Kash Loyd wins 8th bareback world title

LAS VEGAS – Kash Loyd left no doubt.

The Cleburne, Texas, bareback rider won his record eighth world title Monday at the YETI Junior National Finals Rodeo and did so in convincing fashion. Loyd finished with 243.5 points on three head to finish 10 points clear of Canada’s Eylam Podolak.

“I was eight years old when I first won it in 2016 and it was so much fun,” Loyd said. “To just come back year after year and do it seven more times after … I’m super blessed.”

The 18-year-old is also super confident in his abilities.

Loyd entered the short go-round of Novice Bareback Riding with 162.5 points on two head, followed by fellow Texas cowboy Jaspur Farris with a 153.0 and Podolak with a 152.5.

After both Podolak and Farris were given re-rides, Loyd climbed on 7J Rodeo’s Dr. Feel Good and nodded his head. The chutes opened and eight seconds later Loyd was grabbing onto a pickup-man before hitting the arena dirt. His 72.0-point ride meant Farris would need an 82.0 and Podolak an 82.5 on their re-rides to overtake him.

That wasn’t good enough for Loyd, who was also given the opportunity for a re-ride.

“After I got off, my parents said I had it won without even getting on that re-ride, but I had to go for the round (win),” he said. “And I didn’t know what those other guys were going to do. I just had to go out there, do my job and let the chips fall where they do.”

Podolak electrified the crowd with an 80.5 to take the lead in the short go and put pressure on Loyd. Farris followed with a 70.0, leaving Loyd as the last bareback rider standing.

He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

“I didn’t come here for second,” Loyd said. “I came here to win. Whenever I set my goals like that, I’ll go accomplish them.”

He won the round with an 81.0 and the average with a 243.5 for world title No. 8. Loyd also won in 2016-19 and 2022-24.

“I still know the feeling of winning that first one,” he said.

When asked what has been the key to him going 8-for-8 at the YETI Junior NFR, Loyd didn’t hesitate.

“It’s God,” he said. “There’s favor upon me. Everything that I’ve ever done has been for the Lord. He’s always been there for me.

“I pray a lot,” Loyd added. “The strength of Sampson lives in me; God lives in me. I just keep that right mindset and it will work out. Everything I have goes to the Lord and I’m so excited for what He has in store for me next.”

Loyd will graduate from high school in the spring before attending Tarleton State University next fall and competing for the two-time defending national champion Texans. Not long after that he plans on returning to Vegas.

“I’m already working out with them,” he said of his future college teammates. “I’m getting on their practice horses and trying to stay at the top of my game because there are so many good bronc riders. And then it’s the NFR.”

***

Klancy Cornelison of Evanston, Wyoming, won the Junior Bareback title with a three-run total of 215.5 points. South Dakota’s Hunter Hohn won the short go with a 77.0 on CT Rodeo’s Robin Eggs and Texas cowboy Wyatt Short was the reserve champ with a 212.0.

Cash Blanchard of Fort Madison, Iowa, was the Senior Bareback winner, scoring 79.5 on CT Rodeo’s Hang Time for a three-head total of 233.5 points. Evanston’s Kroyden Cornelison won the short go with an 81.0 on Midwest Mini Buckers’ Pirate to finish as the reserve champ with a 229.0.

In saddle bronc, Max Ives from Texas was the only Junior rider to make the 8-second buzzer in the short go and won the average with 100.0 points. Last year’s Junior winner, Wade Magner was the Senior champion. The Breda, Iowa, cowboy won the short go with a 76.5 and the average with a 233.0. William James Crowley was the reserve champ with a 221.5. Minnesota’s Hunter Mancina scored 80.0 points – his highest score of the week – in the short go to win the round and the average in the Novice division with 231.0 points. Australia’s Cade Ferguson was the reserve champ with a 226.0.

Bull riding had two repeat champs in Wild Willie Walling and Nicholas Jackson Jr.

Walling, from Texas, won the 12-13 division for the second year in a row, finishing with 224.5 points. Kade Tom was the reserve champ with a 207.0 and Rostin Snow from Fallon, Nevada, won the short go with an 86.5 – the highest score of the week – on Two Feathers Bucking Bulls’ Twisted X.

Jackson was the only bull rider in the 16-18 division to cover all three head for the week. He won the short go with an 82.5 on SF Bucking Bulls’ Beer Money and took the average title with 239.5 points. Idaho’s Rusty Foy was the reserve champ with a 165.0.

Utah’s Toby Blanton was the 10-11 champion, winning the short go with a 73.0 on Two Feathers Bucking Bulls’ Oly and the average with 194.5 points on three head. Bently Gay was the reserve champ with a 155.0.

Pennsylvania’s Jack Brentzel scored just 53.0 points in the short go and had the opportunity for a re-ride, but turned it down as his three-head total of 209.5 points was enough to give him the average win in the 14-15 division. Utah’s Zo Van Tassell was the reserve champ with a 207.0.