Winn Ratliff, $73,039; 13. J.R. Vezain, $70,208; 14. Tilden Hooper, $68,844; 15. Jessy Davis, $67,686.

Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 3.6 seconds, $17,010 each; 3. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 3.7, $11,340; 4. Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas, 3.9, $7,969; 5. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.1, $4,904; 6. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.4, $3,065; 7. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.5; 8. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 4.8; 9. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 4.9; 10. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 5.2; 11. Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 7.2; 12. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 9.5; 13. Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 14.6; 14. (tie) Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., NT. World standings: 1. Nick Guy, $108,097; 2. Trevor Knowles, $96,707; 3. Casey Martin, $96,522; 4. Luke Branquinho, $96,181; 5. K.C. Jones, $82,055; 6. Kyle Irwin, $81,650; 7. Bray Armes, $80,249; 8. Clayton Hass, $76,576; 9. Dru Melvin, $67,832; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $63,015; 11. Ty Erickson, $60,439; 12. Curtis Cassidy, $57,449; 13.  Cole Edge, $57,406; 14. Wyatt Smith, $57,188; 15. Seth Brockman, $52,933.

Team roping: 1. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 3.8 seconds, $19,002; 2. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.5, $15,018; 3. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 4.6, $11,340; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 9.4, $7,969; 5. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 9.7, $4,904; 6. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 10.1, $3,065; 7. Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 10.9; 8. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 12.7; 9. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 19.1; 10. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 19.7; 11. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Travis Graves, Jay, Okla.; Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash.; Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas; 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, $129,490; 2. Turtle Powell, $107,314; 3. Trevor Brazile, $106,303; 4. Erich Rogers, $104,486; 5. Brandon Beers, $90,8311; 6. Coleman Proctor, $90,728; 7. Dustin Bird, $90,643; 8. Charly Crawford, $86,577; 9. Kaleb Driggers, $86,374; 10. Jake Barnes, $83,375; 11. Riley Minor, $82,889; 12. Nick Sartain, $76,963; 13. Luke Brown, $73,062; 14. Aaron Tsinigine, $68,074; 15. Tom Richards, $66,744. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $129,490; 2. Travis Graves, $106,303; 3. Cory Petska, $104,834; 4. Dakota Kirchenschlager, $103,954; 5. Paul Eaves, $93,735; 6. Jake Long, $91,728; 7. Jim Ross Cooper, $90,831; 8. Shay Carroll, $87,636; 9. Patrick Smith, $86,374; 10. Brady Minor, $82,889; 11. Rich Skelton, $76,963; 12. Junior Nogueira, $73,367; 13. Kollin VonAhn, $70,062; 14. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $60,255; 15. Cesar de la Cruz, $58,515.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 82.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Spade, $19,002; 2. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 82, $15,018; 3. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, 81, $11,340; 4. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 80.5, $7,969; 5. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 76.5, $4,904; 6. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 75, $3,065; 7. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 74.5; 8. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M.; Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La.; Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah; Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., and Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., NS. World standings: 1. Taos Muncy, $136,533; 2. Cort Scheer, $136,434; 3. Jacobs Crawley, $117,385; 4. Cody Wright, $111,085; 5. Heith DeMoss, $107,592; 6. Wade Sundell, $86,940; 7. Tyler Corrington, $77,694; 8. Jesse Wright, $77,495; 9. Cole Elshere, $76,013; 10. Bradley Harter, $74,836; 11. Chad Ferley, $73,705; 12. Dustin Flundra, $70,697; 13. Spencer Wright, $68,234; 14. Jake Wright, $67,764; 15. Cody DeMoss, $66,683.

Tie-down roping: 1. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.7 seconds, $19,002; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 7.9, $15,018; 3. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.0, $11,340; 4. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., 8.1, $7,969; 5. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.2, $4,904; 6. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 8.5, $3,065; 7. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.7; 8. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 9.8; 9. Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas, 10.8; 10. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 11.7; 11. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 13.3; 12. (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas; Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas; Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, and Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, NT. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $153,822; 2. Trevor Brazile, $123,885; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $121,886; 4. Marty Yates, $102,190; 5. Cade Swor, $100,225; 6. Clint Robinson, $97,233; 7. Hunter Herrin, $86,130; 8. Clint Cooper, $80,936; 9. Shane Hanchey, $79,687; 10. Timber Moore, $75,817; 11. Cody Ohl, $73,251; 12. Tyson Durfey, $72,209; 13. Adam Gray, $69,401; 14. Ryan Watkins, $68,197; 15. Reese Riemer, $66,317.

Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.29 seconds, $19,002; 2. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.31, $15,018; 3. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.35, $11,340; 4. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.59, $7,969; 5. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 14.66, $4,904; 6. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 14.81, $3,065; 7. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.96; 8. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 18.99; 9. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 19.07; 10. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 19.15; 11. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 19.27; 12. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 19.29; 13. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 19.43; 14. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 19.45; 15. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 24.11. World standings: 1. Kaley Bass, $160,183; 2. Fallon Taylor, $150,474; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $140,619; 4. Michele McLeod, $111,985; 5. Sherry Cervi, $109,292; 6. Nancy Hunter, $107,354; 7. Kassidy Dennison, $107,069; 8. Britany Diaz, $102,947; 9. Carlee Pierce, $101,464; 10. Mary Walker, $99,712; 11. Christine Laughlin, $93,135; 12. Christy Loflin, $91,736; 13. Trula Churchill, $90,892; 14. Jana Bean, $78,384; 15. Samantha Lyne, $70,577.

Bull riding: 1. Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas, 89.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Seeing Red, $19,002; 2. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 85, $15,018; 3. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 80.5, $11,340; 4. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 74, $7,969; 5. (tie) Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas; Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah; Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont.; Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo.; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; 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, $154,505; 2. Trey Benton III, $125,547; 3. Cody Teel, $117,607; 4. Tim Bingham, $100,652; 5. Joe Frost, $96,529; 6. Aaron Pass, $85,548; 7. J.W. Harris, $85,275; 8. Beau Hill, $78,498; 9. Brennon Eldred, $77,830; 10. Reid Barker, $76,227; 11. Josh Koschel, $72,837; 12. Jordan Spears, $72,139; 13. Tyler Smith, $70,040; 14. Ty Wallace, $67,577; 15. Elliot Jacoby, $65,039.

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 – Nick Guy became the first Wisconsin timed-event cowboy ever to win a round at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and it catapulted him to the top of the steer wrestling world on the opening night of action before a sellout crowd of 17,591 at the Thomas & Mack Center Arena.

Guy, who entered rodeo’s Super Bowl in fourth place among steer wrestlers in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, won Round 1 with a time of 3.6 seconds.

That earned the 30-year-old cowboy from Sparta, Wis., a paycheck of $19,002 – he has $96,757 for the season – and pushed him past Trevor Knowles, K.C. Jones and Casey Martin into the top spot.

“It feels good to get a nice paycheck in Round 1,” Guy said. “We talked about winning Round 1 the whole way out here to Las Vegas.”

Guy, who is making his second appearance at the Finals, felt even more confident after learning which steer he’d drawn for Round 1.

“I ran that steer when we broke these steers in a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “We videoed all the runs down there, so I probably watched my run on that steer 10 times before we came in here. I knew he was just a good steer, but I didn’t know if he was a 3.6 steer. I got a great start and the horse worked great, and I caught him quick and I just made a good run from there.”

Martin tied four-time World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho – who has been sidelined since he injured his right lat muscle at the California Rodeo Salinas on July 18 – for second place in 3.7 seconds, just one-tenth of a second behind Guy. Martin moved into second place in the world with $93,457. Branquinho, who led the world before getting injured, is fifth.

Guy is just the fifth Wisconsin cowboy to win a round at the Finals, joining bareback rider Jack Buschbom and bull riders B.J. Schumacher, Cory Check and Fred Boettcher. Buschbom was the world champ in 1959-60, and Schumacher won the world in 2006.

Guy said not everyone in Wisconsin understands rodeo.

“It’s not a rodeo part of the country, and that’s why when I win, it makes me feel good about being where I’m from,” he said.

Guy said the fast start will help put him at ease for the next nine days of the Finals.

“I’m going to sleep well tonight and try to keep doing exactly what I did tonight for the rest of the NFR,” he said. “The horse I was on (Roanie, 10 years old), gives me a chance to win every time.”

While Guy is trying to win his first world championship, bareback rider Kaycee Feild is gunning for his fourth consecutive gold buckle. Feild got off to a fast start by winning Round 1 when he rode for 84.5 points on Sutton Rodeos’ Cactus Juice.

“This feels awesome,” Feild said. “It’s great to get off to a good start. That’s a horse I saw in Omaha (Neb.); he gets off the ground and gets good hang time. It was a fun ride.”

