BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The Lea County Fair and Rodeo in Lovington, New Mexico paid nearly $250,000 for four days of action from August 3-6. It was a one-header in barrel racing and the roughstock events and a two-header in the timed events.
Chad Rutherford edged out a Top 5 full of NFR qualifiers with 88 points on Pete Carr Rodeo’s Redzilla. Tanner Aus was second with 87, Garrett Shadbolt was third, R.C. Landingham was fourth and Caleb Bennett was fifth. All were marked 85 points or higher.
It was a five-way tie for the steer wrestling crown between Hunter Cure, Cimarron Thompson, Tyler Waguespack, Tyke Kip and D.J. Joos. They were all 8.2 seconds on two head.
In team roping, reigning World Champions Kaleb Driggers/Junior Noguiera not only won the rodeo, but also both set a PRCA regular season earnings record in the process. Both cowboys have made $152,956 this year. The old header record was $150,512 by Clay Smith in 2019 and the old heeling record $147,653 was by Travis Graves in 2019.
In saddle bronc riding, reigning World Champion Stetson Wright followed up his win in Cheyenne with a win in New Mexico. He was 88 points on Pete Carr’s Fox Hole Gunner. Wright is No. 2 in the world and No. 1, Sage Newman, was second at the rodeo with 87.5 points.
Taylor Santos was the champion in the tie-down roping after winning Round 1 and tying for seventh in Round 2. His runs were 8.1 seconds and 8.7 seconds to give him an aggregate time of 16.8.
Barrel was was won by Savannah Woodfin, who stopped the clock at 17.39 seconds. Nicole Driggers, Cheyenne Wimberly and Cindy Smith were all within seven hundredths of a second of Woodfin.
In bull riding, it was the No. 2 man in the world, Josh Frost, claiming the title with 89 points. Frost has made $187,518 this season.
Bareback riding
First round: 1. Chad Rutherford, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Redzilla, $4,548; 2. Tanner Aus, 87, $3,486; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5, $2,577; 4. R.C. Landingham, 86, $1,667; 5. Caleb Bennett, 85, $1,061; 6. (tie) Leighton Berry and Lane McGehee, 84.5, $682 each; 8. Orin Larsen, 83.5, $455.
Steer wrestling
First round: 1. Gus Franzen, 3.9 seconds, $2,040; 2. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Sterling Lee, Ryan Nettle and Cimarron Thompson, 4.0, $1,375 each; 6. (tie) D.J. Joos, Tristan Martin, Tyler Pearson and Gavin Soileau, 4.1, $333 each.
Second round: 1. Wyatt Jurney, 3.4 seconds, $2,040; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 3.8, $1,774; 3. (tie) Stephen Culling, Hunter Cure and Tyke Kipp, 3.9, $1,242 each; 6. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Laramie Warren, 4.0, $577 each; 8. (tie) D.J. Joos and Joe Nelson, 4.1, $89 each.
Average: 1. (tie) Hunter Cure, Cimarron Thompson, Tyler Waguespack, Tyke Kipp and D.J. Joos, 8.2 seconds on two head, $2,262 each; 6. Chance Howard, 8.5, $1,064; 7. Trell Etbauer, 8.6, $665; 8. Ryan Nettle, 8.7, $266.
Team roping
First round: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Coleby Payne, 4.2 seconds, $2,255 each; 2. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.3, $1,961; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.4, $1,667; 4. (tie) Tanner James/Max Kuttler and Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.7, $1,225 each; 6. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.8, $784; 7. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 4.9, $490; 8. (tie) Wyatt Imus/Trevor Hale and Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.0, $98 each.
Second round: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.3 seconds, $2,255 each; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Josh Siggins/Lane Siggins, 4.4, $1,814 each; 4. Zach Kilgus/Jake Edwards, 4.5, $1,372; 5. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.6, $1,078; 6. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 4.7, $784; 7. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.0, $490; 8. Jason Burson/Corey Hendrick, 5.1, $196.
Average: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 8.8 seconds on two head, $3,382 each; 2. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 8.9, $2,941; 3. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 10.1, $2,500; 4. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 10.2, $2,059; 5. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 10.4, $1,618; 6. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 12.2, $1,176; 7. Nick Sartain/Austin Rogers, 13.1, $735; 8. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 14.0, $294.
Saddle bronc riding
First round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner, $4,992; 2. Sage Newman, 87.5, $3,827; 3. Lefty Marvel Holman, 87, $2,829; 4. Sterling Crawley, 86.5, $1,830; 5. Isaac Diaz, 84, $1,165; 6. (tie) Chase Brooks and Riggin Smith, 83.5, $749 each; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 83, $499.
Tie-down roping
First round: 1. Taylor Santos, 8.1 seconds, $2,934; 2. Lane Livingston, 8.4, $2,551; 3. Hudson Wallace, 8.6, $2,169; 4. Macon Murphy, 8.7, $1,786; 5. Michael Otero, 8.8, $1,403; 6. Caleb Smidt, 8.9, $1,021; 7. (tie) Cooper Martin and Chance Thiessen, 9.1, $447 each.
Second round: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 7.3 seconds, $2,934; 2. Quade Hiatt, 7.4, $2,551; 3. John Pereira, 7.6, $2,169; 4. Bryce Barney, 7.8, $1,786; 5. Paul David Tierney, 8.2, $1,403; 6. Shawn Poag, 8.5, $1,021; 7. (tie) Trevor Hale, Kincade Henry, Taylor Santos and Caleb Smidt, 8.7, $223 each.
Average: 1. Taylor Santos, 16.8 seconds on two head, $4,401; 2. Caleb Smidt, 17.6, $3,827; 3. Bryce Barney, 17.8, $3,253; 4. Quade Hiatt, 18.1, $2,679; 5. Ryan Thibodeaux, 18.5, $2,105; 6. Kincade Henry, 18.7, $1,531; 7. Hudson Wallace, 19.4, $957; 8. Trevor Hale, 19.9, $383.
Barrel racing
First round: 1. Savannah Woodfin, 17.39 seconds, $4,442; 2. Nicole Driggers, 17.42, $3,553; 3. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.43, $2,887; 4. Cindy Smith, 17.46, $2,221; 5. (tie) Halyn Lide and Shannon McReynolds, 17.52, $1,555 each; 7. Heidi Gibson, 17.59, $1,110; 8. Katie Pascoe, 17.60, $999; 9. Latricia Mundorf, 17.63, $888; 10. (tie) Emily Beisel, Kailee Murdock and Jill Wilson, 17.68, $666 each; 13. Annie Alexander, 17.72, $444; 14. Sharon Harrell, 17.77, $333; 15. Michelle Darling, 17.78, $222.
Bull riding
First round: *1. Josh Frost, 89 points on Stockyards ProRodeo’s Deplorable, $5,196; 2. Brody Yeary, 87.5, $4,000; 3. (tie) JaCauy Hale and Chance Schott, 86, $2,464 each; 5. Jesse Flores, 85.5, $1,268; 6. Jace Trosclair, 82.5, $927; 7. Justin Lane Rowell, 79, $756; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).