July 18-27, 2025

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Orin Larsen Begins Quest for second Cheyenne Frontier Days Title

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.

Youngsters prevail at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

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

History made at 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

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.

Hooper hoping for Cheyenne Frontier Days championship

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 27, 2019) – Tilden Hooper and his traveling partner Kaycee Feild are going to be duking it out at Frontier Park on Sunday hoping one of them leaves with the bareback riding title at the 123rd edition of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
Hooper, from Carthage, Texas, won the second semifinals on Saturday afternoon with an outstanding 90-point effort on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Shoot the Moon. That added $3,081 to his checking account, but most importantly it advanced him to Sunday’s finals. Prior to Cheyenne’s rodeo, he was fifth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings and is looking forward to his sixth trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) next December.
Money won now will keep him in the top 15 that make the trip to Las Vegas to compete at the NFR and could improve his position. He is trying to catch his traveling partner, Feild, who is at the top of the world standings. Feild also qualified for Sunday’s Championship Finals with an 85.5-point ride. With the new bracketed format at the “Daddy of ‘em All,” scores and times from previous competition do not carry over. So, whoever has the highest-marked ride or fastest time on Sunday will be the champion in every event other than steer roping. That title will be awarded based on a total on three runs.
While Feild has four world titles to his credit and is looking to win his fifth, he has yet to win a championship at Cheyenne. As the bareback riders were getting prepared to ride on Saturday, no one was more excited than he was. Hooper is also looking for his first buckle from the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Three bareback riders that have already won the title here were among the six that advanced from Saturday to Sunday. They include Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba (2016); Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minnesota (2015): and Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas (2014).
The Cheyenne Frontier Days saddle bronc riding rookie champion was crowned on Saturday. The first-year card holders had two rounds of competition that started at the first performance one week ago. The rookie contest started here in 1911. This year’s winner was Jacob Kammerer from Philip, South Dakota. He had a total score of 152 points to earn $3,214. It is likely that he will be here next year competing in the saddle bronc riding.
History has been made at this year’s rodeo with the addition of women’s breakaway roping. Veteran roper and clinician Lari Dee Guy from Abilene, Texas, is one of the most successful ropers here so far. She placed second on Friday, won first on Saturday and has collected over $4,200. Guy will be among 16 ropers that will be competing for the first breakaway championship at the “Daddy.” Sunday’s rodeo will start with opening ceremonies at 12:45.

Field narrowing at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 26, 2019) – A barrel racer named Cheyenne on a horse they call Lex had the crowd on the edge of their seats at the seventh performance of the “Daddy of ‘em All,” Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Cheyenne Wimberley from Stephenville, Texas, now lays claim to the fastest time during the 123rd western celebration. She and Lex stopped the clock in 17.21 seconds on Friday afternoon, surpassing the 17.28-second run from 2017 world champion Nellie Miller earlier this week.
In the tournament style format at Frontier Park, contestants get a fresh start with each progression, so none of the times or scores carry forward. Miller, from Cottonwood, California was also in Friday’s semifinals, finishing in 17.43 seconds. Six barrel racers advanced from Friday’s performance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. Wimberley and Miller are among those.
The bareback riding, bull riding and saddle bronc riding also have similar formats with contestants going from the quarterfinals into Friday and Saturday afternoon’s semifinals. Miller, who was last year’s barrel racing champion here, will be joined in the race for a repeat victory by last year’s champions in all these events.
Brody Cress, from Hillsdale, Wyoming was definitely a crowd favorite on Friday. Cress has won the saddle bronc riding here for the past two consecutive years. He won the event on Friday with an 88.5-point ride on Three Hills Rodeo’s Final Feather. He now will be a favorite for the saddle bronc riding title on Sunday, but will need to have the high score again in order to win.
Will Lowe is looking for his fourth title in the bareback riding here. Lowe, from Canyon, Texas, was on another horse from Three Hills, Show Boat. He scored 87.5 for the win on Friday and will ride again on Sunday. Rugar Piva won the bull riding a year ago and is on track to win it again in 2019. He was part of a three-way tie for fourth place in the semifinals with an 83-point ride. With the top six advancing to the finals, Piva is in the hunt again.
Friday’s bull riding was some of the best seen here so far. There were seven contestants that had qualified rides with six scores of 83 or better. The top six advance to Sunday’s championship finals.
A new set of contestants in these events will compete here on Saturday in semifinals 2. In the tie-down, breakaway and team roping as well as steer wrestling, Friday’s contestants will compete again on Saturday. The four contestants in each of those events with the most money will be part of Sunday’s finals.
Saturday’s rodeo will begin at 12:45 p.m. with opening ceremonies including a parade in front of the main grandstand. The competition is slated to start at 1 p.m.

