July 17-26, 2026
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July 17-26, 2026
Thurston, Conner, Weitz win on Monday at Cheyenne
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 20, 2026) — Four-time world champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston has competed at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) for a decade. The Canadian cowboy has won almost every title in his event including six Canadian pro rodeo championships, three National Finals Rodeo event championships and wins at major rodeos, particularly the Calgary Stampede.
Thurston has not taken home a championship from Cheyenne in the past 10 years, but that drought could be broken in 2026. On Monday, for a moment it looked like Thurston might not advance, but he was awarded a reride and made it count. He qualified for the semifinals with an 89-point ride on a mare named Prima Donna from Brookman Rodeo. That bested Missouri cowboy Blake Steuck’s effort by half a point.
Thurston has ties to Wyoming as attended at Sheridan College and competed on their rodeo team. His dad, Skeeter, was the rookie saddle bronc riding champion here in 1982. Zeke is currently ranked 10th in the world standings for 2026 and added $2,300 to his season earnings on Monday.
Josie Conner started this week the same way she finished last week—with a breakaway roping win. The four-time National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier from Iowa, Louisiana, won the breakaway roping championship at the California Rodeo in Salinas on Sunday, earning just shy of $10,000.
On Monday she won the fourth performance of CFD with a time of 5.2 seconds, added $2,600 more to her season earnings. Conner was riding the newest horse in her barn, Checkers, for the win.
Just behind Conner was Cheyanne McCartney of Kingston, Okla., who vaulted to the top of the world standings after winning the championship and $50,000 plus at the Calgary Stampede earlier this month. Both will return for the semifinals.
Chet Weitz of London, Texas, may not be a household name, but he is a record-holder at Frontier Park. He set the tie down roping arena record of 9.1 seconds on the current scoreline in 2024. On Monday his time of 11.5 seconds was the best of the day. He punched his ticket to the semifinals as did former world champion and 2018 CFD winner Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, Louisiana.
Grady Young, a Canadian bull rider from Leader, Saskatchewan, become the first athlete in his event to score 90 points this year in Cheyenne. He rode a bull named Country Boy from Dakota Rodeo and earned $2,100.
In consideration of animal and human athletes, rodeo officials postponed the barrel race to Tuesday morning.
The fifth performance of “the Daddy of ‘em All,” starts at 12:45 on Tuesday when a new group of athletes in every event will aim to advance to one of three semifinals that begin on Thursday.
The following are unofficial results from the fourth performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Monday, July 20. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alberta, Canada, 89 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Lonely Smile, $2,300. 2, Tim O’Connell, Cascade, Iowa, 85.5, $1,800. 3, (tie) Conner Griffith, Skullbones, Tenn., and Mason Yancy, Fruitland, Idaho, 85, $1,025 each. 5, Kooper Heimburg, Marshall, Mo., 84.5, $420. 6, Cooper Filipek, Gillette, Wyo., 81.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, 11.5 seconds, $2,000. 2, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 11.7, $1,500. 3, Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif., 11.8, $1,000. 4, Tom Simpson, Malad, Idaho, 12.1, $500. 5, Ace Reese, Aquilla, Texas, 12.5, $250.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 5.2 seconds, $2,591. 2, Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, Okla., 5.9, $1,943. 3, Jill Tanner, Stephenville, Texas, 6.8, $1,295. 4, Jordan Hollabaugh, Springtown, Texas, 7.3, $648. 5, Taya McAdow, Fort Lupton, Colo., 8.9. 6, Hali Williams, Comanche, Texas, 15.1.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 89 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Prima Donna, $2,300. 2, Blake Steuck, Hume, Mo., 88.5, $1,800. 3, (tie) Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 87.5, $1,300. 4, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, Canada, 87, $750. 5, Jasper Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., 85, $420. 6, Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 83.5.
Team Roping: 1, Corben Culley, Lawton, Iowa, and Calgary Smith, Adams, Ore., 8.0 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Denton Parish, Perrin, Texas, and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, 8.1, $1,500 each. 3, Tyler Tryan, Lipan, Texas, and Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, Texas, 8.4, $1000 each. 4, Tanner Tomlinson, Mineral Wells, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Stephenville, Texas, 9.0, $500 each. 5, J.C. Yeahquo, Mandaree, N.D., and Logan Moore, Dublin, Texas, 9.1, $250 each. 6, Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta, Canada, and Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 9.2.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Hoyt Kraeger, Weeping Water, Neb., 6.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Clay Clayman, Highlandville, Mo., 6.2, $1,500. 3, Tanner Scheevel, Lester Prairie, Minn., 7.1, $1,000. 4, (tie) Paul Melvin, Paradise, Texas, and Tory Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla., 7.8, $375 each. 6, Wyatt Williams, Penrose, Colo., 8.3.
Barrel Racing: Results will be available on Tuesday.
Bull Riding: 1, Grady Young, Leader, Saskatchewan, 90 points on Dakota Rodeos’ Country Boy, $2,100. 2, Jackson Young, Goddard, Kan., 88, $1,650. 3, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Colo. 87, $1,200. 4, Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, Iowa, 86, $800. 5, Jake Gardner, Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, 81. 6, Colton Clymer, Loveland, Colo., 83.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, Connor Brumley, Mocksville, N.C., 76. (tie). (second round) 1, Jack Kissel, La Junta, Colo., 84. 2, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 81, 3, Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 78.5. 4, Toarin Humble, Belle Fourche, S.D., 78. (overall leaders) 1, Bass, 154 points. 2, Eisemann, 153.5. 3, Brooks, 150. 4, Wood, 149.
Wild Horse Race: No qualified rides.
