July 19-28, 2024

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Saddle Bronc Zeke Thurston

Since Zeke Thurston’s time as a Sheridan College General he’s won two saddle-bronc riding gold buckles and many big rodeos in the U.S. and in his Canadian homeland. A Cheyenne Frontier Days buckle and saddle is in sight now after a semifinals performance on Friday that ended with the high-marked bronc ride of ‘The Daddy’ thus far. Zeke gathered 89.5 points on Centennial-based Summit Pro Rodeo’s ‘Corina.’ Thurston has won $5,300 at CFD and will have the opportunity to pocket much more at the Sunday Finals. He checked out his Summit horse with owner J.D. Hamaker so Zeke knew what to expect.

WATCH: Barrel Racer Lockhart

It’s been a week since rodeo’s most widely recognized and beloved barrel racer Lisa Lockhart advanced to today’s semifinals at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The South Dakotan is on a horse called ‘Levee’ and the six-year-old is just breaking into pro rodeo having rounded the barrels at fewer than ten events none of which had the sights, sounds and smells of Frontier Days.

Semifinals 1 Sets Half the Field for Championship

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

Field Set for Semifinals

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

Surprises Ruled during Quarter Finals 5

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

RODEO CONTESTANTS TO WATCH

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.

Wyoming Native Busby Wins Quarter Final 4

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 26, 2022) –Andrea Busby’s Wyoming roots run nearly as deep as Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) itself, so winning Quarter Finals 4 in barrel racing at the 126th edition was even more meaningful for the Brock, Texas, resident.

Busby’s family began The Bruch Ranch near Lusk (140 miles northeast of Cheyenne) in 1910, just 23 years after the first one-day roundup in Cheyenne and nearly a decade before Cheyenne Frontier Days earned the nickname the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Busby grew up near Lusk, then attended Montana State University.

On Tuesday she was the first barrel racer of the day. She stopped the clock in 17.20 seconds, one of the fastest times of the week, riding Blazinwithmydude, a six-year-old mare called Tito. That was the fastest time of the day and advanced her to this weekend’s Semifinals. She and her husband Jeff own Busby Quarter Horses and have connections to some of the top barrel racing horses in the industry. Famous Lil Jet, the 2021 AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year, was purchased from the Busbys as a yearling by reigning world champion barrel racer Jordan Briggs.

Trey Kimzey of Strong City, Oklahoma, has an opportunity earn a bull riding accomplishment that has eluded his famous older brother – win a CFD championship. Although Sage Kimzey has won seven bull riding world championships and numerous other awards, he has never won a title at Frontier Park. Trey, 23, is having his best season in pro rodeo and is currently ranked sixth.

On Tuesday he topped the first section of bull riding with 88.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s bull Wolf of Wallstreet. Canyon Bass, an 18-year-old rookie from Johnson City, Texas, tied Kimzey’s score in the second section on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bull #625. The riders with Tuesday’s top six scores advance to this weekend’s Semifinals. Another high-marked ride in the Semifinals would advance Kimzey for Sunday’s Championship Finals and give him the chance to be the first in his family to win here.

The women’s breakaway roping featured Tuesday’s toughest competition. Only four of 13 ropers missed their calves. The other nine women roped their animals in less than seven seconds. The fastest of the day was Missouri cowgirl Emma Charleston. She stopped the clock in 3.1 seconds – just one-tenth slower than the CFD record set last week during the qualifying rounds. Charleston, who was part of the rodeo teams at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M and then Tarleton State University in Texas is a two-event cowgirl in pro rodeo. She’s currently ranked 28th in the barrel racing world standings but did not advance to the CFD quarterfinals in that event.

Taylor Hanchey of Carmine, Texas, was second with a time of 3.9. Hanchey has also made her mark in both women’s events. She was the first women to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in barrel racing and for the National Finals Breakaway Roping. Her husband Shane Hanchey won the tie-down roping title at CFD in 2018 and Taylor would love to add her own CFD title to the family trophy room.