Last year, Feild became the first contestant to win a third straight average title at the Finals while also winning his third consecutive world title. He often thinks about stretching that streak to four of each.

“I dream of it,” he said, “at least once a week.”

Feild is the seventh bareback riding defending champion to win Round 1, joining his ProRodeo Hall of Fame father, Lewis Feild (1987), on that list that includes Jack Buschbom (1960), Gary Tucker (1970), Bruce Ford (1980), Marvin Garrett (1989-90) and Justin McDaniel (2009).

In 2011, Feild won the first three rounds – an amazing feat he’d love to repeat – en route to his first gold buckle and average title.

“In 2011, I wrapped it up in the seventh round,” he said.

In his first Wrangler NFR, bull rider Joe Frost accomplished an unprecedented feat by staying aboard the previously unridden Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Rattler for eight seconds and 85.5 points.

“It’s what everyone dreams about doing from the time they’re a little kid,” Frost said. “I knew since I was 3 years old that I would be riding at the NFR someday. It feels good to finally be here in person, because this is the only sport I’ve ever really known or cared about. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport, and will continue to do so.”

Before the performance, Frost was anxious, though. The senior at Oklahoma Panhandle State University tried to ease his apprehension by calling his college coaches – former NFR contestants Craig Latham and Robert Etbauer.

“I have to be honest, I was extremely nervous starting at about 3 o’clock this afternoon,” he said. “I had big-time butterflies and I wanted to take a nap, but there was no chance I was going to be able to close my eyes. I called Craig Latham, Robert Etbauer and (former bull rider) Denny Flynn for some advice, and then talked to my parents. My dad told me to treat it like another rodeo, even though that’s impossible.”

Frost was thrilled to continue his family’s legacy of success.

“My Uncle Clyde was at the first-ever NFR, and was the only guy from Utah there and carried the flag in, and then my cousin Lane won the world championship here in 1987,” he said. “It was important for me to fulfill my lifelong dream and get here to represent my family.”

Team ropers Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager posted the fastest Round 1 time in NFR history when they won in 4.0 seconds. The previous mark was 4.1 by Speed Williams and Rich Skelton in 1997, and by Matt Sherwood and Cory Petska in 2011.

“It’s the greatest thing in the world to come back to the Finals and get a ‘W’ in the first round,” said Kirchenschlager, who is in his second WNFR. “This is what we work all year for.”

Powell, who is competing in his ninth Finals and won the world with Jhett Johnson in 2011, was also thrilled with the fast start.

“This means a lot to get the momentum rolling for us,” Powell said. “Winning the first round gives us a lot of momentum and confidence. The year I won the world with Jhett, we came in with the same mindset; to be aggressive on the first one. We placed in the first six rounds doing it.”

Not everyone takes such strategic chances so early in the week.

“People think it’s crazy to go at it in the first round when it’s a 10-head average, but we’re not going to let off,” Powell said. “I’m going to rope this way all week. That’s the pep talk I gave Dakota before we came here. This is what we practiced for. Dakota knows when I get my adrenaline going my handles aren’t going to be layups.”

Kirchenschlager said it’s a winning formula when Powell is fired up.

“I love it when Turtle goes at ’em,” he said. “Every time he ducks, we win. He tries to apologize for wild handles and I tell him, ‘Do it again. That’s fun.’”

Rookie tie-down roper Marty Yates won his event with a time of 7.4 seconds, one-tenth faster than 20-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, who moved up a spot to second in the world standings behind leader Tuf Cooper, a two-time champ.

Yates, 20, is the youngest tie-down roper at the Finals.

“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now,” Yates said. “It’s amazing and awesome. My first NFR to come out winning Round 1 gives me a lot more confidence for the remaining nine rounds. I was a little bit nervous and I was a little bit worried about myself. But when I backed in there and nodded my head, it felt like just another rodeo.”

Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer moved into second place in the world standings by winning Round 1 when he rode for 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Short Stop. Scheer trails saddle bronc riding standings leader Taos Muncy – who tied for third on opening night – by $15,118, or less than a round win.

“It’s tremendous to get out there in the first round and ride well and win,” Scheer said. “It gets your confidence going 110 percent, and you just hope to keep riding and drawing well.”

This is the fourth trip to the Finals for the cowboy from Elsmere, Neb. He was second in the average in 2013, when he finished fifth in the world. He was ninth in the world in 2012 and fourth in 2010.

