Ryder Wright Takes World Standings Lead with Record Ride

LAS VEGAS

Courtesy of the PRCA

There's just something about the bright lights of Las Vegas that Ryder Wright loves.

Wright won four straight rounds, and five total, during his inaugural trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER in 2016. In his last five saddle bronc rides at this year's event, the 19-year-old has three first-place finishes.

The latest came in impressive fashion Thursday night in front of 16,810 rodeo fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Wright scored 92 points aboard Powder River Rodeo's Show Me Again - his first PRCA ride of at least 90 points - to win his third go-round of the 2017 WNFR.

Just as importantly, it moved him into first place in the WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings with $247,285.

It also keeps him solidly in first place in the RAM Top Gun Award standings, given to the competitor who scores the most points in his event at the Finals.

"Hopefully they (the rest of his rides) are just like this," said Wright, who has made $147,923 at this year's Finals. "At this time last year, I was struggling a bit, but I've been riding good all week and it definitely helps when you're riding consistently. This game is 98 percent mental."

In posting 92 points, Wright set the Round 8 record.

"That's awesome, any record you set is cool," said the Utah cowboy. "That's crazy, I really don't know what to say. ... Let's go break some more."

Jacobs Crawley is in second place in the world standings with $226,927.

Team ropers Brown/Long tie with Tryan/Corkill
Team ropers Luke Brown and Jake Long stopped the clock in 4.1 seconds to tie with Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill to win team roping in Round 8.

More importantly, the first-place tie bumped Brown into first place in the world standings among team roping headers, while Long moved into second place in the team roping heeling world standings.

The win marked the fifth time in the 2017 Finals that Brown and Long placed, and the second time they had won a go-round.

"It's been a blessed week so far," Brown said. "It sure has been our week."

The pair are hoping to keep things rolling over the last two nights.

"It's been a great week," Long said. "We started off kind of bad but we rallied and put ourselves in a good spot to make a lot of money."

For the second time in four days, Tryan and Corkill found themselves at the top of the clock.

"It feels pretty good, really, especially since I thought I broke the barrier," Tryan said. "The steer wasn't very good, he kind of came left, so it was good to win the round. We lucked out tonight."

The win put another $23,481 in each of the four winners' pockets.

"We came in here with around $50,000, so I'm thinking more about making a living, and so now whatever happens I'm able to make a good living financially," Corkill said.

Heeler Cory Petska moved into second first place in heeler standings after he and header Erich Rogers tied for third place in Round 8.

Canadian Hansen notches historic bull riding win
On Canada night, Canadian Jordan Hansen rode Corey & Lange Rodeo's Tequila for 86 points, the win and a check for $28,981 after only four bull riders rode until the whistle.

The ride marked the first time since 2000 - Kagen Sirett in Round 6 - that a Canadian bull rider won a round at the WNFR.

That bit of patriotism had Hansen feeling good after his first Finals go-round win.

"I don't think I could have picked a better night, especially having family here and it being Canada Night meant that much more," said Hansen, of Okotoks, Alberta.

The win marked the third consecutive ride that saw Hansen place in the money and gives him $67,538 at the 2017 Finals.

"I'm at the point in my life now to save up and buy a house," he said. "I'm trying to be smart with my money for once, but I'll go have some fun tonight."

The win also has Hansen in seventh place in the world standings and sixth in the average with 338 points on four head.

"Oh, you know, it's a 'let's keep things rolling' kind of thing," he said. "I swapped ropes and it's feeling awesome and I'm just excited for tomorrow. My other one was worn out and wasn't feeling great, so I figured it was time to switch. Last time I used a new rope it worked out for me, and luckily it is now."

Three-time defending world champion Sage Kimzey continues to lead in both the average (513.5 points on six head) and the world standings with $340,229.

Champion grabs second go-round bareback win
Richmond Champion notched the highest score of Round 8 on Thursday to win his second round of the 2017 WNFR, his first outright victory after splitting Round 2.

Champion scored 88 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo's Pretty Woman, a horse he knew nearly nothing about.

Champion was extremely excited by his ride and result, saying he hadn't expected that much success on Pretty Woman.

"The E-Pen is one of those rounds where you're never comfortable," Champion said. "You can feel as good as you want to, but those creatures, those horses are humbling. You're not so much worried about the average or the score at all. You're just wanting to win that fight. As you saw tonight, it's a dogfight."

Champion entered the Finals in ninth place in the world standings. That has changed over the course of the WNFR.

After winning $103,853, Champion finds himself up to second in the world and second in the race for the average.

"It's unreal," said Champion, of The Woodlands, Texas. "Like I said, you looked at the matchups on that sheet and to have it go the way it did is unreal. I'm bummed there are only two more nights of this because I'm having a blast."

Champion still trails defending World Champion Tim O'Connell by about $93,000.

