Rodeo Life

Category: Rodeo Life Today

  • Champions rise to top at National Western Stock Show PBR Bull Riding

    Champions rise to top at National Western Stock Show PBR Bull Riding

    DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 11, 2023) — The action at the PBR Bull Riding at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health came to a close in the Denver Coliseum on Wednesday night.

    What started on Monday and Tuesday with 90 riders was narrowed down with two riders finishing the event with successful rides on all three of their bulls. At the top of the leaderboard by one point was Chase Dougherty who makes his home at Decatur, Texas.

    Originally from Oregon, Dougherty started competing as a youngster. He qualified for the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo, then went on to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo for four years. After graduating, he furthered his career at Montana State University in Bozeman and finished third at the College National Finals Rodeo.

    He had success in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2018. That was also the year that he won the bull riding championship at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

    He started focusing on the PBR and qualified for the World Finals in 2020 and finished 38th in the standings. He has been on the injured reserve but showed the fans in Denver that he is back full force and ready to be back on the Unleash the Beast Tour where the elite compete.  The Denver win will give him a boost in that department as he earned 120.5 Velocity Tour points with his win.

    Right behind Dougherty was Josh Frost who won the rodeo in Denver a year ago. Frost, from Randlett, Utah had the highest marked ride of the entire event in the final round. When the judges added up their scores, he had earned a 92 after riding Montana Jacket from Berg/Coleman/Ogden/Hart.

    Frost had a total of 251.5 points to earn $15,444. He also got 94 Velocity Tour points and is hoping that will help him qualify for his second consecutive World Finals. His name is on the short list of bull riders that have competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the World Finals in the same year. He will be competing at the rodeo in the Denver Coliseum on Thursday and Friday and is hoping that his 2023 is even better than his 2022.

    Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association action gets underway on Thursday at 7 p.m.

     

    The following are unofficial results from the PBR Bull Riding at the National Western Stock Show, Jan. 9 – 11, 2022.

     

    First Round:  1, Luciano De Castro, GUzolandia, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 89.5 points on Berg/Coleman/Ogen/Hart’s Montana Jacket. 2, Grayson Cole, New Ringold, Pen., 89. 3, (tie) Robbie Taylor Jr., Chinle, Ariz., and Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas, 86.5 each. 5, Marcelo Procopio Pereira, Rinopolis, Sau Paulo, Brazil, 86. 6, (tie) Austin Richardson, Dallas, Texas; Caden Bunch, Tahlequah, Okla.; and Vinell Mariano, Church Rock, N.M., 85.5 each.

     

    Second Round: 1, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Colo., 88 points on Jenkin’s Cattle’s Juice. 2, Rafael Joe de Brito, Potirendaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 86.5. 3, Flavio Zivieri, Balsamo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 86. 4, Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 84.5. 5, Chase Dougherty, Decatur, Texas, 81.5. 6, Marcelo Procopio Pereira, Rinopolis, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 56.5.

     

    Finals: 1, Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 92 points on Berg/Coleman/Ogden/Hart’s Montana Jacket. 2, Chase Dougherty, Decatur, Texas, 88. 3, Luciano De Castro, Guzolandia, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 86.

     

    Total on three followed by total money: 1, Dougherty, 252.5, $19,979. 2, Frost, 251.5, $15,444. (on two)3, De Castro, 175.5, $11,665. 4, Mora, 170.5, $7,785. 5, de Brito, 168.5, $5,125. 6, Flavio Zivieri, Balsamo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 165, $3,401.

     

  • National Western Stock Show kicks off with exciting rodeo action   

    National Western Stock Show kicks off with exciting rodeo action  

    DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 7, 2023) — Opening Saturday at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura has become a fan favorite for rodeo contestants and enthusiasts over the past 11 years.

    This year was no exception as the 11th Super Saturday showdown between contestants representing Colorado rodeos and world-renown rodeos dueled it out for winner-take-all prizes of $8,000. Along the way to the final championship, the tournament-style competition paid the competitors as well with a total of $90.000 paid during three performances.

    Wyatt Casper, who lives in the panhandle of Texas, got his second-consecutive championship here in the saddle bronc riding. Casper was part of the world team representing Rodeo Houston. He finished second in the world performance to advance to the semi-finals where he was the best representative of that team. He went on to the finals and got the win with an 82-point effort on Painted Fling from Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company.

           The bull riding winner is coming off of his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. Tristen Hutchings finished third in the race for a world championship last year and is carrying that momentum over into 2023. Hutchings was on the Colorado team representing the Greeley Stampede. He watched as world team member Brody Yeary came off early and knew all he needed was to get a score to add $8,000 to his checking account. It worked in a big way when he scored 87 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Skin Walker.

    Keenan Hayes from Hayden, Colorado won the bareback riding for the world team for the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo with a big 90-point score. The world team also got the win in the steer wrestling when Stetson Jorgensen stopped the clock in 4.7 seconds for the Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup. In the barrel racing team Colorado was at the top of the leaderboard when Brittney Barnett stopped the clock in 15.268 seconds. Barnett was entered here for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo at Colorado Springs.

    The 117th National Western Stock Show will be host to a cross-cultural event with the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza in the Denver Coliseum on Sunday. Performances are at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

     

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    DENVER, Colo. — The following are results from Super Saturday, Colorado Versus the World rodeo, Jan. 7, 2022.

     

    Cinch Jeans Team World Performance – contestant, rodeo represented

     

    Bareback Riding: 1, Cooper Cooke, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 89.5, $1,000. 2, Keenan Hayes, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 83.5, $700. 3, Tucker Zingg, Rodeo Houston, 81, $600. 4, Bronc Marriott, Rodeo Austin, 80.5, $500.

     

    Steer Wrestling: 1, Stetson Jorgensen, Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup, 4.1, $1,000. 2, J.D. Struxness, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 4.8, $700. 3, Denver Roy, Calgary Stampede, 5.2, $600. 4, Trell Etbauer, Cheyenne Frontier Days, $500.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brady Hill, Buffalo Bill Rodeo (North Platte, Nebraska), $85.5, $1,000. 2, Wyatt Casper, Rodeo Houston, 85, $700. 3, Jesse Kruse, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 84, $600. 4, Mitch Pollock, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 81.5, $500.

     

    Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Amanda Welsh, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 15.381, $1,000. 2, Paisley Pierce, Buffalo Bill Rodeo (North Platte, Nebraska), $15.527, $700

    3, Carley Cervi, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 15.528, $600. 4, Tasha Welsh, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 15.528, $600.

     

    Bull Riding: 1, John Crimber, Rodeo Houston, 86.5, $1,000. 2, Brody Yeary, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 85, $700. 3, Toby Collins, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 84, $600. 4, Garrett Uptain, Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo (Rapid City, S.D.), 81.5, $500.

     

    RAM Rodeo Team Colorado Performance – contestant, Colorado rodeo represented

     

    Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Donny Proffitt and Jamie Howlett both representing the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 84.5, $850 each. 3, Drake Amundson, Greeley Stampede, 78.5, $600. 4, Kashton Ford, Rooftop Rodeo (Estes Park) 78, $500.

     

    Steer Wrestling: 1, Tucker Allen, Larimer County Fair Rodeo, 4.1, $1,000. 2, Don Payne, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 4.4, $700. 3, Jace Melvin, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 5.0, $600. 4, Jacob Edler, Colorado State Fair Rodeo (Pueblo), 5.2, $500.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ross Griffin, Elizabeth Stampede and Statler Wright, Rooftop Rodeo (Estes Park), 84, $850 each. 3, CoBurn Bradshaw, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 83.5, $600. 4, Hardy Braden, Greeley Stampede, 82.5, $500.

     

    Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittney Barnett, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (Colorado Springs), 15,317, $1,000. 2, Shali Lord, Greeley Stampede, 15.322, $700. 3, Jessica Routier, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 15.455, $600. 4, Jenna Pruitt, Colorado State Fair Rodeo (Pueblo), 15.691, $500.

     

    Bull Riding: 1, Bubba Greig, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 86.5, $1,000. 2, Brylen Dees, Larimer County Fair Rodeo (Loveland), 81.5, $700. 3, Tristen Hutchings Greeley Stampede, 77, $600. 4, Coby Johnson, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (Colorado Springs), 75, $500.

     

    Showdown – Colorado Vs. The World – Contestant, followed by team, score and money.

     

    Bareback Riding: (Semifinals) 1, Keenan Hayes, World, 85, $1,000. 2, 2, Kashton Ford, Colorado, 82.5, $1,000. (Final), Hayes, 90, $8,000

     

    Steer Wrestling: (Semifinals) 1, Stetson Jorgensen, World, 3.6, $1,000. 2, Don Payne, Colorado, 4.5, $1,000. (Final), Jorgensen, 4.7, $8,000.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (Semifinals) 1, CoBurn Bradshaw, Colorado, 85, $1,000. 2, Wyatt Casper, World, 87, $1,000. (Final) 1, Casper, 82, $8,000.

     

    Women’s Barrel Race: (Semifinals) 1, Carley Cervi, World, 14.952, $1,000. 2, Brittney Barnett, Colorado, 15.413, $1,000 (Final) 1, Barnett, 15.268, $8,000

     

    Bull Riding: (Semifinals) 1, Tristan Hutchings, Colorado, 83, $1,000. 2, Brody Yeary, World, 80, $1,000 (Final) 1, Hutchings, 87, $8,000.

     

  • After a sixteen-year break from roping, Guy Allen returned as a heeler with his young practice partner, Chris Torres, for $390,000 at the the Ariat WSTR Finale XVI .

    After a sixteen-year break from roping, Guy Allen returned as a heeler with his young practice partner, Chris Torres, for $390,000 at the the Ariat WSTR Finale XVI .

    Albuquerque, New Mexico – The World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) converged in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Ariat
    WSTR Finale XVI, Dec. 3-11, 2022. For nine days the Finale hosted teams in the Open Division down to the #7 Division
    with ropers attending from around the world to compete at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. The event broke
    its previous payout record and paid more than $16 million in cash and prizes.
    History was made as Champions were crowned in nine major divisions all paying more than in previous years. Dec. 9,
    marked the richest divisional roping in history when the #9.5 Ariat WSTR Finale XVI paid out $2.42, million dollars plus
    prizes, beating the prior record set last year of $2.26 million. Chris Torres and Guy Allen, both from Cross Plains, TX,
    finished first in the average, worth $390,000 cash payout which was the single largest payout in the history of the sport.
    The name, Guy Allen, is synonymous with roping and tying steers with 18 PRCA Steer Roping Gold Buckles. Every steer
    roping, and rodeo fan has, at one time, looked up to Guy at what he has accomplished throughout his career. However,
    team roping is a different game and different story. After a sixteen-year break from roping, Allen returned as a heeler with
    his young practice partner, Chris Torres, for the record-breaking purse.
    This year’s Ariat WSTR Finale had five events paying more than $1-million dollars and two exceeding $2-million dollars.
    The additional lineup included an Ariat Heartland event, two Bloomer Qualification events and the Mega Outdoor
    Qualification events.
    Team roping has remained a constant, also referred to as “Cowboy Golf” that can thrive and adapt even in the toughest of
    inflationary times. Thousands of amateur team ropers once again vied for incredible payouts as recreational ropers from
    many walks of life filled their pockets—already looking forward to once again qualifying for the Ariat WSTR Finale XVII in Las Vegas, Dec 9-17, 2023.
    -Ariat WSTR Finale XVI
    Las Vegas, Nevada – Dec. 3-11, 2022
    South Point Arena & Equestrian Center
    Top 10 Average Winners Finale Divisions
    For Complete Results Visit WSTRoping.com
    American Rodeo Open To The World (Top 5)
    1. Jake Cooper Clay & Kollin VonAhn | 38.12 on 6 | $100,000
    2. James Arviso & Cory Petska | 39.89 on 6 | $66,000
    3. Jeff Hilton & Zane Bruce | 42.83 on 6 | $50,000
    4. Chris Francis & Cade Passig | 44.49 on 6 | $36,000
    5. Britt Smith & Jake Smith | 50.06 on 6 | $18,000
    #14.5 Priefert Finale
    1. Riley Kittle & Sergio Gonzales | 28.00 on 4 | $162,000
    2. Michael Tash & Angel Mota | 28.03 on 4 | $125,000
    3. Juan M Gonzales & Servando Gtierrez Jr | 30.09 on 4 | $88,000
    4. Bobby Simmons &Steve Purcella | 30.79 on 4 | $66,000
    5. Rusty Rich & Jason Warner | 31.14 on 4 | $60,000
    6. Jason Handy & Ryan Powell | 31.20 on 4 | $52,000
    7. Shane Schwenke & Will Cowden | 31.61 on 4 | $44,000
    8. Quincy Kueckelhan & Dylan Hancock | 31.86 on 4 | $37,000
    9. Miles Kobold & John Folmer | 31.99 on 4 | $32,000
    10. David Adams & Cody Hall | 32.00 on 4 | $30,000
    #13.5 Lubrisyn Finale
    1. Cole Garland & Dillon Bahem | 28.89 on 4 | $222,000
    2. Ky Barry & Pedro Egurrola | 29.23 on 4 | $171,000
    3. Randal Reid & York Gill | 29.71 on 4 | $121,000
    4. Chick Wilfong & Shaun Berry | 30.45 on 4 | $91,000
    5. Juan M Gonzalez & Gerardo Gonzalez | 30.61 on 4 | $80,000
    6. Casey Lambert & Cache Burnside | 31.20 on 4 | $70,000
    7. Allen Riney & Justin Briggs | 31.38 on 4 | $60,000
    8. Patrick Lane & Brandon Beers | 31.45 on 4 | $50,000
    9. Aldo Serna & Gilbert DeLeon | 31.60 on 4 | $42,000
    10. Tyler Miller & Cory Miller | 31.68 on 4 | $40,000
    #12.5 Ariat Finale
    1. Clint Lay & Dustin Darling | 30.72 on 4 | $260,000
    2. Dally Sue Barry & Kurtis Barry | 31.14 on 4 | $200,000
    3. Mike Woolven & Keith Coleman | 31.25 on 4 | $140,000
    4. Randy Weaver & Nick Pullara | 31.28 on 4 | $105,000
    5. Duke Barker & Barry Gentry | 31.40 on 4 | $94,000
    6. Luis Miranda & Juan Robles Moreno | 31.55 on 4 | $82,000
    7. Clay Emmons & Renato Rock Jacometto | 31.94 on 4 | $70,000
    8. Davin Booty & David Walker | 32.58 on 4 | $59,000
    9. Taylor Phillips & Jayde Slade | 32.70 on 4 | $48,000
    10. Chantz Banks & Pecos Hurley | 32.82 on 4 | $44,000
    #11.5 Gold Buckle Beer Finale
    1. Prestyn Hewitt & Andy Anaya | 31.78 on 4 | $308,000
    2. Aaron Shelley & Dean Spurgeon | 32.58 on 4 | $238,000
    3. Taylor Phillips & Paul Freed | 32.91 on 4 | $168,000
    4. Ramiro Gonzalez & Adolfo De la Torre | 33.03 on 4 | $126,000
    5. Jason Olson & Keith Jacobs | 33.18 on 4 | $112,000
    6. Chente Marquez & Pollo Idrogo | 33.57 on 4 | $100,000
    7. Don Lackey & Joel Wengert | 33.64 on 4 | $84,000
    8. Levi Rita & Robert Rita | 34.10 on 4 | $70,000
    9. Weston Sandmann & Tanner Beauchamp | 34.18 on 4 | $56,000
    10. Jamie Mitchell & Garrett Gorman | 34.47 on 4 | $54,000
    #10.5 Cowboy Tack Finale
    1. Kyle Reed & Trevor Glenn | 32.93 on 4 | $340,000
    2. Ronnie Graves & Walter Bob Baxter | 34.47 on 4 | $260,000
    3. Marty Nicholson & Philip Teague | 35.57 on 4 | $183,000
    4. Johnny Trotter & Earl Purcella | 36.49 on 4 | $140,000
    5. Owen Nulliner & Garrett Nulliner | 36.50 on 4 | $124,000
    6. Matt Petrus & Bubba Petrus | 36.64 on 4 | $108,000
    7. Dustin Wilson & Dustin R Wilson Jr | 36.66 on 4 | $94,000
    8. Pete Magill & Ariel Zambrano | 36.78 on 4 | $78,000
    9. Carmine Nastri & Burley Davis | 37.08 on 4 | $64,000
    10. Brian Torres & Jeff M Palmer | 37.30 on 4 | $60,000
    #9.5 Ariat Finale
    1. Chris Torres & Guy Allen | 34.95 on 4 | $390,000
    2. Malik Hegge & Kason D Wolfe | 35.74 on 4 | $302,000
    3. Troy Applegate & Gaylon Riddels | 36.96 on 4 | $212,000
    4. Linn Churchill & Billy J Gallino | 38.15 on 4 | $160,000
    5. Jamie Singletary & Bill Jack Ewing | 38.98 on 4 | $142,000
    6. Ernie Cardoza & Danny Cardoza | 39.46 on 4 | $124,000
    7. Lindsey Rae Braddock & Shawn Lyday | 39.89 on 4 | $106,000
    8. David LeBaron & Kerry Leany | 39.96 on 4 | $89,000
    9. Jamie Payton & Dylan Perez | 40.05 on 4 | $74,000
    10. Bob Richardson & Bob McClary | 40.09 on 4 | $70,000
    #8.5 Fay Ranches Finale
    1. Wyatt Cloward & Trent Cloward | 35.82 on 4 | $300,000
    2. Matt Chandler & Kevin J. Kelly | 38.85 on 4 | $232,000
    3. Derek A Brink & Dave Wingo | 40.61 on 4 | $162,000
    4. Aaron Solomon & Riley Ward | 41.16 on 4 | $122,00
    5. Beth Hughes & Earl Higgins | 41.25 on 4 | $109,000
    6. Westi Hicks & Johnny Cox | 42.43 on 4 | $96,000
    7. Jeffrey Hartfield & Shane Garrison | 42.67 on 4 | $82,000
    8. Eric Brynildson & Terry Lindner | 43.77 on 4 | $68,000
    9. Allan Savage & Brent Woolsey | 44.52 on 4 | $56,000
    10. Trevor Jeffers & Colby Jeffers | 44.64 on 4 | $54,000
    #7 Cactus Finale (Top 5)
    1. Jamie Collins & Scott Jamison | 44.44 on 4 | $150,000
    2. LaCresha Foster & Spencer Perkins | 47.33 on 4 | $114,000
    3. Jake Shy & Wyatt Williams | 50.59 on 4 | $80,000
    4. Guadalupe Ortega & Jose Hernandez | 51.46 on 4 | $60,000
    5. Courtney Smith & Robin Bland | 52.73 on 4 | $54,000-

  • Kinsel Wins Fourth World Title

    Kinsel Wins Fourth World Title

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – One year ago, Hailey Kinsel left the Thomas and Mack a little disappointed after her streak of world titles came to an end, but she was determined to not leave empty handed in 2022.

    Kinsel, of Cotulla, Texas, entered her sixth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge ranked fifth but after five round wins, including the 10th, she is once again at the top of the barrel racing world with $302,172.

    “This one is hard to put into words,” stated Kinsel moments after winning the 2022 WPRA World Champion Barrel Racing title. “This one is emotional. It was a different year in some ways than the last couple. Coming in chasing is a little bit fun but also a little bit of pressure. I made some errors this week and my horse so oh well and fixed it for me. She is amazing.

    “Last year after making a mistake in the 10th round I wanted to make sure I didn’t do that twice, so just tried to learn from it and gosh it has been an incredible year for everyone. We had the most amazing group of women here and what a year Jordon (Briggs) had.”

    Kinsel, turned in the fastest time of the NFR in the ninth round in a time of 13.34 seconds and she and Sister returned on Saturday night to win the round in another fast time of 13.35 seconds.

    All totaled Kinsel won $182,783 in Las Vegas, the most of all barrel racers.

    Shelley Morgan came to Las Vegas with a goal of having 10 clean runs and she did exactly that in championship form. Morgan won her first NFR average title in a time of 137.28 seconds. She was making her fourth appearance and came in ranked sixth. She finished the year third in the world with $265,030.

    Jordon Briggs finished as the reserve world champion after finishing fourth in the average in a time of 142.41 seconds and won $96,741 during the 10 days in Las Vegas.

    WPRA Rookie of the Year Bayleigh Choate was the only other barrel racer to have 10 clean runs and finished second in the average in a time of 138.98 seconds.

    Margo Crowther was honored before the 10th round performance with the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. She received a custom bracelet and a $5,000 bonus check.

    Stetson Wright caps epic season with all-around, bull riding titles at Wrangler NFR

    LAS VEGAS – Stetson Wright capped his Wrangler NFR season for the ages Saturday night.

     

    Wright set the single-season PRCA earnings record ($927,940), all-around single-season record ($758,829), bull riding single-season record at $592,144 and bull riding earnings at the NFR at $271,545, counting ground money before 17,788 spectators at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge.

     

    “This year has been the best and the hardest year I have had in the PRCA,” said Wright, 23. “It started off really hot, moving to No. 1 in the world in broncs and bulls. And it kind of didn’t slow down from that point on. But I had a few injuries where I had to have surgery, sit out and miss some rodeos. When you are missing stuff like that, you don’t feel like you are doing your best. I had to learn a lot of patience. I had to trust everything my mom and dad said when I needed to sit out. I learned that if you wait and get healthy, you will do a lot better.”

     

    The Milford Utah, cowboy now has seven career world championships – four in all-around (2019-22); two in bulls (2020 and 2022) and saddle bronc riding (2021).

     

    Wright also placed in 15 out of the combined 20 rounds he competed in saddle bronc riding (seven) and bull riding (eight) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Wright finished fourth in the saddle bronc riding PRCA | RAM World Standings with $335,797.

     

    “I didn’t think it was,” said Wright when asked about winning more than $900,000 in one season. “I feel like I have shocked myself a lot this year. It came with patience and trusting that everything would be all right. That was what this year was about.”

     

    Wright was quick to point out he has no plans of taking his foot off the gas pedal.

     

    “I love breaking my own records because that means I did better than I did the year before,” Wright said. “That’s my goal to be better. I feel like what I have done this year, I feel like I can do even better if I stay healthy and don’t miss anything. I really feel like I can do better and break more records.”

     

    Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt collects fourth world and average titles

     

    Caleb Smidt doubled his pleasure at the 2022 Wrangler NFR. The Bellville, Texas, cowboy won his fourth world title and fourth NFR average honor.

     

    Smidt, a model of consistency, earned a PRCA tie-down roping single-season record $374,737. He also earned an NFR tie-down roping record of $225,221.

     

    “It’s unbelievable. Just what I have accomplished is beyond my imagination,” Smidt said. “My belief in God and the horse I have, and my family pushed me to be better every day. It’s a tough sport to even do this. To leave your family in the summer to make it here is hard, and it’s a long 10 days here. It’s an unbelievable blessing to do this. And to have the success I have had and great friends I rope against every day who encourage me to be who I am, it’s amazing. I am happy for my family. They have been supporting me all week. I do it for them, for the fans and I give all the glory to God.”

