BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The Calgary Stampede pays more than any rodeo in the Summer Run and the renowned rodeo scrambled the PRCA World Standings in just about every event.
RC Landingham Rides Virgil for 94 to Win Bareback Riding
Landingham has matched up with the legendary C5 horse twice this year and ridden for 92 points (to win Red Bluff) and 94 in those two outs.
Landingham was 3.5 points clear of Rocker Steiner in the Short Round Sunday after winning the Semifinals with an 89.5-point ride. His ride on Virgil was the highest marked at the Stampede since at least 2019 and just a point off the arena record.
“Man that’s an outstanding bucking horse, there might not be another one like him,” he said. “It took me 15 years to draw him, and then today, I get to walk up here and pick ‘em, I’d never miss an opportunity like that.”
Landingham moved up to No. 4 in the World Standings, while Steiner’s second place finish helped him to jump Keenan Hayes for the top spot in the World Standings. The Top 4 are currently separated by less than $10,000 in the bareback riding.
Kade Bruno Wins Saddle Bronc Riding After a Bit of Confusion
For about 15 minutes it looked as though Zeke Thurston had won his fourth Calgary Stampede in a ride-off with Kade Bruno, but after a recording error was corrected, it was determined that Bruno actually made his second consecutive 92-point ride and was named the winner of The Stampede. It was the two-time NFR qualifier’s debut at the prestigious rodeo to boot.
“That was pretty dang crazy, I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a ride-off like that,” Bruno said. “I’m healthy, I’m happy, this is what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Bruno won about $40,000 toward the PRCA World Standings in Calgary to jump from No. 7 to No. 2 in the World, just $15,000 back of Damian Brennan. Thurston, on the other hand, went from No, 8 to No. 4 with his second place finish.
Haven Meged Goes Sub-7 Twice on Championship Sunday to Win Tie-Down Roping Title
Meged moved up to No. 3 in the World from No. 7 thanks to a terrific performance in Calgary to go along with his title in Ponoka earlier this month.
Meged earned the title with two terrific runs, 6.9 in the Semifinals and 6.7 in the Finals, which he won by four tenths over Macon Murphy.
“Honestly, I messed up, my horse stumbled, I just thought I was going to be too long,” he said. “I looked up at the clock and it worked out.”
Meged is now averaging 10.04 seconds per run, which would is two tenths faster than reigning World Champion Riley Webb averaged in 2023.
Other winners of The Calgary Stampede were Ty Erickson in steer wrestling (4.0 seconds), Leslie Smalygo in barrel racing (16.94 seconds), and Chase Dougherty and Jeff Askey (no qualified rides in Finals, based on tiebreaker).
BAREBACK RIDING
Pool A Qualifiers: 1. Leighton Berry; 2. Waylon Bourgeois; 3. Mason Clements; 4. Cole Franks.
Pool B Qualifiers: 1. R.C. Landingham; 2. Richmond Champion; 3. Taylor Broussard; 4. Rocker Steiner.
Pool C Qualifiers: 1. Jacob Lees, 2. Orin Larsen; 3. Dean Thompson; 4. Garrett Shadbolt.
Semifinals: 1. R.C. Landingham, 89.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery, 2. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Orin Larsen, 88.5 each; 4. Leighton Berry, 88; 5. Waylon Bourgeois, 87, $3,000; 6. Cole Franks, 86, $2,500; 7. (tie) Dean Thompson and Richmond Champion, 85.5, $1,500 each; 9. Mason Clements, 85, $1,000; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, 84; 11. Jacob Lees, 78.5; $1,000; 12. Taylor Broussard, NS, $1,000.
Finals: 1. R.C. Landingham, 94 points on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil, $50,000; 2. Rocker Steiner, 90.5, $20,000; 3. Leighton Berry, 89, $10,000; 4. Orin Larsen, 86.5, $7,500.
STEER WRESTLING
Pool A Qualifiers: 1. Dalton Massey; 2. Stephen Culling; 3. Don Payne; 4. Scott Guenthner.
Pool B Qualifiers: 1. Dakota Eldridge; 2. Ty Erickson; 3. Clayton Hass; 4. Stetson Jorgensen.
Pool C Qualifiers: 1. Bridger Anderson; 2. Tyler Pearson; 3. Trisyn Kalawaia; 4. Kyle Irwin.
Semifinals: 1. (tie) Tyler Pearson, Ty Erickson and Don Payne, 4.5 seconds each; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.6; 5. Scott Guenthner, 4.8, $3,000; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 5.2, $2,500; 7. Bridger Anderson, 5.6, $2,000; 8. Trisyn Kalawaia, 6.3, $1,000; 9. Dalton Massey, 6.6, $1,000; 10. Kyle Irwin, 6.9, $1,000; 11. (tie) Stephen Culling and Clayton Hass, NT, $1,000 each.