Floyd wrestles first go-round victory
In his first trip to the WNFR, Chason Floyd has his first go-round victory.

Floyd, 29, won the steer wrestling in 3.7 seconds to earn $26,231.

"It was a dream come true to make it here," Floyd said, "and then to win a round, words can't express how happy I feel."

The Buffalo, S.D., cowboy won by 0.1 seconds. It was the third time he's placed through eight rounds, his previous best being second place in Round 4.

After the fifth round, Floyd opted to switch horses, and he's stuck with it since Round 6.

"They were both Sean Mulligan's horses, but I switched to the back-up horse, Miss Kitty, and she's feeling good," Floyd said. "She just felt great. I was using Sean's horse Holly in the first five rounds, and I just wanted to change some stuff up. Jon Ragatz is still riding Holly here."

Floyd had been trying to take in the entire experience of the WNFR and Las Vegas.

"Unless you're here, it's hard to describe, it's unreal," he said. "It's so cool to be a part of the lights and the electricity and the atmosphere. I'm just going to try and score sharp the final two rounds."

Ty Erickson entered the WNFR with a lead in excess of $50,000. That lead is now less than $25,000, but he is in first place in the aggregate with 34.7 seconds on eight head.

Smidt and Solomon split tie-down roping go-round
Caleb Smidt and Cory Solomon each stopped the tie-down roping clock in 7.6 seconds to split Round 8 and get their first go-round wins of the 2017 Finals.

Both tie-down ropers had experienced a tough go of it through the first seven rounds. Smidt had placed in two rounds previously, while Solomon had placed in one.

"This feels awesome to get this win," said Smidt, from Bellville, Texas. "It has been a rough week and it just seems like little things here, and they were keeping me from winning. I'm glad we finally got it all worked out."

Solomon echoed his counterpart.

"It has been long week," said Solomon, of Prairie View, Texas.

"You're roping against the best guys in the world and you have to have a good calf if you want to win good in the round, and every night I've come here with the one I would not prefer to run. It's tough to wait to the next night to try and win because everybody ropes so hard. Tonight, I didn't necessarily want the draw I had, but it worked out good."

Solomon tried to put the early results behind him and focus on the task ahead.

"It's tough, but I try and stay positive no matter what, but the Finals, that's tough because this is what everybody watches," Solomon said. "We put our heart and soul in all year, and we go up and down the road. It's a little late (in the WNFR), but things are coming together."

Tuf Cooper continues to lead the world standings with $247,406.

Moore wins third barrel racing round of '17
Barrel racer Amberleigh Moore notched the trifecta, winning her third go-round of the 2017 Finals in 13.54 seconds, putting her over the $100,000 mark in winnings at this year's WNFR.

Aboard her horse, Paige, Moore won her third go-round in the last seven.

"With all three go-round buckles I've won here this year, they have all been really close in the 13.5's," Moore said. "So, this has been pretty consistent for Paige."

Moore and Paige continued to dominate in Round 8.

"Yeah, this is Paige's playpen, but we didn't get here because we were perfect," Moore said. "We don't have consistency on the ground, and these horses have to adjust every single night we come out there. I am very proud of her."

Moore has won $104,346 at this year's WNFR, putting her in second place in the world standings.

World standings leader Tiany Schuster continues to top the barrel racing chart with $285,339, about $60,000 ahead of Moore.

Brazile adds to all-around total
Trevor Brazile tied for fifth place in tie-down roping to increase his all-around total to $319,337 in the race for the all-around title.

Tuf Cooper, Brazile's brother-in-law, continues to sit in second.

Meanwhile, tie-down roper Caleb Smidt moved into third place with $207,894 after tying for first in Round 8.


Eighth Performance Results, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017

Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, 88 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo's Pretty Woman; $26,231; 2. Clayton Biglow, 86.5, $20,731; 3. Jake Brown, 86, $15,654; 4. (tie) Tim O'Connell and J.R. Vezain, 85, $8,885 each; 6. Bill Tutor, 84.5, $4,231; 7. Steven Dent, 84; 8. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Ty Breuer, 81.5 each; 10. Mason Clements, 81; 11. Tanner, 78.5; 12. R.C. Landingham, 78; 13. Orin Larsen, 75.5; 14. Wyatt Denny and Jake Vold, NS. Average standings: 1. Tim O'Connell, 683 points on eight head; 2. Richmond Champion, 682.5; 3. J.R. Vezain, 671; 4. Caleb Bennett, 665; 5. Tanner Aus, 661; 6. Steven Dent, 650. World standings: 1. Tim O'Connell, $298,647; 2. Richmond Champion, $205,050; 3. Tanner Aus, $201,868; 4. Clayton Biglow, $200,557; 5. Jake Vold, $185,706; 6. Orin Larsen, $171,009; 7. J.R. Vezain, $167,946; 8. Caleb Bennett, $147,703; 9. Bill Tutor, $144,398; 10. Mason Clements, $143,005; 11. Wyatt Denny, $140,084; 12. Jake Brown, $135,636; 13. Ty Breuer, $125,337; 14. Steven Dent, $109,998; 15. R.C. Landingham, $106,031.