     

    Smidt won the average with an 82.5-second time on 10 head. He also won world and average titles in 2015, 2018, 2021-22. Smidt is tied with tie-down ropers Olin Young (1959, 1962-63, 1971); Roy Cooper (1976, 1979, 1983, 1995); and Fred Whitfield (1991, 1997, 1999, 2002) for most NFR average wins.

     

    “I don’t even think I would have a gold buckle without him,” said Smidt of his star horse Pockets. “That’s how good he is. The consistency he gives me every time I nod my head. It’s unbelievable. When I am back in there, and I know it’s all on me to win something, it’s pretty easy. I don’t have to worry about my horse. A lot of guys this week were switching horses to try to find something that works. When I ride on him, I know I have a chance. When you have a horse that does the exact same thing every time it gives you a chance. He’s going to do his job.”

     

    Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack claims fourth world crown

     

    Tyler Waguespack is no stranger to winning world championships – but his fourth world title on Saturday night was a bit improbable.

     

    The favorites to win the world – Stetson Jorgensen and Will Lummus – stumbled. Jorgensen received a no time in Round 10 and Lummus broke the barrier. In came Waguespack to win his fourth world title. Waguespack also was the world champ in 2016, 2018 and 2021 and 2022.

     

    Waguespack finished atop the world standings with $268,881. He narrowly defeated Lummus who finished with $266,188. Waguespack split fourth in Round 10 (4.0 seconds) and was third in the average with a 57.1-second time on 10 head.

     

    “I feel undeserving of this world title,” Waguespack said. “That was the craziest round of steer wrestling I have ever seen. Will Lummus bulldogged great all week long. The steer he had tonight actually took me out of the average earlier in the week that’s the steer I got the barrier on. I would have never thought that would happen. Will should be sitting here instead of me. I was the lucky one who came out on top at the end. That was one of the craziest rounds I have ever watched.”

     

    Waguespack is joining some elite company in steer wrestling world title circles. Only Homer Pettigrew (six) and Luke Branquinho (five) have won more world titles than Waguespack. The Gonzales, La., cowboy is tied with four world titles with Ote Berry, Everett Bowman and Jim Bynum.

     

    “This is so awesome,” Waguespack said, “I grew up watching all my heroes and dreaming about having one gold buckle, you know. Ote Berry is one of my biggest role models and biggest supporters and helped me out so much. I can’t wait to see him here in a little awhile because I have got the same amount he does, and I get to rub it in that I am still going so maybe one day I will get lucky and get one more on top of him.”

     

    Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston nabs his third world crown

     

    Canadian Zeke Thurston made it a hat trick on Saturday night.

     

    Thurston won his third career gold buckle in 2022, thanks to earning a PRCA single-season saddle bronc riding record with $399,316. Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, also won world titles in 2016 and 2019.

     

    “This one was probably the hardest one I have ever had,” said Thurston of title No. 3. “I had to work for this one. The other 14 guys in the room are crazy talented and ride awesome. I had quite a bit of money to make up coming in here. I knew if I just made the best ride I could on every horse and kept placing in the rounds I would give myself a fighting chance. And that’s what I did. Having my family and everybody here, it is really cool. I have won a couple of others. To have them all here for this one is really special.”

     

    Thurston earned an NFR saddle bronc riding record $256,078. He earned $74,150 for winning the average with 876.5 points on 10 head.

     

    “I am not usually an average-kind-of guy,” Thurston said. “I darn sure didn’t come here with the mindset to win the average. When it comes down to it, it can make-or-break you. To be the guy leading it coming in, I would almost rather not have been in that position because it starts playing tricks on your mind. I just blocked it all out and went and made the best possible ride tonight.

     

    Team ropers Driggers/Nogueira wins second straight gold buckles

     

    Make it back-to-back for team ropers – header Kaleb Driggers and heeler Junior Nogueira – who won their second straight world championships.

     

    Driggers/Nogueira finished atop their respective world standings with $340,708 each. They earned $112,830 each at the NFR and finished second in the average with a 71.4-second time on nine head.

     

    “This is what we’ve always dreamed about, being here and winning a gold buckle,” Driggers said. “This week we had a lot of trials and tribulations. We had to overcome them. It didn’t go exactly as we planned. At the end of the day, we kept our faith in the Lord and our faith in each other and we persevered.”

     

    Nogueira echoed his partner.

     

    “It was one of the toughest finals (without winning a round), especially for me,” Nogueira said. “Kaleb did an amazing job of keeping me up. A great job. Perhaps, I just humbled myself a little bit, I guess. We had to fight through it. There’s nothing easy. We always compete against the best guys in the whole world, and they don’t make it easy on anyone. We were blessed to be good in average, and we really had to catch that last one, a tough steer. We were able to do it. And you have to give all the glory to God.”

     

    Bareback rider Jess Pope snares his first career world crown

     

    The wait is over for Jess Pope. After finishing third and second in the world standings in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Waverly, Kan., cowboy is a world champion in 2022.

     

    “This is awesome. The emotions right now, there isn’t anything like them. It is just so rewarding. I worked my whole life for this, and it finally came true.

     

    “I knew I had it in me. It was just letting the cards fall right and drawing right where I was supposed to and doing what I was supposed to when I was. God’s plan, the way it was supposed to be I guess.”

     

    Pope also won his third consecutive NFR average crown with 860 points on 10 head.

     

    “Man, I was just showing up and taking it one horse at a time, being a cowboy,” he said. “When your day working or anything whatever you have in front of you, you have to do your job and that’s what I was able to do. This feels incredible.”

     

    Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel wins her fourth world title in five years

     

    Hailey Kinsel concluded her 2022 season with her fourth world championship in five years.

     

    The Texas cowgirl finished as the world standings leader with $302,172 to capture her latest world title. She also won world titles in 2018-2020.

     

    “Oh gosh. This is so much to put into words,” Kinsel said. “(Sister) is amazing. I really don’t know how and why she loves this so much and wants to be better every time. She got stronger as the week went on. She came into the last two rounds like she could go 10 more. I felt really good that I could tell her we are quitting while we are ahead. It’s good to give her a day off as a reward when she’s done that well. She’s so special to me. She’s like family. All our horses are. It’s been an incredible time to be with these ladies. We have a wonderful group of women and amazing horses.”

     

    Kinsel edged 2021 world champion Jordon Briggs, who finished with $274,520.

     

    Zeke Thurston snares Top Gun Award

     

    Zeke Thurston, the 2022 saddle bronc riding world champ, also was the RAM Top Gun Award winner. Thurston was the recipient of the honor for the first time in his career as he won the most money in a single event at the 2022 Wrangler NFR at $256,078.

     

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

    Round 10, Dec. 10

    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $758,829; 2. Caleb Smidt, $372,964; 3. Josh Frost, $307,965; 3. 4. Zack Jongbloed, $235,261; 5. Marty Yates, $225,732; 6. Haven Meged, $214,306; 7. Coleman Proctor, $212,521; 8. Rhen Richard, $181,703; 9. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.

    Bareback Riding: Tenth round: 1. Kaycee Feild, 92 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co.’s Night Crawler, $28,914; 2. Clayton Biglow, 90, $22,851; 3. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Tanner Aus, 88.5, $14,690 each; 5. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Cole Franks, 88, $6,063 each; 7. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Leighton Berry, 86.5; 9. Tilden Hooper, 85; 10. R.C. Landingham, 84; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 83.5; 12. Ty Breuer, 82.5; 13. Jess Pope, 81.5; 14. Cole Reiner, 80.5; 15. Orin Larsen, Out. Average: 1. Jess Pope, 860 points on ten head, $74,150; 2. Cole Franks, 852, $60,159; 3. Kaycee Feild, 851, $47,568; 4. R.C. Landingham, 846, $34,976; 5. Leighton Berry, 839, $25,183; 6. Tim O’Connell, 838.5, $18,188; 7. Cole Reiner, 829.5, $12,592; 8. Ty Breuer, 812, $6,995; 9. Caleb Bennett, 807.5; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, 806.5; 11. Tilden Hooper, 761 points on nine head; 12. Rocker Steiner, 754.5; 13.   Tanner Aus, 738.5; 14. Clayton Biglow, 679 points on eight head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $390,620; 2. Kaycee Feild, $316,490; 3. Leighton Berry, $267,274; 4. Cole Franks, $263,378; 5. R.C. Landingham, $246,696; 6. Tim O’Connell, $234,232; 7. Cole Reiner, $228,021; 8. Tanner Aus, $206,851; 9. Tilden Hooper, $188,477; 10. Rocker Steiner, $185,367; 11. Clayton Biglow, $173,605; 12. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $151,257; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $122,744.

    Steer Wrestling: Tenth round: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds, $28,914; 2. Hunter Cure, 3.7, $22,851; 3. Tanner Brunner, 3.9, $17,255; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Kyle Irwin, 4.0, $9,793 each; 6. Ty Erickson, 4.2, $4,664; 7. Tristan Martin, 4.3; 8. J.D. Struxness, 4.5; 9. (tie) Dirk Tavenner and Nick Guy, 5.2; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 6.1; 12. Will Lummus, 14.6; 13. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Rowdy Parrott and     Timmy Sparing, NT. Average: 1. Kyle Irwin, 46.1 seconds on ten head, $74,150; 2. Jesse Brown, 48.1, $60,159; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 57.1, $47,568; 4. Will Lummus, 61.6, $34,976; 5. Tanner Brunner, 69.2, $25,183; 6. Hunter Cure, 39.3 seconds on nine head, $18,188; 7. J.D. Struxness, 41.9, $12,592; 8. Dakota Eldridge, 43.7, $6,995; 9. Dirk Tavenner, 54.7; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 55.7; 11. Ty Erickson, 61.3; 12. Tristan Martin, 34.7 seconds on eight head; 13. Rowdy Parrott, 36.3; 14. Nick Guy, 47.8; 15. Timmy Sparing, 49.9. World standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, $268,881; 2. Will Lummus, $266,188; 3. Kyle Irwin, $249,892; 4. Hunter Cure, $247,309; 5. Jesse Brown, $241,152; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, $235,288; 7. J.D. Struxness, $197,228; 8. Ty Erickson, $192,400; 9. Tanner Brunner, $174,746; 10. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 11. Dakota Eldridge, $159,256; 12. Nick Guy, $148,880; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $130,926; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $127,177; 15. Timmy Sparing, $95,199.

    Team Roping: Tenth round: 1. (tie) Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 3.7 seconds, $23,007 each; 4. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.8, $12,125; 5. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 4.2, $7,462; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.9, $4,664; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 6.2; 8. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 9.0; 9. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 9.2; 10. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 9.3; 11. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, Clay Smith/Jake Long and Jake Orman/Brye Crites, NT. Average: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 53.0 seconds on ten head, $74,150 each; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 71.4 seconds on nine head, $60,159; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 73.6, $47,568; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 43.2 seconds on eight head, $34,976; 5. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 50.2, $25,183; 6. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 56.2, $18,188; 7. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 38.4 seconds on seven head, $12,592; 8. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 39.1, $6,995; 9. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 45.5; 10. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 30.3 seconds on six head; 11. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 32.2; 12. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 40.8; 13. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 44.9; 14. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 21.7 seconds on four head; 15. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $340,708; 2. Tanner Tomlinson, $307,095; 3. Clay Tryan, $264,955; 4. Andrew Ward, $226,723; 5. Jr. Dees, $209,730; 6. Coleman Proctor, $207,355; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $201,831; 8. Tyler Wade, $196,869; 9. Rhen Richard, $178,454; 10. Chad Masters, $169,184; 11. Riley Minor, $155,917; 12. Lightning Aguilera, $152,886; 13. Cody Snow, $137,363; 14. Clay Smith, $131,806; 15. Jake Orman, $129,422. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $340,708; 2. Patrick Smith, $307,095; 3. Jade Corkill, $231,147; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $225,181; 5. Levi Lord, $211,128; 6. Logan Medlin, $207,355; 7. Travis Graves, $202,545; 8. Trey Yates, $193,306; 9. Jeremy Buhler, $179,390; 10. Joseph Harrison, $173,855; 11. Jake Long, $173,287; 12. Brady Minor, $155,917; 13. Jonathan Torres, $145,432; 14. Wesley Thorp, $137,363; 15. Brye Crites, $130,764.

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Tenth round: 1. (tie) Zeke Thurston, on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin, Kolby Wanchuk, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie and Chase Brooks, on Sutton Rodeo’s South Point, 89.5 points, $23,007 each; 4. Sage Newman, 88.5, $12,125; 5. (tie) Stetson Wright and Ryder Wright, 88, $6,063 each; 7. Dawson Hay, 87; 8. Kade Bruno, 86.5; 9. (tie) Lefty Holman and Logan Hay, 86; 11. (tie) Brody Cress and Kole Ashbacher, 85; 13. Wyatt Casper, 84; 14. (tie) Layton Green and Tanner Butner, NS. Average: 1. Zeke Thurston, 876.5 points on ten head, $74,150; 2. Logan Hay, 863, $60,159; 3. Brody Cress, 777, $47,568; 4. Lefty Holman, 785 points on nine head, $34,976; 5. Stetson Wright, 781.5, $25,183; 6.        Dawson Hay, 775.5, $18,188; 7. Kade Bruno, 757, $12,592; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, 748, $6,995; 9. Tanner Butner, 728; 10. Chase Brooks, 687 points on eight head; 11. (tie) Sage Newman and Ryder Wright, 666; 13. Kole Ashbacher, 657.5; 14. Wyatt Casper, 649.5; 15. Layton Green, 562.5 points on seven head. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $399,916; 2. Lefty Holman, $341,390; 3. Logan Hay, $339,401; 4. Stetson Wright, $335,797; 5. Sage Newman, $320,474; 6. Brody Cress, $246,275; 7. Dawson Hay, $213,122; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $211,633; 9. Chase Brooks, $204,126; 10. Ryder Wright, $192,673; 11. Kade Bruno, $178,505; 12. Layton Green, $175,808; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.

    Tie-Down Roping: Tenth round: 1. Ty Harris, 7.2 seconds, $28,914; 2. Hunter Herrin, 7.3, $22,851; 3. John Douch, 7.9, $17,255; 4. Marty Yates, 8.0, $12,125; 5. Cory Solomon, 8.4, $7,462; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 8.7, $4,664; 7. Caleb Smidt, 8.8; 8. Tuf Cooper, 9.4; 9. Haven Meged, 11.7; 10. Tyler Milligan, 17.8; 11. Macon Murphy, 18.3; 12. Kincade Henry, 22.1; 13. (tie) Shad Mayfield, Shane Hanchey and Riley Webb, NT. Average: 1. Caleb Smidt, 82.5 seconds on ten head, $74,150; 2. Cory Solomon, 93.4, $60,159; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 95.8, $47,568; 4. Haven Meged, 117.5, $34,976; 5. Tyler Milligan, 129.9, $25,183; 6. Macon Murphy, 136.2, $18,188; 7. Hunter Herrin, 87.1 points on nine head, $12,592; 8. Ty Harris, 96.8, $6,995; 9. Marty Yates, 69.1 seconds on eight head; 10. Shad Mayfield, 92.8; 11. Shane Hanchey, 104.3; 12. Riley Webb, 66.8 seconds on seven head; 13. Kincade Henry, 60.4 seconds on six head; 14. John Douch, 39.4 seconds on five head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 51.5. World standings: 1.

    1. Caleb Smidt, $374,737; 2. Shad Mayfield, $269,936; 3. Cory Solomon, $265,303; 4. Hunter Herrin, $258,613; 5. John Douch, $254,376; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $233,962; 7. Marty Yates, $228,106; 8. Haven Meged      , $227,897; 9. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 10. Riley Webb, $188,597; 11. Ty Harris, $187,697; 12. Tuf Cooper, $168,892; 13. Tyler Milligan, $160,886; 14. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 15. Macon Murphy, $148,904.

    Barrel Racing: Tenth round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.35 seconds, $28,914; 2. Margo Crowther, 13.43, $22,851; 3. Shelley Morgan, 13.51, $17,255; 4. Jessica Routier, 13.52, $12,125; 5. Jordon Briggs, 13.62, $7,462; 6. Bayleigh Choate, 13.65, $4,664; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 13.66; 8. Wenda Johnson, 13.67; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.85; 10. Sissy Winn, 14.01; 11. Kassie Mowry, 18.37; 12. Emily Beisel, 18.63; 13. Stevi Hillman, 18.97; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 19.28; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 25.14. Average: 1. Shelley Morgan, 137.28 seconds on ten runs, $74,150; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 138.98, $60,159; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 141.66, $47,568; 4. Jordon Briggs, 142.41, $34,976; 5. Wenda Johnson, 142.76, $25,183; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 143.01, $18,188; 7. Sissy Winn, 144.03, $12,592; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 146.06, $6,995; 9. Margo Crowther, 146.98; 10.     Kassie Mowry, 152.33; 11. Emily Beisel, 155.50; 12. Jessica Routier, 158.19; 13. Dona Kay Rule, 159.34; 14. Stevi Hillman, 164.56; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 144.69 seconds on nine head. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $302,172; 2. Jordon Briggs, $274,520; 3. Shelley Morgan, $265,030; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $253,197; 5. Wenda Johnson, $231,860; 6. Emily Beisel, $221,718; 7. Margo Crowther, $184,751; 8. Bayleigh Choate, $182,971; 9. Dona Kay Rule, $171,019; 10. Leslie Smalygo, $158,343; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $154,161; 12.  Kassie Mowry, $150,121; 13. Sissy Winn, $149,156; 14. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 15. Jessica Routier, $123,445.

    Bull Riding: Tenth round: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 89.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Twilight Zone, $93,270; No other qualified rides. Average: 1. Stetson Wright, 684.5 points on eight head, $74,150; 2. Josh Frost, 589.5 points on seven head, $60,159; 3. Ky Hamilton, 510 points on six head, $47,568; 4. Tristen Hutchings, 447 points on five head, $34,976; 5. Trevor Kastner, 429, $25,183; 6. Trey Kimzey, 347 points on four head, $18,188; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5 points on three head, $12,592; 8. Trey Holston, 175.5 points on two head, $6,995; 9. Jeff Askey, 175; 10. Creek Young, 169; 11. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 12. JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 13. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 14. (tie) Maverick Potter, Lukasey Morris and Reid Oftedahl, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $592,144; 2. Josh Frost, $409,630; 3. Tristen Hutchings, $379,786; 4. Ky Hamilton, $278,412; 5. Trevor Kastner, $255,179; 6. Jeff Askey, $229,905; 7. Trey Kimzey, $201,999; 8. Garrett Smith, $197,594; 9. Trey Holston, $171,357; 10. JR Stratford, $142,943; 11. Creek Young, $127,692; 12. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 13. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.

    Top Gun: 1. Zeke Thurston, $256,078; 2. Stetson Wright, $237,812; 3. Jess Pope, $231,361; 4. Caleb Smidt, $225,221; 5. Logan Hay, $199,960; 6. (tie) Patrick Smith and Tanner Tomlinson, $199,727 each; 8. Lefty Holman, $191,410; 9. Kaycee Feild, $185,348; 10. Tristen Hutchings, $183,482.

  • Dawson Hay has record ride on Killer Bee’s last out

    Dawson Hay has record ride on Killer Bee’s last out

    LAS VEGAS – Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay picked a good day to have a great day.

     

    The Canadian tied the Round 9 record with a winning ride of 92 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Mud’s Killer Bee before 17,762 spectators Friday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center.

     

    “Yeah, that’s a crazy good horse,” said Hay, 24. “I remember when I first started riding broncs and I saw that horse come on through the years to become the legendary status we all know it has. I’d never had the chance to draw that horse before. I saw it on the list, and I told my wife, ‘I’m going to draw that horse at the NFR this year.’ I thought it was going to be in the first round but we got her.”

     

    The ride was noteworthy not only because of tying the round record, but also because it was the final out of Killer Bee’s career.

     

    “I’m not sure it’s even sunk in yet,” Hay said. “It’s such an incredible feeling. Going through that ride, I’m not sure I’ve ever been on a horse that feels quite like that. That’s a ride that’s going to stick with me forever. It’s a special moment and the kind of thing we’ve always dreamed of since we were little.”

     

    For the performance, Killer Bee was chosen top saddle bronc horse of Round 9. In Round 4 of the 2022 NFR, Killer Bee carried Chase Brooks to an 88-point ride and was selected saddle bronc horse of the night.

     

    At the 2020 Wrangler NFR, Killer Bee was chosen the top bareback horse. She was the 2019 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and voted top bareback horse of Round 3 of the 2019 NFR after bucking off Austin Foss. Killer Bee was also the top bareback horse of the 2018 NFR and top saddle bronc horse of the 2013 and 2014 NFRs.

     

    Killer Bee, 17, weighs 1,350 pounds and is 16.3 hands.

     

    Bareback rider Tim O’Connell snares win

     

    Veteran Tim O’Connell, a three-time world champion – 2016-18 – won Round 8 with an 88-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Star Witness on a re-ride.

     

    “I have never been on that horse, but I have seen videos of him, and I knew what he was capable of,” O’Connell said. “You don’t anticipate coming here and getting a re-ride because you have been thinking about a horse for like 16 hours. I was thankful for getting it (the re-ride). I knew I had to take care of business. He gave me the opportunity to go out there and win and I took it.”

     

    This was O’Connell’s first round win since Round 4 of the 2020 NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. O’Connell won that round with a 90.5-point ride on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Pop A Top.

     

    “It feels great. It was so exciting,” O’Connell said of getting to make an NFR victory lap again. “I’m sore. I’m beat up but I love this. At the end of the day, I love being a bareback rider.”

     

    Hunter Cure nabs third round win of 2022 NFR

     

    Make it three round wins for steer wrestler Hunter Cure.

     

    The Texas cowboy clocked a 3.6-second run to win Round 9. He also won Round 2 (3.7 seconds) and Round 4 (3.4 seconds).

     

    “That was actually the steer I had in Houston to win the 50 thousand, I am sure glad I got the one I did to have such a smooth and nice run,” said Cure 39.

     

    Cure is fourth in the world standings with $206,270. He is a two-time world champion in 2013 and 2015.

     

    “(My horse) is a paint mare owned by Ringo Robinson, I know it takes a little time in the box, but I am looking for a certain feel and make sure she has her weight on her front end and she is square, I know we can knock things out on a steer that runs this fast,” Cure said of his horsepower.

     

    “Nerves don’t really play into things this late in the rodeo, just trying to get as much money as I can. I never thought I would be taking 3 firsts, but at this point in the game, that’s really what I have to do.”

     

    Cure has earned $96,741 at the NFR.

     

    Marty Yates wins another round in tie-down roping

     

    Marty Yates’ late charge at the Wrangler NFR continued on Friday.

     

    The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy clocked a 7.8-second run to win Round 9.

     

    Yates also won Round 4 (7.4 seconds) and Round 5 (7.3 seconds).

     

    “I’m feeling good. Wishing I had had a little more success in some of those other rounds; but it all works out,” Yates said. “I’m getting a lot of money out of here and I’ll start over again here in a couple weeks.”

     

    Yates is sixth in the world standings $215,981. He has earned $93,710 at the NFR.

     

    Team ropers Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler capture victory

     

    Stating the obvious Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler have had a disappointing 2022 Wrangler NFR.

