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July 19-28, 2024
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – It was a two horse race from July to December with Shelby Boisjoli and Sawyer Gilbert battling back and forth. Boisjoli entered her second Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping as the No. 1 roper following her big win at the ProRodeo Tour Finale in Salinas.
Boisjoli held that spot until the 10th round of the Wrangler NFBR at the Orleans Arena when Gilbert moved in front by $86.32. Boisjoli was leading the average until a no time in the eighth round opened the door for Gilbert to win her first gold buckle. She didn’t let that opportunity pass and not only won the world but went ahead and won the average title as well in a total time of 46.30 seconds on 10. Actually, Gilbert was the only lady in the top 15 to rope all 10 head.
“That is one of my strengths as I can always catch,” said Gilbert about the average title. “I told myself even if I broke a barrier to get all 10 roped and this means the world to me.”
Gilbert won the world with $71,654 compared to Boisjoli with $69,457.
“Holy cow,” responded Gilbert when she learned she had won the world. “I knew I could do it and just wanted to catch that last calf. This has been a dream before I even knew it was possible on this big stage. I am so honored and glad to get it done.”
Taylor Munsell, former college coach, finished third in the world with $57,896 after finishing second in the average in a time of 25.10 on nine head.
Kelsie (Chace) Domer and Gilbert got things started on the final day of the National Finals Breakaway Roping winning the sixth round after stopping the clock in 2.0 seconds. They each added $3,949 to their bank accounts.
The time of 1.8 seconds was the sweet spot for the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth rounds as that was the winning time for each. The seventh round won by Martha Angelone was just a tick off the fastest time of the event which came in the fourth round by Joey Williams with a 1.7. It would be Williams that took the eighth round victory lap after turning in her own 1.8 second run. Domer and Munsell were second in 2.1 seconds.
The ninth round was won by Cheyanne Guillory and Angelone with identical 1.8 second runs. Danielle Lowman a proud representative of the Navajo Nation was third in a time of 1.9 seconds.
She waited until the end like she did last year at the NFBR but better late than never. Seventeen time WPRA World Champion JJ Hampton took the 10th round win with her own 1.8 second run.
Another first for Gilbert was the average title as during the 2020 Wrangler NFBR an average was not awarded so she became the inaugural average champion.
Cheyenne Frontier Days welcomed fans back to Frontier Park with at or near capacity crowds throughout the week. Both Saturday rodeos and the Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton concerts were sold out. A record number of 267,369 rodeo and concert tickets were sold overall – rivalling the 100th Anniversary in 1996.
The “Daddy of ‘em All” returned after cancelling in 2020 due to the global pandemic. This year, organizers introduced a clear bag policy, emphasized digital tickets, and increased sanitation to make the event as safe as possible for everyone involved. The University of Nebraska Global Center for Health Security provided recommendations for health and safety protocols. Security measures were also modified and increased.
This year’s event was dedicated to Chris LeDoux, the rodeo and recording legend. Garth Brooks and Ned LeDoux spoke at the dedication of the bigger than life bronze statue Just LeDoux It that was added to Frontier Park to commemorate the event’s 125th anniversary.
The 2021 rodeo had 1,403 contestants competing for over $1 million in prize money. Women’s breakaway roping and a tournament-style format returned for the second time.
At the Championship Finals on Sunday, 14,925 fans witnessed history when reigning all-around champion Stetson Wright won consecutive titles. It is the first time in over 60 years a cowboy competing from the bucking chutes has done that. Wright also became the first member of his famous saddle bronc riding family to win that event here. His father Cody Wright started competing here in 2001 and there have been family members on the roster every year since.
The two Saturday rodeo performances on July 24 and 31 were sold out. All rodeo performances were broadcast worldwide on the Cowboy Channel. Competition was sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
Animals are an important part of CFD. An estimated 6,000 make their way through the rodeo arena, parades and the bull riding. All animals are checked multiple times throughout the day with their health and welfare being of primary concern. CFD veterinarians treated seven animals and all but two were expected to make a full recovery.
Rodeo attendance through nine performances was 111,617 compared to 97,373 two years ago, an increase of over 14 percent. Total attendance for Frontier Nights was 155,618 compared to 120,518 in 2019, a 29 percent increase. Total attendance increased as well, but numbers aren’t available as much of the gate admission was free.
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) hosted their Last Cowboy Standing competition as part of Frontier Nights July 26-27. The last bull rider standing on Tuesday night was Brazilian Jose Vitor Leme. It was one of the best crowds since CFD added bull riding with 20,257 in attendance. Events were broadcast on PBR’s Ride Pass and CBS Sports.
Other numbers were in line with previous years. Four parades were extremely well attended. Two of those parades were broadcast by the Cowboy Channel. Three pancake breakfasts saw 19,025 meals served and approximately 50,000 visited the Indian Village.
Military Monday again honored all branches of the military with active personnel and veterans receiving free admission. The USAF Thunderbirds performed Wednesday over F.E. Warren Airforce Base with approximately 5,756 people in attendance on base.
“After missing a year, it was amazing to see how our volunteers and everyone involved came together to produce a fantastic event,” said Jimmy Dean Siler, General Chairman of Cheyenne Frontier Days. “I can’t say thank you enough to the fans, competitors, performers and volunteers and most of all this great Cheyenne community.”
On a day when a majority of the saddle bronc riders at the 125th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) scored 80-plus points, Ben Anderson managed to best them all.
The Rocky Mountain House, Alberta cowboy recorded an 88.5-point ride on the back of Championship Pro Rodeo’s Damaged Goods to win Friday’s CFD Semi Final round and propel himself into Sunday’s Championship Finals.
Of the nine saddle bronc riders who stayed on for eight seconds, six were 83 points or higher. Anderson held off Milford, Utah’s Stetson Wright (88 points) who put himself in position to be the first of his famous saddle bronc riding family to win a championship in that event since his father Cody Wright started competing here over 20 years ago.
