Monthly Archives: December 2019

Renowned barrelman recognized in Vegas for protecting bullfighters LAS VEGAS – Barrelman Andy North is the most respected man in Bullfighters Only, and that respect comes from the men he protects. “Andy is a man who has perfected his craft,” said Aaron Mercer, the 2019 BFO World Champion from Calgary, Alberta. “He reads cattle and reads the situation, and he’ll move when the bull makes the move to put a guy in a bad position. All of a sudden, he is there and saves your ass. “He’s a man with a purpose. When he speaks, you listen.” North is more than a man in a barrel, an enticing target for Spanish fighting bulls to hit. No, North is part bullfighter, part man in the can. He’s done both for years, and he can read the bulls as well as, if not better than, the men he’s there to protect. During the BFO’s year-end championship in Las Vegas, North took part in his 1,000th BFO bullfight, a milestone that may never be matched unless he’s the one who does it. It’s a telling tale about his passion for the game while seeing – and feeling – the action up close and personal. “I think it speaks so much for the BFO,” said North of Piedmont, Oklahoma. “I’ve fought 1,000 BFO fights, and I haven’t fought all of them. I think it’s awesome for Bullfighters Only and me personally for me to fight that many bulls for one organization “I don’t know how many barrelmen could say they have 1,000 bullfights for their career, much less for one organization. To be asked to come to these events consistently is a good feeling because of the company you’re with, the men fighting bulls and their abilities. It’s a blessing to get to do it over and over.” It was only fitting that North’s 1,000th bout came with Weston Rutkowski in the arena at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Rutkowski won the first three BFO world championships, and North has been in the barrel for a majority of his fights. “For North, that’s a milestone in his career,” said Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas. “For me, it was satisfying, something I’ll take with me for my entire career.” He did it while donning North’s well-known orange jersey instead of Rutkowski’s typical colors. “Putting on orange was me saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” Rutkowski said. “It was me saying North has my respect and always will. I put away the green jersey, where it wasn’t about me, and put it more on a guy that does so much more than he gets credit for.” That’s just the way North handles his business. He understands freestyle bullfighting, and he’s thankful for its resurgence because of the BFO, showcasing the extreme sport in a way that is wrapped in beautiful production and provides an entertaining show for all who attend. “I love bullfighting,” he said. “I love what we do. I like to see those bulls and how each bull has his own personality, how they want to fight. I like to see these kids coming up through the ranks. I’ve gotten to see a lot of talent come through. When you see that, you realize you are part of something special.” North is best known for making big-time saves when the bulls are taking it to the bullfighters. He uses handles attached to the inside to lift the barrel and then shuffles his feet to get in position. His speed inside of the barrel is unparalleled and his commitment to making the save often results in undesirable circumstances. “I’m fortunate to be able to pull off some moves that a bullfighter does, but I’m doing it in a barrel with twice as many steps at half the speed,” North said. “It’s fun when you do it. When I’m watching a bullfight, I’m watching their technique, watching where the bull is. When those two things get out of line, it’s a pretty good indicator of when I need to move. That’s why those saves seem so big. “Have a helmet on has emboldened me. I feel like my head is protected, and I’m confident in my abilities and know where that barrel is going to end up. It’s a high-risk high-reward kind of thing.” The bullfighters appreciate it. “Andy North’s job is as important as having a good bull for a high score,” Rutkowski said. “He can step in and change the way an injury can happen. You can slip, and North can make a few steps and take the bull away from you. “He can’t stop every wreck from happening, but without North in the arena, there’d be a lot more wrecks.”

FORT WORTH, Texas – After competing at Tuf Cooper’s New Year’s Eve Roping and Concert a year ago, Tyson Durfey was pretty certain the event would continue. It will on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Cowtown Coliseum in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. “Just based on the number of people that were there, the ones that came from all over the United States, I thought there would be more,” said Durfey, the 2016 tie-down roping world champion from Weatherford, Texas. “Last year was such a cool experience to get to be at the roping. The event was tough, because there are so many of the top guys there. “We were celebrating his marriage. It was neat to see people from all parts of America that came to watch it, see the roping and enjoy the concert.” Durfey was the inaugural winner of the roping, and that helped add to his experience, but he also got to spend it with his wife and then-2-year-old daughter, Praise. “Praise was having so much fun, and we were dancing together to Aaron Watson. I let her meet Tuf, and it was a completely family-friendly environment,” he said. “There was tons of action and a great concert. It is the perfect spot you want to take the family for New Year’s Eve.” The roping begins at 7:30 p.m., and the concert featuring Jarrod Morris and Shae Abshier and the Nighthowlers is set to start at 9:30 p.m. The evening is set up to be an event people of all ages can enjoy. “When we came up with this idea, we wanted to make sure our friends and family members that had kids knew they were welcome,” said Cooper, a four-time world champion from nearby Decatur, Texas. “We just wanted to add to it and make it a fun atmosphere for everyone. After coming off the stress that happens at the NFR, we wanted to close out the year with a good time and a great competition.” That’s going to be the case, with the roping featuring 27 of the top tie-down ropers in the game. Durfey and Cooper are just two of the men who own gold buckles that will be part of the competition; they will be joined by Trevor Brazile, Shane Hanchey, Marcos Costa, Monty Lewis, Junior Nogueira and the 2019 titlist, Haven Meged, who attends Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. The rest of the field will be packed with many contestants that have been NFR qualifiers, while others are recognized as the upper-echelon of tie-down ropers in rodeo today. “I didn’t know what to expect when we got there,” Durfey said of last year’s event. “I was lucky enough to be the champion, and I signed autographs for 45 minutes, people coming into the arena to meet with us. It was a completely packed house. “I knew at that point that there were people that loved Tuf, loved (Cooper’s wife) Tiff and loved country music. I knew in the back of my mind that it would be a continuing thing every year.” Thousands of people showed up last year, and organizers are expecting a bigger crowd this year. “The fan support was just amazing,” Durfey said. “I think it’s a fun event, and I’m sure all the cowboys that are competing in it this year are already looking forward to it. I know between us and the fans, it’s going to be a great night.”