Steer wrestling: 1. Chason Floyd, 3.7 seconds, $26,231; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 3.8, $20,731; 3. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Jon Ragatz, 4.1, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Ty Erickson and Tanner Milan, 4.4, $5,500 each; 7. J.D. Struxness, 4.7; 8. Olin Hannum, 5.2; 9. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin, 5.5 each; 11. Scott Guenthner, 5.6; 12. Ryle Smith, Tyler Waguespack, Baylor Roche and Nick Guy, NT. Average standings: 1. Ty Erickson, 34.7 seconds on eight head; 2. Tyler Pearson, 36.2; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 36.7; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 36.8; 5. Kyle Irwin, 38.0; 6. J.D. Struxness, 48.6. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $235,767; 2. Tyler Pearson, $210,880; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $189,393; 4. Dakota Eldridge, $157,333; 5. Tanner Milan, $156,266; 6. Kyle Irwin, $147,434; 7. Baylor Roche, $144,455; 8. Chason Floyd, $135,684; 9. Olin Hannum, $131,951; 10. Rowdy Parrott, $131,281; 11. J.D. Struxness, $131,203; 12. Jon Ragatz, $130,409; 13. Scott Guenthner, $117,032; 14. Nick Guy, $110,878; 15. Ryle Smith, $103,463.

Team roping: 1. (tie) Luke Brown/Jake Long and Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.1 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. (tie) Erich Rogers/Cory Petska and Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, 4.2, $13,327 each; 5. Chad Masters/Travis Graves, 4.3, $6,769; 6. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 4.7, $4,231; 7. Charly Crawford/Joseph Harrison, 5.5; 8. Dustin Bird/Russell Cardoza, 5.7; 9. Coleman Proctor/ Billie Jack Saebens, 9.0; 10. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 9.2; 11. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.6; 12. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Tom Richards/Jeremy Buhler and Jr. Dees/Tyler McKnight, NT. Average standings: 1. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 45.6 seconds on eight head; 2. Chad Masters/Travis Graves, 50.4; 3. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 36.2 on seven; 4. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 43.1; 5. Coleman Proctor/ Billie Jack Saebens, 52.9; 6. Charly Crawford/Joseph Harrison, 28.2 on six. World standings: (headers) 1. Luke Brown, $210,457; 2. Erich Rogers, $204,071; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $196,086; 4. Clay Smith, $176,825; 5. Riley Minor, $161,798; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $161,475; 7. Clay Tryan, $153,999; 8. Jr. Dees, $149,887; 9. Charly Crawford, $133,706; 10. Coleman Proctor, $121,360; 11. Chad Masters, $117,509; 12. Dustin Bird, $114,519; 13. Cody Snow, $112,716; 14. Garrett Rogers, $106,838; 15. Tom Richards, $104,742; (heelers) 1. Cory Petska, $204,071; 2. Jake Long, $201,929; 3. Junior Nogueira, $196,816; 4. Paul Eaves, $180,942; 5. Brady Minor, $161,798; 6. Kory Koontz, $158,690; 7. Jade Corkill, $153,999; 8. Tyler McKnight, $150,297; 9. Joseph Harrison, $137,947; 10. Russell Cardoza, $136,004; 11. Billie Jack Saebens, $134,257; 12. Travis Graves, $124,418; 13. Wesley Thorp, $114,317; 14. Jake Minor, $106,838; 15. Jeremy Buhler, $91,333.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 92 points on Powder River Rodeo's Show Me Again, $26,231; 2. Jake Wright, 88, $20,731; 3. Clay Elliott, 87.5, $15,654; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, 87, $11,000; 5. Hardy Braden, 84.5, $6,769; 6. Heith DeMoss, 84, $4,231; 7. Brody Cress, 83.5; 8. Audy Reed, 82; 9. Sterling Crawley, 79; 10. Cody DeMoss, 78.5; 11. Jacobs Crawley, 77.5; 12. Zeke Thurston, Layton Green, Taos Muncy and Jesse Wright, NS. Average standings: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 671 points on eight head; 2. Brody Cress, 670; 3. Sterling Crawley, 656; 4. Audy Reed, 641; 5. Ryder Wright, 615.5 on seven; 6. Hardy Braden, 596.5. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $247,285; 2. Jacobs Crawley, $226,927; 3. CoBurn Bradshaw, $213,231; 4. Zeke Thurston, $199,917; 5. Hardy Braden, $192,947; 6. Brody Cress, $190,690; 7. Sterling Crawley, $163,069; 8. Layton Green, $156,292; 9. Cody DeMoss, $153,772; 10. Heith DeMoss, $129,568; 11. Jake Wright, $128,257; 12. Taos Muncy, $116,171; 13. Clay Elliott, $114,986; 14. Jesse Wright, $109,053; 15. Audy Reed, $104,687.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Caleb Smidt and Cory Solomon, 7.6 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Marty Yates, 8.4, $15,654; 4. Marcos Costa, 8.5, $11,000; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Cade Swor, 9.1, $5,500 each; 7. Randall Carlisle, 9.5; 8. Shane Hanchey, 9.8; 9. Tuf Cooper, 10.8; 10. Matt Shiozawa, 12.7; 11. Tyson Durfey, Ryan Jarrett, J.C. Malone, Timber Moore and Cooper Martin, NT. Average standings: 1. Marcos Costa, 65.1 seconds on eight head; 2. Tuf Cooper, 70.1; 3. Cade Swor, 77.9; 4. Cory Solomon, 81.0; 5. Shane Hanchey, 83.0; 6. Timber Moore, 64.5 on seven. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $247,406; 2. Marcos Costa, $223,921; 3. Caleb Smidt, $198,098; 4. Marty Yates, $196,019; 5. Trevor Brazile, $177,010; 6. Cade Swor, $173,517; 7. Shane Hanchey, $154,383; 8. Cooper Martin, $142,400; 9. Timber Moore, $142,077; 10. Ryan Jarrett, $140,748; 11. Randall Carlisle, $130,681; 12. Cory Solomon, $129,691; 13. Tyson Durfey, $124,192; 14. J.C. Malone, $120,838; 15. Matt Shiozawa, $114,363.

