BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
In what was a rare mid-week matinee at the Thomas & Mack for Round 6, the crowd of about 4,000 was treated to the fastest team roping round we’ve seen, a saddle bronc rider staying in his first Gold Buckle race, and one of the most improbable eight second bull rides in recent memory.
In that team roping round eight teams were faster than 4.1 seconds and it took 3.9 just to get a check. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves took the victory lap with a 3.5-second run, setting the mark for the new fastest run of the rodeo. It was not just the pair’s first Go-Round win of the 2023 NFR, but their first check.
“We both rope really good, deep down we know what we can do,” Rogers said. “We just got one we can compete on, and let the chips fall where they may.”
In saddle bronc riding, Kade Bruno took the top spot with an 88.5-point ride on Cat Walk of Summit Pro Rodeo. Bruno is now third in the PRCA World Standings and the NFR Average as well as second in the Projected Final Standings behind reigning World Champion Zeke Thurston.
“That’s a really good horse, he feels really good, he fills up underneath himself, I was really excited to have him,” Bruno said. “I haven’t been struggling this week, but I feel like I’ve just been on the cusp of winning a check a couple times, so it feels really good this morning to start it off like this.”
Ky Hamilton has been the story of the NFR in many ways and Wednesday afternoon was no different. After starting 4-for-4, the Aussie was knocked out and hospitalized in Round 5 and then ultimately ruled out for Round 6. Or so we thought. Hamilton not only competed, he rode for 85.5 points to take third in the round behind Josh Frost and Sage Kimzey, who won his third consecutive round.
Hamilton now leads the next closest cowboy not named Stetson Wright by $124,000 with four rounds to go. He is expected to compete again in Round 7.
BAREBACK RIDING
Round 6: 1. (tie) Tanner Aus, on Flying U Rodeo ‘s Lil Red Hawk, and Jacob Lees, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics ‘s Bronc Riding Nation, 87 points, $27,487 each; 3. (tie) Clayton Biglow, Mason Clements and Jayco Roper, 86, $13,042 each; 6. Leighton Berry, 85.5, $4,953.
STEER WRESTLING
Round 6: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.6 seconds, $30,706; 2. Stan Branco, 3.8, $24,268; 3. (tie) Ty Erickson, Nick Guy and Tyler Waguespack, 4.0, $13,042 each; 6. Stephen Culling, 4.1, $4,953.
TEAM ROPING
Round 6: 1. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 3.5 seconds, $30,706 each; 2. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 3.6, $21,296 each; 4. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 3.7, $12,877; 5. Clay Smith/Paden Bray, 3.8, $7,924; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.9, $4,953.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Round 6: 1. Kade Bruno, 88.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cat Walk, $30,706; 2. (tie) Damian Brennan and Sage Newman, 86, $21,296 each; 4. Ryder Sanford, 85.5, $12,877; 5. Wyatt Casper, 85, $7,924; 6. Brody Cress, 84.5, $4,953.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Round 6: 1. Caleb Smidt, 6.8 seconds, $30,706; 2. Tuf Case Cooper, 7.2, $24,268; 3. (tie) Hunter Herrin, Shad Mayfield and Haven Meged, 7.4, $13,042 each; 6. Shane Hanchey, 7.5, $4,953.
BARREL RACING
Round 6: 1. Emily Beisel, 13.60 seconds, $30,706; 2. Stevi Hillman, 13.62, $24,268; 3. Jordon Briggs, 13.68, $18,325; 4. Sissy Winn, 13.69, $12,877; 5. Summer Kosel, 13.73, $7,924; 6. Jessica Routier, 13.79, $4,953.
BULL RIDING
Round 6: 1. (tie) Josh Frost, on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Wild Time, and Sage Kimzey, on Frontier Rodeo ‘s County Jail, 86.5 points, $27,487 each; 3. (tie) Jeff Askey and Ky Hamilton, 85.5, $15,601 each; 5. Jordan Hansen, 84.5, $7,924; 6. (tie) Trey Kimzey and Creek Young, 83.5, $2,476 each.