     

    The duo received a no-time in six of the eight rounds – but Richard/Buhler bounced back in Round 9 getting the win with a 3.8-second run.

     

    I think I got a good start and got it on the steer, everything flowed pretty good,” Richard said. “Jeremy hooked his horse’s tail – so I didn’t really see that. But he still heeled him fast and I actually faced a little bit early which probably cost us from being a little faster but I’m glad it worked out.”

     

    Buhler was thrilled with his result.

    “I don’t know, that was the first time I’ve been under 4 seconds at the Thomas & Mack,” Buhler said.

     

    Richard is 10th in the header world standings with $155,448 and Buhler is 11th in the heeler standings with $156,386.

     

    Bull rider Trey Holston tops Round 9

     

    NFR newcomer Trey Holston got to experience the glory of being a round winner.

     

    Holston recorded an 89.5-point ride on Salt River Rodeo’s Belly Dump to win Round 9.

     

    “It’s one thing to come in feeling fresh and how we want to with all this time to prepare,” Holston said. “What they don’t teach you is when you’re in Round 8, 9, 10 and you’re sore. It’s about clearing your stuff out and giving your best effort. To come out and get a go-round win, I’m feeling blessed.”

     

    Surviving the marathon – known as the NFR – has been quite the experience for Holston.

     

    “I feel like I’ve been an example of the test this week puts you through,” Holston said. “It’s been tough, it’s a long week. I felt the best I could coming in here and there’s just some things you can’t experience without being out here in Las Vegas at the NFR. Being this far and healthy, I’m happy. I have my family here, my friends here and now with a go-round win and a little money in my pocket. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

     

    Holston is ninth in the world standings with $164,362.

     

    Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel wins Round 9, takes standings lead

     

    Hailey Kinsel is on pace to win her fourth world title in five years.

     

    The Texas cowgirl moved into first place in the world standings with – $266,263 – after winning Round 9 at 13.34 seconds. That was the fastest run of the 2022 NFR and it also set the new Round 9 record. It was held by Kinsel at 13.40 seconds in 2018.

     

    “My horse (Sister) was just feeling it tonight,” Kinsel said. “She was kind of doing everything fast; we even warmed-up fast. She was shaking her head in the alley thinking, ‘just let me at them.’ She nailed her first barrel and that was something we’ve been working on so once we got through that, we were flying.”

     

    Kinsel welcomes the atmosphere of competing in the Thomas & Mack Center.

     

    “Knowing that when you get into the arena, you hear so much,” Kinsel said. “It becomes sensory overload. It’s kind of strange that she knows when it’s coming so we’re always aware of that. Of course, when you’re at the NFR, you have to appreciate your time here. It’s about feeling appreciative and grateful for the opportunity because you’re never sure when you’re going to be back.

     

    “Winning definitely never gets old. It’s exciting, it’s truly an honor. That’s the best way I can describe it. I’m thankful for a great horse in Sister that gives me the opportunity to win as much as I do.”

     

     

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

    Round 9, Dec. 9

    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

     

    Bareback Riding: Ninth round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 88 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Star Witness, $28,914; 2. Kaycee Feild, 87.5, $22,851; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 87, $17,255; 4. (tie) Cole Reiner, Jess Pope and Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $8,083; 7. Cole Franks, 85; 8. Rocker Steiner, 84.5; 9. Caleb Bennett, 84; 10. R.C. Landingham, 83; 11. Tilden Hooper, 82.5; 12. Leighton Berry, 81.5; 13. Tanner Aus, 76.5; 14. Ty Breuer, 75; 15. Orin Larsen, Out. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 778.5 points on nine head; 2. Cole Franks, 764; 3. R.C. Landingham, 762; 4. Kaycee Feild, 759; 5. Leighton Berry, 752.5; 6. Tim O’Connell, 750; 7. Cole Reiner, 749; 8. Ty Breuer, 729.5; 9. Garrett Shadbolt, 723; 10. Caleb Bennett, 721; 11. Tilden Hooper, 676 points on eight head; 12. Rocker Steiner, 666.5; 13. Tanner Aus, 650; 14. Clayton Biglow, 589 points on seven head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $316,470; 2. Leighton Berry, $242,091; 3. Kaycee Feild, $240,009; 4. Cole Reiner, $215,429; 5. R.C. Landingham, $211,720; 6. Tim O’Connell, $201,354; 7. Cole Franks, $197,156; 8. Tanner Aus, $192,161; 9. Tilden Hooper, $188,477; 10. Rocker Steiner, $179,304; 11. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 12. Garrett Shadbolt, $151,257; 13. Clayton Biglow, $150,754; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.

    Steer Wrestling: Ninth round: 1. Hunter Cure, 3.6 seconds, $28,914; 2. Jesse Brown, 3.7, $22,851; 3. J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $17,255; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Dakota Eldridge, 4.0, $9,793; 6. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Rowdy Parrott and Timmy Sparing, 4.2, $1,555 each; 9. Will Lummus, 4.4; 10. Ty Erickson, 4.5; 11. Dirk Tavenner, 4.7; 12. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Nick Guy, 5.2; 14. Kyle Irwin, 5.3; 15. Tristan Martin, NT. Average leaders: 1. Kyle Irwin, 42.1 seconds on nine head; 2. Jesse Brown, 44.7; 3. Will Lummus, 47.0; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 53.1; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 55.7; 6. Tanner Brunner, 65.3; 7.   Hunter Cure, 35.6 seconds on eight head; 8. Rowdy Parrott, 36.3; 9. J.D. Struxness, 37.4; 10.Dakota Eldridge, 37.6; 11. Dirk Tavenner, 49.5; 12. Timmy Sparing, 49.9; 13. Ty Erickson, 57.1; 14. Tristan Martin, 30.4 seconds on seven head; 15. Nick Guy, 42.6. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $235,288; 2. Will Lummus, $231,212; 3.Tyler Waguespack, $211,520; 4. Hunter Cure, $206,270; 5. Ty Erickson, $187,737; 6. J.D. Struxness, $184,636; 7. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 8. Kyle Irwin, $165,948; 9. Dakota Eldridge, $152,261; 10. Jesse Brown, $152,079; 11. Nick Guy, $148,880; 12. Tanner Brunner, $132,308; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $130,926; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $127,177; 15. Timmy Sparing, $95,199.

    Team Roping: Ninth round: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 3.8 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 3.9, $20,053 each; 4. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.2, $12,125; 5. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 4.3, $7,462; 6. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.6, $4,664; 7. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.7; 8. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 4.9; 10. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.0; 11. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 8.5; 12. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 8.9; 13. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, Tyler Wade/Trey Yates and Clay Smith/Jake Long, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 49.3 seconds on nine head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 65.2 seconds on eight; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 68.7; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 34.2 seconds on seven head; 5. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 38.4; 6. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 41.0; 7. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 45.5; 8. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 46.9; 9. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 32.2 seconds on six head; 10. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 35.3; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 44.9; 12. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 26.6 seconds on five head; 13. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 36.6; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6 seconds on four head; 15. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 18.0 seconds on three head. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $280,549; 2. Clay Tryan, $252,363; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $209,939; 4. Andrew Ward, $191,747; 5. Coleman Proctor, $188,234; 6. Jr. Dees, $184,547; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $183,643; 8. Tyler Wade, $173,862; 9. Chad Masters, $169,184; 10. Rhen Richard, $155,448; 11. Lightning Aguilera, $145,424; 12. Cody Snow, $137,363; 13. Clay Smith, $131,807; 14. Jake Orman, $129,422; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686. World standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $280,549; 2. Jade Corkill, $218,556; 3. Patrick Smith, $209,939; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $190,204; 5. Logan Medlin, $188,234; 6. Levi Lord, $185,945; 7. Travis Graves, $184,358; 8. Joseph Harrison, $173,855; 9. Jake Long, $173,287; 10. Trey Yates, $170,300; 11. Jeremy Buhler, $156,383; 12. Jonathan Torres, $137,971; 13. Wesley Thorp, $137,363; 14. Brye Crites, $130,764; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686.

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Ninth round: 1. Dawson Hay, 92 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Mud’s Killer Bee, $28,914; 2. Lefty Holman, 89.5, $22,851; 3. Zeke Thurston, 88, $17,255; 4. Logan Hay, 86.5, $12,125; 5. Chase Brooks, 85.5, $7,462; 6. Stetson Wright, 84, $4,664; 7. Ryder Wright, 83.5; 8. (tie) Kade Bruno and Tanner Butner, 81.5; 10. Layton Green, 65; 11. Brody Cress, 64; 12.     (tie) Sage Newman, Kolby Wanchuk, Wyatt Casper, Kole Ashbacher, NS. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 787 points on nine head; 2. Logan Hay, 777; 3. Tanner Butner, 728; 4. Brody Cress, 692; 5. Lefty Holman, 699 points on eight head; 6. Stetson Wright, 693.5; 7. Dawson Hay, 688.5; 8. Kade Bruno, 670.5; 9. Kolby Wanchuk, 658.5; 10. Chase Brooks, 597.5 points on seven head; 11. Ryder Wright, 578; 12. Sage Newman, 577.5; 13. Kole Ashbacher, 572.5; 14. Wyatt Casper, 565.5; 15. Layton Green, 562.5. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Lefty Holman, $306,413; 3. Stetson Wright, $304,551; 4. Zeke Thurston, $302,759; 5. Logan Hay, $279,241; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Dawson Hay, $194,935; 8. Ryder Wright, $186,610; 9. Kolby Wanchuk, $181,631; 10. Chase Brooks, $181,120; 11. Layton Green, $175,808; 12. Kade Bruno, $165,914; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.

    Tie-Down Roping: Ninth round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.8 seconds, $28,914; 2. Ty Harris, 8.0, $22,851; 3. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $17,255; 4. Hunter Herrin, 8.6, $12,125; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 8.8, $7,462; 6. Haven Meged, 9.3, $4,664; 7. Caleb Smidt, 9.5; 8. Tyler Milligan, 10.5; 9. Cory Solomon, 12.2; 10. Macon Murphy, 22.5; 11. (tie) Shad Mayfield, John Douch, Shane Hanchey, Riley Webb and Kincade Henry, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 73.7 seconds on nine head; 2. Cory Solomon, 85; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 87.1; 4. Haven Meged, 105.8; 5. Tyler Milligan, 112.1; 6. Macon Murphy, 117.9; 7. Hunter Herrin, 79.8 seconds on eight head; 8. Ty Harris, 89.6; 9.          Shad Mayfield, 92.8; 10. Shane Hanchey, 104.3; 11. Marty Yates, 61.1 seconds on seven head; 12. Riley Webb, 66.8; 13. Kincade Henry, 38.3 seconds on five head; 14. John Douch, 31.5 seconds on four head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 42.1. World standings: 1.

    1. Caleb Smidt, $300,587; 2. Shad Mayfield, $269,936; 3. John Douch, $237,121; 4. Hunter Herrin, $223,170; 5. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 6. Marty Yates, $215,981; 7. Cory Solomon, $197,682; 8. Haven Meged, $192,920; 9. Riley Webb, $188,597; 10. Zack Jongbloed, $181,731; 11. Tuf Cooper, $168,892; 12. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 13. Ty Harris, $151,788; 14. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 15. Macon Murphy, $130,717.

    Barrel Racing: Ninth round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.34 seconds, $28,914; 2. Emily Beisel, 13.38, $22,851; 3. Shelley Morgan, 13.47, $17,255; 4. Margo Crowther, 13.52, $12,125; 5. (tie) Dona Kay Rule and Lisa Lockhart, 13.59, $6,063 each; 7. Wenda Johnson, 13.65; 8. Kassie Mowry, 13.71; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.77; 10. Bayleigh Choate, 13.80; 11. Jordon Briggs, 13.88; 12. Sissy Winn, 13.99; 13. Stevi Hillman, 14.92; 14. Jessica Routier, 23.69; 15. Leslie Smalygo, NT. Average leaders: 1. Shelley Morgan, 123.77 seconds on nine runs; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 125.33; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 128.00; 4. Jordon Briggs, 128.79; 5. Wenda Johnson, 129.09; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 129.16; 7. Sissy Winn, 130.02; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 132.71; 9. Margo Crowther, 133.55; 10. Kassie Mowry, 133.96; 11. Emily Beisel, 136.87; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 140.06; 13. Jessica Routier, 144.67; 14. Stevi Hillman, 145.59; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 119.55 seconds on eight head. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $266,263; 2. Jordon Briggs, $232,082; 3. Emily Beisel, $221,718; 4. Wenda Johnson, $206,677; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $205,629; 6. Shelley Morgan, $173,625; 7. Dona Kay Rule, $171,019; 8. Margo Crowther, $161,900; 9. Leslie Smalygo, $158,343; 10. Kassie Mowry, $150,121; 11. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 12. Sissy Winn, $136,565; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $135,973; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $118,148; 15. Jessica Routier, $111,320.

    Bull Riding: Ninth round: 1. Trey Holston, 89.5 points on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Belly Dump, $29,846; 2. Tristen Hutchings, 88.5, $23,784; 3.     Ky Hamilton, 88; $18,188; 4. Jeff Askey, 85, $13,058; 5. Stetson Wright, 82.5, $8,394; 6. (tie) Josh Frost, Garrett Smith, Trevor Kastner, Maverick Potter, Trey Kimzey, Jared Parsonage, Creek Young, Cole Fischer, NS. 13. Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, JR Stratford, Out. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 684.5 points on eight head; 2. Josh Frost, 589.5 points on seven head; 3. Ky Hamilton, 510 points on six head; 4. Trevor Kastner, 429 points on five head; 5. Tristen Hutchings, 357.5 points on four head; 6.        Trey Kimzey, 347; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5 points on three head; 8. Trey Holston, 175.5 points on two head; 9. Jeff Askey, 175; 10. Creek Young, 169; 11. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 12. JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 13. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 14. (tie) Maverick Potter, Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $517,994; 2. Josh Frost, $349,470; 3. Tristen Hutchings, $251,539; 4. Ky Hamilton, $230,844; 5. Trevor Kastner, $229,996; 6. Jeff Askey, $229,905; 7. Garrett Smith, $185,002; 8. Trey Kimzey, $183,812; 9. Trey Holston, $164,362; 10. JR Stratford, $142,943; 11. Creek Young, $127,692; 12. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 13. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.

    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $653,433; 2. Caleb Smidt, $298,815; 3. Josh Frost, $247,542; 3. 4. Marty Yates, $213,607; 5. Coleman Proctor, $193,401; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $183,030; 7. Haven Meged, $179,329; 8. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 9. Rhen Richard, $156,696; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.

    Top Gun leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, $163,662; 2. Zeke Thurston, $158,921; 3. Jess Pope, $157,211; 4. Lefty Holman, $156,434; 5. Caleb Smidt, $151,071; 6. Hailey Kinsel, $146,874; 7. Logan Hay, $139,801; 8. Emily Beisel, $127,753; 9. Lisa Lockhart, $120,758; 10. Tristen Hutchings, $119,592.

  • Stetson Wright’s star shines even brighter at 2022 Wrangler NFR

    Stetson Wright’s star shines even brighter at 2022 Wrangler NFR

    LAS VEGAS – The victory train that is Stetson Wright is unstoppable.

    In Round 8, the Milford, Utah cowboy won his first saddle bronc riding round and added his third bull riding round win Thursday before 17,506 spectators at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center.

     

    Wright had a 90.5-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Hell Boy to capture the Round 8 victory.

     

    Then, he came back a short time later and split the bull riding victory with 90.5-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Angels Landing. Ky Hamilton, who is Wright’s traveling partner, shared the Round 8 win as he was 90.5 points aboard Dakota Rodeo’s Bubba G.

     

    “I mean it was just awesome. I’ve only won both events one time at the 2020 NFR in Round 7 and I’ve craved that moment ever since,” said Wright, 23. “It’s such a hard thing to do. It means you were better than 28 other guys in a night and that’s insane. I ended up drawing well and the best thing about it was that both of my matchups were from Utah.

     

    “Best round win I’ve ever had in my life. This is an unforgettable moment for us. We travel together all the time and are around each other 24/7. We’ve been to the NFR for three years together so to get this round win together, it’s awesome.”

     

    Wright has earned $295,765, counting ground money in bull riding. Wright holds the record for most money won at a single NFR when he earned $313,898 in 2020 in Arlington, Texas, at Globe Life Field.

     

    Hamilton also was excited about his eight seconds of work.

     

    “I’d seen that bull before, but I’ve never been on him,” Hamilton said. “He’s a big bucking bull with a lot of up and down in him, the kind that I really like. I knew he’d suit me well and he was everything I thought he was going to be, and it worked out well.

     

    “It’s funny, I don’t get nervous here at all. It’s almost like something’s wrong with me. It’s weird. It’s the biggest rodeo and I don’t feel anything. I feel exactly how I feel right now when I’m getting on. I believe that works in my favor because in bull riding it’s all about reaction and being able to adjust to what the bull is doing. It’s not a bad place to be calm, cool, and collected.”

     

    Already at the NFR, Wright has set the single-season PRCA earnings record, all-around single-season record and bull riding single-season record – he had not won a round in saddle bronc riding until Thursday.

     

    “I would say that was the best thing that happened to me this week,” Wright said about being bucked off in Round 7 in saddle bronc riding. “It sounds really weird, but when you exit yourself from the average race, all of the stress is off. I’m still in the World Title race and now I can focus on winning rounds. I’ve never been an average rider and I felt like me getting bucked off last night reminded me that I wasn’t.

     

    “I don’t think there’s a bull or a horse that should buck me off. I know that happened last night, but I feel as confident as ever,” Wright said. “I’m just having fun.”

     

    Wright, who is the reigning PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion, is second in the world standings with $299,887. He is splitting sixth in the average.

     

    Wright leads the bull riding world standings with $509,599 and he’s first in the average with 602 points on seven head. Wright also leads the RAM Top Gun standings with $156,201.

     

    Hamilton is sixth in the world standings with $212,657.

     

    Proctor/Medlin tie Round 8 record in win

     

    Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin split the Round 5 with a 3.8-second run. They were celebrating again in Round 8 as they won in 3.5 seconds, tying the Round 8 record set by Travis Tryan and Cory Petska in 2008.

     

    “Anytime you can beat the top 15 in the world, especially Kaleb Driggers (and Junior Nogueira) by half a second, that’s an amazing night.”

     

    Medlin was direct with is plan.

     

    “All I’m thinking about is (Friday night),” Medlin said.

     

    Proctor/Medlin also split the Round 5 win in 3.8 seconds.

     

    Proctor and Medlin are fifth in their respective header and heeler standings with $188,234. They are sixth in the average.

     

    Bareback rider Leighton Berry wins his second round at 2022 NFR

     

    Before the 2022 Wrangler NFR, Leighton Berry had never won a round at the Wrangler NFR. Now he has two on his resume.

     

    Berry, who won Round 2, added a Round 8 victory with an 88-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Knot So Foxy.

     

    “I don’t remember much of that one,” Berry said. “She kind of had me out of whack. It was one of those deals where I had to bear down and keep spurring. Tonight’s the night where you have to give it your all. You can’t quit. All these horses are going to be trying to jerk you down and make a guy look funny. You have to just stay back and keep setting your feet hard and the judges liked it so I’m thankful.”

     

    Berry is second in the world standings with $242,091. He has earned $111,897 at the NFR.

     

    “There are two rounds left and that for me means there are two more chances to win a go-round,” said Berry, 23. “I pretty much took myself out of a top average position because I was only 72 in Round 1. The rest of the seven rounds have gone great. I’m going to finish out as strong as I possibly can, and we will see how it shakes out.”

     

    Hunter Herrin wins Round 8 in tie-down roping

     

    Round 8 of the Wrangler NFR has been special for Hunter Herrin.

     

    For the second year in a row, the Apache, Okla., cowboy won Round 8 at the NFR. His latest accomplishment came Thursday with his 7.2-second run. A year ago, he won Round 8 with a 7.1 second run.

     

    “(I’ve) been pretty sick all week but these last couple of nights have made it a little better,” said Herrin, who is making his 12th NFR appearance.

     

    Herrin is fifth in the world standings with $211,045. He has earned $96,275 at the NFR.

     

    “It’s been my best run,” said Herrin, 38. “Last night I had a chance to go seven something  and I kind of balled my string a little bit but tonight I was able to put it all together and stay out of my own way. If you do that, you might not win first but you can live with it – as long as you compete to the best of your ability, you can live with that.

     

    “I just need to be the same as the last two nights. First and foremost, I have to get a good flat start. My horse is standing out in the box, and he can really get across there and gives me a good throw. The last two nights I’ve done that. And if that’s the case, it gives me a good chance to win something if the calves allow it so that’s just going to be our game plan: good starts.”

     

    Waguespack, Lummus split steer wrestling win

     

    Tyler Waguespack has won three world titles, including last year. Will Lummus is chasing his first gold buckle.

     

    The duo stayed in the gold buckle hunt by splitting the Round 8 with identical 3.6-second runs.

     

    “They were 4-flat both times on that steer, I knew if I could keep him on his feet, I would be able to shape him and make a good run to get the win,” Waguespack said.

     

    Lummus had this to say about his result.

     

    “I knew the steer was good, he left sharp, the steer was great, I had to take a chance at the barrier, Clayton Haas did a great job on the haze and it all just worked out,” Lummus said.

     

    Lummus is riding Benz owned by Haas.

     

    “He’s an amazing animal, a little tough in the box, but when you get him lined out, he’s one of the easiest animals I have ever ridden,” Lummus said.

     

    Lummus is second in the world standings with $231,212 and Waguespack is third with $201,727.

     

    “Really at this point there is just excitement to make a good run and try to put myself in the mix for the average and the Gold Buckle,” Lummus said.

     

    Waguespack has a simple plan moving forward.

     

    “I’ve been in these situations before, so not really nerves, but just the energy of the run and trying to win,” Waguespack said.

     

    Barrel racer Leslie Smalygo wins first career NFR round

     

    Leslie Smalygo made her first trip to the Wrangler NFR even more memorable on Thursday.

     

    The Oklahoma cowgirl won Round 8 with a 13.41-second time, the fastest run in barrel racing so far at this NFR.

     

    “It’s a complete dream come true. I thought it was just a pipedream to make it out here. Gus is the only horse I rode all year and he’s the only one I took with me,” Smalygo said. “He’s just been so honest all year and exceeded any expectations I had. I was just hoping to be in the thirteens (seconds) this week so to win a round, I never thought we had this in us.”

     

    Smalygo is seventh in the world standings with $158,343.