LAS VEGAS – When Tanner Aus took a no-time on his first horse of the National Finals Rodeo, he didn’t know what to expect the rest of the championship. It turned out pretty well for Aus, competing in Las Vegas for the fourth time in his career. “That was a lesson I learned in 2016; you can have a bad round and be out of the average and still have a good finals,” he said. “You just have to keep swinging for the fence. I had another good horse tonight. It was fun. I’m sad it’s over.” On the final night of the 2019 season, he rode Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Egyptian for 88.5 points to finish fifth in the 10th round, worth $6,769. He also found his way into the aggregate payout, riding nine horses for a cumulative score of 783, which was worth an additional $6,346. In all, he exited Las Vegas with $91,865 and pushed his season earnings to $173,460. It was the second-best NFR and season he’s ever had, and scoring big points on the final night was a big factor in it all. “I had been on that horse one other time in Licking, Missouri, in June 2018,” said Aus of Granite Falls, Minnesota. “He was pretty young then, and she was more colt-like. He had a monster trip the first time he was out, so I was pretty happy to see that I had him. “He was a little more than I expected tonight. I don’t really know if it was my focus or the atmosphere, but he was hard to track. He felt wild and was really fun.” Aus and others do this because of the fun, but also because they’re good at it and can make a living doing so. Rodeo’s not an easy lifestyle, but it’s one filled with passion. Being one of the elite cowboys in the game gives him the chance to make good money in a short time, and averaging nearly $9,200 a day for 10 days in Vegas is a good thing. “I’m very thankful that I get to do this,” he said. “I do it for a living, but the money is secondary. I couldn’t do this without the support of my family. I’m thankful to be here. I’m still feeling good after 10 nights, and I’m eager to start the 2020 season. “We will just try to keep it rolling and keep riding bucking horses.”

LAS VEGAS – Richmond Champion made a great ride on the final night of the National Finals Rodeo, but it didn’t earn him a dime in round money. He finished seventh in the 10th round Saturday, and only the top six in each round earn money. His 87.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Faded Night was a half-point out of the money. But he more than made up for it by his consistency throughout the week. He rode 10 horses for a cumulative score of 86.0 points and finished third in the aggregate standings. That was worth $43,154. He finished his fifth NFR with $108,154 and the season fourth in the world standings with $238,983. “Faded Night was good, and I was pumped to have her,” said Champion of The Woodlands, Texas, now living in Stevensville, Montana, with his wife, Paige. “I had her in the 10th round last year and finished second on her. “I messed her up at Fort Worth this year, so on a personal note, I wanted to ride her better than I did there. I did that. I felt the strongest I’ve ever felt here on 10 head. Did it pay the way I wanted it to? No. Did it pay bad? Not at all.” But the NFR is paved by Montana Silversmiths gold buckles, awarded to the world champions in each event. The best way to do that is to earn big money in Las Vegas. While his earnings over the last 10 days was substantial, he was well off the pace for the hardware he wanted; world champion Clayton Biglow pocketed nearly $250,000 in 10 days to claim that crown. “You want to win the world championship,” Champion said. “Year No. 5 wasn’t it, so I’m thinking year No. 6 will definitely be the one. “This dream of a gold buckle is what makes you sad or makes you happy. It’s the defining piece that I’ve been chasing. I feel like I’m on the right track. You couldn’t hope for a better champion than Clayton Biglow this year. I’m happy for him. We’ll go back to work and go after it next year.”

LAS VEGAS – The smile returned to Tim O’Connell’s face on Saturday night after he concluded the toughest test in his sport, the National Finals Rodeo. The three-time world champion had seen is dreams dashed for a fourth straight a couple days before, so there was disappointment. Still, he finished the 10-day championship off with a bang, riding Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Flight for 91.5 points to finish second in the final round. “I didn’t win as much as I did last year, but I just shattered Kaycee (Feild’s) average record, which stood for years,” said O’Connell of Zwingle, Iowa, now living in Marshall, Missouri. “But then 10 minutes later, Clayton (Biglow) shattered my record … by 15 points. “Averaging 87 points for 10 nights straight? That’s how I ride. I ride smart; I ride aggressive. This was Clayton’s year. I only rodeod for three months and I still finished third in the world, so I’ll take it.” A riding-shoulder injury he suffered in the 10th round of the 2018 NFR cost him all but three months of regular-season competition, be he returned to action in late June as a man on a mission. “Finishing third wasn’t my goal, wasn’t my aspiration, but that’s life,” he said. “I’m happy with what I accomplished this year. It is bittersweet not winning a round out here, but I left it all out there ever single night. This was just the best group of bareback riders I’ve ever seen in this arena.” It also featured a large number of great bucking horses, of which Top Flight was one. “She brought it tonight,” O’Connell said of the bay. She gave me every opportunity to get after her, and she gave it right back to me. It was a great-feeling ride. It was a great way to end my 2019 season. I started the 2019 season with a buck-off, and I ended it with a 91.5.” In all, he pocketed $147,923 in Las Vegas, with $54,577 coming by finishing as the runner-up in the aggregate race, where he rode 10 horses for a cumulative score of 871.5 points. That was better than Feild’s mark set in 2011 of 860.5, but it was 15 points behind Biglow, who won both the average and world titles. O’Connell finished the year with $261,091. It was a solid campaign, which gave new meaning to his resilience. “This year has rekindled my love for the game,” he said. “Having it taken away from me was the best thing that has ever happened to me, because I was only seeing these buckles and that gold. “I feel like I lost the love of rodeo. I truly love riding bucking horses. I love to compete at the highest level against the best guys in the world. But it was a great ride this year. I got to do a lot of things I normally don’t do. I have one month off, and I’m going to spend it with my wonderful wife and beautiful son.” He’s earned it.

LAS VEGAS – At 23 years old, Colt Gordon is a student of saddle bronc riding. His first trip to the National Finals Rodeo was quite a classroom, and he gained some valuable lessons over the 10-day championship. It came to fruition on Saturday night, when he rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Top Hat for 87.5 points to finish sixth in the 10th and final go-round. “That is the highlight of my NFR,” said Gordon of Comanche, Oklahoma. “We will be back next year to hopefully make it all go that way.” Top Hat has been around for years and has been one of the best over that time. The long-maned paint has guided many cowboys to the pay window and likely will continue that trend as long as it’s performing at an elite level. “I’ve been waiting to get on that horse for years,” Gordon said. “I’ve been watching her and thinking how nice it would be to get on her. To get on her here in the last round was great. It allowed me to pick up the pace and do what I came to do: show everybody I’m going to be here, and I’m going to be back next year.” It marked just the third time in 10 rounds that the Oklahoma cowboy earned Las Vegas money in his inaugural run at the NFR. He learned just how difficult it can be to compete in the pressure-packed championship. In all, he earned just $21,564, but he gained a boatload of experience. “You just have to keep everything simple,” he said. “A guy can get to overthinking everything trying to win more than just doing his job, doing what he likes to do and just having fun. I felt like I had everything together, and it just didn’t go my way. “You never quit learning. There is always an opportunity to improve. You have to keep an open mind and just keep trying to be better. You try to make everything perfect, but there is no such thing as perfect.” As the NFR closed, he returned to southern Oklahoma and will celebrate his season, one in which he earned $112,635. They can talk about the sights of Vegas and competing inside the storied Thomas & Mack Center, which has hosted 35 of ProRodeo’s grand championships. “My sponsors have supported me, but no one has my back like my family,” Gordon said. “To have them in the stands, just to have them here knowing that somebody is there for me, that is a huge thing to me. “It has probably been harder on them than it has been for me. They love it, and they are my biggest fans, but they are 100 percent ready to be back next year, and so am I.”

