Tie-down roper Ty Harris notches back-to-back Wrangler NFR round wins

LAS VEGAS

Courtesy of the PRCA; Image provided by Tom Donoghue

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This is a habit tie-down roper Ty Harris doesn’t want to break.

The San Angelo, Texas, cowboy won his second consecutive round of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, clocking a 7.1-second time in Round 6 before 16,755 at the Thomas & Mack Center, Tuesday night.

“I had a great calf and got a really good start on the horse I’m riding (Iron),” Harris said. “That calf was unbelievable, probably the best one in the pen tonight. I was excited to have him, and it came together pretty good.”

Harris changed to Iron before Round 5, and his fortunes changed with the switch.

“I felt with everything going on, I felt more confidence with Iron this week,” Harris said. “It worked out good on him, and I decided to stay on him.”

Harris, 21, finished 20th in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $62,752. Through six rounds of the Wrangler NFR, Harris is second in the world standings with $173,438. He has earned $75,788 in Las Vegas.

Harris has received plenty of advice from PRCA team ropers.

“They’ve all been awesome,” he said. “Shane Hanchey has helped me with anything, from where to enter, where to stay and how I want my ropes to feel. Tyson (Durfey) has been really good for me mentally. When I was at Lawton, Okla., this year he was just saying, ‘Go out there and do your job, finish the year out, this is the fourth quarter and do what you do.’ It’s good to have a world champion telling you that because my dad has been huge in my mental game, but having a world champion, someone who’s done it and somebody else telling you positive stuff, it’s great for me. It hasn’t been veteran versus young guy. They’ve helped me with anything I’ve needed.”

Shane Hanchey, the 2013 tie-down roping world champ, leads the world standings with $209,928.

Waguespack snares second round win of 2019 Wrangler NFR
Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack keeps rolling. The Gonzales, La., cowboy added his second round win of the 2019 Wrangler NFR, winning Round 6 with a 3.8-second run.

Waguespack also won Round 2 with a 3.6-second run. He has earned $80,795 at the Wrangler NFR, the most of any steer wrestler. He moved into the lead in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $177,925.

Waguespack won world championships in 2016 and 2018, adding Wrangler NFR average titles both those years.

“Bridger Chambers ran my steer in Round 3, and he made a really good run and was 4.3 and placed in the round on him,” Waguespack said. “So I talked to Bridger a little bit before tonight’s performance, and it helped me get a little bit of a game plan on what I needed to do on that steer. I was glad we were able to make a good run.”

Although the chute gate didn’t open initially, Waguespack kept his cool.

“We have a gate man, Mr. Tony (Amaral), and he’s outstanding on the gate,” Waguespack said. “Right when I was going to nod, the pusher was saying he wasn’t standing right, and Tony made the call to not open the gate right there. It sure saved me. We said, ‘Good job, Tony.’”

Waguespack became the first bulldogger to win two rounds at the Wrangler NFR this year, but he’s keeping things in perspective.

“We’ve still got four more steers to go, and we’re going to try and do the best we can on anything we draw,” he said. “I love being in this position (No. 1 in the world standings), and I always try to work to be in the driver’s seat. I feed off the confidence, and I’m going to try and keep it up.”

Dawson Hay captures saddle bronc riding title in Round 6
Dawson Hay, of Wildwood, Alberta, made his Wrangler NFR debut even more memorable by winning Round 6 with an 88.5-point ride on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue.

Hay is the son of 20-time NFR qualifier Rod Hay, so getting a Wrangler NFR round win was extra special.

“I’ve dreamed of this day since I was just a little kid, watching my dad get presented his (go-round) buckles and going on the stage with him,” Dawson said. “It’s a dream come true, and I can’t even put words to it. I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet. I won the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede earlier this year and was 89-and-a-half. It’s an amazing horse. If you could have one like that at every rodeo, you’d be a rich son-of-a-gun.”

Zeke Thurston also won Round 1 on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue after an 88-point ride.

Dawson’s win could not have come at a better time as he had back-to-back no scores in Round 4 and Round 5.

“It means everything to me,” he said. “A couple days there, I was having some trouble and getting on some really good horses, but not riding the way I did all year. So, to come out, have a really good ride and a good score going into Round 7, I couldn’t feel more confident.”

Dawson had a conversation with his dad.

