Author: PRCA

LAS VEGAS – Bull rider Chase Dougherty is enjoying his first trip to the Wrangler NFR. The competition is as stiff as he’ll see at any rodeo.

But it isn’t the bull riding or the competing that has been his favorite part.

It’s been the opening ceremonies, although notching his first go-round Finals victory Wednesday isn’t bad either.

Dougherty rode Frontier Rodeo’s Lookin Up for 87.5 points and the win before 16,770 during Round 7 of the 60^th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Military Night in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 12.

“It means a lot,” said Dougherty, 20. “I’ve always wanted to make the NFR, and to get a round win out of it is going to put the icing on the cake.”

Dougherty, who won $27,077 including ground money, has climbed to third in the average after seven rounds, with 344.5 points on four head. Only one bull rider – Jeff Askey – has covered five head. Dougherty has won $90,103 at the Finals, upping his season total to $199,452, third most in the world standings.

He’s not planning on doing much different.

“Same as usual, just stay loose and cool and treat it like the practice pen, since it’s the practice pen of the best of the best,” said the Canby, Ore., cowboy.

Dougherty expected his bull to be good, but he wasn’t sure what Lookin Up would do, and that’s how he likes it.

“I knew he was red and would buck pretty good,” Dougherty said. “I guess (Dustin) Boquet rode him good this week, too. But, I don’t study my bulls too much since you have to get on them one way or another, so I’d rather not know.”

Like so many other competitors at the Finals, Dougherty is wearing down but trying to keep at it.

“Honestly, I’m sore but good,” he said. “It’s a good kind of sore. I definitely do not want to do a lot of partying and just get some sleep tonight, but I’m excited for the next round.”

As for his favorite part of the 10-day rodeo. That’s easy.

“The grand entry and getting to carry the flag for Oregon,” he said. “I wish we could go a heck of a lot faster and it was a bigger arena, so it would last longer, but it’s awesome.”

Sage Kimzey continues to lead the bull riding world standings with $358,853. Parker Breding is second with $225,232.

 

Durfey rides to first round win since 2016

Riding on a horse who had ridden in only 14 rodeos before the Wrangler NFR, former tie-down roping world champion Tyson Durfey wasn’t sure what would happen.

Durfey also hadn’t won a Finals round since winning his world championship in 2016.

But Wednesday night, Durfey’s horse Mitch looked like a veteran and Durfey took care of the rest, as the duo stopped the clock in 7.2 seconds to win Round 7.

“This feels absolutely amazing,” said Durfey, of Weatherford, Texas. “I went from not placing in any go-round on my young horse Mitch to winning this round. Before we came here, he had been to 14 rodeos in his life. He’s 14, but he was a working cow horse before he was a calf horse. I haven’t roped on him very much, and I’m thankful to get a win on him.”

Durfey’s horse Nikko, whom Durfey won the world title on, died Nov. 23. Winning aboard Mitch brought back some memories to Durfey, who cashed in for $26,231.

“When you win a round, you jump off your horse and they rush you to a TV interview,” Durfey said. “It is surreal to get the go-round win because there were a lot of times I got to take that victory lap on Nikko. He was my rock for so many years. I don’t know if there are any more tears to cry. When I think of the moment I won the world and all the things he’s given me, it’s hard not to get emotional.”

Tuf Cooper took over the lead in the tie-down roping world standings after placing third in the round. Cooper is up to $173,749. Marty Yates is second with $166,502.

 

Kinsel continues torrid run, notches third round win

Hailey Kinsel is dominating the Wrangler NFR the way she dominated the regular season.

Kinsel wrapped up her third round win of the 2018 Finals – and second in a row – by stopping the clock in 13.61 seconds Wednesday.

“No, it doesn’t,” she said when asked if winning a round ever gets old. “You see new faces every time too, and I always get to look up to where my family is sitting and wave at them, so it’s fun.”

The victory gives her $120,212 won at the Finals alone. She continues to lead the barrel racing world standings with $313,046. Her next closest competitor (Amberleigh Moore) has yet to break the $200,000 barrier.

Kinsel entered the Finals with a lead of $46,0008.

“It’s nice (having a big lead in the standings),” Kinsel said. “I mean, it’s good to have a shot at it. I think that everybody who comes here has a shot at it because of the money here, so it’s great. You have to have a good NFR. I’m glad it’s been going good so far. We have three more rounds, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Kinsel was again riding DM Sissy Hayday, “Sister,” the 2018 PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year for barrel racing.

“The run felt really good,” Kinsel said. “She (Sister) was honest and nice tonight.”

 

Larsen pushes pain aside to win bareback riding round

Orin Larsen underwent knee surgery in late November, putting his fourth consecutive Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearance in doubt.

But Larsen opted to ride, and in Round 7 he showed he could handle the pain.

Larsen won Round 7 with an 89-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Tip Off, notching his first Finals go-round win since Round 8 of 2016.

“Man, I’ve been wanting to do that for quite a while,” said Larsen, of Inglis, Manitoba. “It’s beyond words – I get to go to the media room and do all the South Point stuff. I’m pretty grateful.”

With the win, Larsen, 27, is fifth in the world standings with $191,847. After failing to cash a check in either of the first two rounds, Larsen placed second in the third round, sixth in the fourth round and sixth in the sixth round.

He’s dealing with the pain and trying to ignore it every time he climbs aboard.

“I guess so,” he said when asked if it feels like he’s getting stronger as the rounds have gone along. “Justin Sportsmedicine has kept me gathered up pretty well, and that’s been really helping, as has drawing the right horses at the right time. It’s hard to win when you’re healthy, let alone when you’re hurt. There are a lot of great horses and the best athletes in the world here.”

Larsen had never been on Tip Off, but he knew what to expect.

“Clayton Biglow got along with it really well the last time out, and he said it was going to be up and down and really strong and really turn it on at the end,” Larsen said. “That’s exactly what it did. I just tried to do my part and executed it as well as I could.”

The bareback riding got a new leader in the world standings. Caleb Bennett’s 88-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter put him in second place in the round. That earned him $20,731 and bumped him up from second to first in the world standings, supplanting two-time defending world champion Tim O’Connell with three rounds left in the 10-day rodeo. They are separated by $13,243.

 

Cure, Pearson tie in steer wrestling

A pair of world champion steer wrestlers split first in Round 7 with 3.6-second runs.

Defending champion Tyler Pearson and two-time champion Hunter Cure shared the round-winning honors, each cashing in for $23,481.

Pearson is trying to defend his title. He won Round 2, which moved him into first place in the world standings. But he failed to record a time on his next four steers until Wednesday night.

“This is really cool,” said Pearson, who is riding Scooter, the two-time PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year in steer wrestling. “I missed four steers in a row. It was nice to finally get a time and get back in the groove of things. I also won some money which was great. If you back off at all here, it is going to cost you more. I’ve been trying to go for first, and it paid off tonight.”

Cure’s horse is starting to get comfortable in the arena, and it’s paying off for the 2013 and 2015 champion.

“I’m riding a 9-year-old horse I trained named Zooming Up Front,” said Cure, of Holliday, Texas. “This is his first time to the NFR, and he’s the youngest horse in the field. I really feel like this horse is just now starting to show me the potential he has. We were maybe a little bit slower going early in the week, but I feel like we have some momentum headed our way.”

Canadian Curtis Cassidy continues to lead the steer wrestling world standings with $184,125. Will Lummus, who leads the average in steer wrestling, is second to Cassidy by $14,327.

 

Two sets of team ropers post 3.9-second runs

Luke Brown and Jake Long made their first victory lap of the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

Derrick Begay and Cory Petska took their second.

Both sets of team ropers stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds to split the round, as all four ropers walked away with $23,481.

Team roping heeler Long liked his effort throughout the Finals, until Tuesday night. He got over that feeling quickly Wednesday.

“I felt really good until last night,” Long said. “I was pretty frustrated all day. It never feels good to drop the ball. It feels good to bounce back tonight, come through and finish the round.”

Team roping header Brown said he made an adjustment to help the team.

“My horse is a little bit too quick,” he said. “So, I asked Jake to haze him a little bit. That gets you off on the left fence and you lose momentum sometimes. But it’s a safer bet on making the steer heel, so we went with that and it worked out.”

Begay and Petska got to enjoy their second win. The two have won $71,135 each through seven days of the rodeo.

“We had an amazing steer and my partner did an amazing job tonight,” said heeler Petska. “I’m just excited to have this opportunity again.”

Header Begay is trying to make sure he and Petska continue to do what’s working.

“I’ve been roping my whole life, so you just have to trust what you do every day, not really think about it too much, and go through the motions,” Begay said. “It’s about muscle memory and using your brain.”

Clay Smith and Paul Eaves continue to lead the tie-down roping world standings with $197,127.

 

Sundell, Brooks tie in saddle bronc riding

At 24 years of age, Chase Brooks is in his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

At 33, Wade Sundell is enjoying his eighth.

On Wednesday, the two split the Round 7 win with a pair of 90-point rides.

Brooks rode Corey and Lange Rodeo’s Diamond Fever to notch his 90 and get his first go-round win. Sundell did it aboard Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Total Equines Angel Fire. They tied the round record set by Billy Etbauer in 2009.

Brooks knew what to expect from Diamond Fever.

“I had won St. Paul, Ore., (with an 87.5-point ride) this summer on mine,” said the Belgrade, Mont., cowboy. “I knew when she got out she would buck, and she felt awesome today.”

Sundell had never ridden Angel Fire, but he had a feeling what the bronc might do.

“I’d seen her before and knew she would have some moves, and there were a few more than I thought,” he said. “She lived up to every bit of it.”

Sundell also won Round 5. He’s up to fifth in the world standings with $194,329. Brooks is at $145,161, putting him in eighth place.

Brooks is trying to soak up his first trip.

“Everything here is awesome,” he said. “I’d never been to the Thomas & Mack before, and practicing for the grand entry was just surreal. It’s everything I hoped for and more.”

Sundell loves qualifying for the Finals in Vegas.

“Just being here is the coolest thing you ever get to do,” he said. “Every day is like the first time. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do, I’m just glad to be here.”

Reigning, defending world champion Ryder Wright continues to lead the saddle bronc riding world standings with $243,194. Ryder’s brother Rusty has made it a family affair by climbing into second place in the standings after winning $15,654 Wednesday. Ryder Wright leads by $33,856.

 

Brazile still ahead in All-Around

Trevor Brazile continues to lead in the hunt for the All-Around cowboy race.

But both second-place Tuf Cooper and first-time Wrangler NFR qualifier Rhen Richard, who sits in third, cut into the lead a bit.

Brazile, who holds a PRCA-record 23 world titles, is first in the all-around with $298,026. Second is Cooper, Brazile’s brother-in-law, with $278,838. Richard is third with $199,416.

Cooper won $15,654 in tie-down roping Wednesday. Richard won $34,327 combined in tie-down roping and team roping. Richard is also fourth in the aggregate in team roping and second in the aggregate for tie-down roping.

 

Kinsel grabs RAM Top Gun Award lead

After notching her third round win of the 2018 Wrangler NFR, Hailey Kinsel climbed into the lead for the RAM Top Gun Award, given to the Finals competitor who wins the most money over the 10 days in one event.

Kinsel has won $120,212. Amberleigh Moore is second to Kinsel in the Top Gun race (she’s also second to Kinsel in the barrel racing world standings) with $104,346.

Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer is third with $96,942.

 

60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Seventh Performance Results, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding: 1. Orin Larsen, 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Tip Off, $26,231; 2. Caleb Bennett, 88, $20,731; 3. Tilden Hooper, 87, $15,654; 4. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Steven Dent, 86.5, $8,885 each; 6. Jake Brown, 85.5, $4,231; 7. Shane O’Connell, 84.5; 8.Ty Breuer, 84; 9. Tim O’Connell, 83; 10. Richmond Champion, 79; 11. Kaycee Feild, 74; 12. Mason Clements, 73; 13. Wyatt Denny, 71; 14. Will Lowe, NS; 15. Bill Tutor, INJ. Average standings: 1. Steven Dent, 597 points on seven head; 2. Tilden Hooper, 594.5; 3. Tim O’Connell, 588; 4. Kaycee Feild, 584; 5. Richmond Champion, 580.5; 6. Shane O’Connell, 579; 7. Caleb Bennett, 573.5; 8. Clayton Biglow, 511.5 on six. World standings: 1. Caleb Bennett, $240,390; 2. Tim O’Connell, $227,147; 3. Clayton Biglow, $201,435; 4. Steven Dent, $193,811; 5. Orin Larsen, $191,847; 6. Tilden Hooper, $176,199; 7. Richmond Champion, $173,114; 8. Kaycee Feild, $170,522; 9. Bill Tutor, $154,162; 10. Mason Clements, $149,587; 11. Ty Breuer, $127,789; 12. Jake Brown, $119,300; 13. Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 14. Shane O’Connell, $107,720; 15. Will Lowe, $91,517.

 

Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Hunter Cure and Tyler Pearson. 3.6 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Will Lummus, 3.7, $13,327 each; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 3.7, $13,327; 5. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Jacob Talley, 3.8, $5,500 each; 7. Scott Guenthner, 4.3; 8. Riley Duvall, 4.6; 9. Tanner Brunner, 5.1; 10. Curtis Cassidy, 6.1; 11. Blake Knowles, 13.7; 12. Nick Guy, 13.9; 13. Ty Erickson, 16.8; 14. Blake Mindemann, 17.9; 15. Kyle Irwin, NT. Average standings: 1. Will Lummus, 28.9 seconds on seven head: 2. Tyler Waguespack, 30.6; 3. Bridger Chambers, 43.2; 4. Riley Duvall, 48.9; 5. Blake Knowles, 49.5; 6. Nick Guy, 66.9; 7. Tanner Brunner, 81.3; 8. Scott Guenthner, 25.4 on six World standings: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $184,125; 2. Will Lummus, $169,798; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $166,513; 4. Tyler Pearson, $157,337; 5. Scott Guenthner, $150,765; 6. Hunter Cure, $145,749; 7. Kyle Irwin, $139,416; 8. Ty Erickson, $128,854; 9. Bridger Chambers, $125,659; 10. Blake Knowles, $119,515; 11. Jacob Talley, $116,948; 12. Blake Mindemann, $106,919; 13. Nick Guy, $99,514; 14. Tanner Brunner, $98,193; 15. Riley Duvall, $96,528.

 

Team roping: 1. (tie) Luke Brown/Jake Long and Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 3.9 seconds, $23,480 each; 3. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.0, $15,654; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3, $11,000; 5. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.8, $6,769; 6. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 4.9, $4,231; 7. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 5.1; 8. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 6.7; 9. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins II, 9.1; 10. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, NT. Average standings: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 53.3 seconds on seven head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 32.1; 3. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 46.1; 4. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 49.9; 5. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 21.9; 6. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp 29.9; 7 (tie) Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison and Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 36.1. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $197,127; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $178,964; 3. Luke Brown, $154,237; 4. Bubba Buckaloo, $148,721; 5. Derrick Begay, $144,549; 6. Cody Snow, $140,363; 7. Riley Minor, $139,361; 8. Aaron Tsinigine, $138,468; 9. Chad Masters, $135,958; 10. Dustin Egusquiza, $129,723; 11. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 12. Lane Ivy, $114,688; 13. Tyler Wade, $109,376; 14. Erich Rogers, $98,450; 15. Rhen Richard, $92,790; World standings (heelers): 1. Paul Eaves, $197,127; 2. Junior Nogueira, $179,948; 3. Joseph Harrison, $155,130; 4. Jake Long, $154,237; 5. Trey Yates, $152,862; 6. Cory Petska, $151,006; 7. Brady Minor, $138,169; 8. Wesley Thorp, $136,673; 9. Kory Koontz, $129,723; 10. Chase Tryan, $128,136; 11. Travis Graves, $118,928; 12. Buddy Hawkins II, $111,682; 13. Clint Summers, $109,563; 14. Cole Davison, $102,482; 15. Quinn Kesler, $88,906.

 

Saddle bronc riding: 1 (tie) Wade Sundell, on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Total Equines Angel Fire, 90 points, and Chase Brooks, on Corey & Lange’s Diamond Fever, 90 points, $23,481 each: 3. Rusty Wright, 88, $15,654; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, 85.5, $11,000; 5. Zeke Thurston, 84.5, $6,769; 6. Cort Scheer, 84, $4,231; 7. Jake Wright, 82; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 81.5; 9. Brody Cress, 79.5; 10. Ryder Wright, Isaac Diaz, Sterling Crawley, Joey Sonnier III, Clay Elliott and Taos Muncy, NS. Average standings: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 588.5 points on seven head; 2. Wade Sundell, 522.5; 3. Zeke Thurston, 517 on six; 4. Cort Scheer, 516; 5. Rusty Wright, 515; 6. Clay Elliott, 424 on five; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 415.5; 8. Chase Brooks, 354 on four. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $243,194; 2. Rusty Wright, $209,338; 3. Jacobs Crawley, $204,331; 4. Cort Scheer, $198,785; 5. Wade Sundell, $194,329; 6. Zeke Thurston, $185,887; 7. Isaac Diaz, $160,970; 8. Chase Brooks, $145,161; 9. CoBurn Bradshaw, $143,325; 10. Jake Wright, $128,287; 11. Clay Elliott, $126,445; 12. Brody Cress, $121,588; 13. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 14. Joey Sonnier III, $95,883; 15. Taos Muncy, $90,906.

 

Tie-down roping: 1. Tyson Durfey, 7.2 seconds, $26,231; 2. Sterling Smith, 7.3, $20,731; 3. Tuf Cooper, 7.5, $15,654; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 7.8, $11,000; 5. Rhen Richard, 8.1, $6,769; 6. Marty Yates, 8.2, $4,231; 7. Cooper Martin, 8.6; 8. Jake Pratt, 8.7; 9. Caleb Smidt, 9.2; 10. Shane Hanchey, 9.4; 11. Matt Shiozawa, 9.7; 12. Trevor Brazile, 16.8; 13. Ryle Smith, 17.6; 14. Reese Riemer, 19.0; 15. Cory Solomon, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 58.7 seconds on seven head; 2. Rhen Richard, 60.7; 3. Ryle Smith, 66.6; 4. Matt Shiozawa, 69.9; 5. Cooper Martin, 73.1; 6. Reese Riemer, 76.3; 7. Trevor Brazile, 80.6; 8. Tuf Cooper, 92.5. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $173,749; 2. Marty Yates, $166,502; 3. Shane Hanchey, $164,347; 4. Tyson Durfey, $162,749; 5. Reese Riemer, $159,454; 6. Caleb Smidt, $157,932; 7. Trevor Brazile, $156,643; 8. Ryle Smith, $153,056; 9. Jake Pratt, $142,088; 10. Ryan Jarrett, $137,616; 11. Sterling Smith, $132,378; 12. Cooper Martin      ; $128,169; 13. Matt Shiozawa, $122,923; 14. Rhen Richard, $118,052; 15. Cory Solomon, $110,002.

 

Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.61 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jessie Telford, 13.64, $20,731; 3. Ivy Conrado, 13.72, $15,654; 4. (tie) Taci Bettis and Kylie Weast, 13.74, $8,885 each; 6. Stevi Hillman, 13.77, $4,231; 7. Jessica Routier, 13.81; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 13.87; 9. Kelly Bruner, 13.94; 10. Carman Pozzobon, 14.07; 11. Amberleigh Moore, 18.64; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 18.84; 13. Tammy Fischer, 18.94; 13. Tracy Nowlin, 18.94; 15. Nellie Miller. 24.44. Average standings: 1. Jessica Routier, 96.52 seconds on seven head; 2. Carman Pozzobon, 97.91; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 100.76; 4. Jessie Telford, 101.61; 5. Ivy Conrado, 102.02; 6. Stevi Hillman, 102.38; 7. Tammy Fischer, 102.76; 8. Amberleigh Moore, 105.55. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $313,046; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $193,473; 3. Ivy Conrado, $185,809; 4. Jessica Routier, $179,358; 5. Nellie Miller, $167,825; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $160,805; 7. Lisa Lockhart, $159,746; 8. Jessie Telford, $154,188; 9. Kylie Weast, $147,253; 10. Stevi Hillman, $142,020; 11. Taci Bettis, $140,346; 12. Kelly Bruner, $129,708; 13. Tracy Nowlin, $116,150; 14. Tammy Fischer, $101,277; 15. Carman Pozzobon, $101,177.

 

Bull riding: 1. Chase Dougherty, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Lookin Up, $27,077; 2. (tie) Dustin Boquet           and Boudreaux Campbell, 87, $19,038 each; 4. Roscoe Jarboe, 84.5, $11,846; 5. Jeff Askey, 84, $7,615; 6. Sage Kimzey, Parker Breding, Tyler Bingham, Garrett Tribble, Cole Melancon, Joe Frost, Eli Vastbinder, Koby Radley and Trey Benton III, NS. 15. Trevor Kastner, INJ. Average standings: 1. Jeff Askey, 424 points on five head; 2. Joe Frost, 347 on four; 3. Chase Dougherty, 344.5; 4. Parker Breding, 330.5; 5. Dustin Boquet, 262.5 on three; 6. Garrett Tribble, 262; 7. Koby Radley, 259; 8. Sage Kimzey, 254. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $358,853; 2. Parker Breding, $225,232; 3. Chase Dougherty, $199,452; 4. Dustin Bouquet, $185,511; 5. Jeff Askey, $182,470; 6. Garrett Tribble, $174,136; 7. Joe Frost, $173,150; 8. Koby Radley, $160,072; 9. Roscoe Jarboe, $142,584; 10. Trey Benton III, $141,393; 11. Boudreaux Campbell, $135,469; 12. Tyler Bingham, $135,064; 13. Eli Vastbinder, $132,191; 14. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.

 

All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $298,026; 2. Tuf Cooper, $278,838; 3. Rhen Richard, $199,416; 4. Steven Dent, $193,397; 5. Curtis Cassidy, $171,352; 6. Ryle Smith, $169,562.

 

RAM Top Gun standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $120,211; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $104,346; 3. Cort Scheer, $96,942; 4. Wade Sundell, $91,019; 5. Ivy Conrado, $87,423; 6. Tyler Waguespack, $86,929; 7. Rusty Wright, $85,731; 8. Steven Dent, $84,391; 9. Will Lummus, $82,840; 10. Chase Dougherty, $81,923.

LAS VEGAS – Cort Scheer and Zeke Thurston have been cashing in for plenty of money during the 60th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

They each added another $23,481 to their world standings when they split Round 6 and set the round record with rides of 89.5 points at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Scheer did his on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue, while Thurston was aboard Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Chestnut.

“The horses are so awesome now and everyone rides so good that you can’t count on the rest of the field to make mistakes,” said Thurston, the 2016 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion. “You have to just worry about what you have control of.”

Scheer has been in control plenty. He won two rounds outright before adding the split in Round 6.

“I had drawn a great horse and had a good spur out, and she got better and better,” he said. “I was 90 at Houston on her earlier this year.”

Scheer has won $92,712 at the Finals through six rounds (averaging $15,452 in winnings per night). He’s also third in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $194,554. Reigning world champion Ryder Wright continues to lead the standings with $243,194.

Thurston and Scheer were excited to share the record and the win.

“It’s a lot of fun, and with the best 15 guys and the best 15 horses, you have to do something to set yourself apart,” Thurston said. “And Cort has won like all the rounds so far, so I had to at least be co-winner.”

Scheer jumped in and joked: “I don’t want to be greedy – oh wait, yes, I do.”

“I think it’s awesome to win a round and split it with your buddy,” Scheer continued. “Zeke is a world champion, so it’s fun to win it with him.”

Scheer, of Elsmere, Neb., knows he must continue pressing if he wants to climb to the top of the chart.

“The goal is to win the round and keep your momentum going,” he said. “Don’t think about the past or future, just lift your rein and spur out and go at them.”

 

Cassidy notches second go-round win of 2018 Finals

Since dipping out of the pole position in the steer wrestling world standings following Round 2, Curtis Cassidy has looked determined to capture his first world title.

Cassidy won Round 6, his second go-round victory of these 2018 Finals.

“This feels awesome,” said Cassidy, 40. “I had a good steer. It was the one (Scott Guenthner) won Round 3 on. He’s a great steer, and I was happy to get a good start and make a good run. They let me win first.”

Since reigning world champion Tyler Pearson moved into first place following the second round, Cassidy, who then dropped to fourth, has won two rounds and added a third-place finish. He’s climbed back into first with $184,125 and extended his lead to $27,654.

But Cassidy isn’t banking on anything yet. With four rounds left and him sitting 13th in the average, Cassidy knows he’s a long way from a title.

“I know I’m not in the average,” said Cassidy, who has two no-times out of six goes. “My goal is to have $60,000 more won than the next-place guy going into Round 10 because I’m not in the average.”

Cassidy has made it a family affair in the arena, using his younger brother, Cody, as his hazer.

“He has hazed for me the whole time here,” Curtis Cassidy said. “It is awesome to have him here. He’s good support to have in my corner. He watches the cattle and knows them good, and he has been doing a good job hazing.”

 

Kinsel captures second win of 2018 Finals

Hailey Kinsel continued to show why she’s the season leader in barrel racing.

Kinsel stopped the clock in 13.63 seconds to notch her second win of the Wrangler NFR and again extend her lead in the world standings.

Kinsel has $286,815 in the standings, putting her $93,342 ahead of second-place Amberleigh Moore.

“This win is sure good for my confidence,” Kinsel said. “I still have four more runs to make, so that won’t change anything for the next few days, but (I’ll) just go at it every night and try to do my best.”

Kinsel was aboard Sissy Hayday, “Sister,” the 2018 PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year for barrel racing. They continue to work and progress throughout the Finals.

“You learn something new every night here,” Kinsel said. “But, Lisa (Lockhart) can tell you that this is still a new rodeo each and every day. You apply what you learn, but you still change as it goes.”

Unlike when she’s on the road throughout the rodeo season, Kinsel has plenty of family with her in Las Vegas, and it’s helping the Cotulla, Texas, cowgirl.

“Having my family here with me makes a big difference,” Kinsel said. “Most of the year I have one person with me at best, and when you come somewhere like this where it’s a big deal and your whole family gets to come, it just puts you in a good comfort zone. It’s fun.”

 

Boquet on the hunt after first go-round win

Not every cowboy at the Wrangler NFR knows how he’s going to spend his winnings.

But Dustin Boquet isn’t every cowboy.

The Bourg, La., bull rider, in his first trip to the Finals, notched his first round win, riding Hi Lo ProRodeo Company’s Divinity for 91 points in Round 6.

“It’s just been great lately,” Boquet said. “The NFR didn’t start out the way I wanted, but it’s like football, and you need to have time and start somewhere.”

Boquet hadn’t been on Divinity before, but his fellow Louisianan Koby Radley had.

“I had seen my buddy Koby ride him, and I knew I would get some points,” said Boquet, 24. “I’d seen him (the bull) a few times before that and he does the same thing all the time.”

Boquet upped his Finals earnings to $51,885, which increased his season earnings to $166,472. He’s in seventh place in the world standings and eighth in the average race.

“After tonight, I’m feeling really good,” Boquet said. “I don’t have much of a plan, just take it a bull at a time and let the good Lord put me where I need to be.”

While there are still four more rounds of the 60th edition, Boquet has his first win and is looking forward to spending some of that cash.

“It means everything,” he said of the win. “I had some goals to get some round wins and I hope to get a couple more. It’s awesome to come in and win a round. … I’ll do a bunch of duck hunting after this with the money I won.”

 

Wade/Davison cash in with 3.9-second run

Team roping header Tyler Wade and his partner, heeler Cole Davison, were one spot out of the money in Rounds 1 and 5.

The three rounds in between also were fruitless.

But Tuesday night, the duo clocked a 3.9-second run to win the round and take home $26,231 apiece.

“Awesome,” Wade said. “Glad to get the ball rolling finally.”

Wade, 26, is in his second trip to Las Vegas for the $10 million rodeo.

Davison, 29, now has his first go-round win in his first trip to the Finals. Despite the drought before Round 6, Davison was feeling pressure. But he did say he needed to relax, and that worked.

“I’m not a very pressure-filled person,” Davison said. “I finally quit trying so hard tonight and just let it happen.”

Nine team roping pairs missed in the round. Wade and Davison didn’t worry about that, they were focused on their steer.

“We stay in our own lane and do our own deal,” Wade said. “We’ve been playing tag a little bit – he’s missed one, I’ve missed one. But we’re on the same page and glad to be here. We’re just going to keep roping and hopefully it will pay out.”

Team roping heading leader Clay Smith and heeling leader Paul Eaves did not miss. They added $15,654 to their bank accounts when they placed third in Round 6. Each of them has $197,127 won on the year. They each have nearly $30,000 leads on their next closest competitors.

Wade and Davison have been keeping busy with their families on the trip with them.

“Yeah, I’ve got two little girls, my wife, her parents and my parents are here,” said Davison, of Stephenville, Texas. “Everybody is out here.”

Wade has his family in town, too.

“Oh, yeah, I’ve got a kid,” said Wade, of Terrell, Texas. “We went to the dolphin habitat about nine times. We’ve also been busy signing autographs. It kind of fills up the whole day.”

 

Cooper Martin stops clock in 7.6 seconds.

In his second trip to the Wrangler NFR, tie-down roper Cooper Martin nailed down his second career round victory.

Martin stopped the clock in 7.6 seconds, the same time he clocked in Round 4 of the 2017 Finals.

It was the first money he’s won through the first six rounds.

“It has been a rough week and a round win always helps,” Martin said. “I was just looking for any kind of check and to get things turned around.”

Martin has been riding Cade Swor’s horse, Shooter, who helped him get the job done.

“My good horse, Waterboy, got injured in October,” said Martin, 21. “I called Cade up and this horse, Shooter, is the one I have been riding all week. I rode (Shooter) about eight times and won eight checks on him before I came here. This is a great start to the second half (of the Wrangler NFR).”

The Alma, Kan., cowboy knew what to expect from his calf, and he wasn’t disappointed. He was focused on making a good run.

“These calves were the bigger set, and they have been pretty good all week,” he said. “Sometimes stuff doesn’t go right and the guys make mistakes. I’ve made mistakes all week, so I don’t have anything to talk about. It is hard to put runs together out here in this building.”

Shane Hanchey continued to hold on to first place in the world standings for tie-down roping. Hanchey has $164,347 this season. Marty Yates is close behind, trailing by $2,076.

