BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The stakes were higher than ever before at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo as it was the host site for the inaugural NFR Open. The new event replaced the RAM National Circuit Finals and the best cowboys and cowgirls from all of the PRCA’s 13 circuits competed for $1 million in cash and prizes.
Collegiate Champion Ty Pope added a professional National Championship early in his career by riding for 86.5 points in the Short Go. All four bareback riders in the winner-take-all Final Four were marked either 86.5 or 86 points. Kaycee Field made more money than any other bareback rider with $24,000.
Kyle Irwin dominated Saturday at the NFR Open in the steer wrestling by winning both rounds and making almost $14,000 for just those two runs. He was 4.1 seconds in the Semifinals and 3.8 in the Finals.
Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce made their best run of the rodeo at the right time to win the NFR Open. They were the only clean pair in the Championship Round.
Kade Bruno won the Championship Round, Long Round Average and Round 1. Bruno saved the best for last by registering the only 90 point ride of the rodeo in the Short Go.
Just like Kyle Irwin, Taylor Santos won both rounds in the tie-down roping on Saturday. His 7.9 in the Finals was the fastest of the rodeo.
In barrel racing, Cheyenne Allan beat out a star-studded Final Four that included reigning RNCFR Champion Shelley Morgan and reigning World Champion Jordon Briggs. Allan stopped the clock at 17.04 seconds in the Finals. Allan, Morgan and Briggs all brought in more than $19,000 for the week.
Braidy Randolph was the only cowboy to ride in the Short Round to win the bull riding. He was also the only cowboy to ride multiple bulls at the rodeo. He was 3-for-4.
Breakaway roping produced the RAM Top Gun Award winner for the event Martha Angelone won more than $30,000. She won the Average, Semifinals and Finals and turned in four times of 3 seconds flat or faster.
Bareback riding
First round: 1. Kaycee Feild, 87.5 points on Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Captain Hook, $5,557; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5, $4,210; 3. Chad Rutherford, 84.5, $3,031; 4. Kade Sonnier, 83, $2,021; 5. Ty Breuer, 82, $1,179; 6. Keenan Hayes, 80.5, $842.
Second round: 1. Ty Breuer, 86.5 points on Brookman Rodeo’s 3:10 To Yuma, $5,557; 2. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Ty Pope, 85, $3,621 each; 4. Keenan Hayes, 84, $2,021; 5. Zack Brown, 83, $1,179; 6. Nick Pelke, 82.5, $842.
Average: 1. Kaycee Feild, 172.5 points on two head, $5,557; 2. Ty Breuer, 168.5, $4,210; 3. Chad Rutherford, 166.5, $3,031; 4. Garrett Shadbolt, 166, $2,021; 5. Keenan Hayes, 164.5, $1,179; 6. Kade Sonnier, 163.5, $842.
Semifinals: 1. Ty Pope, 88 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Famous Dex, $6,736; 2. Kade Sonnier, 86, $5,050; 3. Keenan Hayes, 85, $3,368; 4. Kaycee Feild, 84.5, $1,684.
Finals: 1. (tie) Ty Pope, on Generations Pro Rodeo’s Doughboy and Kade Sonnier, on Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Copy Cat Valley, 86.5 points, $5,894 each; 3. (tie) Keenan Hayes and Kaycee Feild, 86, $2,526 each.
National Champion: Ty Pope
Steer wrestling
First round: 1. Kyler Dick, 4.2 seconds, $5,630; 2. (tie) Stan Branco, Cody Moore and Cade Staton, 4.6, $3,128 each; 5. Brian Snell, 4.8, $1,194; 6. Cameron Morman, 4.9, $853.
Second round: 1. Cody Cabral, 4.1 seconds, $5,630; 2. Sterling Lambert, 4.2, $4,265; 3. Dalton Massey, 4.3, $3,071; 4. Olin Ellsworth, 4.5, $2,047; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.6, $1,194; 6. Kyle Irwin, 4.7, $853.
Average: 1. Cody Cabral, 9.5 seconds on two head, $5,630; 2. Stan Branco, 9.8, $4,265; 3. (tie) Kyler Dick and Ryan Nettle, 10.5, $2,559 each; 5. Cade Staton, 10.6, $1,194; 6. Kyle Irwin, 10.8; $853.
Semifinals: 1. Kyle Irwin, 4.1 seconds, $6,824; 2. (tie) Cody Cabral, Cade Staton and Gavin Soileau, 4.8, $3,412 each.