Still, Scheer was thrilled to get off to a fast start, something that’s eluded him in previous years.

“I’ve been here three times before and never really rode well to start,” he said, “So this was really important to me.”

Fallon Taylor won the barrel racing with a time of 14.09 seconds – even though she wasn’t going for the top spot, she said.

“I am completely stoked,” Taylor said. “I’m shooting for fifth every night and I’ll keep doing so, and if the runs land me in first place that will be just fine with me. I couldn’t be happier.”

Taylor was dressed in a colorful tie-dyed outfit that definitely garnered attention.

“Tie-dye is my signature,” Taylor said. “I am not sure what the outfit for tomorrow night is just yet. I’ll just have to open the closet and see what jumps out at me each night.”

The 56^th annual Wrangler NFR continues Friday with the second 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 Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles announcing.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The grievance appeal filed by team ropers Tom Richards and Cesar de la Cruz has been ruled to be valid by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and they have been placed in the draw for the Dec. 4-13 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

The decision bumps header Chad Masters and heeler Kinney Harrell down one spot to 16th in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, and out of the WNFR lineup.

Masters and Harrell now have the right to enter into the same three-stage Grievance Procedure (Rule B11.3) which granted relief to Richards and de la Cruz.

News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail

When the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping moves to Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 7-8, it will be the first time a national championship rodeo event will happen in the Jayhawk State. Trevor Brazile leads the world standings, and will be looking for his second straight steer roping world title. If Brazile wins the steer roping gold buckle, it would be his fifth in that discipline, moving him out of a tie for third place with Shoat Webster and into third place all by himself, one back of Everett Shaw (and 13 back of Guy Allen) … Bill Stephens, representing the Crossett (Ark.) Riding Club PRCA Rodeo, is the 2014 Justin Committeeman of the Year. Stephens, an Ag Loan Officer, has been involved with the rodeo for 18 years, and has served on the Board of Directors for the past 12 years. The John Justin Standard of the West Award program, developed in the late 1980s, annually recognizes 100 behind-the-scenes recipients for their outstanding volunteer contribution to their local rodeo, with a grand prize winner being named the Justin Committeeman of the Year. Stephens will be recognized at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December … Canadian bareback rider Clint Laye can only hope that the Great American Cowboy Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., is as reliable a pathway to the Wrangler NFR as it seems. Each of the last four bareback riding champions there went to the WNFR the following year – Casey Colletti twice, Ty Breuer and then J.R. Vezain. Laye can take particular encouragement from Colletti in 2010 (2011 season) and Breuer in 2012 (2013), who earned their first WNFR berths at the end of that season. Laye, who won in Casper Nov. 1 with a 76.5-point ride on Triple V Rodeo’s Lone Bear, is looking for his first WNFR qualification in 2015 after finishing 19th this past season and 26th in 2013 … The late Larry Condon, who qualified for the 1962 National Finals Rodeo as a bull rider and finished ninth in the world, will be inducted into the Indian National Finals Rodeo Hall of Fame Nov. 8 at the South Point Hotel, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas. Condon and former PRCA members Lyle Cochran, C.L. Johnson, Archie Becenti and Gary Not Afraid will be honored at a luncheon in the South Point Arena VIP Bar at 3:30 (tickets are $20) and then recognized in the arena during the final performance of the Indian National Finals Rodeo that night … PRCA sponsor Boot Barn Holdings Inc. entered the New York Stock Exchange Oct. 30 when it had its initial public offering (IPO) underwritten by J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo, Piper Jaffray, Baird and Jeffries. Shares for the IPO were originally priced at $16 on five million shares, raising $80 million. The pricing went on the high end of the range of $14-16. However shares entered the market at $19, and the range on the day fluctuated between $17.94 and $19.50. Coming into this IPO, Boot Barn had boasted 19 consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth with net sales increasing to $345.9 million in 2014 from $168.7 million in 2012, representing a compound annual growth rate of 43.2 percent …Former PRCA steer wrestler and tie-down roper Ted Cannon of Silver Creek, Neb., died Oct. 26 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln. He was 92. Cannon served in the South Pacific during World War II and was subsequently part of the occupying force in Japan before returning home to Nebraska to ranch, farm and compete in ProRodeo … The local American Legion in Drummond, Mont., is replacing the weathered wooden bucking chutes, pens, alleys and back fence across the arena with $20,000 worth of steel before the rodeo takes place next July. It’s the first step in a makeover for the rodeo arena that may cost upward of $100,000. The project will improve the way livestock is loaded into the bucking chutes, while also improving safety throughout the rodeo grounds … The top rodeo awards for the Mountain States Circuit were announced, based on contestant voting. The Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days won Best Large-Sized Rodeo, the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park (Colo.) took best Mid-Sized Rodeo and the Steamboat Springs (Colo.) Pro Rodeo Series was the top Small-Sized Rodeo. The Most Improved Rodeo award went to the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colo., and the best ground award went to Eagle (Colo.) County Fair & Rodeo … Larry Mahan was presented with the 2014 Western Horseman Award during the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, Oct. 24-26 in Fort Worth, Texas … Tarleton State University’s Rodeo Hall of Fame will celebrate the induction of five new members during the fifth annual steak dinner and auction on Nov. 15 at the Stephenville, Texas, campus. Inductees will include longtime rodeo team supporter Darla Doty, wife of former Tarleton rodeo coach and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Bob Doty;former Tarleton rodeo team member J.J. Hampton; 2004 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) All-Around Cowboy and national tie-down roping champion and 2005 All-Around Cowboy reserve champion Ryan Watkins; and Wanda Mercer, former vice president of student life at Tarleton and supervisor of the Office of Rodeo Activities. Admission to the event is $80 per couple, and includes a steak dinner. Tickets are still available for purchase through 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, by contacting the Office of Rodeo Activities at 254.968.9187.

