Bubble cowboys qualify for WNFR on last weekend
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a 10-year absence, bull rider Beau Hill is headed back to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as one of a handful of contestants who made the Big Show in Las Vegas during a frantic final week of the regular season.
The West Glacier, Mont., cowboy made his advance a reality by finishing third at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha on Sept. 26, and also adding a check in Kansas City the next day.
“This is great,” Hill, 35, said about returning to the Wrangler NFR for the first time since 2004. “It’s the goal at the beginning of the year to get in the Finals and win a world championship. I was, like, $600 out that last weekend and I knew I had to win, and it felt good to have that pressure and get the job done.”
Thanks to winning $4,456 in Omaha and $355 for tying for sixth place at the American Royal Pro Rodeo in Kansas City, Hill moved from 16th to 13th, ahead of Aaron Pass, Elliot Jacoby and Brett Stall. Stall finished $1,498 behind Jacoby for the final qualifying spot.
There was also a change at the top end of the bull riding standings, required because four-time and reigning World Champion J.W. Harris failed to compete in the minimum number of PRCA rodeos required (40) to be able to count the money earned on the Xtreme Bulls Tour.
Without the $47,726 he earned as Tour champion, Harris dropped from third to sixth in the world standings with $77,307 – $65,858 behind leader Sage Kimzey.
“That’s going to light a fire under me and motivate me more to do good out there (at the WNFR),” Harris said.
While Harris dropped three spots, Hill was just worried about making it into the top 15. His 83-point ride aboard Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Beer Gut is what helped punch his ticket to Las Vegas for the Dec. 4-13 Wrangler NFR.
“I had never been on that bull before,” Hill said. “I saw him in Fort Madison (Iowa) a few weeks before and Howdy Cloud rode him for 85 points, so I knew he was a really good bull. I knew I was just going to have to do my part. It was a great bull. He jumped out there and turned back into my hand and was just really good. I kind of got to spurring on him at the end and it just felt like I made a great ride.”
Although the Justin Boots Championships ended Sept. 26, Hill didn’t realize he placed third behind Tim Bingham (85 points) and Trey Benton III (84) until the next day.
“I was in Kansas City and I didn’t think I was going to end up finishing that high (at Omaha), but that’s just the way it worked out, that I finished third,” Hill said. “It was pretty exciting.”
This is Hill’s third trip to the WNFR, with his other two trips coming in 2002 and 2004 when he finished seventh and fifth, respectively, in the world standings.
“Ten years (since going to the Finals) is a long time, and it feels special to me to make it,” Hill said. “That was a goal of mine at the beginning of the year, and I guess I’m running out of years as far as bull riders go, so it feels good to reach a goal like this.”
Hill wasn’t the only cowboy to qualify for the WNFR with a flurry in the last week, as bareback rider Steven Dent, steer wrestler Seth Brockman, saddle bronc rider Dustin Flundra, and pending an audit, the team roping pair of Tom Richards and Cesar de la Cruz, made it into the WNFR field by each finishing 15th.
Richards and de la Cruz advanced to the coveted Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with huge final weeks.
Richards pocketed $12,120, and de la Cruz earned $10,858.
Pending further review, Richards made his first WNFR with $66,744 – $1,802 more than 16th-place Chad Masters, who won gold buckles in 2007 and 2012. De la Cruz has now qualified for nine WNFRs in a row after edging out No. 16 Kinney Harrell by $2,774.
Dent qualified for his seventh WNFR berth, and fifth in a row, with checks in Omaha, Neb., San Bernardino, Calif., and Stephenville, Texas, to bump injury-plagued R.C. Landingham out of the 15th spot by $3,532.
The highlight for Dent was his win in Stephenville, where his 91-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket equaled the highest-scored bareback ride of the season; Richmond Champion was also 91 on Dirty Jacket at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. Dent started the week 16th.
Brockman, of Wheatland, Wyo., rose from 17th to 14th during the week by tying for second place at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Omaha, and tying for seventh in the Justin Boots Championships, for total earnings of $5,800.
Ty Erickson dropped to 15th, and the odd man out was Blake Knowles, who fell all the way to 18th in this closest of all the races. Erickson’s total earnings of $52,470 was just $64 better than No. 16 Tom Lewis, and Riley Duvall was $445 back in 17th. This will be Brockman’s second WNFR qualification; he made the field in 2011 and placed in three rounds.
In saddle bronc riding, Dustin Flundra edged Troy Crowser by a mere $148 to claim the No. 15 spot.
Despite having used up his rodeo count (he won two checks during the week), Spencer Wright held on to the 13th spot in the world standings to earn his first WNFR berth and join brothers Cody, Jesse and Jake in the field. It is the first time four brothers have ever qualified for the WNFR.
Tie-down roper Cody Ohl, who was outside the top 50 in mid-July, moved up one more spot to 14th, and will be going to his 20th WNFR.