This wasn’t the first time Anderson had been on the back of Damaged Goods as the two met at the Mandan (North Dakota) Rodeo Days earlier in July. Anderson hit the ground in less than two seconds, leading to his moment of revenge on Friday.
“I knew he was good. Actually, my travel partner, Layton Green, got on him the other day and had a really good trip with him. He was 85. He was good with me (the first time), just bucked me off really quick,” Anderson said. He also previously won a qualifying round by posting an 88 in the quarterfinals. “I saved it all for Cheyenne I guess.”
Tight races were the norm during the first Semi Final round at the “Daddy of ’em All”, as bareback riders Tim O’Connell (Zwingle, Iowa) and Tilden Hooper (Carthage, Texas) set the tone in the day’s first event. Both cowboys rode for 86 points to tie for the top spot, keeping the battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 bareback riders in the world extremely close. The gap between the two men in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association standings is less than $20,000, meaning money in Cheyenne could play a big role in how the season finishes. It took an 80.5-point or better ride just to qualify for Sunday.
Five team roping duos managed to finish their runs in under 12 seconds, with the pairings of Dustin Egusquiza (Marianna, Florida) and Travis Graves (Jay, Oklahoma), and Levi Simpson (Ponoka, Alberta) and Tyler Worley (Berryville, Arkansas) tying for the Semi Final’s top time at 9.5 seconds.
A similar pattern emerged in steer wrestling as five of the six qualifiers finished in under seven seconds, with Hallsville, Texas cowboy Justin Shaffer posting a time of 5.5 seconds.
In women’s breakaway roping, 10 of the 12 competitors recorded a time and everyone went for 6.1 seconds or less, making the race for the top six spots extremely narrow. Stephenville, Texas’ Kayelen Helton edged out Buffalo, South Dakota’s Sawyer Gilbert to win the day. Helton finished in 4.3 seconds, just ahead of Gilbert’s 4.6.
While tight scores among the top six competitors were the norm in most events, bull riding proved to be the exception as the pen turned out to be extremely difficult. Of the 13 cowboys to climb on, only four were able to last eight seconds. Still, it turned into a close competition as Grand Coulee, Washington’s Shane Proctor held off Randlett, Utah’s Josh Frost to win the day. Proctor, who won this rodeo in 2011, was at the top of the leaderboard with an 86.5-point ride on the back of Dakota Rodeo’s Big Red, while Frost was 86 on Stace Smith’s 637D.
The Semi Finals 2 will start at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday at Frontier Park. Six competitors in an event qualify for Championship Sunday from each Semi Final.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 30, 2021) – The following are unofficial results from the Semi Finals One (seventh performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Friday. All money winners advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Prairie Rose, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Hooey Rocks, 86 points, $2,780 each. 3, Cole Franks, Clarenden, Texas, 82.5, $1,726. 4, (tie) Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., and Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, 81, $911 each. 6, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 80.5, $479.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Kayelen Helton, Stephenville, Texas, 4.3 seconds, $6,088. 2, Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 4.6, $4,612. 3, Makayla Mack, Hennessey, Okla., 5.1, $3,321. 4, (tie) Tibba Smith, Hobbs, N.M., and Nicole Baggarley, Las Cruces, N.M., 5.2, $1,753. 6, (tie) Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, and Coralee Spratt, Shoshoni, Wyo., 5.3, $231 each.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 10.4 seconds, $2,328. 2, Ladd King, Kaysville, Utah, 10.5, $1,927. 3, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 11.6, $1,525. 4, (tie) Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, and Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 12.1, $923. 6, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 12.5, $401.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ben Anderson, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Damaged Goods, $3,043. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 88, $2,305. 3, (tie) Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla., 82, $1,383. 5, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 84, $645. 6, Sterling Crawley, Huntsville, Texas, 83, $461.
Team Roping: 1, (tie) Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta, and Tyler Worley, Berryville, Arkansas; and Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 9.5 seconds, $1,876 each. 3, Jason Stewart, Pendleton, Ore., and Jason Duby, Klamath Falls, Ore., 10.7, $1,484 each. 4, Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz., and Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 10.8, $1,093 each. 5, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 10.9, $703 each. 6, Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif., and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 20.8, $390 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 5.5 seconds, $2,121. 2, (tie) Brian Snell, Wheatland, Wyo., and Chance Howard, Sadler, Texas, 6.2, $1,574. 4, Kalane Andrews, Bayard, Neb., 6.3, $1,390. 5, Mike McGinn, Haines, Ore., 6.8, $658. 6, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 7.5, $366.
Barrel Racing: 1, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.49, $4,839. 2, Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.64, $4,004. 3, Lindsay Sears, Ropesville, Texas, 17.68, $3170. 4, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.69, $$2,336. 5, Jordon Briggs, Chilton, Texas, 17.70, $1,502. 6, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.71, $834.
Bull Riding: (four rides) 1, Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 86.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Big Red, $3,098. 2, Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 86, $2,347. 3, Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La., 84.5, $1,690. 4, J.C. Mortensen, Paulden, Ariz., 79, $1,127.
*Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round winners – 1, (tie) Reed Neely, Sanger, Calif., on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s #253, and Garrett Long, Valentine, Neb., on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s #254, 81 points, $1,081 each. 3, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80, $671. 4, Jade Taton, Kersey, Colo., 78, $447. 3, Locky Sheppard, Snyder, Texas, 77, $26.. 4, Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., 76, $186.
Second round leaders – 1, Triston Eklund, Valentine, Neb., 83 points. 2, Matt Shannon, Prineville, Ore., 75. 3, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71. 4, (tie) Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo.,69. 4, Karson Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif, 68. Total on two: 1, Cunningham, 147.5 points. 2, Wells, 143. 3, Sheppard, 142. 4, Mebane, 138. 5, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 136. 6, Jacob Coates, Aurora, Utah, 134.
*Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Harmon, $782. 2, Team Agin.com, $587. 3, Pierce Trucking, $291. 4, Pat Vargus Team, $196. Overall leaders: 1, 3-N $1,173. 2, (tie) James Federer and Shockers, $978 each. 4, (tie) Butin Pump, Team Harmon, Cowboy Dream, Crazy Rayz, Team Meanus, New Mexico Playboys, $782 each.
Canada’s Ben Anderson had the highest marked saddle bronc ride of this year’s Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo at 88.5 points. The Rocky Mountain House resident rode Championship Pro Rodeo’s Damaged Goods for the win. – PRCA photo by Click Thompson
The first bracket of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo was completed at Frontier Park on Thursday afternoon.
A new format this year meant the rodeo started with six Quarter Finals with the best from each advancing to two Semi Finals. The best from the Semi Finals advance to the Championship Finals which will close out the competition on Aug. 1.
There are some very happy rodeo contestants and even more that are disappointed and headed on to the next rodeo. Among the happiest are saddle bronc riders Isaac Diaz and Cole Elshere who tied for the win in Quarter Finals 6. They each had 84-point efforts.
Diaz has the most to gain with a win here. He is currently 21st in the world standings and if he continues collecting checks, he is likely to move into the top 15 who qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) next December. Diaz, from Desdemona, Texas, rode Stace Smith’s horse named Cow Camp. He is looking for his eighth NFR qualification.
Elshere got on another horse from Smith named Satin Sheets. The Faith, South Dakota, resident isn’t ranked in the top 50 in the world standings, so he also really needs a win. Elshere competed at his fourth NFR last December and has been dealing with a neck injury, so getting on a great horse and earning a big score had him smiling from ear-to-ear.
If either one remains at the top of the board through the Semi Finals and Championship Finals, it would be their first title at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Brody Cress, who calls Hillsdale, Wyoming home and is a local favorite, has won the saddle bronc riding at the last three rodeos here in Cheyenne. Cress also rode today, but his score was not high enough to advance him to the Semi Finals.
Justin Shaffer from Hallsville, Texas, had the fast time in the steer wrestling at 5.9 seconds. Shaffer has yet to qualify for the NFR, but with the way he is performing at Frontier Park, he should be among rodeo’s best soon. His time was over a second faster than the man in second place, Justin Kimsey from Kennewick, Washington.
Thursday’s barrel racing once again saw a Cheyenne Frontier Days champion at the top. Nellie Miller from Cottonwood, California, stopped the clock in 17.37 seconds for the win. Miller has won this rodeo twice (2018 & 2019) aboard her great blue roan mare, Rafter W Minnie, known as Sister. Miller said the reason that they do so well here is that Sister likes the arena at Frontier Park.
The first performance of the Semi-Finals will start at 12:45 on Friday. There will be 12 contestants in all the events except the bull riding.
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The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (sixth performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Thursday. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 85.5 points on Three Hills Pro Rodeo’s Pony Keg, $2,448. 2, Will Martin, Goodwell, Okla., 82.5, $1,836. 3, (tie) Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas and Jess Pope, Waverly, Kansas, 82, $916 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Ariz., 5.2 seconds, $2,952. 2, (tie) Coralee Spratt, Shoshoni, Wyo., and McKenzie Frizzel, Cochise, Ariz., 5.4, $1,845 each. 4, Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 6.0, $737.
Tie-Down Roping: 1,(tie) Hagen Houck, Henrietta, Texas, and J.C. Malone, Plain City, Utah, 11.8 seconds, $1,662 each. 3, Kasen Brennise, Craig, Colo., 12.3, $949. 4, Robert Mathis, Mart, Texas, 12.5, $488.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders– 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Jade Taton, Kersey, Colo., 78. 3, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., and Rowdy Dunklin, Malakoff, Texas, 76. Second round leaders – 1, Triston Eklund, Valentine, Neb., 83 points. 2, Matt Shannon, Prineville, Ore., 75. 3, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71. 4, (tie) Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo.,69. 4, Karson Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif, 68. Total on two: 1, Schofield, 144 points. 2, Wells, 143. 3, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 136. 4, Clayton Atkinson, Casper, Wyo., 133.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, (tie) Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Satin Sheets, and Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Cow Camp, $2,060 each. 3, Leon Fountain, Soccoro, N.M., 83, $1,177. 4, Jake Clark, Crane, Ore., 81.5, $589.
Team Roping: 1, Jason Burson, Sealy, Texas, and Corey Hendrick, Bedias, Texas, 8.9 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Lane Stock, Taylor, Ariz., and Justin Simon, Florence, Ariz., 9.8, $1,386 each. 3, Joshua and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 10.4, $924 each. 4, Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif., and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 10.8, $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 5.9 seconds, $1,951. 2, Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash., 7.1, $1,463. 3, Newt Novich, Twin Bridges, Mont., 8.7, $975 . 4, (tie) Dean Finnerty, Wheatland, Wyo., and Cody Cabral, Hilo, Hawaii, 9.0, $244 each.
Barrel Racing: 1, Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif., 17.37 seconds, $2,225. 2, Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Calif., 17.67, $1,669. 3, Shelley Morgan, Canton, Texas, 17.75, $1,112. 4, (tie) Tyra Kane, Weatherford, Texas, and Cheyenne Hattesen, Lemon Cove, Calif., 17.76, $278 each.
Bull Riding: 1, Jack Gilmore, Ironton, Mo., 86 points on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Chan Man, $2,397. 2, J.B. Mauney, Cotulla, Texas, 85, $1,798. 3, Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 84.5, $1,198. 4, Gavin Michel, Nixa, Mo., 83, $599.