Elshere hoping for first Cheyenne Frontier Days saddle bronc title

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 25, 2019) – J.J. Elshere from Hereford, South Dakota is hoping to add his name to the list of saddle bronc riding champions at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
He had an 87-point effort aboard Three Hills Rodeo’s horse named Tarnished Silver to win the round and advance from the quarter finals into the semifinals which starts on Friday. It was an important win for Elshere, who is making a bid for a fifth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. Prior to Cheyenne’s rodeo, he was 12th in the world standings and if he stays among the top 15 through September 30th, he will make the trip to Las Vegas to compete for rodeo’s world championship.
Elshere will now be competing at Cheyenne’s semifinals and, if he is successful, will move onto Sunday’s championship. He has competed at Cheyenne nearly every year since he joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2000. He qualified for his first NFR six years later, missed a year, then had three consecutive qualifications starting in 2008.
In 2006, he had the highest total score on ten saddle bronc horses in Las Vegas and won the NFR championship. He and his wife Lindsay have four boys. After the 2010 NFR, Elshere decided he needed to spend more time with his family and less time riding bucking horses.
As the boys got older, the idea of qualifying for the NFR again became more attractive. Elshere finished one spot out of the top 15 last year. If he does get to compete in Las Vegas, he will celebrate his 40thbirthday on opening night of the NFR. Just last week, his oldest son, Talon, finished in fourth place in the saddle bronc riding at the National High School Rodeo Finals. When that was over, the family headed home to work in the hayfield, and J.J. headed to the next rodeo.
Tim O’Connell has won the world title in the bareback riding for the last three consecutive years. The last one came with a price. After his final ride at the NFR, he came off the horse and ended up underneath it. He tore his rotator cuff on his shoulder and had to have surgery.
He has missed nearly six months of competition and is making a comeback. He is currently 23rd in the world standings and is about $14,000 out of the top 15. He helped his cause significantly on Wednesday at Frontier Park. O’Connell rode Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s horse named American Hustle for 89.5 points. That earned him nearly $3,000 and gave him a chance to ride again.
The 2016 CFD champion is hoping to make two more rides in Frontier Park. When the semifinals in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and women’s barrel race starts on Friday, everyone has a clean slate. Another good score will see O’Connell back on Sunday with a chance to win a second title here.
The tie-down and break away roping, as well as steer wrestling and team roping will have a final set of contestants making a bid for the Championship Finals as well. They each compete twice and the four who win the most money in each event will advance. Rodeo action will begin at 1 p.m

Miller on pace for repeat Cheyenne Barrel Racing championship

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 24, 2019) – A year ago, Nellie Miller, from Cottonwood, California was the best barrel racer in the field at Cheyenne Frontier Days. After her performance at the fifth rodeo on Wednesday, it looks like history might repeat itself.
Miller, the 2017 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champion, won the qualifying competition at Frontier Park last week. She and her great mare, “Sister”, had the fastest time of the 197 barrel racers that competed at 17.44 seconds. That gave her one of forty spots in the rodeo and $8,224.
She came back on Wednesday and stopped the clock in 17.28 seconds, the fastest run at this year’s rodeo so far. That added $2,611 to her earnings and advanced her from the quarter finals to the semifinals. She and Sister will run again on Friday or Saturday and hope to be among the best six from that day that advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. Contestants get a fresh start at each division of the competition, so whoever has the fastest time in the barrel racing on Sunday will be the champion.
With Miller’s experience in this arena, and the way Sister runs in the wide-open spaces of Frontier Park, they will be a favorite to leave here as back-to-back champions. The “Daddy of ‘em All” is celebrating 123 years of rodeo history. Women have been competing in the barrel racing at Frontier Park since 1971. There has not been a repeat champion since 1997 and 1998, when Kristie Peterson and her horse Bozo had that accomplishment.
The fastest run of this year’s steer wrestling also happened on Wednesday afternoon. Wyatt Lindsay from Cuchillo, New Mexico, stopped the clock in 5.4 seconds, just three-tenths of a second off the arena record. Lindsay will compete again on Thursday. Money earned from their two days of competition is added together. The steer wrestlers with the highest total money in each group advance directly to Sunday’s finals.
Thursday’s performance begins at 12:45 with opening ceremonies and a parade of dignitaries on the track. Bareback horses start bucking just after 1 p.m. Competition in all the events will follow.

