Trey Yates has been close to winning Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo in the past, but he finally accomplished it Saturday night. Roping with Riley Kittle, Yates secured not only the team roping title but also the all-around crown in Gunnison.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)

 

GUNNISON, Colo. – Just three hours down the mountain, Trey Yates was raised around rodeo.

He is the third generation of his family to compete in team roping, following in the footsteps of his father, J.D., and grandfather, Dick. All three have played on the sport’s biggest stage, the National Finals Rodeo, as has Trey’s aunt, Kelly.

Trey Yates is a four-time qualifier as a heeler and has an outstanding resume of his own, but on Saturday night, he accomplished something he’d always wanted: He won the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo title for the first time.

“I think I’ve won second and won third, and I’ve messed up a lot to probably win first, but this has always definitely been a bucket-list rodeo,” said Yates, 31, of Pueblo, Colorado. “It’s me being from Colorado. Gunnison is just a unique rodeo, over here off the beaten path, but they come up with a lot of money.

“They’re great to contestants. They give us hay, have great hospitality, always have a great crowd. To get this one under my belt is as good as winning any major rodeo.”

That’s high praise for this Rocky Mountain community of 6,600 souls. It’s also a big nod of affection from one of the top Colorado cowboys going down the road. Roping with 24-year-old Riley Kittle of Woodland, Alabama, the duo stopped the clock in 4.4 seconds to win $3,384.

“Riley and I started at Elizabeth (Colorado),” he said of the June rodeo. “I have a lot of comfort roping with Riley. He is young, and he spent some time at our house. He’s been great. He’s asked J.D. a lot of questions, and it’s great getting to rope with a young kid who’s eager.

“He’s got a good support system at home from what I know, and this is what he wants to do. He eats, sleeps and breathes it. It’s been a breath of fresh air for me and made me really crave it. He was willing to come to a lot of Colorado rodeos, so I think that’s helped rejuvenate me a little bit to be able to hub from Pueblo.

Yates actually won two titles in Gunnison. Because he placed in tie-down roping, Yates won the all-around title. Being that type of cowboy is fitting in his family, which is still mourning the loss of his grandfather. Dick Yates died June 19. For the last several years, leaving Pueblo to live the gypsy lifestyle that is rodeo has been more difficult. His family ties are tight.

“For the last five years, the hardest part for me has been leaving in June,” he said. “Id be home and spending every day with my grandad was just the best thing ever. Now that he’s passed, I know this is what he wanted me to do, so it’s a no-brainer now.

“He kept everything going as far as our relationships at home. He taught me a lot of lessons.”

Rodeo is in Yates’ blood, and so is winning. Under the bright mountain sky, he made it happen Saturday night in Gunnison.

Rooftop Rodeo
July 6-11
All-around cowboy: Trey Yates, $4,687, tie-down roping and team roping.

Bareback riding: 1. Garrett Blackwell, 87.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Indecent Exposur, $2,837; 2. Cole Franks, 86.5, $2,175; 3. Hunter Greenup, 85, $1,608; 4. Keenan Hayes, 84.5, $1,040; 5. Colt Eck, 83.5, $662; 6. Bryce Eck, 83, $473; 7. (tie) Owen Brouillette and Darien Johnson, 81, $331 each.

Steer wrestling: 1. Clay Tom Hurt, 4.4 seconds, $2,486; 2. (tie) Jesse Brown, Brian Snell and Cimarron Thompson, 5.0, $1,838 each; 5. Sam Gallagher, 5.3, $1,189; 6. Walker Polhamus, 5.6, $865; 7. Marc Joiner, 5.8, $541; 8. (tie) Zane Cline and David Gallagher, 6.0, $108 each.

Team roping: 1. Riley Kittle/Trey Yates, 4.4 seconds, $3,384 each; 2. Wawa Ben Jr./Brandon Ben, 5.1, $2,986; 3. (tie) Brayden Fillmore/Cody Lansing, Brodi Jones/Clay Elkington and Justin Dean Smith/Jorge Cruz, 5.2, $2,256 each; 6. (tie) Cameron Capshaw/Clancey Kreutzer and Jay Tittel/T.J. Watts, 5.4, $1,692 each; 8. (tie) Casey Adams/Riley Pedro and Bodie Herring/Rio Nutter, 5.8, $1,294 each; 10. Payton Norell/Derek Pake Younger, 5.9, $796.

Breakaway roping: 1. Danielle Lowman, 1.6 seconds, $3,318; 2. (tie) Martha Angelone, Kennedy Buckner and Amber Hutto, 2.2, $2,378 each; 5. Zoie Bedke, 2.3, $1,659; 6. Haliegh Grant, 2.4, $1,161; 7. (tie) Rickie Engesser and Lyndsey Orris, 2.5, $747 each; 9. (tie) Cora Brunori, Taya McAdow and Madalyn Richards, 2.7, $498 each; 12. Haiden Thompson, 2.9, $332.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Josue Molina, 85.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Charlies Angel, $2,888; 2. Leon Fountain, 84.5, $2,214; 3. (tie) Regan Lyons, Skinny Parsons and Coleman Shallbetter, 84, $1,123 each; 6. Jackson Ford, 83.5, $481; 7. Brady Irvine, 83, $385; 8. Clay Greenslade, 81.5, $289.

Tie-down roping: 1. Ean Ellis, 8.0 seconds, $2,461; 2. Cole Clemons, 8.8, $2,171; 3. Dean Holyan, 9.4, $1,882; 4. Landyn Duncan, 9.5, $1,592; 5. Dylan Hancock, 9.7, $1,448; 6. Trey Yates, 10.0, $1,303; 7. Cutter Pareo, 10.1, $1,158; 8. Tate Crandall, 10.4, $1,013; 9. Byars Brown, 10.5, $869; 10. Matt Peters, 10.7, $579.

Barrel racing: 1. Makenna Shook, 17.68 seconds, $2,557; 2. Loralee Ward, 17.88, $2,173; 3. Rachel Huerkamp, 17.89, $1,790; 4. Alex Odle, 17.97, $1,534; 5. Emma Parr, 17.99, $1,278; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 18.02, $895; 7. Maggie Wright, 18.05, $639; 8. Kristin Brashears, 18.07, $511; 9. Brittany Fellows, 18.24, $447; 10. Megan Albrecht, 18.28, $384; 11. Wendy Reed, 18.35, $320; 12. Makenzie Mayes, 18.39, $256.

Bull riding: 1. Brody Hasenack, 85 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Hatari, $9,660; no other qualified rides.