BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
What will likely be the highest paying rodeo of the 2023 PRCA regular season, RodeoHouston, concluded on Sunday with its signature Championship Round and Championship Shootout.
The event paid a more than $2 million and every single winner of RodeoHouston is now No. 1 in the PRCA World Standings in their events. Winning the rodeo came with a payday of at least $50,000.
In bareback riding, Leighton Berry made yet another statement as he rode Yippee Kibbitz for 90 points to be crowned the champion. Just three weeks prior, he was 93 on Gun Fire to win San Antonio, giving him the first-place check at 2-of-3 Texas Swing rodeos so far. In San Antonio and Houston, Berry made a total of $80,875.
Steer wrestler Dalton Massey made the second-fastest run of the rodeo in the Championship Shootout with a 4.5 to break a tie between Cody Devers and reigning World Champion Tyler Waguespack at 4.7. With $77,600 and a lead of about $35,000 in the PRCA World Standings, he looks poised to make his first NFR after finishing between 16 and 20 the last two seasons.
Team roping was won by Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler with a 5.-second run as only they and Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis made qualified runs in the Championship Shootout.
In saddle bronc riding, Sage Newman was the headliner as the man who broke the PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding regular season earnings record a year ago made two 90-point rides on the same day to secure his second consecutive RodeoHouston crown. Newman’s $98,445 is the most money earned in single event in the 2023.
Tie-down roping belonged to Riley Webb who entered the final weekend No. 1 and left still No. 1, but now with a lead of almost $50,000 over No. 2 Hunter Herrin. Webb was 8.9 as the first cowboy out in the Four-Man Shootout.
Sage Newman was one of two repeat winners in 2023. In barrel racing, Jordon Briggs won the second-most of any competitor in any event by banking $58,000. In 2022, she won $60,000 for her title.
In the other ladies’ event, Hali Williams was the champion, winning the breakaway roping with a 3.6-second run.
And in the bull riding, it took everyone getting on two to determine a winner after three cowboys bucked off and JB Mauney was injured in the chutes. Ultimately, Ky Hamilton went 90.5 to beat out Josh Frost’s 86. Those two men are No. 1 and 2 in the PRCA Bull Riding World Standings.
BAREBACK RIDING
Semifinal 1: 1. Tim O’Connell, 85.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Zulu Warrior, $3,000; 2. Richmond Champion, 84, $2,000; 3. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Cole Reiner, 83.5, $875 each.
Semifinal 2: 1. Leighton Berry, 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Star Witness, $3,000; 2. Jayco Roper, 87, $2,000; 3. Jess Pope, 85.5, $1,000; 4. Kaycee Feild, 85, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Keenan Hayes, 86 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Girl Crush, $3,000; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 83, $2,000; 3. Orin Larsen, 82.5, $1,000; 4. (tie) Tristan Hansen and Will Lowe, 78, $625 each; no other qualified rides.
Wild Card 2: 1. (tie) Sam Petersen, on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Topped Off and Kody Lamb, on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped, 87 points, $2,500 each; 3. R.C. Landingham, 84, $1,000; 4. Rocker Steiner, 81, $750; 5. Taylor Broussard, 79, $500; 6. Clayton Biglow, 74, $500.
Championship: 1. Cole Reiner, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party; 2. Kaycee Feild, 89; 3. Leighton Berry, 88; 4. Keenan Hayes, 87; 5. Tim O’Connell, 86.5, $2,500; 6. Chad Rutherford, 85, $2,500; 7. Jayco Roper, 84.5, $2,500; 8. Jess Pope, 83.5, $2,500; 9. Richmond Champion, 82.5, $2,500; 10. Sam Petersen, 81, $2,500.
Championship Shootout: 1. Leighton Berry, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz, $50,000; 2. Kaycee Feild, 89, $20,000; 3. Keenan Hayes, 88, $10,000; 4. Cole Reiner, 87, $5,500.
STEER WRESTLING
Semifinal 1: 1. Cody Devers, 4.5 seconds, $3,000; 2. Clayton Hass, 4.7, $2,000; 3. Jacob Talley, 4.8, $1,000; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 6.1, $750.
Semifinal 2: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.1 seconds, $3,000; 2. J.D. Struxness, 4.8, $2,000; 3. Dalton Massey, 5.5, $1,000; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 5.6, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Jesse Brown, 5.0 seconds, $3,000; 2. Blake Knowle, 6.6, $2,000; 3. Josh Garner, 8.0, $1,000; 4. Bridger Chambers, 8.3, $750.
Wild Card 2: 1. Stephen Culling, 10.5 seconds, $3,000; 2. Payden McIntyre, 12.0, $2,000; 3. Bridger Anderson, 15.1, $1,000; 4. Tucker Allen, 15.9, $750; no other qualified runs.
