Author: PRCA

ProRodeo Hall of Fa me announces 2020 inductees

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Renowned bareback horse Grated Coconut of Calgary Stampede headlines an award-winning, eight-member class of inductees that will be enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Aug. 1.

Grated Coconut, who won a PRCA-record six Bareback Horse of the Year awards, is joined by six-time world champion Cody Ohl (tie-down roping, 1997-98, 2001, 2003, 2006 and all-around, 2001); world champion bull rider Butch Kirby (1978); stock contractor Jim Sutton Jr.; contract personnel Suni Deb Backstrom; notable Randy Witte; rodeo Ellensburg Rodeo and world champion barrel racer Martha Josey (1980).

Grated Coconut – Bareback Horse

Grated Coconut has no equal as a PRCA bareback horse. He was named Bareback Horse of the Year in 2003-04 and 2006-09 and was the top horse of the National Finals Rodeo in 2008.

“We’re excited to say the least,” Calgary Stampede’s Keith Marrington said. “For the Calgary Stampede, this is a great honor to have one of their animals recognized on the world stage. We retired him in 2010 because we needed to use his services to keep our program alive and (for) more years to come. He’s a very unique horse and the face of the Calgary Stampede breeding program. We’re just delighted to have him recognized by such a great organization as the PRCA. That’s the ultimate recognition when you retire, and you go into the Hall of Fame and you are recognized by your peers is pretty special.”

Grated Coconut, 23, lives on the Calgary Stampede ranch in Hanna, Alberta.

“He was special in and out of the arena,” Marrington said. “When he was in the arena, the guys knew anytime they drew Grated Coconut they had the opportunity to make money. He was that special horse. He was very consistent. He was athletic and honest. He would give the guys an opportunity to get out on him in a respectful style. He did his job and if guys did their job, they certainly had the opportunity to make money. Outside the arena, he was just a different horse, he was very gentle. The horse was halter broke. He has a great demeanor and has passed those genetics on to his offspring.”

Grated Coconut was inducted into the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Hall of Fame (2012) and the Ellensburg (Wash) Rodeo Hall of Fame (2013).

Cody Ohl – Tie-down roper, all-around

At 46 years old, six-time world champion Ohl will add the title of ProRodeo Hall of Famer to his long list of accomplishments.

“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Ohl said. “You dream of being a world champion your whole life, and it only gets to be real for so many. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame for a great career is pretty amazing.”

After winning the 1994 PRCA Overall Rookie of the Year, the Texas cowboy collected six world champion buckles. He also qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 20 times (1994-2001 and 2003-14) and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping three times (1999-2001).

With $3.5 million in career earnings, Ohl is second only to Trevor Brazile in total money won in ProRodeo competition.

Ohl’s 20 NFR qualifications ties him for second-most in tie-down roping with Fred Whitfield. Only Mike Johnson has more with 23.

Perhaps Ohl’s most memorable run came in a round at the 2003 Wrangler NFR when he clocked a time of 6.5 seconds, tying for the third-fastest time ever witnessed in ProRodeo.

During his final trip to the Wrangler NFR, he won at least a share of first place in three rounds to extend his tie-down roping event record total to 52 round wins.

Ohl also shares the record for most round wins in a single year, and he did it on two occasions. Ohl won five rounds in 2001 and 2013. The only other tie-down roper to win five rounds was Dave Brock in 1978.

“Just to be surrounded by the ones in this class (of inductees) and the ones continuing to go in means the world,” Ohl said. “The money and prizes were great, but without all the awesome fans, none of it would be possible. Not only is it a great deal to be inducted, it’s awesome to have such a following.”

Butch Kirby – Bull rider

Gary William “Butch” Kirby started trick riding at 4 years old.

He never really stopped, though his trick turned into staying on bulls for eight seconds at a time.

Kirby won the 1978 PRCA world title in bull riding, earning $15,000 at the National Finals Rodeo that year, when roughstock world champions were decided by money won at the NFR.

“I was a little bit surprised,” said Kirby, who will be 65 on April 24. “It’s an honor to be in this hall, especially because my heroes are in there.”

Kirby qualified for the NFR eight times (1973-75, 1977-78, 1980-82). In addition to his world title, he also finished third twice and fifth once.

When his bull riding career ended, Kirby never left rodeo. Instead, he became a pro official for 25 years for the PRCA. When the Wrangler NFR comes around in December, it will mark Kirby’s 30th NFR as a judge.

Originally born in Salem, N.J., Kirby made Stephenville, Texas, his hometown.

In 1975, he and his brothers Sandy and Kaye were the first trio of brothers to qualify for the Finals in the same year, with Butch qualifying in bull riding, Kaye in bareback riding and Sandy in both of those events.

All three were trick riders before going on to careers in ProRodeo.

Jim Sutton Jr. – Stock contractor

Sutton is the patriarch of Sutton Rodeo, and he and his wife, Julie, have a six-generation family operation still running strong. Sutton Rodeo is based in Onida, S.D. Jim and Julie were the recipients of the 2017 PRCA Donita Barnes Contract Personnel Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sutton Rodeo has had three PRCA Horse of the Year awards: saddle bronc horse Deep Water in 1979, bareback horse Big Bud in 1985 and saddle bronc horse Chuckulator in 2012. Chuckulator also was the top saddle bronc horse of the 2012 NFR. Sutton Rodeo stock has been selected to perform at every NFR since its inception in 1959 but one.

“It’s my birthday (today, April 20), so this was quite the gift,” said Sutton, 85. “This is something I really appreciate. I have been inducted into a half dozen halls of fame, and if there’s one I wanted to be in this would be it. This is the best award I have ever received.”

Jim and Julie took the company to the next level with a focus on production and innovation. Jim began the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo in 1978, a rodeo nominated 15 times for PRCA Indoor Rodeo of the Year, winning the award in 2002-03. Jim originated the Wrangler Bullfights and the Bailey Bail-Off. He is famous for his pageantry and colorful rodeo openings, including the openings at the NFR in 1995-96. Jim has been nominated four times as Stock Contractor of the Year.

“I put up with 20 of the best bullfighters in the world for 20 years, I thought that was a pretty good feat,” Jim said.

The roots of the Suttons being involved in the rodeo business can be traced to 1926 when the Edwin Sutton family – Edwin was Jim’s grandfather – began producing rodeos on the home ranch in Sully County, S.D.

James H. Sutton Sr. took Sutton Rodeo to the next stage in the 1950s when he entered a partnership with Erv Korkow. As one of the first members of the Rodeo Cowboys Association, Sutton/Korkow stock performed at the first National Finals Rodeo in Dallas in 1959.

James was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1982.

“I don’t know anybody else I would rather follow,” Jim said.

In 1968, James (Jim) Sutton Jr. became a partner with his dad, forming Sutton Rodeo Company.

Sunni Deb Backstrom – Contract Personnel

Backstrom, of Congress, Ariz., is a 17-time NFR Secretary (1991, 2000, 2003, 2006-19) who has earned PRCA Secretary of the Year 10 times, more than any other recipient, for her outstanding work as a rodeo secretary.

She served as the contestant office manager at the 2005 Finals and three times as an NFR timer (1975, 1980, 1984).

Backstrom was at a loss for words when she was notified that she was going into the Hall of Fame as contract personnel. Her mother, Ellen, was inducted under the same category in 1995, making them the first mother and daughter to be inducted into the Hall.

“My mom was the first woman inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame,” said Sunni Deb Backstrom, 61. “It was one of my proudest days. My entire life is the rodeo industry and always has been. It was my family’s life. It’s very overwhelming, I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

Ellen Backstrom was a four-time NFR secretary and was elected in the late ’70s to serve on the PRCA Board of Directors as contract personnel director, making her the only female to ever serve on the Board. She passed away March 22, 1988.

“I can only aspire to be half as good as she was,” Sunni Deb Backstrom said. “She’s the epitome of a great rodeo secretary and loved the industry as much as I do. What I admired most about her was that she was so honest. She was really dedicated, smart and a forward-thinker.”

Sunni Deb Backstrom received her first Rodeo Cowboys Association card in 1968 and her PRCA card in 1976. She works about 120 performances a year for prestigious rodeos such as Denver, San Antonio, Houston, Nampa, Idaho, and Waco, Texas. She has worked for Cervi Championship Rodeo since 1980.

Randy Witte – Notable

Witte hasn’t been one to be at a loss for words. He spent a career putting them down on paper.

But when he was notified he was going into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2020 as a notable, he wasn’t sure what to say.

“That was the farthest thing on my mind,” Witte said. “I’m pretty much speechless. … It’s hard to sink in. I just told the rest of my immediate family. What a tremendous honor. It brings back a flood of memories.”

Witte worked on the RCA news bureau and wrote for ProRodeo Sports News for seven years before transitioning to Western Horseman, where he worked for 29 years – the last 17 as the publisher.

His career revolved around rodeo, even if he didn’t make it as a bull rider.

“When I started out, I was going to be a bull rider,” Witte said. “I made some rides I was proud of. I had help from (Hall of Famer) Jerome Robinson. He taught me and other guys. But he was a lot more dedicated. In my case, it didn’t take me long to find my real course of life was rodeo writing not rodeo riding.”

Witte, who lives in Peyton, Colo., worked in the RCA office in Denver leading the RCA news bureau. His job was to produce the weekly news release. He would also contribute to PSN, taking over as editor from 1976-77. Working at Western Horseman added to a career he thoroughly enjoyed.

“I thought I had to go to where I could to tell the rodeo story,” he said. “It felt like I was doing good publicizing it the way I could. I got to meet past and present cowboys who were so interesting to talk to.”

Ellensburg Rodeo – Committee

With its centennial year on the horizon, the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo has another cause for celebration as a 2020 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee.

“This is great news, we feel very honored,” said Dan Morgan, Director for the Ellensburg Rodeo. “With everything going on lately, you know there’s been a lot of not-so-happy news out there right now, and it felt really good to get a call like this and brighten the day.”

Since 1923 the Ellensburg Rodeo has grown into one of the largest ProRodeo competitions of the regular season.

“The fact we have been around for almost 100 years is special, and we’re trying to continue on the sport of rodeo for the contestants, the fans and for the stock, and to support the Western heritage of our county, our state and our country,” Morgan said.

While the Ellensburg Rodeo boasted a $368,274 payout in 2019, it’s also home to the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale, which presented an additional $101,520 in prize money for an overall total of $469,974 – a staggering amount considering the population of Ellensburg is about 21,000.

“Ellensburg is a small town, relatively speaking,” Morgan said. “The Ellensburg Rodeo is the biggest event in our town. It brings in a lot of revenue, and for a lot of businesses, that’s their big boom, Labor Day weekend.”

Since 1998, three Ellensburg Rodeo directors have been awarded the prestigious John Justin Committeeman of the Year Award – Ken MacRae (1998), Joel Smith (2007) and Steve Adler (2013).

“Our rodeo is 100% put on by volunteers, and our volunteers are more important than anything to us,” Morgan said. “We have our board of directors, our top hands and then there’s hundreds of volunteers. You don’t really think about just how many people it takes until you go to the rodeo and see the same people year after year. I’ve seen the same people volunteer for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been here my whole life.”

Martha Josey – Barrel Racer

Josey not only became a world champion barrel racer but got the opportunity to compete in rodeo during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, that pitted the United States vs. Canada. Josey won an individual bronze medal and helped Team USA capture the team title.

Josey, who resides in Karnack, Texas, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 11 times on four different horses across a span of four decades. She won her world title in 1980 on Sonny Bit O’ Both, the same year the duo also won the AQHA World Championship, a feat that hasn’t been matched.

“I am so excited and just don’t know what to say, I am in shock,” the 82-year-old said upon learning of her induction. “I have received some great honors in the past, but this is among the very highest. It is a true honor to be included in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in the WPRA category alongside so many great athletes and personnel.

“I thought four years ago when the WPRA inducted their first class it was just magnificent, and to get the call today is just wonderful. I am so honored.”

Not only did she make a name for herself in the arena but also has given back to the sport through her clinics. She and husband, R.E., started conducting barrel racing clinics in 1967 at their ranch in Texas. Many of today’s world champions credit Martha Josey with helping them achieve their goals. Her clinics have grown to average more than 1,500 students annually.

In addition, the Joseys have been involved in creating new and innovative barrel racing saddles, pads, protective boots, knot reins, and combination bits. The result has been increased safety and increased barrel racing skills.

She can add ProRodeo Hall of Fame to the list of halls she has been induction to, including the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Ark-La-Tex Hall of Fame.

The WPRA contributed to this report.

April 21, 2020
PRCA CEO George Taylor interview

PRCA CEO George Taylor interview airing on Cowboy Channel

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – George Taylor, CEO of the PRCA, gave an inside glimpse to The Cowboy Channel about the affect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on PRCA rodeos and ProRodeo in general.

“It really changes the way you do your work and how everything has begun to evolve,” Taylor told The Cowboy Channel via video interview, March 30. “We got a call last Wednesday night (March 25) at about 5 p.m. when the governor (of Colorado) announced and asked everybody to stay home starting (March 26) at 6 a.m. We were scrambling to figure out how we could carry on business with as many people as possible from our home offices (in Colorado Springs).”

Taylor also addressed the impact COVID-19 has had on the PRCA season.

“The way things are currently going, we think we are going to be fine, but we plan for a number of scenarios,” Taylor said. “Those scenarios would be what happens if we start May 1? What happens if we start June 1, July 1? Then things really start getting crazy if you move that out another 30 days. Thirty to 60 days we can handle pretty easily in partnership with our athletes and all of our members, but when you start getting out 120 days, it really changes the picture to be sure.”

Taylor also discussed the possibility of the PRCA season extending beyond Sept. 30, the final day of the regular season.

“Right now, I would say there isn’t anything that you don’t think about,” he said. “What we like to say is we hope and pray for the best and we plan for the worst. We have to be thinking about all those scenarios, how they play out and how to make all this work.”

March 31, 2020
J.R. Vezain gets surprise check while continuing rehab

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Veteran bareback rider J.R. Vezain continues to progress after suffering a broken back while competing at the Pasadena (Texas) Livestock Show & Rodeo when he was riding Frontier Rodeo Company’s Brazos Bash, Sept. 22, 2018.

The injury required surgery and has left him with mobility issues from the waist down.

Last week, Vezain found out he will be receiving a $3,700 check from Wyoming’s Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasurer’s Office.

“It was good news,” said Vezain, 27. “It (the check) was from my Wyoming sponsorship at the end of 2018.

That’s when the wreck and stuff went on. I don’t know if the check got sent home and we never got it or what the deal was. My mom (Shilo) got a letter for me a month ago and told me I should check it out. It was from Unclaimed Property for $3,700. I didn’t know if it was a scam or what. It ended up being legit. It ended up being an old sponsorship check. It was a huge blessing and will help with some continued rehab for sure.”

Vezain, a six-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2012-14 and 2016-18), rehabbed in Houston for a month and then another six months in Sandy, Utah. He returned home to Melstone, Mont., April 5, 2019. Vezain’s wife, Shelby, gave birth to their first child, a boy, Ryatt, May 17.

“I went down in the first part of September back to Utah and got re-tested, and I jumped a level on every test,” Vezain said. “We’re still progressing. I’m not where I want to be yet. I have a long way to go. Right now, I can walk on a walking machine, but they still have to move my legs. I still can’t bear my own weight all the way yet.

“I’m gearing up to go down to Panama City, Panama, for some stem cell treatment in the next couple of weeks. I also got involved in a trial situation down in Houston to try an exoskeleton for three weeks two different times, and I’m going to do that in the first part of March.”

Vezain said his plight has given him a new perspective.

“We have had a ton of growth spiritually, mentally and emotionally,” Vezain said. “It has been a huge learning curve not only the obvious life in a wheelchair, but even just patience. I have grown spiritually how to have patience in the Lord and really dig back into the word and put my trust where trust needs to be.

“We have grown as a family and I have a rockstar wife who could’ve left me a long time ago, and she will not give up on me. That makes me want to keep striving to be better. We’ve had tons of family and friends and even people we didn’t know supporting us financially, emotionally. We had people step up and help us get our house built. We have people helping Shelby out around the house doing jobs I can’t do. Days are frustrating, but at the end of the day we have learned to be thankful for the little things and not taking anything for granted.”

Vezain knows he doesn’t have time to make excuses.

“Even in my situation, you can always find something to be thankful for, and be careful what you complain about because there are people out there who are wishing they had what you had,” he said. “Every day you wake up you have a choice, you can sit and complain about the situation you’re in or dust yourself off, pick yourself up and keep rolling, and that’s what I try to do every single day.”

JR writes a monthly column in Rodeo News … click the link below to read more:

https://mwdatademo1.com/category/articles/jrvezain/

January 28, 2020
BO PICKETT WINS RAM COLUMBIA RIVER CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO AGAIN

YAKIMA, Wash. – In similar fashion, tie-down roper Bo Pickett returned to the Yakima Valley SunDome to defend his average title at the RAM Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo and secure his second trip to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo.

A year ago, Pickett clinched the average title at the RAM CRCFR and not much has changed. The Caldwell, Idaho, cowboy won the three-head average in 27.0 seconds Sunday.

“I’ve had good luck here,” Pickett said. “The first round I knew I had a good calf from when we broke them in, and I knew he was going to be pretty soft. I just got a really good start and made a solid run, 8.9 (seconds) was winning the round when I went in.”

Pickett won the first round in 8.0 seconds and the second round posed the same scenario for him. Once again, 8.9 seconds was splitting first and second in the round, and Pickett finished in 8.3 to win the round.

“I had another really good calf – pretty much the same run – good start and made a good solid run. My horse worked really good all week,” Pickett said. “I just stayed behind the barrier and made good runs.”

Pickett went on to take fourth in the final round in 10.7 seconds.

“I had a second-and-a-half lead in the average and the second-place guy was 11 flat (Sunday),” Pickett said. “I knew I had some time and I missed the barrier a little bit more than I wanted to today. I kind of misread my calf and I went a little further down the arena, but when I got her caught, I knew all I had to do was tie her down. She was good on the ground, so I just made sure she stayed down to win the average.”

Pickett earned $6,337. His win came aboard his 15-year-old mare, Hollywood. Hollywood was injured in the fall and the RAM CRCFR was her first rodeo back since the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up in September.

“I’ve ridden Hollywood since my sophomore year in high school when I bought her as a 6 or 7-year-old, and I’ve ridden her for eight years,” Pickett said. “I have another horse too, and I’m going to pick and choose when I ride her. But in situations like this when there are good calves in these buildings, she’s hard to beat. I’m really comfortable on her, so it’s hard for me to get on anything else right now.”

Pickett’s return to the RAM NCFR in Kissimmee, Fla., in April is also one he’s looking forward to after his debut last year didn’t go as planned.

“I didn’t do any good – I didn’t rope good,” Pickett said. “I was 10 (seconds) on my first one and came back and tried to pull off a shot I didn’t need to, and I missed. So, to get to go back, I’m eager because I really thought I dropped the ball there.”

Although Pickett is a fourth-generation cowboy, he also played football and basketball. The offensive lineman was a 3A Snake River Valley Conference first-team selection his senior year.

“I played sports – roping was never pushed on me,” Pickett said. “There are so many other ways to make a living, but I was drawn to roping. My dad, Rich, taught me how to rope and then later my uncle stepped in and started helping.”

While athleticism may be the obvious crossover from playing sports to roping calves, it’s being coachable that Pickett describes as being his takeaway from sports that helps him pursue his goals in rodeo.

“Early on, I learned how to get coached and how to take criticism, and it’s helped me in the rodeo world,” Bo Pickett said. “A guy has to be coachable.”

In addition to his dad, those coaches are eight-time world champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Joe Beaver and Pickett’s uncle Dee Pickett, another ProRodeo Hall of Famer and two-time world champion.

“I’m not in this alone,” Bo said. “I’m sending all my runs to my dad, my uncle and Joe. My uncle has been a huge part of the horsepower part of it in the last few years, and Joe is where I get my fine tuning. They’re all helping me.”

Speaking of goals, the ambitious young tie-down roper has his sights set on big dreams.

“The goal I’ve set out for since I was a kid is my goal this year,” Pickett said. “I really hope to make the (Wrangler) NFR this year. That’s been my goal and that is why – for whatever reason – I keep going. Until I accomplish that I don’t see myself quitting.”

Other winners at the $153,154 rodeo were bareback rider Trenten Montero (245 points on three head); steer wrestler Blake Knowles (17.1 seconds on three head); team ropers Riley Minor/Brady Minor (16.7 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Tate Owens (235 points on three head); barrel racer Olivia Train (40.57 seconds on three runs); and bull rider Jordan Spears (173 points on two head). Caleb McMillan was the all-around cowboy ($2,988, tie-down roping and bull riding).

For more coverage on the RAM First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo, check out the Jan. 24 edition of ProRodeo Sports News.

January 15, 2020

Bull rider Sage Kimzey wins sixth straight PRCA world title

LAS VEGAS – Sage Kimzey is still the king of PRCA bull riders.

The Strong City, Okla., cowboy won his sixth consecutive world championship at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo before 16,904 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center, Saturday night.

Kimzey finished the season with a PRCA bull riding record $480,797, breaking his record of $436,479 set in 2017. Kimzey also won the average with 709 points on eight head.

“It was just a grind,” Kimzey said. “I had a lot of bumps and bruises, but I put my best foot forward, and every bull matters – that made the difference. There are times we are sore and tired and question why we do this, but the guys with the gold buckles can block that out, and that is what I really excel at.”

