PRCA Bareback Riding Standings Update: Jess Pope Makes a Statement in March

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BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN

Over the last three years, Jess Pope has been impossible to ignore in the bareback riding world. After winning consecutive NFR Average titles in 2020 and 2021, he now leads the PRCA World Standings in 2022 after a win in Houston.

Joining Pope near the top of the leaderboard are six-time World Champion Kaycee Feild, 2019 World Champion Clayton Biglow and 2021 Resistol Rookie of the Year Cole Franks.

Now that we are mostly done with the big indoor rodeos in the winter, here is look at every bareback rider in the Top 20 and how the standings look heading into spring time and the California run.

1. JESS POPE, $96,929

March was very, very good to Pope. Not only did he win over $50,000 for winning RodeoHouston, but he was also first at the High Desert Stampede (Oregon) and Arcadia All-Florida Championship. He won nearly $70,000 in March and jumped from No. 13 to No. 1 in the PRCA World Standings. He has been marked 88 points or higher in last five outs.

2. CLAYTON BIGLOW, $53,644

Biglow was consistent in March, winning about $16,000 to keep hold of the No. 2 spot. He rode Painted Smoke for 88.5 points to win the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (Alabama) and also won over $5,000 at Rodeo Austin and RodeoHouston.

3. KAYCEE FEILD, $51,110

After winning Fort Worth and San Antonio, Feild sat No. 1 in the PRCA World Standings entering March, but has slipped to third after a limited schedule. After competing in only Houston in March, he has been to just three rodeos so far in 2022.

4. COLE FRANKS, $48,730

Franks finished second in the Finals of Rodeo Austin and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition, which made up most of his winnings for the month of March. After a streak of three straight rides in the 70s at RodeoHouston, Franks has been 86.5 or more on three of his last four horses.

5. GARRETT SHADBOLT, $41,837

Shadbolt didn’t dazzle in Houston, but kept winning checks, which is all you can ask for going down the road. He made four straight rides at NRG Stadium marked between 79 and 83 points and all four earned him between $850-$1,250. Shadbolt’s biggest check of the month was for $2,157, which he earned for an 82-point ride at the High Desert Stampede.

6. CHAD RUTHERFORD, $40,727

We just talked about Shadbolt’s consistency in Houston, but Rutherford was also automatic during that rodeo. He made six straight rides between 81 and 85 points in Houston and earned a check for every single one. In total, he won over $8,000 at the event, which was needed because he came empty at the other three rodeos he entered in March.

7. COLE REINER, $36,298

In March, Cole Reiner was 8-for-8 with an average score of 85.4 points and no ride worse than 82 points. He won around $14,000 total for the month, more than half of which came from RodeoHouston.

8. ROCKER STEINER, $33,441

The 18-year-old rookie got off of his permit with a bang in March. After having wins in Denver and Odessa not count toward the PRCA World Standings, Steiner won just over $30,000 at RodeoHouston after he finished second in Championship Shootout. However, what Houston gave, it also took away. In the Shootout, Steiner hurt his left knee and will be out until Reno in mid-June.

9. ORIN LARSEN, $32,435

Larsen has been to seven straight NFRs and all signs are pointing to an eighth early in the season. Larsen won checks on four of his five rides in Houston, which was the only rodeo on his March schedule.

10. TANNER AUS, $32,303

After little luck in Houston and Austin despite consistently riding in the low 80s, Aus finished third at the Northern PRCA Bares and Broncs Challenged (Montana) with 85 points on Shady Lizard to start April.

11. TIM O’CONNELL, $31,948

The three-time World Champion competed in Houston, Florida and Missouri for his only three rodeos and earned a check on five of his six out in the month. His highest marked ride was an 87 pointer to win the Ozark Pro Rodeo on March 26.

12. CALEB BENNETT, $28,963

Bennett made a huge move up the standings in March. Thanks to his win at Rodeo Austin and the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, he went from outside the Top 20 at the beginning of March to No. 12. In Austin, he won more than $15,000 and made three straight rides of 85.5 points or higher.

13. LEIGHTON BERRY, $28,757

After missing almost the entire 2021 season due to a spine injury, Berry has shown no signs of fear or rust in 2022 as he is once again in the Top 15. The 2020 NFR qualifier was able to muster two checks in Houston, his only money earned in March.

14. LANE MCGEHEE, $27,811

Through March, McGehee is just $7,000 of his career-high in earnings which came in 2018. McGehee is averaging 80.6 points per ride and has already made six 85+ point rides and five Go-Round wins in 2022.

15. MASON CLEMENTS, $27,054

Clements entered March No. 11 in the PRCA World Standings, but moved down four spots after five straight rides between 78 and 82 points in Houston. Clements, however, was 85.5 in Arcadia (Florida) and Montgomery (Alabama) to finish Top 3 at both of those rodeos.

16. RICHMOND CHAMPION, $26,726

One of the most prolific bareback riders over the last decade will have his streak of six NFRs in a row snapped. Richmond Champion is out for the remainder of the 2022 season because of a bulging disc in his neck.

17. TY BREUER, $26,430

Breuer did not do much of note in March, but in the first weekend of April, it was a different story. He won almost $4,000 by winning the Northern PRCA Extreme Broncs and Bares Challenge. He was No. 12 at the beginning of March.

18. R.C. LANDINGHAM, $25,175

Landingham finished third in the Shootout and third in total money at RodeoHouston with just over $14,000 earned. His current riding average of 82.8 points is more than 1.5 points higher than his career best.

19. WYATT DENNY, $24,472

After finishing in the dreaded 16 spot in 2021, Denny has bounced back with four Go-Round wins already in 2022. Denny won two Arizona rodeos in March, Cave Creek and Scottsdale.

20. JACOB LEES, $22,407

If the 25-year-old doesn’t make his first NFR in 2022, it won’t be from lack of effort. Lees already has 36 outs this season. His biggest check so far this year came from his Long Round at Rodeo Austin when he was 88.5 points.