The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 25. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 86 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cracked Pepper, $2,447. 2, Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah, 85, $1,529. 3, (tie) Anthony Thomas, Houston, Texas, and Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 84, $1,070 each.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Emma Charleston, Reeds, Mo., 3.1 seconds, $2,951. 2, Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 3.9, $2,213. 3, Lynn Smith, Elfrida, Ariz., 4.0, $1,475. 4, Paige Stout, Decatur, Texas, 4.3, $737.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas, 10.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 11.2, $1,500. 3, Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 11.8, $1,000. 4, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 12.1, $500.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (Round 1): 1, Denton Ward, Goowell, Okla., 77 points. 2, (tie) Jacob Benham, Dodge City, Kan., and Garret Long, Valentine, Neb., 73. 4 Carson Bingham, Rigby, Idaho, 72. (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, Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa., 85.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Klingon, $2,354. 2, Damian Brennan, Injune, Queensland, Australia, 82.5, $1,765. 3, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 81.0, $1,177. 4, Kody Rinehart, Rienzi, Miss., 80.0, $588.

Team Roping: 1, Clayton Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Jayden Johnson, Casper Wyo., 9.4 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Garrett Rogers, Baker City, Ore., and Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., 9.6, $1,500 each. 3, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 10.0, $1,000. 4, Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss., and Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss., $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore., and Bridger Chambers, Stevensville, Mont., 8.0 seconds, $1,750. 3, Rooster Yazzie, Coyote Canyon, N.M., 8.3, $1,000. 4, Rowdy Chance, Norwood, Colo., 8.9, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 17.20 seconds, $2,353. 2, Jamie Chaffin, Burwell, Neb., 17.57, $1,865. 3, Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas, 17.59, $1,176. 4, Sarah Rose Waguespack, Gonzlaes, La., 17.70, $588.

Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Wolf of Wallstreet, and Canyon Bass, Wimberley, Texas, on Smith Pro Rodeos #625, 88.5 points, $2,097. 3, Clayton Savage, Banner, Wyo., 86, $1,198. 4, Cody Teel, 83.5, $599.

Wild Horse Racing: 1, Small Miracles, $678. 2, Alf’s Pub, $508.

 

Andrea Busby of Brock, Texas, and Blazinwithmydude (Tito) clocked a time of 17.20 seconds to win the Quarter Finals 4 barrel racing at the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days on Tuesday, July 26. The win at the “Daddy of ‘em All” was especially meaningful to Busby who grew up in Lusk, Wyoming, on a family ranch that has been operating in the state for 112 years. PRCA photo by Robert Rosales