Kimzey tied Jim Shoulders’ PRCA record for consecutive bull riding world championships at six. Shoulders won seven career bull riding titles and six in a row from 1954-59.

Don Gay holds the PRCA record for most bull riding world titles with eight.

“It’s hard to put into words, it is something that will take a long time for me to realize what it means,” Kimzey said. “I’m just riding bulls and having fun. I feel good about it (passing Gay’s record). It’s a tall mountain to climb, and I knew that when I set out to do it. To be one step closer feels great.”

Winning world titles has become common place for Kimzey, but he appreciates the work it takes to capture just one gold buckle.

“Each one is special,” Kimzey said. “I don’t get emotional often but this one is special. The road it took to get here, this year I didn’t know if I could ride (due to an injury suffered at the 2018 Wrangler NFR), and then I found a brace that worked for my elbow, and kudos to Justin Sportsmedicine because there were a lot of them. This year was a grind. Some years are smooth sailing, and this was a tough year. I learned a lot about myself in those tough times and set the stage for the year I had. I’m thankful for the tough times because I wouldn’t be the man I am without them.”

Rookie Stetson Wright captures all-around title

Rookie Stetson Wright came in as the leader in the all-around standings and held off all challengers to win the prestigious title with $297,923. He edged team roping header world champ Clay Smith ($279,672) for the crown. Tuf Cooper, the 2017 all-around champ, finished third in the standings with $265,794.

Wright became the first roughstock rider to win the all-around crown since ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray did it in 1998.

Wright, who also is a saddle bronc rider, finished third in the bull riding standings with $267,345.

“I don’t know, I guess I just got lucky all year or something,” Wright said. “It’s pretty awesome. I don’t have much to say, but I’m super happy right now.

“You can’t control much other than what you do in your event. In the all-around you aren’t competing against them; you just have to do your events. Clay Smith and Tuf Cooper are two of the greatest cowboys I’ve ever seen.”

Although Wright is young, he was thrilled to come through in the clutch like a veteran.

“I do it for these moments right here,” he said. “Being a world champion is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. Hopefully (I can win) many more world titles. I hope to win a bunch more and have a healthy season (in 2020).”

Clayton Biglow caps dream Wrangler NFR with gold buckle

Bareback rider Clayton Biglow had a Wrangler NFR for the ages to claim his first career gold buckle.

The Clements, Calif., cowboy won five rounds at the Wrangler NFR, including winning Round 10 with an NFR record-tying ride of 93 points on Northcott Macza’s Stevie Knicks.

It was all part of a victory binge for Biglow. He also won the average with 886.5 points on 10 head and earned $243,891 at the Wrangler NFR – not counting ground money. That total was the most money earned of any contestant at the Wrangler NFR and won him the RAM Top Gun Award.

Biglow also set a bareback riding record for most money won in a regular season counting the Wrangler NFR at $425,843. The record was $374,272 by Tim O’Connell in 2016.

“This is crazy,” said Biglow, 23. “I have been dreaming of this for a long time, and I don’t know what to say. This is something you work for your entire life and when it finally happens, you don’t realize it happened. It hasn’t hit me yet, but it will. It’s hard to put into words.”

Biglow won five rounds at the 2019 Wrangler NFR, one short of the bareback riding record of six set by Kaycee Feild in 2011. He also made history by becoming the first bareback rider to win four consecutive rounds at the Wrangler NFR, winning Rounds 5 through 8.

“This is the Finals I dreamed of and to have it come true I literally laid in bed every night for the last three months thinking about this moment,” Biglow said. “I got this gold buckle. That’s the only thing I was worried about this week. That gold buckle is going right on my belt.

“A lot of the time, to get my mind off the gold buckle, I just kept thinking go win that Top Gun. If you win that Top Gun, the world championship is yours because you’re going to win more money than anybody else. I’m so glad I drew great horses all year long and here.”

By winning the Top Gun Award, Biglow earned a 2020 RAM 3500 Heavy Duty Truck, a one-of-a-kind RAM Top Gun-branded revolver from Commemorative Firearms, as well as a custom Top Gun buckle from Montana Silversmiths.

“I’m going to rodeo with that truck next year and drive the wheels off it,” Biglow said.

Rookie Haven Meged is tie-down roping world champ

When the 2019 Wrangler NFR began, rookie tie-down roper Haven Meged wasn’t in the title talk.

Well, Saturday night, the Miles City, Mont., cowboy was holding the gold buckle with $246,013. He also won the average with an 85.7-second time on 10 head.

The 21-year-old Meged narrowly defeated Shane Hanchey, the 2013 tie-down roping world champ, by $1,181 for the world championship.

Meged, the 2019 PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year, is the first rookie to win a tie-down roping gold buckle since Joe Beaver in 1985. Meged also became just the fourth person in ProRodeo history to win a college championship and a world championship in the same year, following in the footsteps of Ty Murray (all-around, 1988); Matt Austin (bull riding, 2005); and Taos Muncy (saddle bronc riding, 2007).

“It’s a dream come true,” Meged said. “I hurt myself three weeks before here and have just had faith in God that it would be alright, and this is his plan. To come together, to win Rookie of the Year, the average saddle and this (a gold buckle), it’s unbelievable.”

Meged didn’t have any complex approach to his first Wrangler NFR.

“Honestly, just keeping it simple,” Meged said. “Coming in here, everybody talks about how cool it is talking to guys who have roped here. To be in the Top 15 in tie-down roping and now the world champion at such a young age is unbelievable.

“I kind of kick myself for not placing better. I let a couple calves get away from me. I went out (Saturday) morning and practiced to slow down, think about why I’m here, and to not overdo anything. To do what we do, focus on why and how we got here, just try not to make it complicated.”

Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston claims second gold buckle

For the second time in four years, saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston is PRCA world champion.

Thurston snared the world championship by earning $347,056. That season total is a record, breaking the mark of $284,938 set by Ryder Wright in 2017.

Brody Cress finished second in the world standings with $286,372 and won the average with 840.5 points on 10 head.

“It’s awesome,” Thurston said about winning his second gold buckle. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say. I wanted this second one worse than I wanted the first one. I came close last year, but it was a roller coaster out here. Lots of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Thurston, of Big Valley, Alberta, became the first cowboy to win a PRCA world championship and Canadian Professional Rodeo Association world title in the same year since saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy in 2011.

“Man, the first one (gold buckle), I didn’t know it was coming because I was coming from behind,” Thurston said. “This year, just being out front and having everybody chasing you, I’d rather have it the other way. It’s pretty stressful, starts playing tricks with your mind and you think you’re losing it, but it all worked out.”

Steer wrestler Ty Erickson snares first world championship

Ty Erickson came into the 2019 Wrangler NFR as the regular-season leader for the third time in four years. Each previous time he came up short of winning a gold buckle.

That’s not the case anymore.

The Helena, Mont., cowboy earned $234,491 to win the world championship. Matt Reeves won the average with a 48.4-second time on 10 head.

Erickson finished fifth in the average with a 62.7-second time on 10 head. He earned $22,846, which helped him secure the world championship by $17,129 over second-place finisher Bridger Chambers.

“Oh, man, that’s better than I expected,” Erickson said about the sound of him being the world champion. “This is a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid. Now that it’s happened, it’s pretty surreal.”

Erickson tried to keep his emotions in check before Round 10.

“Today, I was just focused on my job and what I wanted to do,” Erickson said. “I wanted to get a good start and just go make a good run. After I saw what I had drawn, I knew I had a good, honest steer tonight and would be able to do what I wanted. I was just outside (the money) in the round, but that’s OK because I made the run I wanted tonight, and everything worked out.

“I slept pretty well last night, because I was just trying to stay focused and do my job. I tried as best as I could to not let the outside noise affect me too much.”

Erickson was the last steer wrestler out in Round 10 which added to his stress.

“When you have to wait for 14 bulldoggers to go, then you get to go and you know all you have to do is throw one down, that’s pretty hard,” Erickson said. “I think it’s harder to just go throw one down than if you have to go and be 4-flat. That was nerve-racking going last, but it all worked out.”

Erickson acknowledged his world title was a group effort. He was handed the gold buckle by his aunt Judy Wagner, of Montana Silversmiths.

“This means everything,” Erickson said. “This is all we’ve been working for the last seven years. Every morning, this is what we get up and work toward, so now that it’s actually come true and we’ve accomplished that, it couldn’t mean any more to me. My aunt being the one to hand me the buckle made it even more special.

“This makes all the all-night drives, not doing well at a rodeo, all the tears, sweat and blood all worth it now.”

Clay Smith wins second consecutive gold buckle

Team roping header Clay Smith now has won back-to-back gold buckles.

The Broken Bow, Okla., cowboy earned $268,820 to edge Cody Snow ($256,938).

Smith – with partner/heeler Jade Corkill, who finished fourth in the world standings – placed in six rounds, including winning Round 2 to clinch his world title.

“I really want to thank Jade for heeling steers, and there were ones only he could heel this week,” Smith said. “I feel bad, like I let him down. It is a team deal and I didn’t do well enough for him to win too. He is the best heeler in the world.”

Smith said capturing another gold buckle was a grind.

“It’s a long process throughout the year and it seems like 12 months all year long with the rodeos, but I was blessed to have a good partner and good horse – but it’s bittersweet not having my partner win the world, too,” Smith said.

Smith took a moment to digest what his second gold buckle means to him.

“It means a lot to me – it comes in order of faith for me, then my family and this is No. 3, and it’s all I think about,” he said. “We were raised in rodeo, and to win the world is an accomplishment, a big one for me, and I’m very thankful.”

Team roping heeler Wesley Thorp grabs gold buckle No. 1

Team roping heeler Wesley Thorp left the Thomas & Mack Center as a world champion for the first time.

The Throckmorton, Texas, cowboy – roping with header Cody Snow, who finished second in the world standings – earned $249,181 to finish atop the world standings. Heeler Junior Nogueira was second with $238,243.

Snow/Thorp won the average with a 43.8-second time on eight head.

“It means that these are the guys I looked up to the most growing up and I put on a pedestal still as heroes,” Thorp said. “It’s like they were on a different playing field and even today they are guys I look up to, and to be one of them is amazing and a dream come true. You hope it could come true, but you never grasp what it feels like. I’m at a loss for words on it, but it feels unbelievable and I’m happy with everything. We came with a game plan and stuck with it. I had tremendous support the whole time.”

Thorp also praised his partner Snow for helping reach the pinnacle of rodeo success.

“I’m so proud of how he has done this week,” Thorp said. “I truly thought he had more control with his roping and his horse than anyone in this arena, and that goes a long way. He made my job easier and he ropes phenomenally all year long, and he is one of my best friends.”

Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel wins second consecutive gold buckle

For the second consecutive year, barrel racer Hailey Kinsel finished the season as a world champion.

Kinsel, of Cotulla, Texas, earned $290,020 to finish atop the world standings. Ivy Conrado-Saebens was second with $264,673. Conrado-Saebens also won the average with a 138.44-second time on 10 head.

“Definitely not,” said Kinsel when asked if winning her second world title had sunk in. “I wish I’d have finished stronger, and I think that’s still on my brain a little bit. Other than that, I’ve dreamed of this, and it’s awesome. I’m floored, and it’s very emotional.”

Kinsel was quick to praise her horse, Sister, whom she rode for both world championships.

“She’s incredible. I can see how incredible she is, and I hope others can, too,” Kinsel said. “She’s just done things that I don’t know how many other horses can do. It’s incredible, and I’m thankful because I hardly have to ask for anything from her to give me her best effort. She just does it.”

Tenth Performance Results, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 93 points on Northcott Macza’s Stevie Knicks, $26,231; 2. Tim O’Connell, 91.5, $20,731; 3. Trenten Montero, 89.5, $15,654; 4. Orin Larsen, 89, $11,000; 5. Tanner Aus, 88.5, $6,769; 6. Tilden Hooper, 88, $4,231; 7. Richmond Champion, 87.5; 8. Clint Laye, 85; 9. Steven Dent, 84.5; 10. Ty Breuer, 84; 11. Taylor Broussard, 82; 12. Kaycee Feild, Caleb Bennett and Jake Brown, NS. 15. Austin Foss, INJ. Average standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, 886.5 points on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Tim O’Connell, 871.5, $54,577; 3. Richmond Champion, 860, $43,154; 4. Orin Larsen, 857.5, $31,731; 5. Tilden Hooper, 851, $22,846; 6. Clint Laye, 840.5, $16,500; 7. Trenten Montero, 839, $11,423; 8. Tanner Aus, 783 on nine, $6,346; 9. Kaycee Feild, 770.5; 10. Caleb Bennett, 696 on eight; 11. Steven Dent, 680.5; 12. Ty Breuer, 594.5 on seven; 13. Taylor Broussard, 576.5; 14. Austin Foss, 563.5; 15. Jake Brown, 434 on five. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $425,843; 2. Orin Larsen, $296,404; 3. Tim O’Connell, $261,091; 4. Richmond Champion, $238,983; 5. Tilden Hooper, $238,239; 6. Kaycee Feild, $232,320; 7. Caleb Bennett, $208,902; 8. Tanner Aus, $173,460; 9. Clint Laye, $170,416; 10. Trenten Montero, $170,296; 11. Jake Brown, $133,415; 12. Austin Foss, $126,587; 13. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 14. Steven Dent, $103,799; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.

Steer wrestling: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.5 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Tanner Brunner, 3.8, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Will Lummus and Cameron Morman, 3.9, $8,885 each; 6. Matt Reeves, 4.0, $4,231; 7. Hunter Cure, 4.1; 8. (tie) Ty Erickson and Tyler Waguespack, 4.4; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.5; 11. Tyler Pearson, 7.5; 12. Kyle Irwin, 8.3; 13. J.D. Struxness, 8.5; 14. Riley Duvall, 10.1; 15. Scott Guenthner, NT. Average standings: 1. Matt Reeves, 48.4 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Riley Duvall, 54.8, $54,577; 3. Bridger Chambers, 55.2, $43,154; 4. Tyler Pearson, 57.8, $31,731; 5. Ty Erickson, 62.7, $22,846; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 66.6, $16,500; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 68.5, $11,423; 8. Hunter Cure, 75.9, $6,346; 9. Kyle Irwin, 89.1; 10. Tyler Waguespack, 39.0 on nine; 11. Cameron Morman, 42.4; 12. J.D. Struxness, 50.3; 13. Scott Guenthner, 67.0; 14. Will Lummus, 34.6 on eight; 15. Tanner Brunner, 46.1. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $234,491; 2. Bridger Chambers, $217,362; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, $197,246; 4. Tyler Pearson, $196,904; 5. J.D. Struxness, $190,137; 6. Matt Reeves, $183,131; 7. Tyler Waguespack, $177,925; 8. Dakota Eldridge, $177,834; 9. Riley Duvall, $166,194; 10. Hunter Cure, $164,914; 11. Will Lummus, $163,382; 12. Scott Guenthner, $148,853; 13. Cameron Morman, $140,576; 14. Kyle Irwin, $134,934; 15. Tanner Brunner, $109,911.

Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.1 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.4, $20,731; 3. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 4.5, $15,654; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.7, $11,000; 5. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 6.8, $6,769; 6. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 9.4, $4,231; 7. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 11.6; 8. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 12.7; 9. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 14.3; 10. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 20.4; 11. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, NT. Average standings: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 43.8 seconds on nine, $67,269 each; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 56.7, $54,577; 3. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 59.3, $43,154; 4. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 93.0, $31,731; 5. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 44.4 on eight, $22,846; 6. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 47.3, $16,500; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 50.1, $11,423; 8. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 54.9, $6,346; 9. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 62.5; 10. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 68.1; 11. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 60.8 on seven; 12. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 54.2 on six; 13. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 36.9 on five; 14. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 20.3 on four; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 27.2 on three. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $268,820; 2. Cody Snow, $256,938; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $240,923; 4. Brenten Hall, $237,061; 5. Riley Minor, $207,707; 6. Chad Masters, $196,067; 7. Luke Brown, $182,093; 8. Coleman Proctor, $153,241; 9. Tate Kirchenschlager, $147,225; 10. Clay Tryan, $147,222; 11. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 12. Ty Blasingame, $132,220; 13. Erich Rogers, $128,634; 14. Matt Sherwood, $124,704; 15. Jake Cooper, $103,851. World standings (heelers): 1. Wesley Thorp, $249,181; 2. Junior Nogueira, $238,243; 3. Chase Tryan, $234,480; 4. Jade Corkill, $226,946; 5. Brady Minor, $207,707; 6. Joseph Harrison, $198,816; 7. Paul Eaves, $186,600; 8. Ryan Motes, $158,089; 9. Kyle Lockett, $153,364; 10. Jake Long, $150,954; 11. Tyler Worley, $142,677; 12. Cole Davison, $134,371; 13. Travis Graves, $133,896; 14. Hunter Koch, $132,807; 15. Caleb Anderson, $103,050.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 91 points on The Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s RodeoHouston’s Womanizer, $26,231; 2. Jake Watson, 89.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright, Zeke Thurston and Dawson Hay, 88.5, $11,141 each; 6. (tie) Rusty Wright and Colt Gordon, 87.5, $2,115 each; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 86.5; 9. (tie) Spencer Wright and Jesse Wright, 85; 11. Chase Brooks, 82; 12. Sterling Crawley, Mitch Pollock, Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, NS. Average standings: 1. Brody Cress, 840.5 points on 10, $67,269; 2. Spencer Wright, 762.5 on nine, $54,577; 3. Rusty Wright, 756, $43,154; 4. Zeke Thurston, 699.5 on eight, $31,731; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 646.5, $22,846; 6. Jake Watson, 610.5 on seven, $16,500; 7. Jesse Wright, 588.5, $11,423; 8. Dawson Hay, 523 on six, $6,346; 9. Chase Brooks, 516.5; 10. Colt Gordon, 416.5 on five; 11. Sterling Crawley, 407; 12. Ryder Wright, 348.5 on four; 13. J.J. Elshere, 252 on three; 14. Mitch Pollock, 171.5 on two; 15. Bradley Harter, 86.5 on one. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $347,056; 2. Brody Cress, $286,372; 3. Ryder Wright, $273,129; 4. Spencer Wright, $258,015; 5. Rusty Wright, $241,153; 6. Jake Watson, $236,406; 7. Dawson Hay, $197,747; 8. Chase Brooks, $194,681; 9. Jacobs Crawley, $191,935; 10. Sterling Crawley, $156,722; 11. Jesse Wright, $155,159; 12. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 13. Mitch Pollock, $125,196; 14. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 15. Colt Gordon, $112,635.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Adam Gray, 7.1 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Marty Yates, 7.7, $15,654; 4. Tyson Durfey, 7.9, $11,000; 5. Haven Meged, 8.0, $6,769; 6. Tyler Milligan, 8.1, $4,231; 7. Michael Otero, 8.7; 8. Shad Mayfield, 10.6; 9. (tie) Caleb Smidt and Taylor Santos, 11.2; 11. Tuf Cooper, 12.4; 12. Riley Pruitt, 15.8; 13. Rhen Richard, Ty Harris and Cooper Martin, NT. Average standings: 1. Haven Meged, 85.7 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Tyson Durfey, 85.9, $54,577; 3. Tuf Cooper, 90.7, $43,154; 4. Taylor Santos, 97.3, $31,731; 5. Riley Pruitt, 103.0, $22,846; 6. Caleb Smidt, 107.8, $16,500; 7. Shane Hanchey, 80.3 on nine, $11,423; 8. Tyler Milligan, 84.0, $6,346; 9. Marty Yates, 66.8 on eight; 10. Cooper Martin, 80.2; 11. Michael Otero, 83.1; 12. Rhen Richard, 67.1 on seven; 13. Shad Mayfield, 74.5; 14. Ty Harris, 49.8 on six; 15. Adam Gray, 60.3. World standings: 1. Haven Meged, $246,014; 2. Shane Hanchey, $244,832; 3. Tyson Durfey, $237,532; 4. Riley Pruitt, $226,445; 5. Marty Yates, $212,854; 6. Tuf Cooper, $211,631; 7. Caleb Smidt, $196,900; 8. Tyler Milligan, $196,884; 9. Ty Harris, $186,765; 10. Taylor Santos, $182,484; 11. Adam Gray, $151,885; 12. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 13. Cooper Martin, $125,593; 14. Michael Otero, $116,155; 15. Rhen Richard, $111,988.

Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.71 seconds, $26,231; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 13.79, $20,731; 3. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.86, $15,654; 4. Jessica Routier, 13.87, $11,000; 5. Shali Lord, 13.88, $6,769; 6. (tie) Dona Kay Rule and Ericka Nelson, 13.89, $2,115 each; 8. Lacinda Rose, 13.92; 9. Nellie Miller, 14.06; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.10; 11. Emily Miller, 18.65; 12. (tie) Hailey Kinsel and Amberleigh Moore, 18.85; 14. Jennifer Sharp, 19.11; 15. Stevi Hillman, 23.71. Average standings: 1. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 138.44 seconds on 10 runs, $67,269; 2. Emily Miller, 143.25, $54,577; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 144.47, $43,154; 4. Nellie Miller, 144.63, $31,731; 5. Shali Lord, 144.73, $22,846; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 144.77, $16,500; 7. Lacinda Rose, 145.17, $11,423; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 147.42, $6,346; 9. Jessica Routier, 148.45; 10. Dona Kay Rule, 148.84; 11. Jennifer Sharp, 165.38; 12. Amberleigh Moore, 167.51; 13. Cheyenne Wimberley, 175.22; 14. Ericka Nelson, 175.45; 15. Stevi Hillman, 154.30 on nine. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $290,020, 2. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $264,673; 3. Emily Miller, $255,799; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $250,698; 5. Nellie Miller, $235,899; 6. Amberleigh Moore, $207,982; 7. Dona Kay Rule, $192,392; 8. Jessica Routier, $191,197; 9. Shali Lord, $173,391; 10. Stevi Hillman, $157,219; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $152,100; 12. Lacinda Rose, $138,917; 13. Cheyenne Wimberley, $127,861; 14. Jennifer Sharp, $114,024; 15. Ericka Nelson, $112,318.