Finals: 1. Kyle Irwin, 3.8 seconds, $6,824; 2. Cade Staton, 4.9, $5,118; 3. Cody Cabral, 7.0, $3,412; 4. Gavin Soileau, 14.3, $1,706.
National Champion: Kyle Irwin
Team roping
First round: 1. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.9 seconds, $5,630 each; 2. Clint Wallace/Ryan Von Ahn, 6.2, $4,265; 3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 6.3, $3,071; 4. Radley Day/Taylor Williams, 6.4, $2,047; 5. Brady Tryan/Justin Viles, 6.8, $1,194; 6. Garrett Rogers/Russell Cardoza, 7.0, $853.
Second round: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 4.2 seconds, $5,630 each; 2. Garrett Tonozzi/T.J. Watts, 5.4, $4,265; 3. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 5.5, $3,071; 4. (tie) Lane Stock/Justin Simon and Derrick Begay/T.J. Brown, 5.6, $1,621 each; 6. Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce, 5.8, $853.
Average: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 12.4 seconds on two head, $5,630 each; 2. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 12.6, $4,265; 3. Derrick Begay/T.J. Brown, 13.4, $3,071; 4. Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce, 14.8, $2,047; 5. Logan Bonnett/Keely Bonnett, 15.8, $1,194; 6. Jake Clay/Austin Rogers, 16.2, $853.
Semifinals: 1. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.6 seconds, $6,824 each; 2. Derrick Begay/T.J. Brown, 5.9, $5,118; 3. Jake Clay/Austin Rogers, 6.1, $3,412; 4. Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce, 6.6, 1,706.
Finals: 1. Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce, 5.3 seconds, $6,824 each; 2. Jake Clay/Austin Rogers, 9.8, $5,118; 3. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 14.7, $3,412; 4. Derrick Begay/T.J. Brown, NT, $1,706.
National Champions: Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce
Saddle bronc riding
First round: 1. Kade Bruno, 87.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Warhawk, $5,594; 2. Ryder Wright, 85.5, $4,238; 3. Jesse James Kirby, 82.5, $3,051; 4. Houston Brown, 81.5, $2,034; 5. Jade Blackwell, 81, $1,187; 6. Jacobs Crawley, 80.5, $848.
Second round: 1. Mitch Pollock, 84 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Undun, $5,594; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 83, $4,238; 3. (tie) Kade Bruno and Reed Neely, 82, $2,543 each; 5. Houston Brown, 81.5, $1,187; 6. Jesse James Kirby, 81, $848.
Average: 1. Kade Bruno, 169.5 points on two head, $5,594; 2. Ryder Wright, 164.5, $4,238; 3. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Jesse James Kirby, 163.5, $2,543 each; 5. Houston Brown, 163, $1,187; 6. Jade Blackwell, 158, $848.
Semifinals: 1. Reed Neely, 85.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Foul Motion, $6,780; 2. Kade Bruno, 85, $5,085; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 80.5, $3,390; 4. Treyson Antonick, 71.5, $1,695.
Finals: 1. Kade Bruno, 90 points on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin, $6,780; 2. Reed Neely, 83.5, $5,085; 3. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Treyson Antonick, 81, $2,543 each.
Nation Champion: Kade Bruno
Tie-down roping
First round: 1. (tie) Brushton Minton and Macon Murphy, 8.4 seconds, $4,947 each; 3. Landon Williams, 8.8, $3,071; 4. Blake Ash, 9.0, $2,047; 5. Jesse Popescul, 9.1, $1,194; 6. Seth Hall, 9.2, $853.
Second round: 1. Jake Hannum, 8.1 seconds, $5,630; 2. Randall Carlisle, 8.8, $4,265; 3. Blake Ash, 9.3, $3,071; 4. Macon Murphy, 9.5, $2,047; 5. Sy Felton, 10.3, $1,194; 6. Riley Wakefield, 10.4, $853.
Average: 1. Macon Murphy, 17.9 seconds on two head, $5,630; 2. Blake Ash, 18.3, $4,265; 3. Brushton Minton, 19.9, $3,071; 4. Cody Darnell, 20.0, $2,047; 5. Landon Williams, 20.2, $1,194; 6. Taylor Santos, 20.7, $853.
Semifinals: 1. Taylor Santos, 7.9 seconds, $6,824; 2. Macon Murphy, 8.4, $5,118; 3. Jase Staudt, 8.8, $3,412; 4. Sy Felton, 9.0, $1,706.