Rodeo Recap Monday Quarter Finals

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 25, 2022) – Tyson Durfey of Brock, Texas, has more than $2 million in career winnings, 14 trips to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), a world championship and many other professional rodeo accomplishments, but the tie-down roper who always competes wearing a signature pink shirt has never won the championship at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD).
Durfey, who has developed a strong mentorship program and has nearly more than half a million followers on social media, told his followers he still gets goosebumps when he backs his horse into the box at Cheyenne. In Monday’s Quarter Finals 3 Durfey was the next-to-last cowboy to rope. He roped and tied his calf in 11.8 seconds to win the day by two-tenths of a second. He advanced to the Semifinals which will be Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30.
Monday was a special day for barrel racer Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Oklahoma. Beisel rode Beau, a nine-year-old bay gelding whose registered name is Biddin on Fame, to win Quarter Finals 3 with a time of 17.49 seconds. She gave all the credit to Beau as she pointed out that the barrel racing pattern at Frontier Park is unique and requires a special horse. “I didn’t enter here for a few years,” she said, “because I didn’t have the right horse.” Beau, who is one of the calmest barrel horses entering the arena, is proving to be the right one for Beisel at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
The three-time NFR barrel racer who is currently ranked 9th in the world championship standings was excited that her dad was able to watch her win the quarter-finals in person since he had never been to CFD. She wore red for Rita, her mother-in-law, whose 60th birthday coincided with Beisel’s win. She will be back at CFD for the Semifinals this weekend.
The bull riding competition at CFD has a different format, with riders competing in back-to-back quarter-finals performances with the top six riders each day advancing to the Semifinals. Twenty riders compete, divided into two sections within each performance.
Creek Young, the 2021 bull riding rookie of the year from Rogersville, Missouri, rode Stace Smith’s bull #606 for 88.5 points to take the lead after the first section. Former world champion Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas, made the first 90-point ride of this year’s CFD when he rode Building Champions LLC’s bull Sometime Sober to take the lead. That lead was short-lived.
The final rider of the day, reigning CFD champion Ky Hamilton, matched up with Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bull Fire Ant. Hamilton, a two-time NFR qualifier from Mackay, Queensland, Australia, scored 92.5 points to win Quarter Finals 3. He will return to Frontier Park with the goal of becoming the fifth bull rider to win back-to-back CFD championships since the event became part of the rodeo in 1936.
Quarter Finals 4 begins at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
CHEYENNE, Wyo (July 25, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 25. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback: 1, Yance Day, Tahlequah, Okla., 85.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Preacher, $2,447. 2, (tie) Lane Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., and Kyle Bloomquist, Raymond, Minn., 84.5, $1,529. 4, Matthew Smith, Saraland, Ala., 84, $611.
Breakaway: (Three times) 1, Devan McAdow, Hyannis, Neb., 5.2 seconds, $3,197. 2, Jennifer Canik, Iowa, La., 6.0, $2,459. 3,Taya McAdow, Keenesburg, Colo., 14.7, $1,721.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Tyson Durfey, Brock, Texas, 11.8 seconds, $2,000. 2, (tie) Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., and Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 12.0, $1,250. 4, Hudson Wallace, George West, Texas, 12.2, $500.
Rookie Saddle Bronc: Results pending
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 84.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Conference Call, $2,354. 2, Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 84, $1,765. 3, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 83.5, $1,177. 4, Will Pollock, Utopia, Texas, 83, $588.
Team Roping: 1, Miles Kobold, Huntley Mont., and Clint Brower, Lander, Wyo., 8.6 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., and Jhett Hillman, McAlester Okla., 8.7, $1,500 each. 3, Wyatt Imus, Brenham, Texas., and Caleb Anderson, Mocksville, N.C., 8.9, $1,000 each. 4, Paul Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla., 9.0, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss., 5.9 seconds, $2,000. 2, Justin Kimsey, Douglas, Wyo., 6.0, $1,500. 3, Caden Camp, 6.3, $1,000. 4, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 6.8, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 17.49 seconds, $2,353. 2, Suzanne Brooks, Seminole, Okla., 17.63, $1,765. 3, Rachelle Riggers, Lewiston, Idaho, $1,176. 4, Presley Smith, Denham Springs, La., 17.72, $588.
Bull Riding: 1, Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 92.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Fire Ant, $2,397. 2, Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 90.0, $1,797. 3, Creek Young, Rogersville, Mo., 88.5, $1,198. 4, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 86.0, $599.
Wild Horse Race: No qualified rides

WATCH: Bull Rider Ky Hamilton

Australian bull rider Ky Hamilton laid the groundwork for winning his second consecutive Cheyenne Frontier Days on Monday by lighting the scoreboard for 92-and-a-half points. It was the high-marked roughstock ride thus far at ‘The Daddy’ in 2022.