 

Breuer stays focused to win Round 6

Through the first five rounds, bareback rider Ty Breuer had yet to place. Not finishing in the top six was starting to get to him.

But the 28-year-old, North Dakota cowboy put those rounds behind him and rode Calgary Stampede’s Tootsie Roll for 88 points and the Round 6 win.

“Oh, that was big time for me,” Breuer said. “You know, when you go the first five rounds and you don’t win a check you start wondering if you don’t belong here. But tonight, it felt good, really good.”

Breuer knew he had a good chance when he drew Tootsie Roll. The two knew each other and had won a round at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up.

“Really excited, especially because usually the second time they buck her she’s even better,” Breuer said. “She was out the first round, so this round I knew she was going to be good. I just had to do my part.”

After leaving the arena $26,231 richer, Breuer climbed the bareback riding world standings to 11th with $127,789.

Breuer knew not to lose faith in his skills.

“You’ve just got to believe,” said Breuer, who won Round 4 at the Finals last year. “You have to believe, trust the Lord and keep spurring.”

Two-time defending world champion Tim O’Connell continues to lead the race to the coveted gold buckle. O’Connell has won $227,147. He’s leading Caleb Bennett by $7,488.

 

Brazile extends lead in all-around race

Trevor Brazile continued his pace toward winning the all-around world title and his PRCA-record 24th world championship.

Brazile placed fifth in the tie-down roping in Round 6 with an 8.3-second run, earning $6,769.

Brazile is up to $298,026 in all-around money. He holds a $34,842 lead over his brother-in-law, Tuf Cooper.

Rhen Richard is third in the all-around race with $192,647. While Cooper and Brazile are competing in tie-down roping at the Finals, Richard is in tie-down roping and team roping.

 

Kinsel gains ground in Top Gun chase

Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel closed the gap on fellow barrel racer Amberleigh Moore in the race for the Top Gun Award, given to the Wrangler NFR competitor who wins the most money during the Finals.

Moore leads the way with $104,346. Kinsel, after winning the barrel racing Tuesday, is $10,365 behind.

Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer, who split the Round 6 win with Zeke Thurston, is $11,634 behind Moore.

 

 

60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Sixth Performance Results, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding: 1. Ty Breuer, 88 points on Calgary Stampede’s Tootsie Roll, $26,232; 2. (tie) Steven Dent, Richmond Champion and Tilden Hooper, 87.5, $15,795 each: 5. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Will Lowe, 87, $5,500 each; 7. Tim O’Connell, 86.5; 8. Kaycee Feild, 85; 9. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Mason Clements, 84.5; 11. Jake Brown, 84; 12. Orin Larsen, 82.5; 13. Shane O’Connell, 78.5; 14. Wyatt Denny, NS, 15. Bill Tutor, INJ. Average standings: 1. Steven Dent, 510.5 points on six head; 2. Kaycee Field, 510; 3. Tilden Hooper, 507.5; 4. Tim O’Connell, 505; 5. (tie) Will Lowe and Richmond Champion, 501.5; 7. Shane O’Connell, 494.5; 8. Caleb Bennett, 485.5. World standings: 1. Tim O’Connell, $227,147; 2. Caleb Bennett, $219,659; 3. Clayton Biglow, $192,551; 4. Steven Dent, $184,926; 5. Richmond Champion, $173,114; 6. Kaycee Feild, $170,522; 7. Orin Larsen, $165,617; 8. Tilden Hooper, $160,545; 9. Bill Tutor, $154,162; 10. Mason Clements, $149,587; 11. Ty Breuer, $127,789; 12. Jake Brown, $115,069; 13. Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 14. Shane O’Connell, $107,720; 15. Will Lowe, $91,517.

 

Steer wrestling: 1. Curtis Cassidy, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jacob Talley, 3.7, $20,731; 3. (tie) Tyler Waguespack, Kyle Irwin and Nick Guy, 4.1, $11,141 each; 6. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Will Lummus, 4.5, $2,115; 8. Blake Mindemann, 4.8; 9. Hunter Cure, 5.1; 10. Riley Duvall, 5.5; 11. Bridger Chambers, 6.1; 12. Tanner Brunner, 6.7; 13. Blake Knowles, 10.9; 14. Tyler Pearson and Ty Erickson, NT. Average standings: 1. Will Lummus, 25.2 seconds on six head; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 26.9; 3. Blake Knowles, 35.8; 4. Bridger Chambers, 39.4; 5. Riley Duvall, 44.3; 6. Nick Guy, 53; 7. Tanner Brunner, 76.2; 8. Kyle Irwin, 20.2 on five. World standings: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $184,125; 2. Will Lummus, $156,471; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $153,186; 4. Scott Guenthner, $150,765; 5. Kyle Irwin, $139,416; 6. Tyler Pearson, $133,856; 7. Ty Erickson, $128,854; 8. Hunter Cure, $122,268; 9. Bridger Chambers, $120,159; 10. Blake Knowles, $119,515; 11. Jacob Talley, $111,448; 12. Blake Mindemann, $106,919; 13. Nick Guy, $99,514; 14. Tanner Brunner, $98,193; 15. Riley Duvall, $96,528.

 

Team roping: 1. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 3.9 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, 4.4, $20,731; 3. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 4.5, $15,654; 4. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkings II, 8.7, $11,000; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 19.5, $6,769; 6. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, Riley Minor/Brady Minor, Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, Luke Brown/Jake Long and Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, NT. Average standings: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 48.4 seconds on six head; 2. Clay Smith/ Paul Eaves, 21.9 on five; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 27.8; 4. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 42.2; 5. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 43.2; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 22.0 on four; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 25.1; 8. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 31. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $197,127; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $167,964; 3. Bubba Buckaloo, $148,721; 4. Riley Minor, $139,361; 5. Aaron Tsinigine, $134,237; 6. Cody Snow, $133,594; 7. Luke Brown, $130,756; 8. Dustin Egusquiza, $129,723; 9. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 10. Derrick Begay, $121,068; 11. Chad Masters, $120,304; 12. Lane Ivy, $114,688; 13. Tyler Wade, $109,376; 14. Erich Rogers, $98,450; 15. Rhen Richard, $92,790. World standings (heelers): 1. Paul Eaves, $197,127; 2. Junior Nogueira, $168,948; 3. Trey Yates, $148,631; 4. Joseph Harrison, $139,477; 5. Brady Minor, $138,169; 6. Jake Long, $130,756; 7. Wesley Thorp, $129,904; 8. Kory Koontz, $129,723; 9. Chase Tryan, $128,136; 10. Cory Petska, $127,525; 11. Travis Graves, $118,928; 12. Buddy Hawkins II, $111,682; 13. Clint Summers, $109,563; 14. Cole Davison, $102,482; 15. Quinn Kesler, $88,906.

 

Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Zeke Thurston, on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Chestnut and Cort Scheer on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Elsmere, 89.5 points, $23,481 each; 3. Chase Brooks, 89, $15,654; 4. Ryder Wright, 87.5, $11,000; 5. Joey Sonnier III, 86, $6,770; 6. (tie) Taos Muncy and Wade Sundell, 85.5, $2,115 each; 8. Clay Elliott, 85; 9. (tie) Rusty Wright and CoBurn Bradshaw, 82; 11. Isaac Diaz, 79.5; 12. Sterling Crawley, 76.5, 13. Jacobs Crawley, Brody Cress and Jake Wright, NS. Average standings: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 503 points on six head; 2. (tie) Wade Sundell and Zeke Thurston, 432.5 on five; 4. Cort Scheer, 432; 5. Rusty Wright, 427; 6. Clay Elliott, 424; 7. Ryder Wright, 351.5 on four; 8. Isaac Diaz, 334.5. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $243,194; 2. Jacobs Crawley, $204,331; 3. Cort Scheer, $194,554; 4. Rusty Wright, $193,684; 5. Zeke Thurston, $179,118; 6. Wade Sundell, $170,848; 7. Isaac Diaz, $160,970; 8. CoBurn Bradshaw, $132,325; 9. Jake Wright $128,287; 10. Clay Elliott, $126,445; 11. Chase Brooks, $121,680; 12. Brody Cress, $121,587; 13. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 14. Joey Sonnier III, $95,883; 15. Taos Muncy, $90,906.

 

Tie-down roping: 1. Cooper Martin, 7.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Ryan Jarrett and Reese Riemer, 7.8, $18,192 each: 4. Jake Pratt, 8.1, $11,000; 5. Trevor Brazile, 8.3, $6,769; 6. Ryle Smith, 8.8, $4,231; 7. Caleb Smidt, 9.0; 8. Rhen Richard, 9.1; 9. Cory Solomon, 9.7; 10. (tie) Shane Hanchey, 10.0; 12. Tyson Durfey, 11.5; 13. Tuf Cooper, 17.2; 14. (tie) Sterling Smith and Marty Yates, NT. Average standings: 1. Ryle Smith, 49.0 seconds on six head; 2. Caleb Smidt, 49.5; 3. Rhen Richard, 52.6; 4. Reese Riemer, 57.3; 5. Matt Shiozawa, 60.2; 6. Trevor Brazile, 63.8; 7. Cooper Martin, 64.5; 8. Cory Solomon, 67.8. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $164,347; 2. Marty Yates, $162,271; 3. Reese Riemer, $159,454; 4. Tuf Cooper, $158,095; 5. Caleb Smidt, $157,932; 6. Trevor Brazile, $156,643; 7. Ryle Smith, $153,056; 8. Jake Pratt, $142,088; 9. Tyson Durfey, $136,518; 10. Cooper Martin, $128,169; 11. Ryan Jarrett, $126,616; 12. Matt Shiozawa, $122,923; 13. Sterling Smith, $111,647; 14. Rhen Richard, $111,283; 15. Cory Solomon, $110,002.

 

Bull riding: 1. Dustin Boquet, 91 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo Company’s Divinity, $26,231; 2. Chase Dougherty, 88.5, $20,731; 3. Koby Radley, 88, $15,654; 4. Joe Frost, 87, $11,000; 5. Parker Breding, 86.5, $6,769; 6. Jeff Askey, 85.5, $4,231; 7. Sage Kimzey, Tyler Bingham, Roscoe Jarboe, Boudreaux Campbell, Garrett Tribble, Cole Melancon, Eli Vastbinder, Trevor Kastner and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Joe Frost, 347 points on four head; 2. Jeff Askey, 340; 3. Parker Breding, 330.5; 4. Garrett Tribble, 262 points on three head; 5. Koby Radley, 259; 6. Chase Dougherty, 257; 7. Sage Kimzey, 254; 8. Dustin Boquet, 175.5 points on two. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $358,852; 2. Parker Breding, $225,232; 3. Jeff Askey, $174,855; 4. Garrett Tribble, $174,136; 5. Joe Frost, $173,150; 6. Chase Dougherty, $172,375; 7. Dustin Boquet, $166,472; 8. Koby Radley, $160,072; 9. Trey Benton III, $141,393; 10. Tyler Bingham, $135,064; 11. Eli Vastbinder, $132,191; 12. Roscoe Jarboe, $130,737; 13. Boudreaux Campbell, $116,431; 14. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.

 

All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $298,026; 2. Tuf Cooper, $263,184; 3. Rhen Richard, $192,647; 4. Steven Dent, $184,513; 5. Curtis Cassidy, $171,352; 6. Ryle Smith, $169,562.

 

RAM Top Gun standings: 1. Amberleigh Moore, $104,346; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $93,981; 3. Cort Scheer, $92,712; 4. (tie) Paul Eaves and Clay Smith, 81,782; 5. Jessica Routier, $80,854; 6. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Ryder Wright, $78,116; 8. Marty Yates, $75,789; 9. Steven Dent, $75,506; 10. Tyler Waguespack, $73,603.

LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Clayton Biglow had never been on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil.

Biglow was in the Thomas & Mack Center and competing in Round 3 in 2017 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when Tim O’Connell tied an arena record on the horse.

On Monday night, Dec. 10, Biglow finally got his chance to climb aboard. He didn’t waste the opportunity.

Biglow notched an arena-record, 93-point ride on Virgil, receiving a standing ovation from the 16,877 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas during Round 5 of the 60th edition of the Wrangler NFR.

Biglow was understandably excited when he saw his name paired with Virgil, the two-time Bareback Horse of the Year.

“Oh, outstanding,” said Biglow, eight days shy of his 23rd birthday. “I’ve been wanting to get on him since the first time I saw him. Before the NFR even started I thought to myself, ‘Well, if there’s a place to draw him it’d be here, that’s for dang sure.’ Last night, when I got the draw and I saw his name next to mine I couldn’t sleep at all. I sat there as happy as could be. I couldn’t shut up about it to my girlfriend.”

Only 10 other cowboys have ever been 93 points or better in the history of the PRCA – six have scored 93, the other four 94.

Biglow and Virgil now stand among the best rides in PRCA history.

“It’s awesome and humbling,” Biglow said. “I’m just happy my name’s up there right now with all the other greats – a lot of people have been 90 points. A bunch of guys in that locker room have also been 90 and set records. To be in that group of guys it’s what I’ve always dreamed of.”

The Clements, Calif., cowboy loved every bit of the ride. He knew it felt good. He knew he’d be in the money. He thought he had a chance to win.

He did more than that, obliterating the arena record by 1.5 points.

“Well, in my mind, I was thinking 89, 90, but I did not think it was going to be 93,” Biglow said.

The victory helped Biglow climb into third place in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $192,551.

“It gives me that boost of confidence that I can ride against those guys and win,” Biglow said.

O’Connell, the two-time defending world champion, is still in first place with $227,147.

 

Sundell’s 92-point ride earns Round 5 win

Wade Sundell had a good feeling about Round 5.

He’d won the round in 2013 and 2014. And then he drew Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman, a four-time Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year.

Sundell, 33, passed his feeling along ahead of his ride.

“I told (flankman) Heith Stewart earlier that they (the crowd) were needing to be wowed and that he was about to see something he hadn’t seen in a while,” Sundell said.

Then the Boxholm, Iowa, cowboy went out and rode Medicine Woman for 92 points and yet another Round 5 victory.

“It’s been alright to me, huh?” Sundell laughed. “I was stoked to have that one, and it’s the best she has ever been with me, so I bared down and had fun.”

Sundell and Medicine Woman are familiar with each other. Sundell had another 92-point ride on her in the final round of the 2014 Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo. She was more of the same at the Thomas & Mack.

“Yeah, it was everything I figured it would be,” he said. “She wanted to stall out, so I kept gassing on her.”

Sundell is second in the average and up to fifth in the world standings with $168,732 in earnings.

“It’s about time I got back to the old stage and rode a great horse against all the great guys here,” he said.

Defending Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Ryder Wright continues to lead the world standings. After placing second Monday, Wright has $232,194 in earnings.

 

Lummus notches first go-round win in 3.3 seconds

In his first trip to the Wrangler NFR, Will Lummus has his first go-round victory.

The big steer wrestler from West Point, Miss., stopped the clock in 3.3 seconds to win Round 5 and cash in for $26,231.

“It feels great to win, and I bet it feels just as good for Grinder (the horse Lummus rode),” said Lummus, 6-foot-2, 250 pounds. “This is his first trip, as well. We’re just going along and learning and trying to make good runs.”

Grinder belongs to nine-time Wrangler NFR qualifier K.C. Jones, who was also hazing for Lummus during the win.

