Category: Rodeo Life Today

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

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

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

The 10-day rodeo concludes Saturday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jones changed horses, after riding Tebow for five rounds.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 6 – Dec. 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proctor returned the respect.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Fifth round, Dec. 8, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 4, Dec. 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He said the horse was as good as advertised.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Round 3, Dec. 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And the ropers aren’t done yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Second Round

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guy said not everyone in Wisconsin understands rodeo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NFR 2014 from The Rodeo News on Vimeo.

LAS VEGAS – Dec. 3, 2014— Before competition starts at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Thursday night at the Thomas and Mack Center, rising stars of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) will be competing in Las Vegas.

Becoming a member of the PRCA starts when rodeo contestants buy their permits. They then have to fill that permit by earning money competing at sanctioned rodeos before they can become a full-fledged member. The top permit holders based on money won will be competing at the 2014 PRCA Permit Holder of the Year Challenge at the South Point Equestrian Center beginning at 12 p.m. on Dec. 4, just a few hours before the first performance of the WNFR.

This is the sixth year for the Permit Holder Challenge but the first year that timed-events have been included. The competition is being held in conjunction with Benny Binion’s World Famous Bucking Horse and Bull Sale. Five contestants in each of the standard events, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding will each compete in two rounds. Winners will be determined by the highest total score and fastest total time.

The bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders will be getting on animals that are part of the sale. That has proved to be a beneficial combination for former permit holders that won here. Last year, Sage Kimzey from Strong City, Okla., won the bull riding at the Permit Holder Challenge. This year he enters the WNFR in first place, is the Resistol Rookie of the Year and is on pace to win his first world championship.

“Competing in Las Vegas last year really lit a fire in me to be back at the WNFR this year,” Kimzey said. “I’ve dreamt and worked for this my whole life and last year was definitely a stepping stone.”

Highlighting this year’s competition is CoBurn Bradshaw from Beaver, Utah in the saddle bronc riding. Bradshaw won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s championship at the College National Finals Rodeo last June in Casper, Wyo. He is the highest money earner of all of the permit holders with over $30,000 in earnings.

Bradshaw is married and his wife just happens to be the sister of the four Wright brothers that are competing at this year’s WNFR. Cody Wright’s oldest son Rusty is also on the contestant roster in saddle bronc riding.

Another contestant with strong WNFR ties is team roper Shawn Bird from Cut Bank, Mont. Bird will rope in the Permit Challenge with Levi Lord from Sturgis, S.D., hoping to win a title. Then he will head over to the Thomas and Mack Center to watch his older brother Dustin Bird compete in the team roping.

Along with $21,000 in cash, a variety of prizes will be won by the 2014 Permit Holer of the Year Challenge contestants. It has been made possible with support from the following sponsors: RAM Rodeo; San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo; Davie Pro Rodeo; Tucson Rodeo; Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo; Association of Rodeo Committees; Brighton Field Day Festival and Rodeo; National Western Stock Show; Barstow Rodeo; Wrangler; Resistol; South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa; Cactus Ropes and the Justin Sportsmedicine Team.

 

 

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

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

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

News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail

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

Vieira extends lead in PBR world title race;
Triplett and Alves top two in average
Asteroid takes lead in World Champion Bull race

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 23, 2014) – With the highest score of the event thus far, Matt Triplett won Round 2 of the Built Ford Tough World Finals, moving to first place in the event average with 179.25 points. His 92-point ride on Walk Off (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls) marked the highest score of his career and earned the Montana native $25,000 for the round win.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of my entire life,” Triplett said, “and what better way is there to live my dream? This is pretty awesome. I’m just going to try to stay positive and go jump for jump and have fun.”

Triplett is one of three men to ride each of his first two bulls. No. 2 Silvano Alves covered Mr. Clark (Wolf Creek Cattle & Rodeo Co. LLC) for 87.75 points on Thursday to move to second place in the event average with 174 points, putting the pressure on No. 1 Joao Ricardo Vieira, who had failed to cover his bull in Round 1.