Bull riding: 1. Jordan Hansen, 88.5 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Hell Hound, $28,981; 2. Sage Kimzey, 88, $23,481; 3. Tyler Bingham, 86.5, $18,404; 4. Jeff Askey, 86; $13,750; 5. Stetson Wright, Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Koby Radley, Garrett Smith, Daylon Swearingen, Jordan Spears, Trey Kimzey, Clayton Sellars, Boudreaux Campbell and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, 709 points on eight head, $67,269; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 624 on seven, $54,577; 3. Jordan Spears, 517 on six, $43,154; 4. Tyler Bingham, 516, $31,731; 5. Stetson Wright, 448.5 on five, $22,846; 6. Koby Radley, 435, $16,500; 7. Jeff Askey, 426.5, $11,423; 8. Jordan Hansen, 356 on four, $6,346; 9. Trey Benton III, 352; 10. Clayton Sellars, 347.5; 11. Daylon Swearingen, 270 on three; 12. Garrett Smith, 178.5 on two; 13. Trey Kimzey, 168; 14. Trevor Kastner, 86 on one; 15. Josh Frost, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $480,797; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, $344,573; 3. Stetson Wright, $267,345; 4. Tyler Bingham, $246,399; 5. Jordan Hansen, $214,792; 6. Jordan Spears, $211,933; 7. Koby Radley, $195,349; 8. Trey Benton III, $186,995; 9. Daylon Swearingen, $179,799; 10. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 11. Trevor Kastner, $161,216; 12. Clayton Sellars, $158,018; 13. Jeff Askey, $157,329; 14. Josh Frost, $129,561; 15. Trey Kimzey, $124,960.

All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $297,923; 2. Clay Smith, $279,672; 3. Tuf Cooper, $265,794; 4. Caleb Smidt, $210,190; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Daylon Swearingen, $138,881; 7. Rhen Richard, $117,980; 8. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 9. Steven Dent, $111,577; 10. Josh Frost, $92,732.

RAM Top Gun Award standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $243,891; 2. Sage Kimzey, $217,942; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, $203,135; 4. Brody Cress, $180,500; 5. Ivy Conrado, $171,404; 6. Zeke Thurston, $170,064; 7. (tie) Wesley Thorp and Cody Snow, $161,885 each; 9. Cody Snow, $161,885; 9. Emily Miller, $157,654; 10. Chase Tryan, $148,135.

December 15, 2019

Bareback rider Clayton Biglow wins third consecutive round

LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Clayton Biglow couldn’t have picked a better time to be riding his best.

The Clements, Calif., cowboy won his third round in a row at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when he captured the Round 7 title with a 91.5-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter before 16,786 spectators Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center

Biglow’s score tied the Wrangler NFR bareback riding Round 7 record set by Bobby Mote on Big Bend Rodeo’s Spring Fling in 2008.

“That was the best bull ride I ever made,” Biglow, 23, said with a laugh. “When she turned back, I was just trying to keep my feet up in her neck and stay with her, and she was really whipping it around there.”

Ankle Biter also was voted top bareback horse of Round 7.

Biglow is having an amazing Wrangler NFR. He won Round 5 with a 92.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Scarlett Belle and shared Round 6’s top honor with Caleb Bennett and Tilden Hooper, as all three riders had 88.5-point rides.

Biglow’s ride in Round 6 came on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Freckled Frog. Biglow came into the Wrangler NFR as the leader in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, and he remains there with $292,786.

Biglow has earned $110,834 at the Wrangler NFR and leads the average with 615 points on seven head.

“I’ve been drawing really good and I feel good, and I want to keep the ball rolling,” Biglow said. “I’ve been very blessed that’s for sure. I’ve just been trying to keep my confidence in my head and forget about what’s going on. You don’t want to have your highs too high and your lows too low.

“You only get on one horse at a time, so I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. I’m taking it jump for jump and night by night, and I’m coming at it every night like it is a one-header. I’m giving it all I have when I nod my head.”

Biglow is a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR – 2016-19. His career-best finish was fourth in the world standings last year.

Sage Kimzey wins his first round at this year’s Wrangler NFR

Sage Kimzey, the reigning five-time PRCA world champion bull rider, has had a stout performance at the 2019 Wrangler NFR, and it got even better on Wednesday night.

The Strong City, Okla., cowboy won his first round of this Wrangler NFR with a 90-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Smoke Wagon.

“I wasn’t really paying attention, all I had to do was my job,” Kimzey said. “My mantra is ‘No noise,’ and I just climb on and take care of business.”

Smoke Wagon is making his Wrangler NFR debut, but Kimzey had some history with him before Round 7.

“He threw me off at Houston a couple of years ago, and it feels good to get him ridden for sure,” Kimzey said. “He’s been a bucker for a long time and was good tonight.”

By winning the round, Kimzey earned $33,564 counting ground money. He leads the world standings with $363,816. He has a $113,378 lead over second-place Boudreaux Campbell.

“That’s good – it all helps, and it all spends the same,” Kimzey said. “I am just trying to stay on nine bulls now since I was bucked off one. The rank bulls are out (Thursday night) and that’s all I’m worried about. I feel really good. I feel strong and healthy and all good.”

Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston wins with round record – RodeoBum.com

Zeke Thurston, the 2016 saddle bronc riding world champion, matched up with Northcott Macza’s Get Smart, the 2019 saddle bronc Pendleton Whisky “Let ’er Buck” Stock of the Year, in Round 7, and the results were historic.

Thurston set the Wrangler Round 7 record with a 92.5-point ride. The previous Round 7 record of 90 points was shared by Billy Etbauer (2009), Chase Brooks (2018) and Wade Sundell (2018).

“Yeah, that horse I’ve been on probably seven or eight times, and it’s gone good every time,” said Thurston, who was pumping his fist moments after his eight-second performance. “It’s one of those horses that, when you draw him, it could be his day or your day. It’s easy to underestimate him, because he’s not very big but bucks big and has a big heart. I’ve won a lot of money on that horse. He’s pretty special.

“For him to win the world (saddle bronc horse of the year) this year and to be able to draw him at the Finals and ride him is pretty fun.”

Thurston leads the saddle bronc riding world standings with $277,953. He also won Round 1 win an 88-point ride on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue.

“It’s just about getting things going,” Thurston said. “I started off good (winning Round 1) and placed here and there. I had a couple nights of bad luck too, but you just look past it and keep rolling on. You just stick to the basics, and they’ll tell you who wins at the end.”

Thurston, of Big Valley, Alberta, is happy to be part of a strong showing of Canadian saddle bronc riders. Jake Watson, of Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia, and Dawson Hay, of Wildwood, Alberta, won rounds 5 and 6, respectively.

“Jake (Watson), Dawson (Hay) and I traveled together this year, and we had a blast,” Thurston said. “We had a lot of fun rodeoing, all had good years, won lots and made the Finals, which was really special. It’s Jake’s second time and Dawson’s first, and for us three to come here and do well just makes it all the better. Rodeo is a huge family, and having guys like that you get to be around all the time is pretty cool.”

Team ropers Cody Smith/Wesley Thorp win round with record-tying run

Team ropers Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp claimed their first round win of the 2019 Finals in record fashion.

Snow and Thorp stopped the clock in 3.6 seconds to capture top honors in Round 7.

That tied the Round 7 Wrangler NFR record shared by Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz

(2009); Clay Tryan/Travis Graves (2012); and Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith (2015).

“I try to do the same thing every time and ride hard across the line and put it on the steer’s head before I think about being fast,” Snow said. “It means a lot for this time in the NFR. We have placed along the way, and it’s good to get a win like that, but there are still some (rounds) left to build momentum.”

Thorp was happy with how things unfolded.

“That was the best steer we’d drawn, and I was in a better position to go faster,” he said.

The $26,231 payday also was welcomed with open arms by Thorp. Snow and Thorp have each earned $62,885 at this year’s Wrangler NFR. They are first in the average with a 28.7-second time on six head.

“We just need to keep the momentum going,” Snow said.

Thorp is upbeat about the remainder of the Wrangler NFR.

“I feel good,” Thorp said. “We haven’t changed from Round 1, and it just shaped up quicker tonight. It’s relieving to know we won’t need to change anything, just make the same run.”

Team roping header Clay Smith ($234,551) and his heeling partner, Jade Corkill, ($192,676) are leading their respective world standings.

Steer wrestler Stetson Jorgensen wins first career Wrangler NFR round

Steer wrestler Stetson Jorgensen will never forget his first appearance at the Wrangler NFR.

Now, the Blackfoot, Idaho, cowboy has even more reason to remember the experience after capturing his first career round win with a 3.4-second time in Round 7, the fastest of the rodeo through seven rounds.

“It did feel good,” Jorgensen said. “Knowing I had a good steer like that and with my horse working good, I knew I had a good shot tonight. That (victory lap) was pretty awesome. Watching the NFR when I was 10 or 12, I always wanted to be here, and making that victory lap was an accomplishment and a dream come true. I’m just so grateful to be here doing what I love.”

Jorgensen kept his head despite not getting a check in rounds 3 through 6.

“I broke out last night, but I finally got the start down and knew I had to just not back off,” Jorgensen said. “I’m kind of out of the average, and the go-rounds are going to pay more than the average, so that’s what I’m going for. I’m feeling dangerous.”

Jorgensen also was quick to praise his horsepower.

“It’s a horse called Mable, who’s owned by Garrett Henry from Wyoming,” he said. “This is actually her first year going, and she’s working really good, so far. My expectations for her are way up there.”

Ty Erickson is atop the steer wrestling world standings with $185,414.

Tyler Milligan scores Round 7 win in tie-down roping

Tie-down roper Tyler Milligan’s Wrangler NFR debut got better Wednesday night.

The Pawhuska, Okla., cowboy clocked a 7.5-second run to win Round 7, the first of his career.

“It was awesome, I don’t how else to explain it,” Milligan said. “It’s my first time here and this win is really humbling.

“I knew she was pretty good, but she had a couple bad outs, the first guys that ran her didn’t do well with her. But she turned out good tonight.”

Milligan had a witty answer to why his fortune changed in Round 7.

“I got my boots shined, I think that might have something to do with it,” he said.

Milligan was quick to credit his horse, Big Time, the 2019 Purina Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year presented by AQHA.

“He’s doing really good,” Milligan said. “I’ve been the only person at fault for not winning as much as we should be, but he’s been really good.”

Shane Hanchey is leading the tie-down roping world standings with $209,928.

Hailey Kinsel gets her first round win of 2019 Wrangler NFR – RodeoBum.com

Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel is finding her groove at the right time.

The Cotulla, Texas, cowgirl recorded a 13.60-second run to win Round 7, her first of the 2019 Wrangler NFR.

“Oh, it feels really good,” Kinsel said. “It’s nice to move up the dirt again. I kind of used my mulligan earlier when I had my first good ground draw, so I was glad to move back up and have a really good shot at it tonight. My horse has been trying hard, so I was glad to give her a good shot at it.”

Kinsel has earned checks in four consecutive rounds and took over the world standings lead with $236,713 while aboard her horse, Sister.

“Yeah, she’s loving it,” Kinsel said. “I wanted her to peak around this time of the week instead of early on and then have her get to where she wasn’t feeling good later on. She feels really strong, and she’s feeling better and better every night. That works for me.”

The Round 7 victory was a big boost for Kinsel at the right time as she aims to win back-to-back world championships.

“Oh, it’s really exciting,” Kinsel said. “Every little bit helps, and more than anything, she worked really honest and tried really hard. She was really firing, and that makes me excited to make three more runs.”

Stetson Wright leads tight all-around world standings race.

Rookie Stetson Wright still leads the all-around race in the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $247,576. He has a slim lead over reigning world champion team roping header Clay Smith ($245,402). Tuf Cooper, the 2017 all-around champ, is third in the standings with $222,640. Wright, who is third in the bull riding world standings, is trying to become the first roughstock rider to win the all-around crown since ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray did it in 1998. Smith cut into Wright’s lead after he and his partner – heeler Jade Corkill – took second in Round 6 with a 4.2-second run and earned $20,731.

Barrel racer Amberleigh Moore leads RAM Top Gun Award standings

Barrel racer Amberleigh Moore has earned the most money of any contestant at the 2019 Wrangler NFR – not counting ground money – with $114,923, putting her in the driver seat to win the RAM Top Gun Award.

Bareback rider Clayton Biglow ($110,833) and bull rider Boudreaux Campbell ($109,000) are second and third, respectively.

Another element of excitement at the Finals is the RAM Top Gun Award, which goes to the contestant who wins the most money in any single event at the Wrangler NFR.

Seventh Performance Results, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 91.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter, $26,231; 2. Orin Larsen, 90, $20,731; 3. Tanner Aus, 88, $15,654; 4. (tie) Richmond Champion and Tim O’Connell, 87.5, $8,885 each; 6. (tie) Clint Laye and Jake Brown, 86.5, $2,115; 8. Steven Dent, 86; 9. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Ty Breuer, 82; 11. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Caleb Bennett, 81.5; 13. Trenten Montero, 81; 14. Austin Foss, 51; 15. Taylor Broussard, NS. Average standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, 615 points on seven head; 2. Tim O’Connell, 609; 3. Richmond Champion, 604; 4. Orin Larsen, 597.5; 5. Kaycee Feild, 596.5; 6. Steven Dent, 596; 7. Tilden Hooper, 592; 8. Trenten Montero, 590.5; 9. Clint Laye, 586.5; 10. Caleb Bennett 521 on six; 11. Tanner Aus, 519.5; 12. Austin Foss, 476; 13. Ty Breuer, 425 on five; 14. Taylor Broussard, 415.5; 15. Jake Brown, 344.5 on four. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $292,786; 2. Orin Larsen, $253,673; 3. Kaycee Feild, $207,359; 4. Tilden Hooper, $200,162; 5. Richmond Champion, $195,829; 6. Caleb Bennett, $186,056; 7. Tim O’Connell, $181,553; 8. Clint Laye, $151,800; 9. Trenten Montero, $143,219; 10. Tanner Aus, $140,249; 11. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 12. Austin Foss, $108,395; 13. Jake Brown, $107,184; 14. Steven Dent, $103,799; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.

Steer wrestling: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tyler Pearson, 3.8, $20,731; 3. (tie) Ty Erickson, J.D. Struxness and Matt Reeves, 3.9, $11,141 each; 6. Cameron Morman, 4.0, $4,231; 7. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Tanner Brunner, 4.1; 9. Tyler Waguespack, 4.2; 10. Riley Duvall, 4.4; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 4.9; 12. Will Lummus, 5.2; 13. Scott Guenthner, 11.8; 14. Hunter Cure, 18.3; 15. Kyle Irwin, 19.9. Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 29.7 seconds on seven head; 2. Matt Reeves, 33.9; 3. Cameron Morman, 34.2; 4. Riley Duvall, 34.4; 5. Bridger Chambers, 41.0; 6. Tyler Pearson, 41.6; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 42.5; 8. Hunter Cure, 49.3; 9. Ty Erickson, 49.6; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 53.5; 11. Scott Guenthner, 56.4; 12. Kyle Irwin, 62.3; 13. J.D. Struxness, 24.1 on six; 14. Will Lummus, 27.1; 15. Tanner Brunner, 31.4 on five. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $185,414; 2. Tyler Waguespack, $177,925; 3. J.D. Struxness, $174,483; 4. Hunter Cure, $158,568; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, $153,246; 6. Bridger Chambers, $151,785; 7. Scott Guenthner, $148,853; 8. Dakota Eldridge, $140,180; 9. Tyler Pearson, $133,443; 10. Will Lummus, $128,267; 11. Kyle Irwin, $123,934; 12. Cameron Morman, $116,037; 13. Riley Duvall, $111,617; 14. Matt Reeves, $107,400; 15. Tanner Brunner, $84,950.

Team roping: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 4.2, $20,731; 3. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 4.3, $15,654; 4. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 5.0, $11,000; 5. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 7.5, $6,769; 6. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 9.0, $4,231; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.4; 8. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Tyler Wade/Cole Davison and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 9.5; 11. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 9.9; 12. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 11.2; 13. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, NT. Average standings: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 28.7 seconds on six head; 2. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 37.0; 3. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 37.1; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 37.9; 5. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 38.6; 6. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 42.0; 7. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 63.9; 8. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 28.4 on five; 9. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 35.3; 10. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 38.1; 11. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 42.2; 12. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 49.8; 13. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 20.3 on four; 14. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 27.9; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 27.2 on three. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $234,551; 2. Chad Masters, $168,990; 3. Riley Minor, $160,534; 4. Cody Snow, $157,938; 5. Kaleb Driggers, $153,558; 6. Coleman Proctor, $153,241; 7. Clay Tryan, $147,222; 8. Brenten Hall, $139,119; 9. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 10. Luke Brown, $134,708; 11. Ty Blasingame, $132,220; 12. Matt Sherwood, $124,704; 13. Erich Rogers, $112,980; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $108,725; 15. Jake Cooper, $90,524. World standings (heelers): 1, Jade Corkill, $192,676; 2. Joseph Harrison, $171,739; 3. Brady Minor, $160,534; 4. Ryan Motes, $158,089; 5. Jake Long, $150,954; 6. Junior Nogueira, $150,877; 7. Wesley Thorp, $150,181; 8. Paul Eaves, $139,216; 9. Kyle Lockett, $137,711; 10. Chase Tryan, $136,537; 11. Cole Davison, $134,371; 12. Travis Graves, $133,896; 13. Hunter Koch, $132,807; 14. Tyler Worley, $104,177; 15. Caleb Anderson, $89,723.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 92.5 points on Northcott Macza’s Get Smart, $26,231; 2. Ryder Wright, 88.5, $20,731; 3. Jake Watson, 87.5, $15,654; 4. Brody Cress, 86, $11,000; 5. Chase Brooks, 84.5, $6,769; 6. Spencer Wright, 78, $4,231; 7. Rusty Wright, 76; 8. Jesse Wright, 74.5; 9. Sterling Crawley, 73.5; 10. Jacobs Crawley, 67.5; 11. Mitch Pollock, Dawson Hay, Colt Gordon and J.J. Elshere, NS; 15. Bradley Harter, INJ. Average standings: 1. Brody Cress, 592.5 points on seven head; 2. Rusty Wright, 584.5; 3. Spencer Wright, 508 on six; 4. Zeke Thurston, 435.5 on five; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 402; 6. Jake Watson, 348 on four; 7. Chase Brooks, 345.5; 8. Jesse Wright, 334; 9. Colt Gordon, 329; 10. (tie) Ryder Wright and Dawson Hay, 260 on three: 12. Sterling Crawley, 239.5; 13. J.J. Elshere, 168 on two; 14. Bradley Harter, 86.5 on one; 15. Mitch Pollock, 84. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $277,953; 2. Ryder Wright, $261,988; 3. Rusty Wright, $195,884; 4. Brody Cress, $185,539; 5. Spencer Wright, $183,553; 6. Chase Brooks, $173,950; 7. Jacobs Crawley, $169,089; 8. Jake Watson, $166,175; 9. Dawson Hay, $152,196; 10. Sterling Crawley, $149,389; 11. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 12. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 13. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 14. Colt Gordon, $110,519; 15. Mitch Pollock, $109,542.

Tie-down roping: 1. Tyler Milligan, 7.5 seconds, $26,231; 2. Adam Gray, 7.7, $20,731; 3. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $15,654; 4. Riley Pruitt, 8.4, $11,000; 5. Caleb Smidt, 9.6, $6,769; 6. Haven Meged, 9.8, $4,231; 7. Ty Harris, 10.0; 8. Tyson Durfey, 10.7; 9. Shad Mayfield, 11.5; 10. Taylor Santos, 12.0; 11. Cooper Martin, 12.1; 12. Shane Hanchey, 17.5; 13. Michael Otero, 17.8; 14. Rhen Richard and Marty Yates, NT. Average standings: 1. Haven Meged, 60.2 seconds on seven head; 2. Tuf Cooper, 61.2; 3. Tyson Durfey, 62.5; 4. Taylor Santos, 64.3; 5. Tyler Milligan, 68.4; 6. Riley Pruitt, 71.7; 7. Caleb Smidt, 81.7; 8. Marty Yates, 52.1 on six; 9. Shane Hanchey, 55.1; 10. Shad Mayfield, 63.9; 11. Cooper Martin, 64.9; 12. Michael Otero, 66.0; 13. Ty Harris, 42.3 on five; 14. Rhen Richard, 49.4; 15. Adam Gray, 53.2. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $209,928; 2. Riley Pruitt, $182,728; 3. Ty Harris, $173,438; 4. Haven Meged, $171,975; 5. Marty Yates, $170,970; 6. Tuf Cooper, $168,477; 7. Tyler Milligan, $165,436; 8. Tyson Durfey, $158,417; 9. Taylor Santos, $150,753; 10. Caleb Smidt, $148,669; 11. Adam Gray, $128,404; 12. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 13. Michael Otero, $111,924; 14. Cooper Martin, $100,491; 15. Rhen Richard, $98,661.

Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.60 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jessica Routier, 13.72, $20,731; 3. (tie) Lacinda Rose and Nellie Miller, 13.79, $13,327 each; 5. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.83, $6,769; 6. Shali Lord, 13.89, $4,231; 7. Stevi Hillman, 13.93; 8. Emily Miller, 13.94; 9. Jennifer Sharp, 13.96; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.98; 11. Lisa Lockhart, 14.08; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 14.36; 13. Amberleigh Moore, 18.78; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 18.79; 15. Ericka Nelson, 24.28. Average standings: 1. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 96.88 seconds on seven runs; 2. Emily Miller, 96.95; 3. Nellie Miller, 97.56; 4. Shali Lord, 97.77; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 97.94; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 101.39; 7. Jessica Routier, 101.97; 8. Dona Kay Rule, 102.45; 9. Lisa Lockhart, 102.55; 10. Lacinda Rose, 103.65; 11. Jennifer Sharp, 108.04; 12. Amberleigh Moore, 110.92; 13. Cheyenne Wimberley, 118.05; 14. Ericka Nelson, 118.24; 15. Stevi Hillman, 98.44 on six. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $236,713; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $207,982; 3. Emily Miller, $196,991; 4. Nellie Miller, $193,168; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $174,623; 7. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $168,423; 8. Jessica Routier, $159,467; 9. Shali Lord, $137,006; 10. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $122,273; 12. Lacinda Rose, $116,494; 13. Jennifer Sharp, $114,024; 14. Ericka Nelson, $110,202; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, $107,130.

Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, 90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Smoke Wagon, $33,564; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 87, $28,064; 3. Tyler Bingham, 83.5, $22,987; 4. Stetson Wright, Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Koby Radley, Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Daylon Swearingen, Jordan Hansen, Jordan Spears, Trey Kimzey, Clayton Sellars and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, 527 points on six head; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 441.5 on five; 3. Koby Radley, 435; 4. Tyler Bingham, 429.5; 5. Jordan Spears, 342.5 on four; 6. Stetson Wright, 269.5 on three; 7. Trey Benton III, 264.5; 8. Clayton Sellars, 256; 9. Daylon Swearingen, 180 on two; 10. Jordan Hansen, 179.5; 11. Garrett Smith, 178.5; 12. Jeff Askey, 170.5; 13. Trey Kimzey, 168; 14. Trevor Kastner, 86 on one; 15. Josh Frost, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $363,816; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, $250,438; 3. Stetson Wright, $216,999; 4. Tyler Bingham, $196,264; 5. Koby Radley, $178,849; 6. Trey Benton III, $175,995; 7. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 8. Jordan Hansen, $163,811; 9. Trevor Kastner, $161,216; 10. Daylon Swearingen, $159,068; 11. Jordan Spears, $157,779; 12. Clayton Sellars, $144,691; 13. Josh Frost, $129,561; 14. Jeff Askey, $127,925; 15. Trey Kimzey, $124,930.

All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $247,576; 2. Clay Smith, $245,402; 3. Tuf Cooper, $222,640; 4. Caleb Smidt, $161,959; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Daylon Swearingen, $118,151; 7. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 8. Steven Dent, $111,577; 9. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 10. Josh Frost, $92,732.

December 13, 2019

Sage Kimzey posts electric 94-point ride to win Round 8

LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Clayton Biglow is making this look easy.

The Clements, Calif., cowboy won his fourth round in a row at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when he claimed the Round 8 crown with his 90-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Showstomper before 16,892 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center, Thursday night.

Biglow made history in the process, becoming the first bareback rider to win four-consecutive rounds at the Wrangler NFR. Bareback rider Kaycee Feild won three rounds in a row in 2011 at the Finals. Feild won a bareback riding-record six NFR rounds that year.

“I’m dreaming and don’t wake me up,” said Biglow, who had won four career Wrangler NFR rounds before this year. “It has not hit me yet, I will tell you that. I lay in bed at night thinking about having a Finals like this and I still have two more to get on. This just doesn’t seem real.”

Biglow also set the Round 8 record at the Wrangler NFR. The old mark was held by Steven Peebles in 2015 with his 89.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage.

“That horse (Showstomper) is a handful right there with Killer Bee (the 2019 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year),” Biglow said.

Needless to say, Biglow is having an incredible Wrangler NFR. He won Round 5 with a 92.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Scarlett Belle and then shared Round 6’s top honor with Caleb Bennett and Tilden Hooper after all three riders had 88.5-point rides.

Biglow’s ride in Round 6 came on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Freckled Frog. He then added a win in Round 7 with his 91.5-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter.

Biglow arrived at the Wrangler NFR as the leader in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, and he remains there with $319,016. He leads the average with 705 points on eight head. Orin Larsen is second in the world standings with $253,673.

Biglow has earned $137,064 at the Wrangler NFR.

“I haven’t looked at the standings once, and I don’t need to because everyone is telling me what’s going on,” he said. “I’m not letting it bother me. I’m just coming out every night wanting to ride the horse I have the best I can. That’s the only thing I’m worried about right now.”

Biglow is a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR – 2016-19. His career-best finish came last year when he ended the season fourth in the world standings.

Sage Kimzey posts electric 94-point ride to win Round 8

Reigning five-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey was at his best Thursday night.

The Strong City, Okla., cowboy wowed the sellout crowd by winning Round 8 with a 94-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s SweetPro’s Bruiser.

Bruiser was voted bull of the night for Round 8. The bull was also the 2017 PRCA Bull of the Year and was second in 2018. Bruiser also was top bull of the Wrangler NFR in 2015 and 2017.

Kimzey has won two rounds at the Wrangler NFR – Rounds 7 and 8. He won Round 7 with a 90-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Smoke Wagon.

“It’s just incredible,” Kimzey said of his ride on Bruiser. “Man, Bruiser is one of the most incredible bulls of all time, and getting on him is a dream in itself. I’m speechless, honestly. Today, I kept telling myself not to let the moment be bigger than you, and I feel like I was made for this moment.”

Kimzey’s ride was a career best in terms of points and just missed breaking the round record of 95 points set by Colby Yates in 2002 aboard Big Bend Rodeo’s Unforgiven.

“This is a personal best, and it’s special to have it at the NFR,” Kimzey said. “My previous best was a 93. If you’re that many points you’re never going to have a good seat, and it is toe-to-toe and us swapping blows. It’s pretty miraculous – it was pure bliss, it really was. Bruiser is a smooth bull and is a big pet really. I scratched him in the loading alley, and he looked at me like, ‘It’s you and me tonight, champ,’ and it really was.”

Kimzey was trying to keep things in perspective before he climbed aboard SweetPro’s Bruiser.

“I knew I had a big piece over me, and it was champ vs. champ and it was the storyline of the round,” he said. “Stetson (Wright) being 93.5 or not, it was all about me and Bruiser whether we got the win or not, it was us duking it out.

“It’s going to take time for it to set in, but I can’t even put it into words. It’s awesome, I know that’s an overused word for it, but that’s what it is.”

Kimzey is leading the world standings with $390,047. Kimzey set the bull riding record for most money won in a season in 2017 with $436,479, which included ground money. He’s also leading the Finals average.

“I feel great and am healthy and riding good, obviously,” Kimzey said. “It’s been an incredible week, and it’s God’s blessings raining down in abundance.”

Jake Watson claims another saddle bronc riding win

Saddle bronc rider Jake Watson snared his second round win of the Wrangler NFR.

On Canadian night, the Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia, cowboy won Round 8 with an 89.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Stampede Warrior.

“It’s pretty cool, and I know there’s going to be a lot of people cheering for me,” Watson said about winning on Canadian night on a Canadian horse. “This is our night, and that’s kind of how we go at it.”

Watson also won Round 5 with a 92-point ride on the Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s RodeoHouston’s Womanizer. Watson has earned $83,615 at the Wrangler NFR and is seventh in the world standings with $192,406.

Watson’s ride on Stampede Warrior was a match-up from the Canadian Finals Rodeo a couple of years ago.

“I’m not very good at math, but it’s either 23 or 24 points higher than the last time I had her,” Watson said. “She was a lot better today, and I was much, much better today. It worked out really good. I just picked up on my rein, and I think she had a little step sideways or something. It didn’t really surprise me, but it reminded me that I had to ride her, and she wasn’t going to do it for me. I had to pick up on my rein and spur.”

Watson and his traveling partners Zeke Thurston and Dawson Hay have won four rounds in a row and five of the first eight.

“It’s pretty cool, and I actually didn’t even realize that,” Watson said. “I knew we’d gotten half the round so far, and hopefully we get seven out of 10. We’re pretty easygoing, and when we leave the dressing room, we give each other a fist bump and say, ‘Let’s go.’ The first one out needs to set the bar high, and everybody else can go chase him and try to beat him.”

Will Lummus snares first round win

Steer wrestler Will Lummus has had a solid showing at the 2019 Wrangler NFR, and it got a lot better Thursday night.

The West Point, Miss., cowboy won Round 8 with a 3.6-second time.

“I’d like to say I haven’t had a great Finals, but I’ve placed in four of seven rounds,” he said. “It’s been OK, but I just haven’t won a lot of money. You know, $26,000 helps a lot.”

Lummus earned a $26,231 paycheck and is sixth in the world standings with $154,498. He has earned $68,103 at the Wrangler NFR.

“Dakota Eldridge was 4-flat on him in Round 5 and won second in the round on him,” Lummus said. “It’s just a good steer. I may have gotten just a little better start than Dakota.”

Lummus switched horses before Round 8, and it worked.

“We have an awesome, gray horse that Justin Schaeffer, who I rodeo with, owns, and I’ve won a lot of money on that horse,” he said. “But for some reason or another, it just wasn’t working. We’ve got another mare named Baby we hauled all summer that’s young – she’s only 7 – and a friend of ours in Arkansas was gracious enough to let us use her all summer and bring her here as a backup. I sure was glad to have her tonight. We just needed to change something, and it worked.”

J.D. Struxness is leading the steer wrestling world standings with $190,137.

Trio of tie-down ropers share Round 8 title

It was bunched at the top for tie-down ropers in Round 8.

Tyler Milligan, Riley Pruitt and Cooper Martin each clocked 7.5-second runs to win Round 8.

This was Milligan’s second win in a row after claiming the Round 7 title with a 7.5-second run.

“I like that time and I would like to keep it,” said Milligan, who is third in the world standings with $186,307. “I really liked my calf; she is a really good calf and I just tried to do my job and not mess up. I think it’s great. The more the merrier.”

Pruitt and Martin won for the first time at this year’s Wrangler NFR. Pruitt is second in the world standings with $203,599.

“I feel good,” said Pruitt, who won the average at the 2016 Wrangler NFR. “Tonight, I had one that was wild and needed to get to her as fast as I could. I managed to sneak by her and get a go-round win, it helps for the world. I may move up in the average, but these guys are roping good this week. I hope I keep drawing good, make some good runs and keeping winning money and see what happens.”

Martin concurred with Pruitt.

“This week has been pretty rough, but these guys have been roping all week and I finally got my kinks worked out,” Martin said. “I got to practice (Wednesday) morning and I think it really helped me relax. If things don’t go right, right off the bat, it’s hard.”

Shane Hanchey is leading the world standings with $209,928.

Hall/Tryan, Driggers/Nogueira share Round 8 team roping honors

The top of the leaderboard in Round 8 was shared by team ropers Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira. Each team stopped the clock in 4.3 seconds.

This was the first round wins for both teams at this year’s Finals.

“Our steer didn’t want to stand good in the chute, and I hate sitting in the box, it makes me so nervous,” Hall said. “He finally stood up and I tried to get a good start, and I don’t remember anything after that. I can tell you everything about the first seven rounds, but the round we actually won I can’t remember anything. It’s huge to me, this is my first Finals and to win it with a guy who put so much trust in me is a great feeling.”

Tryan was just trying to do his job.

“The steer didn’t have a good track record, so I was riding as hard as I could to get to him,” he said. “It’s awesome to win a round at the NFR. I felt bad when I missed my dallies and it missed us some rounds, but it was a softer round tonight to win first. Everything fell in our favor tonight, and we’re truly blessed.”

The round win was welcomed by Driggers since his talented team has struggled in and outside the arena.

“Well, we’ve had a terrible Finals so far, and I had the flu for the first five rounds,” Driggers said. “It wasn’t enjoyable to go back to the room after each round, but the last few nights we went back to how we rope all the time.”

Nogueira agreed.

“It was like he (Driggers) said, and I got sick too and it wasn’t working the way we planned on it,” Nogueira said. “But it’s not over until the 10th round. Fortunately, we were good tonight.”

Header Clay Smith ($241,320) and his heeling partner Jade Corkill ($199,446) are leading their respective world standings.

Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel wins again in Round 8

Make it two in a row for Hailey Kinsel.

The Cotulla, Texas, cowgirl won Round 8 with a 13.54-second run, the fastest of the rodeo on her horse, Sister.

“She’s feeling really, really good,” Kinsel said. “She was a tiny bit tight tonight, and the ground was a little heavier for everybody, so I felt like I had to move her through it a little more. I’m glad we get to get back in the arena in the morning for practice tomorrow so I can relax her a little bit and get her a little more free.”

Kinsel, who leads the world standings with $262,944, is gunning for her second straight world title.

“Just to stay in (the driver’s seat) and stay on,” Kinsel said. “It’s two more runs regardless, and I want them to be two good runs. There’s good money up, and I get one really good spot on the ground tomorrow, so I hope to use that and learn from earlier in the week. I’m just going to try and make two good runs and do my best by her.”

Stetson Wright still leads tight all-around world standings race

Rookie Stetson Wright still leads the all-around race in the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $268,307. He has a slim lead over reigning world champion team roping header Clay Smith ($252,172). Tuf Cooper, the 2017 all-around champ, is third in the standings with $222,640.

Wright finished second in Round 8 in the bull riding with a 93.5-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s Diddy Wa Diddy to earn $20,731. He is third in the bull riding world standings with $237,729.

Wright is trying to become the first roughstock rider to win the all-around crown since ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray did it in 1998.

Bareback rider Biglow takes over RAM Top Gun Award standings lead

Bareback rider Clayton Biglow’s magical ride in the 2019 Wrangler NFR received a bonus Thursday night.

Biglow’s Round 8 victory, which earned him $26,231, pushed him to $137,064 in Wrangler NFR earnings.

That is the most money earned of any 2019 contestant – not counting ground money – to put him atop the RAM Top Gun standings.

Another element of excitement at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the RAM Top Gun Award which goes to the one contestant who wins the most money in any single event at the Wrangler NFR.

Bull riders Sage Kimzey ($129,942) and Boudreaux Campbell ($122,327) are second and third, respectively, in the RAM Top Gun standings.

Eighth Performance Results, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 90 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Showstomper, $26,231; 2. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Austin Foss, 87.5, $18,192 each; 4. Tilden Hooper, 87, $11,000; 5. Tanner Aus, 86.5, $6,769; 6. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Clint Laye, 86, $2,115 each; 8. Orin Larsen, 85.5; 9. (tie) Richmond Champion and Tim O’Connell, 85; 11. Trenten Montero, 75.5; 12. Steven Dent, Ty Breuer, Jake Brown and Taylor Broussard, NS. Average standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, 705 points on eight head; 2. Tim O’Connell, 694; 3. Richmond Champion, 689; 4. Kaycee Feild, 684; 5. Orin Larsen, 683; 6. Tilden Hooper, 679; 7. Clint Laye, 672.5; 8. Trenten Montero, 666; 9. Caleb Bennett, 607 on seven; 10. Tanner Aus, 606; 11. Steven Dent, 596; 12. Austin Foss, 563.5; 13. Ty Breuer, 425.0 on five; 14. Taylor Broussard, 415.5; 15. Jake Brown, 344.5 on four. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $319,016; 2. Orin Larsen, $253,673; 3. Kaycee Feild, $225,551; 4. Tilden Hooper, $211,162; 5. Richmond Champion, $195,829; 6. Caleb Bennett, $188,171; 7. Tim O’Connell, $181,553; 8. Clint Laye, $153,916; 9. Tanner Aus, $147,018; 10. Trenten Montero, $143,219; 11. Austin Foss, $126,587; 12. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 13. Jake Brown, $107,184; 14. Steven Dent, $103,799; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.

Steer wrestling: 1. Will Lummus, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.0, $20,731; 3. J.D. Struxness, 4.4, $15,654; 4. Tyler Pearson, 4.5, $11,000; 5. Tanner Brunner, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Matt Reeves, 4.8, $4,231; 7. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Scott Guenthner, 4.9; 9. Ty Erickson, 5.1; 10. Riley Duvall, 5.2; 11. Bridger Chambers, 5.7; 12. Kyle Irwin, 14.0; 13. Dakota Eldridge, 16.6; 14. Hunter Cure, 17.0; 15. Cameron Morman, NT. Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 34.6 seconds on eight head; 2. Matt Reeves, 38.7; 3. Riley Duvall, 39.6; 4. Tyler Pearson, 46.1; 5. Bridger Chambers, 46.7; 6. Ty Erickson, 54.7; 7. Stetson Jorgensen, 57.5; 8. Dakota Eldridge, 59.1; 9. Scott Guenthner, 61.3; 10. Hunter Cure, 66.3; 11. Kyle Irwin, 76.3; 12. J.D. Struxness, 28.5 on seven; 13. Will Lummus, 30.7; 14. Cameron Morman, 34.2; 15. Tanner Brunner, 36.1 on six. World standings: 1. J.D. Struxness, $190,137; 2. Ty Erickson, $185,414; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $177,925; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, $173,976; 5. Hunter Cure, $158,568; 6. Will Lummus, $154,498; 7. Bridger Chambers, $151,785; 8. Scott Guenthner, $148,853; 9. Tyler Pearson, $144,443; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $140,180; 11. Kyle Irwin, $123,934; 12. Cameron Morman, $116,037; 13. Matt Reeves, $111,631; 14. Riley Duvall, $111,617; 15. Tanner Brunner, $91,720.

Team roping: 1. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.3 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 4.4 seconds, $13,327 each; 5. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 4.8, $4,231; 7. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 5.1; 8. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 6.2; 9. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 8.9; 10. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 9.0; 11. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 9.8; 12. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 10.2; 13. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 14.1; 14. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes and Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, NT. Average standings: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 34.9 seconds on seven head; 2. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 41.9; 3. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 42.1; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 42.6; 5. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 42.9; 6. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 50.9; 7. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 74.1; 8. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 32.8 on six; 9. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 42.4; 10. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 45.1; 11. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 54.2; 12. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 56.3; 13. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 36.9 on five; 14. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 20.3 on four; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 27.2 on three. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $241,320; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $177,039; 3. Riley Minor, $173,860; 4. Chad Masters, $168,990; 5. Brenten Hall, $162,600; 6. Cody Snow, $157,938; 7. Coleman Proctor, $153,241; 8. Clay Tryan, $147,222; 9. Luke Brown, $138,939; 10. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 11. Ty Blasingame, $132,220; 12. Matt Sherwood, $124,704; 13. Erich Rogers, $112,980; 14.Tate Kirchenschlager, $108,725; 15. Jake Cooper, $103,851. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $199,446; 2. Junior Nogueira, $174,358; 3. Brady Minor, $173,860; 4. Joseph Harrison, $171,739; 5. Chase Tryan, $160,018; 6. Ryan Motes, $158,089; 7. Jake Long, $150,954; 8. Wesley Thorp, $150,181; 9. Paul Eaves, $143,447; 10. Kyle Lockett, $137,711; 11. Cole Davison, $134,371; 12. Travis Graves, $133,896; 13. Hunter Koch, $132,807; 14. Tyler Worley, $104,177; 15. Caleb Anderson, $103,050.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Watson, 89.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Stampede Warrior, $26,231; 2. Chase Brooks, 89.0, $20,731; 3. Spencer Wright, 87, $15,654;

4. (tie) Sterling Crawley, Dawson Hay and Brody Cress, 86.5, $7,333 each; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 85; 8. Zeke Thurston, 84.5; 9. (tie) Rusty Wright and J.J. Elshere, 84; 11. Jesse Wright, 83.5; 12. Ryder Wright, Mitch Pollock, Bradley Harter and Colt Gordon, NS; 15. Bradley Harter, INJ. Average standings: 1. Brody Cress, 679 points on eight head; 2. Rusty Wright, 668.5; 3. Spencer Wright, 595 on seven; 4. Zeke Thurston, 520 on six; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 487; 6. Jake Watson, 437.5 on five; 7. Chase Brooks, 434.5; 8. Jesse Wright, 417.5; 9. Dawson Hay, 346.5 on four; 10. Colt Gordon, 329; 11. Sterling Crawley, 326; 12. Ryder Wright, 260 on three; 13. J.J. Elshere, 252; 14. Bradley Harter, 86.5 on one; 15. Mitch Pollock, 84. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $277,953; 2. Ryder Wright, $261,988; 3. Spencer Wright, $199,207; 4. Rusty Wright, $195,884; 5. Chase Brooks, $194,681; 6. Brody Cress, $192,872; 7. Jake Watson, $192,406; 8. Jacobs Crawley, $169,089; 9. Dawson Hay, $159,529; 10. Sterling Crawley, $156,722; 11. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 12. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 13. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 14. Colt Gordon, $110,519; 15. Mitch Pollock, $109,542.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Tyler Milligan, Riley Pruitt and Cooper Martin, 7.5 seconds, $20,872 each; 4. Caleb Smidt, 7.7, $11,000; 5. Tyson Durfey, 7.9, $6,769; 6. Michael Otero, 8.4, $4,231; 7. Tuf Cooper, 8.8; 8. (tie) Haven Meged and Shane Hanchey, 9.1; 10. Rhen Richard, 10.2; 11. Taylor Santos, 11.2; 12. Ty Harris, Marty Yates, Shad Mayfield and Adam Gray, NT. Average standings: 1. Haven Meged, 69.3 seconds on eight head; 2. Tuf Cooper, 70.0; 3. Tyson Durfey, 70.4; 4. Taylor Santos, 75.5; 5. Tyler Milligan, 75.9; 6. Riley Pruitt, 79.2; 7. Caleb Smidt, 89.4; 8. Shane Hanchey, 64.2 on seven; 9. Cooper Martin, 72.4; 10. Michael Otero, 74.4; 11. Marty Yates, 52.1 on six; 12. Rhen Richard, 59.6; 13. Shad Mayfield, 63.9; 14. Ty Harris, 42.3 on five; 15. Adam Gray, 53.2. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $209,928; 2. Riley Pruitt, $203,599; 3. Tyler Milligan, $186,307; 4. Ty Harris, $173,438; 5. Haven Meged, $171,975; 6. Marty Yates, $170,970; 7. Tuf Cooper, $168,477; 8. Tyson Durfey, $165,186; 9. Caleb Smidt, $159,669; 10. Taylor Santos, $150,753; 11. Adam Gray, $128,404; 12. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 13. Cooper Martin, $121,363; 14. Michael Otero, $116,155; 15. Rhen Richard, $98,661.

Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.54 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jessica Routier, 13.57, $20,731; 3. (tie) Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.73, $13,327 each; 5. Shali Lord, 13.75, $6,769; 6. Lacinda Rose, 13.76, $4,231; 7. Emily Miller, 13.78; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 14.04; 9. Stevi Hillman, 18.62; 10. Dona Kay Rule, 18.72; 11. Amberleigh Moore, 18.75; 12. Ericka Nelson, 19.20; 13. Nellie Miller, 19.22; 14. Jennifer Sharp, 19.34; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, 19.70. Average standings: 1. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 110.61 seconds on eight runs; 2. Emily Miller, 110.73; 3. Shali Lord, 111.52; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 111.67; 5. Hailey Kinsel, 114.93; 6. Jessica Routier, 115.54; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 116.59; 8. Nellie Miller, 116.78; 9. Lacinda Rose, 117.41; 10. Dona Kay Rule, 121.17; 11. Jennifer Sharp, 127.38; 12. Amberleigh Moore, 129.67; 13. Ericka Nelson, 137.44; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 137.75; 15. Stevi Hillman, 117.06 on seven. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $262,944; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $207,982; 3. Emily Miller, $196,991; 4. Nellie Miller, $193,168; 5. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $181,750; 6. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 7. Jessica Routier, $180,197; 8. Dona Kay Rule, $174,623; 9. Shali Lord, $143,776; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $135,600; 11. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 12. Lacinda Rose, $120,724; 13. Jennifer Sharp, $114,024; 14. Ericka Nelson, $110,202; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, $107,130.

Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, 94 points on Powder River Rodeo’s SweetPro’s Bruiser, $26,231, 2. Stetson Wright, 93.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Clayton Sellars and Boudreaux Campbell, 91.5, $13,327 each; 5. Jordan Spears, 89.5, $6,769; 6. Jeff Askey, 87, $4,231; 7. Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Tyler Bingham, Garrett Smith, Daylon Swearingen, Jordan Hansen, Trey Kimzey and Trey Benton III, NS; 15. Koby Radley, INJ. Average standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, 621 points on seven head; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 533 on six; 3. Koby Radley, 435.0 on five; 4. Jordan Spears, 432; 5. Tyler Bingham, 429.5; 6. Stetson Wright, 363 on four; 7. Clayton Sellars, 347.5; 8. Trey Benton III, 264.5 on three; 9. Jeff Askey, 257.5; 10. Daylon Swearingen, 180 on two; 11. Jordan Hansen, 179.5; 12. Garrett Smith, 178.5; 13. Trey Kimzey, 168; 14. Trevor Kastner, 86 on one; 15. Josh Frost, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $390,047; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, $263,765; 3. Stetson Wright, $237,729; 4. Tyler Bingham, $196,264; 5. Koby Radley, $178,849; 6. Trey Benton III, $175,995; 7. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 8. Jordan Spears, $164,548; 9. Jordan Hansen, $163,811; 10. Trevor Kastner, $161,216; 11. Daylon Swearingen, $159,068; 12. Clayton Sellars, $158,018; 13. Jeff Askey, $132,156; 14. Josh Frost, $129,561; 15. Trey Kimzey, $124,930.

All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $268,307; 2. Clay Smith, $252,172; 3. Tuf Cooper, $222,640; 4. Caleb Smidt, $172,959; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Daylon Swearingen, $118,151; 7. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 8. Steven Dent, $111,577; 9. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 10. Josh Frost, $92,732.

December 13, 2019

Tie-down roper Shane Hanchey wins another round at Wrangler NFR

LAS VEGAS – Before the start of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, tie-down roper Shane Hanchey had a good feeling about how things were going to unfold for him.

So far, the Sulphur, La., cowboy has been right.

Hanchey won his second round of the week, clocking a 7.5-second run in Round 4 before 16,813 spectators Sunday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Hanchey also won Round 1 with a 7.6-second time and placed second in Round 3 with a 7.1-second effort. The only blemish on Hanchey’s 2019 Wrangler NFR was his no-time in Round 2.

Hanchey remains the leader in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $185,389.

“I had a great calf,” Hanchey said. “I had to take others’ word for it because I didn’t think it was a great calf, but it was. Riley Pruitt ran him for the first run and Tyler Milligan tied him this morning and said, ‘I’ve been wanting to run that calf all week.’ That gave me some last-minute confidence before the grand entry, and I’m glad it worked out.”

Hanchey did his homework before making his Round 4 run.

“Since the reruns have started and these calves were roped in Round 1, you can watch a video and talk to other contestants because that’s what’s so cool about rodeo – we’re not competing against each other, we’re competing against and with the calf,” Hanchey said. “Riley gave me some good information, and it worked out. You’ve got to pay attention to them. You can’t just nod, go and react. Now that the reruns have started, you have a better idea what they’re going to do in the arena.”

Hanchey’s no stranger to success in Las Vegas. This is his 10th appearance at the Wrangler NFR, highlighted by his 2013 world championship. That year, Hanchey also set the average record with an 80.1-second time on 10 head.

However, Hanchey knows every NFR trip is different and mental toughness counts.

“All of us want to do well, not only for us but our families,” he said. “We’ve put an extended amount of pressure on ourselves, it can be a roller coaster for sure.

“My first thought is I want my horse to do well in the box and I want to get a good start. After that, roping the neck. For me, when I rope the neck, everything else is reaction. We’ve done so much it’s repetition and muscle memory.”

Stetson Wright adds to Wrangler NFR memories with second win

Bull rider Stetson Wright’s rookie season seems to get better with each passing day.

Wright, 20, won his second round of the Wrangler NFR, recording a 91-point ride on Painted Pony Championship Rodeo’s Holy Holly in Round 4.

Wright also was victorious in Round 1 with a 91-point trip on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Monte Walsh.

“I guess I’m just drawing good, and everyone told me to quit using the word ‘lucky,’ but I feel like I am riding good, and tonight I told myself to finish,” Wright said.

Although competing in the Thomas & Mack Center can be nerve-wracking, Wright wasn’t going to let the magnitude of the moment faze him.

“Before my ride, I was loose and cool, and it was the least tense I’ve been,” Wright said. “I was joking and having fun, and everything felt good. I was joking around in the chute too, and just happy to be here. The last couple days I was making it a job and it’s not, it is to have fun.”

Counting ground money, Wright has earned $62,462 at the Finals. He is second in the world standings.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “I want to build a house after this year, but there’s no pressure since I’m young and I want to start a life on the ranch.”

Reigning five-time world champion Sage Kimzey remains the PRCA | RAM World Standings leader with $301,271.

Orin Larsen’s 90-point ride wins bareback riding

Before Sunday night, Orin Larsen had never matched up with Frontier Rodeo’s Night Fist.

Their first encounter together was memorable.

Larsen had a 90-point ride on Night Fist to win the round. He was a half-point away from tying the Round 4 Wrangler NFR record, shared by Will Lowe (set in 2004) and Ty Breuer (2017).

“Everyone I talked to in the dressing room was pretty pumped up that I had a good horse (Sunday night),” Larsen said. “That horse definitely didn’t fail. It fit my style and got in the air and was really showy. He hangs in the air and is just a good bucking horse, and I was glad to have him.”

After earning $26,231, Larsen moved from third to second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $211,789. He has earned $38,346 at the Wrangler NFR.

“When you are hot, you are hot, and when you are not, you are not,” Larsen said. “You just try and ride the high spots as long as you can. I’m not really thinking about the end result. I’m just focusing on the whole process. All 15 of us deserve to have a gold buckle by the end of the week. I’m just going to do my part and do a lot of praying, and if there’s a gold buckle by my name I will be stoked.”

Clayton Biglow leads the world standings with $219,452.

Bridger Chambers wins steer wrestling with 3.6-second run

Steer wrestler Bridger Chambers is developing quite a liking for the Wrangler NFR.

After earning $135,583 in his NFR debut last year, he’s not letting off the gas pedal in his return trip.

Chambers won Round 4 Sunday with a 3.6-second run. He’s earned $61,756 through four rounds at the NFR.

“Oh, man, that’s pretty exciting,” Chambers said about his first career Wrangler NFR round win and subsequent victory lap. “I don’t know how you can describe it to anybody, but I was just trying to soak it all in. It happens so fast, and I was just excited. It was a very special moment.”

Chambers is keeping things in perspective the remainder of the week as he chases a gold buckle.

“I guess the goal and game plan is to just run at every round and don’t back off,” Chambers said. “I don’t feel I have anything to lose, especially with the (broken) barrier in the mix. We’re going to keep running at them.”

Chambers is riding two-time Canadian Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year Tyson, owned by Curtis Cassidy, who is hazing for Chambers.

Ty Erickson leads the steer wrestling world standings with $174,273.

Saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright snares sixth career Wrangler NFR round win

Rusty Wright is making his fourth appearance at the Wrangler NFR, and the saddle bronc rider always seems to find success in the Thomas & Mack.

Wright won Round 4 with an 89.5-point ride on Diamond G Rodeos’ Miss Nancy for the sixth round win of his career.

“She almost bucked me off,” Wright said. “That horse jumped out there and has big, long jumps. It was feeling really good, and I felt tapped-off confident, so I went to try and go flash her up. As soon as I did that, she had a big, empty jump and threw her head back at me. It kind of got me loose a little bit, but she took her head back again and continued bucking. I was able to sit back down and finish it off pretty good.”

With his $26,231 payday, Wright is third in the world standings with $175,153.

“I felt like it was going to be pretty good, and I was really excited,” Wright said. “I didn’t know how many (points) I was going to be, I just knew I was dang sure going to place, and it felt awesome.

“I’d watched my little brother, Ryder, get on her in Norco, Calif., last year, and he was 88 on her. Then, this year, Spencer got on her in Norco and was 86. So they’d both won rodeos on it before, and that horse is in our circuit (Wilderness), so I’d seen it a lot. I’m not going to lie to you, I was really nervous and a little scared, because that horse bucks so hard and bucks a lot of guys off. But I knew, as long as I stayed back and lifted, things would work out.”

Rusty is hoping to use Round 4 as a springboard for the rest of the Wrangler NFR.

“It’s good to win any time, but it seems like after you win a round, your confidence goes through the roof and you just get the ball rolling,” he said. “It was rolling before, and it’s hopefully going to take off now. A little confidence does wonders.”

Zeke Thurston overtook Ryder Wright to take the lead in the world standings with $249,607.

Team ropers Masters/Harrison claim Round 4 crown

Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison set the pace in Round 4, capturing a victory with a 3.7-second run.

“I knew it was actually going to be fast and I knew I had a good steer,” said Masters, a two-time team roping header world champion (2007 and 2012). “I left early, and it wasn’t a picture-perfect run, but I am happy with the end result.”

The round win was welcomed by Masters and Harrison.

“It’s been since 2011 since I’d won a round and I’d been waiting on getting one,” Masters said.

Harrison, meanwhile, was celebrating his first career round record.

“I have been waiting for 24 steers to walk across the stage and get that buckle, and it’s finally happening,” he said.

Moving forward in Vegas, Masters and Harrison are hoping for more of the same.

“I’m afraid to say anything, but I hope that’s the start of it,” Masters said.

Harrison was more to the point

“I’ll ride that train!” he said.

Clay Smith and Jade Corkill are leading the respective header and heeler world standings.

Barrel racer Emily Miller wins her second round

Emily Miller is having quite the Wrangler NFR.

The barrel racer captured a victory in Round 1 and added another win Sunday in Round 4 with her 13.64-second run.

Miller moved into first place in the world standings with $196,991. She has earned $98,848 so far at the Wrangler NFR, the most of any contestant.

“(ProRodeo Hall of Famer) Joe (Beaver) made the comment the other day at the WPRA luncheon that, ‘It’s fun in Vegas, but it’s a lot more fun when you’re winning,’” Miller said. “I have to agree with him. It’s been a great four days, and we’ve really enjoyed it.”

Miller is riding her 9-year-old gelding, Chongo.

“You know, I think every run you just go out there and try to focus on what you’ve worked on all year, and that’s one (barrel) to the right, two to the left and leave them up,” Miller said. “He’s working outstanding, and I couldn’t be happier with him. As a rider, I feel like I failed him a bit on the first barrel, but that’s something I can fix. Luckily, he’s doing his job, so that’s huge.”

Even though Miller was the first barrel racer out Sunday, it didn’t rattle her nerves.

“I think you have to ride a little bit smarter the farther down on the ground you get because of the ruts and stuff, and you want to stay inside the tracks,” she said. “I’ve been more worried about the second and third barrels, but he’s staying super honest for me. He’s doing great, and I’m absolutely thrilled with how he’s working.”

All-around race getting interesting

Thanks to winning his second round in bull riding, Stetson Wright maintained his lead in the all-around standings.

Wright has $245,461 – $38,982 more than second-place Clay Smith, the reigning team roping header world champ. Tuf Cooper, the 2017 all-around world champ, is third with $195,986.

Fourth Performance Results, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Orin Larsen, 90 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Night Fist, $26,231; 2. Clint Laye, 88, $20,731; 3. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Ty Breuer, 87, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Trenten Montero, 86.5, $5,500 each; 7. (tie) Tilden Hooper, Austin Foss and Jake Brown, 86; 10. Steven Dent, 85.5; 11. Tim O’Connell, 85; 12. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Richmond Champion, 84; 14. Tanner Aus, 83.5; 15. Taylor Broussard, 82.5. Average standings: 1. Trenten Montero, 350 points on four head; 2. Tim O’Connell, 349.5; 3. Richmond Champion, 343.5; 4. Clayton Biglow, 342.5; 5. Kaycee Feild, 339; 6. Steven Dent, 337.5; 7. Clint Laye,334; 8. Tilden Hooper, 330; 9. (tie) Orin Larsen and Taylor Broussard, 329; 11. Caleb Bennett, 261 points on three; 12. Ty Breuer, 258; 13. Tanner Aus, 256; 14. Austin Foss, 253.5; 15. Jake Brown, 172.5 points on two. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $219,452; 2. Orin Larsen, $211,789; 3. Kaycee Feild, $207,359; 4. Richmond Champion, $182,714; 5. Tim O’Connell, $161,668; 6. Tilden Hooper, $158,559; 7. Caleb Bennett, $154,184; 8. Clint Laye, $149,685; 9. Trenten Montero, $143,219; 10. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 11. Tanner Aus, $117,826; 12. Jake Brown, $105,068; 13. Steven Dent, $103,799; 14. Austin Foss, $102,895; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.

Steer wrestling: 1. Bridger Chambers, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Ty Erickson and Cameron Morman, 3.7, $18,192 each; 4. J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $11,000; 5. Hunter Cure, 4.1, $6,769; 6. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Dakota Eldridge, 4.4, $2,115 each; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Tyler Pearson and Matt Reeves, 4.5; 11. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Will Lummus, 4.7; 13. Riley Duvall, 5.1; 14. Kyle Irwin, 9.8; 15. Tanner Brunner, NT. Average standings: 1. J.D. Struxness, 16.3 seconds on four head; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 16.7; 3. (tie) Matt Reeves and Cameron Morman, 18.1; 5. Riley Duvall, 20.4; 6. Hunter Cure, 21.5; 7. Bridger Chambers, 25.9; 8. Tyler Pearson, 27.9; 9. Dakota Eldridge, 28.7; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 28.8; 11. Scott Guenthner, 34.3; 12. Kyle Irwin, 34.4; 13. Ty Erickson, 36.2; 14. Will Lummus, 13.1 seconds on three; 15. Tanner Brunner, 16.6 seconds on two. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $174,273; 2. Hunter Cure, $147,568; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $147,464; 4. J.D. Struxness, $145,150; 5. Bridger Chambers, $140,785; 6. Scott Guenthner, $130,661; 7. Stetson Jorgensen, $127,015; 8. Dakota Eldridge, $119,449; 9. Will Lummus, $115,998; 10. Tyler Pearson, $112,712; 11. Cameron Morman, $106,307; 12. Kyle Irwin, $97,703; 13. Matt Reeves, $96,259; 14. Riley Duvall, $95,963; 15. Tanner Brunner, $84,950.

Team roping: 1. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 3.7 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 3.8, $20,731; 3. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 3.9, $15,654; 4. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.3, $8,885 each; 6. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.4, $4,231; 7. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 5.0; 8. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 6.1; 9. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 9.1; 10. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 9.7; 11. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.7; 12. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves and Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, NT. Average standings: 1. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 17.9 seconds on four head; 2. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 24.9; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 28.7; 4. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 28.8; 5. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 38.8; 6. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 40.3; 7. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 13.7 seconds on three; 8. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 14.9; 9. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 16.8; 10. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 17.5; 11. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 18.1; 12. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 28.0; 13. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 10.5 seconds on two; 14. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 22.8; 15. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 4.6 seconds on one. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $195,628; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $153,558; 3. Chad Masters, $138,529; 4. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 5. Coleman Proctor, $135,049; 6. Brenten Hall, $134,888; 7. Riley Minor, $134,303; 8. Clay Tryan, $133,896; 9. Cody Snow, $120,707; 10. Luke Brown, $112,708; 11. Ty Blasingame, $111,490; 12. Matt Sherwood, $111,166; 13. Erich Rogers, $99,653; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $93,071; 15. Jake Cooper, $90,524; World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $153,753; 2. Junior Nogueira, $150,877; 3. Joseph Harrison, $141,278; 4. Ryan Motes, $139,897; 5. Jake Long, $137,627; 6. Cole Davison, $134,371; 7. Brady Minor, $134,303; 8. Chase Tryan, $132,307; 9. Kyle Lockett, $124,384; 10. Hunter Koch, $119,269; 11. Paul Eaves, $117,216; 12. Travis Graves, $113,165; 13. Wesley Thorp, $112,950; 14. Caleb Anderson, $89,723; 15. Tyler Worley, $88,524.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 89.5 points on Diamond G Rodeos’ Miss Nancy, $26,231; 2. Spencer Wright, 84.5, $20,731; 3. Zeke Thurston, 83.5, $15,654; 4. Brody Cress, 81.5, $11,000; 5. Sterling Crawley, 80.5, $6,769; 6. Jacobs Crawley, 80, $4,231; 7. Ryder Wright, Chase Brooks, Jesse Wright, Mitch Pollock, Jake Watson, Dawson Hay, Colt Gordon and J.J. Elshere, NS; Bradley Harter, INJ. Average standings: 1. Rusty Wright, 340 points on four head; 2. Brody Cress, 333.5; 3. Zeke Thurston, 261 points on three; 4. Spencer Wright, 257.5; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 249; 6. Chase Brooks, 176 points on two; 7. Jesse Wright, 175; 8. Dawson Hay, 171.5; 9. Colt Gordon, 162; 10. Jake Watson, 87 points on one; 11. Ryder Wright, Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, 86.5; 14. Mitch Pollock, 84; 15. Sterling Crawley, 80.5. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $249,607; 2. Ryder Wright, $234,488; 3. Rusty Wright, $175,153; 4. Spencer Wright, $163,669; 5. Chase Brooks, $159,847; 6. Brody Cress, $156,205; 7. Jacobs Crawley, $150,897; 8. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 9. Sterling Crawley, $131,197; 10. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 11. Dawson Hay, $125,965; 12. Jake Watson, $124,291; 13. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 14. Mitch Pollock, $109,542; 15. Colt Gordon, $101,071.