Joe Frost captures first Linderman Award

               COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -Joe Frost accomplished two of his biggest goals this year – qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and winning the Linderman Award.The 22-year-old from Randlett, Utah, said he’s dreamed of both honors as long as he can remember.

“Obviously, going to the NFR is a big deal for me, but so is winning the Linderman Award,” Frost said. “I’ve always looked up to the all-around guys, and it’s something I’ve wanted to win ever since I heard about it. It’s pretty exciting, and I’d like to win it every year until I quit rodeoing.”

The Linderman Award recognizes excellence at both ends of the arena. To qualify, a cowboy must win at least $1,000 in each of three events, and those events must include at least one roughstock event and one timed event.

The award is named for ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bill Linderman, who won six world championships: all-around (1950, 1953), bareback riding (1943), saddle bronc riding (1945, 1950) and steer wrestling (1950).

Frost won $73,559 during the 2014 season, well ahead of 2013 Linderman Award winner Trell Etbauer, who earned $46,935. Third in the race for the prestigious honor was Kyle Whitaker, who has won the award a record six times.

Frost won $69,558 in bull riding – where he’s 11th in the world – plus $2,908 in tie-down roping and $1,092 in steer wrestling.

Frost is a senior at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and won the College National Finals Rodeo and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association bull riding titles in June in Casper, Wyo.

Bubble cowboys qualify for WNFR on last weekend

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a 10-year absence, bull rider Beau Hill is headed back to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as one of a handful of contestants who made the Big Show in Las Vegas during a frantic final week of the regular season.

The West Glacier, Mont., cowboy made his advance a reality by finishing third at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha on Sept. 26, and also adding a check in Kansas City the next day.

“This is great,” Hill, 35, said about returning to the Wrangler NFR for the first time since 2004. “It’s the goal at the beginning of the year to get in the Finals and win a world championship. I was, like, $600 out that last weekend and I knew I had to win, and it felt good to have that pressure and get the job done.”

Thanks to winning $4,456 in Omaha and $355 for tying for sixth place at the American Royal Pro Rodeo in Kansas City, Hill moved from 16th to 13th, ahead of Aaron Pass, Elliot Jacoby and Brett Stall. Stall finished $1,498 behind Jacoby for the final qualifying spot.

There was also a change at the top end of the bull riding standings, required because four-time and reigning World Champion J.W. Harris failed to compete in the minimum number of PRCA rodeos required (40) to be able to count the money earned on the Xtreme Bulls Tour.

Without the $47,726 he earned as Tour champion, Harris dropped from third to sixth in the world standings with $77,307 – $65,858 behind leader Sage Kimzey.

“That’s going to light a fire under me and motivate me more to do good out there (at the WNFR),” Harris said.

While Harris dropped three spots, Hill was just worried about making it into the top 15. His 83-point ride aboard Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Beer Gut is what helped punch his ticket to Las Vegas for the Dec. 4-13 Wrangler NFR.