Wild Horse Race: (three rides) 1, Shockers, $782. 2, James Federer, $587. 3, Nowland, $391. Overall leaders: 3-N, $1,173. 2, (tie) James Federer and Shockers, $977.50 each. 4, (tie) Butin Pump, Cowboy Dream, Crazy Rays, Team Meanus, New Mexico Playboys, $782 each.
South Dakota saddle bronc rider Cole Elshere made an 84-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse Satin Sheets to tie for first with Texas cowboy Isaac Diaz during Quarter Finals 6 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. – PRCA photo by Click Thompson
The fifth performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo will be a memorable one for J.B. Mauney from Cotulla, Texas.
Mauney is one of the most well-known bull riders in the sport’s history. He spent many years on the Professional Bull Riders tour and earned titles from that organization in 2013 and 2015. While he is a bull rider and has enjoyed a successful career, he wanted to compete in rodeos as well. He did that in 2009 and that was the only time he rode at the rodeo in Frontier Park. He’s competing full-time for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association this year and is climbing up the standings very quickly.
Mauney competed in Quarter Finals 5 here on Wednesday and scored 87.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Eagle Eye for the day’s win. He will compete here again in Quarter Finals 6 and even though his score of 87.5 points advances him to the Semi Finals, he could add to his earnings.
The last time Mauney competed here was 12 years ago, longer than most bull riders’ careers. He had a sixth-place finish at that time and is not settling for that or slowing down one bit. Mauney is currently third in the PRCA World Standings and is nearly assured a spot at his first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) this year.
The bareback riding winner of the day was Tim O’Connell, from Zwingle, Iowa, who was the champion here in 2017. O’Connell has three world championships to his credit and is first in the world standings. Another championship at the “Daddy of ‘em All” could help him secure another gold buckle. Right behind O’Connell was another three-time world champion bareback rider, Will Lowe, from Amarillo, Texas. Lowe is ahead in the Cheyenne title count. He won the bareback riding here in 2009, 2012 and 2018. He is 20th in the world standings. Success here could help him qualify for rodeo’s championships a 16th time.
Lindsay Sears from Ropesville, Texas, has two champion barrel racing buckles from Cheyenne. She earned them in 2008 and 2010 on her great horse Martha. The big sorrel mare helped carry Sears to two world championships. When she entered the arena today, she was on Martha’s half-brother that she calls “M.” Sears competed here this year for the first time since 2012 and judging by her 17.57-second run, she made a good decision. She won Quarter Finals 5 and will be back for the Semi-Finals.
Thursday’s rodeo will complete the Quarter Finals. Rodeo action begins at 12:45 p.m. on with a new set of contestants in all events but bull riding. Those contestants will have a second opportunity to advance to the Semi-Finals.
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2021) – The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (fifth performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Wednesday. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 87 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Wild Rose, $2,4484. 2, Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, 86, $1,836. 3, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 82.5, $1,224. 4, Nate McFadden, Elsmere, Neb., 82, $611.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Makayla Mack, Hennessey, Okla., 4.6 seconds, $2,952. 2, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 5.1, $2,214. 3, Taya McAdow, 5.3, $1,476. 4, Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla., 5.6, $737.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Glenn Jackson, Okmulgee, Okla., 10.3 seconds, $1,899. 2, Hunter Reaume, Meeteese, Wyo., 11.6 3, Ladd King Kaysville, Utah, 12.0, $949. 4, Brice Meyers, Mabank, Texas, 12.4, $488.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders– 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Jade Taton, Kersey, Colo., 78. 3, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., and Rowdy Dunklin, Malakoff, Texas, 76. Second round leaders – 1, Matt Shannon, Prineville, Ore., 75 points. 2, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71. 3, Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., 69. 4, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67. Total on two: 1, Schofield, 144 points. 2, Wells, 143. 3, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 136. 4, Clayton Atkinson, Casper, Wyo., 133.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Cort Scheer, Bluff Dale, Texas, 82 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Outclassed, $2,354. 2, Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., 81, $1,766. 3, Lane Schuelke, Newell, S.D., 79, $1,177. 4, Martin Joyce, Juntura, Ore., 76, $589.
Team Roping: 1, (tie) Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins III, Columbus, Kansa; and Seth Driggers, Pearcy, Ark., and Trent Vaught, Mena, Ark., 9.5 seconds, $1,617 each. 3, Paul Beckett, Laramie, Wyo., and Jayden Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 9.9, $924 each. 4, Eric Martin, Aurora, Colo., and Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., 10.3, $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 7.2 seconds, $1,951. 2, Colton Swearingen, Piffard, N.Y., 7.5, $1,463 . 3, Brian Snell, Wheatland, Wyo., 8.1, $975 . 4, Grayson Allred, Edmond, Okla., 8.7, $488.
Barrel Racing: 1, Lindsay Sears, Ropesville, Texas, 17.57 seconds, $2,225. 2, Ivy Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 17.58, $1,669. 3, Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 17.66, $1,112. 4, Tracy Nowlin, Nowata, Okla., 17.83, $556.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1. J.B. Mauney, Cotulla, Texas, 87.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Eagle Eye, $2,397. 2, Trey Kimsey, Strong City, Okla., 83.5, $1,798. 3, Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, La., 79.5, $1,198.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Cowboy Dream, $782. 2, BNC construction, $587. 3, James Federer, $391. 4, Shockers, $196.