     

     

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

    Round 8, Dec. 8

    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

     

    Bareback Riding: Eighth round: 1. Leighton Berry, 88 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Knot So Foxy, $28,914; 2. (tie) Jess Pope, R.C. Landingham, Cole Franks, 87, $17,410 each; 5. Tanner Aus, 85, $7,462; 6. Tilden Hooper, 83, $4,664; 7. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Tim O’Connell, 82.5; 9. Ty Breuer, 80.5; 10. Kaycee Feild, 77; 11. Cole Reiner, 76; 12. Garrett Shadbolt, 71; 13. (tie) Rocker Steiner, Orin Larsen and Clayton Biglow, NS. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 693 points on eight head; 2. (tie) R.C. Landingham and Cole Franks, 679; 4. Kaycee Feild, 671.5; 5. Leighton Berry, 671; 6. Cole Reiner, 663.5; 7. Tim O’Connell, 662; 8. Ty Breuer, 654.5; 9. Caleb Bennett, 637; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, 636; 11. Tilden Hooper, 593.5 points on seven head; 12. Rocker Steiner, 582; 13. Tanner Aus, 573.5; 14. Clayton Biglow, 503.5 points on six head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $308,387; 2. Leighton Berry, $242,091; 3. Kaycee Field, $217,158; 4. R.C. Landingham, $211,720; 5. Cole Reiner, $207,346; 6. Cole Franks, $197,156; 7. Tanner Aus, $192,161; 8. Tilden Hooper, $188,477; 9. Rocker Steiner, $179,304; 10. Tim O’Connell, $172,440; 11. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 12. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $134,002; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.

    Steer Wrestling: Eighth round: 1. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Will Lummus, 3.6 seconds, $25,882 each; 3. Nick Guy, 4.1, $17,255; 4. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Dirk Tavenner, 4.2, $9,793 each; 6. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, J.D. Struxness and Dakota Eldridge, 4.3, $1,555; 9. Timmy Sparing, 4.5; 10. Tristan Martin, 4.6; 11. Hunter Cure, 4.8; 12. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Jesse Brown, 5.8; 14. Ty Erickson, 25.3; 15. Rowdy Parrott, NT. Average leaders: 1. Kyle Irwin, 36.8 seconds on eight head; 2. Jesse Brown, 41.0; 3. Will Lummus, 42.6; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 49.1; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 50.5; 6. Tanner Brunner, 61.1; 7. Tristan Martin, 30.4 seconds on seven head; 8. Hunter Cure, 32.0; 9. Rowdy Parrott, 32.1; 10. J.D. Struxness, 33.5; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 33.6; 12. Dirk Tavenner, 44.8; 13. Timmy Sparing, 45.7; 14. Ty Erickson, 52.6; 15. Nick Guy, 37.4 seconds on six head. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $235,288; 2. Will Lummus, $231,212; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $201,727; 4. Ty Erickson, $187,737; 5. Hunter Cure, $177,357; 6. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 7. J.D. Struxness, $167,381; 8. Kyle Irwin, $165,948; 9. Nick Guy, $148,880; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $142,467; 11. Tanner Brunner, $130,754; 12. Rowdy Parrott, $129,371; 13. Jesse Brown, $129,228; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $127,177; 15. Timmy Sparing, $93,644.

    Team Roping: Eighth round: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.5 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.8, $22,851; 3. (tie) Jr. Dees/Levi Lord and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 3.9, $14,690; 5. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.0, $6,063; 7. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.1; 8. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.5; 9. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.5; 10. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 9.2; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 19.0; 12. (tie) Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres and Clay Smith/Jake Long, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 45.1 seconds on eight head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 60.3 seconds on seven head; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 63.7; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 29.5 seconds on six head; 5. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 34.5; 6. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 35.3; 7. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 36.1; 8. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 36.6; 9. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 38.4; 10. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 26.6 seconds on five head; 11. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 27.6; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 41.0; 13. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 32.3 seconds on four head; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6; 15. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2 seconds on two head. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $280,549; 2. Clay Tryan, $232,310; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $197,814; 4. Andrew Ward, $191,747; 5. Coleman Proctor, $188,234; 6. Jr. Dees, $184,547; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $183,643; 8. Tyler Wade, $173,862; 9. Chad Masters, $149,131; 10. Lightning Aguilera, $137,963; 11. Cody Snow, $132,700; 12. Clay Smith, $131,807; 13. Jake Orman, $129,422; 14. Rhen Richard, $126,534; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $280,549; 2. Jade Corkill, $198,503; 3. Patrick Smith, $197,814; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $190,204; 5. Logan Medlin, $188,234; 6. Levi Lord, $185,945; 7. Travis Graves, $184,358; 8. Jake Long, $173,287; 9. Trey Yates, $170,300; 10. Joseph Harrison; $153,802; 11. Wesley Thorp, $132,700; 12. Brye Crites, $130,764; 13. Jonathan Torres, $130,509; 14. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686.

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Eighth round: 1. Stetson Wright, 90.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Hell Boy, $28,914; 2. Zeke Thurston, 89.5, $22,851; 3. Lefty Holman, 88, $17,255; 4. Dawson Hay, 87.5, $12,125; 5. (tie) Logan Hay and Chase Brooks, 87, $6,063 each; 7. Ryder Wright, 86.5; 8. Kade Bruno, 85.5; 9. Sage Newman, 85; 10. Layton Green, 84.5; 11. Kolby Wanchuk, 83.5; 12. Kole Ashbacher, 79.5; 13. Tanner Butner, 76.5; 14. (tie) Brody Cress and Wyatt Casper, 69. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 699 points on eight head; 2. Logan Hay, 690.5; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, 658.5; 4. Tanner Butner, 646.5; 5. Brody Cress, 628; 6. (tie) Stetson Wright and Lefty Holman, 609.5; 8. Dawson Hay, 596.5; 9. Kade Bruno, 589; 10. Sage Newman, 577.5; 11. Kole Ashbacher, 572.5; 12. Wyatt Casper, 565.5; 13. Chase Brooks, 512 points on six head; 14. Layton Green, 497.5; 15. Ryder Wright, 494.5. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Stetson Wright, $299,887; 3. Zeke Thurston, $285,504; 4. Lefty Holman, $283,562; 5. Logan Hay, $267,116; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Ryder Wright, $186,610; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $181,631; 9. Layton Green, $175,808; 10. Chase Brooks, $173,658; 11. Dawson Hay, $166,021; 12. Kade Bruno, $165,914; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.

    Tie-Down Roping: Eighth round: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.2 seconds, $28,914; 2. Zack Jongbloed, 7.6, $22,851; 3. Tuf Cooper, 7.8, $17,255; 4. Caleb Smidt, 8.0, $12,125; 5. Cory Solomon, 8.5, $7,462; 6. Shad Mayfield, 8.6, $4,664; 7. Tyler Milligan, 9.3; 8. Marty Yates, 9.4; 9. John Douch, 9.7; 10. Ty Harris, 13.2; 11. Shane Hanchey, 16.5; 12. Haven Meged, 16.7; 13. Macon Murphy, 17.6; 14. (tie) Riley Webb and Kincade Henry, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 64.2 seconds on eight head; 2. Cory Solomon, 72.8; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 78.3; 4. Shad Mayfield, 92.8; 5. Macon Murphy, 95.4; 6. Haven Meged, 96.5; 7. Tyler Milligan, 101.6; 8. Shane Hanchey, 104.3; 9. Riley Webb, 66.8 seconds on seven head; 10. Hunter Herrin, 71.2; 11. Ty Harris, 81.6; 12. Marty Yates, 53.3 seconds on six head; 13. Kincade Henry, 38.3 seconds on five head; 14. John Douch, 31.5 seconds on four head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 33.9 seconds on three head. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt , $300,587; 2. Shad Mayfield, $269,936; 3. John Douch, $237,121; 4. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 5. Hunter Herrin, $211,045; 6. Cory Solomon, $197,682; 7. Riley Webb, $188,597; 8. Haven Meged, $188,257; 9. Marty Yates, $187,068; 10. Zack Jongbloed, $174,269; 11. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 12. Tuf Cooper, $151,637. 13. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 14. Macon Murphy, $130,717; 15. Ty Harris, $128,937.

    Barrel Racing: Eighth round: 1. Leslie Smalygo, 13.41 seconds, $28,914; 2. Emily Beisel, 13.43, $22,851; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 13.49, $17,255; 4. Hailey Kinsel, 13.54, $12,125; 5. Kassie Mowry, 13.56, $7,462; 6. (tie) Jessica Routier and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.58, $2,332 each; 8. Jordon Briggs, 13.59; 9. Stevi Hillman, 13.60; 10. Shelley Morgan, 13.65; 11.  Bayleigh Choate, 13.67; 12. Margo Crowther, 18.54; 13. Sissy Winn, 18.71; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 18.85; 15. Wenda Johnson, 18.89. Average leaders: 1. Shelley Morgan, 110.30 seconds on eight runs; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 111.53; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 114.41; 4. Jordon Briggs, 114.91; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 115.39; 6. Wenda Johnson, 115.44; 7. Sissy Winn, 116.03; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 119.37; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 119.55; 10. Margo Crowther, 120.03; 11. Kassie Mowry, 120.25; 12. Jessica Routier, 120.98; 13.     Emily Beisel, 123.49; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 126.47; 15.   Stevi Hillman, 130.67. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $237,350; 2. Jordon Briggs, $232,082; 3. Wenda Johnson, $206,677; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $199,566; 5. Emily Beisel, $198,867; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 7. Leslie Smalygo, $158,343; 8. Shelley Morgan, $156,370; 9. Kassie Mowry, $150,121; 10. Margo Crowther, $149,775; 11. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 12. Sissy Winn, $136,565; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $135,973; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $118,148; 15. Jessica Routier, $111,320.

    Bull Riding: Eighth round: 1. (tie) Stetson Wright, on Bar T Rodeo’s Angels Landing and Ky Hamilton, on Dakota Rodeo’s Bubba G, 90 points, $26,815 each; 3. (tie) Trey Kimzey and Trey Holston, 86, $15,623 each; 5. Josh Frost, 85.5, $8,394; 6. (tie) Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Tristen Hutchings, Trevor Kastner, Maverick Potter, Jared Parsonage, Creek Young and Cole Fischer, NS. 13. JR Stratford, Lukasey Morris, and Reid Oftedahl, Out. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 602.0 points on seven head; 2. Josh Frost, 589.5; 3. Trevor Kastner, 429 points on five head; 4. Ky Hamilton, 422; 5. Trey Kimzey, 347 points on four head; 6. Tristen Hutchings, 269 points on three head; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5; 8. Creek Young, 169 points on two head; 9. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 10. (tie) Jeff Askey and JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 12. Trey Holston, 86; 13. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 14. (tie) Maverick Potter and Lukasey Morris, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $509,599; 2. Josh Frost, $349,470; 3. Trevor Kastner, $229,996; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $227,756; 5. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 6. Ky Hamilton, $212,657; 7. Garrett Smith, $185,002; 8. Trey Kimzey, $183,811; 9. JR Stratford, $142,943; 10. Trey Holston, $134,515; 11. Creek Young, $127,692; 12. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 13. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.

    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $641,308; 2. Caleb Smidt, $298,815; 3. Josh Frost, $247,542; 4. Coleman Proctor, $193,401; 5. Marty Yates, $184,694; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $175,568; 7. Haven Meged, $174,666; 8. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.

    Top Gun leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, $156,201; 2. Caleb Smidt, $151,071; 2. Jess Pope, $149,128; 4. Zeke Thurston, $141,666; 5. Lefty Holman, $133,583; 6. Logan Hay, $127,676; 7. Hailey Kinsel, $117,960; 9. Kincade Henry, $115,162; 10. Leighton Berry, $111,897.

  • Tie-down roper Kincade Henry gets his second round win

    LAS VEGAS –

    Kincade Henry is making plenty of memories in his NFR debut.

    The Mount Pleasant, Texas, cowboy clocked a 7.1-second run to win Round 7. He also split the Round 5 victory at 7.3 seconds.

    “That’s pretty lucky,” Henry said. “I like 7s.”

    Henry acknowledged horsepower has been a key to his success.

    “The horse I’m riding – it’s not supposed to be easy, but he makes it easy,” said Henry, 20. “The past couple of nights whenever I won the go-around I threw right there and then the next night I did the same thing and last night I had a stupid throw right there that I missed. So, to make that run, add another extra swing that builds confidence for these next three rounds, knowing I can go that far and still tie her in a short seven. So that’s a huge confidence builder for these next three rounds and the next couple of years to come.”

    Bareback rider Jess Pope wins another round

    Jess Pope’s success at the Wrangler NFR keeps picking up steam.

    Pope had an 89-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Mayhem to win Round 7. It was his second round win at the 2022 NFR as he also won Round 3 with an 86.5-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Mr. Harry.

    “I had never been on that horse,” Pope said. “That ride was fun, but it was a bit tough. He has a weird build; a real short back and he hits you in the back the whole time. It feels really empty when he starts turning back like that, but it worked out and I was pretty happy to have him.”

    Pope, who won the average at the 2020 and 2021 NFRs, is leading the average with 606 points on seven head. He’s also leading the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $290,979.

    “My mindset is I have the best job in the world, and I’m just tickled to be here. Whatever happens is going to happen and it sure beats the heck out of having to show up to an office every day and I’m thankful to get to ride bucking horses for a living.”

    At the 2022 NFR, Pope has not had a ride lower than 85 points in the seven rounds.

    Saddle bronc rider Logan Hay makes it three consecutive round wins

    Logan Hay had never competed in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge before this year.

    That’s hard to believe based on the results he’s putting up in his debut.

    Hay won his third round in a row when he captured Round 7 with a 90-point ride on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Garden City Gal before 17,166 spectators Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

    “Yeah, it’s crazy man. I never ever expected it to be as good as it’s been going,” said Hay, 25. “It’s unbelievable. I’m drawing really good horses and I’m riding good too. I can’t deny it.”

    Hay is fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $261,054 and he’s second in the average with 603.5 points on seven head.

    “It definitely helps to get on a roll like the one I’ve been on,” Hay said. “It was really good for me to get that first one under my belt. Even though I didn’t win money, I was happy just to get one rode here. I was relaxed after that. I knew I could take it the way I’ve been doing it all year and to get on a roll, it definitely helps for the confidence.”

    “I haven’t even looked at the standings all week. I don’t like to do that. I just want to keep focusing on my horse that day and stick to my game plan. I’m just going to keep riding how I’ve been and let the chips fall where they will.”

    The record for saddle bronc riding round wins at an NFR is five shared by ProRodeo Hall of Famers Billy Etbauer (1992, 1999, 2005) and Dan Mortensen (1998) and Ryder Wright (2016, 2020).

    Stetson Wright breaks two more PRCA single-season records

    Another day.

    New PRCA records for Stetson Wright.

    The Milford, Utah, cowboy, after earning $30,935 for finishing second in bull riding with a 75.5-point ride on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Black Magic, set the PRCA’s single-season bull riding earnings mark, including ground money, at $482,784.

    The bull riding earnings record was held by seven-time world champion Sage Kimzey at $480,797, including ground money in 2019.

    Wright also established the new all-around season earnings mark at $586,512. Wright initially set the record with $585,850 a year ago.

    On Tuesday, Wright clinched his fourth all-around title and added the single-season PRCA earnings record at $722,824 to his resume. Wright initially set that record in 2021 at $686,513.

    Veteran bull rider Trevor Kastner snares Round 8 title

    Trevor Kastner is still one of the best bull riders in the world at age 34.

    The Roff, Okla., cowboy had a 90.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Midnight Rider.

    Kastner was one of only three cowboys to make the eight-second whistle on Wednesday and earned $36,997 for the victory.

    “It’s been a little while since I’ve been back in here, so it feels great,” he said. “He (Midnight Rider) actually turned me off this spring at the San Angelo (Xtreme Bulls, April 10). I didn’t really remember it, but I think short-term memory may have helped on that. It was nice getting him rode tonight.

    “The past few years I’ve made the finals and it’s gone terrible. This year, I think it really hinged on Round 1. I was able to knock him down and I was able to keep going with it. I just try to look at it bull-by-bull. I’m just wanting to stay one bull at a time and take it from there.”

    Kastner is third in the world standings with $229,996. He has earned $106,457 at this year’s NFR. He also is third in the average with 429 points on five head.

    Steer wrestler Ty Erickson takes another victory lap

    In his return to the NFR for the first time since he won the 2019 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Championship, Ty Erickson is making up for lost time.

    Erickson won for the second time at the latest NFR capturing the Round 7 crown with a 3.7-second run. He also won Round 5 with a 3.9-second time.

    “They had won a second and a first on that steer, so I knew that I had a good shot to win it tonight, I just had to make sure I did my job,” Erickson said. “I got a great start, in fact so good that I wasn’t sure I got out on the barrier, but I looked back and saw I was good.”

    Erickson has moved up to third in the world standings with $187,737.

    “Crush worked so good tonight,” Erickson said of his horse. “His best quality is he is so good in the box; anyone can get on him and he just is ready to perform. My wife and I bought him off Facebook a few years ago and just kept working with him and now he just is so good to ride.

    “I just have to keep running for the round wins and get as much money as I can.”

    Team ropers Tyler Wade/Trey Yates win another NFR round

    Tyler Wade/Trey Yates are definitely making some noise at the 2022 Wrangler NFR.

    The duo won its second round of the rodeo, capturing Round 7 with a 3.9-second time. Wade/Yates won Round 4 with a 3.9-second run.

    Wade moved up to fifth in the world standings with $173,862 and Yates is seventh with $170,300.

    “I’ve been here five times now, haven’t had a great NFR yet, and it’s shaping up to be a little better one,” Wade said. “So, I’m excited for the next three steers.

    “I think our horses & our style of roping complement each other well, so it makes for a pretty smooth run when it works out.”

    Yates of Pueblo, Colo., took a moment to talk about his horsepower.

    “I’m riding a bay horse that I call Dude that we’ve had for a long time,” Yates said. “He’s kind of my old reliable. I’ve ridden him at every NFR I’ve been at, so he’s pretty special.”

    Barrel racer Wenda Johnson claims Round 7 victory

    Wenda Johnson now has two round wins at the 2022 Wrangler NFR.

    Johnson’s latest accomplishment came in Round 7 with a 13.60-second run.

    Johnson is third in the world standings with $206,677 and is first in the average with a 96.55-second time on seven head.

    “Absolutely. That’s one thing I strive to help him with. He’s smooth and easy so the less I can do, the better off we are,” Johnson said. “We had a couple of slower rounds so I’ve had to build up his confidence a little bit. Tonight, he attacked his first spot and it set us up for the rest of the run.”

    Johnson also talked about the quality of the arena dirt.

    “No doubt, being on top of the ground makes a big difference,” Johnson said. “I’ve got to give credit to the grounds crew because the dirt the last couple of nights has been amazing. But there still is a definite advantage to being towards the front.”

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
    Round 7, Dec. 7
    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

    Bareback Riding: Seventh round: 1. Jess Pope, 89 points on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Mayhem, $28,914; 2. Kaycee Feild, 87, $22,851; 3. Tilden Hooper, 86.5, $17,255; 4. Leighton Berry, 86, $12,125; 5. Cole Franks, 84.5, $7,462; 6. Tanner Aus, 81.5, $4,664; 7. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Garrett Shadbolt, 81; 9. (tie) Cole Reiner and Ty Breuer, 79; 11. R.C. Landingham, 78.5; 12. Rocker Steiner, 77; 13. Tim O’Connell, 74.5; 14. (tie) Orin Larsen and Clayton Biglow, NS. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 606 points on seven head; 2. Kaycee Feild, 594.5; 3. (tie) R.C. Landingham and Cole Franks, 592; 5. Cole Reiner, 587.5; 6. Leighton Berry, 583; 7. Rocker Steiner, 582; 8. Tim O’Connell, 579.5; 9. Ty Breuer, 574; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, 565; 11. Caleb Bennett, 554.5; 12. Tilden Hooper, 510.5 points on six head; 13. Clayton Biglow, 503.5; 14. Tanner Aus, 488.5; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $290,976; 2. Kaycee Feild, $217,158; 3. Leighton Berry, $213,177; 4. Cole Reiner, $207,346; 5. R.C. Landingham, $194,309; 6. Tanner Aus, $184,700; 7. Tilden Hooper, $183,814; 8. Cole Franks, $179,746; 9. Rocker Steiner, $179,304; 10. Tim O’Connell, $172,440; 11. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 12. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $134,002; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.
    Steer Wrestling: Seventh round: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.7 seconds, $28,914; 2. Dirk Tavenner, 3.8, $22,851; 3. J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $17,255; 4. (tie) Tanner Brunner, and Rowdy Parrott, 4.0, $9,793; 6. Tristan Martin, 4.2, $4,664; 7. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Dakota Eldridge, 4.3; 9. Will Lummus, 4.4; 10. Kyle Irwin, 4.7; 11. Hunter Cure, 5.1; 12. Jesse Brown, 5.9; 13. Timmy Sparing, 8.4; 14. Tyler Waguespack, 15.6; 15. Nick Guy, NT. Average leaders: 1. Rowdy Parrott, 32.1 seconds on seven head; 2. Kyle Irwin, 32.6; 3. Jesse Brown, 35.2; 4. Will Lummus, 39.0; 5. Tyler Waguespack, 45.5; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 46.2; 7. Tanner Brunner, 55.3; 8. Tristan Martin, 25.8 seconds on six head; 9. Hunter Cure, 27.2; 10. Ty Erickson, 27.3; 11. J.D. Struxness, 29.2; 12. Dakota Eldridge, 29.3; 13. Dirk Tavenner, 40.6; 14. Timmy Sparing, 41.2; 15. Nick Guy, 33.3 seconds on five head. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $233,733; 2. Will Lummus, $205,330; 3. Ty Erickson, $187,737; 4. Hunter Cure, $177,357; 5. Tyler Waguespack, $175,844; 6. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 7. J.D. Struxness, $165,827; 8. Kyle Irwin, $156,155; 9. Dakota Eldridge, $140,913; 10. Nick Guy, $131,625; 11. Tanner Brunner, $130,754; 12. Rowdy Parrott, $129,371; 13. Jesse Brown, $129,228; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $117,383; 15. Timmy Sparing, $93,644.
    Team Roping: Seventh round: 1. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 3.9 seconds, $28,914; 2. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.0, $22,851; 3. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.4, $14,690 each; 5. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Clay Smith/Jake Long and Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 4.5, $4,042 each; 8. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves and Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 9.1; 10. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 9.4; 11. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 13.7; 12. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 18.4; 13. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 41.0 seconds on seven head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 56.3 seconds on six head; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 58.2; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 25.0 second on five head; 5. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 26.6; 6. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 27.4; 7. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 30.5; 8. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 31.8; 9. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 32.2; 10. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 34.6; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 22.0 seconds on four head; 12. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 23.7; 13. Lightning Aguilera, Ocala, Fla., 32.3; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6; 15. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2 seconds on two head.
    World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $274,486; 2. Clay Tryan, $226,248; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $197,814; 4. Andrew Ward, $191,747; 5. Tyler Wade, $173,862; 6. Jr. Dees, $169,857; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $160,792; 8. Coleman Proctor, $159,321; 9. Chad Masters, $149,131; 10. Lightning Aguilera, $137,963; 11. Clay Smith, $131,807; 12. Jake Orman, $129,422; 13. Rhen Richard, $126,534; 14. Cody Snow, $118,010; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686.
    World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $274,486; 2. Patrick Smith, $197,814; 3. Jade Corkill, $192,440; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $190,204; 5. Jake Long, $173,287; 6. Levi Lord, $171,255; 7. Trey Yates, $170,300; 8. Travis Graves, $161,506. 9. Logan Medlin, $159,321; 10. Joseph Harrison, $153,802; 11. Brye Crites, $130,764; 12. Jonathan Torres, $130,509; 13. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 14. Wesley Thorp, $118,010; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686.
    Saddle Bronc Riding: Seventh round: 1. Logan Hay, 90 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Garden City Gal, $28,914; 2. Zeke Thurston, 88.5, $22,851; 3. Lefty Holman, 87, $17,255; 4. Kade Bruno, 86.5, $12,125; 5. (tie) Chase Brooks and Dawson Hay, 86, $6,063; 7. Ryder Wright, 78; 8. Layton Green, 77; 9. Tanner Butner, 76; 10. Brody Cress, 74; 11. Sage Newman, 71.5; 12. Kolby Wanchuk, 63.5; 13. (tie) Stetson Wright, Wyatt Casper and Kole Ashbacher, NS. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 609.5 points on seven head; 2. Logan Hay, 603.5; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, 575; 4. Tanner Butner, 570; 5. Brody Cress, 559; 6. Lefty Holman, 521.5 points on six head; 7. Stetson Wright, 519; 8. Dawson Hay, 509; 9. Kade Bruno, 503.5; 10. Wyatt Casper, 496.5; 11. Kole Ashbacher, 493; 12. Sage Newman, 492.5; 13. Chase Brooks, 425 points on five head; 14. Layton Green, 413; 15. Ryder Wright, 408. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Stetson Wright, $270,974; 3. Lefty Holman, $266,307; 4. Zeke Thurston, $262,653; 5. Logan Hay, $261,054; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Ryder Wright, $186,610; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $181,631; 9. Layton Green, $175,808; 10. Chase Brooks, $167,595; 11. Kade Bruno, $165,914; 12. Dawson Hay, $153,896; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.
    Tie-Down Roping: Seventh round: 1. Kincade Henry, 7.1 seconds, $28,914; 2. Hunter Herrin, 7.6, $22,851; 3. Cory Solomon, 8.0, $17,255; 4. Caleb Smidt, 10.5, $12,125; 5. Riley Webb, 11.5, $7,462; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 13.5, $4,664; 7. Macon Murphy, 13.9; 8. Haven Meged, 18.7; 9. Shad Mayfield, 19.0; 10. Shane Hanchey, 19.7; 11. Tyler Milligan, 20.2; 12. (tie) John Douch, Marty Yates, Tuf Cooper and Ty Harris, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 56.2 seconds on seven head; 2. Cory Solomon, 64.3; 3. Riley Webb, 66.8; 4. Zack Jongbloed, 70.7; 5. Macon Murphy, 77.8; 6. Haven Meged, 79.8; 7. Shad Mayfield, 84.2; 8. Shane Hanchey, 87.8; 9. Tyler Milligan, 92.3; 10. Hunter Herrin, 64.0 seconds on six head; 11. Ty Harris, 68.4; 12. Kincade Henry, 38.3 seconds on five head; 13. Marty Yates, 43.9; 14. John Douch, 21.8 seconds on three head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 26.1 points on two head.
    World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $288,462; 2. Shad Mayfield, $265,273; 3. John Douch, $237,121; 4. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 5. Cory Solomon, $190,220; 6. Riley Webb, $188,597; 7. Haven Meged, $188,257; 8. Marty Yates, $187,068; 9. Hunter Herrin, $182,132; 10. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 11. Zack Jongbloed, $151,418; 12. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 13. Tuf Cooper, $134,382; 14. Macon Murphy, $130,717; 15. Ty Harris, $128,937.