Young Cowboys Make Noise at CFD

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (June 24, 2022) – With a name like Bronc, Bobby and Michelle Marriott’s son seemed destined to ride bucking horses from birth. Twenty-three years later Bronc Marriott rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse named Worth the Whiskey to win Quarter Finals 2 of bareback riding at the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD).
Marriott, who lives in Woods Cross Utah, grew up in the world of professional rodeo. His dad was a bronc rider and long-time professional rodeo pickup man. A three-time qualifier for College National Finals Rodeo, Marriott turned pro in 2020 and is currently 29th in the world championship standings. He added $2,400 to his season earnings and advanced to next weekend’s Semifinals where he will have the opportunity to add to his earnings and move on to the Championship Finals on Sunday, July 31.
Denton Good, a 2022 high school graduate from Long Valley, South Dakota, has spent the last week in Wyoming competing in the steer wrestling. He qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Gillette and competed in two preliminary rounds there, squeezing in qualifying round competition at CFD before competing in the Championship Round of the NHSFR on Saturday where he finished in the top six.
He was back in Cheyenne Sunday and won Quarter Finals 2 in the steer wrestling with a 6.6-second run. The 18-year-old will be one of the youngest athletes to compete in next weekend’s Semifinals.
Dawson Gleaves of Amarillo, Texas, has the nickname of “Sticky” and the CFD crowd saw why Sunday afternoon. The rookie bull rider stuck to the back of United Pro Rodeo’s bull Amish Burnout for a score of 88 points and the quarter-finals win.
Gleaves, who is ranked third in the bull riding rookie standings and 35th in the world championship standings, attends Clarendon (Texas) College and qualified for the College National Finals last year. He advances to next weekend’s Semifinals and could “stick” around for the Championship Finals with another ride like he made in Quarter Finals 2.
Also moving on to the Semifinals are the husband and wife duo of Ryan and Shy-Anne Jarrett of Comanche, Oklahoma. Ryan, a former all-around world champion who now focuses mainly on tie-down roping, caught a berth in the Semifinals in that event and Shy-Ann qualified for the Semifinals in barrel racing.
CFD also hosted the Women’s Ranch Bronc Riding World Finals July 23-24. Allysa Spierings, a Wisconsin native who lives in Missouri and works at the Joplin Regional Stockyards, was crowned the champion.
The Quarter Finals 3 begins at 12:45 p.m. on Monday, July 25.

Unofficial results from Quarter Finals 2

CHEYENNE, Wyo (July 24, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from Quarter Finals 2 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 23. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Bronc Marriott, Woods Cross, Utah, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Worth the Whiskey, $2,447. 2, Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, Canada, 82.5, $1,835. 3, Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 82, $1,223. 4, (tie) Evan Betony, Tonalea, Ariz.; Ethan Mazurenko, Kaycee, Wyo., and Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 81, $203 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Anna Callaway, Billings, Mont., 3.5 seconds, $2,951. 2, Ashley Goforth, Azle, Texas, 6.5, $2,213. 3, Macy Young, Wittmann, Ariz., 14.1, $1,475. 4, Sara Montgomery, Wheatland, Wyo., 15.2, $737.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 11.5 seconds, $2,000. 2, Zaine Mikita, Byers, Colo., 11.9, $1,500. 3, Riley Webb, Denton, Texas, 12.1, $1,000. 4, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 12.5, $500.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: Results pending
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Knights Showoff. 2, (tie) Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M., and Leon Fountain, Socorro, N.M., 84.5, $1,471 each. 4, Taygen Schuelke, Newell, S.D., 80.5, $588.
Team Roping: 1, (tie) Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D., and Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb.; and Jay Tittle, Pueblo, Colo., and Cole Cooper, Montrose, Colo., 8.0 seconds, $1,750 each. 3, Rhett Anderson, Annabella, Utah, and Max Kuttler, American Falls, Idaho., 8.2, $1,000 each. 4, Kyon and Clancey Kreutzer, Lake Creek, Texas, 9.0, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Denton Good, Long Valley, S.D., 6.6 seconds, $2,000. 2, Mason Couch, Bronaugh, Mo., 7.2, $1,500. 3, Gus Franzen, Kearney, Neb., 8.1, $1,000. 4, Shane Frey, Duncan, Okla., 8.2, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark., 17.65 seconds, $2,353. 2, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.82, $1,765. 3, Stephanie Fryar, Waco, Texas, 18.04, $1,176. 4, Shy-Anne Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 18.07, $588.
Bull Riding: 1, Dawson Gleaves, Amarillo, Texas, 88 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Amish Burnout, $2,397. 2, Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas, 86, $1,797. 3, (tie) Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas, and Shad Winn, Nephi, Utah, 85, $898 each.
Wild Horse Race: No qualified rides