July 18-27, 2025
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By Susan Kanode/Photo by: Dan Hubbell
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 25, 2015) – Steer wrestling at the eighth performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days saw five contestants qualifying for Sunday’s finals in hopes of winning a championship here.
Shawn Downing, from Silver Star, Mont., is the most successful steer wrestler here so far. Downing stopped the clock in 8.1 seconds Friday, then came back today with an 8.9. Downing placed in both preliminary rounds and has earned $7,809 so far. He also took the lead in the overall standings with a total time of 17.0 seconds.
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier Nick Guy moved into second place overall with a total of 17.3 seconds. Guy, from Sparta, Wisc., had two solid times, 7.2 and 10.1.
Last year’s winner K.C. Jones will be defending his steer wrestling title. He was 8.1 on Friday and 10.9Saturday. The Decatur, Texas, resident and University of Wyoming graduate has a total of 19.0 seconds. Will Lummus from West Point, Miss., is now fifth and the 2013 world champion Hunter Cure from Holliday, Texas is in eighth.
Other defending champions that have a chance to repeat are Richmond Champion in the bareback riding and Brenda Mays in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel race. Mays, from Terrebonne, Ore., had her first run here on July 14th and tied for seventh place with a time of 17.77 to win $1,185. She bettered that performance at Frontier Park Saturday afternoon with a nearly flawless run at 17.46 seconds. That gave her a fourth-place finish to earn $3,543. Mays enters the championship finals in second place behind South Dakota’s Lisa Lockhart. Mays has a total of 35.23, less than three-tenths of a second behind Lockhart.
Champion is fifth in the overall standings with 159 points on two rides. The top spot is held jointly by Wyoming’s Seth Hardwick and Tanner Aus from Minnesota who each have 163. Texans Clint Cannon and Matt Bright both moved into the standings on Saturday. Cannon has 162 and Bright has 160.
Saddle bronc riding will be a great contest with world champion Jesse Wright and NFR average winner Cort Scheer battling it out. Wright, from Milford, Utah has 164 points on two rides. Scheer, from Elsmere, Neb., moved into second place overall with 162 points after an 80 point ride on Saturday. He was 82 on Friday and has already won over $4,000. Bradley Harter, originally from Weatherford, Texas, but now living in Loranger La., also had some luck here. He is 14th in the world standings and every dollar he wins here will help him secure a 10th NFR qualification. Harter and Wyoming’s Chet Johnson were both 82 points on Saturday. Johnson enters Sunday’s finals in fifth place.
Saturday’s bull riding was action-packed with 88 and 87 point rides. Kanin Asay from Powell, Wyo., rode United Pro Rodeo’s Karaoke. The ride was huge for Asay who just returned to competition after having an encounter with a bull at the Reno Rodeo that required surgery to have his right ear reattached. He returned here on Friday where he got bucked off and was actually helped from the arena by the Justin Sportsmedicine Team after having a mild concussion. Asay was evaluated early on Saturday and cleared to ride. He won the second round with his 88 and earned $5,816. Lanham from Sweet, Idaho, was 87 and earned $4,459. They are both competing in the finals by virtue of those scores. There were 11 bull riders who qualified for the finals with two successful rides. The rest of the 18-man field is made up of bull riders that had one score.
At the conclusion of Sunday’s rodeo, $814,369 in prize money will have been distributed to winners here. This rodeo can be a game changer for contestants outside of the top 15 in the world standings that earn a portion of that. Competition gets underway at 12:15.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 25, 2015) — The following are current leaders at Cheyenne Frontier Days:
Bareback riding: (second round winners) 1, (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Bar Code, and Matt Bright, Fort Worth, Texas, on Korkow Rodeo’s Mean Jean, 84 points, $4,828 each. 3, Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 83, $3,097. 4, Kaycee Field, Spanish Fork, Utah, 81, $2,004. 5, (tie) Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, and Kash Wilson, Gooding, Idaho, 80, $1,093. 7, (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn.; Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta; Anthony Thomas, Kimberley, Australia, and Tyler Scales, Severance, Colo., 79, $319 each. (final round qualifiers) 1, (tie)Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., and Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 163 each. 3, Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 162. 4, Matt Bright, Fort Worth, Texas, 160. 5, Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 159. 6, Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 157. 7, Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 156. 8, (tie) Mason Clements, Sandy, Utah; George R. Gillespie IV, Hamilton, Mont.; Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, and Anthony Thomas, Kimberly, Australia, 155 each. 12, (tie) Josi Young, Buhl, Idaho; Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D., and Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 154 each.