Finals: 1. Ty Erickson, 4.0 seconds, $50,000; 2. Don Payne, 4.7, $20,000; 3. Tyler Pearson, 4.9, $10,000; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 14.2, $7,500.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Pool A Qualifiers: 1. Zeke Thurston; 2. Riggin Smith; 3. Lefty Holman; 4. Layton Green.
Pool B Qualifiers: 1. Kolby Wanchuk; 2. Lucas Macza; 3. Dawson Dahm; 4. Brody Wells.
Pool C Qualifiers: 1. Kade Bruno; 2. Ben Andersen; 3. Wyatt Casper; 4. Logan Hay.
Semifinals: 1. Zeke Thurston, 91 points on Calgary Stampede’s Erotic Tango; 2. Kade Bruno, 88; 3. Layton Green, 87; 4. Ben Andersen, 86.5; 5. (tie) Lefty Holman and Kolby Wanchuk, 86, $2,750 each; 7. Lucas Macza, 83.5, $2,000; 8. Riggin Smith, 83, $1,000; 9. Brody Wells, 81.5, $1,000; 10. Dawson Dahm, 80, $1,000; 11. Wyatt Casper, 75.5, $1,000; 12. Logan Hay, NS, $1,000.
Finals: 1. Kade Bruno, 92 points on Mary Lou, $50,000; 2. Zeke Thurston, 90.5, $20,000; 3. (tie) Layton Green and Ben Anderson, NS.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Pool A Qualifiers: 1. Tuf Cooper; 2. John Douch; 3. Logan Bird; 4. Shad Mayfield.
Pool B Qualifiers: 1. Riley Mason Webb; 2. Haven Meged; 3. Kincade Henry; 4. Bryce Derrer.
Pool C Qualifiers: 1. Cory Solomon; 2. Joel Harris; 3. Ty Harris; 4. Macon Murphy.
Semifinals: 1. Haven Meged, 6.9 seconds; 2. Kincade Henry, 7.2; 3. (tie) Macon Murphy and John Douch, 7.8 each; 5. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $3,000; 6. Bryce Derrer, 8.7, $2,500; 7. Logan Bird, 10.2, $2,000; 8. Joel Harris, 10.8, $1,000; 9. (tie) Riley Mason Webb, Ty Harris, Shad Mayfield and Cory Solomon, NT, $1,000 each.
Finals: 1. Haven Meged, 6.7 seconds, $50,000; 2. Macon Murphy, 7.1, $20,000; 3. John Douch, 8.4, $10,000; 4. Kincade Henry, NT, $7,500.
BARREL RACING
Pool A Qualifiers: 1. Ashley Castleberry; 2. Lisa Lockhart; 3. Tiany Schuster; 4. (tie) Jessica Routier and Taylor Manning.
Pool B Qualifiers: 1. Taycie Matthews; 2. Katelyn Scott; 3. Carlee Otero; 4. Paige Jones.
Pool C Qualifiers: 1. Leslie Smalygo; 2. Hailey Kinsel; 3. Summer Kosel; 4. Jordon Briggs.
Semifinals: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 16.97 seconds: 2. Leslie Smalygo, 16.99; 3. Katelyn Scott, 17.26; 4. Paige Jones, 17.27; 5. Summer Kosel, 17.30, $3,000; 6. Jordon Briggs, 17.40, $2,500; 7. Tiany Schuster, 17.41, $2,000; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 17.42, $1,000; 9. Taycie Matthews, 22.27, $1,000; 10. Ashley Castleberry, 22.33, $1,000; 11. Taylor Manning, 22.61, $1,000; 12. Carlee Otero, 23.58, $1,000.
Finals: 1. Leslie Smalygo, 16.940 seconds, $50,000; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 16.986, $20,000; 3. Katelyn Scott, 17.243, $10,000; 4. Paige Jones, 22.330, $7,500.
BULL RIDING
Pool A Qualifiers: 1. Nick Tetz; 2. Hayes Weight; 3. Wyatt Gleeson; 4. Mason Moody.
Pool B Qualifiers: 1. Trey Kimzey; 2. Jace Trosclair; 3. Creek Young; 4. (tie) Jared Parsonage.
Pool C Qualifiers: 1. Jeff Askey; 2. Callum Miller; 3. Chase Dougherty; 4. Ky Hamilton.
Semifinals: 1. Chase Dougherty, 89 points on Calgary Stampede’s Sky Fall; 2. Jeff Askey, 82; no other qualified rides.
Finals: 1. Chase Dougherty and Jeff Askey, NS.
