CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 23, 2022) –Former world champion Tyson Durfey has been competing at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) for 20 years, but until he won Semifinals 2 on Saturday, he had never qualified for Championship Sunday.
A sellout crowd watched the roper from Brock, Texas, win the tie-down roping with a time of 10.7 seconds. Durfey has competed in the tie-down roping at 14 National Finals Rodeo’s (NFR) and is instantly visible in any arena where he always wears a bright pink shirt to promote breast cancer awareness. The father of three has one of the largest social media followings in pro rodeo. He recently admitted to his followers that he still gets goosebumps when he backs into the roping box at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
Only 12 in each rodeo contest event qualify for Sunday’s Championship Finals. In Semifinals 2 on Saturday the top 6 in each event advanced, joining those who moved on from Semifinals 1 on Friday.
Jacek Frost of Browns Valley, California, was riding bareback horses at the National High School Finals Rodeo this past Saturday. Fast-forward a week and the 18-year-old high school reserve champion was competing, and winning, against some of pro rodeo’s best. He scored 85.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse Neurotic Toddy to tie for first place in Semifinals 2 with Utah’s Dean Thompson. Thompson is another young gun who competes in multiple events in college rodeo for Western Texas College. He rode Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ horse Mustard to advance to Championship Sunday. The third bareback rider to share the leaderboard in Semifinals 2 was Caleb Bennett of Corvallis, Montana. Bennett, who has made eight trips to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and is ranked eighth this season, rode another Sankey horse named Outlaw Tunes.
Alli Masters of Leon, Iowa, caught her calf in 4.2 seconds to win the breakaway roping. She competed at the College National Finals Rodeo last month for Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Masters was two-tenths of a second faster than Bradi Good of Abilene, Texas. Good is making her second consecutive trip to Championship Sunday with hopes she can win a CFD championship like her dad Shay Good did in steer roping.
Jennifer Canik of Iowa, Louisiana, had the most unusual run of Semifinals 2 in roping. The left-handed cowgirl caught her calf quickly, but the slack in her rope went above her horse’s head, spooking him into bucking. She had just let go of the rope and set back in the saddle when she was thrown and landed hard on her back. A long two seconds passed before she waved her hat to the crowd, stood and took a bow. Despite all that, her time of 5.2 seconds was fourth, putting her into Championship Sunday where she’ll be trying to win a CFD title like her brother Stephen Canik did in the steer wrestling in 1997.
Although Q Taylor is Canadian, the saddle bronc rider lives in Casper, Wyoming, where he competes on the Casper College Rodeo Team. He had not won much this season in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) until he rode Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse Dry Creek for 86 points to win Semifinals 2 and $3,051. The Nanton, Alberta, cowboy bested a field that included three world champions.
Paul David Tierney of Oklahoma City and Tanner Braden of Dewey, Oklahoma, were the first team ropers of Semifinals 2. They set the pace with an 8.7-second run that no other team was able to beat. Neither Tierney’s father Paul, a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, nor his brother Jess, who will compete in the Championship Finals in steer roping, have won a CFD title. Paul David is aiming to be the first in his family to win a title at Frontier Park.
The final steer wrestler of the day was Jesse Brown of Baker City, Oregon, and he blew away the rest of the semi-finalists with a 6.9 second run. Brown has qualified for the last two NFRs and is currently ranked 14th in the PRCA standings. A win in the championship round along with the $4,060 he earned on Saturday could virtually guarantee him a return to rodeo’s premiere event in Las Vegas in December.
Leslie Smalygo of Skiatook, Oklahoma, and her horse Gus (registered name Justaheartbeattafame) have been on winning streak during July. So many of her friends made a comment about them being “on fire” that the blonde cowgirl dyed her hair the colors of flames. The duo clocked the fastest time of the six quarter-finals and two semi-finals – 17.16 seconds –to win the day. She is currently ranked 17th in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Like Brown in steer wrestling, a win on Championship Sunday added to the $5,120 she earned today would help her bid to qualify for her first NFR.
Garrett Smith of Rexburg, Idaho, is having his best season since 2019. The three-time NFR bull rider is currently ranked fifth. He topped the bull riding field in Semifinals 2 with an 89.5-point effort on United Pro Rodeo’s bull named Paradise.
Caleb Wareham of Whiting, Kansas, was crowned the 2022 CFD Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding champion at the conclusion of the event on Semifinals 2. The winner in that event is determined by the best total score on two bucking horses.
The 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo will determine its 2022 champions in nine events and the all-around on Sunday, July 31, beginning at 12:45 p.m.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 30, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from Semifinals 2 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Jacek Lane Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Neurotic Toddy; Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s & Phenom Genetics’ Mustard; and Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Montana on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ Outlaw tunes, 85.5 points and $2,429 each. 4, (tie) Evan Keler Betony, Tonalea, Ariz., and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 85, $911. 6, (tie) Yance Day, Tahlequah, Okla.; Bronc Marriott, Woods Cross, Utah and Ty Pope, Marshall, Mo., 84, $160.
