BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
Locked in tight World Championship races, barrel racer Jordon Briggs and saddle bronc rider Brody Cress both had crucial wins in Round 9.
Briggs split the round with Stevi Hillman with a time of 13.48 seconds and Cress rode Kangaroo Lou for 91 points, his highest score of the NFR to come out on top.
Barrel racing was far from the only split round winners of the night. In steer wrestling, Stetson Jorgensen, Stockton Graves, Jesse Brown and Tyler Waguespack were all 3.9 and in team roping Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp shared the victory lap with Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin.
In bareback riding, nine-time qualifier Caleb Bennett got his first round win of 2021 with 88 points on Medicine Show and Braden Richardson was you bull riding champion, fighting through broken ribs to cover Bouchon for 89 points.
In tie-down roping, Haven Meged won his second Go-Round in four nights with a time of 7.3 seconds.
BAREBACK RIDING
For just the second time in nine days, Kaycee Feild and Jess Pope were kept out of the winner’s circle as it was Caleb Bennett who won the bareback riding. Bennett had placed in just one round prior to Friday night.
“That’s an awesome horse, I’ve seen her a bunch and never got a chance to get on her,” Bennett said. “She’s a dream, that’s a horse that gives you the timing, the strength, the kick, everything a bareback rider wants to show off and do his job.”
In the Gold Buckle race, Kaycee Feild now leads Jess Pope by $35,000 in the World Standings and two points in the Average.
1. Caleb Bennett, 88, $26,997
2. Cole Reiner, 87, $21,336
T3. Cole Franks, 86.5, $13,716
T3. Clayton Biglow, 86.5, $13,716
5. Orin Larsen, 85, $6,967
T6. Kaycee Feild, 84, $1,451
T6. R.C. Landingham, 84, $1,451
T6. Tim O’Connell, 84, $1,451
BENNETT’S RIDE
STEER WRESTLING
In the steer wrestling there was a rare four-way tie at the top, but perhaps the most notable moment from the bulldogging on Friday night was the victory lap. Beginning with two men on each horse, Tyler Waguespack fell off and decided to make a run for it with the equine athletes.
STEER WRESTLING VICTORY LAP
Waguespack had reason to celebrate, too, because with the Go-Round win he is now the projected World Champion. Average leader Will Lummus is right behind him.
T1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.9, $18,941
T1. Stockton Graves, 3.9, $18,941
T1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.9, $18,941
T1. Jesse Brown, 3.9, $18,941
5. Dirk Tavenner, 4.2, $6,967
6. Will Lummus, 4.3, $4,354
TEAM ROPING
Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin not only tied for the Go-Round win in team roping, they also tied for the fastest time of the rodeo.
Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira remain the projected World Champions with Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler in the No. 2 spot.
1. Coleman Proctor / Logan Medlin, 3.5, $24,167
1. Cody Snow / Wesley Thorp, 3.5, $24,167
T3. Clint Summers / Ross Ashford, 3.9, $13,716
T3. Kaleb Driggers / Junior Nogueira, 3.9, $13,716
5. Rhen Richard / Jeremy Buhler, 4.3, $6,967
T6. Derrick Begay / Brady Minor, 4.4, $2,177
T6. Clay Tryan / Jake Long, 4.4, $2,177
SNOW/THORP’S RUN
PROCTOR/MEDLIN’S RUN
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Brody Cress’ 91-point ride on Kangaroo Lou Friday night was without a doubt the most important of his career. With it, he not only won the almost $27,000 in day money and extended his Average lead, he also put himself in the driver’s seat for his first career Gold Buckle after several years of coming extremely close.
“She (Kangaroo Lou) has all the potential in the world, I was just focused on making sure I gave her a chance, she can be nervous in the chute and stuff, so just taking a breath, getting set right so we can both have a fair shot and it worked out,” he said.
Cress is still $29,000 behind Ryder Wright and $45,000 behind Stetson Wright, but will likely win the World Title if he cashes the $70,000 first-place Average check. He leads Chase Brooks by 5.5 points currently.
1. Brody Cress, 91, $26,997
2. Stetson Wright, 89.5, $21,336
3. Chase Brooks, 89, $16,111
4. Ryder Wright, 87, $11,321
5. Spencer Wright, 86.5, $6,967
T6 Cody DeMoss, 85.5, $2,177
T6. Kolby Wanchuk, 85.5, $2,177
CRESS’ RIDE
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Haven Meged has closed out his third NFR on a tear by winning two Go-Rounds and placing second in two others over the last four nights. He was 7.3 to earn the victory lap on Friday.
“It lit a fire when I missed that calf (in Round 4),” he said. “After I missed that calf, I knew I dropped in the Average and knew I’d have to try a lot harder and start winning rounds so I have a chance at a World Title.”
Meged is up to No. 3 in the world behind Caleb Smidt and Shane Hanchey, who are No. 1 and 2 in the World Standings and the Average.
1. Haven Meged, 7.3, $26,997
2. Tuf Cooper, 7.4, $21,336
3. Shane Hanchey, 7.6, $16,111
4. Ty Harris, 7.7, $11,321
5. Ryan Jarrett, 7.9, $6,967
6. Caleb Smidt, 8.2 s, $4,354
MEGED’S RUN
BARREL RACING
Jordon Briggs has won two consecutive rounds and after chasing Hailey Kinsel for the majority of the NFR, she has overtaken her for the first time in the projected world standings.
Briggs is the only cowgirl to not a hit a barrel and leads the Average over Kinsel by more than four seconds.
“I’m not going to think about the future, I’m enjoying where we’re at,” Briggs said. “My goal is to always make a living doing what I do, and we made a good living this week.”
T1. Jordon Briggs, 13.48, $24,167
T1. Stevi Hillman, 13.48, $24,167
3. Amanda Welsh, 13.54, $16,111
4. Wenda Johnson, 13.61, $11,321
5. Hailey Kinsel, 13.63, $6,967
6. Ivy Saebens, 13.66, $4,354
BRIGGS’ RUN
BULL RIDING
After a rough NFR, Braden Richardson was able to push through injury Friday and not only ride his first bull, but also walkaway with a round win.
“100 percent, this makes it worth it for sure,” he said. “It means the world, because it’s been a long week.”
Sage Kimzey covered his bull and Stetson Wright bucked off in the round, giving Kimzey an inside track to his seventh World Title because he jumped Wright in the Average and extended his lead in the World Standings.
1. Braden Richardson, 89, $26,997
2. Ruger Piva, 82, $21,336
3. Josh Frost, 77.5, $16,111
4. Sage Kimzey, 72.5, $11,321
5. Trey Benton, 71, $6,967
6. Clayton Sellars, 68, $4,354
RICHARDSON’S RIDE