Finals: 1. Taylor Santos, 8.6 seconds, $6,824; 2. Sy Felton, 9.7, $5,118; 3. Jase Staudt, 11.3, $3,412; 4. Macon Murphy, 17.9, $1,706.
National Champion: Taylor Santos
Barrel racing
First round: 1. Leslie Smalygo, 17.27 seconds, $5,630; 2. Shelley Morgan, 17.33, $4,265; 3. (tie) Amanda Welsh and Jessica Routier, 17.51, $2,559 each; 5. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 17.54, $1,194; 6. (tie) Kacey Gartner and Megan Champion, 17.55, $427 each.
Second round: 1. Jordon Briggs, 17.00 seconds, $5,630; 2. Marcie Wilson, 17.23, $4,265; 3. Cheyenne Allan, 17.30, $3,071; 4. Shelley Morgan, 17.32, $2,047; 5. Tarryn Lee, 17.44, $1,194; 6. Jessica Routier, 17.45, $853.
Average: 1. Jordon Briggs, 34.63 seconds on two head, $5,630; 2. Shelley Morgan, 34.65, $4,265; 3. Cheyenne Allan, 34.89, $3.071; 4. Jessica Routier, 34.96, $2,047; 5. Marcie Wilson, 34.97, $1,194; 6. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 35.03, $853.
Semifinals: 1. Jordon Briggs, 17.21 seconds, $6,824; 2. Shelley Morgan, 17.22, $5,118; 3. Cheyenne Allan, 17.40, $3,412; 4. Leslie Smalygo, 17.52, $1,706.
Finals: 1. Cheyenne Allan, 17.04 seconds, $6,824; 2. Jordon Briggs, 17.17, $5,118; 3. Shelley Morgan, 17.40, $3,412; 4. Leslie Smalygo, 17.43, $1,706.
National Champion: Cheyenne Allan
Bull riding
First round: 1. Braidy Randolph, 87.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Night Show, $5,688; 2. Jeff Askey, 83, $4,350; 3. Grayson Cole, 82, $3,179; 4. Chance Schott, 80, $2,175; 5. Cody McCandless, 67, $1,338; no other qualified rides.
Second round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 88.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Outer Limits, $5,521; 2. Riggin Shippy, 85, $4,183; 3. Aaron Williams, 83.5, $3,011; 4. Jeff Askey, 83, $2,008; 5. Brady Portenier, 81, $1,171; 6. Braidy Randolph, 68, $837.
Average: 1. Jeff Askey, 166 points on two head, $5,521; 2. Braidy Randolph, 155.5, $4,183; 3. Stetson Dell Wright, 88.5 on one head, $3,011; 4. Riggin Shippy, 85, $2,008; 5. Aaron Williams, 83.5, $1,171; 6. Grayson Cole, 82, $837.
Semifinals: 1. No qualified rides.
Finals: 1. Braidy Randolph, 86 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Grand Slam, $6,692; no other qualified rides.
National Champion: Braidy Randolph
Breakaway roping
First round: 1. Martha Angelone, 2.40 seconds, $5,557; 2. Kirbie Gibbens, 2.70, $4,210; 3. (tie) Bradi Whiteside, Whitlee Burgess and Bailey Kieckbusch, 2.80, $2,077 each; 6. Candida Eldridge, 3.00, $842.
Second round: 1. Lari Dee Guy, 2.20 seconds, $5,557; 2. (tie) Rickie Engesser, Allie Hoskins and TiAda Gray, 2.40, $3,087 each; 5. Martha Angelone, 2.60, $1,179; 6. Kirbie Gibbens, 2.70, $842.
Average: 1. Martha Angelone, 5.00 seconds on two head, $5,557; 2. Kirbie Gibbens, 5.40, $4,210; 3. TiAda Gray, 5.50, $3,031; 4. Rickie Engesser, 5.70, $2.021; 5. Bailey Kieckbusch, 5.80, $1,178; 6. Whitlee Burgess, 6.50 $842.
Semifinals: 1. Martha Angelone, 2.5 seconds, $6,736; 2. Rickie Engesser, 3.4, $5,052; 3. Bailey Kieckbusch, 12.2, $3,368; 4. Bradi Whiteside, 12.5, $1,684.
Finals: 1. Martha Angelone, 3.0 seconds, $6,736; 2. Rickie Engesser, 5.0, $5,052; 3. Bailey Kieckbusch, 12.1, $3,368; 4. Bradi Whiteside, NT, $1,684.
National Champion: Martha Angelone
RELATED: