BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The Greeley Stampede provided a thrilling Short Round and a payout of more than $400,000 to make for a terrific unofficial kickoff of Cowboy Christmas.
In bareback riding, it was a permitholder winning the rodeo for the second straight year after Keenan Hayes did it in 2022. Mason Stuller was 87.5 on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Tic Tac to bring his two-head total to 171.5 points. He defeated World No. 8 Clayton Biglow by 1.5 points and No. 5 Jayco Roper by two points.
Gus Franzen won Round 1 and the Short Round on his way to a three-head time of 12.5 seconds to win the steer wrestling. He was one tenth better than Don Payne.
In team roping, Derrick Begay/Colter Todd were 16.9 seconds on three head to win convincingly as the next closest teams came in at 18.5. The win propelled both cowboys into the Top 10.
Saddle bronc riding belonged to World No. 4 Kade Bruno, who won Round 1 by three points and the Average by four points. Bruno also finished second in the Average in Reno the week prior.
“Confidence this time of year is everything, this is kind of the start of my 4th of July run, to start it off like this is awesome,” he said. “Just trying to keep that momentum rolling.”
In tie-down roping, Shane Hanchey came from the ninth spot entering the Short Round to win the rodeo. He was 8.3 seconds to best a field that included Shad Mayfield, Riley Webb, Ty Harris, Cory Solomon and Tuf Cooper.
“I knew nine tenths separated first through twelfth, so this was one of the toughest calf ropings I’ve been a part of all year,” Hanchey said. “I was coming with a wrap and a hooey regardless.”
Jordon Briggs claimed the barrel racing and extended her lead in the WPRA World Standings as she continues to keep a low rodeo count. She placed in all three rounds and won Round 1.
In bull riding, Cannon Cravens was 88.5 points in the Short Round to seal the win by one point over World No. 3 Josh Frost.
And in breakaway roping, Madalyn Richards was the champion with an aggregate time of 7.5 seconds on three head. All three of her runs were 2.8 seconds or faster.
BAREBACK RIDING
First Round: 1. (tie) Taylor Broussard, on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Belle Starr, and Jess Pope, on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Homecoming, 87 points, $3,852 each; 3. Keenan Hayes, 86.5, $2,471; 4. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Seth Hardwick, 85, $1,308 each; 6. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Bradlee Miller, Jayco Roper and Dean Thompson, 84.5, $436 each.
Finals: 1. Mason Stuller, 87.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Tic Tac, $1,650; 2. (tie) Gauge McBride and Gauge McBride, 85.5, $1,250 each; 3. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Jayco Roper, 85, $750 each; 5. Dean Thompson, 84, $350; 6. R.C. Landingham, 83, $250.
Average: 1. Mason Stuller, 171.5 points on two head, $4,361; 2. Clayton Biglow, 170, $3,344; 3. Jayco Roper, 169.5, $2,471; 4. Gauge McBride, 169, $1,599; 5. Dean Thompson, 168.5, $1,018; 6. R.C. Landingham, 167.5, $727; 7. (tie) Bradlee Miller and Keenan Hayes, 161.5, $509 each.
STEER WRESTLING
First Round: 1. Gus Franzen, 3.7 seconds, $4,721; 2. Dirk Tavenner, 3.8, $4,105; 3. (tie) Ty Bauerle, Stockton Graves and Don Payne, 4.1, $2,874 each; 6. (tie) Colt Honey, Marc Joiner, Payden McIntyre and Tyler Willis Ravenscroft, 4.2, $770 each.
Second Round: 1. Brandon Harrison, 3.5 seconds, $4,721; 2. Bridger Anderson, 3.6, $4,105; 3. (tie) Darcy Kersh and Don Payne, 3.7, $3,182 each; 5. (tie) Kalane Anders and Cody Devers, 3.9, $1,950 each; 7. (tie) Joshua Hefner, Kodie Jang, Tait Kvistad, Cash Robb and Jacob Talley, 4.0, $287 each.
Finals: 1. Gus Franzen, 4.0 seconds, $1,697; 2. (tie) Walt Arnold and Don Payne, 4.8, $1,258 each; 4. Dirk Tavenner, 5.2, $819; 5. Brandon Harrison, 5.3, $527; 6. Gage Hesse, 5.5, $293.
Average: 1. Gus Franzen, 12.5 seconds on three head, $7,081; 2. Don Payne, 12.6, $6,158; 3. Dirk Tavenner, 13.5, $5,234; 4. Brandon Harrison, 13.6, $4,310; 5. Walt Arnold, 14.1, $3,387; 6. Gage Hesse, 14.3, $2,463; 7. Tait Kvistad, 14.8, $1,539; 8. Cody Devers, 23.0, $616.