Breakaway: 1, Alli Masters, Leon, Iowa, 4.2 seconds, $6,088. 2, Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 4.4, $4,612. 3, Macy Young, Whittmann, Ariz., 4.8, $3,321. 4, Jennifer Canik, Iowa, La., 5.2, $2,214. 5, Rheagan Cotton, Fairfield, Texas, 5.3, $1,291. 6, Devan McAdow, Hyannis, Neb., 5.9, $922.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Tyson Durfey, Brock, Texas, 10.7, $5,200. 2, Hudson Wallace, George West, Texas, 11.0, $4,300. 3, Blake Ash, Aurora, Mo., 11.5, $3,400. 4, Kase Bacque, Huntsville, Texas, 12.2, $2,500. 5, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 13.1, $1,600. 6, (tie) *Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., and Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 13.8, $450 each. *advances based on tie-breaker.
Rookie Saddle Bronc: (Round 1) 1, Isaac Richard, Eunice, La., 83 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Prairie Worm, $1,252. 2, Chance West, Chino Valley, Ariz., 80, $941. 3, (tie) Rowdy Dunklin, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Cable Wareham, Whiting, Kan., 79, $564 each. 5, (tie) Denton Ward, Goodwell, Okla., and Clancy Glenn, Parma, Idaho, 77, $226 each. (Round 2): 1, Reed Neely, Sanger, Calif., 8 on Korkow Rodeo’s What Feathers, $1,242. 2, Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 81, $941. 3, Carson Bingham, Rigby, Idaho, 77, $677. 4, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 76, $451. (Total on two): 1, Wareham, 154, $1,242. 2, Q McWhorter, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 150, $941. 3, Bingham, 149, $677. 4, Dunklin, 147, $451. 5, (tie) Jacob Benham, Dodge City, Kan., and Dickinson, 146, $226 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Q Taylor, Casper, Wyoming, 86 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s 86, $3,051. 2, Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho, 84, $2,312. 3, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 83.5, $1,664. 4, Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M., 83, $1,110. 5, Will Pollock, Utopia, Texas, 82.5, $647. 6, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., and Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., 82 and $231 each.
Team Roping: 1, Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City and Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla., 8.7 seconds, $5,200. 2, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 9.1, $4,300. 3, Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D., and Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb., 9.3, $3,400. 4, Brayden Parker and Dustin Searcy, Scottsdale, Ariz., 11.0, $2,500. 5, Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont., and Cayden Cox, Arroyo Grande, Calif., 18.0, $1,600. 6, Rio Nutter, Rapid City, S.D., and Daine McNenny, Hereford, S.D., 18.0, $900.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore., 6.9 seconds, $4,060. 2, Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss., 7.2, $3,360. 3, Bridger Chambers, Stevensville, Mont., 7.6, $2,660. 4, Mason Couch, Bronaugh, Mo., 7.9, $1,960. 5, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 8.9, $1,260. 6, Denton Good, Long Valley, S.D., 9.1, $700.
Barrel Racing: 1, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.16 seconds, $5,120. 2, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark., 17.28, $4,237. 3, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.36, $3,354. 4, Rachelle Riggers, Lewiston, Idaho, 17.47, $2,472. 5, Presley Smith, Danham Springs, La., 17.50, $1,589. 6, Lisa Lockhart, Oehlrichs, S.D., 17.67, $883.
Bull Riding: (five rides) 1, Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 89.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Paradise, $3,181. 2, Shad Winn, Nephi, Utah, 86, $2,105. 3, Dawson Gleaves, Amarillo, Texas, 83, $1,216. 4, Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, 82, $1,216. 5, Jared Parsonage, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada, 80.5, $748.
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
Today is the final opportunity for any contestant to advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. In the bareback riding, there are a bunch of rising stars including Rocker Steiner who just won the Calgary Stampede, is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year race and is headed to his first NFR. The high school reserve champion, Jacek Frost is also on the list as well as Keenan Hayes who did well here the first time he entered, in 2021. Tim O’Connell will be trying to win his third CFD championship. He is the reigning champ. Other NFR qualifiers Caleb Bennett and Tilden Hooper will be doing their best to finish among the top half of the contestants and stay here through Sunday’s rodeo.
The reigning saddle bronc riding champion Stetson Wright will be here along with former champion Wade Sundell and Stetson’s older brother Ryder. Wyoming native Tanner Butner could have the ride of his life today. Butner who lives at Daniel is in the 15th spot in the world standings. If he is among the top six today and advances to Sunday, he would be the first Wyoming resident to win a saddle bronc riding title here since 2005 when Bryce Miller won it. Butner is a native. Miller claimed Wyoming as home while he was competing and spent much of his time with the Forbes family at Kaycee. Regardless, Butner is proud to represent the “Cowboy State,” and will be doing his best to keep the bronc riding title at home.