The pair made a great run Monday night, helping Lummus climb from second to first in the average midway through the 10-day rodeo. Lummus’ time in the average is 20.7 seconds on five head.

The win also has him second in the world standings with $154,355. Curtis Cassidy is first with $157,894.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Lummus, 26. “It has been great to be out here with a legend like K.C. Jones and being able to rodeo with him and ride his great horses has been a pleasure.”

Lummus’ start was exactly what he needed to grab the win.

“I finally feel like I got the start tonight,” he said. “I’ve been getting decent starts, but I haven’t really got the start and I felt like I got it tonight. Being able to draw a steer like that and have him pick his head up, it was awesome.”

 

Vastbinder’s 91-point ride earns him first Finals round win

Bull rider Eli Vastbinder is making his first Wrangler NFR appearance this year.

After Monday’s round win, he can say he’s thoroughly enjoying it.

Vastbinder rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Shootin’ Stars for 91 points and his first Wrangler NFR go-round victory.

“It means everything to me,” said Vastbinder, 27. “After the last couple of days, it’s a huge relief. It feels like a weight has been lifted off me.”

Through four rounds Vastbinder had failed to last on a bull. He also had taken his fair share of poundings from the bulls. In Round 5, he got a little revenge.

“Sore for sure, but this helps a lot, and it’s all refreshed me,” Vastbinder said. “I’m ready for five more rounds. In the second round, I came off and put my hand up, and it jammed from my wrist to my shoulder. I have some fractures in my wrist and old ones they found too. But Justin Sportsmedicine has been great to me, hats off to them for doing what they do and helping us out. We couldn’t do it without them.”

The win revitalized Vastbinder.

“I’m ready,” said Vastbinder, of Athens, Texas. “It refreshed me and lifted the weight off me. I’m excited for tomorrow and the day after that. Everyone wants to do well, and there’s a lot of pressure here. We have worked for it our whole lives, at least I have, so when you get here you feel like you have something to prove and that hinders your ability.”

Four-time defending world champion Sage Kimzey added a little money to his pocket with a fifth-place finish. He has $358,853 this season.

 

Smith/Eaves reclaim top spot in team roping heading, heeling

After watching team roping header Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira move into first place in their respective events, Clay Smith and Paul Eaves answered.

The duo stopped the clock in 3.8 seconds, the top time of this year’s Finals.

Eaves pointed to the steer as a big reason for the quick win.

“The steer was really good, one of the better steers we’ve drawn,” Eaves said. “Everything came together.”

Smith is first in team roping heading with $181,473, while Eaves is first in heeling with the same amount. Driggers and Nogueira are first in the average, while Smith and Eaves are fifth.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Smith said. “We’ve got to keep going at them and seeing how much we can win. It’s only halfway (through the Wrangler NFR), so it doesn’t really matter right now.”

Smith and Eaves have teamed together long enough, they know how to read off each other.

“We’ve roped together long enough it’s not like you’ve got to really talk about it,” Eaves said. “It’s about not trying to press too hard but still be able to win something.”

Despite how much money is available, the duo try not to treat the Finals any differently than they would other rodeos.

“The same as we would at a regular rodeo,” Smith said. “We make sure the horses are warmed up and that’s really it, we just focus on what we need to do. There’s no difference between here and when we go to Odessa (Texas). It’s just the same routine.”

 

Three-way tie in tie-down roping

Trevor Brazile, Reese Riemer and Ryan Jarrett each stopped the clock in 7.5 seconds to force a three-way split for first in tie-down roping in the fifth round, Monday.

Brazile again extended his PRCA record for go-round wins at the Wrangler NFR – in tie-down roping and team roping – and the National Finals Steer Roping. A night after winning Round 4, Brazile tied for the win in Round 5, giving him 70 go-round victories between the two finals.

“This feels good,” said Brazile, 42. “It was a good calf, and so many things happened right there. I didn’t think (that time would hold on). I was the second roper out, and so many of those guys were making great runs. I was happy to be tying them and not getting beat.”

Jarrett hasn’t had the easiest time of it at the 60th Finals. Monday was the second time he’d roped his calf.

“It feels really good, and I’m glad to break the ice,” said Jarrett, who was riding Snoopy. “It has been a rough week. I have not had any luck. I’m glad to get this win and get a good check.”

Riemer, 28, is on his third trip to the Finals. But Monday night marked his first go-round win at the Wrangler NFR.

“Words can’t express how good this feels,” he said. “I was just telling these guys, this was the 25th calf I’ve ever run in this building and this was my first victory lap. It was exciting.”

The earnings for Brazile (the three each took home $20,872) helped him extend his lead in the all-around cowboy race. He has won $291,257 in all-around. His lead over brother-in-law Tuf Cooper is $28,073.

 

Conrado keeps cashing checks

For the third time in five rounds, barrel racer Ivy Conrado pocketed a check.

But this time it was a first-place check.

Conrado rode JLo and stopped the clock in 13.49 seconds to win Round 5 and make $26,231.

“It does (take the pressure off), especially after (hitting a barrel) last night,” Conrado said. “I think it’s best just not to let that stuff get in your head and bring you down. Every night is a new night here and you never know what’s going to happen here in Vegas. So, if you get the chance to try and go fast, it’s fun, and if you can be in the average that’s even more fun.”

Conrado is ninth in the average and seventh in the world standings with $154,501. Hailey Kinsel continues to lead with $260,584.

A year ago, Conrado split Round 5 with Lisa Lockhart. This time she’s going to the South Point to take the stage on her own.

“I’m really excited,” said Conrado, of Hudson, Colo. “Kenny Nichols and James Barron own my yellow mare JLo – I say she’s mine, but they own her. I was really excited that they let me have her, and this win means so much to them. They don’t know it yet, but I got Montana Silversmiths to make a copy of the go-round buckle that we won last year and put JLo’s name on it. I’m going to give it to them tonight.”

 

Moore continues to lead RAM Top Gun race

Barrel racer Amberleigh Moore, of Salem, Ore., is still at the forefront for the RAM Top Gun standings.

Halfway through the 60th edition of the Wrangler NFR, Moore is at the top of the standings with $93,346.

Tie-down roper Marty Yates is second with $75,788.

 

60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Fifth Performance Results, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 93 points on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil, $26,231; 2. Richmond Champion; 88.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Steven Dent and Bill Tutor; 88, $13,327 each; 5. Mason Clements, 87.5, $6,769; 6. Orin Larsen, 87, $4,231; 7. (tie) Ty Breuer and Shane O’Connell, 86.5; 9. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Kaycee Feild, and Will Lowe, 86; 12. Tilden Hooper, 84.5; 13. Caleb Bennett, 78.5; 14. Jake Brown, 77.5; 15. Wyatt Denny, NS. Average standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, 425 points on five head; 2. Steven Dent, 423; 3. Tilden Hooper, 420; 4. Tim O’Connell, 418.5; 5. Shane O’Connell, 416; 6. Will Lowe, 414.5; 7. Richmond Champion, 414; 8. Bill Tutor, 411.5. World standings: 1. Tim O’Connell, $227,147; 2. Caleb Bennett, $214,159; 3. Clayton Biglow, $192,551; 4. Kaycee Feild; $170,522; 5. Steven Dent, $169,131; 6. Orin Larsen, $165,617; 7. Richmond Champion, $157,319; 8. Bill Tutor, $154,162; 9. Mason Clements, $149,587; 10. Tilden Hooper, $144,750; 11. Jake Brown, $115,069; 12. Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 13. Shane O’Connell, $107,720; 14. Ty Breuer, $101,558; 15. Will Lowe, $86,017.

 

Steer wrestling: 1. Will Lummus, 3.3 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 3.5, $20,731; 3. Bridger Chambers, 3.7, $15,654; 4. Riley Duvall, 3.9, $8,885; 4. Kyle Irwin, 3.9, $8,885; 6. Hunter Cure, 4.0, $4,231; 7. (tie) Blake Mindemann and Jacob Talley, 4.2; 9. Scott Guenthner, 5.1; 10. Nick Guy, 7.4; 11. Blake Knowles, 8.1; 12. Ty Erickson, 15.6; 13. Tanner Brunner, 16.3; 14. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Tyler Pearson, NT. Average standings: 1. Will Lummus, 20.7 seconds on five head; 2. Tyler Waguespack,       22.8; 3. Blake Knowles, 24.9; 4. Bridger Chambers, 33.3; 5. Riley Duvall, 38.8; 6. Nick Guy, 48.9; 7. Ty Erickson, 58.2; 8. Tanner Brunner, 69.5. World standings: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $157,894; 2. Will Lummus, $154,355; 3. Scott Guenthner, $148,650; 4. Tyler Waguespack, $142,045; 5. Tyler Pearson, $133,856; 6. Ty Erickson, $128,854; 7. Kyle Irwin, $128,275; 8. Hunter Cure, $122,268; 9. Bridger Chambers, $120,159; 10. Blake Knowles, $119,515; 11. Blake Mindemann, $106,919; 12. Tanner Brunner, $98,193; 13. Riley Duvall, $96,528; 14. Jacob Talley, $90,717; 15. Nick Guy, $88,373.

 

Team roping: 1. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 3.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 3.9, $20,73; 3. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz and Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 4.0, $13,327 each; 5. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.1, $6,769; 6. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 5.2, $4,231; 7. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 8.6; 8. (tie) Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins II and Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 8.9; 10. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 9.5; 11. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 10.1; 12. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 10.3; 13. (tie) Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, Luke Brown/Jake Long and Clay Tryan, NT. Average standings: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 27.8 seconds on five head; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 28.9; 3. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 42.2; 4. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 43.2; 5. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 17.4 seconds on four head; 6. Riley Minor      /Brady Minor, 22; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 25.1; 8. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 31. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $181,473; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $167,964; 3. Riley Minor, $139,361; 4. Cody Snow, $133,594; 5. Luke Brown, $130,756; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $129,723; 7. Bubba Buckaloo, $127,990; 8. Aaron Tsinigine, $127,468; 9. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 10. Derrick Begay, $121,068; 11. Chad Masters, $120,304; 12. Lane Ivy, $103,688; 13. Erich Rogers. $98,450; 14. Rhen Richard, $92,790; 15. Tyler Wade, $83,145. World standings (heelers): 1. Paul Eaves, $181,473; 2. Junior Nogueira, $168,948; 3. Trey Yates, $141,862; 4. Joseph Harrison, $139,477; 5. Brady Minor, $138,169; 6. Jake Long, $130,756; 7. Wesley Thorp, $129,904; 8. Kory Koontz, $129,723; 9. Cory Petska, $127,525; 10. Travis Graves, $118,928; 11. Clint Summers, $109,563; 12. Chase Tryan, $107,406; 13. Buddy Hawkins II, $100,682; 14. Quinn Kesler, $88,906; 15. Cole Davison, $76,252.

 

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Wade Sundell, 92 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman, $26,231; 2. Ryder Wright, 91, $20,731; 3. Rusty Wright, 90.5, $15,654; 4.      Zeke Thurston, 90, $11,000; 5. Clay Elliott, 89.5, $6,769; 6. Chase Brooks, 88, $4,231; 7. Sterling Crawley, 87.5; 7. CoBurn Bradshaw, 87.5; 9. Isaac Diaz, 86.5; 10. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5; 11. Brody Cress, 83.5; 12. (tie) Jake Wright, Joey Sonnier III, Taos Muncy and Cort Scheer, NS. Average standings: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 421 points on five head; 2. Wade Sundell, 347; 3. Rusty Wright, 345; 4. Zeke Thurston, 343; 5. Cort Scheer, 342.5; 6. Clay Elliott, 339; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 334; 8. Ryder Wright, 264. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $232,194; 2. Jacobs Crawley, $204,331; 3. Rusty Wright, $193,684; 4. Cort Scheer, $171,073; 5. Wade Sundell, $168,732; 6. Isaac Diaz, $160,970; 7. Zeke Thurston, $155,637; 8. CoBurn Bradshaw, $132,325; 9. Jake Wright, $128,287; 10. Clay Elliott, $126,445; 11. Brody Cress, $121,588; 12. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 13. Chase Brooks, $106,026; 14. Joey Sonnier III, $89,114l; 15. Taos Muncy, $88,790.

 

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Reese Riemer, Ryan Jarrett and Trevor Brazile, 7.5, $20,872 each;

4. Matt Shiozawa, 8.1, $11,000; 5. Caleb Smidt, 8.5, $6,769; 6. Ryle Smith, 8.9, $4,231; 7. Tuf Cooper, 9.2; 8. Rhen Richard, 9.5; 9. Cory Solomon, 10.2; 10. Marty Yates, 14.6; 11. Cooper Martin, 18.0; 12. Jake Pratt, 19.4; 13. (tie) Tyson Durfey, Sterling Smith and Shane Hanchey, NT. Average standings: 1. Ryle Smith, 40.2 seconds on five head: 2. Caleb Smidt, 40.5; 3. Rhen Richard, 43.5; 4. Marty Yates, 45.9; 5. Reese Riemer, 49.5; 6. Matt Shiozawa, 50.2; 7. Trevor Brazile, 55.5; 8. Cooper Martin, 56.9. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $164,347; 2. Marty Yates, $162,271; 3. Tuf Cooper, $158,095; 4. Caleb Smidt, $157,932; 5. Trevor Brazile, $149,874; 6. Ryle Smith, $148,826; 7. Reese Riemer, $141,262; 8. Tyson Durfey, $136,518; 9. Jake Pratt, $131,088; 10. Matt Shiozawa, $122,923; 11. Sterling Smith, $111,647; 12. Rhen Richard, $111,283; 13. Cory Solomon, $110,002; 14. Ryan Jarrett, $108,424; 15. Cooper Martin, $101,938.

 

Barrel racing: 1. Ivy Conrado, 13.49 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Hailey Kinsel and Kelly Bruner, 13.59, $18,192 each; 4. Taci Bettis, 13.65, $11,000; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.81, $6,769; 6. Jessica Routier, 13.85, $4,231; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 13.91; 8. Nellie Miller, 13.96; 9. Tammy Fischer, 14.03; 10. (tie) Stevi Hillman and Carman Pozzobon, 14.06; 12. Amberleigh Moore, 18.59; 13. Tracy Nowlin, 18.76; 14. Jessie Telford, 18.99; 15. Kylie Weast, 24.20. Average standings: 1. Jessica Routier, 68.98 seconds on five runs; 2. Nellie Miller, 69.64; 3. Carman Pozzobon, 69.74; 4. Tammy Fischer, 69.84; 5. Amberleigh Moore, 73.14; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 73.52; 7. Jessie Telford, 74.05; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 74.27. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $260,584; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $182,473; 3. Nellie Miller, $167,826; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $160,805; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $159,746; 6. Jessica Routier, $158,627; 7. Ivy Conrado, $154,501; 8. Kylie Weast, $138,369; 9. Stevi Hillman, $133,559; 10. Jessie Telford, $133,457; 11. Kelly Bruner, $129,708; 12. Taci Bettis, $124,692; 13. Tracy Nowlin, $116,150; 14. Tammy Fischer, $101,277; 15. Carman Pozzobon, $101,177.