High School Champion looking for Cheyenne championship

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 23, 2019) – Shad Mayfield might be the busiest 18-year-old at this year’s Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
The tie-down roper competed here in the qualifying rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 16 and 17. He roped his first calf here in 12.4 seconds, then won the second round with a time of 9.5 seconds, just a tic over the arena record of 9.4 seconds set last year. He roped again here on July 22 and 23 and was once again successful with times of 12.6 and 11.6, placing in the top four both days. So far, he has won $6,666 here and has an opportunity to win more.
Amongst his runs here in Frontier Park, he was also taking advantage of his final qualification for the National High School Finals Rodeo held in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 14 – 20. He roped three calves there faster than anyone else in the field and left with the national championship. He also competed at the California Rodeo Salinas and finished fourth overall.
“It’s been unbelievable,” Mayfield said of the last week. “I’ve never had any luck at the high school finals. To win it and do well at these other rodeos is a huge blessing.”
A year ago, he got to be a spectator at Cheyenne when they stopped on their way back to their home in Clovis, N.M. after the high school finals. This year, he did far more than spectate. Prior to the 123rd “Daddy of ‘em All,” he was 24th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings. He is about $7,000 outside of the top 15 and, if he gets a good check here in the Championship Finals, he could very well move up and put himself in position to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Mayfield’s success here has come on a horse that is just two years younger than he is. Django has been great in this big arena and has worked well over the 30-foot head start that the cattle get. Not long after roping here, they were headed to Deadwood, South Dakota, for another rodeo, then will be coming back to Cheyenne to rope again.
It has been a family effort for the Mayfields. Shad’s dad, Sylvester, a former NFR qualifier in the tie-down roping, has been coaching him and traveling with him. His mom Joellen has been keeping things together at home. And, while his older sister Shelby isn’t directly involved, she is very supportive.
“I couldn’t do any of this without my family,” Shad said. “Everybody plays a part and I just hope that we all can keep it rolling.”
A new set of contestants will make their way to Cheyenne to compete at the fifth performance on Wednesday beginning at 12:45 p.m.

Bull riders make move at 123rd CFD Rodeo

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 22, 2019) – Rodeo fans at the third performance of the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo got to see the best bull riding that this year’s rodeo has offered so far.
After two days when just one or two riders made it the full eight seconds, on Monday, there were a total of six successful contestants and some exciting action. At the top of the board was Foster McCraw, a 21-year-old from Navasota, Texas. He rode Harper Morgan Rodeo Company’s bull named Woody for 87.5 points.
McCraw got his 2019 year off to a good start with a win at the Bulls Night Out last January at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Just last week, he got a big win at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho. He won both rounds of competition and the title there, earning over $10,000. It jumped him up to 27th in the world standings.
With McCraw’s win here today, he advances to the semifinals. If he is successful again, he will be riding for the Cheyenne Frontier Days bull riding championship. Right behind McCraw was Dakota Louis from Browning, Montana. The three-time Indian National Finals Rodeo bull riding champion scored 86 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Meeko. He is part of the Blackfeet Nation, which is also represented here in the team roping with Dustin Bird who also competed here on Monday.
Bird, who lives near Cut Bank, Montana, is heading for Trey Yates from Pueblo, Colorado. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any luck here on Monday but will have another opportunity Tuesday. Bird and Louis are cousins, so if Bird were to advance, the cousins might both end up in the Championship Finals.
Other bull riders that were successful here on Monday were Nic Lica from Garden City, Michigan and Tim Bingham from Honeyville, Utah who both scored 83.5 points. Then Parker McCown from Montgomery, Texas was 82.5 and Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Florida was 79. They all will be riding again during the semifinals.
Rodeo action gets underway for the fourth performance at Frontier Park on Tuesday at 12:45.

Larsen hits 90-point mark in bareback riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 21, 2019) – Orin Larsen is having the best regular season of his career and showed fans at the second performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo just what a picture-perfect bareback ride looks like.

Larsen is from Inglis, Manitoba, but thanks to a girl, he now lives less than two hours away from Cheyenne in Gering, Nebraska. His wife Alexa’s family is from Nebraska and after she obtained her nursing degree and got a job as an ICU nurse at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, that is where he started hanging his hat.

He hasn’t gotten to spend much time there this summer as he is pursuing his fifth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. He is currently 2nd in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings and is hoping to close the gap between him and Kaycee Field, who is in the lead.

Larsen helped his cause at the second performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday. He rode Sankey Pro Rodeo’s horse Fun Haver for 90 points, just three points shy of the arena record of 93 set by Joe Alexander in 1974.

It’s certainly not the first 90-point ride that Larsen has had in his professional career. He wasn’t sure how many 90-point or better rides he has had since joining the PRCA in 2011, but he was quick to answer, “Two,” when asked how many he has had this month.