There is only one former CFD champ in the bull riding and it happens to be Ky Hamilton who won here last year. The native of Australia is traveling with Stetson Wright who came up short in this event. Garrett Smith has done well here almost every year he has competed and this year is no exception. The former high school rodeo all-around champion loves the western atmosphere and the big open arena. Cody Teel won the world title in 2015, the same year he got married. He is now a father, and while his focus has been on the PBR, he is very grateful to be doing well here and wants that momentum to continue today. He has been to the NFR five times, and has countless wins to his credit, but has yet to get the prestigious buckle from the “Daddy.”
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
Riley Webb is extremely happy he had the opportunity to compete at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The tie-down roper from Denton, Texas is one spot out of the top 15 that qualify for the NFR. That could change today. Riley is less than $1,000 out of the top 15 and is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year race. He could increase his lead in that category and put himself in better position in the world standings with a win here.
Haven Meged grew up in Miles City, Montana, working cattle and basically being a working cowboy. Those skills have transferred over to the arena where he is one of the top tie-down ropers. The 2019 college and world champion will be trying to win his first CFD title. Tyson Durfey is another world champion hoping to cash in here. Durfey is a social media influencer that mentors others and is always looking for ways to improve.
Today’s team roping will see Paul David Tierney trying to win a title here and go down in history as the first from his rodeo family. His father, Paul Tierney, is a former world champion, his brother Jess will be here on Sunday in the steer roping. At the end of Sunday’s rodeo, there could be some bragging rights at stake. Chad Masters won the team roping here in 2009 with Jade Corkill who has already qualified for Sunday’s championships. This year Chad is roping with Paul Eaves. Both have two world championships to their credit and can be a very exciting team to watch.
Most of the fans won’t recognize Turner Harris who will be heading for Matt Kasner. Harris comes from a ranching family in North Dakota, mainly goes to circuit rodeos, but loves Cheyenne. He has roped here multiple times and has made the final round nearly every time he has come to Cheyenne. The big arena, long score and big cattle are perfect for this ranch cowboy.
The steer wrestling is full of talent starting with Trell Etbauer who is in the top 25 in the world standings, is a former all-around here and is trying to be the first of his bronc riding family to qualify for the NFR in a timed event. A win here would give him a significant boost in the standings and get his children each a buckle from the “Daddy.” Will Lummus is second in the world standings and is looking for his first gold buckle. The four-time NFR qualifier knows what it takes to be an athlete and take care of his body. His wife is a pharmacist and he is a certified physical therapist.
The reigning college champion is hoping to turn his professional season around here today. Walt Arnold won the title in Casper in June and is 43rd in the world. If he is among the top 6 today and advances to Sunday’s finals, he could win a college title and CFD championship the same year just like J.D. Struxness did in 2016. Struxness is also in the field and looking for his second CFD buckle
Taylor Hanchey was the first woman to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo racing and the National Finals Breakaway Roping. She competed in barrel racing in 2013 and 2015, but prior to 2013 considered herself more of a roper than a barrel racer. She hasn’t found her next great barrel racing horse, so she began roping again and qualified in breakaway last season. Her husband Shane won the tie-down roping title here in 2018 and she’d love to add her own to the family trophy room. Bradi Good qualified for the Finals last year in both breakaway and barrel racing. She missed the cutoff in barrels this year but has another shot in breakaway. Her dad Shay Good won the CFD steer roping title in 2015.
Lisa Lockhart was the barrel racing champion here at in 2015. She’s qualified for 15 consecutive and the South Dakota native is always a fan favorite. She is 23rd in the world standings and any money she wins here will help her get to a 16th NFR. Another fan favorite is Emily Beisel. The Oklahoman has qualified for the last three NFRs and rides horses that are known for their calm demeanor at the start. Shy-Anne Jarrett and her husband, tie-down roper Ryan Jarrett, are both competing today. Shy-Anne is in the barrel racing and Ryan is in the tie-down roping. If things go their way, they could have a chance to become the first spouses to win CFD titles in the same year.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 29, 2022) –The Friday crowd at Frontier Park watched as Semifinals 1 set half the field for Sunday’s Championship Finals at the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD). Twelve rodeo athletes competed in each event (12 teams in team roping) with just six advancing to Sunday’s competition.
In the bareback riding Garrett Shadbolt of Merriman, Nebraska, went to the winners’ circle for the second consecutive day. The father of two won Quarterfinals 6 on Thursday, then took first place in Semifinals 2 with a score of 86 points on United Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse named Pow Wow Nation. Shadbolt is currently ranked 12th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (PRCA) standings and aiming for a second trip to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December. Another cowboy advancing to Sunday is Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas. At age 39 he is competing, and winning, against men half his age. The three-time world champion has won the bareback riding title at CFD three times. If he wins the championship round, he will become the only bareback rider to win the “Daddy of ‘em All” four times.
Three-time world champions Clay Tryan of Billings, Montana, and Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nevada, also won for the second day in a row at Frontier Park. The pair won the CFD team roping championship together in 2013. A win Sunday could make Corkill the first four-time team roping champion at the “Daddy of ‘em All”. He won in 2009 with Tennessee roper Chad Masters and last year with Oklahoman Clay Smith.