TEAM ROPING
First Round: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 4.3 seconds, $3,912 each; 2. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.5, $3,147 each; 4. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 4.6, $2,381; 5. Hagen Peterson/Caleb Hendrix, 5.0, $1,871; 6. (tie) Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, Tanner James/Wyatt Cox, Cole Thomas/Clay Green and Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.1, $638 each.
Second Round: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.0 seconds, $3,912 each; 2. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 4.7, $3,402; 3. Brayden Schmidt/Chris Young, 4.8, $2,892; 4. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 4.9, $2,381; 5. (tie) Keven Daniel/Travis Graves, Brenten Hall/Paden Bray and Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 5.0, $1,361 each; 8. Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, 5.2, $340.
Finals: 1. Peter Bennett/Jake Rodriguez, 5.9 seconds, $1,218 each; 2. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 6.4, $1,008; 3. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 7.8, $798; 4. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 8.0, $588; 5. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 9.2, $378; 6. Cole Thomas/Clay Green, 10.3, $210.
Average: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 16.9 seconds on three head, $5,868 each; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Hunter Koch and Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 18.5, $4,720 each; 4. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson and Peter Bennett/Jake Rodriguez, 18.7, $3,189 each; 6. Cole Thomas/Clay Green, 20.7, $2,041; 7. Ben Jordan/Scott Lauaki, 27.2, $1,276; 8. Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 9.3 on two head, $510.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
First Round: 1. Kade Bruno, 88 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Thunder, $4,298; 2. Riggin Smith, 85, $3,295; 3. (tie) Zachary Dallas, Ira Dickinson and Lefty Marvel Holman, 84, $1,671 each; 6. (tie) Brody Cress, Isaac Diaz, Leon Fountain and Statler Wright, 83.5, $430 each.
Finals: 1. Damian Brennan, 87.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Greeley Hat Works Four Aces, $1,650; 2. Ira Dickinson, 85.5, $1,250; 3. (tie) Kade Bruno and Lefty Marvel Holman, 85, $750 each; 5. Isaac Diaz, 84, $350; 6. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Statler Wright, 83, $125 each.
Average: 1. Kade Bruno, 173 points on two head, $4,298; 2. Ira Dickinson, 169.5, $3,295; 3. (tie) Lefty Marvel Holman and Damian Brennan, 169, $2,006 each; 5. Isaac Diaz, 167.5, $1,003; 6. Statler Wright, 166.5, $716; 7. (tie) Leon Fountain and Zachary Dallas, 166, $501 each.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
First Round: 1. Tuf Case Cooper, 7.9 seconds, $4,623; 2. (tie) Chance Oftedahl and Justin Smith, 8.0, $3,718 each; 4. (tie) Tanner Green, Caleb Smidt and Marty Yates, 8.2, $2,211 each; 7. (tie) Monty Lewis, Lane Livingston and Shad Mayfield, 8.3, $469 each.
Second Round: 1. Ty Harris, 7.3 seconds, $4,623; 2. Brush Minton, 7.5, $4,020; 3. Taylor Santos, 7.7, $3,417; 4. Matt Shiozawa, 7.8, $2,814; 5. (tie) Colten Wallis and Riley Mason Webb, 8.0, $1,909 each; 7. (tie) Beau Cooper, Shad Mayfield, Caleb Smidt and Cory Solomon, 8.1, $352 each.
Finals: 1. Shane Hanchey, 8.3 seconds, $1,639; 2. Taylor Santos, 8.9, $1,356; 3. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Riley Mason Webb, 9.0, $932 each; 5. Ty Harris, 10.3, $509; 6. Beau Cooper, 20.4, $283.
Average: 1. Shane Hanchey, 25.2 seconds on three head, $6,934; 2. (tie) Taylor Santos and Shad Mayfield, 25.4, $5,578 each; 4. Riley Mason Webb, 25.6, $4,221; 5. Ty Harris, 26.8, $3,316; 6. Beau Cooper, 37.0, $2,412; 7. Cory Solomon, 37.1, $1,507; 9. Tuf Case Cooper, 16.4 on two head, $603.
BARREL RACING
First Round: 1. Jordon Briggs, 16.58 seconds, $3,469; 2. Sophie Nolen, 16.71, $2,974; 3. Jessi Fish, 16.78, $2,478; 4. Shawnee Williams, 16.80, $2,148; 5. (tie) Mataya Eklund and Sissy Winn, 16.84, $1,487 each; 7. Loralee Ward, 16.86, $991; 8. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Carlee Otero, 16.87, $578 each; 10. (tie) Halyn Lide and Tracy Nowlin, 16.90, $165 each.
