BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
On paper, it was the perfect matchup. Reigning World Champion Clayton Biglow against Bareback Horse of the Year Top Flight from Pickett Pro Rodeo.
Biglow did his part and Top Flight did hers as they teamed up for 89 points to get Biglow his first Go-Round win of the 2020 Wrangler NFR.
“Winning first for me is awesome anytime, I hate to lose, I’m a terrible loser,” Biglow said. “She (Top Flight) is not a rank pen type of horse, but she’s so consistent. So much money has been won on her. You’re 90 points dang near every time she’s out......Tonight, she rode like a Cadillac, she felt awesome.”
BIGLOW’S RIDE
Biglow moves to third in the world standings with Monday’s Go-Round win, but because he was bucked off in Round Two it leaves him 12th in the average so he knows he’s going to have to go at every horse from here on out to win another Gold Buckle.
“‘I’m trying to win first every night, I’m going for Go-Rounds, I’m shooting from the hip,” he said.
Chad Rutherford was second Monday night with 88 points on the back of Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire and world No. 1 Tim O’Connell took care of business on Famous Dex to finish fourth in the Go-Round and move to second in the average.
RUTHERFORD’S RIDE
Richmond Champion is now first in the average and world No. 2 Kaycee Feild is third.
O’Connell leads Feild by about $32,000.
NFR BAREBACK RIDING RESULTS
First Round: 1. Richmond Champion, 87.5 points on J Bar J’s Blessed Assurance, $26,231; 2. (tie) Mason Clements and Jess Pope, 87, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Cole Reiner and Clayton Biglow, 85, $8,885 each; 6. Chad Rutherford, 84.5, $4,231.
Second Round: 1. Tanner Aus, 87 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Wilson Sanchez, $26,231; 2. (tie) Leighton Berry, Tim O’Connell and Kaycee Feild, 86.5, $15,795 each; 5. Cole Reiner, 86, $6,769; 6. Winn Ratliff, 84.5, $4,231.
Third Round: 1. Kaycee Feild, 91.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies, $26,231; 2. Leighton Berry, 88, $20,731; 3. Richmond Champion, 87.5, $15,654; 4. Jess Pope, 86, $11,000; 5. Cole Reiner, 84.5, $6,769; 6. Mason Clements, 83, $4,231.
Fourth Round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 90.5 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Pop A Top, $26,231; 2. Leighton Berry, 88.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Tilden Hooper, 86.5, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Cole Reiner, Jess Pope and Richmond Champion, 85, $3,667 each.
Fifth Round: 1. Clayton Biglow, 89 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co’s Top Flight, $26,231; 2. Chad Rutherford, 88, $20,731; 3. Tilden Hooper, 87.5, $15,654; 4. Tim O’Connell, 87, $11,000; 5. Kaycee Feild, 86.5, $6,769; 6. Jamie Howlett, 86, $4,231.