A couple of Texas women tied for the win in Semifinals 2 of breakaway roping. Tiffany Schieck of Floresville and Martha Angelone of Stephenville both roped their calves in 4.6 seconds. Angelone has qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR) twice, winning the inaugural event in 2020, and is currently third in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) standings. Schieck, on the other hand, is not among the top 50 in the standings and a win at Frontier Park on Sunday would be the biggest of her career.
Reese Riemer of Stinnett, Texas, set the pace early in the tie-down roping with a 10.5-second run. The three-time NFR qualifier has not qualified for rodeo’s season finale since 2018. Today’s win, plus a win on Sunday, could put another trip to Las Vegas within reach for the 31-year-old Texan.
Two-time world champion Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, rodeo Summit Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Corina for 89.5 points to win Semifinals 2. Thurston has never won a championship at CFD, but his father Skeeter Thurston was the rookie saddle bronc riding winner at Frontier Park in 1982. With a winning ride on Sunday, Zeke could take another CFD title home to Canada for the Thurston family 40 years later.
Justin Shaffer of Hallsville, Texas, took first place in steer wrestling in Semifinals 1 with a time of 6.5 seconds. One of his biggest career wins was at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2017. Winning here could be another. There is at least a 50-50 chance that Sunday’s steer wrestling winner will be a first-time CFD winner since none of the men advancing from Semifinals 1 have won in Frontier Park.
Summer Kosel made history at Cheyenne Frontier Days during last week’s qualifying round of barrel racing by clocking the fastest time recorded at the “Daddy of ‘em All” in barrel racing. The South Dakota barrel racer proved that was no fluke by winning Semifinals 1 with a time of 17.34 seconds.
Josh Frost of Randlett, Utah, tallied 91 points when he rode Harper & Rodeo Company’s bull Blackout to win the Semifinals. Frost, who won the 2021 NFR title in bull riding for the highest cumulative score over 10 rounds, is currently ranked second in the PRCA standings. The younger brother of retired bull rider Joe Frost and second-cousin to bull riding legend Lane Frost is striving to become the first in his family to win a CFD championship.
Semifinals 2 will begin at 12:45 p.m. on Friday. The six fastest times or highest scores will join those who advanced on Friday in Sunday’s Championship Finals to round out the field of 12 in each event.
CHEYENNE, Wyo (July 29, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from Semifinals 1 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Friday, July 29. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback: 1, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 86 points on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Pow Wow Nation, $3,163. 2, Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas, 85.5, $2,396. 3, Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, 84.5, $1,725. 4, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 84, $1,150.
Breakaway: 1, (tie) Tiffany Schieck, Floresville, Texas, and Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6 seconds, $5,534 each. 3, Ashley Goforth, Azle, Texas, 4.9, $3,505. 4, Lynn Smith, Elfrida, Ariz., 5.2, $2,398.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 10.5 seconds, $5,200. 2, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 11.1, $4,300. 3, Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas, 11.4, $3,400. 4, Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla., 12.6, $2,500.
Rookie Saddle Bronc: (Round 1) 1, Isaac Richard, Eunice, La., 83 points. 2, Chance West, Chino Valley, Ariz., 80. 3, (tie) Rowdy Dunklin, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Cable Wareham, Whiting, Kan., 79. (Round 2): 1, Reed Neely, Sanger, Calif., 82. 2, Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 81. 3, Carson Bingham, Rigby, Idaho, 77. 4, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 76. (Total on two): 1, Wareham, 154. 2, Q McWhorter, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 150. 3, Bingham, 149. 4, Dunklin, 147
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 89.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Corina, $3,051. 2, Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 86.5, $2,311. 3, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 86, $1,664. 4, Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 84, $878.
Team Roping: 1, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 8.4 seconds, $5,200 each. 2, Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 9.1, $4,300 each. 3, Rhett Anderson, Annabella, Utah, and Max Kuttler, American Falls, Idaho, 9.7, $3,400 each. 4, Kellan and Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 10.6, $2,500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 6.5 seconds, $4,060. 2, Talon Roseland, Marshalltown, Iowa, 7.4, $3,360. 3, Emmett Edler, State Center, Iowa, 7.5, $2,660. 4, Cody Harmon, Dublin, Texas, 7.6, $1,960.
Barrel Racing: 1, Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D., 17.34 seconds, $5,119. 2, Cindy Smith, Lovington N.M., 17.53, $4,237. 3, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, $17.57. 4, Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Calif., 17.65, $1,647.
Bull Riding: 1, Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 91 points on Hunter & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Blackout, $3,087. 2, (tie) Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, and Brady Portenier, Caldwell, 86, $2,011 each. 4, Tyler Bingham, Howell, Utah, 83.5, $1,122.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Leon Stewart, $678.
