Triple Crown of Rodeo Eligibility Restarts as New Champions Are Crowned at Rodeo Corpus Christi

Photo by WCRA
Photo by WCRA

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –In front of an electric crowd inside the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, rodeo athletes from across the globe were crowned champions and walked away with upwards of $553,000. The Triple Crown of Rodeo Round saw three TCR eligible athletes enter the TCR Round, where all of the eligible athletes for the $1 million bonus were eliminated.
 
The Triple Crown of Rodeo is an annual bonus that pays a $1 Million cash award to any one athlete or collection of athletes who win first place in any three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos.

Read MoreTriple Crown of Rodeo Eligibility Restarts as New Champions Are Crowned at Rodeo Corpus Christi

Wade Sundell Flashes Championship Form With Round 4 Win

PRCA Photo by Clay Guardipee
PRCA Photo by Clay Guardipee

LAS VEGAS – Making his first appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge since 2018, Wade Sundell showed he’s still an elite saddle bronc rider Sunday.
 
Sundell, the 2018 world champion, won Round 4 with an 89.5-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Bet the Ranch before 16,851 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.
This was his first NFR round win since Round 5 in 2018.

Read MoreWade Sundell Flashes Championship Form With Round 4 Win

Bareback Rider Jess Pope Captures Second Straight Round Win

PRCA Photo by Rod Connor
PRCA Photo by Rod Connor

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.

Read MoreBareback Rider Jess Pope Captures Second Straight Round Win

Tie-down Roper Shane Hanchey Captures Emotional Round 1 Victory

PRCA Photo by Phill Kitts
PRCA Photo by Phill Kitts

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.

Read MoreTie-down Roper Shane Hanchey Captures Emotional Round 1 Victory