Leighton Berry leaves no doubt that he has Gold Buckle dreams and his 2023 season has him that much closer to achieving them.
Berry entered the 2022 National Finals Rodeo as the No. 7 ranked cowboy and 10 rounds later, he was No. 3. This year, he is the No. 5 bareback rider going into the NFR with $157,955 and the will power to climb his way closer to the top yet again.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
RodeoHouston, $54,375
Berry’s biggest win of the year was the biggest win a PRCA cowboy can have, RodeoHouston. The No. 2 cowboy going to the Semifinals, he put together an 87.5 to move on before an 88 pushed him through to the Championship Shootout. Aboard Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz, Berry was 90 points to claim the title.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $23,500
Early on in the season, Berry’s success came in big ways. An impressive comeback in the Wild Card Round with an 88.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Topped Off landed Berry in the Finals, where he was 93 points on The Calgary Stampede’s Blasting Sand to win $15,000.
Rodeo Austin $13,686
Berry rode Bar Talk of Beutler & Son Rodeo for 89 points to win Round 1 on his way to a tie for second in the home state’s Capital city. He won at least $2,700 in all three rounds, including more than $6,000 in the Finals.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Parker County Sheriffs Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo, 91 points
At his hometown rodeo in Weatherford, Texas, Berry crossed the 90-point barrier once again. This time, it came aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam. The 91-point ride cinched Berry the win.
Darby Extreme Barebacks (Montana), 90 Points
In one of the most competitive Final Rounds all year in the bareback riding, 90 was only good enough for fifth, which still paid more than $2,000.
NOTABLE WINS
San Angelo Rodeo, 175.5 Points on Two
Two big rides in San Angelo tied Berry for the win at 175.5 points with Andy Gringerich. He drew Championship Pro Rodeo’s Cajun Queen in the Final Round to put together another high score, 88.5 points.
Meagher County Labor Day Rodeo (Montana), 87.5 Points
In September, Berry picked up a $4,000 payday by riding J Bar J’s Fringe Jacket to victory in White Sulphur Springs.
Lewiston Roundup (Idaho), 86.5 Points
Another $4,000 payday came his way the same weekend as Meagher County, this one coming in Idaho. By just a half-point, he grabbed another win after going 86.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ Mlw Irish Eyes to beat No. 1 bareback rider in the world Keenan Hayes.
Meet the NFR Athletes is presented by Montana Silversmiths #EveryBuckleHasAStory #BrandOfChampions #FromGreatToGold
