Dean Thompson spurs C5 Rodeo’s Winning Rose for 86.25 points to finish third during Thursday’s eighth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo.
(PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL)
LAS VEGAS – Reigning world champion bareback rider Dean Thompson is still waiting for something big to happen in his third appearance at the National Finals Rodeo.
He’s placed in five of eight rounds so far, but the paydays haven’t been what he had hoped. A year ago, Thompson placed eight times, including two round wins. He surged over the last few days and powered his way to the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. By this time 12 months ago, he had already pocketed $122,000.
He’s halfway there in 2025. He scored the biggest check of his Las Vegas stay with an 86.25-point ride on C5 Rodeo’s Winning Rose to finish third during Thursday’s eighth round – he also finished third on Night 2. He is sitting at $64,312 with two nights left in this year’s finale and is ninth in the world standings with $230,848.
Thompson has a cumulative score of 591.75 points on eight rides and is ninth in the average race. A season ago, he claimed the average championship, and that $86,000 payday cleared the way for him to take rodeo’s gold back to his home in Altamont, Utah. In all, Thompson earned just shy of $240,000 at the NFR.
That’s not going to happen this December, but he’s still had a solid week. Anytime a cowboy can compete in this elite field and against the best broncs in the sport, it’s an accomplishment. To earn money in most of the rounds is a big deal. Only the top six places in a go-round earn money in Las Vegas.
Being steady is also opening the door for Thompson when it comes to Saturday night. Should he move up one spot in the average race to eighth, he will incur an $8,900 bonus. In a sport where dollars equal championship points, every dollar counts.
That’s what Thompson is counting on as he prepares for the final two go-rounds.