Josh Frost continued his winning ways at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The bull rider from Randlett, Utah, had a 91-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Blackout to win Semifinals 1. Frost is second in the world standings and is hoping for a win in Frontier Park on Sunday to help him get back to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo next December where he is the defending champion for having the highest total score on ten rides. PRCA photo by Click Thompson
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2022) –Although heavy rain on Wednesday left the arena muddy at Frontier Park, three-time world champions Clay Tryan of Billings, Montana, and Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nevada, took first place in the team roping in Quarter Finals 6 at the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD). Their time of 7.9 seconds was half a second faster than the second-place team.
The duo has won the CFD team roping championship twice as together, first in 2013 and again last year. If their success continues throughout the weekend, they could become the first pair to win the team roping title at the “Daddy of ‘em All” in consecutive years. Corkill, who also won the team roping title at Frontier Park in 2009 with Tennessee roper Chad Masters, could win his fourth CFD championship.
Injuries are inherent in rodeo. The old rodeo saying is “it is not if you’ll get hurt; it’s when you’ll get hurt.” Nobody knows that better that two of the timed event winners of Quarter Finals 6 – ropers Megan Small and Hunter Herrin.
Small, who grew up on a ranch in Montana, has a passion for roping. She lost her thumb on her roping hand in a team roping accident and had to re-learn many things, including how to rope since ropers rely on their thumbs to control their loops. The former Indian National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Busby, Montana, caught her calf in 3.8 seconds to win the breakaway roping by 1.1 seconds and advance to the Semifinals.
Hunter Herrin of Apache, Oklahoma, has nearly $2 million in career tie-down roping winnings and has qualified for 11 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos (WNFR). He missed most of three rodeo seasons after 2016 with major injuries and multiple hip surgeries before returning to the top 15 the past two seasons. This year started slowly for Herrin, but he has been winning lately, winning $11,000 plus at the California Rodeo in Salinas and more than $10,000 at Spanish Fork, Utah last week to move up to 12th in the world championship standings.
His time of 12.0 seconds won Quarter Finals 6 and advanced him to the Semifinals. A win here on Championship Sunday could virtually guarantee a 12th trip to Las Vegas for Herrin.
With the conclusion of the quarter-finals, Semifinals 1 will begin at 12:45 p.m. on Friday. The six fastest times or highest scores advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. Six more in each event will advance from Saturday’s Semifinals 2 to complete the field for Sunday’s Championship Finals.
CHEYENNE, Wyo (July 28, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals 6 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Thursday, July 28. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 87 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Many Enemies, $2,447. 2, Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas, 86.5, $1,835. 3, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 84, $1,223. 4, Waylon Bourgeois, Churchpoint, La., 83, $611.
Breakaway: 1, Megan Small, Busby, Mont., 3.8 seconds, $2,951. 2, (tie) Tiffany Schieck, Floresville, Texas, and Megan Burbidge, Tremonton, Utah, 4.9, $1,844. 4, Kamie Landolfi, Coleman, Okla., $737.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 12.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 12.2 seconds, $1,500. 3, (tie) Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla., and Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash., 13.8, $750.
Rookie Saddle Bronc: (Round 1) 1, Isaac Richard, Eunice, La., 83. 2, (tie) Rowdy Dunklin, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Cable Wareham, Whiting, Kan., 79. 4, Denton Ward, Santa Fe, N.M., 77. (Round 2): 1, Reed Neely, Sanger, Calif., 82. 2, Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 81. 3, Carson Bingham, Rigby, Idaho, 77. 4, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 76. (Total on two): 1, Wareham, 154. 2, Q McWhorter, 150. 3, Bingham, 149. 4, Dunklin, 147
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas, 86.5 points on Hurst & TNT Pro Rodeo’s Party Pooper, $2,341. 2, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 84.5, $1,756. 3, Jake Clark, Crane, Ore., 81, $1,170. 4, Dean Wadsworth, Buffalo Gap, Texas, 80.5, $585.
Team Roping: 1, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 7.9 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Payden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 8.4, $1,500 each. 3, Kellan and Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 8.6, $1,000 each. 4, Chaz Kananen, Pocatello, Idaho, and Colby Siddoway, Honeyville, Utah, 500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Adam Musil, Crescent, Okla., 7.5 seconds, $2,000. 2, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 7.6, $1,500. 3, Cody Harmon, Dublin, Texas, 8.5, $1,000. 4, Talon Roseland, Marshalltown, Iowa, 8.9, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Tarryn Lee, St. David, Ariz., 17.56, $2,353. 2, Megan McLeod Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 17.93, $1,765. 3, Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D. 18.0, $1,176. 4, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 18.08, $588.
Bull Riding: 1, Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa, 88.5 points on Universal Rodeo’s Big Bank, $2,397. 2, Reid Oftedalh, Raymond, Minn., 87.5, $1,797. 3, Tyler Bingham, Howell, Utah, 87, $1,198. 4, (tie) Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, and Jake Gardner, Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, 84.5, $299.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Krening, $678.