2014 WINDHAM WEAPONRY HIGH PERFORMANCE
PRCA WORLD STANDINGSUnofficial through Sept. 29, 2014
*These standings are pending both audit and appeals, and are not official
All-around
1 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $253,262
2 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 158,537
3 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 88,683
4 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 86,832
5 Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 86,668
6 Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 80,309
7 Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 74,496
8 Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 61,394
9 Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 56,980
10 Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 56,317
11 Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 55,187
12 Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 52,422
13 Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 46,935
14 Payden Emmett, Ponca, Ark. 41,062
15 Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D. 39,567
16 Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb. 37,521
17 J.B. Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 31,310
18 Chant DeForest, Wheatland, Calif. 31,048
19 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas 31,047
20 J.D. Yates, Pueblo, Colo. 28,444
Bareback Riding
1 Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah $172,384
2 Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 126,929
3 Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 122,717
4 Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa 102,890
5 Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 99,013
6 Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 95,309
7 Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas 89,935
8 Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah 84,225
9 Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 73,039
10 J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. 70,208
11 Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta 67,786
12 Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 67,686
13 Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas 65,779
14 Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla. 65,178
15 Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 64,567
16 R.C. Landingham, Pendleton, Ore. 61,035
17 Luke Creasy, Lubbock, Texas 52,925
18 Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 52,847
19 Orin Larsen, Goodwell, Okla. 51,917
20 Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas 50,547
Steer Wrestling
1 Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. $91,804
2 K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 82,055
3 Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 80,278
4 Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 77,754
5 Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 76,576
6 Bray Armes, Ponder, Texas 69,216
7 Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb. 67,832
8 Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 65,992
9 Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 63,015
10 Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. 59,736
11 Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 57,449
12 Cole Edge, Durant, Okla. 57,406
13 Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, Idaho 57,188
14 Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. 52,933
15 Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 52,470
16 Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 52,406
17 Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla. 52,025
18 Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore. 49,022
19 Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif. 46,824
20 Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 46,081
Team Roping (header)
1 Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $110,181
2 Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 101,421
3 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 101,399
4 Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont. 90,643
5 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 82,889
6 Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 81,470
7 Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore. 79,491
8 Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 76,963
9 Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. 75,710
10 Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas 73,062
11 Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz. 72,341
12 Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 71,559
13 Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas 69,310
14 Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz. 68,074
15 Tom Richards, Humboldt, Ariz. 66,744
16 Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 64,942
17 Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 58,533
18 Chace Thompson, Munday, Texas 50,975
19 Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont. 50,775
20 Ty Blasingame, Sugar City, Colo. 48,858
Team Roping (heeler)
1 Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. $110,181
2 Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 101,769
3 Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 101,399
4 Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo. 93,735
5 Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 82,889
6 Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas 81,470
7 Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M. 79,491
8 Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 76,963
9 Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 76,710
10 Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo. 72,618
11 Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla. 70,062
12 Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, Texas 65,950
13 Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz. 62,333
14 Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 60,255
15 Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz. 58,515
16 Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas 55,741
17 Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas 54,220
18 Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 53,828
19 Jett Hillman, Purcell, Okla. 51,344
20 Tommy Zuniga, Centerville, Texas 50,796
Saddle Bronc Riding
1 Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. $126,879
2 Cody Wright, Milford, Utah 111,093
3 Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 102,429
4 Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La. 92,574
5 Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 88,729
6 Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa 83,875
7 Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn. 77,694
8 Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 77,495
9 Bradley Harter, Loranger, La. 74,836
10 Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 73,705
11 Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 71,134
12 Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. 66,683
13 Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 60,265
14 Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 59,795
15 Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta 59,372
16 Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D. 59,224
17 Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas 55,039
18 Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas 51,725
19 Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo. 49,905
20 Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 47,338
Tie-down Roping
1 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas $153,822
2 Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 116,983
3 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 93,849
4 Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 85,893
5 Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas 83,188
6 Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 81,533
7 Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 79,687
8 Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas 76,319
9 Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas 74,285
10 Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas 69,596
11 Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 69,401
12 Ryan Watkins, Bluff Dale, Texas 68,197
13 Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas 66,317
14 Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas 65,282
15 Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash. 64,240
16 Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 57,828
17 Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash. 57,311
18 Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 56,355
19 Randall Carlisle, Baton Rouge, La. 56,296
20 Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M. 55,889
Steer Roping
1 Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $68,835
2 Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 67,910
3 Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 53,561
4 Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 45,415
5 Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 43,499
6 Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz. 37,464
7 Jason Evans, Huntsville, Texas 35,224
8 Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 33,281
9 Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas 33,165
10 J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 33,040
11 Brady Garten, Claremore, Okla. 32,543
12 Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 32,329
13 Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 31,225
14 Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. 30,193
15 Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo. 28,268
16 Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas 27,707
17 J.B. Whatley, Gardendale, Texas 26,094
18 Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas 26,009
19 Roger Branch, Perkins, Okla. 25,855
20 J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas 24,148
Bull Riding
1 Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. $143,165
2 Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas 125,547
3 Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 102,589
4 Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah 85,634
5 Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 77,830
6 J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas 77,307
7 Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas 76,227
8 Josh Koschel, Nunn, Colo. 73,107
9 Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif. 72,139
10 Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo. 70,040
11 Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah 69,558
12 Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo. 67,577
13 Beau Hill, West Glacier, Mont. 67,158
14 Aaron Pass, Dallas, Texas 66,546
15 Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas 65,039
16 Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 63,553
17 Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore. 58,936
18 Dustin Bowen, Fredericksburg, Pa. 58,664
19 Jeff Askey, Martin, Tenn. 55,122
20 Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas 53,252
*2014 Barrel Racing (through Sept. 29, 2014)
Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.
1 Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla. $155,280
2 Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas 131,471
3 Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 121,617
4 Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah 104,289
5 Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D. 102,947
6 Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas 100,645
7 Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas 99,712
8 Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo. 93,135
9 Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 93,048
10 Kassidy Dennison, Roosevelt, Utah 92,051
11 Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo. 91,736
12 Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas 90,431
13 Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb. 74,385
14 Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas 70,577
15 Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas 70,416
16 Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore. 70,017
17 Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas 69,447
18 Ann Scott, Canyon Country, Calif. 68,119
19 Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga. 64,063
20 Kimmie Wall, Roosevelt, Utah 60,579
