BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
It is the second year that the NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo has been used to determine the National Champions of the PRCA’s Circuit Rodeo system. This year, the rodeo paid nearly $700,000 and a win came with a guaranteed spot in the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup on Sept. 7.
Every contestant at the rodeo got two rides or runs with clean-slate Semifinals being determined by the Top 12 scores on a two-head Average (which was also paid out) in every except in breakaway roping. From there, it was narrowed down to a Four-Man Finals in each event.
Top-ranked bareback rider Keenan Hayes added yet another win to the ledger in 2023 with 86.5 points on Pass The Hat in the Finals. Hayes won more than $17,000 and has now opened up a lead of nearly $50,000 in the PRCA World Standings.
“It’s awesome. I missed out on it last year, made it to the four-man but didn’t quite win it, and I’ve been craving after it ever since. I’m having a blast this year and excited to keep going,” he said.
In steer wrestling, Dirk Tavenner was 11.2 seconds in the Finals to win the rodeo. He also won the Third Round with a 4.8-second run. Since the beginning of July, Tavenner has gone from outside the Top 50 to No. 12 in the World Standings.
In team roping, Nelson Wyatt is now within $500 of being the No. 1 header in the world after he and partner Tyler Worley were 4.4 seconds in the Short Go. Worley is currently the seventh ranked heeler in the world.
Kade Bruno cemented himself into NFR Open history early in the event’s life by being the first repeat champion. Last year, it helped him spark a run to his first NFR and this year, it has him ranked No. 4 in the world and within $11,000 of the last two World Champions, No. 3 Zeke Thurston and No. 2 Stetson Wright. Bruno placed in the Top 3 in all four rides with 85.5 on Sue City Sue in the Short Round to win.
Garrett Jacobs won both the Semifinals and the Finals in the tie-down roping. He was more than two seconds clear of the rest of the field in the Finals.
Jessica Routier won both rounds on Saturday just like Jacobs to be the barrel racing champion. She was 17.69 seconds both rounds.
Breakaway roping had a different format than the rest of the events with the winner being determined on just a two-head Average, rather than a progressive Semifinal and Short Round. Alli Masters was the champion with an aggregate time of 6 seconds flat on two.
Last but not least, Trey Holston was 4-for-4 in the bull riding and ripped off three straight round wins to close the rodeo. He won at least $() in every single round as well as the two-head Average.
“My birthday’s tomorrow and the Lord’s good. I love riding bucking bulls,” Holston Saturday night. “I stepped out and did my job four times and it ended up like this so it’s a pretty good day.”
BAREBACK RIDING
First Round: 1. Trenten Montero, 85.5 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Sos, $5,666; 2. (tie) Nick Pelke and Clayton Biglow, 84.5, $3,692 each; 4. R.C. Landingham, 84, $2,060; 5. Dean Thompson, 83.5, $1,202; 6. Mason Clements, 83, $859.
Second Round: 1. (tie) Nick Pelke, on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Gold Standard, and Keenan Hayes, on Rocky Mtn Rodeo’s Half Moon, 83.5 points, $4,979 each; 3. Lane McGehee, 83, $3,091; 4. (tie) Dean Thompson and Trenten Montero, 82.5, $1,631 each; 6. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Pascal Isabelle, 82, $429 each.
Average: 1. (tie) Nick Pelke and Trenten Montero, 168 points on two head, $4,979 each; 3. Dean Thompson, 166, $3,091; 4. (tie) Keenan Hayes and R.C. Landingham, 165, $1,631 each; 6. Mason Clements, 162, $859; 7. Dylan Riggins, 158.5; 8. Caleb Bennett, 155.
Semifinals: 1. Trenten Montero, 86 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Knot So Foxy, $6,868; 2. Keenan Hayes, 82, $5,151; 3. Bill Tutor, 80, $3,434; 4. R.C. Landingham, 77, $1,717.
Finals: 1. Keenan Hayes, 86.5 points on Championship Prorodeo’s Pass The Hat, $6,868; 2. Bill Tutor, 83, $5,151; 3. R.C. Landingham, 82, $3,434; 4. Trenton Montero, NS, $1,717.
National Champion: Keenan Hayes
STEER WRESTLING
First Round: 1. (tie) Cade Goodman and Stan Branco, 4.1 seconds, $4,979 each; 3. Travis Munro, 4.6, $3,091; 4. Ty Erickson, 4.8, $2,060; 5. Newt Novich, 4.9, $1,202; 6. Peter Fager Fager, 5.7, $859.
Second Round: 1. Cade Goodman, 3.9 seconds, $5,666; 2. Cody Cabral, 4.1, $4,293; 3. Stan Branco, 4.5, $3,091; 4. Rooster Yazzie, 4.7, $2,060; 5. Jacob Edler, 4.8, $1,202; 6. Dirk Tavenner, 5.0, $859.