Tie-down roping: 1. Shane Hanchey, 7.5 seconds, $26,231; 2. Riley Pruitt, 7.7, $20,731; 3. Marty Yates, 8.0, $15,654; 4. (tie) Haven Meged and Taylor Santos, 8.1, $8,885; 6. Cooper Martin, 8.7, $4,231; 7. (tie) Caleb Smidt and Tuf Cooper, 9.5; 9. Tyson Durfey, 10.1; 10. Rhen Richard, 10.2; 11. Tyler Milligan, 10.4; 12. Shad Mayfield, 14.1; 13. Ty Harris, Michael Otero and Adam Gray, NT. Average standings: 1. Taylor Santos, 32.8 seconds on four head; 2. Marty Yates, 33.1; 3. Haven Meged, 33.6; 4. Tuf Cooper, 34.0; 5. Tyson Durfey, 36.3; 6. (tie) Rhen Richard and Shad Mayfield, 39.7; 8. Cooper Martin, 43.2; 9. Tyler Milligan, 44.0; 10. Caleb Smidt, 44.6; 11. Riley Pruitt, 48.3; 12. Shane Hanchey, 22.2 seconds on three; 13. Michael Otero, 28.2; 14. Adam Gray, 37.4; 15. Ty Harris, 17.8 seconds on two. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $185,389; 2. Haven Meged, $167,744; 3. Marty Yates, $162,085; 4. Taylor Santos, $150,753; 5. Caleb Smidt, $141,90; 6. Tuf Cooper, $141,823; 7. Tyson Durfey, $137,263; 8. Tyler Milligan, $134,974; 9. Riley Pruitt, $130,266; 10. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 11. Ty Harris, $120,976; 12. Michael Otero, $111,924; 13. Adam Gray, $102,173; 14. Cooper Martin, $100,491; 15. Rhen Richard, $98,661.

Barrel racing: 1. Emily Miller, 13.64 seconds, $26,231; 2. Amberleigh Moore, 13.75, $20,731; 3. Jessica Routier, 13.77, $15,654; 4. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.79, $11,000; 5. Ericka Nelson, 13.81, $6,769; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 13.88, $4,231; 7. Jennifer Sharp, 13.91; 8. Nellie Miller, 13.93; 9. Shali Lord, 14.03; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.05; 11. Lisa Lockhart, 14.06; 12. Lacinda Rose, 14.16; 13. Stevi Hillman, 19.04; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 19.06; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, 23.84. Average standings: 1. Emily Miller, 54.64 seconds on four runs; 2. Jessica Routier, 55.48; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 55.55; 4. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 55.59; 5. Nellie Miller, 55.82; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 55.91; 7. Shali Lord, 56.07; 8. Jennifer Sharp, 56.18; 9. Lacinda Rose, 56.89; 10. Hailey Kinsel, 60.23; 11. Dona Kay Rule, 60.51; 12. Ericka Nelson, 60.87; 13. Amberleigh Moore, 64.96; 14. Stevi Hillman, 65.73; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, 71.44. World standings: 1. Emily Miller, $196,991; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $183,828; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 4. Nellie Miller, $175,611; 5. Amberleigh Moore, $161,021; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $148,392; 7. Jessica Routier, $138,736; 8. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 9. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $125,269; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $122,273; 11. Shali Lord, $121,776; 12. Ericka Nelson, $110,202; 13. Jennifer Sharp, $107,254; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, $100,361; 15. Lacinda Rose, $98,936.

Bull riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 91 points on Painted Pony Championship Rodeo’s Holy Holly, $26,231; 2. Trey Benton III, 90, $20,731; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, 88, $15,654; 4. Sage Kimzey, 86.5, $11,000; 5. Trey Kimzey, 86, $6,769; 6. Jeff Askey, 85, $4,231; 7. Jordan Spears, 84; 8. Koby Radley, 82.5; 9. Tyler Bingham, 80; 10. Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Garrett Smith, Daylon Swearingen, Jordan Hansen and Clayton Sellars, NS. Average standings: 1. Boudreaux Campbell, 262 points on three head; 2. Koby Radley, 261; 3. Sage Kimzey, 258.5; 4. Stetson Wright, 183.5 points on two; 5. (tie) Jordan Hansen and Trey Benton III, 179.5; 7. Garrett Smith, 178.5; 8. Tyler Bingham, 170; 9. Jordan Spears, 166.5; 10. Trey Kimzey, 86 points on one; 11. Jeff Askey, 85; 12. Clayton Sellars, 84.5; 13. Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost and Daylon Swearingen, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $301,271; 2. Stetson Wright, $214,883; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, $196,143; 4. Trey Benton III, $175,996; 5. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 6. Jordan Hansen, $163,811; 7. Trevor Kastner, $159,100; 8. Koby Radley, $158,118; 9. Tyler Bingham, $153,181; 10. Clayton Sellars, $139,191; 11. Jordan Spears, $131,548; 12. Josh Frost, $129,561; 13. Jeff Askey, $127,925; 14. Trey Kimzey, $124,930; 15. Daylon Swearingen, $121,837.

All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $245,461; 2. Clay Smith, $206,479; 3. Tuf Cooper, $195,986; 4. Caleb Smidt, $155,190; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 7. Steven Dent, $111,577; 8. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 9. Josh Frost, $92,732; 10. Daylon Swearingen, $80,920.

December 9, 2019

Koby Radley’s 92-point ride snares bull riding title

LAS VEGAS – Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Spotted Demon has been too much to handle for almost every cowboy.

But the 2018 PRCA Bull of the Year met his match Saturday night.

Montpelier, La., cowboy Koby Radley registered an electric 92-point ride on Spotted Demon to win Round 3 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo before 16,831 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“I don’t know – but I knew a lot of it was the bull,” Radley said about his ride, which was a career best. “He has been around a long time and I’d seen a lot of good guys get on him and a lot of good guys get bucked off him.

“It’s huge to ride Spotted Demon and to be 92 on him and win a round on him. To be able to ride one of the greatest bulls of all time is great. You are on Cloud 9; he was stout and all there, and I felt all 92 points out of him.”

Radley – counting ground money – earned $33,560 for his victory.

“It’s great,” Radley said of the big payday. “This is the rank pen and the best bulls in the world, and everyone who rode here had their hands full.”

Radley made his Wrangler NFR debut a year ago but didn’t win a round.

“I didn’t get a round win last year, and that was one of my goals this year,” Radley said. “It’s huge for my confidence to get a big win early in the Finals.”

Chase Brooks ties Round 3 saddle bronc riding record

Chase Brooks won his first round of the 2019 Wrangler NFR with a Round 3 record-tying ride.

The Deer Lodge, Mont., cowboy had a 90-point ride on Outlawbuckers Rodeo’s Lunatic Party.

Brooks shares the Round 2 record with ProRodeo Hall of Famer Billy Etbauer, who had 90-point rides in 1999 and 2005, and Isaac Diaz, who did it in 2018.

“Yeah, it was nice to have one that was that much fun,” Brooks said of Lunatic Party. “(Friday night) was a lot of work, and I came up a little short.

“Oh, man, that’s awesome (to tie the record). Shoot, it’s cool to have my name by those guys. I’ve watched them since I was starting and looked up to them.”

Between the 2018 Wrangler NFR and this year’s Finals, Brooks has been on a roll, winning three of the last seven rounds.

“That’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s nice to do one by myself, because I split every other (round win). It’s good to get one alone.”

Tuf Cooper tops tie-down ropers

Tuf Cooper, a three-time, tie-down roping world champion, knows how to win at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Cooper added to his Wrangler NFR success by winning Round 3 with a 6.9-second run.

Cooper earned a $26,231 check for his win. He’s sixth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $141,823. He’s also leading the average with a 24.5-second time on three head.

Cooper, who won the 2017 all-around world title, is third in the all-around standings after three rounds.

“It’s every cowboy’s dream to compete here, and winning a round feels amazing,” Cooper said. “I felt relaxed and was able to get the start that I wanted, so that helped out.”

Although Cooper is a Wrangler NFR veteran, he still enjoys soaking in the experience.

“Vegas is Cowboy Town during the NFR, it’s amazing,” Cooper said. “Our whole family is here and the entire Western industry. If you’re not here and read this, you’ve got seven nights to get out here. It’s a 10-day marathon, each night you’ve got to do your best. Every night you’ve got to rope better than all the other guys.”

Bareback rider Tanner Aus takes win with 90-point ride

The rematch for Tanner Aus was as good as the first.

After winning Rodeo Corpus Christi (Texas) with a 90-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage in April, it was more of the same for Aus and Full Baggage in Round 3 of the Wrangler NFR.

Aus had a 90-point trip on Full Baggage to win the round and earn $26,231.

“I would like to keep this 90-point streak going with that horse,” Aus said. “I was really excited to see that I had that one. That was a great horse to have in this pen. There were a lot of strong horses out (Saturday night), horses that strike fear into the hearts of men. I had a little history with that horse, and I was thankful. It feels good. You can’t stub your toe on him.”

The ride was everything Aus thought it would be – and more. Full Baggage was the PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2013.

“It kind of felt like it was all I could do to keep up with him to be honest,” Aus said. “It was a fight to the end, and he got to the fence right there at the whistle and it timed out perfectly. It was one of those where you don’t know what the score is going to be. I was thankful to hear it (the score). I’m kind of getting things rolling this week. It was a tough first couple of rounds, and now I got something good.”

Aus received a no score in Round 1 and failed to place in Round 2.

Team ropers Wade/Davison claim second win in three rounds

Team ropers Tyler Wade and Cole Davison have already had a stout Wrangler NFR, and only three rounds have been completed.

Wade/Davison won Round 1 with a 4.0-second run, then went out Saturday night and recorded a 3.7-second run to capture the Round 3 victory.

“The money is awesome, and we have $62,000 won already and that is a good feeling,” Wade said. “It’s nice to have that much in the third round, but right now it’s too early to talk averages.”

Davison also is happy about the way things are unfolding for his team.

“Obviously, we are here to catch every one of them, and nobody thinks about the average until the end of the week because there’s so much money,” Davison said. “This is a humbling sport, so I just try to stay even keeled.”

Wade and Davison know their respective horses are fueling their victory binge.

“I rode my new bay named Spur,” Wade said. “This is his fifth steer with me in a rodeo setup, but he’s 12 years old now and was used for roping before by his previous owner. We did a lot of practice with him and he is taking it well. I was a little nervous about the crowd and sounds, but he’s doing great so far, and I hope he keeps it up.”

Davison also praised his mount.

“I was riding Apollo Oak,” Davison said. “I bought him from Rhen Richard. He (Apollo Oak) is pretty spot on, and I didn’t do a good job of getting out, but he reads the cow well.”

Steer wrestler Hunter Cure claims title

Hunter Cure, a two-time PRCA world champion steer wrestler, grabbed the headlines Saturday night.

The Holliday, Texas, cowboy won the round with a 3.8-second run. The victory came after Cure had a wild Round 2 run where he flipped over and still registered an 8.9-second time.

“It feels good to actually break the ice at any point in the week and get your first check, and it’s pretty sweet following up a pretty unique run from (Friday night) to a first-place run (Saturday night). It’s kind of a daylight and dark kind of thing.”

Cure used his Friday run as a learning tool.

“My hazer, Lee Graves, and I took about five minutes (Friday) when we finally got the right angle of both horses and the steer,” Cure said. “We frame-by-framed it until we figured out where our deficiencies were and got up this morning and tried to work on those.”

Cure was quick to credit his success to Graves, who won steer wrestling world championships in 2005 and 2009.

“You can’t replace a two-time world champion steer wrestler, but also a man who’s hazed over 100 steers in this building,” Cure said. “So, I’m very fortunate to have him in my corner.”

Amberleigh Moore is tops in barrel racing

Barrel racer Amberleigh Moore is back on track.

After knocking down a barrel in Round 1, she picked up an $11,000 check in Round 2.

In Round 3, Moore claimed the title with a 13.62-second run.

“Paige (Moore’s horse) just loves this arena so much,” Moore said. “She came in the first night, and she was so excited to be here that I think she got too excited. She over-worked and lost me. She came back (Friday night) and played it safe, which was fine because we picked up a check. Then tonight, I knew she’d come back and tighten it up, and I just had to be ready to let it roll.”

Moore said her Wrangler NFR experience is paying off.

“Being that it’s my fourth year here and it’s Paige’s 33rd run in that arena, we both know every inch of that arena, and I just have to be ready for it every step of the way,” Moore said.

Third Performance Results, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Tanner Aus, 90 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage, $26,231; 2. Trenten Montero, 89, $20,731; 3. Kaycee Feild, 88, $15,654; 4. Tim O’Connell, 87, $11,000; 5. Clayton Biglow, 86, $6,769; 6. Caleb Bennett, 84, $4,231; 7. Steven Dent, 82; 8. Tilden Hooper, 79.5; 9. Richmond Champion, 79; 10. Taylor Broussard, 76; 11. Orin Larsen, 75; 12. Clint Laye, 71; 13. Austin Foss, Ty Breuer and Jake Brown, NS. Average standings: 1. Tim O’Connell, 264.5 points on three head; 2. Trenten Montero, 263.5; 3. Richmond Champion, 259.5; 4. Clayton Biglow, 258.5; 5. Kaycee Feild, 252.5; 6. Steven Dent, 252; 7. Taylor Broussard, 246.5; 8. Clint Laye, 246; 9. Tilden Hooper, 244; 10. Orin Larsen, 239; 11. Caleb Bennett, 174 points on two; 12. Tanner Aus, 172.5; 13. Ty Breuer, 171; 14. Austin Foss, 167.5; 15. Jake Brown, 86.5 points on one. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $219,452; 2. Kaycee Feild, $201,859; 3. Orin Larsen, $185,558; 4. Richmond Champion, $182,714; 5. Tim O’Connell, $161,668; 6. Tilden Hooper, $158,559; 7. Caleb Bennett, $140,857; 8. Trenten Montero, $137,719; 9. Clint Laye, $128,954; 10. Tanner Aus, $117,826; 11. Ty Breuer, $107,584; 12. Jake Brown, $105,068; 13. Steven Dent, $103,799; 14. Austin Foss, $102,895; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.

Steer wrestling: 1. Hunter Cure, 3.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Will Lummus and Tyler Pearson, 4.1, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack, J.D. Struxness and Bridger Chambers, 4.3, $7,333; 7. Matt Reeves, 4.4; 8. Cameron Morman, 4.7; 9. Ty Erickson, 4.8; 10. (tie) Riley Duvall and Kyle Irwin, 5.7; 12. Tanner Brunner, 6.6; 13. Scott Guenthner, 7.4; 14. Dakota Eldridge, 13.6; 15. Stetson Jorgensen, 16.0. Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 12.0 seconds on three head; 2. J.D. Struxness, 12.4; 3. Matt Reeves, 13.6; 4. Cameron Morman, 14.4; 5. Riley Duvall, 15.3; 6. Hunter Cure, 17.4; 7. Bridger Chambers, 22.3; 8. Tyler Pearson, 23.4; 9. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Dakota Eldridge, 24.3; 11. Kyle Irwin, 24.6; 12. Scott Guenthner, 29.9; 13. Ty Erickson, 32.5; 14. Will Lummus, 8.4 seconds on two; 15. Tanner Brunner, 16.6. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson; $156,081; 2. Tyler Waguespack, $147,464; 3. Hunter Cure, $140,799; 4. J.D. Struxness, $134,150; 5. Scott Guenthner, $128,545; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, $127,015; 7. Dakota Eldridge, $117,334; 8. Will Lummus, $115,998; 9. Bridger Chambers, $114,554; 10. Tyler Pearson, $112,712; 11. Kyle Irwin, $97,703; 12. Matt Reeves, $96,259; 13. Riley Duvall, $95,963; 14. Cameron Morman, $88,114; 15. Tanner Brunner, $84,950.

Team roping: 1. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 3.7 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 3.9, $20,731; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.0, $15,654; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.6, $11,000; 5. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 5.1, $4,231; 7. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 8.9; 8. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 14.0; 9. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 14.5; 10. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 14.8; 11. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, NT. Average standings: 1. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 13.5 seconds on three head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.0; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 14.9; 4. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 19.9; 5. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 25.1; 6. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 28.0; 7. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 29.1; 8. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 34.2; 9. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 7.7 seconds on two; 10. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 9.4; 11. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 10.5; 12. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 13.6; 13. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 13.8; 14. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 4.6 seconds on one; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 19.0. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $186,743; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $153,558; 3. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 4. Clay Tryan, $133,896; 5. Brenten Hall, $130,657; 6. Riley Minor, $125,418; 7. Cody Snow, $120,707; 8. Coleman Proctor, $114,318; 9. Chad Masters, $112,298; 10. Ty Blasingame, $111,490; 11. Matt Sherwood, $111,166; 12. Erich Rogers, $99,653; 13. Luke Brown, $97,055; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $93,071; 15. Jake Cooper, $90,524. World standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $150,877; 2. Jade Corkill, $144,869; 3. Jake Long, $137,627; 4. Cole Davison, $134,371; 5. Chase Tryan, $128,076; 6. Brady Minor, $125,418; 7. Kyle Lockett, $124,384; 8. Hunter Koch, $119,269; 9. Ryan Motes, $119,166; 10. Joseph Harrison, $115,047; 11. Travis Graves, $113,165; 12. Wesley Thorp, $112,950; 13. Paul Eaves, $101,562; 14. Caleb Anderson, $89,723; 15. Tyler Worley, $88,524.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Chase Brooks, 90 points on Outlawbuckers Rodeo’s Lunatic Party, $26,231; 2. Zeke Thurston, 89.5, $20,731; 3. Dawson Hay, 88.5, $15,654; 4. Brody Cress, 88, $11,000; 5. (tie) Spencer Wright and Jake Watson, 87, $5,500 each; 7. Ryder Wright, 86.5; 8. Jesse Wright, 85.5; 9. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5; 10. Mitch Pollock, 84; 11. Rusty Wright, 83.5; 12. Colt Gordon, 82.5; 13. Sterling Crawley, Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, NS. Average standings: 1. Brody Cress, 252 points on three head; 2. Rusty Wright, 250.5; 3. Zeke Thurston, 177.5 points on two; 4. Chase Brooks, 176; 5. Jesse Wright, 175; 6. Spencer Wright, 173; 7. Dawson Hay, 171.5; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 169; 9. Colt Gordon, 162; 10. Jake Watson, 87 points on one; 11. (tie) Ryder Wright, Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, 86.5; 14. Mitch Pollock, 84; 15. Sterling Crawley, NS. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $234,488; 2. Zeke Thurston, $233,953; 3. Chase Brooks, $159,847; 4. Rusty Wright, $148,923; 5. Jacobs Crawley, $146,666; 6. Brody Cress, $145,205; 7. Spencer Wright, $142,938; 8. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 9. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 10. Dawson Hay, $125,965; 11. Sterling Crawley, $124,427; 12. Jake Watson, $124,291; 13. J.J. Elshere, $119,003; 14. Mitch Pollock, $109,542; 15. Colt Gordon, $101,071.

Tie-down roping: 1. Tuf Cooper, 6.9 seconds, $26,231; 2. Shane Hanchey, 7.1, $20,731; 3. (tie) Ty Harris and Shad Mayfield, 7.3, $13,327; 5. Tyler Milligan, 7.6, $6,769; 6. Taylor Santos, 7.9, $4,231; 7. Rhen Richard, 8.5; 8. Haven Meged, 8.6; 9. Tyson Durfey, 9.1; 10. Adam Gray, 9.2; 11. Marty Yates, 9.4; 12. Michael Otero, 10.5; 13. Cooper Martin, 11.0; 14. Caleb Smidt, 15.7; 15. Riley Pruitt, 16.7. Average standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, 24.5 seconds on three head; 2. Taylor Santos, 24.7; 3. Marty Yates, 25.1; 4. Haven Meged, 25.5; 5. Shad Mayfield, 25.6; 6. Tyson Durfey, 26.2; 7. Michael Otero, 28.2; 8. Rhen Richard, 29.5; 9. Tyler Milligan, 33.6; 10. Cooper Martin, 34.5; 11. Caleb Smidt, 35.1; 12. Adam Gray, 37.4; 13. Riley Pruitt, 40.6; 14. Shane Hanchey, 14.7 seconds on two; 15. Ty Harris, 17.8. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $159,158; 2. Haven Meged, $158,860; 3. Marty Yates, $146,431; 4. Caleb Smidt, $141,900; 5. Taylor Santos, $141,869; 6. Tuf Cooper, $141,823; 7. Tyson Durfey, $137,263; 8. Tyler Milligan, $134,974; 9. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 10. Ty Harris, $120,976; 11. Michael Otero, $111,924; 12. Riley Pruitt, $109,535; 13. Adam Gray, $102,173; 14. Rhen Richard, $98,661; 15. Cooper Martin, $96,260.