LAS VEGAS – There wasn’t much luck for Riley Duvall in the City of Entertainment through most of the 2019 National Finals Rodeo. That changed as the final few rounds bore on, and he found a way to get a big payday in Las Vegas. On Saturday night, he wrestled his steer to the ground in 10.1 seconds to close out his 10 nights in the Nevada desert. It was his slowest run of the NFR, but it was the most profitable. “I wasn’t nervous all day, and there was one steer I didn’t want to draw; that was the one I drew,” said Duvall, who finished the championship by wrestling 10 steers in a cumulative time of 54.8 seconds to finish second in the aggregate behind Texan Matt Reeves. “On that steer, they have been a no-time, 14 seconds and (Tyler) Waguespack had been 4.7, but Wags gets by the bad ones way better than I do. “I just wanted to hold on, throw him down and get my money.” It was a heck of a payday, too. By finishing second in the average, he pocketed $54,577 and pushed his NFR earnings to $80,231. He had placed in just one round – a third-place finish on the fifth night – but stayed consistent. It paid off. “That hasn’t sunk in,” said Duvall, a three-time NFR qualifier from Checotah, Oklahoma. “I had won ($15,654) over nine rounds, and I more than tripled. My wife will be happy.” So will Checotah, the Steer Wrestling Capital of the World. Despite the struggles in Las Vegas, he found some things he wants to work on for next season and, hopefully, next year’s finale. “I’m not very happy with how this went,” he said. “I want to come back next year and win $100,000 by Round 6. I’m going to go to the practice pen and definitely get better.”

LAS VEGAS – Tanner Brunner has made 20 runs inside the Thomas & Mack Center, but he’s capitalized just three times over the course of his two straight National Finals Rodeo qualifications. It’s been a struggle, and there were some frustrations that came into play over the last 10 days in the Nevada desert. But each missed opportunity was a learning opportunity, and the lessons started to come full circle by Saturday night’s 10th go-round. “I’m just going to try to build on that and take it into next year,” Brunner said after posting his fastest run of the rodeo, a 3.8-second marking that resulted in a tie for second place. “Hopefully I can get back here again and show what I’ve learned. I just hope to use the momentum of that run to keep rolling into next year.” It also was his biggest paycheck: $18,192. He left Las Vegas with $34,962 and placed in two rounds; he also finished fifth in Thursday’s eighth round. “There are a lot of little things that go into making good runs every night,” said Brunner, 26, of Ramona, Kansas. “I hope to come back next year and put them all together.” He finished 2019 with the best campaign of his young career with $109,912, nearly $12,000 more than he earned a year ago. He had a lot of help, especially from his hazer, NFR veteran Sean Mulligan. The two would talk before every go-round and formulate a game plan, and it finally paid off in the final three nights of the season. “He has been here for 15-plus years consecutively,” Brunner said of Mulligan. “He has about as much experience as anybody in this building, and I trust his opinion. We come together with a plan according to the steer every night and go from there. “It takes a lot to know what either is feeling on either side of the (timed-event) box, so we have to combine it so that we have a plan that works.” The NFR is a tough place to play. The stakes are high, and the pressure that builds inside those yellow chutes can be intense. Each run he makes allows Brunner the opportunity to learn more about the game and about how to play it at an elite level. “The biggest thing I learned was persistency,” he said. “You just have to keep your head down and keep going at them every night. I want to take everything I’ve learned and just use it to better myself next year.”

LAS VEGAS – Orin Larsen is the 2019 reserve world champion bareback rider, but it’s not the title he wanted. Like every other contestant in the field, he had hoped to claim the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle awarded to the world champion. He ran into a buzz saw in Californian Clayton Biglow, who won five rounds and earned more than $240,000 in the 10 days of the National Finals Rodeo. Still, Larsen did quite well himself, placing in six rounds, including the fourth-round victory, and pocketed $122,962 in the process. He finished the year with $296,404. “This is definitely a personal best for me,” said Larsen of Inglis, Manitioba, now living in Gering, Nebraska, with his wife, Alexa. “This is the finals where you are pretty sorry to say goodbye. It’s been an emotional roller coaster for me throughout the years. God definitely delivered on all of our prayers inside and outside the arena. We are fortunate for that.” Part of that had to do with his brother, Tyrel, and Tyrel’s wife, Chaney. They are expecting their second child, a little boy who was diagnosed with spina bifida in utero. Chaney Lathem and the baby underwent surgery earlier this week in Baltimore, and the prognosis for both is great. “It was huge,” Orin Larsen said. “Anytime one of your own family members is in some sort of stress or some sort of trouble, it’s harder to focus because you care and love them so much. To be able to stick your nose to the grindstone and grind out putting God first is big. His faith and healing are first. He has everything handled. “Once I realized that and my wife told me that, it was go-time.” While it was man vs. beast, Larsen knew he was in a race for the world title with Biglow, who was dominant over the past 10 nights. Biglow finished nearly $130,000 ahead of Larsen on the money list. “I love Clayton to death,” Larsen said. “He is a great guy and a great champion. He has a lot of titles under him. There is not one person prouder of him that I am. “I rode my best all year, but I don’t think I rode the best in my career. I feel like we are just getting warmed up. The more I progress throughout my craft and my skill, the more excited I am for next year.”

LAS VEGAS – Clayton Biglow was a virtual lock for the bareback world championship even before the final night of the National Finals Rodeo began. He put an exclamation mark on it Saturday night, tying his own arena record with a 93-point ride on Northcott Macza’s Stevie Knicks to win the 10th round, set an NFR average record by riding 10 horses in a cumulative score of 886.5 points and pocketing an event-best $243,891 to win the RAM Top Gun award and a new pickup. “It’s been a long 10 days, but it’s been a great 10 days,” said Biglow, 23, of Clements, California. “I had great nights, but Orin (Larsen) and all those guys had great nights. It came down to the 10th round. If I would have fallen off that, Orin would have had the gold buckle wrapped up. “The bareback riding is unreal. It was a cage fight every single night. I couldn’t have done it without those guys. I couldn’t have done it without the great horses I got on. I couldn’t have done it without my family. I am truly blessed with people who surround me.” Over 10 nights in Vegas, he proved why he is a world champion. He won four go-rounds outright – that alone was worth $105,000. He also was part of a three-way tie for the sixth round, and he place on two other nights. That’s plain domination. “I love Clayton to death,” said Larsen, who finished as the reserve world champion. “He’s a great guy and a great champion. He has a lot of titles under him, but there is not one person who is prouder of him than I am.” Well, maybe his family was prouder, but the men that shared his locker room and tried to beat him this week celebrated Biglow’s victory. “It was a magical way to end that, but that’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “I wanted to win the round, whether it was 93 or 89. I wanted first place, especially with the Top Gun award. Coming in, you get so caught up winning a gold buckle. At least, I did. I told myself, ‘Go win that Top Gun; you win that, you are going to win a world title. That is guaranteed.’ “Tonight, I thought, ‘Forget about that world title, make the best spur ride and give it everything you’ve got. Do what you’ve been doing all year long and go win the round. Put this Top Gun in concrete.’ I’m glad I did.” By doing so, he pushed his season earnings to $425,843 and he finished behind six-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey, who pocketed $55,000 more through the campaign. “The money is awesome, and this place pays so good; it helps a guy make a living, but I came for this right here,” Biglow said, pointing to his Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. “I didn’t come here for any other reason. Obviously, money is great, and the Top Gun is awesome, and I love it, but any guy in this rodeo is here for one reason only, and it is to win that gold buckle. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was 10 years old.” He can wake up now; the dream has come a reality.

