Worlds Top Western Athletes after Round 1 at WCRA’s Debut Rodeo in Las Vegas

 Round 1 of the all-new WCRA Rodeo Showdown matched all the billing and hype: when the dust settled on day one, the world’s best rodeo athletes stood atop the leaderboard. Saturday afternoon’s event opened two-days of intense competition and a new format with more than $400,000 on the line. 

Top bull riders, steer wrestlers, team ropers, saddle and bareback bronc riders, barrel racers and tie-down ropers all descended upon Sin City to compete in the first WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) event. 

BULL RIDING: 

Six of the eight bull riders competing, including three World Champions, covered their bovine counterparts. In a tie for first place, fellow Brazilians,Claudio Montanha Junior (current PBR World Number 1)and Jose Vitor Leme(2017 PBR Rookie of the Year) both recorded 87.75-point scores. Montana Junior rode Catfish Johnwhile Leme rode to the eight aboard Living Large.  Reigning PBR World Champion Jess Lockwoodand 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis,as well as four-time PRCA World Champion Sage Kimzeyalso made the eight, though Kimsey’s score didn’t qualify in the top four to move on. 

Place - Name-Hometown - Stock- Score

1^st Claudio Montanha Junior - Ribeirao Dos Indiox, Brazil - Catfish John - 87.75

1^stJose Vitor Leme - Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil - Living Large - 87.75

3^rd Cooper Davis - Jasper, TX - Shelley’s Gangster - 87.50

4^thJess Lockwood - Volborg, MT - Fire and Smoke - 87

STEER WRESTLING:

The steers didn’t stand a chance against the defensive linemen at Saturday afternoon’s event. Alabama cowboy Kyle Irwinthrew his steer the fastest, bringing the several hundred-pound steer onto his back in just over four seconds (4.22). Irwin won the round, but not far behind was 27 year-old Ty Erickson with a 4.49 second time.  Of note, Irwin, Erickson and Pearson all rode to their Top 4 finish aboard “Clint” a horse belonging to Dean McIntyre. 

Place - Name- Hometown- Score

1^stKyle Irwin - Robersdale, AL - 4.22 seconds

2^nd Ty Erickson - Helena, MT - 4.49 seconds

3^rd Olin Hannum - Malad, ID - 4.64 seconds

4^thTyler Pearson - Louisville, MS - 5.41

TEAM ROPING: 

The only brotherly duo of the night Riley and Brady Minorwere consistent and fast – two qualities fans have come to expect in top team roping athletes. Their time of 5.21 seconds was just .29 seconds in front of second place. Of note, 23-time World Champion Trevor Brazile is the only athlete to return for Round 2 in two categories: team roping and tie-down.

Place - Name - Hometown - Score

1^st Minor/Minor - Ellensburg, WA - 5.21 seconds

2^nd Smith/Eaves - Broken Bow, OK /Lonedell, MO -5.40

3^rd Brazile/Skelton - Decatur, TX/ Llano, TX - 8.32

4^thProctor / Saebens - Pryor, OK / Nowata, OK - 9.88

SADDLE BRONC: 

Wyoming’s Brody Cress, aboard the horse “Julia,” put up an impressive score of 87.0 that was well out in front of the rest of the competition. The young gun’s ride went nearly the length of the arena and gave the crowd a great show with his classic riding style.

Place - Name- Hometown- Stock- Score

1^st Brody Cress - Hillsdale, WY - Julia - 87

2^nd Cort Scheer - Elsmere, NE - Bullet Proof - 84

3^rd Jacobs Crawley - Stephenville, TX - Faded Charm - 83.5

4^thRyder Wright - Milford, UT - 81.5 

BARREL RACING: 

Lisa Lockhartbreezed past the competition with a 13.805 in Round 1 of the WCRA Rodeo Showdownin the iconic Thomas & Mack. The 11-time WNFR qualifier was the only competitor who broke the 13-second mark. Up and comer Hailey Kinsel was second with a 14.013 ride.

Place - Name- Hometown- Score

1^st Lisa Lockhart- Oelrichs, SD - 13.805

2^nd Hailey Kinsel - Cotulla, TX - 14.013

3^rd Nellie Miller - Cottonwood, CA - 14.208

4^thSyndi Blanchard - Pueblo, CO - 14.277

TIE-DOWN ROPING: 

Texan Marty Yates took Round 1 with a mere 0.1 second lead over World Champion Trevor Brazile. Yates completed his run with an 8.01 time while Brazile came through with a 8.11. Of note, three of the top four finishers in Saturday’s tie-down roping were previous WNFR world champions (Brazile, Smidt and Cooper). 

Place - Name- Hometown- Score

1^st Marty Yates - Stephenville, TX - 8.01

2^ndTrevor Brazile - Decatur, TX - 8.11

3^rd Caleb Smidt - Bellville, TX - 8.25

4^thTuf Cooper - Decatur, TX - 9.36

BAREBACK: 

The top four finishes in Saturday’s bareback competition were extremely close in points as Utah’s Caleb Bennett took the Round 1 win aboard “All Pink” for 86 points. 

Place - Name- Hometown- Stock- Score

1^st Caleb Bennett - Tremonton, UT - All Pink - 86 

2^nd J.R. Vezain - Cowley, WY - Beyond Bugs - 85

2^nd Richmond Champion - The Woodland, TX - Blessed Assurance - 85

4^thMason Clements - Santaquin, UT - Jumping Lizard - 84.5
                                                                                            ~ WCRA Media