However, Vieira held tight under the pressure and earned the second 90-point ride of the event. His 90.25-point score on Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey (Cantankerous LLC) earned him second place in the round and increased his lead over Alves to 627.44 points in the race for the PBR World Championship.

No. 3 Fabiano Vieira, No. 4 Guilherme Marchi and No. 5 Mike Lee all failed to cover their Round 2 bulls.

Rounding out the Top 5 for Round 2, behind Triplett and Joao Ricardo Vieira, were Kody Lostroh, Stetson Lawrence and Ty Pozzobon. Despite a broken ankle, Lostroh turned in 89.25 points on The Rocker (Wyatt Crowder Bucking Bulls) for third place; Lawrence conquered previously-unridden Wicked (J.A.R.S. Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen) for 88.75 points for fourth place; and Pozzobon received 88 points for his effort on Fire & Smoke (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve).

Round 2 also marked the first night of competition for the bulls in the race for the World Champion Bull title. Asteroid (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo) put up the highest score, receiving 46.50 points as he bucked off Chase Outlaw. Mick E Mouse (Marlene Henry) sits second with 46 points, while Roy (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) is third with 45.25 points.

Reigning World Champion Bull Bushwacker (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) made short work of Brady Sims, tossing him in 3.9 seconds for 45 points. He is currently in fourth place in the bull title race. The final round of competition for the top bulls will take place Sunday, Oct. 26.

Round 3 of the PBR World Finals takes place Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. PT, and will air on CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET.

Built Ford Tough World Finals

Thomas & Mack Center

Las Vegas

Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Points)…

1. Matt Triplett, 87.25-92-179.25 points.

2. Silvano Alves, 86.25-87.75-174.00 points.

3. Tanner Byrne, 87-83.75-170.75 points.

4. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 0-90.25-90.25 points.

5. Kody Lostroh, 0-89.25-89.25 points.

6. J.W. Harris, 88.75-0-88.75 points.

(tie). Stetson Lawrence, 0-88.75-88.75 points.

8. Stormy Wing, 88.5-0-88.50 points.

9. J.B. Mauney, 88-0-88.00 points.

(tie). Ty Pozzobon, 0-88-88.00 points.

11. Gage Gay, 0-87.75-87.75 points.

12. Claudio Crisostomo, 0-87.25-87.25 points.

(tie). Mike Lee, 87.25-0-87.25 points.

14. L.J. Jenkins, 87-0-87.00 points.

15. Brady Sims, 86.25-0-86.25 points.

(tie). Fernando Henrique, 0-86.25-86.25 points.

(tie). Marco Eguchi, 86.25-0-86.25 points.

(tie). Ryan Dirteater, 0-86.25-86.25 points.

19. Eduardo Aparecido, 86-0-86.00 points.

(tie). Guilherme Marchi, 86-0-86.00 points.

21. Lachlan Richardson, 85.5-0-85.50 points.

22. Jordan Hupp, 84-0-84.00 points.

23. David Kennedy, 0-83.5-83.50 points.

(tie). Nathan Schaper, 83.5-0-83.50 points.

25. Kasey Hayes, 0-79.25-79.25 points.

Billy Robinson, 0-0-0.00 points.

Chase Outlaw, 0-0-0.00 points.

Cody Nance, 0-0-0.00 points.

Douglas Duncan, 0-0-0.00 points.

Emilio Resende, 0-0-0.00 points.

Fabiano Vieira, 0-0-0.00 points.

Gustavo Pedrero, 0-0-0.00 points.

Josh Faircloth, 0-0-0.00 points.

Renato Nunes, 0-0-0.00 points.

Robson Palermo, 0-0-0.00 points.

Scott Schiffner, 0-0-0.00 points.

Sean Willingham, 0-0-0.00 points.

Valdiron de Oliveira, 0-0-0.00 points.

Zane Lambert, 0-0-0.00 points.