    Barrel Racing: Seventh round: 1. Wenda Johnson, 13.60 seconds, $28,914; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 13.64, $22,851; 3. Sissy Winn, 13.66, $17,255; 4. (tie) Jordon Briggs and Emily Beisel, 13.68, $9,793; 6. Shelley Morgan, 13.71, $4,664; 7. Margo Crowther, 13.72; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 13.73; 9. Kassie Mowry, 13.77; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.87; 11. Bayleigh Choate, 13.98; 12. Jessica Routier,18.35; 13. Lisa Lockhart, 18.57; 14. Stevi Hillman, 18.58; 15. Dona Kay Rule, 19.05. Average leaders: 1. Wenda Johnson, 96.55 seconds on seven runs; 2. Shelley Morgan, 96.65; 3. Sissy Winn, 97.32; 4. Bayleigh Choate, 97.86; 5. Lisa Lockhart, 100.92; 6. Jordon Briggs, 101.32; 7. Margo Crowther, 101.49; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 101.81; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 105.83; 10. Leslie Smalygo, 106.14; 11. Kassie Mowry, 106.69; 12. Jessica Routier, 107.40; 13. Dona Kay Rule, 107.62; 14. Emily Beisel, 110.06; 15. Stevi Hillman, 117.07.
    World standings: 1. Jordon Briggs, $232,082; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $225,225; 3. Wenda Johnson, $206,677; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $182,312; 5. Emily Beisel, $176,016; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 7. Shelley Morgan, $156,370; 8. Margo Crowther, $149,775; 9. Kassie Mowry, $142,659; 10. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 11. Sissy Winn, $136,565; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $133,641; 13. Leslie Smalygo, $129,429; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $118,148; 15. Jessica Routier, $108,988.
    Bull Riding: Seventh round: 1. Trevor Kastner, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Midnight Rider, $36,997; 2. Stetson Wright, 75.5, $30,935; 3. Josh Frost, 69.5, $25,338; 4. (tie) Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Tristen Hutchings, Maverick Potter, Trey Kimzey, Ky Hamilton, Jared Parsonage, Trey Holston, Creek Young, Lukasey Morris and Cole Fischer, NS. 15. (tie) JR Stratford, Reid Oftedahl, Out. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 512 points on six head; 2. Josh Frost, 504; 3. Trevor Kastner, 429 points on five head; 4. Ky Hamilton, 332 points on four head; 5. Tristen Hutchings, 269 points on three head; 6. Trey Kimzey, 261; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5; 8. Creek Young, 169 points on two head; 9. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 10. (tie) Jeff Askey and JR Stratford, 90; 12. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 13. (tie) Maverick Potter, Trey Holston, Lukasey Morris and Reid Oftedahl, NS.
    World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $482,784; 2. Josh Frost, $341,076; 3. Trevor Kastner, $229,996; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $227,756; 5. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 6. Ky Hamilton, $185,842; 7. Garrett Smith, $185,002; 8. Trey Kimzey, $168,189; 9. JR Stratford, $142,943; 10. Creek Young, $127,692; 11. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 12. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 13. Trey Holston, $118,892; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.
    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $586,512; 2. Caleb Smidt, $286,690; 3. Josh Frost, $240,080; 4. Marty Yates, $184,694; 5. Haven Meged, $174,666; 6. Coleman Proctor, $164,487; 7. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 8. Zack Jongbloed, $152,717; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.
    Top Gun leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, $138,946; 2. Jess Pope, $131,717; 3. Stetson Wright, $130,318; 4. Logan Hay, $121,613; 5. Zeke Thurston, $118,815; 6. Lefty Holman, $116,328; 7. Kincade Henry, $115,162; 8. Hailey Kinsel, $105,835; 9. Josh Frost, $101,405; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, $99,073.

     

  • Stetson Wright adds another all-around title to his impressive resume

    Stetson Wright adds another all-around title to his impressive resume

    LAS VEGAS – Stetson Wright’s decorated career added even more accomplishments on Tuesday night before 17,053 spectators at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center.

    The Milford, Utah, cowboy clinched his fourth all-around title and added the single-season PRCA earnings record at $722,824 to his resume. Wright initially set that record in 2021 at $686,513.

    In Round 6, Wright earned $22,851 in saddle bronc riding with a second-place 87-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Jitterbug and $22,851 for his second-place 86.5-point bull ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Bit A Bad News. He has earned $209,405 at the 2022 NFR.

    “When you break your own record, it means you did better than the year before, whenever you set it,” said Wright, 23. “The way I look at it is that I’m improving every year, and to improve just from last year is pretty special and I’m just happy with the way things are going.”

    Wright has now won four career all-around titles in 2019-22. Wright also has won bull riding and saddle bronc riding world championships in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

    Wright is also on the brink of surpassing the bull riding and all-around single-season earnings marks.

    Wright has earned $451,850 in bull riding and $563,661 in all-around. Sage Kimzey owns the single-season bull riding earnings mark at $480,797, including ground money, which he set in 2019. A year ago, Wright established the all-around season earnings mark at $585,850.

    “That’s when I say I just choose to have fun, and it is fun and I love rodeo,” Wright said. “And I feel like when you’re having fun it’s easier to break records, because you’re loving what you do and I’m literally loving everything about everything.”

    Wright has a simple approach to the remaining four rounds of the NFR.

    “Same thing – I’m just having fun,” Wright said. “I’m not worried about not a single gold buckle right now. I’m just worried about making 90-point rides.”

    Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield matches arena record with Round 6 victory

    Shad Mayfield, the 2020 PRCA World Champion Tie-Down Roper, was electric on Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

    The Clovis, N.M., cowboy stopped the clock in 6.5 seconds tying the arena record. ProRodeo Hall of Famers – Cody Ohl (6.5 seconds, Round 10, 2003) and Trevor Brazile (6.5 seconds, Round 8, 2015) also accomplished the feat.

    “I feel so good, the energy of the fans after that,” he said. “That’s something I’ve always dreamed of, throwing my hat like Cody Ohl used to, being 6.5 I mean that’s just something I’ve dreamed about.”

    That record run was something Mayfield was trying to digest.

    “I can’t even explain it, I didn’t even flank the calf all the way, I mean, if I had a better flank no telling what could have been,” said Mayfield, 21. “But I feel like my horse made it so easy, and to have a good calf I just had to do my part. Once I heard them holler ‘you’re out’ I just let my rope go. Tonight, I had to take it back to just like I’m at home practicing or at any jackpot.”

    Mayfield edged John Douch by a mere one-tenth of a second for the round win.

    “Honestly it just pumped me up hearing the crowd and doing all that,” Mayfield said. “I love that feeling coming behind someone and being faster, and it’s not easy beating someone at 6.6, so I got it done so that’s what makes it even better.”

    Saddle bronc rider Logan Hay wins back-to-back rounds

    Logan Hay made it back-to-back victory laps.

    After winning Round 5, Hay made it two in a row capturing the Round 6 win with an 87.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Yellowstone.

    “Yeah, it was our hoppers out again today and Yellowstone didn’t go in Round 1, so I was happy to have one that was fresh,” said Hay, 25. “I knew it was a good draw and I just tried to do my job.”

    Hay, who is making his NFR debut, is the son of saddle bronc rider Rod Hay, a 20-time NFR qualifier, and older brother to fellow NFR saddle bronc rider Dawson.

    “I’ve been blessed that it’s been working out,” Logan said. “I’m just trying to take it one horse at a time and not let my nerves get the best of me. I’ve just felt at home here. I think it’s all the other Canadians and my dad here helping me in the chutes that’s made it feel this way. I love it.”

    “I’m looking to just stick to my game plan. Take it one horse at a time. I don’t like to think about anything else. I’ve hardly looked at the world standings, to be honest. I look at it as me versus my horse, get up to see what (score) I got, and watch a few videos. That’s just what my game plan is.”

    Bull rider Tristen Hutchings makes it three round wins at 2022 NFR

    When cowboys make their NFR debuts they make memories for a lifetime.

    That has definitely been the case for bull rider Tristen Hutchings.

    The Monteview, Idaho, cowboy has won three of the first six rounds in his first career trip to the NFR.

    Hutchings’ latest claim to glory came on Tuesday when he won Round 6 with an 88-point ride on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Caddyshack. Hutchings also was tops in Round 1 and Round 5.

    “Yeah, I had a really good bull tonight,” Hutchings said. “It was a bull that I’d been wanting to get on for a while now and he had me loosen up a little bit and took me for a ride. Finally at the end I got a good seat. It was good, it was fun, and there’s no better place to win than here.”

    Hutchings thought he could take victory laps at the NFR based on his late-season surge.

    “At the end of the season, I got on a heater, and I think it’s carried into here,” he said. “I didn’t ever slow down getting on practice bulls or putting in the work at the gym. So, this is exactly what I’ve thought about and dreamed about. It’s definitely life-changing money and there are a ton of nerves but at the end of the day it’s about having fun. That’s when I think most bull riders are at their best.

    “You definitely have to draw right to come in here and win three, especially in the first six nights. It’s something you think is possible, but I was just hoping to come in here and ride as many bulls as possible. That’s the only game plan I really had in my head.”

    Rookie bareback rider Rocker Steiner captures Round 6 title

    This wasn’t the script rookie Rocker Steiner had envisioned – until Tuesday.

    Steiner had an 88.5-point ride aboard Wayne Vold Rodeo’s True Grit to win Round 6.

    “It is always great to get a win, especially at the NFR,” said Steiner, 18. “My dad won here, and my mom won here, and it is great to win in the same place where your parents won.”

    Steiner, who placed in just one of the first five rounds, splitting fifth in Round 5, took a moment to describe his winning ride.

    “That was a real fast, snappy, droppy (horse), it is not easy to ride,” Steiner said. “You have to have the need for speed to ride that horse. That horse actually bucked me off in Strathmore (Alberta) and it is just not an easy horse to ride.”

    The emotions of Steiner have been well-documented at this year’s NFR, but he is not about to change his ways.

    “I think you all can tell I’m really competitive,” Steiner said. “I didn’t come here for second place. I didn’t come here to get a low score. I’m not going for third or fourth. I’m going to win. It is hard to hide my passion and my emotions. I just want to win.

    “I’m going to go to South Point and get a buckle and hang out with my family. We are going have a big crew on stage. There have been a lot of people with me my whole career and hopefully I will get everybody on stage who has been part of it.”

    Steiner, who bought his PRCA card Jan. 10, is following the rodeo footsteps of his grandfather Bobby Steiner, who won a PRCA Bull Riding World Championship in 1973 and his father, Sid, the 2002 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion.

    Steer wrestler Tristan Martin scores Round 6 victory

    Steer wrestler Tristan Martin experienced the highs and lows of rodeo in 24 hours. The Sulphur, La., cowboy had a no-time in Round 5 and then on Tuesday he won Round 6 with a 3.5-second time.

    “They had missed him in the first round, but I had seen some videos on him, so I knew if I did my job, I had a good chance,” Martin said.

    Martin’s run came after a 15-minute delay because of a power outage in the Thomas & Mack Center, which caused him to reel things in.

    “Well, I was pretty amped up before the power went out, so I think it was just what I needed to help me calm back down and make a good run,” he said.

    Team ropers Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison claim Round 6 crown

    Team ropers Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison had not had much luck at the 2022 Wrangler NFR. Masters/Harrison split fourth in Round 3.

    The duo’s fortunes changed on Tuesday. Masters/Harrison won Round 6 with a 4.0-second time.

    “I’m so happy I just turned a decent steer for my partner,” Masters said. “He did a good job; he made the whole run come together.”

    Harrison was excited about the end result.

    “It was a good steer, man,” he said. “We talked about him beforehand, and we both really liked him. Chad did what he does, man, he put it on the horns and made the steer hit really nice where I could get me a good clean fast throw at him. And I’m not trying to be smart, but it’s supposed to work out like that.”

    Barrel racers Pozzi Tonozzi, Beisel split Round 6 victory

    Emily Beisel and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi shared glory on Tuesday.

    They clocked identical 13.57 times for the Round 6 win.

    “It’s great to see my horse working like he’s working,” said Beisel, who also won Round 4. “The biggest thing is I’ve got to get him around them and he will take care of the rest. Last night, I had a little mishap on the backside of the second barrel and tonight I took slightly bigger circles with a tighter cinch. It’s awesome to be here, especially being 14th on the ground. It’s incredible.”

    Pozzi Tonozzi was thrilled to be celebrating her first round win in 11 years.

    “I actually forgot what it feels like and how good it feels to win a round,” she said. “I’ve actually qualified on several horses since the last time I’ve won including my big, yellow horse Duke. This one is so special because it’s a horse I’ve raised and trained, and she’s actually now owned by Teton Ridge. I’m just excited to be here and can’t wait for the next round.”

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
    Round 6, Dec. 6
    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

    Bareback Riding: Sixth round: 1. Rocker Steiner, 88.5 points on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s True Grit, $28,914; 2. Tanner Aus, 88, $22,851; 3. Leighton Berry, 87.5, $17,255; 4. Cole Franks, 87, $12,125; 5. (tie) Kaycee Feild and R.C. Landingham, 86.5, $6,063 each; 7. Cole Reiner, 85.5; 8. (tie) Jess Pope, Tilden Hooper, and Clayton Biglow, 85; 11. Ty Breuer, 84; 12. Garrett Shadbolt, 82; 13. Tim O’Connell, 81; 14. Caleb Bennett, 79; 15. Orin Larsen, Out. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 517 points on six head; 2. R.C. Landingham, 513.5; 3. Cole Reiner, 508.5; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Cole Franks, 507.5; 6. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Rocker Steiner, 505; 8. Clayton Biglow, 503.5; 9. Leighton Berry, 497; 10. Ty Breuer, 495; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 484; 12. Caleb Bennett, 473.5; 13. Tilden Hooper, 424 points on five head; 14. Tanner Aus, 407; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $262,063; 2. Cole Reiner, $207,346; 3. Leighton Berry, $201,052; 4. R.C. Landingham, $194,309; 5. Kaycee Feild, $194,306; 6. Tanner Aus, $180,036; 7. Rocker Steiner, $179,304; 8. Tim O’Connell, $172,440; 9. Cole Franks, $172,284; 10. Tilden Hooper, $166,559; 11. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 12. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $134,002; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.
    Steer Wrestling: Sixth round: 1. Tristan Martin, 3.5 seconds, $28,914; 2. Will Lummus, 3.8, $22,851; 3. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Nick Guy, 3.9, $14,690 each; 5. J.D. Struxness, 4.0, $7,462; 6. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Timmy Sparing, 4.1, $2,332 each; 8. Rowdy Parrott, 4.2; 9. (tie) Ty Erickson and Jesse Brown, 4.5; 11. Tyler Waguespack, 4.7; 12. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Hunter Cure, 4.8; 14. Kyle Irwin, 5.3; 15. Dirk Tavenner, 5.4. Average leaders: 1. Kyle Irwin, 27.9 seconds on six head; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 28.1; 3. Jesse Brown, 29.3; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 29.9; 5. Will Lummus, 34.6; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 41.9; 7. Tanner Brunner, 51.3; 8. Tristan Martin, 21.6 seconds on five head; 9. Hunter Cure, 22.1; 10. Ty Erickson, 23.6; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 25.0; 12. J.D. Struxness, 25.3; 13. Timmy Sparing, 32.8; 14. Nick Guy, 33.3; 15. Dirk Tavenner, 36.8. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $233,733; 2. Will Lummus, $205,330; 3. Hunter Cure, $177,357; 4. Tyler Waguespack, $175,844; 5. Tristan Martin, $166,318; 6. Ty Erickson, $158,823; 7. Kyle Irwin, $156,155; 8. J.D. Struxness, $148,572; 9. Dakota Eldridge, $140,913; 10. Nick Guy, $131,625; 11. Jesse Brown, $129,228; 12. Tanner Brunner, $120,961; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $119,578; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $94,532; 15. Timmy Sparing, $93,644.
    Team Roping: Sixth round: 1. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.0 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 4.1, $22,851; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.3, $17,255; 4. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 4.7, $12,125; 5. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 8.6, $7,462; 6. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 8.9, $4,664; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.0; 8. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 9.1; 9. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 9.2; 10. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.9; 11. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 14.4; 12. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Clay Smith/Jake Long, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 31.6 seconds on six head; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 31.8 seconds on five head; 3. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 32.2; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 37.9; 5. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 44.5; 6. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 20.6 seconds on four head; 7. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 22.7; 8. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 22.9; 9. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 25.5; 10. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 26.5; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 17.6 seconds on three head; 12. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 19.2; 13. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 23.2; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 46.1; 15. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2 seconds on two head. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $274,486; 2. Clay Tryan, $203,397; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $197,814; 4. Andrew Ward, $177,056; 5. Jr. Dees, $169,857; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $160,792; 7. Coleman Proctor, $159,321; 8. Tyler Wade, $144,948; 9. Lightning Aguilera, $137,963; 10. Chad Masters, $134,441; 11. Clay Smith, $127,765; 12. Rhen Richard, $126,533; 13. Jake Orman, $125,380; 14. Cody Snow, $113,968; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686.
    World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $274,486; 2. Patrick Smith, $197,814; 3. Buddy Hawkins II, $175,514; 4. Levi Lord, $171,255; 5. Jade Corkill, $169,589; 6. Jake Long, $169,245; 7. Travis Graves, $161,506; 8. Logan Medlin, $159,321; 9. Trey Yates, $141,386; 10. Joseph Harrison, $139,112; 11. Jonathan Torres, $130,509; 12. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 13. Brye Crites, $126,722; 14. Wesley Thorp, $113,968; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686.
    Saddle Bronc Riding: Sixth round: 1. Logan Hay, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Yellowstone, $28,914; 2. Stetson Wright, 87, $22,851; 3. Zeke Thurston, 86, $17,255; 4. Layton Green, 85.5, $12,125; 5. Wyatt Casper, 85, $7,462; 6. Kolby Wanchuk, 84.5, $4,664; 7. Brody Cress, 84; 8. (tie) Sage Newman, Kole Ashbacher and Tanner Butner, 82.5; 11. Dawson Hay, 82; 12. Kade Bruno, 81.5; 13. (tie) Ryder Wright, Lefty Holman, and Chase Brooks, NS. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 521 points on six head; 2. Stetson Wright, 519; 3. Logan Hay, 513.5; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 511.5; 5. Wyatt Casper, 496.5; 6. Tanner Butner, 494; 7. Kole Ashbacher, 493; 8. Brody Cress, 485; 9. Lefty Holman, 434.5 points on five head; 10. Dawson Hay, 423; 11. Sage Newman, 421; 12. Kade Bruno, 417; 13. Chase Brooks, 339 points on four head; 14. Layton Green, 336; 15. Ryder Wright, 330. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Stetson Wright, $270,974; 3. Lefty Holman, $249,052; 4. Zeke Thurston, $239,802; 5. Logan Hay, $232,140; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Ryder Wright, $186,610; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $181,631; 9. Layton Green, $175,808; 10. Chase Brooks, $161,533; 11. Kade Bruno, $153,789; 12. Dawson Hay, $147,833; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.
    Tie-Down Roping: Sixth round: 1. Shad Mayfield, 6.5 seconds, $28,914; 2. John Douch, 6.6, $22,851; 3. Caleb Smidt, 7.5, $17,255; 4. Riley Webb, 7.7, $12,125; 5. Macon Murphy, 7.8, $7,462; 6. Cory Solomon, 8.0, $4,664; 7. Zack Jongbloed, 8.5; 8. Marty Yates, 9.3; 9. Shane Hanchey, 9.4; 10. Hunter Herrin, 10.2; 11. Ty Harris, 11.3; 12. Tyler Milligan, 13.8; 13. Haven Meged, 18.0; 14. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Kincade Henry, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 45.7 seconds on six head; 2. Riley Webb, 55.3; 3. Cory Solomon, 56.3; 4. Zack Jongbloed, 57.2; 5. Haven Meged, 61.1; 6. Macon Murphy, 63.9; 7. Shad Mayfield, 65.2; 8. Shane Hanchey, 68.1; 9. Ty Harris, 68.4; 10. Tyler Milligan, 72.1; 11. Marty Yates, 43.9 seconds on five head; 12. Hunter Herrin, 56.4; 13. Kincade Henry, 31.2 seconds on four head; 14. John Douch, 21.8 seconds on three head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 26.1 seconds on two head. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $276,337; 2. Shad Mayfield, $265,273; 3. John Douch, $237,121; 4. Haven Meged, $188,257; 5. Kincade Henry, $188,194; 6. Marty Yates, $187,068; 7. Riley Webb, $181,136; 8. Cory Solomon, $172,965; 9. Hunter Herrin, $159,280; 10. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 11. Zack Jongbloed, $146,755; 12. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 13. Tuf Cooper, $134,382; 14. Macon Murphy, $130,717; 15. Ty Harris, $128,937.
    Barrel Racing: Sixth round: 1. (tie) Emily Beisel and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.57 seconds, $25,882 each; 3. Bayleigh Choate, 13.63, $17,255; 4. Lisa Lockhart, 13.64, $12,125; 5. Jessica Routier, 13.65, $7,462; 6. Shelley Morgan, 13.70, $4,664; 7. Wenda Johnson, 13.76; 8. Dona Kay Rule, 13.78; 9. Sissy Winn, 13.85; 10. Leslie Smalygo, 18.54; 11. Jordon Briggs, 18.70; 12. Margo Crowther, 18.78; 13. (tie) Stevi Hillman and Hailey Kinsel, 18.83; 15. Kassie Mowry, 19.14. Average leaders: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 82.35 seconds on six runs; 2. Shelley Morgan, 82.94; 3. Wenda Johnson, 82.95; 4. Sissy Winn, 83.66; 5. Bayleigh Choate, 83.88; 6. Jordon Briggs, 87.64; 7. Margo Crowther, 87.77; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 87.94; 9. Dona Kay Rule, 88.57; 10. Jessica Routier, 89.05; 11. Hailey Kinsel, 92.10; 12. Leslie Smalygo, 92.50; 13. Kassie Mowry, 92.92; 14. Emily Beisel, 96.38; 15. Stevi Hillman, 98.49. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $225,225; 2. Jordon Briggs, $222,289; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $182,312; 4. Wenda Johnson, $177,763; 5. Emily Beisel, $166,222; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 7. Shelley Morgan, $151,706; 8. Margo Crowther, $149,775; 9. Kassie Mowry, $142,659; 10. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $133,641; 12. Sissy Winn, $119,310; 13. Bayleigh Choate, $118,148; 14. Jessica Routier, $108,988; 15. Leslie Smalygo, $106,578.
    Bull Riding: Sixth round: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 88 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Caddyshack, $28,914; 2. Stetson Wright, 86.5, $22,851; 3. (tie) Josh Frost and Trevor Kastner, 85.5, $14,690 each; 5. Garrett Smith, 84, $7,462; 6. (tie) Ky Hamilton and Creek Young, 82.5, $2,332 each . 8. Cole Fischer, 74; 9. (tie) Jeff Askey, Maverick Potter, Trey Kimzey, Jared Parsonage, Trey Holston, JR Stratford, Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, NS. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 436.5 points on five head; 2. Josh Frost, 434.5; 3. Trevor Kastner, 338.5 points on four head; 4. Ky Hamilton, 332; 5. Tristen Hutchings, 269 points on three head; 6. Trey Kimzey, 261; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5; 8. Creek Young, 169 points on two head; 9. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 10. (tie) Jeff Askey and JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 12. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 13. (tie) Maverick Potter, Trey Holston, Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, NS.
    World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $451,850; 2. Josh Frost, $315,738; 3. Tristen Hutchings, $227,756; 4. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 5. Trevor Kastner, $192,999; 6. Ky Hamilton, $185,841; 7. Garrett Smith, $185,002; 8. Trey Kimzey, $168,189; 9. JR Stratford, $142,943; 10. Creek Young, $127,692; 11. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 12. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 13. Trey Holston, $118,892; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16 Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.
    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $563,661; 2. Caleb Smidt, $274,565; 3. Josh Frost, $222,825; 4. Marty Yates, $184,694; 5. Haven Meged, $174,666; 6. Coleman Proctor, $164,487; 7. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 8. Zack Jongbloed, $148,053; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.
    Top Gun Leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, $126,821; 2. Stetson Wright, $107,467; 3. Hailey Kinsel, $105,835; 4. Jess Pope, $102,804; 5. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Lefty Holman, $99,073 each; 7. Lisa Lockhart, $97,441; 8. Tristen Hutchings, $96,741; 9. Zeke Thurston, $95,964; 10. Logan Hay, $92,699.

