BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Paul Eaves has rediscovered his stride after narrowly missing the NFR in 2021 and 2022, breaking a 10-year streak of qualifications.
Teaming up with seasoned roper Erich Rogers, the two-time World Champion has punched his ticket to the Finals for the second consecutive year, clinching his spot in dramatic, down-to-the-wire fashion.
NFR Open, $12,250
Eaves and his header Erich Rogers advanced first in Pool B with a two-head total of 10.7 seconds, the fastest of any pair on their first two rounds. In the Finals, they made a 4.9-second run for third place and the $7,000 check that came with it.
California Rodeo Salinas, $10,946
One week after the NFR Open, Rogers and Eaves picked up their biggest win of the 2024 season. They placed on just two of their five runs, but more importantly, they never recorded slower than 11 flat, leading them to a five-head total of 46.5 seconds. They won the Average by more than two seconds.
In July, Eaves moved up from No. 25 to No. 18 in the PRCA World Standings.
That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, $3,737
At the one-header in Idaho, Rogers and Eaves made a 4.9-second run to take second behind Dawson and Dillon Graham. It was one of three checks of $3,000 or more they won over the first weekend in August.
Canby Rodeo, $5,445
On a crowded leaderboard, Rogers and Eaves budged their way into a tie for second in the Average at 9.1 seconds on two, putting them two tenths behind reigning World Champions Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp. They took solo second in Round 1 and were part of a six-way tie for fifth in Round 2. The Top 5 pairs at the rodeo were separated by six tenths of a second.
Fallon County Fair and Rodeo, $6,899
The same weekend as Canby, Rogers/Eaves got their second biggest win of the year when they were 3.9 to win the Fallon County Fair and Rodeo. It was their second fastest run of the season.
Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo, $3,763
The final rodeo of the year in San Bernardino was essentially a one-header for the final heeling spot in Las Vegas between Eaves and veteran Colter Todd, the reigning NFR Average Champion. Eaves got the better of him, and the rest of the field, with a 5 flat run to win the rodeo.
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