2014 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series World Finals Standings          
10/23/2014

(Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5’s, Points, Total Winnings)

1. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 28, 2, 10, 9,960.500, $274,729.94

2. Silvano Alves, 28, 0, 7, 9,333.060, $154,586.62

3. Fabiano Vieira, 26, 3, 8, 9,008.620, $250,951.64

4. Guilherme Marchi, 28, 1, 6, 8,587.060, $267,889.70

5. Mike Lee, 26, 2, 7, 8,399.060, $234,041.03

6. Matt Triplett, 28, 0, 4, 8,297.830, $173,384.78

7. Gage Gay, 24, 1, 4, 6,764.120, $179,359.08

8. Eduardo Aparecido Silva, 27, 1, 5, 6,584.680, $129,541.01

9. Cody Nance, 28, 3, 5, 6,551.620, $181,802.79

10. L.J. Jenkins, 27, 1, 2, 6,398.230, $136,646.16

11. Marco Eguchi, 27, 2, 3, 5,913.060, $160,188.76

12. Chase Outlaw, 23, 1, 2, 5,778.290, $179,397.40

13. Valdiron de Oliveira, 28, 2, 5, 5,733.060, $139,251.51

14. J. B.  Mauney, 22, 2, 5, 5,361.500, $255,081.96

15. Stormy Wing, 25, 1, 2, 5,293.870, $168,319.32

16. Kasey Hayes, 22, 0, 2, 5,082.000, $84,488.18

17. Emilio Rezende, 26, 1, 3, 5,073.250, $101,533.90

18. Markus Mariluch, 21, 0, 5, 5,036.370, $74,265.42

19. Tanner Byrne, 15, 0, 4, 4,937.790, $108,023.76

20. Renato Nunes, 26, 2, 4, 4,708.430, $113,200.64

21. Ryan Dirteater, 25, 0, 5, 4,647.370, $79,532.80

22. Sean Willingham, 21, 1, 1, 4,187.000, $83,414.37

23. Brady Sims, 20, 0, 3, 4,127.370, $58,835.27

24. Stetson Lawrence, 12, 0, 1, 3,869.290, $99,486.65

25. Cláudio Crisóstomo, 22, 0, 3, 3,864.500, $82,103.53

26. Zane Lambert, 19, 0, 2, 3,701.910, $110,370.84

27. Ty Pozzobon, 22, 0, 2, 3,621.370, $101,505.78

28. J.W. Harris, 14, 0, 2, 3,612.000, $89,939.00

29. Kody Lostroh, 16, 0, 2, 3,329.750, $58,655.87

30. Nathan Schapper, 15, 1, 1, 3,323.750, $74,785.28

31. Douglas Duncan, 26, 0, 4, 3,217.870, $51,312.97

32. Lachlan Richardson, 24, 0, 0, 3,213.620, $66,783.90

33. Jordan Hupp, 20, 0, 1, 3,187.370, $62,221.22

34. Josh Faircloth, 9, 0, 1, 3,111.180, $49,791.65

35. Robson Palermo, 14, 0, 1, 2,909.370, $37,610.64

36. Billy Robinson, 24, 0, 1, 2,864.250, $45,976.55

37. Jason Malone, 10, 0, 1, 2,851.870, $68,210.39

38. Harve Stewart, 18, 0, 0, 2,422.660, $42,822.01

39. Guytin Tsosie, 10, 0, 1, 2,409.620, $39,306.34

40. Luis Blanco, 3, 0, 0, 2,326.060, $48,110.36

41. Ben Jones, 10, 0, 0, 2,262.080, $56,310.78

42. Tyler Harr, 4, 0, 0, 2,192.680, $55,061.98

43. Jory Markiss, 13, 0, 0, 2,021.620, $44,887.01

44. Budd Williamson, 2, 0, 0, 1,874.660, $46,707.00

45. Scottie Knapp, 3, 0, 0, 1,815.950, $53,842.98

The pressure is on: Alves, Marchi, Lee and Triplett gain ground in PBR world title race
Four-time defending PRCA champion takes Round 1 of PBR World Finals

LAS VEGAS – In front of more than 10,000 fans at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, four of the Top 6 riders in the Professional Bull Riders world title race gained ground on current world leader Joao Ricardo Vieira during Round 1 of the Built Ford Tough World Finals on Wednesday. Two-time (2011, 2012) PBR World Champion Silvano Alves, 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi, 2004 World Champion Mike Lee and Matt Triplett all covered their bulls to cut into Vieria’s lead.

Alves jumped to No. 2 in the world standings with an 86.25-point effort atop Dumber (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.), moving to within 399.94 points of the world lead. Fabiano Vieira, who lasted 7.55 seconds on Savage (D&H Cattle Co. /Bay/Flinn), fell to No. 3 in the world. Marchi, currently sitting No. 4 in the standings, made the 8-second mark on Flyin’ Crazy (D&H Cattle Company) for 86 points. No. 5 Lee covered McIntyre Transports 029 Back Jackin (6C Bucking Bulls/Cody Harden/Tyler McIntyre) for 87.25 points, while No. 6 Triplett rode Pearl Harbor (Boyd/Floyd Bull Company) to tie Lee for fourth in the round.

“I made the 8 seconds,” said Triplett, “and that’s really all that matters. That bull bucked really good. I was excited to get on him and it worked out.”

Regarding his opening-round effort, Marchi said, “I’m feeling great after the first round. I had a great bull. I want to win my second title. That’s my plan.”

Bruiser (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) made quick work of Joao Ricardo Vieira, tossing him in 3.44 seconds.

Each of the Top 6 riders still has a very good chance of capturing the 2014 World Champion title, with Triplett being the furthest out, 1,714.42 behind the world leader. There are a total of 5,500 points available at the World Finals.

Four-time and defending PRCA champion and first-time PBR World Finals qualifier J.W. Harris took the Round 1 win with an 88.75-point performance on Jo Jo (Owens/Lane). Stormy Wing took second on Slappy (Torres Brothers) with 88.50 points, while reigning PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney landed third, posting 88 points on More Big Bucks (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve).

Round 2 of the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals takes place Thursday, Oct. 23, beginning at 6 p.m. CBS Sports Network will carry the event live at 9 p.m. ET.

2014 Built Ford Tough World Finals
Round 1, Oct. 22 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas
1. J.W. Harris, 88.75-88.75 points.
2. Stormy Wing, 88.5-88.50 points.
3. J.B. Mauney, 88-88 points.
4/5. Matt Triplett, 87.25-87.25 points.
4/5. Mike Lee, 87.25-87.25 points.
6/7. L.J. Jenkins, 87-87 points.
6/7. Tanner Byrne, 87-87 points.
8/10. Brady Sims, 86.25-86.25 points.
8/10. Marco Eguchi, 86.25-86.25 points.
8/10. Silvano Alves, 86.25-86.25 points.
11/12. Eduardo Aparecido, 86-86 points.
11/12. Guilherme Marchi, 86-86 points.
13. Lachlan Richardson, 85.5-85.50 points.
14. Jordan Hupp, 84-84 points.
15. Nathan Schaper, 83.5-83.50 points.
Billy Robinson, 0-0 points.
Chase Outlaw, 0-0 points.
Claudio Crisostomo, 0-0 points.
Cody Nance, 0-0 points.
David Kennedy, 0-0 points.
Douglas Duncan, 0-0 points.
Emilio Resende, 0-0 points.
Fabiano Vieira, 0-0 points.
Fernando Henrique, 0-0 points.
Gage Gay, 0-0 points.
Gustavo Pedrero, 0-0 points.
Joao Ricardo Vieira, 0-0 points.
Josh Faircloth, 0-0 points.
Kasey Hayes, 0-0 points.
Kody Lostroh, 0-0 points.
Renato Nunes, 0-0 points.
Robson Palermo, 0-0 points.
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0 points.
Scott Schiffner, 0-0 points.
Sean Willingham, 0-0 points.
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0 points,
Ty Pozzobon, 0-0 points.
Valdiron de Oliveira, 0-0 points.
Zane Lambert, 0-0 points.