“He just said, ‘You ride so dang good, and you’ve got to remember that instead of the bad rides, think about what got you here.’”

Thurston is leading the saddle bronc riding world standings with $251,722.

Campbell’s 92.5-point ride wins bull riding
Boudreaux Campbell came into the 2019 Wrangler NFR all business, and it’s paying off.

Campbell placed second in Round 1 and third in Rounds 2 and 4.

On Tuesday night, he snared the Round 6 victory with a 92.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Priefert’s Tequila Worm.

“I knew I had the bull to win it on and then I just went from there,” Campbell said. “He tried to buck me off right out (of the chute), but I kept going to him.

“This was my first time riding him, but I had seen him all year long. My friend Billy Jones hauls him for Pete Carr, and I can always expect a good one from Billy Jones. Tequila Worm’s been around a long time and that was exactly like him tonight.”

This was Campbell’s first time winning a round outright at the Wrangler NFR and his second time being above 90 points at the Wrangler NFR.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I’m very grateful and blessed to be healthy and walk away, but my job isn’t done yet. I’ve got four more to get on.”

Campbell moved up one spot to second in the world standings with $222,374. He’s third in the average.

“I put that in the back of my mind until the rodeo is over with,” Campbell said about the standings. “I ride as good as they do, and when I see them ride good that makes me want to do better. I feel good. I let two slip from me, but you can’t change the past.”

Reigning five-time world champion Sage Kimzey leads the world standings with $330,252.

Minor brothers claim Round 6 crown in team roping
Veteran team roping brothers Riley and Brady Minor captured a Round 6 win with a 4.0-second run.

“I knew that was a good steer and wanted to get a good start and turn him,” Riley said.

Brady was happy with how things unfolded in the arena.

“I think it’s a relatively easy round, and my goal was to catch and hopefully get third or better, but the steer ran a perfect pattern,” he said.

Riley said round wins at the Wrangler NFR never get old.

“Oh, man, to take a victory lap it dang sure makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up,” he said.

Brady agreed.

“It’s real difficult to get one and it’s the next-best win compared to a world title,” Brady said. “It just finally came together. We were third and fourth (place) and made a few good runs and had a bad run (Monday night) and we came close, but luckily it came at the halfway point.”

Header Clay Smith ($234,551) and heeler Jade Corkill ($192,676) are leading the world standings.

Trio of bareback riders share Round 6 win
It was crowded at the top of Round 6 in bareback riding.

Clayton Biglow (88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Freckled Frog), Caleb Bennett (88.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s You See Me) and Tilden Hooper (88.5 points on Cervi Championship RodeoHouston’s Ain’t No Angel) split the win.

They each earned $20,872.

This was Biglow’s second round win at this year’s Wrangler NFR as he also took home the title in Round 5 with a 92.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Scarlett Belle to win the round.

“This never gets old,” Biglow said. “The ride was really good. That horse was awesome. I’ve been wanting to get on her forever, and I was tickled to death to have her. My confidence is great. I’m feeling good and I’m ready for four more.”

Biglow is first in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $266,554. He has earned $84,603 at the Wrangler NFR, the most of any bareback rider.

Bennett was glad to finally reach the winner’s circle.

“It was a good check for the night, and it will be my first trip to the South Point, so I’m looking forward to that,” Bennett said. “That was the first time I have been on that horse. I have seen him a bunch. I think tonight (You See Me) had a great night and it all worked out.”

Hooper is fourth in the world and was thrilled to join the victory parade.

“That was a great horse, and when you get one of those you have to bring it and take advantage of it and tonight was fun,” he said. “Winning is the best thing for a guy’s confidence. Going into the last part of the week, it is good to have some confidence and keep the ball rolling in my direction. I’m hoping to finish strong.”

Barrel racer Amberleigh Moore wins again at Wrangler NFR
Amberleigh Moore won her second round at this year’s Wrangler NFR with a 13.55-second run, the fastest of the rodeo. Moore also won Round 3 with a 13.62 run.

“Tonight, she was in a mood,” Moore said. “She was in a girl mood and had some attitude, so I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. She came in and just cranked one out. She was cranky, and we were giving her treats and bribing her before we ran. That’s how moody she was, and she’s never in a mood like that.”

Moore moved up to second in the world standings – with $207,982. Hailey Kinsel is leading the barrel racing world standings with $210,482.