Championship: 1. (tie) Dalton Massey and Rowdy Parrott, 4.8 seconds; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 5.3; 4. Cody Devers, 6.1; 5. J.D. Struxness, 6.1, $2,500; 6. Clayton Hass, 6.3, $2,500; 7. Jesse Brown, 6.6, $2,500; 8. Stephen Culling, 6.6, $2,500; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 14.6, $2,500; 10. Jacob Talley, 15.9, $2,500.
Championship Shootout: 1. Dalton Massey, 4.5 seconds, $50,000; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Tyler Waguespack, 4.7, $15,000 each; 4. Rowdy Parrot, 5.1, $5,500.
TEAM ROPING
Semifinal 1: 1. Levi Simpson/Corey Hendrick, 5.3 seconds, $3,000 each; 2. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.4, $2,000; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 6.1, $1,000; 4. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 6.2, $750.
Semifinal 2: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 5.1 seconds, $3,000 each; 2. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.2, $2,000; 3. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 5.4, $1,000; 4. Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres, 5.6, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.5 seconds, $3,000 each; 2. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.7, $2,000; 3. Jr. Dee/Ross Ashford, 4.9, $1,000; 4. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.1, $750; 5. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 5.3, $500; no other qualified runs.
Wild Card 2: 1. (tie) Cory Kidd V/Lane Mitchell and Bubba Buckaloo/Cole Davison, 5.6 seconds, $2,500 each; no other qualified runs.
Championship: 1. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.5 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 5.7; 3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.8; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 5.9; 5. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 5.9, $2,500 each; 6. Cory Kidd V/Lane Mitchell, 6.4, $2,500; 7. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Levi Simpson/Caleb Hendrix, Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres and Chad Masters/Trey Yates, NT, $2,500 each.
Championship Shootout: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.5 seconds, $50,000 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 9.9, $20,000; 3. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry and Brenton Hall/Paden Bray, NT, $7,750 each.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Semifinal 1: 1. (tie) Isaac Diaz, on Calgary Stampede’s Dandy Delight and Brody Cress, on Calgary Stampede’s Birch Bubbles, 86.5 points, $2,500 each; 3. Chase Brooks, 86, $1,000; 4. Zeke Thurston, 85.5, $750.
Semifinal 2: 1. Kade Bruno, 86.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Redial, $3,000; 2. Ben Andersen, 85, $2,000; 3. Sage Newman, 84.5, $1,000; 4. Riggin Smith, 83, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Ryder Wright, 86.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Buck Owens, $3,000; 2. (tie) Logan Hay and Lefty Holman, 84, $2,500 each; 4. Brody Wells, 82.5, $750; 5. Layton Green, 81, $500; 6. Wade Sundell, 73, $500.
Wild Card 2: 1. Ross Griffin, 89 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Watch the Night, $3,000; 2. Tanner Butner, 86, $2,000; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 85, $1,000; 4. Statler Wright, 83, $750; 5. Rusty Wright, 73, $500; 6. Shorty Garrett, 66, $500.
Championship: 1. Sage Newman, 90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Hitman; 2. (tie) Ben Andersen and Zeke Thurston, 88; 4. Chase Brooks, 87.5; 5. Kade Bruno, 86.5, $2,500; 6. Ryder Wright, 86, $2,500; 7. Ross Griffin, 85, $2,500; 8. Brody Cress, 83, $2,500; 9. Isaac Diaz, 81, $2,500; 10. Riggin Smith, 75.5, $2,500.
Championship Shootout: 1. Sage Newman, 90 points, $50,000; 2. Chase Brooks, 87, $20,000; 3. Ben Andersen, 83, $10,000; 4. Zeke Thurston, 81, $5,500.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Semifinal 1: 1. Matt Shiozawa, 9.6 seconds, $3,000; 2. Shad Mayfield, 9.8, $2,000; 3. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Riley Mason Webb, 10.1, 875 each.
Semifinal 2: 1. Caleb Smidt, 8.9 seconds, $3,000; 2. Cory Solomon, 9.5, $2,000; 3. Hunter Herrin, 12.3, $1,000; 4. Reese Riemer, 14.2, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Adam Gray, 10.0 seconds, $3,000; 2. Zack Jongbloed, 14.3, $2,000; no other qualified runs.
Wild Card 2: 1. Beau Cooper, 9.0 seconds, $3,000; 2. Macon Murphy, 9.2, $2,000; 3. Ty Harris, 12.1, $1,000; no other qualified rides.
Championship: 1. Beau Cooper, 8.5 seconds; 2. Reese Riemer, 8.9; 3. Riley Mason Webb, 9.9; 4. Hunter Herrin, 9.9; 5. Caleb Smidt, 10.8, $2,500; 6. Shad Mayfield, 11.8, $2,500; 7. Adam Gray, 11.8, $2,500; 8. Matt Shiozawa, 12.6, $2,500; 9. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Cory Solomon, NT, $2,500 each.