“I had never been on that bull before,” Hill said. “I saw him in Fort Madison (Iowa) a few weeks before and Howdy Cloud rode him for 85 points, so I knew he was a really good bull. I knew I was just going to have to do my part. It was a great bull. He jumped out there and turned back into my hand and was just really good. I kind of got to spurring on him at the end and it just felt like I made a great ride.”

Although the Justin Boots Championships ended Sept. 26, Hill didn’t realize he placed third behind Tim Bingham (85 points) and Trey Benton III (84) until the next day.

“I was in Kansas City and I didn’t think I was going to end up finishing that high (at Omaha), but that’s just the way it worked out, that I finished third,” Hill said. “It was pretty exciting.”

This is Hill’s third trip to the WNFR, with his other two trips coming in 2002 and 2004 when he finished seventh and fifth, respectively, in the world standings.

“Ten years (since going to the Finals) is a long time, and it feels special to me to make it,” Hill said. “That was a goal of mine at the beginning of the year, and I guess I’m running out of years as far as bull riders go, so it feels good to reach a goal like this.”

Hill wasn’t the only cowboy to qualify for the WNFR with a flurry in the last week, as bareback rider Steven Dent, steer wrestler Seth Brockman, saddle bronc rider Dustin Flundra, and pending an audit, the team roping pair of Tom Richards and Cesar de la Cruz, made it into the WNFR field by each finishing 15th.

Richards and de la Cruz advanced to the coveted Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with huge final weeks.

Richards pocketed $12,120, and de la Cruz earned $10,858.

Pending further review, Richards made his first WNFR with $66,744 – $1,802 more than 16th-place Chad Masters, who won gold buckles in 2007 and 2012. De la Cruz has now qualified for nine WNFRs in a row after edging out No. 16 Kinney Harrell by $2,774.

Dent qualified for his seventh WNFR berth, and fifth in a row, with checks in Omaha, Neb., San Bernardino, Calif., and Stephenville, Texas, to bump injury-plagued R.C. Landingham out of the 15th spot by $3,532.

The highlight for Dent was his win in Stephenville, where his 91-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket equaled the highest-scored bareback ride of the season; Richmond Champion was also 91 on Dirty Jacket at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. Dent started the week 16th.

Brockman, of Wheatland, Wyo., rose from 17th to 14th during the week by tying for second place at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Omaha, and tying for seventh in the Justin Boots Championships, for total earnings of $5,800.

Ty Erickson dropped to 15th, and the odd man out was Blake Knowles, who fell all the way to 18th in this closest of all the races. Erickson’s total earnings of $52,470 was just $64 better than No. 16 Tom Lewis, and Riley Duvall was $445 back in 17th. This will be Brockman’s second WNFR qualification; he made the field in 2011 and placed in three rounds.

In saddle bronc riding, Dustin Flundra edged Troy Crowser by a mere $148 to claim the No. 15 spot.

Despite having used up his rodeo count (he won two checks during the week), Spencer Wright held on to the 13th spot in the world standings to earn his first WNFR berth and join brothers Cody, Jesse and Jake in the field. It is the first time four brothers have ever qualified for the WNFR.

Tie-down roper Cody Ohl, who was outside the top 50 in mid-July, moved up one more spot to 14th, and will be going to his 20th WNFR.

2014 WINDHAM WEAPONRY HIGH PERFORMANCE

PRCA WORLD STANDINGSUnofficial through Sept. 29, 2014
*These standings are pending both audit and appeals, and are not official

All-around
1 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $253,262
2 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 158,537
3 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 88,683
4 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 86,832
5 Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 86,668
6 Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 80,309
7 Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 74,496
8 Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 61,394
9 Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 56,980
10 Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 56,317
11 Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 55,187
12 Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 52,422
13 Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 46,935
14 Payden Emmett, Ponca, Ark. 41,062
15 Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D. 39,567
16 Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb. 37,521
17 J.B. Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 31,310
18 Chant DeForest, Wheatland, Calif. 31,048
19 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas 31,047
20 J.D. Yates, Pueblo, Colo. 28,444

Bareback Riding
1 Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah $172,384
2 Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 126,929
3 Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 122,717
4 Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa 102,890
5 Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 99,013
6 Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 95,309
7 Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas 89,935
8 Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah 84,225
9 Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 73,039
10 J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. 70,208
11 Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta 67,786
12 Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 67,686
13 Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas 65,779
14 Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla. 65,178
15 Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 64,567
16 R.C. Landingham, Pendleton, Ore. 61,035
17 Luke Creasy, Lubbock, Texas 52,925
18 Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 52,847
19 Orin Larsen, Goodwell, Okla. 51,917
20 Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas 50,547