Tie-down roping: (second round winners) 1, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 10.2 seconds, $6,357. 2, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 10.6, $5,528. 3, Tyson Durfey, Savannah, Mo., $4,699. 4, (tie) Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., and Garrett Hale, Snyder, Texas, 10.9, $3,455 each. 6, Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 11.2, $2,211. 7, Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., $1,382. 8, Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas, 11.5, $553. (final round qualifiers) 1, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 21.0. 2, Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 21.2, 3, Justin Macha, Needville, Texas, 22.6. 4, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 22.7. 5, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 23.3. 6, (tie) Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas, and Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 23.6 each. 8, Robert Mathis, Mart, Texas, 23.9. 9, Jon Peek, Berthold, N.D., 24.2. 10, Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, 24.3. 11, Justin Truman, Huntington, Utah, 24.4. 12, Dillon Holder, Eugene, Mo., 24.9.
Saddle bronc riding: (second round winners) 1, (tie) Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, on Andrews Rodeo’s Tiger Touch; Brad Rudolf, Winnemucca, Nev., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Angel Flight, and Jeremy Ray Melancon, Huntsville, Texas, on J Bar J Rodeo’s Bulletproof, 83 points, $3,740 each. 4, (tie) Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., and Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., 82, $1,443 each. 6, (tie) Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba; Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb.; Dalton Davis, Holcomb, Kan., and Cort Sheer, Elsmere, Neb., 80, $481. (final round qualifiers) 1, Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 164 points. 2, Cort Sheer, Elsmere, Neb., 162. 3, Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 161. 4, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 158. 5, (tie) Brad Rudolf, Winnemucca, Nev.; Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., and Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 156. 8, (tie) Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., and Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 155 each. 10, (tie) Joe Lufkin, Sallisaw, Okla.; Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, and Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 154 each.
Steer wrestling: (second round winners) 1, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 8.0 seconds, $6,088. 2, Shawn Downing, Silver Star, Mont., 8.9, $5,294. 3, Gary Gilbert, New Underwood, S.D, 9.1, $4,500. 4, Jacob D. Edler, State Center, Iowa, 9.5, $3,706. 5, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo, 9.6, $2,912. 6, (tie) Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., and Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Colo., 9.8, $1,721 each. 8, Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., 10.0, $529. (final round qualifiers) 1, Shawn Downing, Silver Star, Mont., 17.0. 2, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 17.3. 3, K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 19.0. 4, Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 20.4. 5, Will Lummus, West Point, Miss., 20.7. 6, Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 21.2. 7, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 21.3 seconds. 8, Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 21.9. 9, Jared Thompson, Alva, Okla., 22.2. 10, Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss., 22.6. 11, Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., 22.8. 12, Baylor Roche, Tremonton, Utah, 23.4.
Rookie saddle bronc riding: (second round winners) 1, Audy Reed, Spearman, Texas, 75 points, $1,230. 2, Dalton Rixen, Richardson, N.D., 74, $932. 3, Blaze Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., $671. 4, Christian Stremler, Winnemucca, Nev., 67, $447. 5, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 65, $261. 6, (tie) Hawkins Shane Boyce, Malad, Idaho; Nick Shenold, Glencoe, Okla., and Luke Morgan, Australia, 64, $62 each. (overall winners) 1, Audy Reed, Spearman, Texas, 155, $1,230. 2, Blaze Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 143, $671. 3, Luke Morgan, Australia, 134, $671. 4, Tayte Augustus Clark, Meadow, S.D., 131, $447. 5, Ty Smith, Australia, 118, $261. 5, Trace Hughston, McBain, Mich., 117, $186.
