Richmond Champion started the 2021 season with a big win and ended it with one as he won the bareback riding champ at the RAM National Circuit Finals and the ProRodeo Tour Finale in Salinas.
Fresh off a second-place finish at the Riggin’ Rally in Weatherford, Champion went 4-for-4 with all four rides being marked at least 85.5 points in April’s RNCFR. He saved the best for last by riding Risky Mistress for 87 points to take the win. He placed in all four rounds in Kissimmee and banked $15,000 total.
CHAMPION’S WINNING RIDE AT RNCFR
In Salinas, he won close to $17,000, $10,000 of it coming from winning the four-man Shootout with 87 points on Mary. He was also 88 on Zig Zag Cherry the same day.
Those two wins made up close to a third of Champion’s total earnings in 2021. He made $98,945 to enter the NFR No. 8 in the World Standings. Champion has finished in the Top 10 four straight seasons.
RICHMOND CHAMPION ON MARY
Champion’s win in Salinas was part of September in which he also won more than $3,000 for second-place finishes at the Bucking Battle in Bismarck and New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo.
In 2021, he had the highest average score of his career at 83.95 and a whopping 41 rides marked 85 points or more, which was also a career best.
Champion has earned more than $200,00 in a season three times from 2017-2019.
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