Round 10 Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 93 points on Northcott Macza’s Stevie Knicks, $26,231; 2. Tim O’Connell, 91.5, $20,731; 3. Trenten Montero, 89.5, $15,654; 4. Orin Larsen, 89, $11,000; 5. Tanner Aus, 88.5, $6,769; 6. Tilden Hooper, 88, $4,231; 7. Richmond Champion, 87.5; 8. Clint Laye, 85; 9. Steven Dent, 84.5; 10. Ty Breuer, 84; 11. Taylor Broussard, 82; 12. Kaycee Feild, Caleb Bennett and Jake Brown, NS. 15. Austin Foss, INJ. Average standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, 886.5 points on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Tim O’Connell, 871.5, $54,577; 3. Richmond Champion, 860, $43,154; 4. Orin Larsen, 857.5, $31,731; 5. Tilden Hooper, 851, $22,846; 6. Clint Laye, 840.5, $16,500; 7. Trenten Montero, 839, $11,423; 8. Tanner Aus, 783 on nine, $6,346; 9. Kaycee Feild, 770.5; 10. Caleb Bennett, 696 on eight; 11. Steven Dent, 680.5; 12. Ty Breuer, 594.5 on seven; 13. Taylor Broussard, 576.5; 14. Austin Foss, 563.5; 15. Jake Brown, 434 on five. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $425,843; 2. Orin Larsen, $296,404; 3. Tim O’Connell, $261,091; 4. Richmond Champion, $238,983; 5. Tilden Hooper, $238,239; 6. Kaycee Feild, $232,320; 7. Caleb Bennett, $208,902; 8. Tanner Aus, $173,460; 9. Clint Laye, $170,416; 10. Trenten Montero, $170,296; 11. Jake Brown, $133,415; 12. Austin Foss, $126,587; 13. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 14. Steven Dent, $103,799; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502. Steer wrestling: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.5 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Tanner Brunner, 3.8, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Will Lummus and Cameron Morman, 3.9, $8,885 each; 6. Matt Reeves, 4.0, $4,231; 7. Hunter Cure, 4.1; 8. (tie) Ty Erickson and Tyler Waguespack, 4.4; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.5; 11. Tyler Pearson, 7.5; 12. Kyle Irwin, 8.3; 13. J.D. Struxness, 8.5; 14. Riley Duvall, 10.1; 15. Scott Guenthner, NT. Average standings: 1. Matt Reeves, 48.4 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Riley Duvall, 54.8, $54,577; 3. Bridger Chambers, 55.2, $43,154; 4. Tyler Pearson, 57.8, $31,731; 5. Ty Erickson, 62.7, $22,846; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 66.6, $16,500; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 68.5, $11,423; 8. Hunter Cure, 75.9, $6,346; 9. Kyle Irwin, 89.1; 10. Tyler Waguespack, 39.0 on nine; 11. Cameron Morman, 42.4; 12. J.D. Struxness, 50.3; 13. Scott Guenthner, 67.0; 14. Will Lummus, 34.6 on eight; 15. Tanner Brunner, 46.1. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $234,491; 2. Bridger Chambers, $217,362; 3. Stetson Jorgensen,   $197,246; 4. Tyler Pearson, $196,904; 5. J.D. Struxness, $190,137; 6. Matt Reeves, $183,131; 7. Tyler Waguespack, $177,925; 8. Dakota Eldridge, $177,834; 9. Riley Duvall, $166,194; 10. Hunter Cure, $164,914; 11. Will Lummus, $163,382; 12. Scott Guenthner, $148,853; 13. Cameron Morman, $140,576; 14. Kyle Irwin, $134,934; 15. Tanner Brunner, $109,911. Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.1 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.4, $20,731; 3. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 4.5, $15,654; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.7, $11,000; 5. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 6.8, $6,769; 6. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 9.4, $4,231; 7. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 11.6; 8. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 12.7; 9. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 14.3; 10. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 20.4; 11. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, NT. Average standings: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 43.8 seconds on nine, $67,269 each; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 56.7, $54,577; 3. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 59.3, $43,154; 4. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 93.0, $31,731; 5. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 44.4 on eight, $22,846; 6. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 47.3, $16,500; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 50.1, $11,423; 8. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 54.9, $6,346; 9. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 62.5; 10. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 68.1; 11. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 60.8 on seven; 12. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 54.2 on six; 13. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 36.9 on five; 14. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 20.3 on four; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 27.2 on three. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $268,820; 2. Cody Snow, $256,938; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $240,923; 4. Brenten Hall, $237,061; 5. Riley Minor, $207,707; 6. Chad Masters, $196,067; 7. Luke Brown, $182,093; 8. Coleman Proctor, $153,241; 9. Tate Kirchenschlager, $147,225; 10. Clay Tryan, $147,222; 11. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 12. Ty Blasingame, $132,220; 13. Erich Rogers, $128,634; 14. Matt Sherwood, $124,704; 15. Jake Cooper, $103,851. World standings (heelers): 1. Wesley Thorp, $249,181; 2. Junior Nogueira, $238,243; 3. Chase Tryan, $234,480; 4. Jade Corkill, $226,946; 5. Brady Minor, $207,707; 6. Joseph Harrison, $198,816; 7. Paul Eaves, $186,600; 8. Ryan Motes, $158,089; 9. Kyle Lockett, $153,364; 10. Jake Long, $150,954; 11. Tyler Worley, $142,677; 12. Cole Davison, $134,371; 13. Travis Graves, $133,896; 14. Hunter Koch, $132,807; 15. Caleb Anderson, $103,050. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 91 points on The Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s RodeoHouston’s Womanizer, $26,231; 2. Jake Watson, 89.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright, Zeke Thurston and Dawson Hay, 88.5, $11,141 each; 6. (tie) Rusty Wright and Colt Gordon, 87.5, $2,115 each; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 86.5; 9. (tie) Spencer Wright and Jesse Wright, 85; 11. Chase Brooks, 82; 12. Sterling Crawley, Mitch Pollock, Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, NS. Average standings: 1. Brody Cress, 840.5 points on 10, $67,269; 2. Spencer Wright, 762.5 on nine, $54,577; 3. Rusty Wright, 756, $43,154; 4. Zeke Thurston, 699.5 on eight, $31,731; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 646.5, $22,846; 6. Jake Watson, 610.5 on seven, $16,500; 7. Jesse Wright, 588.5, $11,423; 8. Dawson Hay, 523 on six, $6,346; 9. Chase Brooks, 516.5; 10. Colt Gordon, 416.5 on five; 11. Sterling Crawley, 407; 12. Ryder Wright, 348.5 on four; 13. J.J. Elshere, 252 on three; 14. Mitch Pollock, 171.5 on two; 15. Bradley Harter, 86.5 on one. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $347,056; 2. Brody Cress, $286,372; 3. Ryder Wright, $273,129; 4. Spencer Wright, $258,015; 5. Rusty Wright, $241,153; 6. Jake Watson, $236,406; 7. Dawson Hay, $197,747; 8. Chase Brooks, $194,681; 9. Jacobs Crawley, $191,935; 10. Sterling Crawley, $156,722; 11. Jesse Wright, $155,159; 12. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 13. Mitch Pollock, $125,196; 14. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 15. Colt Gordon, $112,635. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Adam Gray, 7.1 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Marty Yates, 7.7, $15,654; 4. Tyson Durfey, 7.9, $11,000; 5. Haven Meged, 8.0, $6,769; 6. Tyler Milligan, 8.1, $4,231; 7. Michael Otero, 8.7; 8. Shad Mayfield, 10.6; 9. (tie) Caleb Smidt  Continue Reading »

