We are through the first of seven brackets in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s new tournament-style format.
This year, 56 athletes in each event are split into seven brackets with the top two money earners after two go-rounds advancing to the semifinals.
Here are the details on how the new format works:
Bareback Riding
Chad Rutherford and Mason Clements advanced from Bracket 1 in Bareback Riding.
Rutherford had the top ride in the second go-round, scoring 90 points on Pickett Rodeo’s Night Flight. Rutherford also notched an 86 in the first go-round, good enough for third place.
Clements finished second in both go-rounds, scoring an 86.5 in Round 1 and an 88.5 in Round 2.
Jake Brown, who won Round 1 thanks to an 89-point ride on Pickett Rodeo’s Top Notch, finished third after a 78-point ride in the second go-round.
Saddle Bronc Riding
Eight-time NFR qualifier Jesse Wright lead the way in the Saddle Bronc.
Wright finished second in both go-rounds. He scored 83.5 points in Round 1 and 83 in Round 2.
Logan Hay was the other semifinalist in the bracket thanks to an 86-point ride on Pickett Rodeo’s Real Fancy to win Round 2.
2019 World Champion Zeke Thurston was the wild card in the first bracket. Thurston actually finished with more total points than Hay (163 to 161.5) but because the semifinalists are based on money earned, Hay advanced.
Bull Riding
The Bull Riding in Fort Worth was all about Maverick Potter and Ruger Piva.
Through both rounds, the bulls went 12-for-16 against the cowboys and the only 8-second rides came from Potter and Piva.
In Round 1, Potter rode Rafter G Rodeo’s Frosty for 78 points and in Round 2, he scored 87.5 on Pickett Rodeo’s Southern Style.
In Round 1, Piva scored 75.5 points and in Round 2, he scored 82.5.
There were no wild cards in Bull Riding from this bracket.
Barrel Racing
Amanda Harris and Cheyenne Allan sit atop the barrel racing leaderboard after winning $2,640. They both advanced to the semifinals in Fort Worth.
Cheyenne Allan posted the fastest time of the second round at 16.55 seconds. Amanda Harris posted a time of 16.63 seconds, good for second place in Round 2.
Michelle Darling advances to the wild card round with total winnings of $1,760. Darling stopped the clock at 17.47 seconds in Round 2.
Breakaway Roping
Shai Schaefer and Jessica Holmes are at the top of the breakaway Bracket 1 leaderboard and will be advancing to the semi-finals. Schaefer and Holmes each earned $1,760 in the two rounds.
Hope Thompson will compete in the wildcard round after earning $1,540 in two rounds.
Team Roping
Jeff Flenniken and Tyler Worley won Bracket 1 in the team roping after posting an aggregate time of 10.7 seconds earning the duo $2,640.
In round Round, they posted a time of 5.3 seconds and followed that up with a 5.4-second run in Round 2.
Advancing to the semifinals alongside Flenniken and Worley are Dawson Graham and Coleby Payne. Graham and Payne have earned $1,760 after winning round one with a 4.8-second run.
Jr. Dees and Lane Signs who won round two with a time of 4.4 seconds and advance to the wildcard round.
Tie-Down Roping
Cory Solomon took first place in Bracket 1, earnings of $2,200 across the two rounds.
Solomon stopped the clock at 8.2 seconds in Round 1, which was the fastest time. In Round 2, Solomon posted a time of 12.0 seconds, which was good for fourth place.
Jason Minor also advanced to the semifinals after finishing in third in both rounds.
In Round 1, Minor stopped the clock at 9.6 seconds, and in round two he posted a time of 10.4 seconds. Minor’s earnings sit at $1,760 through the two rounds.
Cooper Martin advanced to the wildcard round. Martin bounced back nicely from a poor showing in Round 1 by taking the top spot in Round 2 with a time of 8.2 seconds.
Steer Wrestling
Ty Erickson and Cody Cabral are advancing to the steer wrestling semifinals in Fort Worth after they both earned $2,640.
Cabral won Round 1 with a time of 4.2 second and Erickson, the 2019 World Champion, placed second in Round 1 with a time of 4.6 seconds and tied for second in round two after stopping the clock at 6.2 seconds.
Advancing to the wildcard round is Blake Knowles. Knowles earned $1,760 through the two rounds. Knowles won Round 2 after a run of 4.2 seconds.