Steer Wrestling
1 Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. $91,804
2 K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 82,055
3 Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 80,278
4 Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 77,754
5 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 76,576
6 Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas 69,216
7 Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb. 67,832
8 Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 65,992
9 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 63,015
10 Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. 59,736
11 Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 57,449
12 Cole Edge, Durant, Okla. 57,406
13 Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho 57,188
14 Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. 52,933
15 Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 52,470
16 Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 52,406
17 Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla. 52,025
18 Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore. 49,022
19 Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif. 46,824
20 Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 46,081

Team Roping (header)
1 Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $110,181
2 Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 101,421
3 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 101,399
4 Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont. 90,643
5 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 82,889
6 Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 81,470
7 Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore. 79,491
8 Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 76,963
9 Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. 75,710
10 Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas 73,062
11 Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz. 72,341
12 Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 71,559
13 Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas 69,310
14 Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz. 68,074
15 Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz. 66,744
16 Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 64,942
17 Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 58,533
18 Chace Thompson, Munday, Texas 50,975
19 Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont. 50,775
20 Ty Blasingame, Sugar City, Colo. 48,858

Team Roping (heeler)
1 Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. $110,181
2 Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 101,769
3 Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 101,399
4 Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo. 93,735
5 Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 82,889
6 Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas 81,470
7 Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M. 79,491
8 Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 76,963
9 Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 76,710
10 Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo. 72,618
11 Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla. 70,062
12 Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas 65,950
13 Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz. 62,333
14 Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 60,255
15 Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz. 58,515
16 Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas 55,741
17 Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas 54,220
18 Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 53,828
19 Jett Hillman, Purcell, Okla. 51,344
20 Tommy Zuniga, Centerville, Texas 50,796

Saddle Bronc Riding
1 Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. $126,879
2 Cody Wright, Milford, Utah 111,093
3 Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 102,429
4 Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La. 92,574
5 Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 88,729
6 Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa 83,875
7 Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn. 77,694
8 Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 77,495
9 Bradley Harter, Loranger, La. 74,836
10 Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 73,705
11 Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 71,134
12 Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. 66,683
13 Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 60,265
14 Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 59,795
15 Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta 59,372
16 Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D. 59,224
17 Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 55,039
18 Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas 51,725
19 Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo. 49,905
20 Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 47,338

Tie-down Roping
1 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas $153,822
2 Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 116,983
3 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 93,849
4 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 85,893
5 Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas 83,188
6 Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 81,533
7 Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 79,687
8 Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas 76,319
9 Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas 74,285
10 Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas 69,596
11 Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 69,401
12 Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas 68,197
13 Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas 66,317
14 Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas 65,282
15 Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash. 64,240
16 Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 57,828
17 Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash. 57,311
18 Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 56,355
19 Randall Carlisle, Baton Rouge, La. 56,296
20 Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M. 55,889

Steer Roping
1 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $68,835
2 Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 67,910
3 Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 53,561
4 Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 45,415
5 Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 43,499
6 Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz. 37,464
7 Jason Evans, Huntsville, Texas 35,224
8 Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 33,281
9 Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas 33,165
10 J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 33,040
11 Brady Garten, Claremore, Okla. 32,543
12 Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 32,329
13 Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 31,225
14 Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. 30,193
15 Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo. 28,268
16 Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas 27,707
17 J.B. Whatley, Gardendale, Texas 26,094
18 Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas 26,009
19 Roger Branch, Perkins, Okla. 25,855
20 J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas 24,148

Bull Riding
1 Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. $143,165
2 Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas 125,547
3 Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 102,589
4 Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah 85,634
5 Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 77,830
6 J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas 77,307
7 Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas 76,227
8 Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo. 73,107
9 Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif. 72,139
10 Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo. 70,040
11 Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah 69,558
12 Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo. 67,577
13 Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont. 67,158
14 Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas 66,546
15 Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas 65,039
16 Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 63,553
17 Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore. 58,936
18 Dustin Bowen, Fredericksburg, Pa. 58,664
19 Jeff Askey, Martin, Tenn. 55,122
20 Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas 53,252

*2014 Barrel Racing (through Sept. 29, 2014)
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 Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla. $155,280
2 Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas 131,471
3 Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 121,617
4 Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah 104,289
5 Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D. 102,947
6 Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas 100,645
7 Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas 99,712
8 Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo. 93,135
9 Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 93,048
10 Kassidy Dennison, Roosevelt, Utah 92,051
11 Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo. 91,736
12 Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas 90,431
13 Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb. 74,385
14 Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas 70,577
15 Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas 70,416
16 Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore. 70,017
17 Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas 69,447
18 Ann Scott, Canyon Country, Calif. 68,119
19 Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga. 64,063
20 Kimmie Wall, Roosevelt, Utah 60,579

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – In Kaycee Feild’s decorated rodeo career, he had never won the Ellensburg Rodeo.

