BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
There’s only one pair looking for three NFR round wins in a row dating back to last year an that’s Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler.
After struggling in the middle rounds in Vegas a year ago, Richard/Buhler were 3.8 seconds in Round 9 and 3.7 in Round 10 close the NFR with $51,921 on their final two runs.
They carried that momentum into the 2022 season, both rising to No. 1 in the World at the end of March before Richard settled in at No. 7 and Buhler settled in at No. 6.
Buhler, the 2016 PRCA Heeling World Champion, is making his third straight NFR appearance fifth overall.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
RodeoHouston, $55,750
Richard/Buhler got the biggest payday of any team roping pair at any rodeo by making a 5.5-second run in the Finals to secure the $50,000 check at NRG Stadium. It was Buhler’s first career Texas Swing win.
Clovis Rodeo (California), $7,417
The pair placed in Rounds 1 and 2 and then won the Finals by a full second with a 6.3-second run. They finished tied for second in the Average with Cody Snow/Jade Corkill at 35.5 seconds on four. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford won the rodeo at 32.2.
St. Paul Rodeo (Oregon), $6,059
Despite winning less than $700 in Go-Round money, Richard/Buhler’s consistency paid off as their two-head time of 9.9 seconds cashed a second-place paycheck of $5,386 at highest paying Cowboy Christmas rodeo.
FASTEST RUNS
Puyallup Cinch Playoffs (Washington), 3.9 Seconds
In what would be their final run of the regular season on Sept. 8, Richard/Buhler took second behind Nelson Wyatt/Trey Yates with a 3.9-second run in Round 2 of the Puyallup Cinch Playoffs. It paid a little more than $2,500.
Lewiston Roundup (Idaho), 3.9 Seconds
The final weekend of their regular season was good to them as the Richard/Buhler also made a 3.9-second run to take fifth at the Lewiston Roundup before heading to Puyallup. That run paid $2,100.
NOTABLE WINS
Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo (Alberta), 4.3 Seconds
In addition to RodeoHouston, Richard/Buhler had two more wins in the 2023 regular season and both came in Canada. At the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo, they shared the title with Clay Ullery/Jake Edwards, beating eventual Canadian Champions Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith by one tenth.
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