HEMPSTEAD, Texas – There’s only one thing better than competing together for saddle bronc riding brothers Jacobs and Sterling Crawling: Winning together.
“It’s great that we both ride broncs because we have two chances, and the rest just have one,” said Sterling Crawley, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Stephenville, Texas.
The two cowboys moved toward the top of the leaderboard on Friday night during the second performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. Sterling rode Pete Carr’s Northern Spy, while Jacobs matched moves with Carr’s Disco, both scoring 76 points to move into a three-way tie for second place with Justin Caylor of Sulphur Springs, Texas.
“I want the best for him and to have success,” Jacobs Crawley said of his younger brother. “Anytime we can split like that, I like seeing him win. I just want to catch him.”
Jacobs Crawley is a five-time NFR qualifier now living in Burney, Texas. He won the coveted average championship at ProRodeo’s grand finale in 2013 and has proven to be one of the elite bronc riders in the game for several years.
Both Crawleys have seen past success at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead, which is a big reason why they return every October. But there are other reasons.
“I love this rodeo,” Sterling said. “I’ve watched it improve every year, and the way you’re treated here is phenomenal.”
For men who make a living on the rodeo trail, being able to compete close to home is big.
“Hempstead is a great rodeo and a Texas rodeo,” Jacobs said. “We’re from Texas, so it’s good for our circuit, plus Pete’s got good horses for us to get on. They have great crowds, and they love the rodeo here.
“I also love this rodeo because we’ve just come off some of the highest pressure rodeos at the end of the year. This is nice because it’s a new season; it’s a new page. We’re all starting from scratch, and there are a lot of rodeos to be had. You get to enjoy bronc riding in the most organic form.”
Of course, doing well at a big-money rodeo to kick start the 2016 season is important, too.
“It means a whole bunch, because things have been rough this year after I came back from my groin injury,” Sterling said. “It’s nice to come to the first rodeo of the year and do good.”
Waller County Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 1-3
Hempstead, Texas
Bareback riding: 1. Winn Ratliff, 82.5 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Touched By An Angel; 2. Jake Brown, 81; 3. (tie) Matt Bright and Evan Jayne, 80; 5. Richmond Champion, 78.5; 6. Scotty NeSmith, 78; 7. Kody Lamb, 77.5; 8. David Clapp, 76.
Steer wrestling: 1. Stan Branco, 4.1 seconds; 2. Cody Doescher, 4.2; 3. Ryan Bothum, 4.3; 4. Logan Glendhill, 4.4; 5. (tie) Josh Clark and Tyler Gibson, 4.5; 7. Clayton Hass, 5.0; 8. Wade Steffen, 5.1.
Team roping: 1. Wes Kent/Scott Webster, 4.3 seconds; 2. Will Clark/Kolby Miller, 4.7; 3. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.8; 4. Luke Brown/Martin Lucero, 4.9; 5. Cord Crowell/Trey Carter III, 5.2; 6. Tyler Wade/Kinney Harrell, 5.3; 7. (tie) Tee Luttrell/Clay Sieber and Jake Orman/James Arnold, 5.4; 9. Clayton Hass/Cody Doescher, 5.5; 10. Tyler Waters/Steve Northcott, 5.6.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sam Spreadborough, 77 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Sky Bow; 2. (tie) Justin Caylor, Jacobs Crawley and Sterling Crawley, 76; 5. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Alex Wright and CoBurn Bradshaw, 73; 8. (tie) Kobyn Williams and Joe Harper, 70.
Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Timber Moore, 8.0 seconds; 2. Houston Hutto, 8.2; 3. Cimarron Boardman, 9.0; 4. Josh Eirikson, 9.7; 5. (tie) Ace Slone, Bradley Bynum and Clint Singleton, 10.0; 8. Cooper Raley, 11.7.
Barrel racing leaders: 1. Benette Little, 14.90 seconds; 2. Jackie Jatzlau, 14.93; 3. Mary Burger, 15.05; 4. Andrea Cline, 15.09; 5. Kelly Bruner, 15.12; 6. Jaime Hinton, 15.14; 7. Kelly Clifton, 15.21; 8. Ahnna Peterson, 15.22; 9. Martha Wright, 15.23; 10. Jenna Beaver, 15.33; 11. Janet Staton, 15.35; 12. Holly Fenoglio, 15.37.
Bull riding: 1. Jeffrey Joseph Ramagos, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Red One; 2. Tim Bingham, 83.5; 3. Eli Vastbinder, 81; 4. Troy Garcia, 79.5; 5. (tie) Ardie Maier and Dustin Boquet, 79; 7. (tie) Lucas Guilbeau and Reagan Avery, 71.