Rodeo Recap: April 15 - 21

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Bareback: Cooper Cooke – 177 points on two head

Idaho’s Cooper Cooke came to Texas to win, and win, win, win he did. Cooke lead the leaderboard after 11 performances with an 88.5 on Korkow Rodeos’, Buffalo Soldier to qualify for the short-go.

Despite competing against 11 other Bareback riders including former NFR qualifiers and having not yet qualified for one himself, Cooke proved he has what it takes to make it to Vegas this year. He rode Pickett Pro Rodeo Co’s, Night Gazer for another 88.5 to take first on Championship Friday in San Angelo.

Cooke’s win bumped him into first place in the 2024 World Standings after winning over $17,000 at the Stock Show & Rodeo.

Steer Wrestling: Matt Reeves and Cole Walker – 12.8 seconds on three head

8x NFR qualifier and 2019 NFR Average Champion, Matt Reeves and Texas native Cole Walker split the win in San Angelo after Championship Friday came to a conclusion.

Reeves was consistent, scoring two solid runs in the first two rounds of the rodeo. He tied for fourth place in the championship round with a 4.4 second run to total 12.8 on three.

Cole Walker was second in round one with a 3.7 second run, was 5 seconds flat in round two, then tied for the win in the final round with 4.1 seconds.

2023 was Walker’s first year as a PRCA member, so splitting the win with a Steer Wrestling veteran like Matt Reeves must have made the win taste extra sweet.

Team Roping: Shay Dixon Carroll/Jace Helton – 13.9 seconds on three head

3x NFR qualifier and Texas native, header Shay Dixon Carroll roped with fellow Texan, heeler Jace Helton. The team roping was fast in San Angelo.

First place in round one was 3.8 seconds and a lightning fast 3.6 seconds in round two. In both rounds, four-tenths of a second separated first and eighth place.

Carroll and Helton brought it home Texas style in the championship round, splitting second place with a 4.5 second run and securing the average after roping three in 13.9 seconds total.

Saddle Bronc: Sage Newman and Tanner Butner – 174 points on two head

3x NFR qualifier Sage Newman and 2x NFR qualifier Tanner Butner came to play in San Angelo. Newman split the win in round one as a three-way tie, all riders covering for 87.5 points, Newman on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Code Blue.

Butner was eighth in another three-way tie with 85.5 points. Championship Friday saw the two riders go head-to-head but this time it was Butner’s turn for the win, riding J Bar J’s, In the Lu for 88.5 points, Newman close behind in second place with an 86.5.

Newman is now in 6th place in the ’24 Saddle Bronc World Standings.

Tie Down: Dylan Hancock – 24.9 seconds on three head

Dylan Hancock calls San Angelo, Texas home and at just 20 years old, he’s now won the Tie Down roping title at his hometown rodeo. 2024 is Hancock’s third year as a PRCA member.

He finished 2023 25th in the world, won both the 2023 Resistol Rookie of the Year All Around and Tie Down Roping titles, and is well on his way to his first NFR this year.

He roped for 7.8 seconds, the fastest time of the final round, solidifying his average score and the San Angelo title with a total of 24.9 seconds on three head.

Hancock earned over $12,000 in front of his friends and family and now sits 13th in the ’24 Tie Down World Standings.

Barrel Racing: Wenda Johnson – 44 seconds on three head

4x NFR qualifier Wenda Johnson was just about as good as you can be in San Angelo.

She raced for first in round one with a 15.66 second run then came back even faster in round two, tying for second with a 14.05, two-hundredths of a second behind first place. In the final round, Johnson was seventh after racing for 14.29 seconds, totaling her average to 44 seconds flat on three head, good for a total of over $20,000 in winnings at the Stock Show and Rodeo.

Johnson’s winnings in San Angelo have placed her unofficially fourth in the ’24 Barrel Racing World Standings.

Bull Riding: Scott Wells – 171.5 on two head

San Angelo is Rookie Scott Well’s first major win of his career, and boy should the Texas native be proud. Round one was competitive; Well’s score of a solid 85 didn’t even earn him a check.

On Championship Friday, Wells covered Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Twilight Zone, a phenomenal draw.

Together, the two earned an 85.5, winning the round and Well’s an average check worth over $7,000.

Breakaway: Brooke Eddy – 7 seconds on three head

The women of the Breakaway roping at San Angelo proved why the event is quickly becoming rodeo’s fastest.

Texas cowgirl Brooke Eddy split ninth in round one with a 2.4 second run, first was a crazy fast 2.1 seconds. She was 2.5 in round two, then took home the big win on Championship Friday with a 2.1 second run herself. Prior to San Angelo, Eddy had won just about $500.

Her performance at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo earned her nearly $10,000 in winnings.

• California Bareback rider and 4x NFR qualifier, R.C. Landingham drew a legend at the Round Up, and covered him like the professional cowboy he is. C5 Rodeo’s, Virgil is a two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and holds the record for the highest National Finals Bareback score. He lived up to his reputation and together, Landingham and Virgil scored an impressive 92.5 point ride for the win in Red Bluff. Landingham is currently 10th in the ’24 standings.

• 4x NFR qualifier Stetson Jorgenson placed in all four rounds in Red Bluff to earn him the average title in the Steer Wrestling. He was sixth in round one with a 4.6 second run, tied for third in round two with a 4.3 and was fifth in round three after a 4.9 second run. He brought it home in the final round, placing third with a 5.3. His consistency brought him the win in Red Bluff for a total of 19.1 seconds on four head. Jorgenson is now 3rd in the world.

• Texas’s Logan Cook is currently sitting 7 th in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings following his win in Red Bluff. Cook rode Rosser Rodeo’s, Yeti Rambler for 89.5 points, winning the rodeo and a $7,800 check.

• Red Bluff was good to reigning Tie Down World Champion and 2x NFR qualifier, Riley Webb; and Webb was consistent to say the least. Webb won the Round Up’s first and second rounds with a 8.5 second run followed by an 8.4. He finished fifth in the third and final rounds, roping and tying in 9.8 seconds in both rounds. His impressive consistency resulted in 36.5 seconds on four head, taking home the win in Red Bluff. Webb is 3rd in the ’24 standings.

Fun Fact

The Red Bluff Round Up estimates it contributes more than $5 million annually in economic impact.