Hunter Herrin of Apache, Oklahoma, roped and tied this calf in 12.0 seconds to win Quarter Finals 6 of the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Herro, who won more than $21,000 last week at Salinas, California, and Spanish Fork, Utah, is now ranked 12th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world championship standings and, with continued success at CFD, could rise even higher. PRCA Photo by Robert Rosales
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
Cole Reiner would love nothing more than winning the rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The bareback rider is currently second in the world standings thanks in part to a win over the Fourth-of-July at Cody, Wyoming. A native of the Cowboy State, Cole makes his home at Buffalo. He has qualified for the NFR the past two years and finished fifth and seventh respectively. He has his eye on the gold buckle and a win here in Cheyenne would certainly help him accomplish that goal. Other bareback riders competing today that have qualified for the NFR include another Wyoming cowboy Seth Lee Hardwick, Garrett Shadbolt, Trenton Montero, Bill Tutor, Taylor Broussard and Cole Franks.
Today’s saddle bronc riding is also full of NFR qualifiers. Chet Johnson, another native of Wyoming has been a member of the PRCA for 22 years. Most of those he has competed in Frontier Park but he has never left with a championship. It would mean the world to Johnson who is on the back side of his career. He also is using his experience to help the sport of rodeo and saddle bronc riding as a member of the PRCA Board of Directors. There are two former CFD champions in the mix as well. Jacobs Crawley who won here in 2016 and Jesse Bail from 2011. Cort Scheer’s saddle bronc riding career got a jump start here when he won the rookie bronc riding in 2008. He would go down in history if he added a saddle bronc riding title from Frontier Park to his rodeo resume.
Bull riders will have one more chance to qualify for the Semifinals today with the top 6 scores advancing. Florida cowboy Ernie Courson, Jr., just missed the top 6 yesterday and will try to better himself when he matches up with Dakota Rodeo’s bull Ponotoc. Needing to put a big score on the board is former CFD and world champion Shane Proctor along with former cage fighter turned bull rider Cole Fischer of Jefferson City, Missouri, and several other cowboys. While the riders who snared a semifinal berth on Wednesday are facing less pressure, they would still like to earn a paycheck with a top four finish today, especially Minnesotan Reid Oftedahl who is currently ranked 15th and needs every dollar possible to qualify for his first NFR.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
Marty Yates has won two tie-down roping championships at the “Daddy of ‘em All,” in 2015 and again last year. He would love to have his name in the record books as a three-time winner and for getting the buckle in back-to-back years. Known for taking chances and throwing fast, Yates will need to do that today as he has CFD champions Clint Robinson (2006) and Lane Livingston (2017) to rope against. Hunter Herrin who is one of the fastest men on the ground and is an NFR qualifier along with John Douch who has led the world standings most of the season and world champion Monty Lewis are all looking to be at the top of the leaderboard.
“Rope Like a Girl,” is a campaign that began because of Lari Dee Guy who will be in today’s breakaway roping. Guy is a nine-time world champion WPRA roper and has earned those in a variety of disciplines. Like many women who want to rope, she is excited to be participating in rodeos like Cheyenne and winning a title here would not only be a special one for her, but for all the women that she has inspired in her career.
A win here would also mean the world to Coralee Spratt who is a native of Wyoming. She finished in sixth place a year ago and if she would win would be the first Wyoming cowgirl to win a CFD breakaway roping title.
The team roping is star-studded today with six world champions and multiple NFR qualifiers here. What’s even more impressive is the list of former CFD champions on the roster. Jade Corkill has won the title three times with three different partners. One of those is Clay Tryan who he is roping with today. They earned the title here in 2013, then roped with other partners and are now back together again. Erich Rogers won the heading here in 2017 with Cory Petska. NFR qualifier Payden Bray will be heeling for Rogers today. Kollin VonAhn is a world champion heeler who got the CFD win in 2015 roping with Luke Brown. Today, Kollin will be roping with his younger brother Ryan who earned the college title in 2009, the same year Kollin won the gold buckle.
Barrel racer Kelly Yates hopes to add her name to the list of family members who have won titles here. She will compete in the WPRA sanctioned barrel race. Her brother J.D. was the all-around champion in 2016. Three years later, J.D.’s son and Kelly’s nephew, Trey won the team roping title.
Kyle Irwin has qualified for five NFRs in steer wrestling. After missing rodeo’s premiere event for the past two seasons, he is back among the top 10 this season with help from a Wyoming win at Cody. A winning streak in Cheyenne would virtually guarantee him a return trip to Las Vegas in December. Laramie cowboy Ty Everson competed on the University of Wyoming’s rodeo team and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo three times finishing as high as fourth in 2019 as a junior. His favorite college course was equine nutrition because keeping horses healthy from the inside out is important to him. That course also helped him in his work as a farrier, where he shoes horses and helps their owners keep their equine partners sound.
Today’s competition completes the Quarter-Finals and will see the final list of contestants advancing to the Semi-Finals.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 27, 2022) –As the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) reached the midway point of its nine rodeo performances, surprises ruled the day on Wednesday, beginning with the bareback riding. Will Lowe, who began his professional rodeo career 21 years ago, is one of three cowboys to have won three CFD championships in bareback riding. At age 39, Lowe is competing against men half his age, but his experience is unmatched.