Barrel racing: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 13.62 seconds, $26,231; 2. Emily Miller, 13.63, $20,731; 3. Dona Kay Rule, 13.68, $15,654; 4. Jessica Routier, 13.84, $11,000; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.88, $6,769; 6. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.90, $4,231; 7. Nellie Miller, 13.93; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 13.94; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 13.96; 10. Lacinda Rose, 13.99; 11. Shali Lord, 14.11; 12. Stevi Hillman, 14.18; 13. Jennifer Sharp, 14.19; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 14.31; 15. Ericka Nelson, 19.03. Average standings: 1. Emily Miller, 41.00 seconds on three runs; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 41.45; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 41.49; 4. Jessica Routier, 41.71; 5. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 41.80; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 41.86; 7. Nellie Miller, 41.89; 8. Shali Lord, 42.04; 9. Jennifer Sharp, 42.27; 10. Lacinda Rose, 42.73; 11. Hailey Kinsel, 46.35; 12. Stevi Hillman, 46.69; 13. Ericka Nelson, 47.06; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 47.60; 15. Amberleigh Moore, 51.21. World standings: 1. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $179,597; 3. Nellie Miller, $175,611; 4. Emily Miller, $170,760; 5. Dona Kay Rule, $148,392; 6. Amberleigh Moore, $140,290; 7. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 8. Jessica Routier, $123,082; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $122,273; 10. Shali Lord, $121,776; 11. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $114,269; 12. Jennifer Sharp, $107,254; 13. Ericka Nelson, $103,433; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, $100,361; 15. Lacinda Rose, $98,936.

Bull riding: 1. Koby Radley, 92 points on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Spotted Demon, $33,564; 2. Jordan Hansen, 90, $28,064; 3.Trey Benton III, 89.5, $22,987; 4. Stetson Wright, Sage Kimzey, Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Tyler Bingham, Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Daylon Swearingen, Jordan Spears, Trey Kimzey, Clayton Sellars, Boudreaux Campbell, NS. Average standings: 1. Jordan Hansen, 179.5 points on two head; 2. (tie) Koby Radley and Garrett Smith, 178.5; 4. Boudreaux Campbell, 174.0; 5. Sage Kimzey, 172; 6. Stetson Wright, 92.5 points on one; 7. Tyler Bingham, 90; 8. Trey Benton III, 89.5; 9. Clayton Sellars, 84.5; 10. Jordan Spears, 82.5, 11. Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Jeff Askey, Daylon Swearingen, Trey Kimzey, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $290,271; 2. Stetson Wright, $188,652; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, $180,489; 4. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 5. Jordan Hansen, $163,811; 6. Trevor Kastner, $159,100; 7. Koby Radley, $158,118; 8. Trey Benton III, $155,264; 9. Tyler Bingham, $153,181; 10. Clayton Sellars, $139,191; 11. Jordan Spears, $131,548; 12. Josh Frost, $129,561; 13. Jeff Askey, $123,694; 14. Daylon Swearingen, $121,837; 15. Trey Kimzey, $118,160.

All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $219,230; 2. Clay Smith, $197,595; 3. Tuf Cooper, $195,986; 4. Caleb Smidt, $155,190; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 7. Steven Dent, $111,577; 8. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 9. Josh Frost, $92,732; 10. Daylon Swearingen, $80,920.

December 8, 2019

Saddle bronc rider Jesse Wright gets 10th career Wrangler NFR win

LAS VEGAS – Jesse Wright is no stranger to success at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Making his eighth appearance at the Wrangler NFR, Wright won his 10th career round with an 89.5-point ride on United Pro Rodeo’s Awesome Sauce before 16,809 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center, Friday night.

“My nephew (Ryder) got on him in Cheyenne (Wyo.) and missed him out, and Stetson had been on him three or four times,” Jesse Wright said. “That horse is really hard to mark out and is really droppy. I got a good start on him, my mark out was good and strong, and then it got rolling after that.”

Jesse’s trips to the Wrangler NFR have come in 2010-14, 2016 and 2017, highlighted by his 2012 world championship. He entered this Wrangler NFR 13th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

After his $26,231 victory, Wright moved into eighth place in the world standings with $132,736.

“It feels really good,” Wright said. “You go from really low (after getting a no score in Round 1) to really high. It’s been a while (since I won a round), and it felt good.”

Jesse had reason to smile since only four saddle bronc riders made 8-second rides Friday. Rusty Wright, Jesse’s nephew, placed second in the round with an 85.5-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Cash Deal.

“Horse by horse and just try to stay positive, have fun and take it all in,” Jesse said about his mindset for the remainder of the Wrangler NFR. “You’ve got to keep having fun no matter what is going on, because if you start beating yourself up too bad it isn’t going to get too much better than what it is. Round by round, and horse by horse.”

Trenton Montero wins with Round 2 bareback riding record

This is Trenton Montero’s first appearance at the Wrangler NFR, and it didn’t take him long to create a lasting memory.

The Winnemucca, Nev., cowboy had a 90.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Prairie Rose to break the NFR Round 2 record and capture the victory.

Montero broke the Round 2 record of 89.5 points set by Cimarron Gerke in 2004.

“It is a huge honor to be able to get on a horse like that, and being able to get by him was great,” said Montero, 27. “I thought I was going to be on the ground more than once during that ride, and I feel like I definitely worked hard for it. I’m humbled to be part of that legacy.

“It’s a huge relief to win a round here. Even though I have worked my whole life for this and I was able to get here, you see the guys like Kaycee Feild and Clayton Biglow and Orin Larsen in the locker room with you, and it is hard not to question yourself. I proved to myself that I belong here with these guys.”

It was Montero’s first trip aboard Prairie Rose, and it was a match-up he was craving.

“I have watched it a ton of times, and I have to say I was pretty stoked to see that I had it drawn,” Montero said. “(The ride) was pretty much all reaction. I didn’t even know where I was half of that ride. All I could do was just keep setting my feet. It goes back to getting on the spur board and it all just clicked, and I kept gassing it.”

Tyler Waguespack continues success in Vegas

The Thomas & Mack Arena has been extremely good to steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack.

The Gonzales, La., cowboy won world championships and average titles at the Wrangler NFR in 2016 and 2018, and he shows no signs of slowing down at the 2019 Finals.

Waguespack won Round 2 with a 3.6-second run, claiming the ninth NFR round win of his career.

“It’s amazing to have a round win at the National Finals,” Waguespack said. “I actually ran that steer in the Cinch Shootout in Fort Madison (Iowa) earlier this year, and I was fortunate enough to win it on him. So, I had a really good game plan and knew some particulars about him. I was 4.3 on him in the Cinch Shootout and came back and cleaned it up a lot with a 3.6 tonight, so it was awesome.”

Waguespack, with his $26,231 round win, moved into second place in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $140,130.

“My goal going forward is to do the best I can on each steer I draw, and if I’m fortunate enough to get another gold buckle, that would be outstanding,” he said. “In the meantime, I’ve got eight more rounds to go and I’m going to try to do as well as I can on each animal I draw.”

Marty Yates wins tie-down roping in Round 2

Marty Yates has always been known as a fast roper who is not afraid to take chances.

The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy had his skills on display Friday, winning Round 2 with a 7.3-second run.

“It’s awesome to start off on a good foot,” Yates said. “(Thursday night) I was fortunate to place a little bit (splitting fourth with an 8.4-second run). The calves have been a little funny. … So, it’s nice to come out on top the second round and have a little bit of a lead so far.”

Yates, who came to the Wrangler NFR seventh in the world standings, moved up to second in the standings with $146,431. He’s already earned $45,115 at the NFR.

“It’s great starting the momentum off early and being able to carry it through the week and put as much money in my pocket as possible,” said Yates, who is making his sixth consecutive appearance at the NFR.

Garrett Smith captures bull riding Round 2 win

Bull rider Garrett Smith is making the most of his third-career appearance at the Wrangler NFR.

The Rexburg, Idaho, cowboy has already covered two bulls, his latest 8-second ride a 91.5-point, Round 2 victory on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Black Gold.

Counting ground money, Smith collected a $33,564 check, which pushed him to fourth in the world standings with $171,769. He’s also leading the NFR average with 178.5 points on two head.

“That’s pretty sweet,” Smith said. “I didn’t even know how much it was at first, but just winning a round even if everyone stays on is big money. I knew he (Black Gold) went right, but that’s pretty much all. Riding him is like letting a balloon loose. It was going by really fast and at one point I closed my eyes, and it worked out.”

Smith won Round 10 in 2016 and Round 2 in 2017 and was thrilled to get his third round victory.

“This one is big. I’d won two rounds before, but it was all on the same bull, Rafter G Rodeo’s J Lazy, and now I needed to pick a new one,” he said.

Team ropers Smith/Corkill claim Round 2 crown

Team roping header Clay Smith and heeler Jade Corkill know how to win world championships.

Smith is the reigning team roping header world champion, and Corkill has three team roping heeler world titles – 2012-14.

The duo teamed up this summer, and the partnership is still paying dividends at the Wrangler NFR.

Smith and Corkill won Round 2 Friday with a 4.4-second run.

“He (Corkill) did everything,” Smith said. “I kind of missed my dally, and by the time I looked up, it was time to face.”

Corkill also was quick to credit his partner.

“I tried to focus on doing my job and plan on him turning the steer, and he does it better than anyone else,” Corkill said.

Smith and Corkill were quick to acknowledge their horsepower.

“I was riding Marty, he’s 12 years old,” Smith said. “He’s been good for a long time, and I’ve had him since he was 4 years old. He did pretty good tonight.”

Corkill also praised his horse.

“I was riding Huey,” he said. “He’s 10 years old, and I’ve had him for a year. He scores good and fast and can do everything we need – and he wants to do it. He did first-place good tonight.”

After their Round 2 victory, Smith and Corkill are leading their respective world standings, but Corkill knows there are no guarantees with eight rounds remaining.

“When you do well early, it helps, but it’s over now and we have to start over (Saturday) night and do our jobs every time and hope the end results are what we want,” Corkill said. “It won’t be for lack of trying. We’re feeling 10 times better than last night.”

Smith and Corkill had a 9.4-second run in Round 1 and did not place.

Dona Kay Rule sets pace in barrel racing

Barrel racer Dona Kay Rule didn’t place in Round 1 but made up for it in Round 2.

Rule, making her inaugural appearance at the Wrangler NFR, won Round 2 with a 13.69-second run.

“Oh, it’s incredible,” Rule said. “I never doubted my ability, but I never had a good opportunity like I do now with the beautiful, wonderful horse I have and all the extras he comes with that you need. I envisioned myself doing this years ago, and I remember being at the Cow Palace in the early ’70s or late ’60s and Sammy Thurman riding by, and she turned and winked at me. I thought, ‘I want to be her someday.’ It just took me 60-something years to get there.”

Rule was pleased with the smooth run she made Friday.

“We had a little trouble last night and stumbled, and I just knew I needed to hold his hip in on barrel one,” she said. “Boy, he took it.”

Rule is riding High Valor, 10, the winner of the 2019 Purina Horse of the Year presented by AQHA Award.

“I knew he was special, but it took me a long time to train him because he’s pretty busy-minded. I’ve really enjoyed him, and he counts on me a lot. It’s been kind of fun having a real friend and an ally.”

Second Performance Results, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Trenten Montero, 90.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Prairie Rose, $26,231; 2. Tim O’Connell, 89.5, $20,731; 3. Richmond Champion, 89, $15,654; 4. (tie) Clint Laye and Ty Breuer, 87.5, $8,885 each; 6. Taylor Broussard, 87, $4,231; 7. Jake Brown, 86.5; 8. Steven Dent, 84; 9. Tanner Aus, 82.5; 10. Clayton Biglow, 82; 11. Austin Foss, 81.5; 12. Kaycee Feild, 77.5; 13.Orin Larsen, 76.5; 14. Tilden Hooper, 76; 15. Caleb Bennett, NS. Average standings: 1. Richmond Champion, 180.5 points on two head; 2. Tim O’Connell, 177.5; 3. Clint Laye, 175; 4. Trenten Montero, 174.5; 5. Clayton Biglow, 172.5; 6. Ty Breuer, 171; 7. Taylor Broussard, 170.5; 8. Steven Dent, 170; 9. Austin Foss, 167.5; 10. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Tilden Hooper, 164.5; 12. Orin Larsen, 164; 13. Caleb Bennett, 90 points on one head; 14. Jake Brown, 86.5; 15. Tanner Aus, 82.5. World standings:1. Clayton Biglow, $212,683; 2. Kaycee Feild, $186,205; 3. Orin Larsen, $185,558; 4. Richmond Champion, $182,714; 5. Tilden Hooper, $158,559; 6. Tim O’Connell, $150,668; 7. Caleb Bennett, $136,627; 8. Clint Laye, $128,954; 9. Trenten Montero, $116,988; 10. Ty Breuer, $107,584; 11. Jake Brown, $105,068; 12. Steven Dent, $103,799; 13. Austin Foss, $102,895; 14. Taylor Broussard, $93,502; 15. Tanner Aus, $91,595.

Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Scott Guenthner, Stetson Jorgensen and J.D. Struxness, 4.3, $15,795 each; 5. Matt Reeves, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Kyle Irwin, 4.9, $4,231; 7. Riley Duvall, 5.0; 8. Cameron Morman, 5.4; 9. Dakota Eldridge, 7.1; 10. Hunter Cure, 8.9; 11. Tanner Brunner, 10.0; 12. Bridger Chambers, 14.2; 13. Ty Erickson, 14.3; 14.Tyler Pearson, 15.0; 15. Will Lummus, NT. Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 7.7 seconds on two head; 2. J.D. Struxness, 8.1; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, 8.3; 4. Matt Reeves, 9.2; 5. Riley Duvall, 9.6; 6. Cameron Morman, 9.7; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 10.7; 8. Hunter Cure, 13.6; 9. Bridger Chambers, 18.0; 10. Kyle Irwin, 18.9; 11. Tyler Pearson, 19.3; 12. Scott Guenthner, 22.5; 13. Ty Erickson, 27.7; 14. Will Lummus, 4.3 seconds on one head; 15.Tanner Brunner, 10.0. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $156,081; 2. Tyler Waguespack, $140,130; 3.Scott Guenthner, $128,545; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, $127,015; 5. J.D. Struxness, $126,816; 6. Dakota Eldridge, $117,334; 7. Hunter Cure, $114,568; 8. Bridger Chambers, $107,221; 9. Will Lummus, $97,805; 10. Kyle Irwin, $97,703; 11. Matt Reeves, $96,259; 12. Riley Duvall, $95,963; 13. Tyler Pearson, $94,520; 14. Cameron Morman, $88,114; 15.Tanner Brunner, $84,950.

Team roping: 1. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 4.6, $20,731; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.7, $15,654; 4. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 4.8, $7,333; 7. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 5.0; 8. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.1; 9. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 6.0; 10. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 9.7; 11. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 10.7; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 14.4; 13. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Luke Brown/Paul Eaves and Tyler Wade, NT. Average standings: 1. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 9.4 seconds on two head; 3. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 9.6; 4. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 10.5; 5. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 10.9; 6. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 13.8; 7. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 14.0; 8. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 14.6; 9. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 14.8; 10. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 19.4; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 20.4; 12. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 4.0 seconds on one head; 13. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 4.6; 14. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 4.7; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 19.0. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $186,743; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $142,558; 3. Clay Tryan, $133,896; 4. Riley Minor, $125,418; 5. Coleman Proctor, $114,318; 6. Ty Blasingame, $111,490; 7. Brenten Hall, $109,927; 8. Tyler Wade, $109,625; 9. Matt Sherwood, $106,935; 10. Chad Masters, $105,529; 11. Cody Snow, $105,054; 12. Erich Rogers, $99,653; 13. Luke Brown, $97,055; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $93,071; 15. Jake Cooper, $90,524. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $144,869; 2. Junior Nogueira, $139,877; 3. Jake Long, $137,627; 4. Brady Minor, $125,418; 5. Kyle Lockett, $124,384; 6. Ryan Motes, $119,166; 7. Hunter Koch, $115,038; 8. Travis Graves, $113,165; 9. Joseph Harrison, $108,278; 10. Cole Davison, $108,140; 11. Chase Tryan, $107,345; 12. Paul Eaves, $101,562; 13. Wesley Thorp, $97,296; 14. Caleb Anderson, $89,723; 15. Tyler Worley, $88,524.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jesse Wright, 89.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Awesome Sauce, $26,231; 2. Rusty Wright, 85.5, $20,731; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5, $15,654; 4. Brody Cress, 78.0, $11,000; 5. Ryder Wright, Zeke Thurston, Chase Brooks, Spencer Wright, Sterling Crawley, Mitch Pollock, Jake Watson, Dawson Hay, Bradley Harter, Colt Gordon, J.J. Elshere, NS. Average standings: 1. Rusty Wright, 167.0 points on two head; 2. Brody Cress, 164.0; 3. Jesse Wright, 89.5 points on one head; 4. Zeke Thurston, 88; 5. (tie) Bradley Harter, J.J. Elshere, 86.5; 7. Chase Brooks and Spencer Wright, 86; 9. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5; 10. Dawson Hay, 83; 11. Colt Gordon, 79.5; 12. Ryder Wright, Sterling Crawley, Mitch Pollock and Jake Watson, NS. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $234,488; 2. Zeke Thurston, $213,222; 3. Rusty Wright, $148,923; 4. Jacobs Crawley, $146,666; 5. Spencer Wright, $137,438; 6. Brody Cress, $134,205; 7. Chase Brooks, $133,617; 8. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 9. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 10. Sterling Crawley, $124,427; 11. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 12. Jake Watson, $118,791; 13. Dawson Hay, $110,311; 14. Mitch Pollock, $109,542; 15. Colt Gordon, $101,071.

Tie-down roping: 1. Marty Yates, 7.3 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tyler Milligan, 8.2, $20,731; 3. (tie) Haven Meged and Shad Mayfield, 8.6, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Taylor Santos and Tyson Durfey, 8.7, $5,500 each; 7. Tuf Cooper, 8.9; 8. Michael Otero, 9.1; 9. Adam Gray, 9.3; 10. Cooper Martin, 9.6; 11. Caleb Smidt, 9.7; 12. Ty Harris, 10.5; 13. Rhen Richard, 11.7; 14. Riley Pruitt, 13.6; 15. Shane Hanchey, NT. Average standings: 1. Marty Yates, 15.7 seconds on two head; 2. Taylor Santos, 16.8; 3. Haven Meged, 16.9; 4. Tyson Durfey, 17.1; 5. Tuf Cooper, 17.6; 6. Michael Otero, 17.7; 7. Shad Mayfield, 18.3; 8. Caleb Smidt, 19.4; 9. Rhen Richard, 21.0; 10. Cooper Martin, 23.5; 11. Riley Pruitt, 23.9; 12. Tyler Milligan, 26.0; 13. Adam Gray, 28.2; 14. Shane Hanchey, 7.6 seconds on one head; 15. Ty Harris, 10.5. World standings: 1. Haven Meged, $158,860; 2. Marty Yates, $146,431; 3. Caleb Smidt, $141,900; 4. Shane Hanchey, $138,428; 5. Taylor Santos, $137,638; 6. Tyson Durfey, $137,263; 7. Tyler Milligan, $128,205; 8. Tuf Cooper, $115,592; 9. Shad Mayfield, $113,748; 10. Michael Otero, $111,924; 11. Riley Pruitt, $109,535; 12. Ty Harris, $107,649; 13. Adam Gray, $102,173; 14. Rhen Richard, $98,661; 15. Cooper Martin, $96,260.

Barrel racing: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 13.69 seconds, $26,231; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 13.73, $20,731; 3. Emily Miller, 13.74, $15,654; 4. Amberleigh Moore, 13.78, $11,000; 5. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.83, $6,769; 6. Lisa Lockhart, 13.85, $4,231; 7. Jessica Routier, 13.90; 8. Shali Lord,13.92; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.96; 10. Ericka Nelson, 13.98; 11. Nellie Miller, 14.06; 2. Jennifer Sharp, 14.11; 13. Cheyenne Wimberley, 14.20; 14. Lacinda Rose, 14.28; 15. Stevi Hillman, 18.76. Average standings: 1. Emily Miller, 27.37 seconds on two runs; 2. Lisa Lockhart, 27.55; 3. Dona Kay Rule, 27.77; 4. Jessica Routier, 27.87; 5. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 27.90; 6. Shali Lord, 27.93; 7. Nellie Miller, 27.96; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 27.98; 9. Ericka Nelson, 28.03; 10. Jennifer Sharp, 28.08; 11. Lacinda Rose, 28.74; 12. Hailey Kinsel, 32.39; 13. Stevi Hillman, 32.51; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 33.29; 15. Amberleigh Moore, 37.59. World standings: 1. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $179,597; 3. Nellie Miller, $175,611; 4. Emily Miller, $150,029; 5. Dona Kay Rule, $132,738; 6. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 7. Shali Lord, $121,776; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $115,503; 9. Amberleigh Moore, $114,059; 10. Jessica Routier, $112,082; 11. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $110,038; 12. Jennifer Sharp, $107,254; 13. Ericka Nelson, $103,433; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, $100,361; 15. Lacinda Rose, $98,936.

Bull riding: 1. Garrett Smith, 91.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Black Gold, $33,564; 2. Sage Kimzey, 84.5, $28,064; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, 82, $22,987; 4. Stetson Wright, Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Tyler Bingham, Koby Radley, Jeff Askey, Daylon Swearingen, Jordan Hansen, Jordan Spears, Trey Kimzey, Clayton Sellars and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Garrett Smith, 178.5 points on two head; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 174; 3. Sage Kimzey, 172; 4. Stetson Wright, 92.5 points on one head; 5. Tyler Bingham, 90; 6. Jordan Hansen, 89.5; 7. Koby Radley, 86.5; 8. Clayton Sellars, 84.5; 9. Jordan Spears, 82.5; 10. Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Jeff Askey, Daylon Swearingen, Trey Kimzey and Trey Benton III, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $290,271; 2. Stetson Wright, $188,652; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, $180,489; 4. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 5. Trevor Kastner, $159,100; 6. Tyler Bingham, $153,181; 7. Clayton Sellars, $139,191; 8. Jordan Hansen, $135,747; 9. Trey Benton III, $132,277; 10. Jordan Spears, $131,548; 11. Josh Frost, $129,561; 12. Koby Radley, $124,554; 13. Jeff Askey, $123,694; 14. Daylon Swearingen, $121,837; 15. Trey Kimzey, $118,160.