Barrel racing: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 13.54 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tillar Murray, 13.73, $20,731; 3. Ivy Conrado, 13.86, $15,654; 4. Nellie Miller, 13.87, $11,000; 5. Lisa Lockhart, 13.93, $6,769; 6. Kellie Collier, 13.95, $4,231; 7. Kimmie Wall, 14.07; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.16; 9. Taci Bettis, 18.43; 10. Hailey Kinsel, 18.57; 11. Kassie Mowry, 18.95; 12. Kathy Grimes, 18.97; 13. Sydni Blanchard, 18.98; 14. Stevi Hillman, 19.05; 15. Tiany Schuster, 23.56. Average standings: 1. Ivy Conrado, 109.93 seconds on eight runs; 2. Nellie Miller, 109.95; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 110.36; 4. Tillar Murray, 115.04; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 116.03; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 118.35. World standings: 1. Tiany Schuster, $285,339; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $225,153; 3. Nellie Miller, $220,498; 4. Hailey Kinsel, $219,128; 5. Stevi Hillman, $199,619; 6. Kassie Mowry, $173,394; 7. Ivy Conrado, $166,944; 8. Tillar Murray, $165,404; 9. Lisa Lockhart, $156,166; 10. Taci Bettis, $140,446; 11. Kathy Grimes, $139,555; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $138,327; 13. Sydni Blanchard, $123,785; 14. Kellie Collier, $101,799; 15. Kimmie Wall, $86,294.

Bull riding: 1. Jordan Hansen, 86 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo's Tequila, $28,981; 2. Ty Wallace, 84, $23,481; 3. Guthrie Murray, 82.5, $18,404; 4. Joe Frost, 81, $13,750; 5. Sage Kimzey, Garrett Smith, Trey Benton III, Tim Bingham, Cole Melancon, Jordan Spears, Dustin Bowen, Roscoe Jarboe, Trevor Reiste, Jordan Spears, Dustin Bowen, Brennon Eldred and Boudreaux Campbell, NS. Average standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, 513.5 points on six head; 2. Joe Frost, 502.5; 3. Trey Benton III, 442.5 on five; 4. Ty Wallace, 420; 5. Cole Melancon, 340 on four; 6. Jordan Hansen, 338. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $340,229; 2. Ty Wallace, $259,872; 3. Garrett Smith, $253,797; 4. Trey Benton III, $236,747; 5. Joe Frost, $231,585; 6. Cole Melancon, $177,504; 7. Jordan Hansen, $163,795; 8. Jordan Spears, $162,154; 9. Roscoe Jarboe, $156,855; 10. Tim Bingham, $129,515; 11. Guthrie Murray, $124,576; 12. Trevor Reiste, $107,121; 13. Dustin Bowen, $104,668; 14. Brennon Eldred, $102,991; 15. Boudreaux Campbell, $102,294.

All around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $319,337; 2. Tuf Cooper, $286,983; 3. Caleb Smidt, $207,894; 4. Erich Rogers, $199,123; 5. Junior Nogueira, $198,539; 6. Marty Yates, $188,130; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 180,553; 8. Ryle Smith, $150,876; 9. Russell Cardoza, $149,026.