     

  • Lockhart, Kinsel Split the Round 5 Win at the 2022 Wrangler NFR

    Lockhart, Kinsel Split the Round 5 Win at the 2022 Wrangler NFR

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – It was an NFR Million Dollar winner’s circle during the fifth round of the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. Hailey Kinsel, surpassed the $1 million in NFR earnings during the fourth round and joined Lisa Lockhart in that elite club. Tonight, they shared the round win and added to their figures both picking up $25,882.
    “That is really cool but that is Sister’s record,” stated Kinsel about crossing the $1 million in NFR earnings. “I have had a lot of great horses to help but that is all her. To be able to do that in less than six years, I don’t know how to put that into words.
    “I came into the ProRodeo world when it was booming. The American took off and the rounds started playing better here (NFR), other rodeos started paying more, ground got better…I am a lucky kid.”
    Kinsel on Sister and Lockhart on Levee tonight and both jockeys stopped the clock in 13.52 seconds, to surpass Kassie Mowry who had a 13.57 second run as the second barrel racer on the pattern tonight.
    “He has just been gaining confidence,” said Lockhart of the difference in Levee to get the win tonight. “The first round he was very hesitant, and I figured I should give him another chance. In round two he was definitely more confident and tonight he took the bit from me in the alley, and he went when he wanted to go. It wasn’t my plan, but I thought well I better hang on for the ride because I didn’t have much choice as he was going. He was just as strong as could be and our timing was good. It is so impeccable to nail the first barrel here and very hard to do. Once we did that tonight it was just trying to get him to the right spots and see what happened.”
    This is Kinsel’s third round win of the 2022 NFR and Lockhart’s first but probably not her last. Lockhart leads the average in a time of 68.71 seconds, while Kinsel is eighth after a downed barrel in the first round.
    Kinsel did move to No. 1 in the world, a spot Jordon Briggs has held since March after winning RodeoHouston. Kinsel is looking for her fourth world title. Briggs is second in the average with a time of 68.94 seconds on five runs. Kinsel has won $105,835 through five rounds and has $225,225 on the season. Briggs is second in $222,289.
    The fifth round was pink night at the NFR and WPRA Rookie Bayleigh Choate and Hail To Be Famous “Dash” was decked out. Choate is in one of a handful of ladies in search of the 2022 Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award.
    Fans can vote on the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed award nightly for who they think looked the sharpest. The award is presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Voting is at www.wpra.com

    WNFR Results courtesy PRCA

    Bareback rider R.C. Landingham’s Round 5 win has special meaning

    LAS VEGAS – Competing during Round 5 Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge had special meaning to bareback rider R.C. Landingham.

    “It is pretty emotional,” said Landingham, 32. “My mom, Wendy Skiver, passed away of ovarian cancer (Feb. 3, 2017). This is her rodeo dream, and she is living it with me.”

    Landingham’s mom would have been proud of her son’s performance on Monday night.

    Landingham had a 90.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Notch for the win.

    “I had been on that horse twice before once before here at the NFR and it didn’t go well because I was battling a shoulder injury,” Landingham said. “Then I had him again in Pecos (Texas) this year and was 87 on him. Tonight, that horse was everything I thought it would be. That’s a big strong horse and he had a great trip, and everything worked out. It is nice to get a round win like this because it pays so well.”

    Landingham earned $28,914 for the victory and has earned $57,723 at the NFR. Landingham is third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $188,247.

    Steer wrestler Ty Erickson tops leaderboard

    Ty Erickson, the 2019 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion, was in championship form in Round 5.

    Erickson clocked a 3.9-second time to claim the round win.

    “The steer was the one that Hunter Cure won Round 2 on, so I knew he was going to be good,” said Erickson, 32. “He kind of let up on me a little bit and I knew he was going to be a little slower, but I wasn’t really expecting him to let up like he did. I’m just glad they don’t say pretty run on the paycheck, because it wasn’t a pretty run, but we got him down and the win.”

    Erickson is now fifth in the world standings with $158,823. He has earned $51,039 at this year’s NFR. The Helena, Mont., cowboy was quick to credit his horsepower.

    “Crush is owned by my wife and myself and he really fits these set ups,” Erickson said. “(He) doesn’t score the best, but when you got to go fast, he’s the one you want to be riding.”

    Saddle bronc rider Logan Hay captures first career NFR round win

    Logan Hay is making his Wrangler NFR debut quite memorable.

    Hay won Round 5 with an 89-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper.

    “Larry’s (Culpepper) a big horse,” Hay said. “He reminds me a lot of the horse I rode in Calgary this year and he felt similar, so I went with the same game plan. I went with a big spur out and tried to get ahead of him right there and I felt like I accomplished that.”

    Hay was trying to digest the moment he was experiencing getting his first NFR round win.

    “It’s amazing. I’m not sure it’s really set in yet but being able to take that victory lap was something else,” Hay said. “It’s definitely a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.”

    Hay is fifth in the world standings with $203,226 and he has earned $63,786 at the NFR.

    “I’m just going to keeping attacking with the same game plan I’ve had the whole week. I’m looking to take it one horse at a time, not try to overthink anything, and just let my riding do what it does.”

    Bull rider Tristen Hutchings gets his second round win of NFR

    As NFR debuts go, bull rider Tristen Hutchings is doing great so far.

    The Monteview, Idaho, cowboy had a 90.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s County Jail to win Round 5. He also won Round 1 with a 90.5-point ride on Stockyards Pro Rodeo’s Party Animal.

    “I’ve actually been getting leaned back a little bit,” said Hutchings, 22. “I knew if I stayed on the front end a little bit better, longer, and let my hips get deep that things would work out. I’ve been drawing the right bulls so every time I get them rode they are going to score me high. I might not be first in the average, but I have two go-round buckles, I’m happy to be here, and I’m happy to be healthy.”

    Hutchings is glad to see his hard work pay off.

    “I think almost everybody rides better when they are riding into their hand and I knew that I would struggle when I didn’t,” Hutchings said. “I practiced really hard and I’m glad that I did because the only bull I’ve ridden into my hand, I got bucked off. I’ve gotten two knocked down riding away from my hand and that’s not bad when you’re going against the best bucking stock in the world.”

    Hutchings is fourth in the world standings with $198,842. He has earned $70,859 at the NFR.

    “It’s been a tough stretch for the boys in that locker room,” Hutchings said. “We started with 16 and now we’re down to 14. I got off to a great start and then went through a bumpy patch, so I had my head real low. But I’m excited to get another one rode. It’s tough out here in Vegas. All I can hope for is to just keep getting them rode.”

    Team ropers Tryan/Corkill and Proctor/Medlin share title

    The team roping competition was a split victory.

    Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin and Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill shared the win with identical 3.8-second runs.

    “It was kind of a blur,” Proctor said. “I saw a pink rope wrap around the horn and my partner (Medlin) pulled him back on his two feet. It all happened in a hurry.”

    Medlin was thrilled with the outcome.

    “What’s crazy is I wasn’t really nervous,” he said. “I didn’t really think we might come out with a go-round win, but I wasn’t really nervous before we rode. I’m just glad I went out there and did my job.”

    Tryan acknowledged nothing came easy on Monday.

    “It was a tough night against this field of guys,” Tryan said. “The quick times got off to a hurry, so we knew it was going to be a night where we needed to be aggressive. We just made a solid run with a good start and a clean, solid finish.”

    Corkill loves the opportunity to compete for big money at the Thomas & Mack Center.

    “Just the chance to compete for $30,000 each night is what makes me excited,” Corkill said. “We have five more nights with a good chance to capture more money before it’s all said and done.”

    Tie-down ropers Marty Yates, Kincade Henry share Round 5 crown

    The veteran – Marty Yates – and newcomer Kincade Henry shared the spotlight in tie-down roping.

    They had identical 7.3-second runs to claim the Round 5 win.

    “Oh man, I don’t know, it’s so cool,” said Henry, 20. “This is my first time here and it just
    happens so fast I am just happy I got her done.”

    Henry has moved up to fifth in the world standings with $188,194. He has earned $86,248 at the NFR.

    Yates, 28, is making his ninth-consecutive appearance at the NFR and won Round 4 with a 7.4-second run.

    “Man, it’s awesome to finally get back on the right end of things,” Yates said. “I got a great start; my horse did great tonight. So, it’s nice to be on the winning side of things, always.”

    Barrel racers Hailey Kinsel, Lisa Lockhart share Round 5 glory

    Hailey Kinsel made it three round wins out of five, winning Round 5 with a 13.52-second run. Kinsel added the Round 5 victory to her Round 2 (13.61 seconds) and Round 3 (13.59 seconds) wins.

    On Monday, Kinsel split the Round 5 win with Lockhart as each had 13.52 seconds.

    “It’s special here. Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Arena have their own unique energy that you remember, and you want to get back to,” Kinsel said. “To come back and be able to do well again, it’s awesome. This rodeo is so tough. This field of barrel racers is one of the toughest you’ll see. I’m just thrilled to have the success that we are because nothing is guaranteed when you’re here.”

    Kinsel took a moment to talk about the preparation she and her star horse Sister go through.

    “When her and I were younger, there was definitely more practicing involved with the setup and trying to get the pattern down,” Kinsel said. “After we’ve been here a couple of times, I’ve decided not to overwork her now and really just trust the process of my horse and trust her skill. She seems happy and it appears to be working.”

    Lockhart, a veteran of 16 NFRs, discussed the horsepower she is using.

    “I’m riding a young horse and he’s gotten stronger every night. We broke the ice in Round 2 and have continued to place higher each night. My job was really to get him to his spot and once he did, I thought, ‘well, here we go,’ because that first barrel is crucial here. That really makes a difference.

    “Every horse is a little different. Some take right to it while mine has been hesitant and a little bit scared of everything. There’s a lot of energy in the arena so I commend him for having the focus he’s had because there are a lot of distractions.”

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
    Round 5, Dec. 5
    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
    Bareback Riding: Fifth round: 1. R.C. Landingham, 90.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co.’s Top Notch, $28,914; 2. Jess Pope, 88, $22,851; 3. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Leighton Berry, 87.5, $14,690 each; 5. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Cole Franks, 86.5, $6,063 each; 7. Caleb Bennett, 86; 8. Tanner Aus, 85; 9. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Clayton Biglow, 84.5; 11. Cole Reiner, 84; 12. Ty Breuer, 80.5; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, 76; 14. Tilden Hooper, NS; 15. Orin Larsen, Out. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 432 points on five head; 2. R.C. Landingham, 427; 3. Tim O’Connell, 424; 4. Cole Reiner, 423; 5. Kaycee Feild, 421; 6. Cole Franks, 420.5; 7. Clayton Biglow, 418.5; 8. Rocker Steiner, 416.5; 9. Ty Breuer, 411; 10. Leighton Berry, 409.5; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 402; 12. Caleb Bennett, 394.5; 13. Tilden Hooper, 339 points on four head; 14. Tanner Aus, 319; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $262,063; 2. Cole Reiner, $207,346; 3. R.C. Landingham, $188,247; 4. Kaycee Feild, $188,244; 5. Leighton Berry, $183,797; 6. Tim O’Connell, $172,440; 7. Tilden Hooper, $166,559; 8. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 9. Cole Franks, $160,159; 10. Tanner Aus, $157,185; 11. Rocker Steiner, $150,390; 12. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $134,002; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.
    Steer Wrestling: Fifth round: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.9 seconds, $28,914; 2. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Will Lummus, 4.0, $20,053 each; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Kyle Irwin, 4.3, $9,793 each; 6. Jesse Brown, 4.4, $4,664; 7. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Timmy Sparing, 4.6; 9. Dirk Tavenner, 4.9; 10. J.D. Struxness, 5.0; 11. Rowdy Parrott, 5.7; 12. Nick Guy, 6.6; 13. (tie) Hunter Cure, Dakota Eldridge and Tristan Martin, NT. Average leaders: 1. Kyle Irwin, 22.6 seconds on five head; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 23.9; 3. Jesse Brown, 24.8; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 25.2; 5. Will Lummus, 30.8; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 37.1; 7. Tanner Brunner, 47.4; 8. Hunter Cure, 17.3 seconds on four head; 9. Tristan Martin, 18.1; 10. Ty Erickson, 19.1; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 20.9; 12. J.D. Struxness, 21.3; 13. Timmy Sparing, 28.7; 14. Nick Guy, 29.4; 15. Dirk Tavenner, 31.4. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $233,733; 2. Will Lummus, $182,478; 3. Hunter Cure, $177,357; 4. Tyler Waguespack, $175,844; 5. Ty Erickson, $158,823; 6. Kyle Irwin, $156,155; 7. J.D. Struxness, $141,110; 8. Dakota Eldridge, $138,581; 9. Tristan Martin, $137,404; 10. Jesse Brown, $129,228; 11. Rowdy Parrott, $119,578; 12. Nick Guy, $116,935; 13. Tanner Brunner, $106,271; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $94,532; 15. Timmy Sparing, $91,312.
    Team Roping: Fifth round: 1. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.8 seconds, $25,882 each; 3. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.9, $17,255; 4. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.9, $12,125; 5. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.2, $7,462; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.4, $4,664; 7. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 8.6; 8. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 14.2; 9. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison and Jake Orman/Brye Crites, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 27.3 seconds on five head; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 31.8; 3. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 20.6 seconds on four head; 4. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 27.5; 5. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 28.0; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 30.1; 7. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 13.7 seconds on three head; 8. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 14.1; 9. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 16.6; 10. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 17.4; 11. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 46.1; 12. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 10.2 seconds on two head; 13. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 13.6; 14. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2; 15. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 19.1. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $274,486; 2. Clay Tryan, $203,397; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $180,559; 4. Andrew Ward, $177,056; 5. Coleman Proctor, $159,321; 6. Jr. Dees, $157,732; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $156,129; 8. Tyler Wade, $137,487; 9. Clay Smith, $127,765; 10. Rhen Richard, $126,534; 11. Jake Orman, $125,380; 12. Lightning Aguilera, $115,111; 13. Cody Snow, $113,968; 14. Chad Masters, $105,527; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $274,486; 2. Patrick Smith, $180,559; 3. Buddy Hawkins II, $175,514; 4. Jade Corkill, $169,589; 5. Jake Long, $169,245; 6. Logan Medlin, $159,321; 7. Levi Lord, $159,130; 8. Travis Graves, $156,843; 9. Trey Yates, $133,924; 10. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 11. Brye Crites, $126,722; 12. Wesley Thorp, $113,968; 13. Joseph Harrison, $110,199; 14. Jonathan Torres, $107,658; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686.
    Saddle Bronc Riding: Fifth round: 1. Logan Hay, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper, $28,914; 2. Lefty Holman, 88.5, $22,851; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright and Layton Green, 88, $14,690 each; 5. (tie) Kade Bruno and Dawson Hay, 87.5, $6,063 each; 7. (tie) Stetson Wright and Brody Cress, 87; 9. Zeke Thurston, 86.5; 10. Wyatt Casper, 85; 11. Tanner Butner, 84.5; 12. Kolby Wanchuk, 84; 13. Chase Brooks, 82.5; 14. Kole Ashbacher, 82; 15. Sage Newman, 79.5. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 435 points on five head; 2. Lefty Holman, 434.5; 3. Stetson Wright, 432; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 427; 5. Logan Hay, 426; 6. (tie) Wyatt Casper and Tanner Butner, 411.5; 8. Kole Ashbacher, 410.5; 9. Brody Cress, 401; 10. Dawson Hay, 341 points on four head; 11. Chase Brooks, 339; 12. Sage Newman, 338.5; 13. Kade Bruno, 335.5; 14. Ryder Wright, 330; 15. Layton Green, 250.5 points on three head. World standings: 1.
    1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Lefty Holman, $249,052; 3. Stetson Wright, $248,123; 4. Zeke Thurston, $222,547; 5. Logan Hay, $203,226; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Ryder Wright. $186,610; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $176,967; 9. Layton Green, $163,683; 10. Chase Brooks, $161,533; 11. Kade Bruno, $153,789; 12. Dawson Hay, $147,833; 13. Wyatt Casper, $137,688; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.
    Tie-Down Roping: Fifth round: 1. (tie) Marty Yates and Kincade Henry, 7.3 seconds, $25,882; 3. Caleb Smidt, 7.9, $17,255; 4. Riley Webb, 8.2, $12,125; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 8.5, $7,462; 6. Tyler Milligan, 8.6, $4,664; 7. Shane Hanchey, 9.5; 8. Haven Meged, 10.1; 9. Ty Harris, 10.3; 10. Macon Murphy, 12.7; 11. Cory Solomon, 13.1; 12. Shad Mayfield, 18.3; 13. (tie) John Douch and Tuf Cooper, NT. Average leaders: 1.Caleb Smidt, 38.2 seconds on five head; 2. Haven Meged, 43.1; 3. Riley Webb, 47.6; 4. Cory Solomon, 48.3; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 48.7; 6. Macon Murphy, 56.1; 7. Ty Harris, 57.1; 8. Tyler Milligan, 58.3; 9. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Shane Hanchey, 58.7; 11. Kincade Henry, 31.2 seconds on four head; 12. Marty Yates, 34.6; 13. Hunter Herrin, 46.2; 14. John Douch, 15.2 seconds on two head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 26.1. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $259,082; 2. Shad Mayfield, $236,359; 3. John Douch, $214,270; 4. Haven Meged, $188,257; 5. Kincade Henry, $188,194; 6. Marty Yates, $187,068; 7. Riley Webb, $169,011; 8. Cory Solomon, $168,302; 9. Hunter Herrin, $159,280; 10. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 11. Zack Jongbloed, $146,755; 12. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 13. Tuf Cooper, $134,382; 14. Ty Harris, $128,937; 15. Macon Murphy, $123,255.
    Barrel Racing: Fifth round: 1. (tie) Hailey Kinsel and Lisa Lockhart, 13.52 seconds, $25,882 each; 3. Kassie Mowry, 13.57, $17,255; 4. (tie) Jordon Briggs and Shelley Morgan, 13.69, $9,793 each; 6. Jessica Routier, 13.72, $4,664; 7. Margo Crowther, 13.73; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.75; 9. Wenda Johnson, 13.84; 10. Sissy Winn, 13.87; 11. Bayleigh Choate, 13.93; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 13.96; 13. Emily Beisel, 18.29; 14. Leslie Smalygo, 18.47; 15. Stevi Hillman, 18.61. Average leaders: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 68.71 seconds on five runs; 2. Jordon Briggs, 68.94; 3. Margo Crowther, 68.99; 4. Wenda Johnson, 69.19; 5. Shelley Morgan, 69.24; 6. Sissy Winn, 69.81; 7. Bayleigh Choate, 70.25; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 73.27; 9. Kassie Mowry, 73.78; 10. Leslie Smalygo, 73.96; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 74.37; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 74.79; 13. Jessica Routier, 75.40; 14. Stevi Hillman, 79.66; 15. Emily Beisel, 82.81. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $225,224; 2. Jordon Briggs, $222,289; 3. Wenda Johnson, $177,763; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $170,186; 5. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 6. Margo Crowther, $149,775; 7. Shelley Morgan, $147,043; 8. Kassie Mowry, $142,659; 9. Emily Beisel, $140,340; 10. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 11. Sissy Winn, $119,310; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $107,759; 13. Leslie Smalygo, $106,578; 14. Jessica Routier, $101,527; 15. Bayleigh Choate, $100,893.
    Bull Riding: Fifth round: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 90.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s County Jail, $31,945; 2. Josh Frost, 88, $25,882; 3. Trey Kimzey, 87.5, $20,286; 4. Stetson Wright, 86.5, $15,156; 5. (tie) Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Trevor Kastner, Maverick Potter, Ky Hamilton, Jared Parsonage, Trey Holston, Cole Fischer, Creek Young and Lukasey Morris, NS; 15. Reid Oftedahl and JR Stratford, Out. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 350 points on four head; 2. Josh Frost, 349; 3. Trey Kimzey, 261 points on three head; 4. Trevor Kastner, 253; 5. Ky Hamilton, 249.5; 6. Tristen Hutchings, 181 points on two head; 7. Garrett Smith, 172.5; 8. (tie) Jeff Askey and JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 10. Creek Young, 86.5; 11. Cole Fischer, 85.5; 12. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 13. (tie) Maverick Potter, Trey Holston, Lukasey Morris, and Reid Oftedahl, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $428,999; 2. Josh Frost, $301,048; 3. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $198,842; 5. Ky Hamilton, $183,510; 6. Trevor Kastner, $178,309; 7. Garrett Smith, $177,540; 8. Trey Kimzey, $168,189; 9. JR Stratford, $142,943; 10. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 11. Creek Young, $125,360; 12. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 13. Trey Holston, $118,892; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.
    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $517,959; 2. Caleb Smidt, $257,310; 3. Josh Frost, $208,135; 4. Marty Yates, $184,694; 5. Haven Meged, $174,666; 6. Coleman Proctor, $164,487; 7. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 8. Zack Jongbloed, $148,053; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.
    Top Gun Leader: 1. Caleb Smidt, $109,566; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $105,835; 3. Jess Pope, $102,804; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Lefty Holman, $99,073 each; 6. Kincade Henry, $86,248; 7. Lisa Lockhart, $85,316; 8. Stetson Wright, $84,616; 9. Zeke Thurston, $78,709; 10. (tie) Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith, $73,190 each.

