BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Every season, the tie-down roping seems to see a fresh talent take center stage, and this year it’s Dylan Hancock’s turn. The 20-year-old, who ended last year at No. 25, now enters his first NFR as the No. 9 cowboy in the PRCA World Standings.
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, $12,472
Hancock made a statement in April, and it came at his hometown rodeo. After not placing in either of the first two rounds, he won the Finals with a 7.8-second run to rally and win the Average by four tenths of a second.
“It means everything (to win this rodeo), that was the coolest thing I’ve ever done right there, to make a great run in front of my home crowd, it was awesome,” he said afterward.
Red Bluff Round-Up, $7,028
Hancock placed third in Red Bluff and did so in similar fashion to San Angelo. He did not place on either of his first two runs before taking first in the Third Round and second in the Finals. He finished behind some pretty good competition, reigning World Champion Riley Webb and World No. 1 Shad Mayfield.
Killdeer Mountain Roundup, $4,954
Hancock’s first career Cowboy Christmas came courtesy of one of his two 7.8-second runs in North Dakota over the Fourth of July. He was also 7.8 to take second at Mandan Rodeo Days, which paid over $4,000. He was far from finished in Mandan this season as well.
Silver State Stampede, $4,594
Hancock stopped the clock at 8.8 seconds to win the mid July one-header in Elko. That weekend he almost made it two PRCA Playoff Series wins by finishing second at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, where he made over $6,000.
Deadwood Days of 76 Rodeo, $6,352
To finish out July, Hancock had a pair of fifth place finishes that resulted in a tie for the Average win. He was 18.8 seconds on two, which was 1.5 seconds clear of second place. He added to the win by qualifying for the Finals in Cheyenne that weekend too.
Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, $7,824
The weekend after he won over $10,000 combined between Deadwood and Dodge City, Hancock won the Second Round and the Finals with runs of 8.1 and 8.2 seconds. He would take fourth in the Average with 27.7 seconds om three.
North Dakota Roughrider Cup, $14,918
With less than 10 days left in the regular season, Hancock went from on the bubble to inside the Top 10 when his 7.9-second run in Mandan was enough to win the inaugural Roughrider Cup.
Meet the NFR Athletes is presented by Montana Silversmiths #EveryBuckleHasAStory #BrandOfChampions #FromGreatToGold