J.B. Mauney is making a bid for his first Cheyenne Frontier Days championship and first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. An 87.5-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Eagle Eye at Wednesday’s rodeo could help him accomplish both of those goals. – PRCA photo by Click Thompson
Lisa Lockhart and her buckskin mare Rosas Cantina CC (Rosa) have been dominating the barrel racing this week at the 125th Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD). Lockhart who lives in Oelrichs, S.D., is no stranger to the Daddy of ‘em All. She won the championship here in 2015 riding another buckskin – the gelding nicknamed Louie, now age 18, who Lockhart rode for most of her 14 trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Last Wednesday Rosa made her 2021 CFD debut in the qualifying round of barrel racing with more than 200 competitors. Lockhart and Rosa outpaced them all, winning the round with a time of 17.42 seconds and earning $5,500 plus the berth in today’s Quarter Finals. They rounded the cloverleaf pattern even faster today, stopping the clock in 17.37 to win the day. That earned them another $2,225 and put them into Friday and Saturday’s Semi Finals. Six competitors from each Semi Final move on to Championship Sunday.
Bareback rider Caleb Bennett missed the 2020 NFR after eight straight qualifications, but he’s back near the top of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings for 2021. Lately the Utah native that now lives in Corvallis, Montana, has been on a roll. This month he won the Cody Stampede for the second consecutive year and followed up with a $50,000 paycheck and the win at the Calgary Stampede. He has increased his PRCA earnings by $62,000 in the past six weeks, even though only $25,000 of his $50,000 champions check from Calgary counts in the world standings.
He continued that streak today with an 87-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse Bald Mountain to win Quarter Finals 4. Bennett has never won a CFD championship, but if he continues this streak, he could leave Frontier Park on Sunday with another big win this season.
Veterans dominated the tie-down roping today with 2005 World Champion All-Around Cowboy Ryan Jarrett of Comanche, Okla., leading the pack stopping the clock in 11.0 seconds. Jarrett, who won his all-around title at age 21, has made 12 trips to the NFR in the intervening years and looks to make it 13 as he is currently seventh in the world standings. Tying for second with times of 11.3 were three-time world champion tie-down roper Tuf Cooper and 2015 CFD champion Marty Yates. Cooper won the CFD All-Around title in 2013 but has yet to win the tie-down roping.
Quarter Finals 5 will start at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday with a new set of contestants.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 27, 2021) – The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals 4, (fourth performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Tuesday. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 85.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Bald Mountain, $2,4484. 2, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 80.5, $1,836. 3, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 80, $1,224. 4, (tie) Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., and Cole Franks, Clarenden, Texas, 74, $306 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Jennifer Belkham, Lipan, Texas, 4.7 seconds, $2,952. 2, Nicole Baggerly, Las Cruces, N.M., 4.8, $2,214. 3, Taylor Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., 4.9, $1,476. 4, Tacy Webb, Midway, Texas, 5.2.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 11.3 seconds, $1,899. 2, (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 11.3 $1,186 each. 4, Blake Chavin, Raceland, La., 11.5, $488.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders– 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Jade Taton, Kersey, Colo., 78. 3, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., and Rowdy Dunklin, Malakoff, Texas, 76. Second round leaders – 1, Matt Shannon, Prineville, Ore., 75 points. 2, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71. 3, Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., 69. 4, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 86.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Sabre, $2,354. 2, Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah, 85.5, $1,766. 3, Cody Demoss, Heflin, La., 84, $1,177. 4, Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah., 83.5, $589.
Team Roping: 1, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Lane Mitchell, Bolivar, Tenn., 8.7 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, (tie) Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta, and Tyler Worley, Berryville, Ark.; and Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., 9.9, $1,155 each. 4, Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz., and Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La., 5.6 seconds, $1,951. 2, Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, 8.6, $1,463 . 3, Kalane Anders, Bayard, Neb., 9.2, $975. 4, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 9.3, $488.
Barrel Racing: 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.37 seconds, $2,225. 2, Tanya Jones, Chilton, Texas, 17.62, $1,669. 3, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.67, $1,112. 4, Jordan Briggs, Chilton, Texas, 17.80, $556.
Bull Riding: 1, Daylon Swearingen, Rochelle, Ga., 87 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s bull #653, $2,397. 2, (tie) Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., 86.5, $1,498 each. 4, Jordan Hansen, Amisk, Alberta, 84, $499.
Wild Horse Race: 1, 3-N, $782. 2, Butin Pump, $587. 3, Team Joaquin, $391. 4, TC Buntin, $196.
Orin Larsen began his quest for a second Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) bareback riding championship on Monday when the Canadian bareback rider took first place in Monday’s Quarter Finals. The six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier won his first title at the Daddy of ‘em All in 2016.
Larsen, the reigning Canadian champion and two-time collegiate champ, scored 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s bucking horse Rylee’s Rasin Cane. That was good enough to edge past 2019 world champion Clayton Biglow by half a point. Biglow, from Clements, California also rode here on Monday and his 86-point effort will see him vying for another Cheyenne buckle.
With the pandemic closing the border and canceling all rodeos in Canada, Larsen based his 2020 rodeo travels from his home in Gering, Nebraska, — just 100 miles from Frontier Park — where his wife Alexa is an ICU nurse.
His win on Monday guaranteed Larsen a berth in one of two Semi Finals on this Friday and Saturday. If he finishes among the top six then, he moves on to Championship Sunday and a one-in-12 chance at a second CFD title.
Three-time world champion barrel racer Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas, took first in the barrel racing. She and her superstar palomino mare DM Sissy Hayday (Sister) rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 17.22 seconds — the fastest time of more than 200 barrel racing runs so far this year at Frontier Park. Kinsel is in contention for her first CFD title by moving on to the Semi Finals.
Bradi Good of Abilene, Texas, finished second. Good, a second-generation rodeo competitor, is the first woman to win money in multiple events at the rodeo here in the modern era. She won Monday’s breakaway roping with a time of 4.1 seconds, giving her $4,651 in combined earnings and a solid chance to be the first woman to win the CFD All-Around title. Her father Shay Good was the 2015 CFD Steer Roping champion and competed here in that event this year.
The number of bulls ridden in a performance here on Monday was higher than the number of cowboys who hit the ground before the eight-second horn sounded, a rarity. Eleven of 20 bull riders tallied a score. Four-time NFR cowboy Jordan Spears of Redding, Calif., scored 86 points to take the lead in section one on United Pro Rodeo’s bull Diamond Cutter. His lead held until the final bull of the second section. Chase Dougherty, a 2018 NFR contestant and reserve world champion, is a native of Oregon who is now living in Texas. He rodeo Dakota Rodeo’s bull Sun Dog to match Spear’s score.
Quarter Finals four will start at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday with a new set of contestants in all events, except bull riding. The same bull riders who competed Monday, including reigning world champion Stetson Wright and six-time world champion Sage Kimzey, ride again on Tuesday.
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The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals three (third performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Rylee’s Rasin Cane, $2,4484. 2, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 86, $1,836. 3, Mason Clements, Spanish Fork, Utah, 83, $1,224. 4, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 80, $612.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Bradi Good, 4.1 seconds, $2,952. 2, Anna Calloway, Billings, Mont., $2,214. 3, Tana Johnson, Kersey, Colo., 5.1, $1,476. 4, Amanda Coleman, Stephenville, Texas, 18.0, $737.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho, 11.3 seconds, $1,899. 2, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 12.9, $1,424. 3, Garrett Busby, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 13.7, $949. 4, (tie) Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas, and Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas, 14.0, $238 each.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders– 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Jade Taton, Kersey, Colo., 78. 3, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., and Rowdy Dunklin, Malakoff, Texas, 76. Second round leaders – 1, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71 points. 2, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67. 3, Caleb Meeks, Geraldine, Mont., 64. 4, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 62.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Ben Anderson, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Bridal Shower, $2,354. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.5, $1,766. 3, Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D., 84.5, $1,177. 4, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 83.5, $589.
Team Roping: 1, Britt and Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., 8.4 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., and Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 11.5, $1,386 each. 3, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 15.3, $924 each. 4, Nick Sartain, Bandera, Texas, and Reagan Ward, Edmond, Okla., 16.4, $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 5.9 seconds, $1,951. 2, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 6.2, $1,463 . 3, Marc Joiner, Loranger, La., 7.0, $975 . 4, Grady Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 7.6, $488.
Barrel Racing: 1, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.22 seconds, $2,225. 2, Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 17.55, $1,669. 3, Tarryn Lee, St. David, Ariz., 17.66, $1,112. 4, Jamie Chaffin, Burwell, Neb., 17.80, $556.
Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., on United Pro Rodeo’s Diamond Cutter, and Chase Dougherty, Decatur, Texas, on Dakota Rodeo’s Sun Dog, 86 points, $2,098 each. 3, J.C. Mortenson, Paulden, Ariz., 85.5, $1,198. 4, (tie) Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia; Sage Kimzey, Salado, Texas, and Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La., 84 points, $200 each.
Wild Horse Race: 1, New Mexico Playboys, $782. 2, Lazy Hatted J, $587. 3, 3-N, $391. 4, Butin Pump, $196.
The second performance of Cheyenne Frontier Days saw some first timers rising to the top of their events.
Seth Peterson had the fastest time of the steer wrestling at 7.6. Peterson grew up near Minot, North Dakota, moved to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming where he is a recent graduate with degrees in agricultural business and finance. While at school his favorite class was finance because the movement of money was interesting.
Now, he may be putting those lessons to use. Peterson earned $1,951 for his fast time in steer wrestling and also finished second in the tie-down roping with a time of 11.7 to add another $1,424 to his bank account. He has advanced to the Semi Finals in both events and is in contention for Cheyenne Frontier Day’s All-Around Championship.
Fans couldn’t tell that it was breakaway roper, Josey Murphy’s first time in front of an audience at Frontier Park. Murphy has the fast time of the rodeo breaking the record set at the first performance by Josie Eichler who had a 4.3. This is the second year that the rodeo has included breakaway roping, so records could fall again before the Championship Finals. Murphy had a picture-perfect run stopping the clock a full second faster at 3.3 seconds. The sophomore at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, kept looking back at the scoreboard in disbelief while praising her horse as she rode out of the arena. Fans will have another chance to watch her during the Semi Finals.
Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman is having the best year of his four as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association member. He is currently 11th in the world standings and could improve on that with success here. He won the second Quarter Finals with an 87-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s California Kiss. Newman, from Melstone, Montana is headed to the Semi Finals after his very first appearance at Frontier Park.
Quarter Finals three will start at 12:45 p.m. on Monday with a new set of contestants.
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The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (third performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Wild River and Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., on Carr Pro Rodeo’s First Kiss, 83 points each, $2,142 each. 3. Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, 82, $1,224. 4, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 78.5, $612.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Josey Murphy, Keachi, La., 3.3 seconds, $2,952. 2, Kerby Lane Anderson, Grover, Colo., 4.77, $2,214. 3, (tie) Tibba Smith, Hobbs, N.M., and Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas, 5.1, $1,106 each.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 11.0 seconds, $1,899. 2, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 11.7, $1,424. 3, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 11.9, $949. 4, Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 12.2, $475.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round – 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 3, Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., 76. 4, Damian Brennan, Snyder, Texas, 75. Second round – 1, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71 points. 2, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67. 3, Caleb Meeks, Geraldine, Mont., 64. 4, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 62.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s California KISS, $2,354. 2, (tie) Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 86.5, $1,471 each. 4, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 82.5, $589.
Team Roping: 1, Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 10.1 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 10.3, $1,386 each. 3, Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla., and Austin Rogers, Crescent, Okla., 10.6, $924 each. 4, Philip Schuman, Johnstown, Colo., and Josh Fillmore, Penrose, Colo., 11.1, $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 7.6 seconds, $1,951. 2, Richard Coats, Hastings, Neb., 10.2, $1,463 . 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 12.0, $975 . 4, Mike McGinn, Huston, Idaho, 12.4, $488.