  • Solomon clocked the fastest time so far in the 2022 NFR with a 6.9-second time.

    Solomon clocked the fastest time so far in the 2022 NFR with a 6.9-second time.

    LAS VEGAS – The stage wasn’t too big for team ropers – newcomer Tanner Tomlinson and world champion Patrick Smith Saturday night.

    The duo clocked a Round 3 record 3.6-second time for the win at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge before 17,703 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center.

    Tomlinson, 22, is making his NFR debut, and Smith, 42, is returning for the 13th time and first since 2015.

    “Yeah, it was awesome, the guys right before us (Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves) went 3.8,” Smith said. “There were a bunch of 4-second runs so it kind of takes the thinking out of it for us. All we know is we’ve gotta go fast.”

    Smith has won world titles in 2005 and 2010.

    Tomlinson acknowledged his history-making run was a blur.

    “Oh, I have been really nervous the last couple of nights, since this is my first time. It’s just happened so fast when I’m going after them, After Dustin went, I was just seeing blood.”

    Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman makes it two in a row

    It didn’t take Lefty Holman long to double his Wrangler NFR pleasure. A night after winning his first career NFR round – Round 2 with an 87-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Wall Street – Holman captured Round 3 with a 90.5-point ride on Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Sun Glow.

    “That’s my first 90 (point ride) in this building,” Holman said. “I’d known that this horse coming into the day had won a lot of rounds so I knew if I did my job things would work out. I wanted to focus on getting my spur out. I know a couple of guys have had trouble with that so once my feet came clean, it was game over.”

    Holman said the Round 2 victory was a key to his Round 3 win, especially mentally.

    “Today I was much looser than I was (Friday),” Holman said. “I wasn’t as fired up. After the go-round win yesterday, it’s more about proving to yourself that you belong here and you’re a winner. I was a lot calmer, had more focus and even some tunnel-vision. I just hope I keep doing that throughout the week.”

    Holman wants to keep this momentum going as he eyes a gold buckle.

    “The world championship is definitely in the back of my mind but right now I have seven horses left in front of me,” Holman said. “I’m just going to keep attacking it one horse at a time. Like I said last night, win the day, win your horse and at the end of the week see what happens.”

    Cory Solomon wins tie-down roping with 6.9-second run

    Veteran tie-down roper Cory Solomon is competing in his ninth NFR and his experience and horsepower paid off for him in Round 3.

    Solomon clocked the fastest time so far in the 2022 NFR with a 6.9-second time.

    “I went into tonight with my mind made up, I knew I drew a really good calf,” Solomon said. “The first two nights, I’m a pretty positive person, but I knew I didn’t have a good chance at winning top money, so my goal was to make a good run and hopefully get him by the hold. The first night it worked out. The second night it didn’t. So, tonight drawing a good calf, I knew I had to capitalize on that, going up against the best guys in the world. These chances don’t come very often. Whenever this comes you just have to take advantage of it, and you’ve got to make the best of it.”

    Solomon was treating his Round 3 just like a run he does in practice.

    “I was just ready to get things going tonight, I don’t think the nerves ever go away in a rodeo like this and fans like this. But I just have to control them. I treat this like my practice pen now, earlier in my career I felt like I had to show people stuff here and now it’s just like my practice pen so it’s good nerves now. I’m just so thankful to get out there and have a good horse now that God blessed me with. I am just so thankful to be doing this.”

    Solomon also was quick to credit his horsepower as well.

    “That’s my good horse, his name is Play. He’s from Brazil. I rode him in 2020 in Arlington, that was his first year in the U.S. and he had a little injury last year and I brought him here. I rode him one day before we left. He had been off about five months before this. I just thought I would take this opportunity to ride him as much as I can for as long as I can while he’s healthy.”

    Pope rises to occasion with Round 3 victory

    The last two years Jess Pope has been at his best at the Wrangler NFR winning consecutive average crowns.

    The Waverly, Kan., cowboy was in top form Saturday capturing Round 3 with an 86.5-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Mr. Harry.

    “I had never been on that horse. I’ve seen him go a lot and I’ve seen him buck a lot and I always thought that was a bucking son of gun,” said Pope, 24. “I was a little bit nervous when I saw my name next to him, but I sure am glad it worked out. He is one to run you off your riggin’ and he is hitting you in your back trying to bring your upper body forward. It is one of those deals you have to dig down deep and see how bad you want it and see how much you can take. It is the most out of control in control chaos you have been involved in.”

    Pope has a simple approach to the remaining rounds. He’s atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $233,149.

    “I’m just going to take it one horse at a time,” he said. “I can’t control anything other than what I do and if I show up and nod my head and know that I gave it my all every time after that I’m pleased with how everything ends.”

    Steer wrestler Stetson Jorgensen muscles his way to Round 3 win

    Steer wrestler Stetson Jorgensen came into the Wrangler NFR as the regular season leader and hasn’t taken his foot of the gas at the Thomas & Mack Center.

    Jorgensen, a four-time qualifier for the NFR, leads the world standings with $213,630.

    “I got a really good start at the barrier, steer went to the right, which is going to happen when you get a start like I did.,” Jorgensen said. “My hazer walled him off for me and I finished him on the ground.

    “Oh, you always get nervous, but it’s a good nervous, when you’re at the NFR if you don’t have some nerves, then something is wrong.”

    Jorgensen was riding standout horse, Mable.

    “Mable did a great job, came from Garrett Henry and just is the type of horse that does what needs to be done.”

    Bull riders Garrett Smith and JR Stratford split Round 3 win

    Bull riders Garrett Smith and JR Stratford split the Round 3 victory with 90-point rides.

    Smith’s ride came aboard Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Evil Intentions and Stratford was riding Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Curly Bill.

    “That bull is incredible. He got rode for a 92 last year (Creek Young, Round 3) and I knew I had a good chance to win the round. He almost got my hand from me, but I was able to hold on and stay on.

    “The whole mental side of bull riding is huge, and I don’t think a lot of people see it. It is physical but the mental part is huge because just like last night, you can go out and not do well and then you have to bounce right back the following night with another bucking bull.”

    Stratford also was thrilled with his score.

    “It’s a dream come true. It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little boy,” Stratford said. “I will say, the nerves were pretty high the first two rounds and it’s a blessing to get one knocked down.

    “My adrenaline really gets running. I’d say before the round there’s a lot of nerves going through me but when I sat in the bucking chutes all three nights, it all went away.”

    Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel takes another victory lap in Round 3

    Make it two in a row for barrel racer Hailey Kinsel. The Texas cowgirl, who won Round 3 with a 13.61-second time, was even quicker on Saturday with a 13.59-second winning time.

    “She just worked and was outstanding,” Kinsel said of Sister. “I was top of the ground, first out. That’s something you want to take advantage of if you can, so I was glad we were able to put it together tonight.”

    Kinsel said the order of who runs plays a key role in strategy.

    “One, it helps the timing for when your horse needs to be ready and then of course there’s ruts,” Kinsel said. “When you don’t have to run through them as the first out, you create them. On a night like tonight, I can really focus on going out there and doing my job knowing she will have good footing.”

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
    Round 3, Dec. 3
    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
    Bareback Riding: Third round: 1. Jess Pope, 86.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Mr. Harry, $28,914; 2. Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $22,851; 3. R.C. Landingham, 85, $17,255; 4. Kaycee Feild, 84, $12,125; 5. Cole Reiner, 83.5, $7,462; 6. Tim O’Connell, 82.5, $4,664; 7. Tilden Hooper, 81.5; 8. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Leighton Berry, 80; 10. Ty Breuer, 79.5; 11. Cole Franks, 78; 12. Garrett Shadbolt, 73; 13. Caleb Bennett, 70.5; 14. Tanner Aus, 66.5; 15. Orin Larsen, 63. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 258.5 points on three head; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Clayton Biglow, 253.5; 4. (tie) Tim O’Connell, and R.C. Landingham, 252; 6. Kaycee Feild, 251; 7. Cole Reiner, 250; 8. Ty Breuer, 248; 9. Cole Franks, 247; 10. Rocker Steiner, 246; 11. (tie) Leighton Berry and Garrett Shadbolt, 239; 13. Tanner Aus, 234; 14. Caleb Bennett, 223; 15. Orin Larsen, 149 points on two head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $233,149; 2. Kaycee Feild, $182,181; 3. Cole Reiner, $178,432; 4. Leighton Berry, $169,107; 5. Tilden Hooper, $160,496; 6. R.C. Landingham, $159,333; 7. Tim O’Connell, $157,750; 8. Caleb Bennett, $157,290; 9. Tanner Aus, $157,185; 10. Rocker Steiner, $144,328; 11. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 12. Cole Franks, $134,043; 13. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 14. Ty Breuer, $115,749; 15. Garrett Shadbolt, $113,949.
    Steer Wrestling: Third round: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.5 seconds, $28,914; 2. Will Lummus, 3.8, $22,851; 3. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Kyle Irwin, 4.1, $14,690 each; 5. J.D. Struxness, 4.3, $7,462; 6. Tristan Martin, 4.5, $4,664; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 4.6; 8. Hunter Cure, 4.7; 9. Jesse Brown, 5.0; 10. Ty Erickson, 5.4; 11. Tyler Waguespack, 6.8; 12. Tanner Brunner, 13.6; 13. Timmy Sparing, 14.2; 14. (tie) Dirk Tavenner and Nick Guy, NT. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 11.9 seconds on three head; 2. Kyle Irwin, 13.1; 3. Tristan Martin, 13.8; 4. (tie) Hunter Cure and Jesse Brown, 13.9; 6. Rowdy Parrott, 14.4; 7. Ty Erickson, 15.2; 8. J.D. Struxness, 16.3; 9. Dakota Eldridge, 16.8; 10. Tyler Waguespack, 17.1; 11. Will Lummus, 22.7; 12. Tanner Brunner, 35.4; 13. Dirk Tavenner, 12.7 seconds on two head; 14. Nick Guy, 18.4; 15. Timmy Sparing, 19.2. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen; $213,680; 2. Will Lummus, $152,632; 3. Hunter Cure, $148,443; 4. Kyle Irwin, $146,362; 5. Tyler Waguespack, $145,998; 6. J.D. Struxness, $141,110; 7. Tristan Martin, $132,740; 8. Ty Erickson, $129,909; 9. Dakota Eldridge, $128,788; 10. Jesse Brown, $124,564; 11. Nick Guy, $116,935; 12. Tanner Brunner, $106,271; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $99,525; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $94,532; 15. Timmy Sparing, $91,312.
    Team Roping: Third round: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 3.6 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.8, $22,851; 3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 4.1, $17,255; 4. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, Jr. Dees/Levi Lord and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.3, $8,083 each; 7. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 4.4; 8. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.8; 9. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.9; 10. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 9.1; 11. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 10.1; 12. (tie) Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Clay Smith/Jake Long, NT. Average leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II,15.4 seconds on three head; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 17.4; 3. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 18.8; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 19.2; 5. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 8.6 seconds on two head; 6. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 9.2; 7. (tie) Tyler Wade/Trey Yates and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 10.2; 9. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 13.6; 11. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2; 12. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 14.6; 13. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.8 seconds on one head; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.1; 15. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 14.4. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $269,823; 2. Clay Tryan, $177,514; 3. Andrew Ward, $169,595; 4. Tanner Tomlinson, $160,972; 5. Jr. Dees, $143,042; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $138,874; 7. Coleman Proctor, $133,438; 8. Clay Smith, $127,765; 9. Rhen Richard, $126,534; 10. Cody Snow, $113,968; 11. Tyler Wade, $108,573; 12. Chad Masters, $105,527; 13. Jake Orman, $102,529; 14. Lightning Aguilera, $100,421; 15. Riley Minor, $99,022. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $269,823; 2. Jake Long, $169,245; 3. Buddy Hawkins II, $168,053; 4. Patrick Smith, $160,972; 5. Levi Lord, $144,440; 6. Jade Corkill, $143,706; 7. Travis Graves, $139,588; 8. Logan Medlin, $133,438; 9. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 10. Wesley Thorp, $113,968; 11. Joseph Harrison, $110,199; 12. Trey Yates, $105,011; 13. Brye Crites, $103,871; 14. Brady Minor, $99,022; 15. Jonathan Torres, $92,968.
    Saddle Bronc Riding: Third round: 1. Lefty Holman, 90.5 points on Vold Rodeo Company’s Sun Glow, $28,914; 2. Stetson Wright, 88.5, $22,851; 3. (tie) Sage Newman and Chase Brooks, 88, $14,690 each; 5. Kolby Wanchuk, 87.5, $7,462; 6. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Tanner Butner, 87, $2,332; 8. Ryder Wright, 86; 9. (tie) Logan Hay and Kole Ashbacher, 85; 11. Dawson Hay, 84.5; 12. Kade Bruno, 82.5; 13. Layton Green, 82; 14. (tie) Brody Cress and Wyatt Casper, 79. Average leaders: 1. Lefty Holman, 264 points on three head; 2. Zeke Thurston, 260; 3. Sage Newman, 259; 4. Stetson Wright, 258.5; 5. Kolby Wanchuk, 256.5; 6. Dawson Hay, 253.5; 7. (tie) Logan Hay and Tanner Butner, 252.5; 9. Kole Ashbacher, 251; 10. Kade Bruno, 248; 11. Wyatt Casper, 244.5; 12. Brody Cress, 237.5; 13. Chase Brooks, 168.5 points on two head; 14. Ryder Wright, 163.5; 15. Layton Green, 162.5. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Stetson Wright, $233,433; 3. Lefty Holman, $223,869; 4. Brody Cress, $198,707; 5. Zeke Thurston, $193,633; 6. Ryder Wright, $171,920; 7. Logan Hay, $166,851; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $162,277; 9. Layton Green, $148,993; 10. Kade Bruno, $147,726; 11. Dawson Hay, $141,771; 12. Chase Brooks, $138,682; 13. Wyatt Casper, $135,356; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.
    Tie-Down Roping: Third round: 1. Cory Solomon, 6.9 seconds, $28,914; 2. Kincade Henry, 7.4, $22,851; 3. (tie) John Douch and Caleb Smidt, 7.5, $14,690 each; 5. Macon Murphy, 7.6, $7,462; 6. (tie) Haven Meged and Tyler Milligan, 7.7, $2,332 each; 8. Tuf Cooper, 8.1; 9. Shane Hanchey, 8.3; 10. Shad Mayfield, 9.3; 11. (tie) Zack Jongbloed and Riley Webb, 11.1; 13. Ty Harris, 17.5; 14. Hunter Herrin, 18.4; 15. Marty Yates, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 22.2 seconds on three head; 2. Cory Solomon, 24.5; 3. Haven Meged, 24.9; 4. Shad Mayfield, 27.9; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 29.6; 6. Riley Webb, 31.6; 7. Macon Murphy, 32.0; 8. Hunter Herrin, 34.6; 9. Ty Harris, 35.5; 10. Shane Hanchey, 36.0; 11. Tyler Milligan, 40.3; 12. Kincade Henry, 15.5 seconds on two head; 13. Marty Yates, 19.9; 14. John Douch, 7.5 seconds on one head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 8.1. World standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $236,359; 2. Caleb Smidt, $232,033; 3. John Douch, $191,419; 4. Haven Meged, $178,463; 5. Cory Solomon, $168,302; 6. Hunter Herrin, $159,280; 7. Kincade Henry, $157,648; 8. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 9. Riley Webb, $139,631; 10. Zack Jongbloed, $139,293; 11. Tuf Cooper, $134,382; 12. Marty Yates, $132,272; 13. Tyler Milligan, $131,039; 14. Ty Harris, $128,937; 15. Macon Murphy, $123,255.
    Barrel Racing: Third round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.59 seconds, $28,914; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 13.74, $22,851; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 13.78, $17,255; 4. Shelley Morgan, 13.80, $12,125; 5. Jordon Briggs, 13.86, $7,462; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.87, $4,664; 7. Sissy Winn, 13.91; 8. Leslie Smalygo, 13.93; 9. Kassie Mowry, 13.94; 10. (tie) Margo Crowther and Jessica Routier, 13.97; 12. Wenda Johnson, 13.98; 13. Stevi Hillman, 14.03; 14. Bayleigh Choate, 14.17; 15. Emily Beisel, 18.53. Average leaders: 1. Wenda Johnson, 41.30 seconds on three runs; 2. Jordon Briggs, 41.48; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 41.54; 4. Margo Crowther, 41.61; 5. Leslie Smalygo, 41.74; 6. Shelley Morgan, 41.75; 7. Sissy Winn, 41.98; 8. Bayleigh Choate, 42.09; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 46.09; 10. Kassie Mowry, 46.43; 11. Dona Kay Rule, 46.54; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 46.89; 13. Stevi Hillman, 47.38; 14. Jessica Routier, 47.77; 15. Emily Beisel, 50.92. World standings: 1. Jordon Briggs, $212,496; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $187,217; 3. Wenda Johnson, $177,763; 4. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 5. Shelley Morgan, $137,250; 6. Stevi Hillman, $130,602; 7. Margo Crowther, $129,722; 8. Kassie Mowry, $125,404; 9. Lisa Lockhart, $124,251; 10. Sissy Winn, $119,310; 11. Emily Beisel, $111,426; 12. Leslie Smalygo, $106,578; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $103,095; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $100,893; 15. Jessica Routier, $96,863.
    Bull Riding: Third round: 1. (tie) Garrett Smith, on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Evil Intentions, and JR Stratford, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Curly Bill, 90 points, $25,882 each; 3. (tie) Josh Frost and Creek Young, 86.5, $14,690 each; 5. Ky Hamilton, 85.5, $7,462; 6. Trevor Kastner, 75, $4,664; 7. (tie) Stetson Wright, Jeff Askey, Tristen Hutchings, Maverick Potter, Trey Kimzey, Jared Parsonage, Trey Holston, Lukasey Morris, Cole Fischer, NS; 16. Reid Oftedahl, Out. Average leaders: 1. Josh Frost, 174.5 points on two head; 2. Garrett Smith, 172.5; 3. Stetson Wright, 171.5; 4. Trevor Kastner, 164; 5. Ky Hamilton, 163; 6. Tristen Hutchings, 90.5 points on one head; 7. (tie) Jeff Askey and JR Stratford, 90; 9. Creek Young, 86.5; 10. Trey Kimzey, 86; 11. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 12. (tie) Maverick Potter, Trey Holston, Lukasey Morris and Cole Fischer, NS. 16. Reid Oftedahl, Out. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $384,929; 2. Josh Frost, $265,372; 3. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 4. Garrett Smith, $177,540; 5. Ky Hamilton, $173,717; 6. Tristen Hutchings, $166,897; 7. Trevor Kastner, $155,458; 8. JR Stratford, $142,943; 9. Trey Kimzey, $130,648; 10. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 11. Creek Young, $125,360; 12. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 13. Trey Holston, $118,892; 14. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 15. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944; 16. Cole Fischer, $106,330.
    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $462,230; 2. Caleb Smidt, $230,261; 3. Josh Frost, $175,491; 4. Haven Meged, $164,872; 5. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $140,592; 7. Coleman Proctor, $138,605; 8. Marty Yates, $129,898; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.
    Top Gun Leader: 1. Caleb Smidt, $82,517; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, $79,020; 3. (tie) Jess Pope and Lefty Holman, $73,890 each; 5. Hailey Kinsel, $67,827; 6. Wenda Johnson, $56,169; 7. Kincade Henry, $55,702; 8. Sage Newman, $55,158; 9. (tie) Patrick Smith and Tanner Tomlinson, $53,604 each.

     

  • Stetson Wright makes history while winning Round 2 in bull riding

    Stetson Wright makes history while winning Round 2 in bull riding

    LAS VEGAS – Add another line to the ever-growing impressive resume of Stetson Wright.

    Wright, with his 88-point winning bull ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Pookie Holler, became the youngest cowboy in PRCA history to surpass the $2 million dollar mark in career earnings.

    Wright, who is 23 years-old and 240 days, upped his unofficial career earnings to $2,050,520.

    “Every goal to me is just as important. To cross that $2 million dollar mark, it’s special,” Wright said. “I’m speechless. When I hear something like that, it makes me emotional. I’m the luckiest guy on the planet and I can’t be thankful enough for how these last four years have gone.”

    Wright, who joined the PRCA in 2018, has won five world titles – three in all-around (2019-21) and one in bull riding (2020) and one in saddle bronc riding (2021).

    Wright earned $49,666 with his bull riding victory and $7,462 by placing fifth in saddle bronc riding with his 85-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Cancun Moon.