Bull riding: 1. Eli Vastbinder, 91 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Shootin’ Stars, $27,077; 2. Garrett Tribble, 89.5, $21,577; 3 (tie) Jeff Askey and Koby Radley, 87, $14,173 each; 5. Sage Kimzey, 78, $7,615; 6. Parker Breding, Chase Dougherty, Tyler Bingham, Dustin Bouquet, Roscoe Jarboe, Boudreaux Campbell, Cole Melancon, Joe Frost, Trevor Kastner, Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Garrett Tribble, 262 on three head; 2. Joe Frost, 260; 3. Jeff Askey, 254.5; 4. Sage Kimzey, 254; 5. Parker Breding, 244; 6. Koby Radley, 171 on two head; 7. Trey Benton III, 170; 8. Chase Dougherty, 168.5. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $358,853; 2. Parker Breding, $218,463; 3. Garrett Tribble, $174,136; 4. Jeff Askey, $170,624; 5. Joe Frost, $162,150; 6. Chase Dougherty, $151,644; 7. Koby Radley, $144,418; 8. Trey Benton III, $141,393; 9. Dustin Boquet, $140,241; 10. Tyler Bingham, $135,064; 11. Eli Vastbinder, $132,191; 12. Roscoe Jarboe, $130,737; 13. Boudreaux Campbell, $116,431; 14. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.

All-around standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $291,257; 2. Tuf Cooper, $263,184; 3. Rhen Richard, $192,647; 4. Steven Dent, $168,718; 5. Ryle Smith, $165,332; 6. Curtis Cassidy, $145,122.

 

RAM Top Gun standings: 1. Amberleigh Moore, $93,346; 2. Marty Yates, $75,788; 3. Rusty Wright, $70,077; 4. Cort Scheer, $69,231; 5. Caleb Smidt, $67,962; 6. Hailey Kinsel, $67,750; 7. Will Lummis, $67,398; 8. Ryder Wright, $67,116; 9. (tie) Paul Eaves and Clay Smith, $66,128 each.

LAS VEGAS – Before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo began, 23-time world champion Trevor Brazile announced he would be cutting his rodeo count down, not planning on going full time on the road any more.

This, the 60th edition of the Wrangler NFR would likely be his last. At 42 years old, he’s looking forward to spending more time with family.

But Sunday night, Dec. 9, in front of 16,917 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Brazile looked as young as ever, stopping the clock in 6.8 seconds to win tie-down roping. Even more significant, Brazile took over the lead in the coveted All-Around Cowboy competition from his brother-in-law Tuf Cooper.

Brazile, who now has won a PRCA-record 69 career rounds between the Wrangler NFR and the National Finals Steer Roping, has felt locked in the last couple rounds.

“I felt like I was on the cusp of the same run the last two nights,” he said. “Obviously, I just didn’t do my job (Saturday night) and (Friday night) – I may have underestimated the calf just a little. It is just those little things. They don’t pay you for your bio here. You have to compete, and you have to finish the course every night and I didn’t do that (Saturday night). I should’ve done well, and I didn’t. Tonight, I tried not to take anything for granted and complete the course.”

Sunday, aboard Deputy, Brazile went under seven seconds, always a great sign.

“It’s fun, and I’ve never had a 6-second run I didn’t like, but they always feel better in the Thomas & Mack with this crowd,” he said.

Brazile is eighth in the world standings in tie-down roping with $129,002. He also he upped his all-around cowboy earnings to $270,385, climbing over Cooper by $7,201. Brazile isn’t worried about that just yet.

“There are things I can control and things I can’t,” he said. “I started off just too aggressive. I knew it was my last time out here, and I wanted to make every run count. Looking back, I was probably a touch too aggressive, but I came in here so many times protecting leads and just being conservative, and I just wanted to do it my way this year.”

Meanwhile, Shane Hanchey, who entered the Finals as the leader in the world standings, climbed back into first place in the tie-down roping. He has $164,347 on the season.

 

Curtis Cassidy regains steer wrestling lead

After watching his lead in the steer wrestling world standings dissipate and then vanish, regular-season leader Curtis Cassidy tried not to concern himself.

In Round 4, he went out and did what he needed to, stopping the clock in 3.6 seconds to win the round and retake the lead in the world standings.

He knew the steer he drew was going to give him a good chance at the round win, his first since splitting the win in Round 7 in 2014 and his first outright round win since Round 5 of that year.

“Will Lummus made a good run on that steer (4.3 seconds) in Round 1, and that steer left and ran good. He was everything you could want for a steer.”

Cassidy, 40, missed his first steer of the 10-day rodeo, as did fellow Canadian Scott Guenthner. Both of them were riding Tyson, Cassidy’s horse. Since, Guenthner won Round 3 and Cassidy took Round 4.

“I don’t know if my horse (Tyson) got sick the first night, but Scott and I didn’t catch either one of our steers and the horse had a bad night,” Cassidy said. “I had a lot of anxiety over it that first night because five of us rode that horse at the Canadian Finals (Rodeo in November) and he was clutch every night. That first night here, something was wrong with him, and I don’t know what it was. I just had faith in him and faith in my program and my horses. The second night was good, and the last two nights have been awesome.”

The Bashaw, Alberta, cowboy has made $51,885 at the Wrangler NFR, helping him regain the top spot in the world standings with $157,894. Cassidy is in his first return trip to the Finals since 2014.

“No, I’m not worrying about the standings right now,” Cassidy said. “It’s 10 one-headers here, and you have to win as much money as you can every night because you don’t know what’s going to happen the next night.”

 

Tribble clears more than $30,000 with Round 4 win

Garrett Tribble picked a heck of a time to rein in his first outright round win.

The bull rider from Bristow, Okla., posted an 87.0-point ride on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Black Hammer to win the round.

He had a three-way split of first a year ago. This time, the win was all his.

“Well, I just stayed on my bull, we had a tough pen of bulls, and it sure was tough to stay on,” said Tribble, 21. “I had maybe one of the better picks and he made me ride, and it worked out. This is a good win for me because it’s the middle of the week and I had one ridden before. This helped me get my confidence back to where it should be to get rolling for the rest of the week.”

Adding to that win, Tribble was one of just three bull riders to make the whistle. His efforts earned him $33,564, as he, Jeff Askey and Parker Breding split the extra ground money.

“Man, it’s really something because we don’t have many chances to win this much money,” Tribble said. “It’s even better when you do it with bulls you’ve seen all year and are excited to draw them here or anywhere, really.”

Tribble knew what to expect from Black Hammer, helping with the win.

“I knew he bucks hard and tries to pull down hard, and not many guys ride him far, but if I got around the corner I would be setting just right,” said Tribble, fifth in the world standings with $154,559.

 

 

After pushing for Just Peachy, Bennett rides for 86.5 points

Caleb Bennett knew plenty about Three Hills Rodeo’s Just Peachy. In fact, he was the bareback rider pushing for the Three Hills Rodeo horse to make an appearance at the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

Then came the draw, and Bennett ended up aboard Just Peachy for Round 4. He made it count.

Bennett posted an 86.5-point ride on the horse, answering a night after two-time defending champ and 2018 standings leader Tim O’Connell won Round 3.

“Shoot, there’s always pressure here, whether you’re 15^th or first, especially if you’re here to win and here to do good,” said Bennett, of Tremonton, Utah. “I told myself after last night I let one slip, I should have placed on that horse. I told myself, come back and match him (O’Connell), win the go-round and throw the pressure back on his turf.”

Bennett is still in second place in the world standings with $214,159. He’s closed the gap with O’Connell to $12,988. (O’Connell picked up $3,666 after splitting fifth and sixth with Jake Brown and Mason Clements.)

Knowing what Peachy was capable of, Bennett was stoked to draw the horse.

“That horse has been around for a little while now,” said Bennett, 30. “She used to be probably 50 pounds heavier. She’s trimmed down. She’s gotten really good this year, really electric. I had her in San Antonio to be 86. A handful of guys knew her, and a handful didn’t. They weren’t really sure about bringing her here. I pushed for her to get here and thought she should be here. I was grinning from ear to ear, I was glad I did that.”

 

Ivy/Hawkins win team roping in 4.1 seconds

Lane Ivy is making his debut at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Buddy Hawkins II is in his second trip, first since 2013.

The team roping partners looked like a pair of seasoned Wrangler NFR veterans when they stopped the clock in a Round 4-best time of 4.1 seconds.

Team roping heeler Hawkins has tried to impart a bit of wisdom on his heading partner, Ivy, 26.

“It takes everything to do good, every single thing,” said Hawkins, 32. “If there’s any advice I gave Lane coming out here it was to not be afraid of the barrier. If you break the barrier that’s fine, but if you miss the barrier it’s not fine, and that’s just the beginning of the run. You can nail the barrier and then there’s so many things that can go wrong or right and everything seemed like it went right tonight. This was the easiest run I’ve ever made here.”

Ivy is settling in to his first trip to the Finals. A little help from mom also never hurts.

“The first few nights I did absolutely terrible,” Ivy said. “I broke the barrier on one. Tonight, my mom said, ‘Hey, just take a deep breath, it’s just another rodeo.’ And that’s true, it pays a lot more, but that’s all it comes down to – being sharp and doing your job. This is what we prepared for, and I’m just excited to get the opportunity.”

The victory has Ivy and Hawkins sitting in 12^th place in the world standings in their respective events. Ivy has $103,688 in the heading standings, while Hawkins has $100,682.

 

Rusty Wright wins again in Round 4

The first time Rusty Wright won a round in saddle bronc riding it was the fourth round.

He did that again Sunday night, riding Korkow Rodeo’s Meat Cracker for 87 points and the Round 4 victory.

“I love the fourth round,” Wright said. “It was my first round win at my first NFR in 2015. I’ve been on that horse before in Calgary, and I knew what he would do. I thought I would just stick to the basics, stay back and lift my rein and let the judges take care of the rest.”

The funny thing is Wright wasn’t envisioning himself winning, he was more worried about his brother, defending Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Rusty Wright.

“I knew I would place high, and my brother (Ryder Wright) had Tiger Warrior,” said Rusty Wright, 23. “I wanted him to win the round. I mean, I wanted to win, of course, but if I had to be second, I wanted it to be to him – that horse isn’t easy to ride.”

Since getting to the Finals last week, Rusty Wright has been trying to get into a rhythm both in and outside the arena.

“We get up and sign autographs and then eat and then go to the rodeo, that’s the routine,” he said. “It’s hard to get in a routine, and you try to keep it simple. I haven’t really had a full meal since getting here, just peanut butter and jelly, and apples.”

Rusty Wright is in third place in the world standings with $178,030. Ryder is still in the lead with $211,463.

 

Finals rookie Telford notches first round win

Wrangler NFR rookie Jessie Telford is adjusting to her first trip to the Finals. So is her horse Cool Whip.

When the pair first arrived in Vegas and tried to get settled in, Cool Whip wasn’t exactly comfortable with his surroundings.

He looked perfectly at home in Round 4, as Telford and Cool Whip clocked a 13.49-second run to win the round, Telford’s first go-round victory.

“This win feels amazing,” said Telford, of Caldwell, Idaho. “My really good horse, Cool Whip, at the first practice (on Tuesday) felt like a colt – really green and spooking at everything. My other mare, Shu Fire, felt phenomenal, so I kind of went with my gut, which said run her at first until I could get him (Cool Whip) back in the pen. At the second practice that we got him back in, he felt awesome. He felt like himself – confident – that was (Saturday) morning, so he got the call.”

Telford has had a strong first four days of the Finals. She’s cashed in for $45,115, helping her to ninth place in the world standings with $133,457.

 

Barrel racer leads RAM Top Gun race

Through four rounds of the Wrangler NFR, Amberleigh Moore is atop the RAM Top Gun Standings, given to the competitor who wins the most money at the Finals.

Moore has won $93,346, so far. In second is tie-down roper Marty Yates with $75,788, followed by saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer ($69,231).

 

 

 

60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Fourth Performance Results, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, 86.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Just Peachy, $26,231; 2. Kaycee Feild, 86, $20,731; 3. (tie) Shane O’Connell and Tilden Hooper, 85.5, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Jake Brown and Mason Clements, 84.5, $3,667 each; 8. (tie) Bill Tutor and Steven Dent, 84; 10. Orin Larsen, 83; 11. Will Lowe, 82; 12. Richmond Champion, 81.5; 12. Ty Breuer, 81.5; 14. Clayton Biglow, 77; 15. Wyatt Denny, NS. Average standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, 339 points on four head; 2. Tilden Hooper, 335.5; 3. Steven Dent, 335; 4. Tim O’Connell, 332.5; 5. Shane O’Connell, 329.5; 6. Will Lowe, 328.5; 7. Richmond Champion, 325.5; 8. Bill Tutor, 323.5. World standings: 1. Tim O’Connell, $227,147; 2. Caleb Bennett, $214,159; 3. Kaycee Feild, $170,522; 4. Clayton Biglow, $166,320; 5. Orin Larsen, $161,386; 6. Steven Dent, $155,805; 7. Tilden Hooper, $144,750; 8. Mason Clements, $142,818; 9. Bill Tutor, $140,835; 10. Richmond Champion, $136,588; 11. Jake Brown, $115,069; 12. Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 13. Shane O’Connell, $107,720; 14. Ty Breuer, $101,558; 15. Will Lowe, $86,017.

 

Steer wrestling: 1. Curtis Cassidy, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Kyle Irwin, 3.7, $20,731; 3. (tie) Blake Mindemann and Blake Knowles, 3.8, $13,327 each: 5. Scott Guenthner, 4.1, $6,769; 6. Ty Erickson, 4.2, $4,231; 7. Will Lummus, 4.5; 8. Nick Guy, 4.6; 9. Riley Duvall, 4.8, 10. Tyler Waguespack, 5.4; 11. Bridger Chambers, 6.0; 12. Tanner Brunner, 15.0; 13. (tie) Tyler Pearson, Jacob Talley, and Hunter Cure, NT. Average standings: 1. Blake Knowles, 16.8 seconds on four head; 2. Will Lummus, 17.4; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 19.3, 4. Bridger Chambers, 29.6; 5. Riley Duvall, 34.9; 6. Nick Guy, 41.5; 7. Ty Erickson, 42.6; 8. Tanner Brunner, 53. World standings: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $157,894; 2. Scott Guenthner, $148,650; 3. Tyler Pearson, $133,856; 4. Ty Erickson, $128,854; 5. Will Lummus, $128,125; 6. Tyler Waguespack, $121,315; 7. Blake Knowles, $119,515; 8. Kyle Irwin, $119,391; 9. Hunter Cure, $118,037; 10. Blake Mindemann, $106,919; 11. Bridger Chambers, $104,505; 12. Tanner Brunner, $98,193; 13. Jacob Talley, $90,717; 14. Nick Guy, $88,373; 15. Riley Duvall, $87,643.

 

Team roping: 1. Lane Ivy/ Buddy Hawkins II, 4.1 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Jake Long and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.2, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.3, $8,885 each; 6. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 4.8, $4,231; 7. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 5.0; 8. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 5.3; 9. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 6.5; 10.           Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 14.2; 11. Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, Tyler Wade/Cole Davison and Erich Roger/Clint Summer, NT. Average standings: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 17.7 seconds on four head; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 23.7; 3. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 33.3; 4. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 33.7; 5. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 13.1; 6. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 13.6; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 14.8; 8. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 18.1. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $167,964; 2. Clay Smith, $155,242; 3. Cody Snow, $133,594; 4. Luke Brown, $130,756; 5. Bubba Buckaloo, $127,990; 6. Aaron Tsinigine, $123,237; 7. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 8. Derrick Begay, $121,068; 9. Riley Minor, $118,631; 10. Dustin Egusquiza, $116,396; 11. Chad Masters, $113,534; 12. Lane Ivy, $103,688; 13. Rhen Richard, $92,790; 14. Erich Rogers, $85,123; 15. Tyler Wade, $83,145. World standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $168,948; 2. Paul Eaves, $155,242; 3. Trey Yates, $137,631; 4. Joseph Harrison, $132,707; 5. Jake Long, $130,756; 6. Wesley Thorp, $129,904; 7. Cory Petska, $127,525; 8. Travis Graves, $118,928; 9. Brady Minor, $117,438; 10. Kory Koontz, $116,396; 11. Chase Tryan, $107,406; 12. Buddy Hawkins II, $100,682; 13. Clint Summers, $96,236; 14. Quinn Kesler, $88,906; 15. Cole Davison, $76,252.

 

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 87 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Meat Cracker, $26,231; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 86.5, $20,731; 3. Ryder Wright, 85, $15,654; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, 80.5, $11,000; 5. Cort Scheer, 78.5, $6,769; 6. Isaac Diaz, Brody Cress, Zeke Thurston, Wade Sundell, Jake Wright, Joey Sonnier III, Clay Elliott, Taos Muncy and Chase Brooks, NS. Average standings: 1. Cort Scheer, 342.5 points on four head, 2. CoBurn Bradshaw, 333.5; 3. Wade Sundell, 255 points on three head; 4. Rusty Wright, 254.5; 5. Jake Wright, 254; 6. Zeke Thurston, 253; 7. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Clay Elliott, 249.5. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $211,463; 2. Jacobs Crawley, $204,331; 3. Rusty Wright, $178,030; 4. Cort Scheer, $171,073; 5. Isaac Diaz, $160,970; 6. Zeke Thurston, $144,637; 7. Wade Sundell, $142,502; 8. CoBurn Bradshaw, $132,325; 9. Jake Wright, $128,287; 10. Brody Cress, $121,587; 11. Clay Elliott, $119,676; 12. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 13. Chase Brooks, $101,795; 14. Joey Sonnier III, $89,114; 15. Taos Muncy, $88,790.

 

Tie-down roping: 1. Trevor Brazile, 6.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Ryle Smith, 7.1, $20,731; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 7.3, $15,654; 4. Shane Hanchey, 7.4, $11,000; 5. Sterling Smith         , 7.6, $6,769; 6. Jake Pratt, 7.7, $4,231; 7. Cory Solomon, 8.1; 8. Reese Riemer, 8.2; 9. (tie) Rhen Richard, Caleb Smidt and Marty Yates, 8.7; 12. Cooper Martin, 9.1; 13. Ryan Jarrett, 9.3; 14. Tyson Durfey, 9.9; 15. Tuf Cooper, 13.4. Average standings: 1. (tie) Marty Yates and Ryle Smith, 31.3 seconds on four head; 3. Caleb Smidt, 32.0; 4. Rhen Richard, 34.0; 5. Tyson Durfey, 37.3; 6. Cooper Martin, 38.9; 7. Reese Riemer, 42.0; 8. (tie) Matt Shiozawa and Shane Hanchey, 42.1. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $164,347; 2. Marty Yates, $162,271; 3. Tuf Cooper, $158,095; 4. Caleb Smidt, $151,163; 5. Ryle Smith, $144,595; 6. Tyson Durfey, $136,518; 7. Jake Pratt, $131,088; 8. Trevor Brazile, $129,002; 9. Reese Riemer, $120,390; 10. Matt Shiozawa, $111,923; 11. Sterling Smith, $111,647; 12. Rhen Richard, $111,283; 13. Cory Solomon, $110,002; 14. Cooper Martin, $101,938; 15. Ryan Jarrett, $87,552.

 

Barrel racing: 1. Jessie Telford, 13.49 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jessica Routier, 13.58, $20,731; 3. Amberleigh Moore, 13.64, $15,654; 4. Kelly Bruner, 13.71, $11,000; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.74, $6,769; 6. Carman Pozzobon, 13.76, $4,231; 7. Nellie Miller, 13.78; 8. Tammy Fischer, 13.83; 9. Tracy Nowlin, 13.93; 10. Stevi Hillman, 14.06; 11. Lisa Lockhart, 14.07; 12. Kylie Weast, 18.70; 13. Hailey Kinsel, 18.78; 14. Taci Bettis, 18.81; 15. Ivy Conrado, 19.66. Average standings: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 54.55 seconds on four head; 2. Jessie Telford, 55.06; 3. Jessica Routier, 55.13; 4. Nellie Miller and Carman Pozzobon, 55.68; 6. Tammy Fischer, 55.81; 7. Hailey Kinsel, 59.93; 8. Kylie Weast, 59.96. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $242,392; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $182,473; 3. Nellie Miller, $167,826; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $159,746; 5. Jessica Routier, $154,397; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $154,036; 7. Kylie Weast, $138,369; 8. Stevi Hillman; $133,559; 9. Jessie Telford; $133,457; 10. Ivy Conrado, $128,270; 11. Tracy Nowlin, $116,150; 12. Taci Bettis, $113,692; 13. Kelly Bruner, $111,515; 14. Tammy Fischer, $101,277; 15. Carman Pozzobon, $101,177.

 

Bull riding: 1. Garrett Tribble, 87 points on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Black Hammer, $33,564; 2. Jeff Askey, 84, $28,064; 3. Parker Breding, 81, $22,987; 4. Sage Kimzey, Chase Dougherty, Tyler Bingham, Dustin Bouquet, Roscoe Jarboe, Boudreaux Campbell, Cole Melancon, Joe Frost, Eli Vastbinder, Koby Radley, Trevor Kastner and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Joe Frost, 260 points on three head; 2. Parker Breding, 244, $32,987; 3. Sage Kimzey, 176 on two head, $54,212; 4. Garrett Tribble, 172.5, $50,333; 5. Trey Benton III, 170, $40,462; 6. Chase Dougherty, 168.5, $42,295; 7. Jeff Askey, 167.5, $49,064; 8. Roscoe Jarboe, 162.5, $21,000. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $351,237; 2. Parker Breding, $218,463; 3. Joe Frost, $162,150; 4. Jeff Askey, $156,451; 5. Garrett Tribble, $152,559; 6. Chase Dougherty, $151,644; 7. Trey Benton III, $141,393; 8. Dustin Bouquet, $140,241; 9. Tyler Bingham, $135,064; 10. Roscoe Jarboe, $130,737; 11. Koby Radley, $130,245; 12. Boudreaux Campbell, $116,431; 13. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 14. Eli Vastbinder, $105,114; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.

 

All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $270,385; 2. Tuf Cooper, $263,184; 3. Rhen Richard, $192,647; 4. Ryle Smith, $161,101; 5. Steven Dent, $155,391; 6. Curtis Cassidy, $145,122; 7. Paul Tierney, $82,868; 8. Jordan Ketscher, $71,659; 9. Marcus Theriot, $64,759; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $60,005.

RAM Top Gun standings: 1. Amberleigh Moore, $93,346; 2. Marty Yates, $75,788; 3. Cort Scheer, $69,231; 4. Caleb Smidt, $61,192; 5. Kaycee Feild, 59,500.

LAS VEGAS – Two days ago, before the 60th edition of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo opened, saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer was sitting in ninth place and ready to make his first Finals appearance since 2015.

Over the next two days, Scheer has won back-to-back rounds, posted a round record, won $62,462 and climbed all the way to third in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings.

Scheer won his second consecutive round Friday, Dec. 7, taking Round 2 with a 92-point ride on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Larry Culpepper in front of 16,893 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Scheer’s 92-point ride broke the previous Round 2 record of 90 points, set by Dan Mortensen in 2003.

“Oh, man, it was all horse again tonight, and that horse was half of it or more,” Scheer said. “My spur-out was good tonight, and I wanted to work on that, and I was having a lot of fun.”

Scheer won Round 1 with an 86.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Y U R Frisky.

No surprise, Scheer is rather enjoying all this winning.

“It’s the goal,” said Scheer, of Elsmere, Neb. “You want to win every round and keep building off it, and then take that momentum and just have fun tomorrow.”

Scheer had not been aboard Larry Culpepper before Friday. But he did a little research.

“I heard Bradley Harter got him in Albuquerque, and he could have been 90 on him,” Scheer said. “Jake Wright showed me a video, and I knew I had to stay under my rein.”

Scheer’s earnings in 2018 have grown to $164,304. He’s about $31,000 behind defending world champion Ryder Wright, who climbed into the lead Friday.

Scheer is hoping to just keep chipping away at those in front of him.

“It’s just building off it,” he said. “I’m drawing good and the chips are falling for me, so I’m praising God for it, and I know he has a lot more blessings left in him.”

 

Hooper notches first Finals go-round win since 2008

Tilden Hooper hadn’t been to the Wrangler NFR since 2014. And the last time the bareback rider won a round it was during the 10th round in 2008. So that victory didn’t catch as much attention while the world champions were honored that night.

Hooper enjoyed his victory Friday night after posting an 87.5-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter.

“Obviously, any time you get a round win out here it’s exciting,” said Hooper, of Carthage, Texas. “But just to be back out here after four years is awesome. I’ve had some injuries. I’ve been extremely blessed to have a great family and wife and a whole team of guys behind me that keep me healthy and get me back to this point.”

Hooper’s win helped him climb to eighth place in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $131,423.

Though Hooper missed out on qualifying for the previous three Wrangler NFRs, he never lost doubt he’d be back.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s been four years since I’ve been here,” he said. “The process of getting back here and the day-to-day process of me staying healthy, I get so involved with that. It’s kind of like this is the fruit of that labor. I enjoy the labor, so time flies when you’re having fun.”

The last time Hooper was on Ankle Biter was also 2008. So, he knew he had a great draw.

“I got on that horse about 10 years ago when they first bought him,” the 30-year-old laughed. “I knew that horse was going to get way in the air and be showy and be a little bit more fun to ride than some of those other horses. If I could get him picked up and get in time with him, he’d give me a chance to show off. I felt like that’s what I did, and, man, that was fun.”

 

Frost clears 90 points on re-ride to win bull riding

Joe Frost had just gotten off his first bull, when he was already getting ready to get on the next.

Frost, who was granted a re-ride, rode Powder River Rodeo’s Misfire for 90 points and the win in Round 2 Friday.

Frost barely had time to consider what was going on. And he was just fine with that.

“When things happen that fast, there were only five guys left to ride, and they were running the bull in by the time I got the sweat off my forehead,” said Frost, 26. “There was no time to think, so it was all reactions, and I like it that way. I stayed warm through the second bull.”

The news got even better for Frost. Because of ground money, Frost won $33,564 because he was one of only three riders to make the whistle.

“Shoot, that’s what it all boils down to, and it’s why we are here, to make a living,” he said. “The better you ride, the better living you make.”

Frost posted an 87-point ride in the opening round. He’s one of only two bull riders to cover both of their bulls through the early stages of the 10-day rodeo. He’s earned $59,218 in two days and climbed to third in the world standings with $155,381.

He kept his approach the same from Thursday to Friday.

“I’ve had the same routine since I was a junior in high school,” he said. “There are so many variables in bull riding, and for me I like to keep my routine throughout my day – eat right, have a clear mind and positive attitude in all those things throughout the day. If you have a positive mindset, it makes it easier.”

 

Defending champ Pearson wins first Finals go-round

Steer wrestler Tyler Pearson didn’t need to win a round at the 2017 Wrangler NFR to capture the world title last year.

If Pearson goes on to win the 2018 world title that won’t be the same scenario.

After Friday night, the Louisville, Miss., bulldogger has his first go-round victory at the Finals.

Pearson won in 3.8 seconds to cash in for $26,231 and up his season earnings to $133,856, grabbing the season lead from Curtis Cassidy, who entered the Finals as the regular-season leader.

Winning the world last year has Pearson more relaxed this season.

“It took the pressure off me just because that was my lifelong dream to win a gold buckle,” said Pearson, 33. “I got that, and now I can just back in there and go have fun. Hopefully, I can get another one, that would be great, but I just want to have a good time in the process.”

Pearson won while riding Scooter, the PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year for steer wrestling in 2017 and 2018. Scooter led Tyler Waguespack to the Round 1 victory.

“He (Scooter) is just easy,” Pearson said. “He has a flat leave, and he gets off the corner really hard and hauls butt all the way through there. He gives you a chance to get your feet on the ground for first every time. He’s the reason for my success, I owe it all to him.”

Pearson already had crossed off a world title from his to-do list. Now he can cross off a go-round win.

“It wasn’t my prettiest run, but feels great because it is my first (career) win,” he said. “It’s nice to check that off my list and I’ll take it (the $26,231, first-place check) for sure.”

 

Lockhart’s decision to stick with Rosa pays off

 A night after wavering on whether to stick with riding Rosa or switching to Louie, barrel racer Lisa Lockhart’s decision to stay aboard Rosa paid off in spades.

Lockhart and Rosa teamed up to post a Round 2-winning time of 13.65 seconds.

“It (winning rounds) never gets old,” Lockhart said. “And then when you throw in a change (of horses) like this. Because, you know, Louie has made 80 runs in this building, so it was a very hard change for me and a very tough decision to make to even allow Rosa the opportunity. But, she has been an integral part of my team this year. So, I definitely figured she deserved a chance.”

That decision was made harder when the duo tipped a barrel in Round 1. But instead of switching to the veteran Louie, Lockhart stuck by Rosa.

“This is pretty special tonight, definitely,” Lockhart said. “I know she is far from consistent like Louie, so there are going to be the highs and the lows. I hope there are more highs than lows. You just know in the back of your mind when they’re not the seasoned veterans – and there are just those types of horse, too – that are just not as consistent, but I know what her abilities are to win first. That’s why we are doing what we’re doing.”

Lockhart is in second place in the 2018 world standings with $159,746. Hailey Kinsel continues to lead with $229,065.

 

Yates cashes in on aggressive run

 Tie-down roper Marty Yates likes to go fast. He made it work in Round 2.

Yates posted a 7.6-second run aboard Buster to win the round, putting him in fifth place in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $136,040.

“I went at it tonight just like I do every time,” said Yates, of Stephenville, Texas. “I’m kind of known as the gunslinger, and I’m going to keep going at them. I’ve won money in the first two rounds, and I came out to win as much money as I could each night and to win the average. Those are my main goals right now and I’m going to stick to those goals.”

After two rounds, Yates has pulled down nearly $50,000 in Wrangler NFR money. He’s planning to keep going at it the same way.

“Any time you start a rodeo off like this it is awesome,” Yates said. “It is what you set out to do when you left home. I felt like I could’ve won a little more (in Round 1), but I’m not going to be greedy. I’m just going to keep going at them and try and tie them as fast as I can each night.”

The victory was Yates’ 10^th round win at the Finals.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “Any time you come out here to Vegas and you win rounds it means you’re winning money and you belong out here with the best guys in the world.”

Yates is riding Buster for the third time at the Finals and pointed to his horse as a big reason for the win.

“He’s one of those horses you can ride in any setup, from go-rounds here at the National Finals to big, long scores at Cheyenne (Wyo,),” Yates said.

 

Smith/Eaves respond with 4.0-second run

A night after watching Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira pull into the lead, team ropers Clay Smith and Paul Eaves answered.

Smith and Eaves kept pace with Driggers and Nogueira by posting a 4.0-second run Friday to win Round 2 of the Wrangler NFR.

The victory pulled Smith within $3,838 of Driggers in the team roping heading and Eaves within $4,822 of Nogueira in team roping heeling.

But with only two rounds down and eight to go, the race for the team roping buckles is far from over.

“It’s a long week still, far from being over, but it’s sure nice,” Eaves said.

Smith is hoping they can do it again.

“We’re going to keep going at them and see what happens,” Smith said, “that’s all we can do, keep making the best round we can make.”

After recording a no time in the first round, Round 2 was a bit of redemption for Smith and Eaves.

“I missed the first round, so it sure helped to get some money the second round,” Smith said.

That money made a big difference.

“For me, I’m just in it to win it, it’s good money and good to be here,” Eaves said.

After two rounds, Smith is up to $151,575 in heading earnings, while Eaves has the same amount in heeling money.

 

 

60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

First Performance Results, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding: 1. Tilden Hooper, 87.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter, $26,231; 2. Steven Dent, 87, $20,731; 3 Clayton Biglow, 86.5, $15,654; 4. (tie) Mason Clements and Kaycee Field, 85.5, $8,885 each; 6. Shane O’Connell, 84, $4,231; 7. Richmond Champion, 82; 8. (tie) Bill Tutor and Jake Brown, 81.5; 10. Will Lowe, 80.5; 11. Tim O’Connell, 80; 12. Caleb Bennett, 75.5; 13. Ty Breuer, 71; 14. (tie) Orin Larsen and Wyatt Denny, NT. Average standings: 1. Mason Clements,172 points on two head; 2. Kaycee Feild,171.5; 3.Clayton Biglow, 170.5; 4. Tilden Hooper, 170.5; 5. Shane O’Connell, 167. World standings: 1. Tim O’Connell, $197,250; 2. Caleb Bennett, $187,928; 3. Clayton Biglow, $166,320; 4. Kaycee Field; $145,561; 5. Orin Larsen, $140,655; 6. Steven Dent, $140,151; 7. Mason Clements, $139,151; 8. Tilden Hooper, $131,423; 9. Bill Tutor, $129,835; 10. Richmond Champion, $129,819; 11. Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 12. Jake Brown, $111,403; 13. Ty Breuer, $101,558; 14. Shane O’Connell, $94,393; 15. Will Lowe, $86,017.

 

Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Pearson, 3.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Will Lummus, 4.0, $20,731; 3. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Hunter Cure, 4.1, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Blake Mindemann and Tyler Waguespack, 4.2, $5,500 each; 7. (tie) Curtis Cassidy, Bridger Chambers and Riley Duvall, 4.3; 10. Blake Knowles, 4.4; 11. Kyle Irwin, 4.5; 12. Nick Guy, 5.1; 13. Jacob Talley, 13.8; 14. Tanner Brunner, 18.2; 15. Ty Erickson, 29.7. Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 7.8 seconds on two head; 2. Blake Knowles, 8.2; 3. (tie) Will Lummus and Bridger Chambers, 8.3 seconds; 5. Kyle Irwin, 8.5. World standings: 1. Tyler Pearson, $133,856; 2. Will Lummus, $124,458; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $121,315; 4. Curtis Cassidy, $116,009; 5. Scott Guenthner, $115,650; 6. Hunter Cure, $107,037; 7. Blake Knowles, $106,188; 8. Bridger Chambers, $104,505; 9. Ty Erickson, $103,893; 10. Kyle Irwin, $98,660; 11. Tanner Brunner, $94,527; 12. Blake Mindemann, $93,592; 13. Jacob Talley, $90,717; 14. Riley Duvall, $87,643; 15. Nick Guy, $84,706.

 

Team roping:1. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 4.0 seconds, $26,231; Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.1, $20,731; 3. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 4.6, $13,327; 3. Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, 4.6, $13,327; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 4.8, $6,769; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.9, $4,231; 7. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 5.4; 8. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 9.4; 9. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 9.7; 10. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 14.6; 11. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, Luke Brown/Jake Long and Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins II, NT. Average standings: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.1 seconds on two head; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, 9.2; 3. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 10.3; 4. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 10.4; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 14.8. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $155,413; 2. Clay Smith, $151,575; 3. Bubba Buckaloo, $127,990; 4. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 5. Cody Snow, $122,594; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $116,396; 7. Luke Brown, $108,897; 8. Aaron Tsinigine, $100,814; 9. Chad Masters, $95,342; 10. Derrick Begay, $94,837; 11. Rhen Richard, $92,790; 12. Riley Minor, $91,554; 13. Erich Rogers, $85,123; 14. Tyler Wade, $83,145; 15. Lane Ivy, $77,458. World standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $156,397; 2. Paul Eaves, $151,575; 3. Travis Graves, $118,928; 4. Wesley Thorp, $118,904; 5. Kory Koontz, $116,396; 6. Trey Yates, $115,208; 7. Joseph Harrison, $114,515; 8. Jake Long, $108,897; 9. Chase Tryan, $107,406; 10. Cory Petska, $101,294; 11. Clint Summers, $96,236; 12. Brady Minor, $90,361;13. Quinn Kesler, $88,906;14. Cole Davison, $76,252;15. Buddy Hawkins II, $74,451.

Saddle Bronc riding: 1. Cort Scheer, 92 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Larry Culpepper, $26,231; 2. Ryder Wright, 88, $20,731; 3. Jake Wright, 87.5, $15,654; 4. Zeke Thurston, 85, $11,000; 5. (tie) Wade Sundell and Clay Elliott, 84.5, $5,500 each; 7. CoBurn Bradshaw, 83.5; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 81; 9. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Rusty Wright, Brody Cress, Sterling Crawley, Joey Sonnier, Taos Muncy and Chase Brooks, NS. Average standings: 1. Cort Scheer, 178.5 points on two head; 2. Wade Sundell, 169; 3. Zeke Thurston, 167; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, 166.5; 5. Clay Elliott, 165; 6. Jake Wright, 164.5; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 163; 8. Ryder Wright, 88 on one head; 9. Rusty Wright, 84.5; 10. Joey Sonnier, 80.5; 11. Isaac Diaz, 78.5; 12. Taos Muncy, 78. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $195,809; 2. Jacobs Crawley, $183,601; 3. Cort Scheer, $164,304; 4. Rusty Wright, $151,800; 5. Zeke Thurston, $139,137; 6. Wade Sundell, $137,002; 7. Isaac Diaz, $134,740; 8. Brody Cress, $121,588; 9. Clay Elliott, $119,676; 10. CoBurn Bradshaw, $110,325; 11. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 12. Jake Wright, $107,556; 13.Joey Sonnier, $89,114; 14. Taos Muncy, $88,790; 15. Chase Brooks. $86,141.

Tie-down roping: 1. Marty Yates, 7.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Caleb Smidt, 7.8, $20,731; 3. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Ryle Smith, 8.0, $13,327 each; 5. Shane Hanchey, 8.1, $6,769; 6. Reese Riemer, 8.2, $4,231; 7. Tyson Durfey, 8.9; 8. Cooper Martin, 9.0; 9. Rhen Richard, 9.5; 10. Trevor Brazile, 9.7; 11. Sterling Smith, 10.8; 12. Cory Solomon, 14.5; 13. Matt Shiozawa, 18.2; 14. Jake Pratt and Ryan Jarrett, NT. Average standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, 15.4 on two head; 2. Marty Yates, 15.6; 3. Reese Riemer, 16.0; 4. Ryle Smith, 16.7; 5. Cooper Martin, 17.9 World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $158,095; 2. Shane Hanchey, $153,347; 3. Caleb Smidt, $146,932; 4. Tyson Durfey, $136,518; 5. Marty Yates, $136,040; 6. Reese Riemer, $120,390; 7. Ryle Smith, $117,095; 8. Jake Pratt, $111,063; 9. Cory Solomon, $110,002; 10. Trevor Brazile, $102,772; 11. Cooper Martin, $101,938; 12. Matt Shiozawa, $96,269; 13. Rhen Richard, $95,488; 14. Sterling Smith, $89,083; 15. Ryan Jarrett, $87,552.

Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.65 seconds, $26,231; 2. Amberleigh Moore, 13.67, $20,731; 3. Kylie Weast, 13.70, $15,654; 4. (tie) Tracy Nowlin and Jessie Telford, 13.74, $8,885 each; 6. Jessica Routier, 13.76, $4,231; 7. Tammy Fischer, 13.78; 8. Carman Pozzobon, 13.81; 9. Taci Bettis, 13.84; 10. Ivy Conrado, 13.88; 11. Hailey Kinsel, 13.97; 12. Nellie Miller, 14.06; 13. Stevi Hillman, 18.74; 14. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 18.79; 15. Kelly Bruner, 28.66. Average standings: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 27.32 seconds on two runs; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 27.48; 3. Kylie Weast, 27.56; 4. Tracy Nowlin, 27.57; 5. Ivy Conrado, 27.66 World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $229,065; 2. Nellie Miller, $167,826; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $159,746; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $147,267; 5. Amberleigh Moore, $140,588; 6. Kylie Weast, $131,600; 7. Ivy Conrado, $124,039; 8. Stevi Hillman, $120,232; 9. Tracy Nowlin, $116,150; 10. Taci Bettis, 113,692; 11. Jessica Routier, $112,935; 12. Jessie Telford, $107,227; 13. Tammy Fischer, $101,277; 14. Kelly Bruner, $100,515; 15. Carman Pozzobon, $96,947.

Bull riding: 1. Joe Frost, 90 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Misfire, $33,564; 2. Chase Dougherty, 84.5, $28,064; 3. Koby Radley, 84, $22,987; 4. Sage Kimzey, Parker Breding, Jeff Askey, Tyler Bingham, Dustin Bouquet, Roscoe Jarboe, Boudreaux Campbell, Garrett Tribble, Cole Melancon, Eli Vastbinder, Trevor Kastner and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Joe Frost, 177 points on two head; 2. Chase Dougherty, 168.5; 3. Trey Benton III, 88.5 on one; 4. Sage Kimzey, 88; 5. Roscoe Jarboe, 86. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $327,756; 2. Parker Breding, $195,476; 3. Joe Frost, $155,381; 4. Chase Dougherty, $151,644; 5. Trey Benton III, $137,162; 6. Roscoe Jarboe, $130,737; 7. Koby Radley, $130,245; 8. Dustin Bouquet, $124,588; 9. Garrett Tribble, $118,995; 10. Jeff Askey, $117,387; 11. Boudreaux Campbell, $116,431; 12. Tyler Bingham, $111,583; 13. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 14. Eli Vastbinder, $105,114; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.

All-around world standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $263,184; 2. Trevor Brazile, $244,154; 3. Rhen Richard, $176,852; 4. Ryle Smith, $120,274; 5. Steven Dent, $119,006; 6. Curtis Cassidy, $103,237, 7. Paul Tierney, $82,868; 8. Jordan Ketscher, $71,659; 9. Marcus Theriot, $64,759; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $60,005.

LAS VEGAS – Entering the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the tightest competition throughout the events was in team roping.

The margin of difference in team roping heading was $393, with Kaleb Driggers in second place. His heeling partner, Junior Nogueira, was in first place by $591.

That margin isn’t so close any more.

Driggers and Nogueira posted a 4.2-second run to win the first round of the 2018 Wrangler NFR, Thursday, Dec. 6, grabbing the top spots in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in front of $16,864 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

“I was excited coming here and coming in second,” Driggers said. “Honestly, the only team I ended up watching was the team in front of me. I was just trying to focus and do my job. The start is pretty much always the same, you’ve just got to watch the steer, try to focus, do your job and not get caught up in what everyone else is doing.”

Driggers, who trailed only Clay Smith, increased his 2018 earnings to $151,182. Nogueira upped his money to $152,166.

Last year, the team ropers each finished in second place.

“We work the whole year to get here and have a couple months to get prepared (for the NFR),” Nogueira said. “We set the bar high, being so close to winning the world. I missed winning the world two, three times, I was close. I’ve learned a lot and just want to do my job.”

The partners wanted to prepare for the Finals as much as possible. So they tried to re-enact what it was like to rope inside the Thomas & Mack.

“We set up our arena with the same dimensions to get prepared (for the NFR),” Driggers said. “With all the fans and money on the line, we’re just trying to get as much as we can and be as prepared as we can.”

Three teams were tied at 4.6 seconds ahead of Driggers and Nogueira, who were last out. They mostly focused on their run, not the teams ahead of them.

“I watched from behind a little bit but just wanted to do my job and focus on my run,” Nogueira said. “I let him head and I focused on heeling.”

While Nogueira, of Presidente Prudente Brazil, has an All-Around World Champion title, the longtime pair are hoping for a couple of team roping gold buckles.

“Your dream as a cowboy,” Nogueira said, “you want to make the NFR and be world champion.”

 

Waguespack wins Round 1 for third consecutive year

Thursday night was Round 1 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. So it must mean a victory for steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack.

For the third consecutive season, Waguespack won the first round, kicking off the 2018 Finals with a 3.6-second run.

“Man, that is awesome, and that is the round where you want to get things started with and get everything going,” said Waguespack, of Gonzales, La. “I’ve been lucky enough to do it the last three times.”

Waguespack split Round 1 in 2016 with a 3.8-second run and won it outright in 2017 in 3.5 seconds.

The victory boosted the 27-year-old (he turns 28 Dec. 19) from 10th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings to second place, just $194 behind leader Curtis Cassidy.

“I just want to make the best run I can on the steer that I have,” said the 2016 world champion.

Waguespack was aboard Scooter, the PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year for steer wrestling.

“Scooter is owned by Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin, and that is just incredible to get to ride him,” he said. “It gives you a lot of confidence knowing you’re riding the best animal there is in that event. He makes my job that much easier. I knew that steer was going to leave and run pretty sharp and be good on the ground, but luckily, we had a lot of horsepower underneath us. Scooter was able to run him down, and I was able to get my feet on the ground in a great spot.”

Waguespack edged Black Knowles, who finished in 3.8 seconds.

Waguespack entered the Finals with $79,584 won. He’s now up to $115,815.

 

Benton off and running

Trey Benton III kicked off the 2018 Wrangler NFR the same way he did in 2017 – with a Round 1 win.

Benton rode Wayne Vold Rodeo’s VJV Whiskey Hand for 88.5 points and the win.

And much like last season, Benton got to Las Vegas healthy and feeling good. He felt so confident, he told some media members two nights prior that he was ready to put on a show.

“Last year was the first time I felt comfortable here, and I had been here three times before that,” the 27-year-old Texan said. “Last year, I thought I could show my highest potential and now I’m ready to be better than I was last year.”

Last year, Benton won $211,737 at the Finals.

“I was more nervous last year because I had never seen a healthy year (at the Wrangler NFR),” he said. “This year is a relief. To start the NFR with a round win is pretty good.”

Benton knew little about the bull he drew.

“I didn’t know anything about him, but I’d heard he was good.”

Kicking off the Finals with a Round 1 victory is a big confidence booster, he said. He’s hoping it’s going to help propel him for the rest of the rodeo.

“I feel loose and comfortable, and I don’t see why I can’t do it nine more times,” he said.

Benton – and the rest of the bull riders – still have a ways to go to catch leader Sage Kimzey, who placed second in the round. Kimzey’s winnings, coupled with his $10,000 for qualifying for the Finals, pushed him over the $300,000 mark for 2018. The four-time defending world champion is up to $327,756 in earnings in 2018.

 

Wyatt Denny takes advantage of unknown Night Crawler

Wyatt Denny made an immediate impact in the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

The bareback rider from Minden, Nev., entered the Finals in 15^th place in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. After his 87.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler, Denny leaped to 10^th.

“I know most every one of those horses,” said Denny, 23. “I know their names, maybe not what they do, but I know their name at least. When we got the draw, I was like what the heck is this? I had never heard of this horse. I looked up his stats and they were ridiculous – 23s down the board. I was like, holy cow, that is cool.”

Denny netted $26,231 for the win. Denny’s earnings for the 2018 season climbed to $113,728.

Opening with the victory was key to trying to make a run at his first world title.

“That’s the best way you could, really,” he said. “Going out No. 1 in the first round, that’s an awesome push for the rest of the week.”

Denny’s trip to Vegas is his third consecutive run at the Wrangler NFR. He’s already won more money after one round than he did after the full 10 days last year. He finished in 13^th at the NFR a season ago with $30,730. This year, including his $10,000 for making the Finals, he’s already up to $36,231.

“It’s pretty dang special,” he said. “When you’re second out and you hold it that whole time, it’s pretty nerve-wracking. Every guy here can beat anybody. It’s pretty nerve-wracking, but when it’s all said and done there’s no better feeling.”

 

First-round win has Smidt aiming for second title

Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt has plenty of experience. Heck, he won the 2015 world title.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t get a little nervous before the opening round of the Finals.

“You get a little nervous every time you back in there, and if you’re not nervous I don’t know what you’re doing here,” said Smidt, of Bellville, Texas. “I get nervous back there, but once you get back in the box you have to think about what you have to do and just rope to the best of your ability.”

Smidt did that.

The 29-year-old made a 7.6-second run to win the first round Thursday night.

“This is awesome, and any round you win here is good,” he said. “That’s good to start off this week like this. Hopefully I can keep it going and see how it turns out after nine more rounds.”

If Smidt keeps at it for nine more rounds, he could be looking at title No. 2. Thursday’s victory pushed him up to fourth in the world standings with $126,202, up from eighth.

“I just need to rope my roping like I did tonight and see how it turns out,” Smidt said.

Smidt also pointed to his horse as a reason for the win.

“I’m riding Pockets, the horse I have ridden here the last three years,” Smidt said. “He’s my good horse and the only one I have. He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden and dang sure the best one I’ve ever owned. He’s good in any situation.”

 

Kinsel shows why she’s at top

Hailey Kinsel entered the Wrangler NFR in the pole position in barrel racing. Then she went out and showed why she was atop the heap.

Kinsel and her horse, Sister, posted a 13.51-second time to win Round 1 and pad her lead.

While she may have entered with the most money won in barrel racing ($192,834), she tried not to think about it that way.

“It was good to go first (in run order) and end up first (in the results),” Kinsel said. “I’m normally more of an underdog mindset, so I keep that in my head. I kind of picture myself a little way further down the list.”

The Cotulla, Texas, racer was an NFR rookie a season ago. This year, she knew what to expect and how to approach the Finals.

“Just about everything I’ve learned from last year has helped me, knowing where to go, what to do and not fretting about anything” Kinsel said. “I can just handle it as it comes. I know that my horse likes it here, so that gives me a little extra confidence too.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Sister is the PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year in barrel racing. Kinsel and Sister know what they’re in Vegas to do.

“Running barrels is our job, but a lot of the stuff that happens during the day at the NFR not so much,” Kinsel said. “Coming last year, it taught me when to go to the barn and when to just take some time for myself to recharge and to be able to come back and really enjoy my time with the fans and be able to more enjoy these nights.”

Kinsel upped her season earnings to $229,065.

 

Scheer rolls in return to Vegas

Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer’s return to the Finals for the first time since 2015 went better than he could have imagined.

The 32-year-old from Elsmere, Neb., rode Calgary Stampede’s Y U R Frisky for 86.5 points and the Round 1 win.

He also won the first round in 2014.

“It’s better (this time),” Scheer said. “I had a horse of Frontier’s that year and I rode that horse better. But this horse was better than that one. As for winning the first round, I work off momentum and a place like this will crucify you if you don’t start great.”

The win moved Scheer up to fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $138,073. He had entered in ninth place in the world standings.

The victory was even more impressive since Scheer didn’t think his ride was all the strong.

“I didn’t have as good of a spur-out as I wanted, but that horse is amazing and it’s your job to make it happen,” he said. “I was blessed to be there and stoked to have that horse.”

While Scheer is focused on continuing to climb the standings, he is on to the next round and not looking back at this one.

“I don’t focus too much on the last one,” he said. “I praise God for winning this round, but the next round is always the most important one.”

 

60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

First Performance Results, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding: 1. Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev., 87 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler, $26,231; 2. Mason Clements, Springville, Utah, 86.5, $20,731; 3. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, 86, $15,654; 4. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 85, $11,000; 5. (tie) Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah and Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 84, $5,500 each; 7. (tie) Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas and Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D., 83 each; 9. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 82.5; 10. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa and Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 79.5 each; 12. (tie) Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. and Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 78.5 each; 14. Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 73.0; 15. Jake Brown, Cleveland, Texas, NS. World Standings: 1. Caleb Bennett, $207,601; 2. Tim O’Connell, $197,250; 3. Mason Clements, $184,844; 4. Wyatt Denny, $180,997; 5. Kaycee Feild, $179,830; 6. Clayton Biglow, $170,339; 7. Orin Larsen, $140,655; 8. Bill Tutor, $129,835; 9. Richmond Champion, $129,819; 10. Steven Dent, $119,420; 11. Will Lowe, $117,748; 12. Tilden Hooper, $114,077; 13. Jake Brown, $111,403; 14. Ty Breuer, $101,558; 15. Shane O’Connell, $99,047.

 

Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 3.8, $20,731; 3. Bridger Chambers, Stevensville, Mont., 4.0, $13,327; 3. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 4.0, $13,327; 5. Will Lummus, West Point, Miss., 4.3, $6,769; 6. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 4.7, $4,238; 7. Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss., 4.9; 8. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 5.1; 9. Blake Mindemann, Blanchard, Okla., 6.4; 10. Tanner Brunner, Ramona, Kan., 15.4; 11. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 20.9; 12. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 27.2; 13. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta; Scott Guenthner, Provost, Alberta, and Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La., NT. World Standings: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $116,009; 2. Tyler Waguespack, $115,815; 3. Tyler Pearson, $107,625; 4. Blake Knowles, $106,188; 5. Bridger Chambers. $104,505; 6. Ty Erickson, $103,893; 7. Will Lummus, $103,727; 8. Scott Guenthner, $102,323; 9. Kyle Irwin, $98,660; 10. Tanner Brunner, $94,527; 11. Hunter Cure, $93,711; 12. Jacob Talley, $90,717; 13. Blake Mindemann, $88,092; 14. Riley Duvall, $87,643; 15. Nick Guy, $84,706.

 

Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga./Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil, 4.2 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla.; Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla./Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont. and Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.6, $15,795 each; 5. Erich Rogers Round Rock, Ariz./ Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 5.0, $6,769; 6. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Quinn Kesler, Holden, Utah, 5.7, $4,231; 7. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla./Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Joseph Harrison, Overbrook, Okla. and Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas/Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas, 9.4; 10. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 10.0; 11. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 14.9; 12. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla./Paul Eaves, Londell, Mo., Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif./Wesley Thorp, Thormorton, Texas, Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. and Lane Ivy, Dublin, Texas/Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan. NT. World Standing (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $151,182; 2. Clay Smith, $125,345; 3. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 4.Dustin Egusquiza, $116,396; 5. Bubba Buckaloo, $114,663; 6. Luke Brown, $108,897; 7. Cody Snow, $101,863; 8. Chad Masters, $95,342; 9. Derrick Begay, $94,837; 10. Aaron Tsinigine, $94,044; 11. Riley Minor, $91,554; 12. Erich Rogers, $85,123; 13. Tyler Wade, $83,145; 14. Rhen Richard, $79,463; 15. Lane Ivy, $77,458. World Standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $152,166; 2. Paul Eaves, $125,345; 3. Travis Graves, $118,928; 4. Kory Koontz, $116,396; 5. Joseph Harrison, $114,515; 6. Jake Long, $108,897; 7. Trey Yates, $108,439; 8. Cory Petska, $101,294; 9. Wesley Thorp, $98,173; 10. Clint Summers, $96,236; 11. Chase Tryan, $94,079; 12. Brady Minor, $90,361; 13. Cole Davison, $76,252; 14.           Quinn Kesler, $75,580; 15. Buddy Hawkins II, $74,451.

 

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 86.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Y U R Friskey, $26,231; 2. (tie) Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah, and Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 84.5, $18,192 each; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah, 83, $11,000; 5. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, and Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 82, $5,500 each; 7. Joey Sonnier III, New Iberia, La., 80.5; 7. Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 80.5; 9. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 78.5; 10. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 78; 11. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 77; 12. (tie) Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas and Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., NS. World Standings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, $183,601; 2. Ryder Wright, $175,078; 3. Rusty Wright, $151,800; 4. Cort Scheer, $138,073; 5. Isaac Diaz, $134,740; 6. Wade Sundell, $131,502; 7. Zeke Thurston, $128,137; 8. Brody Cress, $121,588; 9. Clay Elliott, $114,176; 10. CoBurn Bradshaw, $110,325; 11. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 12. Jake Wright, $91,903; 13. Joey Sonnier III, $89,114; 14. Taos Muncy, $88,790; 15. Chase Brooks, $86,141.

 

Tie-down roping: 1. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, 7.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 7.8, $20,731; 3. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 8.0, $13,327; 3. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 8.0, $13,327; 5. Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash., 8.2, $6,769; 6. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 8.5, $2,115; 6. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.5, $2,115, 8. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 8.7; 9. Cooper Martin, Alma, Kan., 8.9; 10. Tyson Durfey, Weatherford, Texas, 9.2; 11. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 17.9; 12. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 20.2; 13. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 22.7; 14. (tie) Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., NT. World Standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $146,577; 2. Tuf Cooper, $144,768; 3. Tyson Durfey, $136,518; 4. Caleb Smidt, $126,202; 5. Reese Riemer, $116,159; 6. Jake Pratt, $111,063; 7. Cory Solomon, $110,002; 8. Marty Yates, $109,810; 9. Ryle Smith, $103,768; 10. Trevor Brazile, $102,772; 11. Cooper Martin, $101,938; 12. Matt Shiozawa, $96,269; 13. Rhen Richard, $95,488; 14; Sterling Smith, $89,083; 15. Ryan Jarrett, $87,552.

 

Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas,13.51 seconds, $26,231; 2. Amberleigh Moore, Salem, Ore.,13.65, $20,731; 3. Ivy Conrado, Hudson, Colo.,13.78, $15,654; 4. Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif.,13.79, $11,000; 5. Tracy Nowlin, Nowata, Okla.,13.83, $6,769; 6. Kylie Weast, Comanche, Okla.,13.86, $4,231; 7. Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, 13.95; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas,14.01; 9. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D.,14.17; 10. Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 14.18; 11. Carman Pozzobon, Aldergrove, British Columbia, 14.24; 12.Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 14.34; 13. Taci Bettis, Round Top, Texas, 18.76; 14. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 18.85; 15. Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas, NT. World Standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $229,065; 2. Nellie Miller, $167,826; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $147,267; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $133,515; 5. Ivy Conrado, $124,039; 6. Stevi Hillman, $120,232; 7. Amberleigh Moore, $119,857; 8. Kylie Weast, $115,946; 9. Taci Bettis, $113,692; 10. Jessica Routier, $108,704; 11. Tracy Nowlin, $107,265; 12. Tammy Fischer, $101,277; 13. Kelly Bruner, $100,515; 14. Jessie Telford, $98,342; 15. Carman Pozzobon, $96,947.

Bull riding: 1. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas, 88.5 points on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s VJV Whiskey Hand, $26,231; 2. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 88, $20,731; 3. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, $15,654; 4. Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, Idaho, 86, $11,000; 5. Garrett Tribble, Bristow, Okla., 85.5, $6,769; 6. Chase Dougherty, Canby, Ore., 84, $4,231; 7. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 82.5; 8. Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah, Dustin Bouquet, Bourg, La., Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas, Cole Melancon, Liberty, Texas, Eli Vastbinder, Union Grove, N.C., Koby Radley, Montpelier, La., Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla., NS. World Standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $327,756; 2. Parker Breding, $195,476; 3. Trey Benton III, $137,162; 4. Roscoe Jarboe, $130,737; 5. Dustin Bouquet, $124,588; 6. Chase Dougherty, $123,580; 7. Joe Frost, $121,817; 8. Garrett Tribble, $118,995; 9. Jeff Askey, $117,387; 10. Boudreaux Campbell, $116,431; 11. Tyler Bingham, $111,583; 12. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 13. Koby Radley, $107,258; 14. Eli Vastbinder, $105,114; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.

DALLAS – In the last month, the rodeo community has come together strongly for J.R. Vezain and his wife, Shelby.

Now Pete Carr Pro Rodeo and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association are calling on rodeo committees across the country to give to the Vezains. The PRCA has created a link to giving so committees and individuals can support the six-time National Finals Rodeo bareback riding qualifier.

“If every PRCA committee, most in which J.R. has competed over the years, could look into their hearts and give a couple hundred bucks, that would be a wonderful start toward his hospital bills and a new path for the Vezains,” Carr said.

Vezain was injured in late September when a horse reared and fell backwards on top of him at a rodeo in southeast Texas. He suffered spinal fractures and has suffered from a lack of mobility issues from the waist down. He was undergoing therapy at the TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston and has seen progress in the weeks since his surgery. He is now transferring to a rehab hospital in Salt Lake City and hopes to walk again.

A number of benefits have popped up since Vezain was injured to help offset medical costs, and there is a call for more to happen. Pete Carr, owner of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, has been working with the PRCA to develop another fundraising opportunity for PRCA committees.

“Because rodeo is a big family, we wanted to reach out to all of our family members, including the 700-plus committees that produce rodeos every year,” Carr said. “We wanted to provide an outlet for those committees to donate as much as they can or as much as they wish to benefit J.R. and his family.”

Carr and his team will produce a benefit rodeo for the Vezains at the Stampede at the Ike rodeo, scheduled for Jan. 11-12 at West Monroe, La.

“As a stock contractor, committeeman and contestant, I understand what can happen in the rodeo arena,” Carr said. “This hit me pretty hard, so I want to do as much as we possibly can to help J.R. He’s got a long road ahead of him, and he’s going to need all the help he can get.”

PRCA CEO George Taylor echoed those sentiments.

“The rodeo community is a tight-knit group that takes care of its own,” Taylor said. “The PRCA appreciates the initiative of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo to reach out to the committees and the community within rodeo in hopes of doing what we know they are capable of to help care for J.R.”

This is an opportunity for anyone who is interested to donate to get on board and help Vezain and his

family as he moves forward in his rehabilitation can do so by clicking on the link, https://www.gofundme.com/manage/support-for-the-vezain-family.