All-Around World Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $219,230; 2. Clay Smith, $197,595; 3. Tuf Cooper, $169,756; 4. Caleb Smidt, $155,190; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 7. Steven Dent, $111,577; 8. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 9. Josh Frost, $92,732; 10. Daylon Swearingen, $80,920; 11. Tanner Green, $72,714.

December 7, 2019

Champion wins Round 1 of Wrangler NFR with record ride

LAS VEGAS – This was a bareback riding round for the ages at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Thursday night.

Three riders all broke the previous round record, as Richmond Champion became the king of Round 1 with his 91.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler before 16,792 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“It’s pretty fun,” Champion said. “I’ve never gone out in the NFR and gotten a round win this early. That’s always the goal when you come here, you want to come out hot. Hopefully it will stay that way. The guys are riding great and the horses are great. I expect these records to keep getting broken all week long.”

Earlier in the round, Caleb Bennett set the Round 1 record with his 90-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Egyptian. The previous Round 1 record was 89 points, shared by Kaycee Feild (2011) and Wes Stevenson (2006).

Bennett held the record for less than five minutes as Clayton Biglow made a 90.5-point trip on Cervi Champion Rodeo’s RodeoHouston’s Ain’t No Angel.

But Champion claimed the record on Night Crawler. Wyatt Denny won Round 1 of the 2018 Wrangler NFR with an 87.5-point ride on Night Crawler.

“I had never been on that horse before,” Champion said. “I saw him on video a couple of times, and Caleb and I were talking and saying how (Night Crawler and Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Nightlivin) are about the same horse. Nightlivin had an off day and Night Crawler saved the day. The nerves for the first one are always the hardest here. That (first ride) brought me back to level ground, and I was feeling excited to get on that re-ride.”

Champion entered the Wrangler NFR fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings and was thrilled with his start at the Thomas & Mack. Champion earned $26,231 for his ride, moving him to fourth in the world standings – $45,623 behind leader Biglow.

“That (re-ride) was awesome,” Champion said. “It was one of those where you black out for a few seconds off the start, and the next thing you know you’re in the middle of him with your feet over your head. It was a lot of fun. It’s the kind you dream about getting on. This is a great confidence boost, and I want to keep the momentum rolling.”

Wade/Davison tie team roping Round 1 record

Team ropers Tyler Wade and Cole Davison equaled NFR history Thursday.

The partners registered a 4.0-second time to tie the NFR Round 1 record set by Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager in 2014.

“Oh, man, that’s pretty cool, and the steers are better this year and that makes for faster rounds and faster roping,” Wade said.

The round win moved Wade to eighth in the header world standings and Davison to 10th.

“Last year I roped terribly for the first three rounds and didn’t catch one,” Davison said. “I don’t get worked up either way, but this is an easier start than last year. I’m humbled to even be here, and every win is a big win to me.”

Rookie Stetson Wright wins round in first Wrangler NFR trip

It didn’t take bull rider Stetson Wright long to win a round at the Wrangler NFR.

The rookie won Round 1 with an electric 92.5-point ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Monte Walsh.

“It was amazing, I have envisioned it since I was a little kid here watching my dad (Cody Wright),” Wright said about his memorable eight-second performance. “I wanted to win a round in saddle bronc riding too, but I’m not complaining one bit.”

Wright, who also entered the NFR leading the all-around standings over team roping header Clay Smith, was excited to get aboard Monte Walsh – a bull he had done his homework on.

“I have watched him a bunch of times, and I wanted him before when we were out rodeoing and was so glad, I got him here instead,” Wright said. “He did exactly what I thought he would do, and he looked a little juicier.”

With one round victory under his belt, Wright felt a sense of relief.

“It means everything, it’s a great way to start the week, and my nerves have left the room because of that ride,” he said. “The main thing was proving I should be here, and now I know I belong here.”

Hanchey notches tie-down roping win

Shane Hanchey was in top form in Round 1.

Hanchey, the 2013 PRCA Tie-down Roping World Champion, stopped the clock in 7.6 seconds to capture the victory.

“It feels good. It’s important to get off on the right foot,” Hanchey said. “It’s such a long rodeo. Going for 10 days, it seems like if it doesn’t go perfect the first couple rounds you get to panicking. I’ve been fortunate to have good luck in the past in the first round. This builds a lot of confidence and momentum for me, and I’m looking forward to it the next nine nights.”

Hanchey, who is competing in his 10th NFR, was staying focused on his job at hand.

“I didn’t watch many other runs,” Hanchey said. “When (Taylor Santos) recorded a time of 8.1 (seconds), I thought if I went a little faster than him, I’d win some good money. I bought my horse from Mike Johnson in 2016, his name is Bam Bam. He fits my style. This is my fourth NFR with him.”

Steer wrestler Eldridge gets off to fast start

Dakota Eldridge seems to perform his best in Las Vegas’ bright lights.

In his first five appearances at the Wrangler NFR, he’s won the average twice – 2015 and 2017.

The Elko, Nev., cowboy had his talent on full display during his sixth trip, winning Round 1 in 3.6 seconds. The victory helped him rocket up from 11th to second in the world standings – $38,747 behind leader Ty Erickson.

“That was really one of my goals, to put the pedal down at the beginning,” Eldridge said. “This year, I just told myself I’m going to give it 100 percent and go for every round (win). I’m coming in at the best place you could ever come in, down toward the bottom, and nobody knows you’re in contention for a world title. So, my plan is to just keep slipping up there and go for every one and just have fun.

“It’s just a blessing to be down here after last year when I tore up my knee. You never take it for granted down here.”

In 2018, Eldridge suffered a season-ending left knee injury July 17 at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. Eldridge finished second in the world standings in 2015 and third in the world in 2017. He was quick to credit his horsepower and his hazer for his most-recent success.

“I’m riding Rusty, my good horse, that I’ve ridden every year here,” Eldridge said. “He’s actually been here more than I have, and he knows the start here better than I do. Clayton Hass is hazing for me, and he’s worth his weight in gold. He just brings them where I need him to bring them. We’re a good team together.”

Thurston tops saddle bronc riding Round 1 leaderboard

Zeke Thurston entered the 2019 Wrangler NFR in second place in the world standings –

$47,497 behind Ryder Wright.

Thurston, of Big Valley, Alberta, edged closer to Wright by winning Round 1 with an 88-point ride on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue.

The $26,231 victory by Thurston got him within $21,266 of Wright.

“I’d never had it (Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue) before, but I’d seen it lots,” Thurston said. “Cort Scheer and I split the sixth round here last year, and he was on that horse. They’ve won lots of rounds on it, and it’s a great horse. Everywhere they get on that horse, they’re going to win. I was very happy with the draw.

“She tries hard every time. She jumps out there and has a right-hand move, goes down the front of the chutes, gets up under herself and kicks really good. Just a bronc rider’s dream, I guess. She’s got lots of timing, has lots of snap and is kind of an electric little thing. She’s awesome.”

Thurston said the early win was just what he wanted.

“Oh, it’s great,” Thurston said. “It gives you a confidence boost. You’ve got the hardest one out of the way, and you just try to keep the ball rolling and just have fun.”

Barrel racer Emily Miller snares win

Rookie Emily Miller was nearly overcome with emotion when she claimed a Round 1 victory with a 13.63-second run.

“I’m about to cry, I’m so excited, honestly,” Miller said. “It’s a dream come true. Any time you get to run with this caliber of women and this much horsepower, it’s surreal. To get the win tonight is pretty neat. You know it’s going to be amazing (to be here), but to actually experience it is unbelievable.”

Miller also praised her 9-year-old horse Chongo.

“Chongo, he’s spectacular,” she said. “That horse is such an athlete. Honestly, I struggled with him for a long time, because he was so athletic. I was over-riding him and not giving him the space. He needed to do his job, so it took us a little while.

“I took him back to Kylie Weast, who trained him, and she helped a lot. It kind of took just dumbing it down and letting him do his job. He knows what to do, and I’m so proud of him. It’s so neat to get to bring him here, because he deserves it.

First Performance Results, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, 91.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler, $26,231; 2. Clayton Biglow, 90.5, $20,731; 3. Caleb Bennett, 90, $15,654; 4. Tilden Hooper, 88.5, $11,000; 5. Tim O’Connell, 88, $6,769; 6. (tie) Orin Larsen and Clint Laye, 87.5, $2,115 each; 8. Kaycee Feild, 87; 9. Steven Dent and Austin Foss, 86; 11. Trenten Montero, 84; 12. Ty Breuer and Taylor Broussard, 83.5; 14. Jake Brown and Tanner Aus, NS. World Standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $212,683; 2. Kaycee Feild, $186,205; 3. Orin Larsen, $185,558; 4. Richmond Champion, $167,060; 5. Tilden Hooper, $158,559; 6. Caleb Bennett, $136,627; 7. Tim O’Connell, $129,938; 8. Clint Laye, $120,069; 9. Jake Brown, $105,068; 10. Steven Dent, $103,799; 11. Austin Foss, $102,895; 12. Ty Breuer, $98,699; 13. Tanner Aus, $91,595; 14. Trenten Montero, $90,757; 15. Taylor Broussard, $89,271.

Steer wrestling: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Bridger Chambers, 3.8, $18,192 each; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.0, $11,000; 5. Tyler Waguespack, 4.1, $6,769; 6. (tie) Cameron Morman, Tyler Pearson and Will Lummus, 4.3, $1,410 each; 9. Matt Reeves, 4.5; 10. Riley Duvall, 4.6; 11. Hunter Cure, 4.7; 12. Ty Erickson, 13.4; 13. Kyle Irwin, 14.0; 14. Scott Guenthner, 18.2; 15. Tanner Brunner, NT. World Standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $156,081; 2. Dakota Eldridge, $117,334; 3. Hunter Cure, $114,568; 4. Tyler Waguespack, $113,900; 5. Scott Guenthner, $112,750; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, $111,220; 7. J.D. Struxness, $111,022; 8. Bridger Chambers, $107,221; 9. Will Lummus, $97,805; 10. Riley Duvall, $95,963; 11. Tyler Pearson, $94,520; 12. Kyle Irwin, $93,472; 13. Matt Reeves, $89,490; 14. Cameron Morman, $88,114; 15. Tanner Brunner, $84,950.

Team roping: 1. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 4.0 seconds, $26,231; 2. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 4.1, $20,731; 3. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 4.3, $15,654; 4. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.5, $11,000; 5. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.6, $6,769; 6. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 4.7, $2,115 each; 8. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.9; 9. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 5.5; 10. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 6.0; 11. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 9.4; 12. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 9.8; 13. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 14.6; 14. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 19.0; 15. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, NT. World Standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $160,512; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $135,225; 3. Coleman Proctor, $114,318; 4. Clay Tryan, $113,165; 5. Ty Blasingame, $111,490; 6. Brenten Hall, $109,927; 7. Riley Minor, $109,764; 8. Tyler Wade, $109,625; 9. Matt Sherwood, $106,935; 10. Chad Masters, $105,529; 11. Cody Snow, $105,054; 12. Erich Rogers, $99,653. 13. Luke Brown, $97,055; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $85,738; 15. Jake Cooper, $83,191. World Standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $132,544; 2. Kyle Lockett, $124,384; 3. Ryan Motes, $119,166; 4. Jade Corkill, $118,638; 5. Jake Long, $116,896; 6. Hunter Koch, $115,038; 7. Travis Graves, $113,165; 8. Brady Minor, $109,764; 9. Joseph Harrison, $108,278; 10. Cole Davison, $108,140; 11. Chase Tryan, $107,345; 12. Paul Eaves, $101,562; 13. Wesley Thorp, $97,296; 14. Caleb Anderson, $82,390; 15. Tyler Worley, $81,190.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 88 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue, $26,231; 2. (tie) Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, 86.5, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks, Brody Cress and Spencer Wright, 86, $7,333 each; 7. Dawson Hay, 83; 8. Rusty Wright, 81.5; 9. Colt Gordon, 79.5; 10. (tie) Ryder Wright, Jacobs Crawley, Sterling Crawley, Jesse Wright, Mitch Pollock and Jake Watson, NS. World Standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $234,488; 2. Zeke Thurston, $213,222; 3. Spencer Wright, $137,438; 4. Chase Brooks, $133,617; 5. Jacobs Crawley, $131,012; 6. Rusty Wright, $128,192; 7. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 8. Sterling Crawley, $124,427; 9. Brody Cress, $123,205; 10. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 11. Jake Watson, $118,791; 12. Dawson Hay, $110,311; 13. Mitch Pollock, $109,542; 14. Jesse Wright, $106,505; 15. Colt Gordon, $101,071.

Tie-down roping: 1. Shane Hanchey, 7.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Taylor Santos, 8.1, $20,731; 3. Haven Meged, 8.3, $15,654; 4. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Marty Yates, 8.4, $8,885 each; 6. Michael Otero, 8.6, $4,231; 7. Tuf Cooper, 8.7; 8. Rhen Richard, 9.3; 9. Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield, 9.7; 11. Riley Pruitt, 10.3; 12. Cooper Martin, 13.9; 13. Tyler Milligan, 17.8; 14. Adam Gray, 18.9; 15. Ty Harris, NT. World Standings: 1. Haven Meged, $145,533; 2. Caleb Smidt, $141,900; 3. Shane Hanchey, $138,428; 4. Taylor Santos, $132,138; 5. Tyson Durfey, $131,763; 6. Marty Yates, $120,200; 7. Tuf Cooper, $115,592; 8. Michael Otero, $111,924; 9. Riley Pruitt, $109,535; 10. Ty Harris, $107,649; 11. Tyler Milligan, $107,474; 12. Adam Gray, $102,173; 13. Shad Mayfield, $100,421; 14. Rhen Richard, $98,661; 15. Cooper Martin, $96,260.

Barrel racing: 1. Emily Miller, 13.63 seconds, $26,231; 2. Lisa Lockhart, 13.70, $20,731; 3. Stevi Hillman, 13.75, $15,654; 4. Nellie Miller, 13.90, $11,000; 5. (tie) Jessica Routier and Jennifer Sharp, 13.97, $5,500 each; 7. Shali Lord, 14.01; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.02; 9. Ericka Nelson, 14.05; 10. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 14.07; 11. Dona Kay Rule, 14.08; 12. Lacinda Rose, 14.46; 13. Hailey Kinsel, 18.66; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 19.09; 15. Amberleigh Moore, 23.81. World Standings: 1. Lisa Lockhart, $177,082; 2. Nellie Miller, $175,611; 3. Hailey Kinsel, $158,867; 4. Emily Miller, $134,376; 5. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 6. Shali Lord, $121,776; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $115,503; 8. Jessica Routier, $112,082; 9. Jennifer Sharp, $107,254; 10. Dona Kay Rule, $106,507; 11. Ericka Nelson, $103,433; 12. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $103,269; 13. Amberleigh Moore, $103,059; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, $100,361; 15. Lacinda Rose, $98,936.

Bull riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 92.5 points on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Monte Walsh, $26,231; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 92, $20,731; 3. Tyler Bingham, 90, $15,654; 4. Jordan Hansen, 89.5, $11,000; 5. Sage Kimzey, 87.5, $6,769; 6. Garrett Smith, 87, $4,231; 7. Koby Radley, 86.5; 8. Clayton Sellars, 84.5; 9. Jordan Spears, 82.5; 10. Trevor Kastner, Josh Frost, Jeff Askey, Daylon Swearingen, Trey Kimzey and Trey Benton III, NS. World Standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $262,207; 2. Stetson Wright, $188,652; 3. Trevor Kastner, $159,100; 4. Boudreaux Campbell, $157,502; 5. Tyler Bingham, $153,181; 6. Clayton Sellars, $139,191; 7. Garrett Smith, $138,205; 8. Jordan Hansen, $135,747; 9. Trey Benton III, $132,277; 10. Jordan Spears, $131,548; 11. Josh Frost, $129,561; 12. Koby Radley, $124,554; 13. Jeff Askey, $123,694; 14. Daylon Swearingen, $121,837; 15. Trey Kimzey, $118,160.

December 6, 2019

Trevor Brazile captures seventh steer roping gold buckle

MULVANE, Kan. – More history was made by legendary cowboy Trevor Brazile on Saturday night.

Brazile, the most-decorated cowboy in PRCA history, added another chapter to his story-book career.

The Decatur, Texas, cowboy won his record 25th gold buckle by capturing the title at the 2019 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star Arena.

Brazile finished with $128,552 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings to edge runner-up Vin Fisher Jr.’s $120,834.

“We were in a battle, and I wanted to do whatever it took to win here,” said Brazile, 43. “All the gold buckles are special. This one was really cool because I was able to stay home because the steer roping schedule fit the new lifestyle I have chosen.”

Just before the start of the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Brazile announced that season was going to be the final one for him rodeoing full time so he could spend more time with his family – wife, Shada; son, Treston, 11; and daughters, Style, 9, and Swayzi, 4.

Brazile placed in six rounds at the NFSR and won the average with a time of 131.0 seconds on 10 head to collect his seventh steer roping gold buckle to go with the ones he won in 2006-07, 2011 and 2013-15.

When Brazile roped his steer in 14.1 seconds in Round 10, it gave him the average win because he was the only competitor to tie down 10, and that in turn clinched his world championship.

“I knew if I tied my steer down (in Round 10) I could win it,” said Brazile, who was the last roper out in Round 10. “It is a great scenario, but then again, it takes out trying to win something in the last round for money. It’s just one of those things where you just have to go do your job. I wasn’t scared of the barrier, that was probably the biggest difference in that scenario because I was going to be the only man to tie (10 down) even if I broke the barrier. I wanted to have an aggressive start.”

Fisher was gracious in defeat.

“Trevor Brazile is a hard man to beat,” Fisher said. “I thought I threw everything at him. He never stubbed his toe. Looking back over time, I’m going to realize that is the best roping I have ever done in my life.”

Brazile has won a PRCA-record 25 gold buckles – a PRCA-record 14 in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018), three in tie-down roping (2007, 2009-10) and one in team roping (2010) to go with the NFSR buckles.

Brazile’s seven steer roping gold buckles are second on the all-time list behind only ProRodeo Hall of Famer Guy Allen’s 18.

“Guy Allen is the legend,” Brazile said. “Nobody ever dominated a single event like he has. He’s in no danger of me catching him. I just marveled watching him, and that’s good enough for me. If anybody deserves a record it is him.”

Brazile earned $56,707 at the NFSR, including $27,347 for winning the average. Fisher was second in the average with a time of 114.1 seconds on nine head.

This was the fourth time Brazile has won the NFSR average. He also accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2014-15.

Brazile was riding J.R. Magdeburg III’s horse, Raider, 16.

“That’s a great horse,” Brazile said. “When you’re going to a 10-header he has what it takes. He’s just really, really solid and doesn’t take anything away from you.”

Nothing came easy for Brazile during his 22nd trip to the NFSR. He came into the event first, and Fisher was second.

It all came down to Round 10.

Brazile roped his steer for the win, and Fisher, who competed right before Brazile, clocked an 11.3-second run, which was fifth in the round and good for a $2,841 check.

“I know a lot of guys were wanting me to be eight seconds in the final round, but in my mind if I missed that last steer everything I did all weekend would have meant nothing,” Fisher said. “That run I made in Round 10 was the best run I made in my life because I gave myself a chance to win a gold buckle. I put the pressure on (Trevor), and it shows you why he has all those gold buckles because he doesn’t fold under pressure.”

Fisher earned more money than any cowboy at the 2019 NFSR, taking home $60,990.

After nine rounds, Brazile held a $5,844 lead over Fisher in the world standings. Fisher split sixth place in Round 9 with a 12.6-second run, while Brazile was out of the money with a 14.4-second run.

Brazile led the average after nine rounds with a 116.9-second time, followed by Tony Reina’s 124.3 seconds on nine head and Fisher’s 102.8 seconds on eight.

The average played the final factor in deciding the world champion because it paid six places – $27,347 for the winner, $22,632 for second, $17,917 for third, $13,202 for fourth, $8,487 for fifth and $4,715 for sixth. The round wins paid $9,155.

“I can’t speak for anybody else, but I didn’t want any surprises going into Round 10,” said Brazile when asked if he was calculating different outcomes. “I knew what I had to do. I just had to go execute and make a run.”

Things became more interesting when Reina received a no time in Round 10, so the world championship and average title were going to be decided between Brazile and Fisher.

Fisher was the second-to-last roper to go in Round 10. With Tuf Cooper leading the round at 8.7 seconds, Fisher clocked his 11.3-second run.

Brazile then rose to the occasion like he has done countless times throughout his illustrious career.

“Everybody can do it in their backyard, and I have a lot of horses that are good at the house, but if they can’t compete when it counts it is irrelevant,” Brazile said. “Every one of my heroes did it (thrived under pressure). This was a really special steer roping Finals. There were so many guys that I looked up to my whole career, and it was odd that they were all here. It was cool competing in front of them. I had guys I looked up to and that made me want to do things even better.”

November 25, 2019