That’s not the case anymore.

Feild, who has won the last three bareback riding world championships, totaled 169 points on two head to capture the title Monday at the Ellensburg Rodeo Arena. “This was one of the rodeos, for sure (on my bucket list),” Feild said. “I wrote a whole bunch of goals down in January on my mirror and that was one of my goals, and it means a lot for me to win there.”

Feild secured the coveted title with an 87-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery in the short round. “That horse was all there,” Feild said. “Going into it, I knew that horse would have one or two moves and be pretty strong. So my main focus before I got to the rodeo and got down in the chute was to be strong with my core and my feet, and try to just muscle through that first jump, and then let loose and get rolling.

“I had him (Special Delivery) at the NFR in 2012 in the fifth round, and I knew he was going to be quite a handful, but it was a lot of fun.”

Despite his three gold buckles, Feild shows no signs of letting up. In the Sept. 2 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, Feild has a substantial lead with $147,553, which is $30,900 more than second-place Steven Peebles. “This win is just what I needed,” said Feild, who was third in the first round in Ellensburg with an 82-point ride. “At the end of August, I just couldn’t get anything going, and I was getting a lot of re-rides. This is what I needed to get my momentum going again.”

Other winners at the $269,914 rodeo were all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile ($4,380 in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping), steer wrestler K.C. Jones (13.3 seconds on three head), team ropers Charly Crawford and Shay Carroll (18.5 seconds on three head), saddle bronc rider Chad Ferley (174 points on two head), tie-down roper Hunter Herrin (26.2 seconds on three head), barrel racer Christine Laughlin (51.65 seconds on three runs), steer roper Joe Wells (27.0 seconds on two head) and bull rider Josh Koschel (167 points on two head).

CALDWELL, Idaho – Steer wrestler K.C. Jones is having a season to remember.

The 43-year-old Decatur, Texas, cowboy is putting himself in the best position of his career to win a coveted gold buckle.

Jones’ hot streak continued at the Aug. 12-16 Caldwell Night Rodeo, as he won the average title with a time of 15.5 seconds on three head.

“This is just awesome,” Jones said after his win. “The fans here were great and it was just a great atmosphere. It was like a standing-room-only crowd.”

Jones, who joined the PRCA in 1995, has proved himself over the years, qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo seven times, including the last two years.

Jones finished a career-best fourth in the world standings in 2006, and he entered last week seventh in the Aug. 11 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings.

He moved up to sixth in the Aug. 18 standings, yet sits only $15,911 behind standings leader Trevor Knowles, which is less than one round win at the WNFR. In fact, the top 10 steer wrestlers in the world are only separated by $25,377, which should make for a wild competition during those 10 nights in Las Vegas.

Making Jones’ run of success even more remarkable is that he is at least 10 years older than every other man in the top 10 of the bulldogging standings. The average age of the other nine men is just under 30 years old, making Jones the veteran by a wide margin.

“I’m just not putting any pressure on myself,” Jones said. “I’m just glad to be out here competing, and I’m having fun.”

And, winning rodeos.

In addition to the Caldwell Night Rodeo, Jones also has won the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, Rodeo Austin (Texas) and Rodeo de Santa Fe (N.M.) outright, and he was the co-champion at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo.

“The biggest difference out here right now is we have the horsepower,” Jones said. “I rode Tebow (Saturday night) and that horse is really coming alive.”

Jones clinched his win in Caldwell with a solid 6.6-second run in the finals, allowing him to leave the arena with $6,822 in winnings – $3,956 for the average victory.

Other winners at the $257,885 rodeo were all-around cowboy Rhen Richard (tie-down roping and team roping, $3,848), bareback rider Luke Creasy (171 points on two head), team ropers Brandon Beers and Jim Ross Cooper (14.5 seconds on three head), saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy (165 points on two head), tie-down roper Tuf Cooper (25.0 seconds on three head), barrel racer Nancy Hunter (51.48 seconds on three runs) and bull rider Reid Barker (169 points on two head).