Barrel Racing: 1, Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas, 17.61 seconds, $2,225. 2, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.64, $1,669. 3, Lindsay Stock, Bozeman, Mont., 17.78, $1,112. 4, Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.89, $556.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 82 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Touch N Go, $2,397. 2, Jesse Hopper, Mangum, Okla., 80, $1,798. 3, Laramie Mosley, Palestine, Texas, $1,198.
Wild Horse Race: (one qualified ride) Team Meanus, $782.
Montana’s Sage Newman has been having a very successful year and that continued at the “Daddy of ‘em All,” on Sunday. The Melstone resident rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse California Kiss for 87 points. His top spot-on Sunday’s leaderboard will see him competing in the Semi Finals at the end of the week. CFD photo by Dawn McDonnell
2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Champions
(money is total earned during the rodeo)
Bareback Riding – Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 91 points, $11,784
Steer Wrestling – Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.9 seconds, $8,628
Team Roping – (header) Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., 7.8 seconds $11,979
(heeler) Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., $11,979
Saddle Bronc Riding – Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyoming, 87.5 points, $12,585
Tie-Down Roping – Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.5 seconds, $12,615
Barrel Racing – Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, California, 17.22 seconds, $20,687
Bull Riding – Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 93 points, $13.253
Steer Roping – Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo., 45.6 seconds (on three) $19,903
Breakaway Roping – Jordan Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.18 seconds, $17,515
All-Around – Stetson Wright, $16,007 won in saddle bronc and bull riding
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2019) – History was made on Championship Sunday of the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD.) While this year’s rodeo debuted a tournament-style competition format, some familiar faces rode into the winner’s circle.
Local favorite Brody Cress became the first saddle bronc rider to win three consecutive CFD championships when he rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Resistol’s Top Hat for 87.5 points.
Saddle bronc began in Cheyenne in 1897 and only Earl Thode, who won four titles between 1927 and 1934, has more wins here than Cress. Hall of fame cowboy Turk Greenough won three in the 1930s and 13-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) cowboy Cody DeMoss has won three beginning in the 21st century.
Cress, whose hometown is nearby Hillsdale, extended the traditional winner’s victory ride on horseback around the arena to three full laps – one for each of his titles. The cheers from the crowd grew louder with each trip.
“Frank (Thompson-the CFD arena director) told me to make three laps,” Cress said with a smile. “I’ve been listening to Frank my whole life, so I wasn’t going to stop now.”
The $12,585 Cress won in Frontier Park will help him on his quest for a third consecutive NFR qualification. He is currently ranked 28th and needs to be among the top 15 on September 30 to return to Las Vegas.
Nellie Miller of Cottonwood, California, became the first barrel racer since Kristie Peterson in 1998 to successfully defend her CFD championship. The 2017 world champion, who is currently ranked second in the 2019 standings, won $20,697 dollars in Frontier Park, making her the highest money winner of the rodeo.
“This is such a traditional-filled rodeo,” Miller said. “It’s so special to win here. My horse loves big pens and she runs well here.”
She rode the blue roan mare named Rafter W Minnie Reba (called Sister) that she raised and trained. They rounded the pattern in 17.22 seconds, an identical time to that set by Shali Lord of Lamar, Colorado, seven runs earlier. While both women shared the final round’s first and second place prize money, Miller won the tiebreaker to be crowned champion based on having the fastest time in the earlier rounds.
The 19-year-old professional rodeo rookie sensation Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, has begun carving out his own place in the CFD record books. Wright became the first rough stock cowboy to win the all-around title at the Daddy of ‘em All since Chad Eubank in 2007 won money in bareback and bull riding.
Wright qualified for Championship Sunday in both saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He thought his shot at the all-around title might have slipped away when he bucked off Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s saddle bronc Utopia. But the money he had earned in the quarterfinals and semifinals in saddle bronc riding still counted toward the all-around.
The defeat in the bronc riding made Wright more determined to do well in bull riding, his favorite event. When the day began, he was second in the world championship standings, just about $16,000 behind five-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey.
Parker McCown of Montgomery, Texas, set the bar high when he scored 90 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bull Hacksaw Ridge. Wright was the next-to-last cowboy to compete and he came within a single point of the CFD bull riding record with 93 points on Dakota Rodeo’s bull Safety Meeting.
That earned Wright both the bull riding and the all-around championship and his own place in the record books. Wright comes from a legendary bronc riding family. He is the third-oldest son of two-time world champion Cody Wright; the brother of world champion Ryder and NFR bronc rider Rusty; the nephew of world champions Spencer and Jesse; and three other uncles have qualified for the NFR in bronc riding.
“I’d have figured one of them would have won it before now,” he said. “What really means the most to me is to be the first member of my family to win a title here.”
Wright, who turns 20 on Tuesday, won just over $16,000 in two events with more than $13,000 from bull riding.
Clayton Biglow of Clements, California, was the final bareback rider to compete. Former CFD champ Richmond Champion has just scored 89.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Prairie Rose, so Biglow knew he needed 90 points or more to win the title and he delivered.
He made a wild ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Witchy Woman and earned 91 points from the judges to win his first CFD title in four tries.
2019 has been Biglow’s best rodeo season thus far. He is ranked second in the world championship standings, about $27,000 behind four-time world champion Kaycee Field. The nearly $12,000 he earned in Frontier Park will help keep him within striking distance as the pro rodeo season begins its final two months.
The Cheyenne crowd had a chance to cheer for more than one local winner. Steer roper Trey Sheets grew up in western Nebraska and has made Cheyenne his home for the past seven years. He had the second-fastest time of the finals, but the championship in this event was awarded in the traditional format of total time on three runs. His 45.6 seconds was the best by four seconds.
In tie-down roping and steer wrestling, one of the first cowboys to compete in the finals set a pace that could not be beaten. Seth Hall of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was the second roper and his time of 10.5 seconds earned the championship. Hall has competed at CFD about eight times but had only made the finals once before-in 2012.