LAS VEGAS – Every bull that Jordan Spears rides means more money at the National Finals Rodeo. Sure, he’s placed in four of nine rounds, earning $47,231 in the process, but there’s more to it. After Wednesday’s seventh go-round, he sat fifth in the NFR average race. As of Friday night, he is third. The difference in average payout for having one of the best cumulative scores after 10 rounds is more than $20,000. Only three cowboys can move him down, because Stetson Wright, Tyler Bingham and Koby Radley have ridden five bulls. If any of them rides for enough points Saturday and Spears doesn’t, then he’ll move down accordingly. Alas, if he covers his final bull for the qualifying eight seconds, Spears will add $43,154 to his NFR earnings. It’s worth noting that he is guaranteed at least a piece of the average pie whether he rides Saturday night or not; he won’t move further down than sixth in the aggregate race, which pays $16,500. “The game plan is to ride every single one,” said Spears of Redding, California, now living in Caldwell, Idaho. “I made a couple mistakes earlier in the week, but I’ve been fixing mistakes, doing my job and stays on my bulls. I’m just slowly winning a little bit each time, but I’m staying up there in that average.” On Friday night, he rode Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Short Bus for 85 points to finish sixth in the ninth round. That was worth another $4,231 and pushed his season total to $168,779. “I’ve been on that bull before, so I knew what he was going to do,” he said. “He’s a smart bull; you start to get one way or the other, and he will switch it up. He just wants you on the ground. I knew I had to stay square and not make any big moves, just ride him jump for jump. He was feeling free the whole time, and luckily it worked out.” He is quietly having the best NFR of his four qualifications. He’s ridden more bulls than any of his three previous trips to the Nevada desert, and he stands to finish the best season of his young career. “The name of the game is consistency,” Jordan said. “You do your job, and eventually it will pay off. I may not be winning the big checks, but I’m getting there. Staying strong in the average was a goal here. I wanted to come here and have a strong outing, ride all 10. That didn’t work out, but I’m doing my best to ride as many as I can. “I just want to take advantage of every opportunity.”

LAS VEGAS – He says and does all the right things, and he is, deep inside, awfully proud of his friends who have chance to win the 2019 bareback riding world championship. But Tim O’Connell’s face wreaks of disappointment. He plowed through the latter parts of ProRodeo’s regular season, earning more than $100,000 in three and a half months to put himself in a position to grab a fourth straight Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. But those dreams were dashed after Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo. “It is what it is,” said O’Connell of Zwingle, Iowa, now living in Marshall, Missouri. “I am upset that I can’t win the world, but I’m proud of what I’ve done this year. I’m not done here by any means. I’m still going to hunt for a round win (Saturday), and I’m still going to be as aggressive as the first round or the first horse I came back on.” Californian Clayton Biglow has a stranglehold on the world title, and it would take some serious things to go against him in the 10th and final round of ProRodeo’s grand championship to keep him from grabbing that coveted trophy buckle. “It was Clayton’s year,” O’Connell said. “This is a kid I said I was going to have to watch out for, and he’s done it this year the hard way. He didn’t have a major win like Houston, didn’t go to San Antonio and didn’t do good at The American. He showed up and showed out all year. “He’s going to be a great champion for this year. He is going to pretty much break everybody’s record. I feel like I did everything in my power to display my talents this week working with what I had.” Yes, he did. He has placed in six of nine rounds and collected $72,615 in NFR cash. He sits seventh in the world standings, but he stands to gain ground on that when Night No. 10 comes to a close to finish out the 2019 ProRodeo campaign. He is second in the average and needs to score 80.5 points Saturday night to break the aggregate record set by Kaycee Feild in 2011. The thing is, he trails Biglow in the average race by 13.5 points, so Biglow should break that mark, too. If O’Connell remains second in the average, he will pocket an additional $54,577 on top of what he’s earned in the rounds. He sill has a good chance cash in Saturday night; he is matched with Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Flight, which has been one of the most electric bucking horses in the game the past decade. The first time this pen of horses was out on Monday night, Richmond Champion scored 89 points on Top Flight to finish sixth. In most rounds at the NFR, that’s a winner, but not this year. There were four scores in the 90s that round. “Our locker room is filthy,” O’Connell said. “Not only is our stuff scattered everywhere, but it is the best guys that ever touched this arena. “This is the toughest NFR I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m having a great NFR.”

