LAS VEGAS – Jess Pope has found a liking for rodeo’s biggest stage.
The Waverly, Kan., cowboy keeps on winning as he claimed his second round victory in a row with his 89.5-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Fired Up at the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge.
Pope was thrilled with his ride before 16,860 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.
LAS VEGAS – Less than two weeks before the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, tie-down roper Shane Hanchey was dealt some adversity.
The primary horse Hanchey was aboard all season – TJ – passed away. The horse was owned by Logan Bird.
Hanchey said the loss wouldn’t set him back at the Wrangler NFR and it didn’t – at least for Round 1.
The Sulphur, La., native clocked a 7.4-second run to win the round before 16,804 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Fans watched the greatest jackpot team roper in history extend his record of wins and break the all-time earnings record at the world’s richest pro roping Sunday night in Oklahoma.
Kory Koontz, 49, of Stephenville, Texas, clinched victory at the Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) presented by Yeti for the record third time, riding a horse he raised and nursed back to health after a horrific auto accident a year ago. Exactly 25 years after Koontz won back-to-back BFI titles with Rube Woolsey and Matt Tyler, he and Manny Egusquiza Jr. roped six steers in 46.48 seconds to earn $150,000 cash and epic prizes.
With 57.8 seconds on five runs—one each in heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping—two-time World Champion Team Roper Clay Smith took the Round 1 victory lap around the gargantuan Lazy E Arena on opening night at the 2021 Cinch Timed Event Championship. The guy who won back-to-back gold heading buckles in 2018 and ’19 got off to a great start, and grinned at evening’s end saying that competing in Rodeo’s Ironman is “almost a vacation” compared to getting ready for it.
“Gunners” – or the first team out at the 44th edition of the Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) on March 14 – will be two of the wiliest veterans in the game. Not only has each man already won the BFI, but each has also ridden at least one horse awarded as the best of the event. Hall-of-Famer J.D. Yates, a 21-time NFR roper who won the BFI in 2010 with Jay Wadhams, will turn the first steer for eight-time NFR heeler Cody Cowden, who won “the Feist” in 1997 with Bobby Hurley.
Stetson Wright wins two world titles at 2020 Wrangler NFR
ARLINGTON, Texas – A night after winning the coveted all-around world championship, Stetson Wright returned to make his 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo one for the ages.
It ended in fitting fashion as Wright split first with a 92-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Angel’s Landing to win the bull riding world championship at Globe Life Field, Dec. 12.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The drama is over in the PRCA all-around world championship race. Stetson Wright took care of that with a go-round to spare.
For the second consecutive year, Wright won the all-around gold buckle.
The Milford, Utah, cowboy officially clinched the title when he won Round 9 in the bull riding with a 92-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Smoke Stack at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field, Dec. 11 to add another $26,231 to his haul.
Ryder Wright notches fourth go-round win of 2020 Wrangler NFR
ARLINGTON, Texas – Ryder Wright has been on a mission to win his second saddle bronc riding gold buckle. He’s on the cusp of accomplishing that.
Wright won his fourth go-round of the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with an 88-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s American Hat’s Positive Times in Round 8 at Globe Life Field, Dec. 10.
Stetson Wright dazzles in Round 7 with saddle bronc, bull riding wins
ARLINGTON, Texas – Stetson Wright is having a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the ages.
The 21-year-old, Utah cowboy won his first career Wrangler NFR go-round in saddle bronc riding with a 90.5-point trip on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper at Globe Life Field, Dec. 9.
Less than an hour later, he won bull riding with an 89-point ride on Universal Pro Rodeos’ Slinger.
Wright is the first cowboy to win two roughstock events in one night at the Finals since 2001. In Round 4 that year, Jesse Bail split the win in saddle bronc riding and won the bull riding outright.
Haven Meged sets Round 6 tie-down roping record
ARLINGTON, Texas – A year ago, tie-down roper Haven Meged stunned the ProRodeo world.
As a rookie, Meged won the 2019 world championship and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Team ropers Smith, Corkill tie Round 5 record with win
ARLINGTON, Texas – After experiencing a dry spell at the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, team ropers Clay Smith and Jade Corkill found glory Monday night.
Smith and Corkill stopped the clock in 3.6 seconds at Globe Life Field, which also tied the Round 5 NFR record set in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Smith and Corkill now share the record with Garrett Tonozzi and Kinney Harrell (2006) and JoJo LeMond and Cory Petska (2010).
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