Interim 2014 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series World Finals Standings
(Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5’s, Points, Total Winnings)
1. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 28, 2, 10, 9,520.250, $254,870.96
2. Silvano Alves, 28, 0, 7, 9,120.310, $151,477.65
3. Fabiano Vieira, 26, 3, 8, 9,008.620, $249,092.67
4. Guilherme Marchi, 28, 1, 6, 8,587.060, $266,030.73
5. Mike Lee, 26, 2, 7, 8,399.060, $232,182.06
6. Matt Triplett, 28, 0, 4, 7,805.830, $146,525.80
7. Eduardo Aparecido Silva, 27, 1, 5, 6,584.680, $127,682.03
8. Cody Nance, 28, 3, 5, 6,551.620, $179,943.82
9. Gage Gay, 24, 1, 4, 6,551.370, $176,250.10
10. L.J. Jenkins, 27, 1, 2, 6,398.230, $134,787.18
11. Marco Eguchi, 27, 2, 3, 5,913.060, $158,329.78
12. Chase Outlaw, 23, 1, 2, 5,778.290, $177,538.43
13. Valdiron de Oliveira, 28, 2, 5, 5,733.060, $137,392.53
14. J. B.  Mauney, 22, 2, 5, 5,361.500, $253,222.99
15. Stormy Wing, 25, 1, 2, 5,293.870, $166,460.34
16. Emilio Rezende, 26, 1, 3, 5,073.250, $99,674.92
17. Markus Mariluch, 21, 0, 5, 5,036.370, $74,265.42
18. Kasey Hayes, 22, 0, 2, 5,002.750, $82,629.21
19. Tanner Byrne, 15, 0, 4, 4,854.040, $106,164.79
20. Renato Nunes, 26, 2, 4, 4,708.430, $111,341.67
21. Ryan Dirteater, 25, 0, 5, 4,541.120, $77,673.82
22. Sean Willingham, 21, 1, 1, 4,1870, $81,555.40
23. Brady Sims, 20, 0, 3, 4,127.370, $56,976.30
24. Cláudio Crisóstomo, 22, 0, 3, 3,727.250, $80,244.55
25. Zane Lambert, 19, 0, 2, 3,701.910, $108,511.86
26. J.W. Harris, 14, 0, 2, 3,6120, $88,080.02
27. Stetson Lawrence, 12, 0, 1, 3,530.540, $87,627.68
28. Ty Pozzobon, 22, 0, 2, 3,333.370, $94,646.81
29. Nathan Schapper, 15, 1, 1, 3,323.750, $72,926.30
30. Douglas Duncan, 26, 0, 4, 3,217.870, $49,454
31. Lachlan Richardson, 24, 0, 0, 3,213.620, $64,924.93
32. Jordan Hupp, 20, 0, 1, 3,187.370, $60,362.25
33. Josh Faircloth, 9, 0, 1, 3,111.180, $47,932.68
34. Kody Lostroh, 16, 0, 2, 2,940.500, $44,796.90
35. Robson Palermo, 14, 0, 1, 2,909.370, $35,751.67
36. Billy Robinson, 24, 0, 1, 2,864.250, $44,117.58
37. Jason Malone, 10, 0, 1, 2,851.870, $68,210.39
38. Harve Stewart, 18, 0, 0, 2,422.660, $42,822.01
39. Guytin Tsosie, 10, 0, 1, 2,409.620, $39,306.34
40. Luis Blanco, 3, 0, 0, 2,326.060, $48,110.36
41. Ben Jones, 10, 0, 0, 2,262.080, $56,310.78
42. Tyler Harr, 4, 0, 0, 2,192.680, $55,061.98
43. Jory Markiss, 13, 0, 0, 2,021.620, $44,887.01
44. Budd Williamson, 2, 0, 0, 1,874.660, $46,707
45. Scottie Knapp, 3, 0, 0, 1,815.950, $53,842.98

Joe Frost captures first Linderman Award

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

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

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

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

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

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

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