“After tipping two barrels the first night, it’s just one run at a time. It’s just go in, go after the day money, see what we can get done and let the cards fall where they are in Round 10.”

Stetson Wright holds slim lead in all-around standings
Rookie Stetson Wright still leads the all-around race in the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $245,461.

He has a $2,174 lead over reigning world champion team roping header Clay Smith. Tuf Cooper, the 2017 all-around champ, is third in the standings with $206,986. Wright, who is third in the bull riding world standings, is trying to become the first roughstock rider to win the all-around crown since ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray in 1998.

Sixth Performance Results, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Clayton Biglow on Pickett Pro Rodeo's Freckled Frog, Tilden Hooper on Cervi Championship Rodeo's RODEOHOUSTON'S Ain't No Angel and Caleb Bennett on Calgary Stampede's You See Me, 88.5 points, $20,872 each; 4. Tim O'Connell, 88, $11,000, 5. (tie) Orin Larsen and Austin Foss, 87.5, $5,500 each; 7. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Steven Dent, 87; 9. Taylor Broussard, 86.5; 10. Tanner Aus, 86; 11. Ty Breuer, 85; 12. Richmond Champion, 84; 13. Clint Laye, 79.5; 14. Trenten Montero, 76; 15. Jake Brown, NS. Average standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, 523.5 points on six head; 2. Tim O'Connell, 521.5; 3. Richmond Champion, 516.5; 4. Kaycee Feild, 514.5; 5. Tilden Hooper, 510.5; 6. Steven Dent, 510; 7. Trenten Montero, 509.5; 8. Orin Larsen, 507.5; 9. Clint Laye, 500; 10. Caleb Bennett, 439.5 on five; 11. Tanner Aus, 431.5; 12. Austin Foss, 425; 13. Taylor Broussard, 415.5; 14. Ty Breuer, 343 on four; 15. Jake Brown, 258 on three. World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $266,555; 2. Orin Larsen, $232,942; 3. Kaycee Feild, $207,359; 4. Tilden Hooper, $200,162; 5. Richmond Champion, $186,944; 6. Caleb Bennett, $186,056; 7. Tim O'Connell, $172,668; 8. Clint Laye, $149,685; 9. Trenten Montero, $143,219; 10. Tanner Aus, $124,595; 11. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 12. Austin Foss, $108,395; 13. Jake Brown, $105,068; 14. Steven Dent, $103,799; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.

Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Scott Guenthner and J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $18,192; 4. Bridger Chambers, 4.0, $11,000; 5. (tie) Will Lummus and Cameron Morman, 4.1, $5,500; 7. (tie) Kyle Irwin, Tyler Pearson and Tanner Brunner, 4.3; 10. Ty Erickson, 4.4; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 4.9; 12. Hunter Cure, 5.3; 13. Riley Duvall, 5.5; 14. Matt Reeves, 6.6; 15. Stetson Jorgensen, 13.5. Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 25.5 seconds on six head; 2. (tie) Riley Duval and Matt Reeves, 30.0; 4. Cameron Morman, 30.2; 5. Hunter Cure, 31.0; 6. Bridger Chambers, 36.9; 7. Dakota Eldridge, 37.6; 8. Tyler Pearson, 37.8; 9. Kyle Irwin, 42.4; 10. Scott Guenthner, 44.6; 11. Ty Erickson, 45.7; 12. Stetson Jorgensen, 50.1; 13. J.D. Struxness, 20.2 on five; 14. Will Lummus, 21.9; 15. Tanner Brunner, 27.3 on four. World standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, $177,925; 2. Ty Erickson, $174,273; 3. J.D. Struxness, $163,342; 4. Hunter Cure, $158,568; 5. Bridger Chambers, $151,785; 6. Scott Guenthner, $148,853; 7. Dakota Eldridge, $140,180; 8. Will Lummus, $128,267; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, $127,015; 10. Kyle Irwin, $123,934; 11. Tyler Pearson, $112,712; 12. Cameron Morman, $111,807; 13. Riley Duvall, $111,617; 14. Matt Reeves, $96,259; 15. Tanner Brunner, $84,950.