Just two weeks ago, he set an arena record at the Cody (Wyoming) Stampede with a 93-point ride. Unfortunately for Larsen, two days later a fellow competitor beat him by half a point.

That won’t happen in Cheyenne. With the new, tournament-style format, his high score of the day got him the first-place money and a trip back here to compete in the semifinals later in the week. Unfortunately, on this Sunday, his wife was working and couldn’t come watch him.

“Hopefully I’ll be here for a couple of days when I come back,” he said. “Then, she will make the trip here, I’ll have my cheerleader and we can spend a bit of time together.”

Matt Palmer is one happy bull rider. The Claremore, Oklahoma resident is competing on his permit and on Sunday won more than enough money to attain full-fledged PRCA membership. He was the lone rider to last eight seconds. That meant he won all the $7,078 purse for the day. His 81.5-point ride came aboard Dakota Rodeo’s Diamond Willow. He will now get another opportunity to ride in Frontier Park. If he is successful again, he will be a contender for the championship.

A new set of contestants is making their way to Cheyenne for Monday’s rodeo. It will start with the grand opening at 12:45 p.m.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 21, 2019) – The following are unofficial results from Sunday, July 21, at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Money earned is subject to change.

Bareback riding:  1, Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 90 points on Sankey Rodeo’s Fun Haver, $2,364. 2, Tony Barrington, Elko, Nev., 85.5, $1,788. 3, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 84.5, $1,192. 4, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 82, $596.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Kelsie Chace, Stephenville, Texas, 4.32 seconds, $2,403. 2, Brandi Hollenbeck, Mooreland, Okla., 5.04, $1,802. 3, Daysha Steadman, Georgetown, Idaho, 5.23, $1,202. 4, JJ Hampton, Stephenville, Texas, 5.53, $601. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, Chace, $4,205. 2, Hollenbeck, $ 3,004. 3, Hagen Brunson, Hutchinson, Kansas, $2,403. 4, Steadman, $1,202

Tie-down Roping: 1, Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont., 10.8 seconds, $1,954. 2, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 14.4, $1,465. 3, Cole Robinson, Moorecroft, Wyo., 15.7, $977. 4, Bradley Bynum, Big Lake, Texas, 16.1, $488. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, (tie) Schaffer and Cheyenne Stanley, Caddo, Okla., $1,954 each. 3, (tie) Hall and Tristan Mahoney, Florence, Ariz., $1,465 each.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia, 82.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Sandbox, $2,285. 2, Jake Watson, Hudsons Hope, B.C., 81, $1,714. 3, Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 80, $1,143. 4, Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec, S.D., 78, $571.

Team Roping: 1, Taylor Winn, Annabella, Utah, and Dylin Ahlstrom, Genola, Utah, 7.7 seconds, $2,233 each. 2, Peyton Holliday, Choteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 8.8, $1,674 each. 3, Travis Bard, Prescott, Ariz., and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 9.0. $1,116 each. 4, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.0, $558 each. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, Holliday and Smith, $2,794. 2, (tie) Garrett Tonnozzi, Lampasas, Tex., and Dustin Davis, Terrell, Tex.; Winn and Ahlstrom, and Egusquiza and Long, $2,233 each.

Steer Wrestling: (three times) 1, Christian Pettigrew, Fort Sumner, N.M., 7.7 seconds, $1,529. 2, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.M., 8.8, $1,176. 3, Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., 9.4, $823. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, Camp, $1,881. 2, Pettigrew, $1,529. 3, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., $1,411. 4, Nelson, $1,176.

Barrel Racing: 1, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.64 seconds, $2,611. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.87, $1,958. 3, Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 17.88, $1,305. 4, Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 17.92, $653.

Bull Riding: (one ride) 1, Matt Palmer, Claremore, Okla., 81.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Diamond Willow, $7,078.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1, Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D., 78 points. 2, (tie) Jade Taton, Goodwell, Okla., and Trent Burd, Fort Scott, Kan., 76. 4, Will Reynolds, Goodwell, Okla., 74. (second round leaders) 1, Rowdy Chesser, Goodwell, Okla., 75 points. 2, Kammerer, 74. 3, Jake Foster, Meadow, S.D., 68. 4, Cody Trump, Chadron, Neb., 64. (total on two) 1, Kammerer, 152 points. (on one) 2, (tie) Jade Taton and Trent Burd, 76. 4, Chesser, 75.

Wild Horse Race: 1, Copper State Cowboys, $644. 2, Preston Painter, $483. 3, Mo Green, $322. 4, Austin Philips, $161. (total money leaders) 1, Copper State Cowboys, $1127. 2, Outlaw Liquors, $644. 3, Preston Painter, $483. 4, Mo Green, $322.