“This is almost more than amazing,” Hall said of earning the championship in Frontier Park.
Eli Lord was the first steer wrestler to ride out from CFD’s Chute 9 and he stopped the clock in 6.9 seconds. The next 15 competitors got no closer than two seconds to Lord’s time. He credits his hazer, Linn Churchill, a former CFD steer wrestling champion with helping him win the title. Lord is the third CFD champion that Churchill has assisted.
Dustin Bird of Cut Bank, Montana, and Trey Yates of Pueblo, Colorado, are the 2019 team roping champions in Cheyenne. They won the final round in 7.8 seconds and each won just under $12,000. Bird is a former NFR qualifier, and Yates is the 2018 collegiate champion who roped at his first NFR last December. Their paychecks in Cheyenne will jump Yates into the top 20 in the heeling standings and put Bird in the top 30 in the heading.
Frontier Days added women’s breakaway roping for the first time and drew 242 entries. When the tournament-style competition ended, seven of the 16 ropers in the championship round turned in times in the four-second range.
Jordan Jo Fabrizio of Canyon, Texas, was the fastest of the seven – 4.18 seconds. She is the first breakaway roping in the CFD record book with winnings of more than $17,500.
“All of the breakaway ropers took time to take a group photo in front of the grandstand before the finals today and it really hit me how historic this is,” she said. “This will be something I’ll never forget and always treasure.”
Fabrizio took inspiration from the buckle she wore, a CFD champion tie-down roping buckle won by Raymond Hollabaugh in 1983. Fabrizio spent five years competing in college rodeo for West Texas A & M University where Hollabaugh is the coach.
Plans are already underway for the 124th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days scheduled for July 2020.
Brody Cress made history at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday. Cress, from nearby Hillsdale, Wyoming, became the first man in history to win three consecutive titles. His 2019 win came with an 87.5-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat. CFD photo by Dan Hubbell
CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 28, 2019 — The following are final round and overall Cheyenne Frontier Days results.
Bareback Riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 81 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Witchy Woman, $8,259. 2, Richmond Champion, The Woodland, Texas, 89.5, $6,257. 3, (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 87.5, $3,754 each. 5, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 85.5, $1,752. 6, Pascal Isabelle, Okotoks, Alberta, 85, $1,251.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.9 seconds, $5,948. 2, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 8.7, $5,172. 3, Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., 8.9, $4,396. 4, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 9.2, $3,620. 5, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., 10.6, $2,845. 6, Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 15.2, $2,069. 7, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., 16.0, $1,293. 8, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D., 16.6, $517.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.5 seconds, $8,278. 2, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8, $7,199. 3, Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb., 11.6, $6,119. 4, Marcos Costa, Menard, Texas, 11.7, $5,039. 5, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 11.9, $3,959. 5, Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D., 13.4, $2,879. 6, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 13.6, $1,800. 8, Tristan Mahoney, Florence, Ariz., 16.5, $720.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat, $7,918. 2, (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas; Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa; and Sam Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev.; 86 and $4,399 each. 5, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 84.5, $1,680. 6, (tie) Jake Watson, Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia and Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 84, $600.
Team Roping: 1, Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 7.8 seconds, $9,459. 2, Brenten Hall, Stephenville, Texas, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 9.3, $8,225. 3, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Caleb Anderson, Mocksville, N.C., 9.5, $6,991. 4, (tie) Pace Freed, Chubbuck, Idaho and Dustin Searcy, Weatherford, Texas; and Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.6, $5,141 each. 6, Peyton Holliday, Chouteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 9.7, $3,290. 7, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Okla., 14.4, $2,056. 8, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Joseph Harrison, Overbrook, Okla., 14.6, $823.
Barrel Racing: 1, (tie) Nellie Miller*, Cottonwood, Calif., and Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.22 seconds, $6,919. 3, Megan Champion, Ukiah, Calif., 17.24, $4,961. 4, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.53, $3,655. 5, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texa,s 17.56, $2,350. 6, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.59, $1,305. *Miller won the championship based on fastest previous time.
Bull Riding: 1, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 93 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Safety Meeting, $10,077. 2, Parker McCown, Montgomery, Texas, 90, $7,706. 3, Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho, 87, $5,632. 4, Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich., 85.5, $3,853. 5, Joseph McConnel, Bloomfield, N.M., 84.5, $2,371.
Steer Roping: (final round winners) Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 13.7 seconds, $1,870. 2, Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15.6, $1,548. 3, J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 18.4, $1,226. 4, Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 19.5, $903. 5, Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., 21.9, $581. 6, Roger Branch, Wellson, Okla., 25.8, $323. (overall winners) 1, Sheets, 45.6, $13,197. 2, Dan Fisher, 49.6, $10,922. 3, J. Tom Fisher, 49.9, $8,647. 4, Vin Fisher Jr., 51.3, $6,371. 5, Jones, 54.2, $4,096. 6, Branch, 59.4, $2,275.
CFD Invitational Breakaway Roping: 1, Jordon Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.18 seconds, $10,573. 2, Chloe Frey, Eunice, La., 4.43, $8,010. 3, Kasey Eaves, Milan, N.M., 4.49, $5,767. 4, Linsay Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 4.66, $3,845. 5, Daysha Steadman, Georgetown, Texas, 4.92, $2,243. 6, K.L. Spratt, Lysite, Wyo., 4.98, $1,602.
Wild Horse Race: (final round winners) 1, Outlaw Liquors, $896. 2, Team Crazy Horse, $672. 3, BMC Construction/Applebaker, $448. 4, Shockers, $224. (overall winners) 1, BMC Construction/Applebaker, $6920. 2, Outlaw Liquors, $5,549. 3, Team Crazy Horse, $3,989. 4, Shockers, $2,526.
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