Team roping: (second round winners) 1, Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas, and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas, 6.8 seconds, $6,219 each. 2, Tyrell Moody, Edgemont, S.D., and Rory Brown, Edgemont, S.D., 7.3, $5,408 each. 3, (tie) Rhett Anderson, Anabella, Utah, and Cole Wilson, Lake Shore, Utah, and JoJo Lemond, Andrews, Texas, and Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, 7.6, $4,191 each. 5, (tie) Brock Hanson, Casa Grande, Ariz., and J.B. James, Jr., Bennett, Colo., and Cale Markham, Vinita, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan. 7.9, $2,569 each. 7, Chris Francis, Las Vegas, N.M., and Cade Passig, Las Vegas, N.M., 8.0, $1,352 each. 8, (tie) Paul Beckett, Laramie, Wyo., and Cole Cooper, Loma, Colo.; Jack Fischer, Ellensburg, Wash., and Brent Falon, Yakima, Wash., and Travis and Tyler Whitlow, Queen Creek, Ariz., 8.1, $180 each. (final round qualifiers) 1, Trevor and Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo., 17.3 seconds. 2, Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., and T.J. Watts, Eads, Colo., 18.0. 3, Chris Francis, Las Vegas, N.M., and Cade Passig, Las Vegas, N.M., 18.3. 4, Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas, and Kollin Von Ahn, Blanchard, Okla., 18.6. 5, Adam Rose, Willard, Mo., and Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas, 19.0. 6, Travis Warren, Mullin, Neb., and Ty Reynolds, Tribune, Kan., 19.6. 7, Jack Fischer, Ellensburg, Wash., and Brent Falon, Yakima, Wash., 20.1. 8, Tory Shaffer, Fort Lupton, Colo., and Lance Allen, Orchard, Colo., 20.3. 9, Monty Wood Quanah, Texas, and Boogie Ray, Mabank, Texas, 20.4. 10, Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D., and Jordan Olson, Surprise, Ariz., 20.6. 11, Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta, and Dustin Searcy, Mooreland, Okla., 20.7. 12, (tie) JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, and Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas, and Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D., and Ross Carson, Killdeer, N.D., 21.2.
Barrel Racing: (second round winners) 1, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 17.36 seconds, $5,723. 2, Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas, 17.41, $4,906. 3, Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 17.45, $4,088. 4, Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., $3,543. 5, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.48, $2,725. 6, (tie) Megan Swint, Lithia, Fla., 17.52 and Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 17.52, $1,908 each. 8, Rachel Dice, Livermore, Calif., 17.65, $1,090. 9, Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 17.67, $817. 10, Jenna Waggoner, Fowler, Colo., 17.69, $545. (final round qualifiers) 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 34.96 seconds. 2, Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 35.23. 3, Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas, 35.35. 4, (tie) Callie DuPerier, Boerne, Texas, and Elaine Hollings, Pavillion, Wyo., 35.36 each. 6, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 35.39. 7, Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 36.40. 8, Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 35.49. 9, Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 35.54. 10, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 35.58. 11, Rachel Dice, Livermore, Calif., 35.60. 12, Megan Swint, Lithia, Fla., 35.62.
Steer roping: (final round qualifiers) 1, Trent Mills, Gillette, Wyo., 32.8 seconds. 2, Casey Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 34.7. 3, Shay Good, Midland, Texas, 35.6. 4, Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas, 35.8. 5, C.A. Lauer, Buffalo, Okla., 36.5. 6, JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, 38.5. 7, Paul Tierney, Oral, S.D., 39.5. 8, Brian Garr, Belle Fourche, S.D., 39.6. 9, Bobby Joe Hill, Mexia, Texas, 42.0. 10, Worm Shipley, Copan, Okla., 43.1. 11, Luke Bland, Clarksville, Texas, 45.5. 12, Scott Stickley, Whitesboro, Texas, 45.7.
Bull riding: (second round leaders) 1, Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., 88 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Karaoke, $5,816. 3, Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 87, $4,459. 3, (tie) Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas, and Tanner Bothwell, Rapid City, S.D., 83, $2,714 . 5, (tie) Codrick Murphy, Houston, Texas, and Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 81, $1,163 each. 7, (tie) Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., and Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Iowa, 80, $679 each. (final round qualifiers) 1, Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas, 166 points. 2, Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah, 164. 3, Codrick Murphy, Houston, Texas, 157. 4, Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 154. 5, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 153. 6, (tie) Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla.; Newt Brasfield, Lane, Okla., and Kody Pierce, Keenesburg, Colo., 152 each. 9, Lon Danley, Tularosa, N.M., 149. 10, Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo., 146. 11, Caleb Sanderson, Hallettsville, Texas, 139. (on one) 12, Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., 88. 13, Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 87. 14, Tanner Bothwell, Rapid City, S.D., 83. 15, Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D., 82. 16, (tie) Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah; Scottie Knapp, Albuquerque, N.M., and Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, 81 each.
Wild horse race: 1, Team AR, $591. 2, Philip Wurdinger, $443. 3, Team BGB, $295. 4, Rusty’s Knotty Pine Saloon, $147.78.