He brought all that experience – 15 years of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualifications, three world championships and two WNFR average titles – to his ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Flashcard Champ, to win Quarter Finals 5 with an 86-point-ride and advance to the Semifinals this weekend. If Lowe can be one of the six from his semi-final to advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals, he could become the first to win four bareback riding titles at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” On the other hand, six-time world champion Kaycee Feild has more world titles than any other bareback rider but has never won a title at Frontier Park. That achievement will have to wait as he finished out of the top four and did not advance to the Semifinals.
Eli Lord of Sturgis, South Dakota, left Frontier Park with the steer wrestling title in 2019. He would love to repeat that feat in 2022 and join Ote Berry as the only two-time CFD steer wrestling champion not to win those titles in consecutive years. He stopped the clock in 7.5 seconds to tie for first place Quarter Finals 5 and continue his championship quest. Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta, also wrestled his steer in 7.5. Cassidy is an eight-time WNFR qualifier who has won six Canadian steer wrestling titles.
Header Quinn Kesler of Holden, Utah, and heeler Caleb Hendrix of Fallon, Nevada, roped first place in Quarter Finals 5 with a time of 8.1 seconds. Kesler has qualified for the WNFR three times in team roping while Hendrix, who is in his sophomore season of pro rodeo, is pursuing his first WNFR qualification.
Canadian Ben Anderson found some success last year at Frontier Park, winning both his quarterfinals and semifinals. This year his goal is to win the championship, and he made a good start with an 83.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s horse named The Turtle to win Quarter Finals 5. Former CFD and world champion Wade Sundell’s score of 81 on Sankey’s Intelligent Caddy put him into the Semifinals. Hometown favorite and three-time CFD champion Brody Cress will not advance after bucking off Dakota Rodeo’s horse Sippin Whiskey.
Two former CFD champions – Stevi Hillman of Weatherford, Texas, and Nellie Miller of Cottonwood, California, did not advance to the Semifinals, but rookie Jamie Olsen of Brock, Texas, will be there after winning the day with a time of 17.47 seconds.
Veteran roper Eric Dublanko, the 2017 Canadian champion from Thorsby, Alberta, won the tie-down roping on Sunday. Also advancing to the Semifinals is two-time CFD champ Mike Johnson of Henryetta, Oklahoma, at age 58.
The last quarter-finals competition of the 126th CFD begins at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 28. Semifinals 1 is Friday followed by Semifinals 2 on Saturday. The top six from each semi-final advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals.
Unofficial Results
CHEYENNE, Wyo (July 26, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals 5 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Wednesday, July 27. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, 86 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Flashcard Champ, $2,447. 2, Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 85.5, $1,835. 3, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Cali., 83.5, $1,223. 4, A.J. Ruth, Huntsville, Texas, 82.5, $611.
Breakaway: 1, (tie) Katie White, Sumner, Texas, and Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 3.8 seconds, $2,582. 3, Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 4.0, $1,475. 4, Abbea Faris, Grover, Colo., 4.7, $368.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Erik Dublanko, Thorsby, Alberta, Canada, 12.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Taylor Santos, Creston Calif., 14.2, $1,500. 3, Mike Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., 14.3, $1,000. 4, Reese Reimer, Stinnett, Texas, 15.6, $500.
Rookie Saddle Bronc: (Round 1): 1, Isaac Richard, Eunice, La., 83 points. 2, Rowdy Dunklin, Malakoff, Texas, 79. 3, Denton Ward, Goodwell, Okla., 77. 4, Q McWhorter, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 76. (Round 2): Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 81. 2, Bingham, 77. 3, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 76. 4, Cauy Masters, Leon, Iowa., 75. (Total on two) 1, Bingham, 149. 2, (tie) Benham, and Dickinson, 146. 4, Masters, 145.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ben Anderson, Rocky Mountain High, Alberta, Canada, 83.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s The Turtle, $2.354. 2, (tie) Lefty Holman, Visalia, Cali., and Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 81, $1,471. 4, Dawson Dahm, Tomahawk, Alberta, 78, $588.
Team Roping: 1, Quinn Kesler, Holden, Utah, and Caleb Hendrix, Fallon, Nev., 8,1 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Paul Eaves, 8.9, $1,500 each. 3, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 9.0, $1,000 each. 4, Tyler Waters, Stephensville, Texas, and Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., 9.8, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., and Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 7.5 seconds, $1,750 each. 3, J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn., 7.7, $1,000. 4, Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La., 8.2, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Jamie Olsen, Brock, Texas, 17.47 seconds, $2,353. 2, Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas, 17.69, $1,765. 3, Cindy Smith, Lovington, Mont., 17.76, $1,176. 4, Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Cali., 17.77, $588.
Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Tyler Bingham, Howell, Utah, on Dakota Rodeo’s Unstopable, and Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, on Dakota Pro Rodeo’s Melanie’s Dream, 88, $2,097 each. 3, Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa, 87.5, $1,198. 4, Thayne Weight, Goshen, Utah, 86.5, $599.