LAS VEGAS – When Richmond Champion married Paige Lawrence earlier this year, he knew he was getting a champion’s mentality. She is an Olympian who competed in pairs skating at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. She was raised in a rodeo family but understands what it means to compete at an elite level. She offers the right kinds of advice to her new husband. “She keeps everything in perspective for me,” said Richmond Champion, who rode Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Wilson Sanchez for 87.5 points Wednesday night to finish in a tie for fourth place in the seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo, worth $8,885. “Whether you’re winning money or not, this place will play tricks on you, and we just talk about it. There are just good things to get out and not be thinking about, because if you’re thinking about them before you get on, it’s going to get in your way. “We have been working on staying clear and focused. By the time I leave to come here, I’m just excited for what’s going to happen.” It’s worked. His ride on Wednesday pushed Champion’s NFR earnings to $65,000. He sits fifth in the world standings with $195,829 and sits on the verge of crossing the $200,000 barrier with three rounds remaining. “This is Wilson Sanchez’s 10th trip out here,” he said. “The first time she was out, she was in our nicer pen. She seemed to have grown up a little, and Tilden (Hooper) didn’t think that was where she belonged. We moved her to a little bit tougher pen. I was really excited to have her. “She is a full-grown woman now, that’s for sure. You feel her, but she rides good. She had a good day, so I couldn’t be happier.” It’s been an amazing NFR for the bareback riders. There’s been just one night through the opening seven that a cowboy has not scored at least 90 points, and that was Tuesday. In Monday’s fifth round, four men were in the 90s. “Everyone is riding really well,” Champion said. “Everyone is doing their job. It is fun to be part of, and it’s constantly pushing us. “Paige shot me a text (Wednesday) night that said, ‘How do you feel? Honestly?’ I said, ‘I’m happy with everything I can control.’ All you’ve got to focus on is what (horse) you get every day. The chips are going to fall where they may, so just enjoy every night. Tomorrow is a new day.”

LAS VEGAS – John Aus rode bareback horses for a long time and, in 1988, he won the title in the Great Lakes Circuit. He even raised a bareback rider, who has taken the game to a bigger level and on a bigger stage. Tanner Aus is now a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, and that brings more pride to his father than is publicly discussed. “My dad is still my harshest critic and my closest mentor,” said Tanner Aus, who rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s William Wallace for 88.5 points to finish in a tie for third place in Friday’s ninth round of the National Finals Rodeo. “He watches and picks apart my rides.” It’s not that the younger Aus minds at all. It’s what’s made him one of the greatest bareback riders in the game and why he has earned $78,750 in nine nights in Las Vegas. He knows each suggestion is to help make each ride better, and that’s always a goal. “Of course, my traveling partners are always on me, too, but my dad will always tell me the truth,” he said. “He sees the things I need to work on, and I really appreciate that. “Ty (Breuer) and Steven (Dent) go down the road with me all year long, and we get to know each other really god, we get to know each other’s family. To be out there with those guys means a lot to me. Having my wife and daughter close with me keeps me going every day, in and outside the arena.” It’s helping over the course of the first nine rounds of ProRodeo’s grand championship. He’s pushed his season earnings to $160,345 and sits eighth in the world standings with the 10th round remaining. Of course, it helps to be matched with top-caliber horses via the random draw, which is exactly what Aus found in William Wallace. It was the third time the two had danced across the arena, so Aus knew what to expect. “I knew that horse was going to do its job; I just had to do mine,” he said. “This pen was pretty fun, a good riding contest. It was a lot of fun to spectate, too. I knew that horse was good, and I was thankful to have it. I’m just trying to finish off the week strong and keep it rolling.” His only hiccup came in the first round of the NFR, when he was saddled with a no-score. That took him out of the all-important average, which pays a bonus of more than $67,000 to the cowboy who has the best 10-ride cumulative score when the championship concludes Saturday. “It’s been great, and it showed that you can be out of the average and still have a great NFR,” said Aus of Granite Falls, Minnesota. You have to keep your head on straight and still go for round wins. I’ve been trying my guts out, and it’s been a blast.”

LAS VEGAS – When Clayton Biglow was preparing to make his bareback ride Friday, Sozo of Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics was doing everything in the horse’s power to not let it happen. Just before he nodded his head, the official on the back of the chute tried to inform the California cowboy that he would have to take a re-ride. Biglow nodded his head, made the ride and scored 86 points. He was originally scheduled to finish tied for fifth in the round, worth $5,500. After the bareback riding was over, Biglow was informed that he would either take his re-ride or be given a no-score. Leading the world standings and the National Finals Rodeo average race, he had no choice. It turns out, it may have been a blessing. Instead, he rode Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Mucho Dinero for 88.5 points and finished in a tie for third place in the ninth round. With that, he received a pay increase of more than $7,800, which is never a bad thing. It improved his NFR earnings to more than $150,000 and his 2019 payout to $332,343. He has a stranglehold on the 2019 world championship, but it wasn’t without drama. That’s OK, though. Biglow is on pace to break the NFR average record set in 2011 when Kaycee Feild scored 860.5 cumulative points on 10 rides. Biglow sits at 793.5 on nine rides, meaning he needs just a 67.5-point ride to break the record. That payday would be worth $67,269 and would put Biglow’s annual earnings on the cusp of the $400,000 mark. All he would need is to place in Saturday’s 10th round, and he would surpass that. It’s been that kind of NFR for Biglow, who was the reserve national champion in collegiate bareback riding while helping lead his Feather River College rodeo squad to the men’s team title. That same year, he was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rookie of the year. Just four seasons later, he has a firm grasp on the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle.

Bareback riding: 1. Jake Brown, 89.5 point on J Bar J’s Blessed Assurance, $26,231; 2. Caleb Bennett, 89, $20,731; 3. (tie) Tanner Aus and Clayton Biglow, 88.5, $13,127 each; 5. Kaycee Feild, 86.5, $6,769; 6. Tim O’Connell, 86, $4,231. Steer wrestling: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tyler Pearson, 4.2, $20,731; 3. Cameron Morman, 4.3, $15,654; 4. Kyle Irwin, 4.5, $11,000; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.6, $6,769; 6. Bridger Chambers, 4.7, $4,231. Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, $20,731; 3. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.4, $15,654; 4. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp , 4.5, $11,000; 5. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley , 4.6, $6,769; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.8, $4,231. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 91 points on Vold Rodeo Co’s Sun Glow, $26,231; 2. Dawson Hay, 88, $20,731; 3. Mitch Pollock, 87.5, $15,654; 4. Jesse Wright, 86, $11,000; 5. Jake Watson, 83.5, $6,769; 6. Spencer Wright, 82.5, $4,231. Tie-down roping: 1. Marty Yates, 7.0 seconds, $26,231; 2. Caleb Smidt, 7.2, $20,731; 3. (tie) Ty Harris and Rhen Richard, 7.5, $13,327 each; 5. Tyson Durfey, 7.6, $6,769; 6. Cooper Martin, 7.8, $4,231. Barrel racing: 1. Stevi Hillman, 13.53 seconds, $26,231; 2. Hailey Kinsel-Lockwood, 13.64, $20,731; 3. Dona Kay Rule, 13.78, $15,654; 4. Nellie Miller, 13.79, $11,000; 5. Lacinda Rose, 13.84, $6,769; 6. Emily Miller, 13.87, $4,231. s Bull riding: 1. Boudreaux Campbell, 91 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Goofy, $26,231; 2. Daylon Swearingen, 90, $20,731; 3. Jordan Hansen, 88, $15,654; 4. Trey Benton III, 87.5, $11,000; 5. Jordan Spears, 85, $6,769; 6. Jeff Askey, 83, $4,231.