Team roping: 1. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.0 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2, $20,731; 3. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 4.3, $13,327 each; 5. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 4.6, $6,769; 6. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.9, $4,231; 7. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 5.6; 8. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 9.5; 9. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 14.4; 10. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, Tyler Wade/Cole Davison and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, NT. Average standings: 1. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 38.6 seconds on six head; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 25.1 on five; 3. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 26.7; 4. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 28.4; 5. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 29.5; 6. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 32.1; 7. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 33.0; 8. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 59.6; 9. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 25.8 on four; 10. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 28.7; 11. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 32.3; 12. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 40.3; 13. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 16.1 on three; 14. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 18.4; 15. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 27.2. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $234,551; 2. Chad Masters, $164,759; 3. Riley Minor, $160,534; 4. Kaleb Driggers, $153,558; 5. Coleman Proctor, $153,241; 6. Clay Tryan, $147,222; 7. Brenten Hall, $139,119; 8. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 9. Cody Snow, $131,707; 10. Luke Brown, $123,708; 11. Matt Sherwood, $117,935; 12. Erich Rogers, $112,980; 13. Ty Blasingame, $111,490; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $93,071; 15. Jake Cooper, $90,524. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $192,676; 2. Joseph Harrison, $167,508; 3. Brady Minor, $160,534; 4. Ryan Motes, $158,089; 5. Jake Long, $150,954; 6. Junior Nogueira, $150,877; 7. Kyle Lockett, $137,711; 8. Chase Tryan, $136,537; 9. Cole Davison, $134,371; 10. Paul Eaves, $128,216; 11. Hunter Koch, $126,038; 12. Wesley Thorp, $123,950; 13. Travis Graves, $113,165; 14. Caleb Anderson, $89,723; 15. Tyler Worley, $88,524.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Dawson Hay, 88.5 points on Mo Betta Rodeo's Sue City Sue, $26,231; 2. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Sterling Crawley, 85.5, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks, Colt Gordon and Brody Cress, 85, $7,333 each; 7. Jesse Wright, 84.5; 8. Spencer Wright, 83.5; 9. (tie) Jake Watson and J.J. Elshere, 81.5; 11. Rusty Wright, 78; 12. Ryder Wright, Zeke Thurston and Mitch Pollock, NS; Bradley Harter, INJ. Average standings: 1. Rusty Wright, 508.5 points on six head; 2. Brody Cress, 506.5; 3. Spencer Wright, 430 on five; 4. Zeke Thurston, 343 on four; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 334.5; 6. Colt Gordon, 329; 7. Chase Brooks, 261 on three; 8. Jake Watson, 260.5; 9. Dawson Hay, 260; 10. Jesse Wright, 259.5; 11. Ryder Wright, 171.5 on two; 12. J.J. Elshere, 168; 13. Sterling Crawley, 166; 14. Bradley Harter, 86.5 on one; 15. Mitch Pollock, 84. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $251,722; 2. Ryder Wright, $241,258; 3. Rusty Wright, $195,884; 4. Spencer Wright, $179,323; 5. Brody Cress, $174,539; 6. Jacobs Crawley, $169,089; 7. Chase Brooks, $167,181; 8. Dawson Hay, $152,196; 9. Jake Watson, $150,522; 10. Sterling Crawley, $149,389; 11. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 12. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 13. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 14. Colt Gordon, $110,519; 15. Mitch Pollock, $109,542.

Tie-down roping: 1. Ty Harris, 7.1 seconds, $26,231; 2. Riley Pruitt, 7.3, $20,731; 3. Tyson Durfey, 7.4, $15,654; 4. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Marty Yates, 7.5, $8,885 each; 6. Tyler Milligan, 7.8, $4,231; 7. Caleb Smidt, 8.0; 8. Haven Meged, 8.1; 9. Cooper Martin, 9.6; 10. Taylor Santos, 10.8; 11. Tuf Cooper, 11.0; 12. Michael Otero, 11.6; 13. Shad Mayfield, 12.7; 14. Rhen Richard and Adam Gray, NT. Average standings: 1. Haven Meged, 50.4 seconds on six head; 2. Tyson Durfey, 51.8; 3. Marty Yates, 52.1; 4. Taylor Santos, 52.3; 5. Tuf Cooper, 53.0; 6. Tyler Milligan, 60.9; 7. Riley Pruitt, 63.3; 8. Caleb Smidt, 72.1; 9. Shane Hanchey, 37.6 on five; 10. Michael Otero, 48.2; 11. Rhen Richard, 49.4; 12. Shad Mayfield, 52.4; 13. Cooper Martin, 52.8; 14. Ty Harris, 32.3 on four; 15. Adam Gray, 45.5. World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $209,928; 2. Ty Harris, $173,438; 3. Riley Pruitt, $171,728; 4. Marty Yates, $170,970; 5. Haven Meged, $167,744; 6. Tyson Durfey, $158,417; 7. Tuf Cooper, $152,823; 8. Taylor Santos, $150,753; 9. Caleb Smidt, $141,900; 10. Tyler Milligan, $139,205; 11. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 12. Michael Otero, $111,924; 13. Adam Gray, $107,673; 14. Cooper Martin, $100,491; 15. Rhen Richard, $98,661.

