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- Rodeo Recap: June 24 – June 30
Rodeo Recap: June 24 – June 30
Merry Cowboy Christmas Eve!
Sydney Butler
July 02, 2024
In partnership with
Over $1.7 million in total payout was up for grabs last week as the summer run ramps up to Cowboy Christmas, the season’s most demanding but high paying week that takes place over the Fourth of July.
Rodeos took place across 15 states from California to Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Montana, the Dakotas, Texas and all the way to New York and New Jersey. Rodeos ranged to smaller contests, all the way up to Reno Rodeo’s massive ten-day, three-quarters of a million dollar payout extravaganza.
As the summer run continues, we’ll bring you the highlights of the previous week’s events, keeping you updated on the shuffle in standings and who brings the heat to summer’s biggest rodeos.
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Reno Rodeo | Reno, Nevada – Total Payout: $750,915
One of the summer’s richest rodeos came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday night. Ten nights of sold-out performances at the Reno Rodeo wrapped up with awarding event winners Reno’s infamous pair of silver trophy spurs and a portion of the more than $750,000 payout.
Bareback: R.C. Landingham – 257 points on three head
4x NFR qualifier R.C. Landingham sat atop the leaderboard almost all week in Reno. After riding for an 86.5 and third place in the first round, then placing second in the second round with an 87-point ride, Landingham was first in the average going into the final round. There, he placed sixth, scoring an 83.5. In the end, Landingham won the average by just one point ahead of second place, earning a total of 257 points on three head and total earnings of almost $17,500.
R.C. Landingham is currently 6th in the 2024 Bareback World Standings!
Steer Wrestling: Dalton Massey & Tucker Allen – 13.9 seconds on three head
This time last week, California’s Tucker Allen was leading the average in Reno by just two-tenths of a second ahead of second place. Allen held that lead all week, earning himself his very first win of the 2023-2024 season. Allen won the second round at 4.1 seconds, then placed fourth in the finals with a 4.7 second run.
Allen splits his win with NFR qualifier and Oregon cowboy, Dalton Massey. Massey did not place in the top six in either of the first rounds, but came back to place second in the final round with a 4.1 second run. In total, both Allen and Massey scored a total of 13.9 seconds on three head, Allen winning over $16,500 and Massey $10,400.
Massey is currently leading the 2024 Steer Wrestling World Standings; Allen is currently 4th!
Team Roping: Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn – 16.1 seconds on three head
After missing the money in the first round, 3x NFR qualifier and Oklahoma header, Andrew Ward and World Champion and 5x NFR qualifier, Oklahoma heeler Kollin VonAhn came back fast. The pair roped for 4.6 seconds and second place in the second round, then won the final round after a 4.8 second run. All in, the team won the average by four-tenths of a second with 16.1 seconds on three head and total earnings of over $17,000.
Ward is currently 3rd in the 2024 Header World Standings; VonAhn is currently 10th in the 2024 Heeler World Standings!
Saddle Bronc: Ryder Wright – 259.5 points on three head
Reno Rodeo’s Saddle Bronc title ended in a race for the win between two Wright brothers. 5x NFR qualifier Rusty tied for the win in the first round while 2x World Champion and 8x NFR qualifier Ryder tied for fourth place, Rusty scoring an 87 and Ryder an 85.5. In the second round, Ryder tied again for fourth after an 86-point ride while Rusty was out of the money. On finals night, it was Ryder barely edged out Rusty to place second with an 88 while Rusty scored an 87.5 for third. When the Saddle Bronc came to an end, Ryder had the average lead by just 2.5 points, averaging 259.5 points on three head to Rusty’s 257. All three rounds plus the average paid Ryder a total of over $13,600 in winnings.
Ryder Wright is currently 4th in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings!
Tie Down: Shad Mayfield – 25.2 seconds on three head
Not only did 2020 World Champion and 5x NFR qualifier, Shad Mayfield hold his lead all week in Reno, he increased it from a spread of just seven-tenths of a second to two whole seconds ahead of second place. Mayfield won the second round with a 7.5 second run, then won the finals with a 7.6. 2024 is Mayfield’s second consecutive win in Reno – he was the 2023 Reno Rodeo Tie Down Champion as well. This year, Mayfield averaged 25.2 seconds on three head and a total payout of just over $18,000.
Mayfield is currently leading the 2024 Tie Down World Standings!
Barrel Racing: Hailey Kinsel – 51.54 seconds on three head
4x World Champion and 7x NFR qualifier, Hailey Kinsel and her horse “Sister” just missed the win in Reno last year. This year, it was clear the fan-favorite duo was after their own pair of Reno’s trophy spurs as they ran faster each round. Kinsel tied for second in the first round, running a 17.27. She shaved a few seconds off in the second round, placing sixth in a fast pen with a 17.21 second run. In the finals, Kinsel and Sister raced for a quick 17.06 seconds.
Despite 5x NFR qualifier Emily Miller-Beisel running the fastest time of the rodeo in the finals with a lightning-fast 16.99 second run, it was Kinsel who finally took home the Reno Rodeo title, averaging 51.54 seconds on three head and a total earnings check of over $16,000.
Kinsel is unofficially 10th in the 2024 Barrel Racing World Standings!
Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings – 181 points on two head
2x NFR qualifier and Idaho’s Tristen Hutchings came to play this year in Reno. Hutchings won the first round, covering Flying U Rodeo’s, Bad Habits for 90.5 points. The next closest score was an 88. In the finals, Hutchings rode for 90.5 again on Rosser Rodeo’s, Loguns Legacy. In total, Hutchings was 181 points on two head and earned over $23,000.
Hutchings is currently 6th in the 2024 Bull Riding World Standings!
Fun Fact
The 2023 – 2024 ProRodeo season has paid out $27,993,695 in total contestant payout to date.
Cody Stampede Xtreme Bulls | Cody, Wyoming – Total Payout: $43,005
Wyoming’s Cody Stampede kicked off on Sunday night with one of summer’s highest-paying Xtreme Bulls contests. Since 2003, Xtreme Bulls has been putting the PRCA’s best bull riders against the PRCA’s best bulls, and Cody’s Xtreme Bull contest was a true show of both two and four-legged talent.
4x NFR qualifier Josh Frost is having a huge year. Not only is he in contention for another Linderman Award, a prestigious title given to a contestant who earns at least $1,000 in three events (one roughstock and one timed event), he’s won the All-Around at three rodeos and won the Bull Riding at nine rodeos. Cody’s Xtreme Bulls is now Frost’s tenth win – he rode Frontier Rodeo’s, Stranger Danger for 89 points and a nearly $13,000 check. Frost is currently 2nd in the 2024 Bull Riding World Standings!
West of the Pecos Rodeo | Pecos, Texas – Total Payout: $202,669
ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee, the West of the Pecos Rodeo proclaims to be the home of the first-ever rodeo in 1883. Over 140 years later, 2024’s champions have been crowned and taken home a piece of the Top 40 rodeo’s $200,000 payout.
Shad Mayfield is well known in the Tie Down Roping, having qualified for the NFR five times in the event and the 2020 Tie Down world champ. This year, Mayfield is after his first All-Around title and now adds Pecos, Texas as his second All-Around win this season. In addition to a huge win at the Reno Rodeo, Mayfield earned the All-Around win and a $3,200 check at the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Mayfield is currently leading the 2024 All-Around World Standings!
3x NFR qualifier Leighton Berry calls Texas home and riding on his home turf has been a good luck charm for the Bareback rider this year – five of his eight wins have been at Texas rodeos, now including his win at the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Berry covered Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Fox Hole Gunner for 87 points and a $3,500 check. Berry is currently 3rd in the 2024 Bareback World Standings!
California cowboy Tucker Allen has yet to qualify for an NFR, but 2024 is looking very promising for the young Steer Wrestler. On top of winning the Reno Rodeo last week and a hefty prize check, Allen also won at the West of the Pecos Rodeo in Texas with a 9.4 second average on two head and another check worth almost $4,300. Allen is currently 4th in the 2024 Steer Wrestling World Standings!
3x NFR qualifier and Montana cowboy, Sage Newman finished the 2023 season second in the world. This season, he’s back in the hunt for his first World Championship. Newman tied for the win in Pecos after covering Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Smoke on the Water for 86.5 points. Newman split the win with Australia’s Jake Finlay who covered Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Pretty Woman also for 86.5. The win earned each cowboy a check for $3,500. Newman is currently 3rd in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings!
With a laundry list of wins, especially over this season’s summer run, 4x NFR qualifier, Utah’s Josh Frost is just about $20,000 out of the lead in the Bull Riding World Standings. A nearly $4,400 check for the win in Pecos certainly helped close that gap after Frost rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Bayou Bengal for 90 points. Frost is currently 2nd in the 2024 Bull Riding World Standings!
Rodeo of the Ozarks | Springdale, Arkansas – Total Payout: $132,137
This year, the Rodeo of the Ozarks celebrated their 80th anniversary with one of their largest payouts in history.
The summer run is treating 2x NFR qualifier and Texas Bareback rider, Rocker Steiner well, and this weekend, so did the Ozarks. Steiner rode The Cervi Brothers’, Dream Machine for 87 points and a $3,800 piece of the rodeo’s total purse. Steiner is currently 5th in the 2024 Bareback World Standings!
8x NFR qualifier and Oklahoma header, Coleman Proctor and 4x NFR qualifier, New Mexico heeler Logan Medlin haven’t won a rodeo since the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals early this year. The two have still had a stellar season together, and now add another win to their roster after the pair roped in a slick 4.4 seconds for a $3,100 winning check. Proctor is currently 8th in the 2024 Team Roping Header World Standings; Medlin is currently 7th in the 2024 Team Roping Heeler World Standings!
3x NFR qualifier and Montana cowboy, Sage Newman found himself at the top of the leaderboard once more. Fresh from a win in Pecos, Texas, Newman covered The Cervi Brothers’, Bay Nation for 86 points and the win in Springdale, Arkansas, a win worth a $4,200 check. Newman is currently 3rd in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings!
Who won the Bull Riding at the Rodeo of the Ozarks this weekend? You guessed it: Josh Frost. In one week, Frost won the Reno Rodeo, the Cody Stampede Xtreme Bulls, the West of the Pecos Rodeo and then the Rodeo of the Ozarks.
Frost’s win in Arkansas came after an 86.5 point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s, Midnight. He split the win with NFR qualifier Trevor Reiste and a check for $3,000 each.
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.
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