Championship Shootout: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 8.9 seconds, $50,000; 2. Hunter Herrin, 9.6, $20,000; 3. Reese Riemer, 15.4, $10,000; 4. Beau Cooper, 18.5, $5,500.
BARREL RACING
Semifinal 1: 1. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Sissy Winn, 14.72 seconds, $2,500 each; 3. Kassie Mowry, 14.73, $1,000; 4. Summer Kosel, 15.01, $750.
Semifinal 2: 1. Jordon Briggs, 14.35 seconds, $3,000; 2. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 14.57, $2,000; 3. Molly Otto, 14.58, $1,000; 4. Hailey Kinsel, 14.67, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Wenda Johnson, 14.71 seconds, $3,000; 2. Tarryn Lee, 14.83, $2,000; 3. Paige Jones, 14.96, $1,000; 4. Taycie Matthews, 15.10, $750; 5. Shannon Griffin, 15.46, $500; 6. Andrea Busby, 20.21, $500.
Wild Card 2: 1. Jessica Routier, 14.76 seconds, $3,000; 2. Krickett Gintner, 14.84, $2,000; 3. Stevi Hillman, 14.97, $1,000; 4. Kelly Allen, 15.21, $750; 5. Ilyssa Riley, 15.60, $500; 6. Emma Charleston, 20.17, $500.
Championship: 1. Jessica Routier, 14.63 seconds; 2. Molly Otto, 14.66; 3. Jordon Briggs, 14.73, $2,500; 4. Sissy Winn, 14.75; 5. Hailey Kinsel, 14.84, $2,500; 6. Shelley Morgan, 14.88, $2,500; 7. Summer Kosel, 14.90, $2,500; 8. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 15.07, $2,500; 9. Wenda Johnson, 15.28, $2,500; 10. Kassie Mowry, 20.79, $2,500.
Championship Shootout: 1. Jordon Briggs, 14.73 seconds, $50,000; 2. Molly Otto, 14.75, $20,000; 3. Jessica Routier, 14.79, $10,000; 4. Sissy Winn, 19.94, $5,500.
BULL RIDING
Semifinal 1: *1. Creek Young, 76 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Roll Tide, $6,750; Jeff Askey, Chance Schott and Brady Portenier, NS.
Semifinal 2: *1. Ky Hamilton, 89.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Anthrax, $3,250; 2. Josh Frost, 87.5, $2,250; 3. J.B. Mauney, 83.5, $1,250; 4. Trey Benton III, NS.
Wild Card 1: *1. No qualified rides. (Ernie Courson Jr. advances to finals).
Wild Card 2: *1. T. Parker, 80 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo Wild Side, $3,000; no other qualified rides.
Championship: 1. Ky Hamilton, 86.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Flight Risk; 2. Creek Young, NS; 3. J.B. Mauney, NS; 4. Josh Frost, NS; 5. (tie) Trey Benton III, Jeff Askey, Ernie Courson Jr., T. Parker, Chance Schott and Brady Porternier, NS, $2,500 each.
Championship Shootout: 1. Ky Hamilton, 90.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Dim Tricks, $50,000; 2. Josh Frost, 86, $20,000; 3. Creek Young, NS, $10,000; 4. J.B. Mauney, Injured, $5,500.
BREAKAWAY ROPING
Semifinal 1: 1. Jackie Crawford, 2.70 seconds, $3,000; 2. Sarah Angelone, 3.20, $2,000; 3. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 3.60, $1,000; 4. Cheyanne Guillory, 3.70, $750.
Semifinal 2: 1. Tiffany Schieck, 3.00 seconds, $3,000; 2. J.J. Hampton, 4.50, $2,000; 3. Joey Williams, 12.80, $1,000; 4. Hali Williams, 13.30, $750.
Wild Card 1: 1. Martha Angelone, 2.70 seconds, $3,000; 2. McKenna Hickson, 2.90, $2,000; 3. Cadee Williams, 3.60, $1,000; no other qualified runs.
Wild Card 2: 1. Erin Johnson, 3.00 seconds, $3,000; 2. Shai Schaefer, 4.70, $2,000; 3. Danielle Lowman, 12.60, $1,000; 4. Kendal Pierson, 12.70, $750; no other qualified runs.
Championship: 1. J.J. Hampton, 2.70 seconds; 2. (tie) Tiffany Schieck and Joey Williams, 2.80; 4. Hali Williams, 3.30; 4. Martha Angelone, 3.30, $2,500; 5. Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 3.80; $2,500; 6. Cheyanne Guillory, 12.2, $2,500; 7. (tie) Erin Johnson, Sarah Angelone and Jackie Crawford, NS, $2,500 each.
Championship Shootout: 1. Hali Williams, 3.60 seconds, $50,000; 2. Tiffany Schieck, 12.20, $20,000; 3. Joey Williams, 12.50, $10,000; 4. J.J. Hampton, NT, $5,500.
