BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
For the second consecutive year, Tim O’Connell will enter December’s NFR coming off of an injury.
In 2021, he had his tailbone completely removed in order to prolong his career and to be ready for Vegas in time. This year, a thumb injury sidelined him all of September. O’Connell, however, still enters within striking distance of a fourth Gold Buckle. He is No. 8 in the world, but only about $40,000 behind No. 1 Cole Reiner.
If history is any indication, O’Connell is one of the most equipped cowboys in the field to charge up the leaderboard. He has three Gold Buckles and finished in the Top 5 every year between 2015 and 2020. In that same stretch, he also collected three NFR Average titles.
Let’s take a look back at how O’Connell got to his ninth consecutive NFR.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo $18,000
O’Connell entered the Finals with more money totaled than any other cowboy. He dominated his bracket by placing in all three rounds and tallying up $5,500 before adding another $5,000 for winning Semifinal 2 with 88.5 on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Shady Nights. O’Connell followed that up with his highest marked ride of the rodeo, 89.5 points, to split second in the Finals with Jess Pope and bank an additional $7,500.
Cheyenne Frontier Days, $10,264
O’Connell claimed the title in Cheyenne for the second consecutive year, this time doing it with 88.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ Sozo. O’Connell’s other two rides in Cheyenne were marked 84.5 and 85 points. He has won Cheyenne three times in his career.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Darby Riggin’ Rally, 92 Points
O’Connell was brilliant at the June Riggin’ Rally in Montana, placing second in both rounds. Had it not been for Rocker Steiner’s World Record, O’Connell’s 92 points aboard the legendary Yippee Kibbitz was his best ride of the season.
San Angelo Cinch Chute Out, 90 Points
O’Connell went 90 in the First Round of the Cinch Chute Out, unfortunately, there was nothing paid out for the ride as it was simply a qualifier for the winner-take-all Short Round. O’Connell still banked $2,000 for his third place finish.
NOTABLE WINS
World’s Oldest Rodeo, 87.5 Points
The rodeo in Prescott, Arizona was O’Connell’s only Cowboy Christmas win, but it was far from his only payday over the Fourth. He went to five rodeos and pulled checks of more than $3,000 at four of them, including $6,557 for his 87.5-point ride on Boom Boom Girl at the World’s Oldest Rodeo.
Caldwell Night Rodeo, 170.5 Points on Two Head
In one of his final rodeos prior to injury, O’Connell won the Caldwell Night Rodeo by going for 89.5 points on Two Buck Chuck in the Finals to beat out Rocker Steiner by a point. The win paid just over $4,700 total.
MEET THE NFR ATHLETES IS PRESENTED BY MONTANA SILVERSMITHS #everybucklehasastory #goldbucklebound