Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
Competition Format – Bareback and saddle bronc riders have two full rounds. Their scores will be added together and the top 12 will advance to the championship finals. Bull riders ride once with the 12 highest scores competing for the championship.
Watch for Winn Ratliff in the bareback riding. He is currently in 7th place in the PRCA world standings in bareback riding. Winn’s middle name is first and there is nothing he wants to do more than win first every time he nods his head. He and his wife have a baby girl and this cowboy of faith is known to keep his priorities in order. That has contributed to his success in the arena and sent him to Las Vegas three times.
Tonight’s saddle bronc riding will see last year’s Reno Rodeo champion Heith Allen DeMoss vying for his second set of Reno Rodeo spurs. He is 15th in the world standings and a win here would give him a big boost going into the important summer rodeo run.
It’s been a long time since anyone has dominated the bull riding like Sage Steele Kimzey has the past two years. He has two gold buckles and countless rodeo wins to his credit but has yet to win the trophy spurs given here. Kimzey is at the top of the world standings, but he has a target on his back with plenty of guys wanting to move into that position.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Steer Roping,
Team Roping, Tie-Down Roping and Barrel Racing:
Competition Format – All of the timed-events feature two full rounds of competition. Their times are added together with the 12 contestants with the fastest total times advancing to the championship finals.
Tonight’s steer wrestling is likely to be filled with Canadians. Seven of the 12 competitors are our neighbors from the north including former Reno Rodeo champion Curtis Cassidy. Steer wrestlers and team ropers have their first round competition in slack. Depending on how they do there, they will either get their second round in the performance or during slack ensuring fans an opportunity to see the best at performances.
We would expect Curtis or his brother Cody to be among those at the performance tonight. Also brothers Straws and Tanner Milan from Cochrane, Alberta are among today’s competitors. Tanner was at last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after recovering from several different knee and leg injuries. The now healthy cowboy used his time off to build up a herd of longhorn cattle that they use for steer wrestling at rodeos in Canada.
Reigning world champion tie-down roper Caleb Smidt will make his first appearance at the Reno Rodeo Friday night. He will be joined by the 2013 world champion Shane Hanchey and NFR qualifiers Clint Cooper and Timber Moore.
The newly crowned RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo champions Jake Orman and Tyler Domingue gained some confidence when they earned that title in April. They are both making a bid for their first NFR qualification. Clay Smith and Paul Eaves are ranked third and second in the world standings respectively. With Clay heading and Paul healing they won a pile of money at the winter rodeos. They held the top spot in the world standings for much of the winter. A big win at the Reno Rodeo could help them move back into first place.
In the barrel racing, former NFR qualifier Sherrylynn Johnson is going to take the lead in the Reno Rodeo no matter what happens. She will be the first barrel racer to compete at this year’s edition of the rodeo. Other NFR qualifiers that will be competing tonight include: Nancy Hunter, Sydni Blanchard, Jane Melby and Jackie Ganter. Ganter is having the most success so far this year of all of these women. She is currently fourth in the world standings.