    “He’s a good bull, he’s an awkward build and bucking bull so you have to ride him really funky,” Wright said. “I’ve never had to ride a bull the way I rode him.”

    “It gives you a lot of momentum and the confidence is everything. This was the eliminator pen for us. For Ky (Hamilton, who had a 77-point ride) and me to ride these top-ranked bulls, it gives you the thought that ‘you should be able to ride all of the bulls.’ Right now, I feel 10-feet tall and bulletproof. I’m sure Ky feels the same way.”

    Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt makes it two in a row

    Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt keeps on winning. After capturing Round 1 with a 7.5-second run he added the Round 2 victory with an even quicker 7.2-second run.

    In two nights, Smidt has earned $57,827 and is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $217,343. He trails leader Shad Mayfield by $19,016.

    “There’s truly no words to describe it, there’s no other feeling like it,” said Smidt about his winning ways.

    After winning Round 1, Smidt was able to slow everything down.

    “I just came back tonight and did my job, I tried not to think too much about it,” said Smidt, 33.

    Smidt was to the point when talking about his game plan for the remainder of the NFR.

    “I’m going to do the same thing I did the last two nights,” he said. “As long as I keep having fun and keep my steps simple, it’ll be a lot of fun here.”

    Bareback rider Leighton Berry gets first career NFR round win

    At the 2020 Wrangler NFR, Leighton Berry was on the cusp of a round win placing second three times.

    Berry doesn’t have to wait any longer for NFR glory.

    The Weatherford, Texas, cowboy had an 86.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Egyptian to win Round 2.

    “Man, it feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Berry, 23. “I won second in Round 2, 3 and 4 in Arlington (Texas, at the 2020 Wrangler NFR) and I have just been craving to get one of those buckles and to finally have one means the world to me. It feels great to win (a round in Las Vegas). I have been dreaming of this since I was a little kid.”

    Berry was no stranger to Top Egyptian.

    “What’s funny is I was first out on the San Angelo (Texas) Chute-Out (in April) on that horse, and I thought I made an even better ride then and I was only 86,” Berry said. “That horse is phenomenal. Cullen Pickett, I can’t say enough about him, he raises such great bucking horses and takes time with them. Every time I have one by my name, I get full of jitters. I love getting on Cullen Pickett bucking horses.”

    Veteran steer wrestler Hunter Cure grabs Round 2 victory

    Steer wrestler Hunter Cure is no stranger to NFR success as he has walked away with PRCA World Championships in 2015 and 2018.

    Cure, of Holliday, Texas, returned to the Wrangler NFR for the first time since 2019 and was taking a victory lap after Round 2 with a 3.7-second time.

    “I got such an aggressive start, I felt like I broke out and at most rodeos, I would have,” said Cure, a six-time NFR qualifier in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2018-19. “The steer got out fast and really didn’t have a chance to build up a lot of speed, so he didn’t handle it as well as some of the others, but it worked and first is first and now on to the next one.”

    Cure, a savvy veteran, believes he now has his emotions in check.

    “The first round always seems to get to me, not sure what it is but otherwise, nerves aren’t an issue,” Cure said.

    Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman captures first career round win

    The charismatic Lefty Holman couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

    The Visalia, Calif., cowboy was grinning ear-to-ear after winning Round 2 with an 87-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Wall Street.

    “It truly is the best feeling in the world,” Holman said. “When you work so hard to get here and then you are able to succeed here, it’s the best. I’m blessed with a great support system and super grateful for it.”

    Holman was riding Wall Street for the third time which helped his cause.

    “Yeah, that’s a California buckin’ horse. It’s a cool deal that is going on and definitely a win I will never forget,” Holman said.

    Holman made his NFR debut in 2022 in Arlington, Texas, and he was thrilled to be in the yellow bucking chutes in Vegas.

    “Everything is just right on top of you. The energy in there is something that I’ve never felt,” Holman said. “My heart was pounding when I got off. I looked up and my parents were hollering. It just feels like there’s people breathing down your neck. It’s the craziest feeling in the world.”

    Team ropers Smith/Long top Round 2

    Team roping header Clay Smith broke his right leg on June 28, but he was bound and determined to qualify for the Wrangler NFR with his then recently acquired partner Jake Long.

    That mission was accomplished and on Thursday the duo added a Round 2 win to their accolades.

    “It’s good. Good to catch one. There’s enough money to where every round means something so it’s good to get it started,” Smith said.

    Long is thrilled to be teamed up with Smith, a two-time world champ in 2018 and 2019.

    “Well, I think a great header like him (Clay Smith) isn’t going to miss very often,” Long said. “I was as shocked as anybody when that first one (rope) didn’t stay on (in Round 1). I wasn’t very worried about it happening too often.”

    After an injury-riddled regular season, Smith pointed out the reasons to his late-season surge.

    “I had a horse that really helped and Jake that didn’t mess up so that was the key,” Smith said.

    Long, a 12-time NFR qualifier, is excited to be roping in the Thomas & Mack Center.

    “Well, I think it’s always fit me because I like to be aggressive,” he said. “As a heeler, it’s about getting out there and getting to your spot fast enough. To get into a spot where you can do it fast enough without affecting the steer, that’s the challenge.”

    Smith has mapped out a strategy moving forward.

    “That’s something we’ve talked about. I’m going to try my best to give him something to win on the 10th round because since I’ve been here, it’s always come down to the last steer,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to be pretty aggressive from here on out. I’m just hoping I set him up.”

    Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel takes Round 2 victory

    Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel flexed her muscles with a 13.61-second run to take the Round 2 crown.

    “It’s always a great crowd on a Friday night at the Thomas & Mack. I just changed a couple of things about my approach into the first barrel and everything else stayed just about the same. We got in the flow, and it felt good.”

    The margins in barrel racing are razor thin so she made adjustments for Round 2.

    “It does just a tiny bit. It feels enough out-of-whack that you have to jump over an additional hump. Luckily, we smoothed that out tonight. My horse (Sister) is so fast and she allowed me not to make many mistakes. She pushes me to be better every night.

    “It’s special, it’s tiny, and it’s a lot of energy packed into one little place. It’s a rush like you’d never feel anywhere else.”

    Bull rider Reid Oftedahl suffers injury in Round 2

    Bull rider Reid Oftedahl was injured during Round 2 while aboard Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Under the Influence. Oftedahl, who is from Raymond, Minn., was thrown forward and hit the bull’s head and tossed to the arena dirt.

    Oftedahl, who was wearing a helmet, was diagnosed with a closed head injury by the Justin Sports Medicine Team and was transported for further evaluation.

    2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
    Round 2, Dec. 2
    Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
    Bareback Riding: Second round: 1. Leighton Berry, 86.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Company’s Top Egyptian, $28,914; 2. (tie) Tanner Aus and Tilden Hooper, 85.5, $20,053 each; 4. Jess Pope, 85, $12,125; 5. Tim O’Connell, 84, $7,462; 6. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Cole Franks, Ty Breuer, 83.5, $1,555 each; 9. (tie) Cole Reiner and Clayton Biglow, 83; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 82.5; 12. Rocker Steiner, 81; 13. Kaycee Feild, 79.5; 14. Caleb Bennett, 73.5; 15. Orin Larsen, NS. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Jess Pope and Tilden Hooper, 172 points on two head; 3. Tim O’Connell, 169.5; 4. Cole Franks, 169; 5. Ty Breuer, 168.5; 6. Clayton Biglow, 168; 7. Tanner Aus, 167.5; 8. (tie) Kaycee Feild and R.C. Landingham, 167; 10. Cole Reiner, 166.5; 11. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Garrett Shadbolt, 166; 13. Leighton Berry, 159; 14. Caleb Bennett, 152.5; 15. Orin Larsen, 86 points on one head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $204,235; 2. Cole Reiner, $170,971; 3. Kaycee Feild, $170,056; 4. Leighton Berry, $169,107; 5. Tilden Hooper, $160,496; 6. Caleb Bennett, $157,290; 7. Tanner Aus, $157,185; 8. Tim O’Connell, $153,087; 9. Rocker Steiner, $144,328; 10. R.C. Landingham, $142,078; 11. Cole Franks, $134,043; 12. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 13. Clayton Biglow, $119,820; 14. Ty Breuer, $115,749; 15. Garrett Shadbolt, $113,949.
    Steer Wrestling: Second round: 1. Hunter Cure, 3.7 seconds, $28,914; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.2, $22,851; 3. Kyle Irwin, 4.3, $17,255; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 4.4, $12,125; 5. Tristan Martin, 4.6, $7,462; 6. Rowdy Parrott, 4.7, $4,664; 7. Jesse Brown, 4.9; 8. (tie) Will Lummus and Timmy Sparing, 5.0; 10. J.D. Struxness, 5.2; 11. Ty Erickson, 5.3; 12. Dirk Tavenner, 5.7; 13. Dakota Eldridge, 6.7; 14. Tanner Brunner, 10.2; 15. Nick Guy, 14.6. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 8.4 seconds on two head; 2. Jesse Brown, 8.9; 3. Kyle Irwin, 9.0; 4. Hunter Cure, 9.2; 5. Tristan Martin, 9.3; 6. (tie) Ty Erickson and Rowdy Parrott, 9.8; 8. Tyler Waguespack, 10.3; 9. J.D. Struxness, 12.0; 10. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Dirk Tavenner, 12.7; 12. Nick Guy, 18.4; 13. Will Lummus, 18.9; 14. Tanner Brunner, 21.8; 15. Timmy Sparing, 5.0 seconds on one head. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $184,767; 2. Hunter Cure, $148,443; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $145,998; 4. J.D. Struxness, $133,649; 5. Kyle Irwin, $131,672; 6. Ty Erickson, $129,909; 7. Will Lummus, $129,781; 8. Tristan Martin, $128,077; 9. Jesse Brown, $124,564; 10. Nick Guy, $116,935; 11. Dakota Eldridge, $114,098; 12. Tanner Brunner, $106,271; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $99,525; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $94,532; 15. Timmy Sparing, $91,312.
    Team Roping: Second round: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.1 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.3, $22,851; 3. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.4, $14,690 each; 5. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 4.8, $7,462; 6. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.9, $4,664; 7. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.1; 8. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 5.4; 9. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 8.9; 10. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 9.3; 11. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 10.1; 12. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, Jr. Dees/Levi Lord and Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, NT. Average leaders: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.1 seconds on two head; 2. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 9.5; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 10.2; 4. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 13.8; 5. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 14.5; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 14.6; 7. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.1 seconds on one head; 8. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 4.3; 9. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.5; 10. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 4.8; 11. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 5.4; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 9.3; 13. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 10.1; 14. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 14.4; 15. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, NT. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $269,823; 2. Clay Tryan, $177,514; 3. Andrew Ward, $169,595; 4. Jr. Dees, $134,959; 5. Tanner Tomlinson, $132,058; 6. Clay Smith, $127,765; 7. Coleman Proctor, $125,355; 8. Dustin Egusquiza, $116,022; 9. Cody Snow, $113,968; 10. Rhen Richard, $109,279; 11. Tyler Wade, $108,573; 12. Jake Orman, $102,529; 13. Lightning Aguilera, $100,421; 14. Riley Minor, $99,022; 15. Chad Masters, $97,444. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $269,823; 2. Jake Long, $169,245; 3. Buddy Hawkins II, $168,053; 4. Jade Corkill, $143,706; 5. Levi Lord, $136,357; 6. Patrick Smith, $132,058; 7. Logan Medlin, $125,355; 8. Travis Graves, $116,737; 9. Wesley Thorp, $113,968; 10. Jeremy Buhler, $110,214; 11. Trey Yates, $105,011; 12. Brye Crites, $103,871; 13. Joseph Harrison, $102,115; 14. Brady Minor, $99,022; 15. Jonathan Torres, $92,968.
    Saddle Bronc Riding: Second round: 1. Lefty Holman, 87 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Wall Street, $28,914; 2. (tie) Zeke Thurston, Logan Hay and Tanner Butner, 85.5, $17,410 each; 5. Stetson Wright, 85, $7,462; 6. (tie) Sage Newman, Kolby Wanchuk and Wyatt Casper, 82, $1,555 each; 9. Dawson Hay, 81.5; 10. (tie) Kade Bruno and Kole Ashbacher, 81; 12. Chase Brooks, 80.5; 13. Brody Cress, 72; 14. (tie) Ryder Wright and Layton Green, NS. Average leaders: 1. Lefty Holman, 173.5 points on two head; 2. Zeke Thurston, 173; 3. Sage Newman, 171; 4. Stetson Wright, 170; 5. (tie) Kolby Wanchuk and Dawson Hay, 169; 7. Logan Hay, 167.5; 8. Kole Ashbacher, 166; 9. (tie) Kade Bruno, Wyatt Casper and Tanner Butner, 165.5; 12. Brody Cress, 158.5; 13. (tie) Layton Green and Chase Brooks, 80.5 points on one head; 15. Ryder Wright, 77.5. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $293,659; 2. Stetson Wright, $210,581; 3. Brody Cress, $198,707; 4. Lefty Holman, $194,956; 5. Zeke Thurston, $191,301; 6. Ryder Wright, $171,920; 7. Logan Hay, $166,851; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $154,816; 9. Layton Green, $148,993; 10. Kade Bruno, $147,726; 11. Dawson Hay, $141,771; 12. Wyatt Casper, $135,356; 13. Tanner Butner, $131,150; 14. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543; 15. Chase Brooks, $123,992.
    Tie-Down Roping: Second round: 1. Caleb Smidt, 7.2 seconds, $28,914; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.4, $22,851; 3. Hunter Herrin, 7.7, $17,255; 4. Shane Hanchey, 7.8, $12,125; 5. (tie) Haven Meged, Zack Jongbloed and Ty Harris, 8.4, $4,042 each. 8. Cory Solomon, 8.8; 9. Marty Yates, 9.8; 10. Riley Webb, 11.8; 11. Macon Murphy, 12.0; 12. Tyler Milligan, 15.5; 13. (tie) John Douch, Tuf Cooper and Kincade Henry, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 14.7 seconds on two head; 2. Hunter Herrin, 16.2; 3. Haven Meged, 17.2; 4. Cory Solomon, 17.6; 5. Ty Harris, 18.0; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 18.5; 7. Shad Mayfield, 18.6; 8. Marty Yates, 19.9; 9. Riley Webb, 20.5; 10. Macon Murphy, 24.4; 11. Shane Hanchey, 27.7; 12. Tyler Milligan, 32.6; 13. Kincade Henry, 8.1 seconds on one head; 14. (tie) John Douch and Tuf Cooper, N.T. World standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $236,359; 2. Caleb Smidt, $217,343; 3. John Douch, $176,729; 4. Haven Meged, $176,132; 5. Hunter Herrin, $159,280; 6. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 7. Riley Webb, $139,631; 8. Cory Solomon, $139,388; 9. Zack Jongbloed, $139,293; 10. Kincade Henry, $134,797; 11. Tuf Cooper, $134,382; 12. Marty Yates, $132,272; 13. Ty Harris, $128,937; 14. Tyler Milligan, $128,708; 15. Macon Murphy, $115,793.
    Barrel Racing: Second round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.61 seconds, $28,914; 2. Margo Crowther, 13.72, $22,851; 3. Wenda Johnson, 13.75, $17,255; 4. Lisa Lockhart, 13.78, $12,125; 5. Sissy Winn, 13.88, $7,462; 6. Shelley Morgan, 13.91, $4,664; 7. Jordon Briggs, 13.92; 8. Bayleigh Choate, 13.95; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 14.01; 10. Emily Beisel, 18.57; 11. Kassie Mowry, 18.84; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 18.89; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 18.93; 14. Stevi Hillman, 19.18; 15. Jessica Routier, 19.40. Average leaders: 1. Wenda Johnson, 27.32 seconds on two runs; 2. Jordon Briggs, 27.62; 3. Margo Crowther, 27.64; 4. Lisa Lockhart, 27.76; 5. Leslie Smalygo, 27.81; 6. Bayleigh Choate, 27.92; 7. Shelley Morgan, 27.95; 8. Sissy Winn, 28.07; 9. Emily Beisel, 32.39; 10. Kassie Mowry, 32.49; 11. Hailey Kinsel, 32.50; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 32.80; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 33.02; 14. Stevi Hillman, 33.35; 15. Jessica Routier, 33.80. World standings: 1. Jordon Briggs, $205,034; 2. Wenda Johnson, $177,763; 3. Hailey Kinsel, $158,303; 4. Dona Kay Rule, $142,105; 5. Stevi Hillman, $130,602; 6. Margo Crowther, $129,722; 7. Kassie Mowry, $125,404; 8. Shelley Morgan, $125,124; 9. Sissy Winn, $119,310; 10. Emily Beisel, $111,426; 11. Lisa Lockhart, $106,996; 12. Leslie Smalygo, $106,578; 13. Bayleigh Choate, $100,893; 14. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $98,433; 15. Jessica Routier, $96,863.
    Bull Riding: Second round: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Pookie Holler, $49,666; 2. Ky Hamilton, 77.5, $43,604; 3. (tie) Josh Frost, Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Tristen Hutchings, Trevor Kastner, Maverick Potter, Trey Kimzey, Jared Parsonage, Trey Holston, JR Stratford, Creek Young, Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, Cole Fischer, NS. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 171.5 points on two head; 2. Tristen Hutchings, 90.5 points on one head; 3. Jeff Askey, 90; 4. Trevor Kastner, 89; 5. Josh Frost, 88; 6. Trey Kimzey, 86; 7. Garrett Smith, 82.5; 8. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 9. Ky Hamilton, 77.5; 10. (tie) Maverick Potter, Trey Holston, JR Stratford, Creek Young, Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl and Cole Fischer, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $384,929; 2. Josh Frost, $250,682; 3. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $166,897; 5. Ky Hamilton, $166,255; 6. Garrett Smith, $151,658; 7. Trevor Kastner, $150,795; 8. Trey Kimzey, $130,648; 9. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 10. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 11. Trey Holston, $118,892; 12. JR Stratford, $117,061; 13. Creek Young, $110,670; 14. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 15. Reid Oftedahl, $107,943; 16. Cole Fischer, $106,330.
    All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $460,131; 2. Caleb Smidt, $215,571; 3. Haven Meged, $162,541; 4. Josh Frost, $160,801; 5. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $140,592; 7. Coleman Proctor, $130,521; 8. Marty Yates, $129,898; 9. Paul David Tierney, $118,792; 10. Rhen Richard, $112,528.

     

  • Champions crowned at Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping

    Champions crowned at Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping

    Angelone takes home the gold

    LAS VEGAS, Nevada (November 30, 2022) – The third annual Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Teton Ridge came to a close on Wednesday with fast-paced emotional action.

    Taylor Munsell, the 2019 college champion from Alva, Oklahoma, set the pace in round six at 2.1 seconds for her second win in the 10-head competition. Munsell also tied with J.J. Hampton for the win in round 10. It was the first time in 2022 that Hampton got to make the victory lap, but the third final round win for the veteran roper from Stephenville, Texas resident. She also won round 10 in 2020 and 2021.

    Round seven saw Joey Williams break the 2.0 second mark. Williams, from Volborg, Montana, stopped the clock in 1.9 seconds for the win. Round eight got even faster as world standings leader Martha Angelone got the win at 1.8. That added $5,080 to her impressive earnings and put the seal on her 2022 world championship. It also earned her the Betty Gayle Copper Fast Time Award from the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. She finished the season with $130,303 and earned her first world title.

    “This is awesome,” Angelone said. “I left Virginia with nothing. When they started adding breakaway roping to the pro rodeos, I set a goal to go to as many as I could, win as much as I could and get a world title.”

    Cadee Williams from Weatherford, Texas, won the event championship by roping 10 calves in 31.9 seconds to get the second most prestigious title in rodeo. Williams grew up in Montana as Cadee Tew, married a Texan and now she and her family spend summers in Montana and compete at rodeos there.

    “We all knew that Martha was going to win it (the world title) so going for the average was the next goal.” Williams said. “My mare is just seven years old, so this was a real test. We do this as a family, so it’s a win for the whole family.”

    The big money winner in the South Point Arena was Cheyanne Guillory, from Kingston, Oklahoma who collected $27,037.

    First round: 1, Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla., 2.3 seconds, $5,080. 2, Shelby Boisjoli, Stephenville, Texas, 2.6, $4,204. 3, Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 2.8, $3,328. 4, Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas, 2.9, $2,452.  5, Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas, 3.0, $1,577.  6, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 3.1, $876.

    Second round: 1, Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D., 2.0 seconds, $5,080.  2, (tie) Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas; Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla.; Shelby Boisjoli, Stephenville, Texas; and Josie Connor, Iowa, La.; 2.2 and $2,890.  6, Joey Williams, Volberg, Mont., 2.3, $876.

    Third round: 1, Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D., 2.1 seconds, $5,080. 2, Shelby Boisjoli, Stephenville, Texas, 2.2, $4,204. 3, (tie) Lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas, and Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., 2.3, $2,890 each. 5, Joey Williams, Volborg, Mont., 2.4, $1,577. 6, Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., 2.5, $876.

    Fourth round: 1, Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., 2.0 seconds, $5,080. 2, Joey Williams, Volborg, Mont., 2.1, $4,204. 3, (tie) Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan.; J.J. Hampton, Stephenville, Texas; and Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 2.3, $2,452 each. 6, (tie) Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla. And Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 2.4, $438.

    Fifth round: 1, Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., 2.1 seconds, $5,080. 2, (tie) Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas, and Shelby Boisjoli, Stephenville, Texas, 2.2, $3,766 each. 4, Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas, 2.4, $2,452. 5, (tie) Lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas, and Josie Connor, Iowa, La., 2.6, $1,226.

    Round 6: 1, Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla., 2.1 seconds, $5,080. 2, Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 2.4, $4,204. 3, Cheyenne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., $3,328. 4, Lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas, , 2.9, $2,452.  5, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 2.9, $1,577.  6, Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas, 3.4, $876.

    Round 7: 1, Joey Williams, Volborg, Mont., 1.9 seconds, $5,080.  2, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 2.2, $4,204. 3, (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, Stephenville, Texas, and Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 2.3, $2,890 each. 5, Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., 2.5, $1,577.  6, Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 2.8, $876.

    Round 8: 1, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 1.8, $5,080. 2, Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D., 1.9, $4,204. 3, Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., 2.0, $3,328. 4, (tie) Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas, and Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla., 2.1, $2,015 each. 6, (tie) Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., and Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 2.2, $438 each.

    Round 9: 1, (tie) Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, and Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 2.1, $4,624. 3, J.J. Hampton, Stephenville, Texas, 2.2, $3,328. 4, Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., 2.4, $2,452. 5, (tie) Lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas, and Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., 2.9, $1,226.

    Round 10: 1, (tie) J.J. Hampton, Stephenville, Texas, and Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla., 2.2, $4,624 each. 3, Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., 2.3, $3,328. 4, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, $2,452. 5, Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 2.8, $1,577. 6, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 3.0, $675.

    Overall winners: (total on 10) 1, Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas, 31.90, $13,866. 2, Lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas, 40.1, $11,250. (on nine) 3, Cheyenne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., $8,895. 4, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 36.3, $6,541. 5, Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 43.40, $4,709. 6, Joey Williams, Volborg, Mont., 50.5, $3,401. 7, Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 51.7, $2,355. 8, (on eight) Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla., 19.9, $1,308.