Rookie Bareback Rider Rocker Steiner Wins Semifinal in Denver With Best Ride of Rodeo

Rocker Steiner said a few weeks ago on Western Sports Round-Up that he wanted to win a lot of rodeos and make the NFR. He continued his hot start toward that goal in Denver on Saturday night.

In the third and final semifinal performance, Rocker Steiner rode The Cervi Brothers’ Dream Machine for 88 points to advance to the 12 man, clean slate Short Round on Sunday afternoon. His ride was the highest marked ride of the entire rodeo.

STEINER’S RIDE

“A lot of my buddies have been on that horse, I didn’t know it,” he said. “When I drew it, they said that’s the one, so I believed them and we went out there and had some fun.”

Steiner has averaged more than 82 points per ride in his three outs at the Denver Coliseum this year and has already earned more than $4,500 at the National Western.

The top cowboy in Semifinal 1 was Tim O’Connell with 85.5 points and Wyatt Denny in Semifinal 2 with 86.5. All three cowboys were paid $3,208 for winning their semifinal pool. O’Connell is the only bareback rider so far to have made more money than Steiner at the event.

O’CONNELL’S RIDE

DENNY’S RIDE

You can see the full semifinal results below.

Semifinal 1: 1. Tim O’Connell, 85.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Easy Money, $3,208; 2. Cole Franks, 84, $2,406; 3. Dean Thompson, 83.5, $1,604; 4. Garrett Shadbolt, 79, $802.

Semifinal 2: 1. Wyatt Denny, 86.5 points on Cervi Brothers’ Good Times, $3,208; 2. Orin Larsen, 84.5, $2,406; 3. R.C. Landingham, 83.5, $1,608; 4. Richmond Champion, 82, $802.

Semifinal 3: 1. Rocker Steiner, 88 points, $3,208; 2. Leighton Berry, 84, $2,406; 3. Seth Hardwick, 83.5, $1,604; 4. Donny Profitt, 77, $802.

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