A year ago, I wrote a column about the media not being welcomed at the National Finals Rodeo, a damning statement about the perception most of us had as we attempted to cover last year’s championship. My, how things have changed. The PRCA’s media department staff, just as they were a year ago, has been greatly accommodating. The column wasn’t about them; they put in long hours and handle requests and needs of those who are here to do their jobs. It was a proclamation about the perception most of us had based on serious developments made by PRCA management. The atmosphere in the makeshift media room – the UNLV’s practice gym adjacent to the tunnel that leads to the timed-event boxes – is vastly different at this year’s NFR. It’s pleasing and helpful. It’s a 180-degree turn from this room a year ago. There are roughly 100 people covering the NFR this year, documenting the goings-on in the arena by watching three large flat-screen TVs. There are no front-row press seats at this championship, because the logistics don’t allow for it, and that’s OK. We are here to work, to report, to share the information we gather to the various audiences we reach. Because the PRCA implemented these changes, it has made our jobs easier and more enjoyable. It has made for a friendlier media room and a more comfortable setting for us all. Kudos to the PRCA for making the change. We greatly appreciate it.

LAS VEGAS – Thursday night in Sin City, nobody breathed a bigger sigh of relief than steer wrestler Tanner Brunner. He started off the National Finals Rodeo on a rough note, settling for a no-time in the opening round on Dec. 5. He followed that with four more tough nights, three slow runs and another no-time. It all changed after the fifth night. But he didn’t earn his first check in Las Vegas until he stopped the clock in 4.7 seconds to finish fifth in Thursday’s eighth go-round, worth $6,769. “It was a big relief,” said Brunner, 26, of Ramona, Kansas. “Just being able to place and win a little money, it gets the monkey off your back. I’ll just go out in the next two rounds and see how much I can win and don’t hold back.” Was it the most satisfying check of his career? “I know it is,” he said with a laugh. “This is a tough field. There are a lot of tough guys that, on any given night, can really do good.” He had to make a few changes to his mental approach, and that’s been a big help. After a backbreaking first five rounds, he started to settle into a groove. In fact, his eighth-round run was his third fastest of the week, just the first to pay off. He was 4.3 in the sixth round and 4.1 on Wednesday, both times finishing seventh. At the NFR, only the top six get paid. “For me, I had to remind myself that even though I was at the NFR, I had to go back to what got me here: Have more patience and let things happen instead of trying to make things happen,” Brunner said. “After the first couple of rounds, I tried to do that, but it didn’t kick in until after the fifth round. “I changed some things and watched some runs I’d made through the year. I focused on letting my feet lay out there further, getting strong head catches, and the rest came back to itself.” The NFR is a grind. Ten days, 10 rounds and $26,231 paid out to the winners of each round. It’s stressful and hectic, but it’s also the greatest week and a half in the sport. “I just made sure I stayed up on my rest and went through all my routines to keep myself and my body the best,” he said. “I just tried to enjoy being here a little more. It’s hard, but what really helps is all these guys that you’re competing against that are cheering for you. They’re keeping your spirits up every night.”

LAS VEGAS – Jordan Spears has ridden five of eight bulls at the National Finals Rodeo as he prepares to close out the final two nights of the 2019 ProRodeo season. That’s 63 percent, and that’s awfully good in bull riding. It’s especially good at the NFR, which features the best bulls in the business. On Thursday night, he rode Powder River Rodeo’s Strange Cargo for 89.5 points, a score that would win most rodeos and most rounds at the sport’s premier event. But he settled for fifth place in the eighth go-round, worth $6,769. He has pushed his NFR earnings to $43,000 and his annual salary to $164,548. “I always worry about doing my job and letting the judges figure out where I sit,” said Spears, a four-time NFR qualifier from Redding, California, now living in Caldwell, Idaho. “I was pretty excited getting off that bull. I think I made an awesome ride. I did exactly what I wanted to: I stayed to the front and stayed square. “I had to ride that bull perfect, because he was really bucking. That was a great pen of bulls. The guys rode great. I was just lucky enough to catch fifth place.” Reigning five-time world champion Sage Kimzey highlighted the night with a 94-point ride, but there was a 93.5 and two 91.5s in the mix to push Spears’ to fifth place. For the Californian, he knew he had a good match in Strange Cargo. “I just saw him earlier in the week with Trevor Kastner,” he said. “I knew he was going to buck. They just switched pens on him, because he was pretty bucky the first time, so they moved him to the rank pen. I was glad to have him and excited about it. He was a little buckier than I thought he was going to be, but I’m glad it all worked out.” It comes down to a solid approach and a focus on handling the basic fundamentals that come with riding bucking beasts. “Consistency kills,” Spears said. “Look at Sage Kimzey. He is consistent throughout the year and at the NFR, and look at how many world titles he has won. I just try to do my job every time, approach every bull with a clear mind and ride as many as possible throughout the year. “I rode over 50 percent of my bulls throughout the year. To come here and ride over 50 percent of my bulls is really saying something when you are riding against the best guys in the world on the best bulls in the world.” Yes, it is.

LAS VEGAS – If the past eight days have been a dream, Clayton Biglow doesn’t want to wake up. “When you are lying in bed and thinking about the NFR a week or so out, you just lay there and dream of a finals like this,” said Biglow, who has placed in six of eight National Finals Rodeo rounds, including at least a share of the last four go-round victories in a row, and earned $137,064 over that stretch. “To have this happening right now is unreal. “I’m on Cloud 9. I’m so blessed, and we’ve still got two more (rounds) to go. This thing is not over. I’m just so happy I can’t even explain it.” His fourth NFR is his best NFR, and the cowboy from Clements, California, is just 23 years old. He’s actually $20,000 ahead of his 2018 NFR earnings, and there are two nights left in Las Vegas. Through the year, he was dominant, winning 12 bareback riding titles, including big ones like the Cheyenne (Wyoming) Frontier Days, the Daddy of ’em All. He has now earned $319,016 on the season and sits atop the world standings. He also is No. 1 in the average race, having ridden eight horses for a cumulative score of 705 points. That’s an 11-point advantage over the man in second place, the three-time reigning world champion Tim O’Connell. Both are on pace to set the NFR average record of 860.5, set by Kaycee Feild in 2011. He could try to coast through the final two rounds and claim the world championship, but that’s not who Clayton Biglow is. “That’s not how I right bareback horses,” he said. “I come at it every night the same way. It has been working. In previous years, I may have safetied up a little bit, and it made me pay for it. I got bucked off Killer Bee, I slapped Craig (At Midnight) and stuff like that. “This year, I don’t care what runs under me. I am going to give it 110 percent, going at it like I’m sitting 15th and I’ve got to make up every penny I can. I am going to ride for first every single night.” He won the round Monday with a 92.5-point ride, then shared the title in Round 6 with two other cowboys with an 88.5. He was 91.5 to win Wednesday, and he matched moves with Frontier Rodeo’s Showstomper for 90 point to win Thursday’s eighth round. Those four rounds make up $99,565 of his NFR earnings. It was a great night for Biglow to showcase his talent on the most difficult horses to ride in the sport, the “Eliminator Pen.” “We’ve all got buckers,” he said. “You’ve got to bare down and give it all you’ve got. I love the energy in the locker room during the E Pen, because everyone has their teeth gritted and are ready to fight. It’s a war zone back there.  I love it. I eat it up. Everybody feeds off each other. “It pumps you up and makes you come out and ride for first.”

LAS VEGAS – Eight nights at the National Finals Rodeo creates a little wear and tear on the tires, especially for the bareback riders who are strapped to the baddest bucking horses in the game each night. Each jump, kick and explosion can take a toll on the body, especially considering the horses that bucked in Thursday’s eight round. They’re called “The Eliminators” for a reason; they are the toughest-to-ride horses in the game. “I feel good,” said Tanner Aus, who rode Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Pretty Woman for 86.5 points to finish fifth in the round, worth $6,769. “I’m pretty thankful. There are some guys in the locker room at this point that are fighting some stuff. If you can avoid injury, come into the finals trained and in shape, usually it can carry you through. “I’ve been pretty lucky, and hopefully it carries me through two more nights. He’s had a solid NFR, now his fourth in five years. He’s placed four times and earned $65,423 in Las Vegas and has moved up to ninth in the world standings with $147,018. He still has chances to add to that on Friday and Saturday nights, the final two of the 2019 ProRodeo season. “This is the greatest rodeo in the world,” said Aus, 29, of Granite Falls, Minnesota. “Being able to place in these rounds amongst this competition is incredible. After eight nights, everyone is still feeling good riding. It has been fun.” His ride on Pretty Woman was special. Not only did it earn him a needed NFR paycheck, it also gave him a bit of redemption. The last time he got on the horse was at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo a few years ago, and he was 81.5 points. He improved his margin greatly. “That’s a strong horse, and at about six seconds, she throws a couple of lead changes and makes it tough right when you think you are tapped off,” he said. “It feels like she swapped leads and is tough that way. I’d like to have her again. I feel like I could maybe even ride a little bit better, but I was happy it went good tonight.” For Friday’s ninth round, he will be matched with Cervi Championship Rodeo’s William Wallace. On that horse’s previous trip Sunday, Caleb Bennett was 87 points to finish tied for third in the fourth round. “They call it the “Hopper Pen,” but it can give you just as much anxiety,” Aus said. “(Friday) night is really a riding contest. Everything in there is going to be great. If you mess up, it’s on you. We’ve got two more rounds of really good bucking horses. It’s going to be a blast.”

LAS VEGAS – There’s a new No. 1 in the world of steer wrestling, and he’s from Minnesota. J.D. Struxness knocked his steer to the ground in 4.4 seconds Thursday night to finish third in the eighth round, earning his seventh payday in eight nights of the National Finals Rodeo. It was worth $15,654. More importantly, it pushed his NFR earnings to $107,308 and bumped his 2019 salary to $190,137. “This pen of steers keeps getting stronger as the week goes on,” said Struxness, 25, of Milan, Minnesota, now living in Alva, Oklahoma. “I thought my steer was middle of the herd, but I was 4.4 and still held on for third, so I’ll take it. “Tomorrow night, we’ll have to come back and be a little more aggressive. Hopefully we’ll have a little better steer and will move up a little bit.” He now owns a lead of nearly $5,000 over Ty Erickson, but he’ll need to really build on that over the next two nights if he wants to walk away as the No. 1 man. He won’t have a chance to earn any money in the average race after missing his fifth-round steer. That will likely make the difference for whomever is crowned world champion. The average winners – those with the best cumulative score through 10 rounds – will earn $64,269, while the eighth best aggregate score will collect $6,346. In order for Struxness to walk away with the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle, he is going to have to place high in both the final two rounds and have some other things go his way. “Hopefully I can get decent steers the next two nights, hit the barrier and make aggressive runs,” he said. “Hopefully we can move up toward the top of the rounds, but the big thing is to catch some checks every night and make a little money.” He’s done that in spades, but he’s been riding a great horse owned by Stockton Graves, who is also hazing for him. Graves is the rodeo coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, and Struxness was the college’s first national champion in 2016. “The hazers take good care of you out here,” he said. “You need one that is on top of his game for you to be god. Being able to win like this, your hazer is definitely doing his job.” Over the years, the two have transitioned from a coach-athlete relationship to one more like friend-mentor. It’s been beneficial for both. “As soon as we started traveling together, he was older and giving advice, so I was still learning,” Struxness said. “It’s just a different relationship. Now I’ve started to get experience under my belt, so we share back and forth. He still has more experience than me, but putting it together is just better for both of us.”

Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 90 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Showstomper, $26,231; 2. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Austin Foss, 87.5, $18,192 each; 4. Tilden Hooper, 87, $11,000; 5. Tanner Aus, 86.5, $6,769; 6. (tie) Clint Laye and Caleb Bennett, 86, $2,115 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Will Lummus, 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.0, $20,731; 3. J.D. Struxness, 4.4, $15,654; 4. Tyler Pearson, 4.5, $11,000; 5. Tanner Brunner, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Matt Reeves, 4.8, $4.8, $4,231. Team roping: 1. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Brenten hall/Chase Tryan, 4.3 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 4.4, $13,327 each; 5. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 4.8, $4,231. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Watson, 89.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Stampede Warrior, $26,231; 2. Chase Brooks, 89, $20,731; 3. Spencer Wright, 87, $15,654; 4. (tie) Sterling Crawley, Brody Cress and Dawson Hay, 86.5, $7,333 each. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Cooper Martin, Tyler Milligan and Riley Pruitt, 7.5 seconds, $20,872 each; 4. Caleb Smidt, 7.7, $11,000; 5. Tyson Durfey, 7.9, $6,769; 6. Michael Otero, 8.4, $4,231. Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.54 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jessica Routier, 13,57, $20,731; 3. (tie) Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Ivy Conrado, 13.73, $13,327 each; 5. Shali Lord, 13.75, $6,769; 6. Lacinda Rose, 13.76, $4,231. Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, 94 points on Powder River Rodeo’s SweetPro’s Bruiser, $26,231; 2. Stetson Wright, 93.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Clayton Sellars and Boudreaux Campbell, 91.5, $13,327 each; 5. Jordan Spears, 89.5, $6,769; 6. Jeff Askey, 87, $4,231.