Average: 1. Cade Goodman, 8.0 seconds on two head, $5,666; 2. Stan Branco, 8.6, $4,293; 3. Travis Munro, 10.2, 3,091; 4. Newt Novich, 10.6, $2,060; 5. (tie) Ty Erickson and Jacob Edler, 11.0, $1,030 each; 7. Dirk Tavenner, 11.3; 8. Cody Cabral, 12.2.
Semifinals: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 4.8 seconds, $6,868; 2. Stan Branco, 5.1, $5,151; 3. Travis Munro, 5.2, $3,434; 4. Ty Erickson, 5.6, $1,717.
Finals: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 11.2 seconds, $6,868; 2. Ty Erickson, 13.9, $5,151; 3. Stan Branco, NS, $3,434; 4. Travis Munro, NS, $1,717.
National Champion: Dirk Tavenner
TEAM ROPING
First Round: 1. (tie) Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 5.8 seconds, $4,979 each; 3. (tie) Tyler Jackson/Josh Hamby and Pedro Egurrola/JC Flake, 6.0, $2,576 each; 5. Brady Tryan/Justin Viles, 6.3, $1,202; 6. Hagen Peterson/Dylin Ahlstrom, 6.4, $859.
Second Round: 1. Josh Siggins/Colter Todd, 4.9 seconds, $5,666 each; 2. Jake Clay/Billie Jack Saebens, 5.1, $4,293; 3. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 5.2, $3,091; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 5.3, $2,060; 5. Cody Snow/Dalton Pearce, 5.4, $1,202; 6. Hagen Peterson/Dylin Ahlstrom, 5.7, $859.
Average: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 11.1 seconds on two head, $5,666 each; 2. Hagen Peterson/Dylin Ahlstrom, 12.1, $4,293; 3. Josh Siggins/Colter Todd, 12.2, $3.091; 4. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.7, $2,060, 4; 5. Logan Bonnett/Riley Wilson, 14.3, $1,202; 6. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 14.9, $859; 7. Jake Clay/Billie Jack Saebens, 15.4; 8. Cody Snow/Dalton Pearce, 15.5.
Semifinals: 1. Josh Siggins/Colter Todd, 7.0 seconds, $6,868 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 11.7, $5,151; 3. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.2, $3,434; 4. Cody Snow/Dalton Pearce, 20.1, $1,717.
Finals: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 4.4 seconds, $6,868 each; 2. (tie) Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake and Josh Siggins/Colter Todd, 4.9, $4,293 each; 4. Cody Snow/Dalton Pearce, 6.9, $1,717.
National Champions: Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
First Round: 1. (tie) Leon Fountain, on Brookman Rodeo’s Beaver Trails, and Statler Wright, on New Star Prorodeo’s Pin Cup, 85 points, $4,979 each; 3. Kade Bruno, 83, $3,091; 4. Q Taylor, 82.5, $2,060; 5. Allen Boore, 82, $1,202; 6. Parker Fleet, 81.5, $859.
Second Round: 1. Layton Green, 87 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Rage, $5,666; 2. Shorty Garrett, 86, $4,293; 3. Kade Bruno, 84, $3,091; 4. Dylan Hancock, 83.5, $2,060; 5. (tie) Statler Wright and Cole Elshere, 83, $1,030 each.
Average: 1. Statler Wright, 168 points on two head, $5,666; 2. Kade Bruno, 167, $4,283; 3. Layton Green, 165, $3,091; 4. Shorty Garrett, 164.5, $2,060; 5. Quinten Taylor, 164, $1,202; 6. Parker Fleet, 162.5, $859; 7. Cole Elshere, 162; 8. Dylan Hancock, 161.5.
Semifinals: 1. Statler Wright, 82 points on Championship Prorodeo’s Final Feather, $6,868; 2. Kade Bruno, 79, $5,151; 3. (tie) Cole Elshere and Parker Fleet, 77, $2,576 each.
Finals: 1. (tie) Kade Bruno, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue, and Cole Elshere, on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Valley, 85.5 points, $6,010 each; 3. Parker Fleet, 78, $3,434; 4. Statler Wright, NS, $1,717.
National Champion: Kade Bruno
TIE-DOWN ROPING
First Round: 1. Michael Otero, 8.3 seconds, $5,666; 2. Haven Meged, 9.1, $4,293; 3. Jerry Adamson, 9.6, $3,091; 4. Jake Pratt, 10.0, $2,060; 5. Matt Shiozawa, 10.3, $1,202; 6. Lucas Potter, 10.4, $859.
Second Round: 1. West Smith, 8.5 seconds, $5,666; 2. Colton Farquer, 8.6, $4,293; 3. (tie) Michael Otero and Clayton Smith, 9.2, $2,576 each; 5. Chet Weitz, 10.6, $1,202; 6. (tie) Jake Pratt and Garrett Jacobs, 10.8, $429 each.