Second Round: 1. Jamie Olsen, 16.47 seconds, $3,469; 2. Carlee Otero, 16.49, $2,974; 3. Jordon Briggs, 16.59, $2,478; 4. Halyn Lide, 16.78, $2,148; 5. Maggie Poloncic, 16.80, $1,652; 6. Tracy Nowlin, 16.83, $1,322; 7. Sissy Winn, 16.87, $991; 8. Sage Kohr, 16.90, $661; 9. Ashley Day, 16.98, $496; 10. Kelby Eastman, 16.99, $330.
Finals: 1. Carlee Otero, 16.44 seconds, $2,570; 2. Tracy Nowlin, 16.53, $1,927; 3. Sage Kohr, 16.56, $1,285; 4. Jordon Briggs, 16.59, $642.
Average: 1. Jordon Briggs, 49.76 seconds on three head, $5,204; 2. Carlee Otero, 49.80, $4,461; 3. Tracy Nowlin, 50.26, $3,717; 4. Halyn Lide, 50.37, $3,222; 5. Jamie Olsen, 50.44, $2,478; 6. Sage Kohr, 50.51, $1,983; 7. Shelley Morgan, 50.53, $1,487; 8. Jessi Fish, 50.57, $991; 9. Sissy Winn, 50.67, $743; 10. Maggie Poloncic, 55.65, $496.
BULL RIDING
First Round: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 87 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rod Knocker, $4,397; 2. Cannon Cravens, 86, $3,371; 3. Josh Frost, 85.5, $2,491; 4. JB Mauney, 85, $1,612; 5. JaCauy Hale, 84.5, $1,026; 6. Ky Hamilton, 82, $733; 7. Deklan Garland, 80.5, $586; 8. Colton Kelly, 80, $440.
*Finals: 1. Cannon Cravens, 88.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Trans Am, $2,050; 2. (tie) Josh Frost and Colton Kelly, 88, $1,475 each; no other qualified rides.
Average: 1. Cannon Cravens, 174.5 points on two head, $4,397; 2. Josh Frost, 173.5, $3,371; 3. Colton Kelly, 168, $2,491; 4. Tristen Hutchings, 87 on one head, $1,612; 5. JB Mauney, 85, $1,026; 6. JaCauy Hale, 84.5, $733; 7. Ky Hamilton, 82, $586; 8. Deklan Garland, 80.5, $440. *(all totals include ground money).
BREAKAWAY ROPING
First Round: 1. (tie) Rickie Engesser and J J Hampton, 2.2 seconds, $2,935 each; 3. (tie) Martha Angelone and Bradi Good, 2.5, $2,062 each; 5. (tie) Taylor Hanchey, Erin Johnson, Bethany Stallons and Macy Young, 2.7, $1,031 each; 9. (tie) Amber Crawford and Madalyn Richards, 2.8, $516 each; 11. (tie) Delaney Kunau, Beau Peterson and Tanegai Zilverberg, 2.9, $238 each.
Second Round: 1. (tie) Rickie Engesser and Madalyn Richards, 2.2 seconds, $2,935 each; 3. (tie) Jacelyn Frost and Beau Peterson, 2.3, $2,062 each; 5. Aspen Miller, 2.5, $1,586; 6. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli and Lynn Smith, 2.6, $952 each; 8. (tie) Sloan Anderson and Jacey Fortier, 2.7, $595 each; 10. Hali Williams, 2.8, $476; 11. (tie) Dara Belew and Hope Thompson, 2.9, $357 each.
Finals: 1. Madalyn Richards, 2.6 seconds, $1,419; 2. Taylor Munsell, 2.7, $1,234; 3. Beau Peterson, 3.1, $1,049; 4. (tie) Jill Tanner and Tanegai Zilverberg, 3.4, $771 each; 6. Bradi Good, 3.6, $494; 7. Lynn Smith, 3.7, $308; no other qualified runs.
Average: 1. Madalyn Richards, 7.6 seconds on three head, $4,759; 2. Beau Peterson, 8.3, $4,045; 3. Taylor Munsell, 9.0, $3,331; 4. (tie) Jill Tanner and Tanegai Zilverberg, 9.4, $2,617 each; 6. Lynn Smith, 9.5, $1,666; 7. Bradi Good, 10.7, $1,190; 8. Rickie Engesser, 4.4 on two head, $952; 9. Sloan Anderson, 5.9, $833; 10. Elsie Rose Campbell, 6.2, $714; 11. Sequin Brewer, 6.8, $595; 12. Heather McLaughlin, 7.1, $476.