Wild Horse Racing: 1, Team Krening, $678. 2, Residential Roofing, $508
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
R.C. Landingham of Hat Creek, California, has been one of the hottest bareback riders in the PRCA lately. This past Saturday he won first place and nearly $6,000 at the California Rodeo in Salinas. On Monday, he earned $25,000 and a gold medal at the Utah Days of 47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City. Although that money doesn’t count in the PRCA standings, it still fattens the pocketbook. He’ll be looking to continue that streak on Dakota Rodeo’s Gun Powder today. Will Lowe won the CFD bareback riding title in 2009, 2012 and 2018. At age 39, the three-time world champion is still riding well and can’t be overlooked to win another CFD title and hold the record for most bareback wins here. (He currently shares with Joe Alexander and Clint Corey who each have three championships.) Six-time world champion Kaycee Feild has won almost everything there is to win in bareback riding, except he has never won the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
Hometown favorite Brody Cress won the saddle bronc riding title here three years in a row. He’s currently ranked second in the world and would love to win in front of the hometown crowd again. Another crowd favorite is 2018 world champion Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa, who won The Daddy in 2013. Californian Lefty Holman who is ranked 9th in the standings would love to win a saddle bronc riding title in Cheyenne, just as his uncle Joe Marvel did in 1981. Logan Hay’s dad Rod won the CFD bronc riding title in 2000. The Canadian cowboy just won the Calgary Stampede and is 10th in the standings.
Shane Proctor won the bull riding world title, the Calgary Stampede Championship and the CFD championship all in 2011. Earlier this month he won his second title in Calgary, and he’d love to do the same here in Cheyenne. Josh Frost continues the momentum his 2021 National Finals Rodeo average and reserve world title started and currently sits second in the world standings. Frost won the Linderman Award last year, given to the cowboy with the highest season earnings who wins at least $1,000 in three events, including both a rough stock and a timed event. Despite the many accomplishments of his famous cousin Lane and his older brother Joe, Josh could become the first in his family to win a CFD championship. Watch for Trevor Reiste. The ambidextrous cowboy decides which hand to ride with depending on what bull he has drawn.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
One of the most successful barrel racers in the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days is Nellie Miller from Cottonwood, California. Nellie won back-to-back championships here in 2018 and 2019. Her title in 2018 was as the reigning world champion and both of her wins in Frontier Park helped her qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo again last December. She didn’t win anything during qualifying, is 20th in the world standings and is hoping for success in the Quarter Finals to give her an opportunity to cash in.
One of the things that makes Cheyenne the “Daddy of ‘em All” is the opportunity for newcomers to compete against world champions and NFR qualifiers with equal chances. One of those newcomers is Laura Mote, the daughter of Bobby Mote who was the bareback riding champion here in 2004, one year after she was born. Laura has leaned on her dad for her mental game and also gotten experience from her barrel racing mom. She is ninth in the rookie of the year standings and if she finishes among the top four here today, it could be a game changer for the recent high school graduate.
Stevi Hillman, had barrel racing fans on the edge of their seats when she won the championship here in 2017 riding I’m a Sharp Guy an amazing gray gelding. This year, she has her solid gelding Cuatro Fame “Truck” in her trailer as well as a super palomino mare Famous Lemon Drop. Whatever she is riding, Stevi will be doing it with her whole heart and gratitude for the opportunities rodeo has provided her to share her faith.
The seasoned veterans will be trying to show the youngsters how it is done in the tie-down roping today. Mike Johnson has earned titles here in 1997 and 2003. At 58-years-old, he has a wealth of experience that he shares with others by hosting competitions and training horses. He has been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo a record 23 times in his event. The other veteran in the field today is Blair Burk who will go down in history as the first header to ever win a championship in the team roping here. That happened in 2007. He was here consistently after that but has yet to win a title in his signature event – the tie-down roping. That could change in 2022, 15 years after he won the team roping title.
Steer wrestling should get fast today as former CFD champion’s Curtis Cassidy (all-around 2010,) Eli Lord (2019 and J.D. Struxness (2016) are in the mix. Eli is the only one of these that hasn’t been to the NFR, but he could be in contention this year if he has some success here. He is currently 24th in the world standings.
Add in Blake Mindeman, Rowdy Parrott, Tanner Milan who have all been to the NFR and 2021 college champion Gavin Soileau and it will be the timed-event of the day to watch. They have all come to play and have everything to gain today.
Eli will be watching the team roping today too as his brother Levi Lord will be roping with Jr. Dees. One of the most exciting headers in the industry to watch, Dustin Egusquiza, will be here with veteran heeler Travis Graves. They are looking for their first CFD title and their first gold buckles. Chad Masters and Paul Eaves have each won gold buckles, but not together. If their world-championship skills mesh at CFD, it would be the first title for Paul and the third for Chad who won here in 2009 and 2018.
