BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
After a year off, the St. Paul Rodeo returned in full force over Independence Day and paid out more than $335,000
A trio of past World Champions took home titles in their events.
In the tie-down roping, it was 2019 World Champion Haven Meged winning the rodeo with a time of 15.2 seconds on two. Meged also placed in both rounds to bring his total earnings in Oregon to close to $10,000.
Zeke Thurston, a two-time World Champion, was first in the saddle bronc riding. The Canadian cowboy was 88 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Broken Camp and collected a $9,292 check. Allen Boore, Jack Bentz and Ben Andersen all split second with 86.5 points.
Finally, it was five-time Gold Buckle winner Luke Branqinho taking home the biggest prize in the steer wrestling. He turned in a pair of 4.2-second runs to win the Average by four-tenths of a second over Jacob Talley. Branquinho won around $7,500 total in St. Paul and is No. 8 in the World Standings.
“This is probably going to be one of the last years I’m going to rodeo,” he said. “So I wanted to enjoy it.”
2021 ST. PAUL RODEO FULL RESULTS
Bareback riding
First round: 1. Austin Foss, 87.5 points on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Cougar Country, $9,877; 2. Jess Pope, 86, $7,572; 3. (tie) Lane McGehee and Jacob Lees, 84, $4,609 each; 5. Wyatt Denny, 83, $2,305; 6. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 82.5, $1,482 each; 8. (tie) Tanner Aus and Clayton Biglow, 82, $494 each.
FOSS’ RIDE
Steer wrestling
First round: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.8 seconds, $3,013; 2. (tie) Luke Branquinho, J.D. Struxness and Tucker Allen, 4.2, $2,227 each; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 4.3, $1,441; 6. (tie) Jacob Talley, Mike McGinn, Justin Shaffer and Will Lummus, 4.4, $491 each.
Second round: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.8 seconds, $3,013; 2. Dirk Tavenner, 3.9, $2,620; 3. (tie) Winsten McGraw, Cody Cabral and Joe Nelson, 4.0, $1,834 each; 6. (tie) Luke Branquinho and Tyler Waguespack, 4.2, $851 each; 8. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Jacob Talley, 4.4, $131 each.
Average: 1. Luke Branquinho, 8.4 seconds on two head, $4,519; 2. Jacob Talley, 8.8, $3,930; 3. Jesse Brown, 8.9, $3,340; 4. Payden McIntyre, 9.0, $2,751; 5. (tie) Mike McGinn and Will Lummus, 9.1, $1,867 each; 7. Justin Shaffer, 9.2, $982; 8. Dirk Tavenner, 9.3, $393.
BRANQUINHO’S 4.2-SECOND RUN
Team roping
First round: 1. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.6 seconds, $3,115 each; 2. Steven Duby/Andy Carlson, 4.8, $2,709; 3. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 4.9, $2,302; 4. (tie) Clint Summers/Ross Ashford and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.0, $1,693 each; 6. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.4, $880 each; 8. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.5, $271.
Second round: 1. Cory Kidd V/Ryan Motes, 4.2 seconds, $3,115 each; 2. Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, 4.3, $2,709; 3. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.4, $2,302; 4. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 4.9, $1,896; 5. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.0, $1,490; 6. Jared Parke/Jaylen Eldridge, 5.2, $1,083; 7. (tie) Jack Graham/Calgary Smith, Tyler Waters/Richard Durham, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Tate Kirchenschlager/Cole Davison and Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.5, $190 each.
Average: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 10.4 seconds on two head, $4,672 each; 2. Clint Summers/Ross Ashford, 10.6, $4,063; 3. (tie) Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 11.0, $2,844 each; 6. Tyler Waters/Richard Durham, 11.1, $1,625; 7. Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 11.2, $1,016; 8. Tate Kirchenschlager/Cole Davison, 11.4, $406.
DRIGGERS/NOGUEIRA SLACK RUN
Saddle bronc riding
First round: 1. Zeke Thurston, 88 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Broken Camp, $9,292; 2. (tie) Allen Boore, Jack Bentz and Ben Andersen, 86.5, $5,265 each; 5. Ryder Wright, 85.5, $2,168; 6. Kade Bruno, 84.5, $1,549; 7. Dawson Hay, 84, $1,239; 8. Sam Harper, 83.5, $929.
THURSTON’S RIDE
Tie-down roping
First round: 1. Tuf Case Cooper, 7.8 seconds, $3,450; 2. (tie) John Douch, Shad Mayfield and Michael Otero, 8.1, $2,550 each; 5. Haven Meged, 8.3, $1,650; 6. (tie) Ty Harris, Shane Hanchey and Zack Jongbloed, 8.7, $750 each.
Second round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.5 seconds, $3,450; 2. Haven Meged, 7.6, $3,000; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 7.8, $2,550; 4. (tie) Colton Farquer and Quade Hiatt, 8.2, $1,875 each; 6. (tie) Reid Zapalac, Brushton Minton and Westyn Hughes, 8.5, $750 each.
Average: 1. Haven Meged, 15.9 seconds on two head, $5,175; 2. Tuf Case Cooper , 16.5, $4,500; 3. John Douch, 16.9, $3,825; 4. Quade Hiatt, 17.7, $3,150; 5. Michael Otero, 17.8, $2,475; 6. (tie) Westyn Hughes and Stetson Vest, 17.9, $1,462 each; 8. (tie) Reid Zapalac and Cody Huber, 18.2, $225 each.
MEGED’S SLACK RUN
Barrel racing
First round: 1. Stephanie Fryar, 17.37 seconds, $8,381; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 17.51, $6,705; 3. Shelley Holman, 17.57, $5,448; 4. (tie) Jennifer Barrett and Emily Miller-Beisel, 17.62, $3,771 each; 6. Jessi Fish, 17.70, $2,514; 7. Sue Smith, 17.76, $2,095; 8. Tanya Jones, 17.78, $1,886; 9. (tie) Sidney Forrest and Sherry Cervi, 17.82, $1,571 each; 11. Katie Pascoe, 17.84, $1,257; 12. Mary Shae Thomas, 17.85, $1,048; 13. Paige Jones, 17.89, $838; 14. Bailey Cline, 17.91, $629; 15. (tie) Danyelle Williams and Katie Davis, 17.94, $210 each.
FRYAR’S RUN
Bull riding
First round: 1. JC Mortensen, 87 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Highway To Hell, $9,047; 2. Jordan Spears, 86.5, $6,936; 3. Stetson Dell Wright, 86, $5,127; 4. (tie) Tristen Hutchings and Jeff Askey, 84, $2,714 each; 6. (tie) Sage Kimzey and JB Mauney, 83.5, $1,357 each; 8. Laramie Mosley, 82.5, $905.
MORTENSEN’S RIDE