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- Rodeo Recap: April 22 - 28
Rodeo Recap: April 22 - 28
California Sun Shines on Rodeo’s Best
Sydney Butler
April 30, 2024
It was a big week for Pro Rodeo contestants. PRCA and WPRA members headed to California to hit two big rodeos in both Clovis and Lakeside. Steer Ropers competed at the National Circuit Finals in Wyoming while rookies went to Texas for the 2nd Cowboy Channel Rookie Roundup presented by Resistol.
Clovis Rodeo’s California Sunshine Solidifies World Standings Leaders
If it’s the last weekend in April, it’s rodeo time in Clovis, California.
Legend has it, the rodeo got its start when “one ranch said they had a horse that couldn’t be rode, and another ranch said they had a cowboy that couldn’t be thrown.”
That was 110 years ago and this year, more than 600 rodeo athletes took on four days of competition for a piece of the $300,000 added money purse.
Last week, C5 Rodeo’s, Virgil, a two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and record-holder for the highest National Finals Rodeo Bareback score, carried his cowboy to a win at the Red Bluff rodeo.
There’s a reason Virgil is one of the best; this week, newlywed and 3x NFR qualifier, Leighton Berry covered Virgil for an 88.5 point ride to win the Clovis Rodeo and a $10,000 check.
After his win in Clovis, Leighton Berry remains number one in the 2024 World Bareback Standings with over $88,000 in season earnings!
The Top 15 Saddle Bronc riders all turned up in Clovis, including current leader Damian Brennan.
However it was 2x NFR qualifier Kade Bruno and 2x World Champion and 8x NFR qualifier Ryder Wright who would go on to split the win in California.
Bruno covered Corey & Lange Rodeo’s, Monster while Wright was paired with Burch Rodeo’s, Lyin’ Lunatic, both riding for 88 points.
With the win in Clovis, Ryder Wright is currently sixth in the ’24 Saddle Bronc World Standings, Bruno is eighth!
4x NFR qualifier and Oklahoma cowgirl, Wenda Johnson is having a stellar Pro-rodeo season so far.
Coming into Clovis, Johnson was sitting second in the standings after 15 rodeos. She won the first round with a 16.86 second run and was second in the final round with a 16.85.
All in, Johnson was 50.83 seconds on three head, earning herself over $8,000 in winnings.
With her winnings from Clovis, Johnson will now be unofficially first in the 2024 World Barrel Racing Standings!
Fun Fact
Clovis Rodeo by the numbers: 746 animal athletes compete, 700 volunteers help, 8,500 pounds of tri-tip is served and $350,000 is raised annually by the rodeo to donate to local charities.
Lakeside Rodeo Sees Saddle Bronc’s Kade Bruno Go Two-for-Two in a California Weekend
It’s about a six to seven hour drive from Clovis, California to Lakeside, California.
Rodeo athletes are used to worse commutes, but lucky for 2x NFR qualifier and Idaho cowboy, Kade Bruno, braving the Cali traffic was well worth it. He rode Western Rodeos’, Hippy Mountain for 85.5 points in Lakeside to win the rodeo.
With his double California rodeo wins, Bruno is 8th in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings!
Oklahoma Cowboy Wins First National Circuit Finals Steer Roping
The US and Canada are divided into 13 circuits, a system designed by the PRCA to benefit rodeo’s “weekend warriors.”
Competing and winning at rodeos in a contestant’s designated circuit qualifies the top ranked cowboys and cowgirls for the National Circuit Finals.
For most ropers, roughstock riders and barrel racers, the National Circuit Finals is now known as the NFR Open and is held in July in Colorado. However, for Steer Ropers, last week was an opportunity to take home a national title.
Eight rounds determined the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping Champion
Oklahoma’s Bill Good calls the Prairie Circuit home. He’s qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping twice but never won. Good qualified for the eight-man semifinals after 81.7 seconds on six head left him third in the average.
In the semis, he roped a 12 flat, placing second behind reigning Steer Roping World Champion, Cole Paterson’s 10.1 seconds.
After seven rounds of roping, the Circuit Finals come down to a sudden-death four man faceoff!
Of the four qualifiers in the final round, Good was the only roper to catch a time, roping in 12.6 seconds for his first big win and your new National Circuit Finals Steer Roping champ.
With a national title under his belt, Billy Good is currently 15th in the 2024 Steer Roping World Standings!
Resistol’s Rookie Roundup Highlights Rodeo’s Next Big Stars
The Top 15 contenders from the 2023 Resistol Rookie Standings competed last week for a chance at their share of a $100,000 purse. Rookies are in their first official year of professional competition as a PRCA or WPRA card holder.
While rookies are included in the PRCA and WPRA’s World Standings, they also have a standings of their own to award a Resistol Rookie of the Year in each event to the rookie who earned the most money that season.
The Rookie Roundup presented by Resistol crowned it’s 2024 champions, and they’ll be names to keep an eye on as the future stars of rodeo.
Rookie Roundup presented by Resistol crowned it’s 2024 champions:
Bareback: Weston Timberman – 85 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co’s, Night Star.
Timberman is 18th in the ’24 Bareback World Standings!
Steer Wrestling: Parker Sandstrom – 4.8 seconds
Team Roping: Ben Jordan/Scott Lauaki – 4.5 seconds
Saddle Bronc: Carter Sandberg – 79 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Dirty Jacket
Tie Down: Chance Rodriguez – 7.7 seconds
Barrel Racing: Oceane Veilleaux – 13.19 seconds.
Veilleaux is unofficially ranked 31st in the ’24 Barrel Racing World Standings!
Bull Riding: Brandon Ballard – 80.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Old School
Breakaway: Nikayla Brill – 2.9 seconds
Check back next week and each week thereafter for all the highlights on your favorite contestants as they work their way down the 2024 rodeo road.
 - Richard S. | Bits n’ Spurs Weekly Newsletter P.S. Check out our community on Reddit and join the conversation |