Average: 1. Michael Otero, 17.5 seconds on two head, $5,666; 2. Haven Meged, 20.6, $4,293; 3. Jake Pratt, 20.8, $3,091; 4. Clayton Smith, 21.2, $2,060; 5. Chet Weitz, 21.3, $1,202; 6. Garrett Jacobs, 21.6, $859; 7. Luke Potter, 22.0; 8. Colton Farquer, 22.6.
Semifinals: 1. Garrett Jacobs, 10.2 seconds, $6,868; 2. Haven Meged, 10.4, $5,151; 3. Jake Pratt, 11.0, $3,434; 4. Clayton Smith, 11.1, $1,717.
Finals: 1. Garrett Jacobs, 8.6 seconds, $6,868; 2. Haven Meged, 10.7, $5,151; 3. Clayton Smith, 12.7, $3,434; 4. Jake Pratt, 12.8, $1,717.
National Champion: Garrett Jacobs
BARREL RACING
First Round: 1. Abigail Knight, 17.15 seconds, $5,666; 2. Cindy Smith, 17.25, $4,293; 3. Jessica Routier, 17.34, $3,091; 4. Ilyssa Riley, 17.49, $2,060; 5. Andrea Busby, 17.52, $1,202; 6. Leia Pluemer, 17.64, $859.
Second Round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 17.17 seconds, $5,666; 2. Sara Winkelman, 17.20, $4,293; 3. Ilyssa Riley, 17.33, $3,091; 4. Jessica Routier, 17.36, $2,060; 5. Bradi Whiteside, 17.68, $1,202; 6. Abigail Knight, 17.71, $859.
Average: 1. Jessica Routier, 34.70 seconds on two head, $5,666; 2. Ilyssa Riley, 34.82, $4,293; 3. Abigail Knight, 34.86, $3,091; 4. Sara Winkelman, 34.91, $2,060; 5. Leia Pluemer, 35.52, $1,202; 6. Madison Camozzi, 35.83, $859; 7. Sissy Winn, 36.08; 8. Nellie Miller, 36.11.
Semifinals: 1. Jessica Routier, 17.69 seconds, $6,868; 2. Nellie Miller, 17.82, $5,151; 3. Abigail Knight, 17.85, $3,434; 4. Ilyssa Riley, 18.22, $1,717.
Finals: 1. Jessica Routier, 17.69 seconds, $6,868; 2. Nellie Miller, 17.80, $5,151; 3. Abigail Knight, 17.82, $3,434; 4. Ilyssa Riley, 18.26, $1,717.
National Champion: Jessica Routier
BULL RIDING
First Round: 1. Cody Russell, 90 points on Salt River Rodeo’s Big Lights, $5,666; 2. Trey Holston, 87, $4,293; 3. Jordan Hansen, 85, $3,091; 4. Hawk Whitt, 83, $2,060; 5. Austin Herrera, 81, $1,202; 6. Derek Kolbaba, 79, $859.
*Second Round: 1. Trey Holston, 88 points on Jc Kitaif Pro Rodeo’s T-bone, $7,040; 2. Hawk Whitt, 81.5, $5,666; 3. John Young, 80, $4,464; no other qualified rides.
Average: 1. Trey Holston, 175 points on two head, $5,666; 2. Hawk Whitt, 164.5, $4,293; 3. Cody Russell, 90 on one head, $3,091; 4. Jordan Hansen, 85, $2,060; 5. Austin Herrera, 81, $1,202; 6. John Young, 80, $859; 7. Derek Kolbaba, 79; 8. Colton Byram, 76.
Semifinals: 1. Trey Holston, 87 points on Salt River Rodeo’s Belly Dump, $6,868; 2. Jordan Hansen, 78, $5,454; 3. Hawk Whitt, NS, $3,434; 4. Cody Russell, NS, $1,717.
Finals: 1. Trey Holston, 89 points on Jc Kitaif Pro Rodeo’s Rico Suave, $6,868; 2. Jordan Hansen, NS, $5,454; 3. Hawk Whitt, NS, $3,434; 4. Cody Russell, NS, $1,717.
National Champion: Trey Holston
BREAKAWAY ROPING
First Round: 1. Samantha Fulton, 2.30 seconds, $5,666; 2. Kendal Pierson, 2.60, $4,293; 3. (tie) Cathy Cagliari, Madison Outhier, Addy Hill and Tiffany Ogren, 2.80, $1,803 each.
Second Round: 1. Syerra Christensen, 2.20 seconds, $5,666; 2. Alli Masters, 2.50, $4,293; 3. Maddy Deerman, 2.60, $3,091; 4. Annie Minor, 3.00, $2,060; 5. (tie) Taylor Munsell, Delaney Kunau and Cheyenne Blackmore, 3.10, $687 each.
Average: 1. Alli Masters, 6.00 seconds on two head, $5,666, $; 2. (tie) Delaney Kunau and Taylor Munsell, 6.30, $3,692 each; 4. (tie) Tiffany Ogren, Maddy Deerman and Jordan Minor, 6.50, $1,374 each.
