Two time world champion Hunter Cure led the bulldoggers on night two at the Thomas and Mack. The Holliday, Texas cowboy—who qualified for the 2019 Canadian Finals Rodeo—was a rapid 3.7 to earn his first 2022 NFR cheque. Cure is second overall in the World standings $35,000 back of leader, Stetson Jorgensen.
For the second night in a row, three of the six Canadians in the bronc riding at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo pocketed sizeable pay cheques. In an all-Canadian matchup, Logan Hay met up with the Calgary Stampede’s Zoaria Hills for 85.5 points to be part of a three-way tie (2-4) with fellow countryman and two-time world title-holder Zeke Thurston, each of them earning $17,410. Thurston, fresh from his third Canadian title now sits fifth in the world standings, $102,000 back of Montana’s Sage Newman. And while that deficit sounds insurmountable, a slip or two by Newman and Thurston, the Big Valley, Alta. talent, could move into contention for a third world crown. Newman managed an 84-point effort in go-round number two and a split of sixth that included the third Canadian money-winner on this night, Kolby Wanchuk. Both men registered 82 points to collect $1555.
It was a bounce back night for Leighton Berry in the bareback riding at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. After a disappointing 72.5 score on night number one, the Texas cowboy, who was at his first Canadian Finals Rodeo just a month ago, put together a round-winning 86.5 score on Top Egyptian from Pickett Pro Rodeo for a tidy $28,914 payday. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well for Canadian Orin Larsen who failed to make a qualified ride on the former World Champion, Full Baggage.
Among the other go-round winners was three-time world champion Hayley Kinsel with the barrel racing win courtesy of her 13.61 second time on her stand-out partner—Sister, and team ropers Clay Smith and Jake Long were 4.1 for top honours in their event.
Caleb Smidt continued his mastery of the Thomas and Mack Arena with a second straight go-round win, this one by virtue of a blistering 7.2 second run. The three-time World Champion has closed to within $20,000 of Shad Mayfield, the leader coming in.
And only two men made the whistle in the bull riding that featured the semi-eliminators (aka rank bulls). Season leader Stetson Wright racked up an 88-point mark and Ky Hamilton chalked up a 77.5 for second. The two padded their bank accounts by $49,666 and $42,604 respectively. Canadian Champion, Jared Parsonage, was among the thirteen men who were unsuccessful in performance two.