Barrel racing: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 13.55 seconds, $26,231; 2. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.69, $20,731; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 13.70, $15,654; 4. Shali Lord, 13.85, $11,000; 5. Cheyenne Wimberley, 13.87, $6,769; 6. Nellie Miller, 13.88, $4,231; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.95; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 14.00; 9. Dona Kay Rule, 14.02; 10. Ericka Nelson, 14.10; 11. Emily Miller, 14.42; 12. Jessica Routier, 18.80; 13. Lacinda Rose, 19.05; 14. Jennifer Sharp, 24.02; 15. Stevi Hillman, NT. Average standings: 1. Emily Miller, 83.01 seconds on six runs; 2. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 83.05; 3. Nellie Miller, 83.77; 4. Shali Lord, 83.88; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 83.96; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 87.79; 7. Dona Kay Rule, 88.09; 8. Jessica Routier, 88.25; 9. Lisa Lockhart, 88.47; 10. Lacinda Rose, 89.86; 11. Amberleigh Moore, 92.14; 12. Ericka Nelson, 93.96; 13. Jennifer Sharp, 94.08; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 99.26; 15. Stevi Hillman, 84.51 on five. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $210,482; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $207,982; 3. Emily Miller, $196,991; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 5. Nellie Miller, $179,841; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $174,623; 7. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $161,654; 8. Jessica Routier, $138,736; 9. Shali Lord, $132,776; 10. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $122,273; 12. Jennifer Sharp, $114,024; 13. Ericka Nelson, $110,202; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, $107,130; 15. Lacinda Rose, $103,167.

Bull riding: 1. Boudreaux Campbell, 92.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Priefert's Tequila Worm, $26,231; 2. Jordan Spears, 90, $20,731; 3. Sage Kimzey, 89.5, $15,654; 4. Daylon Swearingen, 88, $11,000; 5. Tyler Bingham, 87, $6,769; 6. (tie) Stetson Wright and Trevor Kastner, 86, $2,115; 8. Clayton Sellars, 85.5; 9. Koby Radley, 83.5; 10. Trey Kimzey, 82; 11. Josh Frost, Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Jordan Hansen and Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, 437 points on five head; 2. Koby Radley, 435; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, 354.5 on four; 4. Tyler Bingham, 346; 5. Jordan Spears, 342.5; 6. Stetson Wright, 269.5 on three; 7. Trey Benton III, 264.5; 8. Clayton Sellars, 256; 9. Daylon Swearingen, 180 on two; 10. Jordan Hansen, 179.5; 11. Garrett Smith, 178.5; 12. Jeff Askey, 170.5; 13. Trey Kimzey, 168; 14. Trevor Kastner, 86 on one; 15. Josh Frost, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $330,252; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, $222,374; 3. Stetson Wright, $216,999; 4. Koby Radley, $178,849; 5. Trey Benton III, $175,995; 6. Tyler Bingham, $173,277; 7. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 8. Jordan Hansen, $163,811; 9. Trevor Kastner, $161,216; 10. Daylon Swearingen, $159,068; 11. Jordan Spears, $157,779; 12. Clayton Sellars, $144,691; 13. Josh Frost, $129,561; 14. Jeff Askey, $127,925; 15. Trey Kimzey, $124,930.

All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $247,576; 2. Clay Smith, $245,402; 3. Tuf Cooper, $206,986; 4. Caleb Smidt, $155,190; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Daylon Swearingen, $118,151; 7. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 8. Steven Dent, $111,577; 9. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 10. Josh Frost, $92,732.