Culling slides into Round 6 check
LAS VEGAS – The times are fast at the National Finals Rodeo every year. Even though he’s never played on this stage, Stephen Culling knew what to expect. He wanted to be one of the fastest steer wrestlers in the field, and earning a spot among the top 15 is a major accomplishment. He has […]
O’Connell finally gets paid at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Three-time world champion bareback rider Tim O’Connell scored a little redemption during the seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. “That’s the horse that actually threw me off in 2021, which was the first time I’d been thrown off a horse in about 88 rounds here at the National Finals Rodeo,” O’Connell […]
Pope still shining brightly at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Not many people in rodeo are more consistent at the National Finals Rodeo than bareback rider Jess Pope. He’s won the last three NFR average titles and is the reigning world champion, and he’s done it with a steady run of success since he first qualified in 2020. There’s more proof, though: […]
Aus has a $40,000 day at NFR
LAS VEGAS – It’s not often that a cowboy can say they got on three elite bucking horses in one day. Tanner Aus can. His first came Wednesday morning during the sixth round of the National Finals Rodeo. His initial mount didn’t have a good day, so he was offered a re-ride so he had […]
Struxness strikes for round win
LAS VEGAS – When the official secretary posted the draw for Tuesday’s fifth round of the National Finals Rodeo, J.D. Struxness knew he had a big opportunity. He capitalized on it, posting the fastest steer wrestling run of this year’s championship by stopping the clock in 3.3 seconds to win $30,706 and earn another Montana […]
Casper returns to NFR payday
LAS VEGAS – When the best broncs in the world are featured at the National Finals Rodeo, everyone expects big moments and even bigger scores. Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper was in the mix, riding Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior for 87.5 points to finish in a tie for fourth place in Tuesday’s fifth round. That […]
Pope scores big on electric horse
LAS VEGAS – When a bolt of lightning fires, it can send shockwaves. Reigning world champion bareback rider Jess Pope got to experience that with Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks. The dark sorrel mare provided enough electricity to help produce an 88.5-point ride and push Pope to a third-place finish in Tuesday’s fifth round of […]
Clements returns to NFR payday
LAS VEGAS – The training he received at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls provided the perfect foundation for bareback rider Mason Clements. He’s built upon it and has been one of the top cowboys in the game since. A four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Spanish Fork, Utah, Clements rode J-Bar-J Pro […]
Struxness stays hot in Round 4
LAS VEGAS – J.D. Struxness may have stumbled a bit during the third round of the National Finals Rodeo, but it didn’t keep him down. He rebounded with a 3.9-second run during Monday’s fourth go-round to finish second, earning $24,268. In all, he has earned $58,041 since arriving in Las Vegas. He is still very […]
Thompson grabs first NFR check
LAS VEGAS – In the grand scheme of the National Finals Rodeo, a sixth-place finish is better than most of the 15 in the field, but it’s small in comparison to round winners’ share of nearly $31,000. For bareback rider Dean Thompson, his 83.5-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s On Your Own was just what […]
Proctor is rolling in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – Coleman Proctor is no stranger to the nuances of the National Finals Rodeo. “It’s funny how you win money here once or win a go-round, and things just come back in your favor,” he said after Monday’s run of 4.3 seconds to finish fourth on Night 4 of team roping with his […]
Berry wins NFR’s fourth round
LAS VEGAS – On his way to Las Vegas a week ago, Leighton Berry started showing flu-like symptoms. By the time he arrived, his fever was high. Body aches and other nastiness came. He still wasn’t feeling well when the first round began Friday night. He wasn’t much better Saturday, Still, he placed in both […]
Anderson wins fourth round
LAS VEGAS – There are a lot of thrills that come with competing at the National Finals Rodeo. It’s the world’s richest rodeo, with go-rounds paying nearly $100,000 for 10 performances. Bridger Anderson is getting to experience many of them in his first NFR at Las Vegas; his first qualification came in 2020, when the […]
Cowboys recall fateful day
Cinch NFR qualifiers recount the day of the UNLV shooting It was a typical Wednesday, the day before the start of the National Finals Rodeo. One-hundred-nineteen contestants were at the Thomas & Mack Center with family members and friends, rehearsing for the event’s grand entry. Shots rang out in the Frank and Estella Beam Hall, […]
Proctor, Medlin win Round 3
LAS VEGAS – Coleman Proctor has done this dance before. He and his partner, heeler Logan Medlin of Tatum, New Mexico, suffered no-times in the first two go-rounds of the National Finals Rodeo. It’s frustrating and disappointing, but it’s also part of the sport. They didn’t dwell on it. In fact, they built off it. […]
Casper grabs Round 3 money
LAS VEGAS – When cowboys arrive at in Sin City, they know the competition will be tough. Only the top 15 contestants in each event qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, so it’s a showcase of the sport’s elite from that year. Now in his fourth trip to the championship, Wyatt Casper understands that well. […]
Clements wins NFR’s third round
LAS VEGAS – Every cowboy who makes a living in rodeo keeps plenty busy. They travel extensively just to make a living, covering tens of thousands of miles a year going from one rodeo to another. They only make money when they finish better than most in the field. First place is always the goal, […]
Anderson earns first NFR check
LAS VEGAS – Bridger Anderson has found his rhythm at the National Finals Rodeo. After suffering two no-times to kickstart ProRodeo’s grand championship, he bounced back with a 4.7-second run to finish fourth in Sunday’s third go-round, pocketing $12, 877 and earned some well-timed momentum in Las Vegas. “It’s not the way we wanted to […]
Culling captures 2nd-place payday
LAS VEGAS – At the National Finals Rodeo, momentum can swing in either direction. It’s trending upward for steer wrestler Stephen Culling, who grappled his animal to the ground in 4.3 seconds to finish in a tie for second place during Sunday’s third round. That was worth $21,296 and pushed his Sin City earnings to […]
Pope remains in the NFR money
LAS VEGAS – Whether it’s on a football field in Pendleton, Oregon, or a baseball diamond in Arlington, Texas, or t a basketball arena in the City of Lights, Jess Pope will ride bucking horses anywhere. On Sunday night, he rode Championship Pro Rodeo’s Meat Cracker for 84.5 points to finish sixth in the third […]
Culling off to a good start at NFR
LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t much, Stephen Culling was able to exhale just a little. It was a sigh of relief, and it matched the intensity he has felt over the first two nights of his first National Finals Rodeo. Culling wrestled his steer to the ground in 4.4 seconds to finish in a tie […]
Aus finding his rhythm at NFR
LAS VEGAS – When Tanner Aus was a little boy, he watched his dad ride bareback horses and thought about how much fun it would be to follow in those footsteps. In the years since, he’s been one of the very best in the game, having qualified for ProRodeo’s championship event, the National Finals Rodeo, […]
Champion snags another check
LAS VEGAS – Just looking at Big Stone Rodeo’s Fired Up, Richmond Champion felt the nerves creeping up. “He’s kind of intimidating,” said Champion, a bareback rider from Stevensville, Montana. “He looks like there’s a lot going on, but Caleb (Bennett) told me today, ‘Dude, that horse feels so good. He’s fast, and it feels […]
Pope cashes in during Round 2
LAS VEGAS – While most people come to this shiny, desert town for fun and frivolity, reigning world champion bareback rider Jess Pope considers it a business trip. He’s definitely doing his job inside the Thomas & Mack Center during the opening two days of the National Finals Rodeo. He has finished third two nights […]