BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
Rookie bareback rider Cole Reiner had an insurmountable lead in the Resistol Rookie of the Year race entering September and he had higher goals, the 2020 Wrangler NFR.
The 22-year-old Wyoming cowboy qualified for his first career NFR by winning almost $10,000 in the final month of the season. He won $45,043 overall and will arrive in Arlington in 12th place in the world standings.
After two rides below 80 points at his final two rodeos of August, Reiner showed up in Gunnison, Colorado on Sept. 5 and won $1,923 for his first place finish, which he split with 2019 Reserve World Champion Orin Larsen. In the same week, he collected a $1,457 check in Lakeview, Oregon and $809 in Evanston.
COLE REINER - 88 POINTS AT CATTLEMEN’S DAYS IN COLORADO
Despite being a rookie, Reiner did some of his best riding when stacked up against the best in the sport. He won money at the Yellowstone Riggin’ Rally, ProRodeo Tour Finale and Gold Buckle Knockout.
The ProRodeo Tour Finale was perhaps his best riding all season. Reiner notched four rides of 83 points or better, three rides of 85 points or better and placed in three of four rounds to win more than $3,800 in four days in Rapid City.
Reiner’s other big winning stretches came in February and at the end of August. He won about $5,000 in the final two weeks of August and also won more than $5,800 at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
COLE REINER WITH AMY WILSON AFTER WINNING BRACKET 4 AT THE FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW AND RODEO
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