LAS VEGAS – Header Tyler Wade and heeler Wesley Thorp picked up where they left off during Round 1 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge on Thursday night.
The defending PRCA Team Roping World Champions capped their first run of the competition in 3.7 seconds, earning the round win and setting a new round record in front of 17,456 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Tyler Wade held the round record entering the day on the header side with two previous partners before Brenten Hall and Kaden Profili broke it earlier in the round. Six runs later, he and Thorp ensured their names would stay in the NFR record books.
“Well, I wasn’t trying to do it, but I had the record before, and Brenten Hall and Kaden (Profili) broke it with a 3.9 (second run),” Wade said. “I laughed when they did it because it was the first run below four seconds in the first round, and I was thinking, ‘man, they got me.’
“So, it was kind of cool to come back and take back what was mine.”
Thorp said the ultimate goal for Round 1 was to start strong, but he didn’t anticipate a record-time on their first trip out of the box.
“We wanted to start the week off strong, and the great thing is that neither of us were trying to go fast,” the Throckmorton, Texas, cowboy said. “The goal wasn’t necessarily to win the round. It was to make our run and to get the reassurance of a win is even better.”
Wade kept the grind of the NFR in perspective when the dust settled.
“I’ve started better here than I’ve finished, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” the Terrell, Texas, roper said. “It’s awesome to win it (tonight), but it’s more about keeping it rolling.”
The round win earned the duo $33,687 each and jumpstarted their title defense.
Resistol Rookie Weston Timberman shines in bareback riding
It didn’t take long for Resistol Rookie Weston Timberman to make an impact in his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge debut.
The 20-year-old cowboy had an 87-point ride on J Bar J’s Drunk Bunny to win Round 1 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“It’s pretty crazy. I’ve never been able to nod my head here, so I didn’t know what the nerves were going to do to me or how it was going to affect my riding. But I can’t complain,” Timberman said. “I came out with the round win, and it’s so cool.”
Timberman, who arrived in Vegas seventh in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $154,100, will boost that number thanks to earning $33,687 for the victory.
“I’ve been on him (Drunk Bunny) twice and I got along with him both times. I thought he was going to be a little buckier in the pen than some,” Timberman said. “I hadn’t seen him yet (the video of his ride), so I didn’t know what he looked like, but he sure felt like he was bucking a touch.”
Drunk Bunny was chosen the top bareback horse of the night.
The skill of Timberman shouldn’t come as a big surprise. He’s the nephew of 2004 PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion Kelly Timberman. His father Chris Timberman won the bareback riding crown at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2006.
Weston’s grandfather, Lonnie, was also a PRCA bareback rider back in the day – rodeoing at times with the late ProRodeo Hall of Famer Chris LeDoux.
“Rodeoing has been a family tradition,” Weston said. “I’m just following in their footsteps. Ever since I was baby, I knew I was going to be a bareback rider. My first word was actually ‘Horse’ and ever since then it has been a trail I’m not even trying to seek, I’m just following.”
Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston captures Round 1 title
Four-time PRCA World Champion Rider Zeke Thurston has made the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas his second home.
The Big Valley, Alberta, saddle bronc rider captured his second straight gold buckle a year ago and maintained that momentum during Round 1 of the NFR.
Thurston tangoed with Frontier Rodeo’s Frontier Rodeo Coffee Yellowstone for an 86.5-point ride to take the go-round win on Thursday night.
“Yeah, man. It’s kind of an old hat at this point, you know, I’ve been here a lot of times. So, I’ve seen every scenario play out,” Thurston said. “Man, you just kind of have attitude of gratitude I’m always super grateful to be here. I don’t take it for granted and man it’s just a lot of fun and very exciting to get to compete at this rodeo.
“He (Yellowstone) is just a very consistent and reliable horse. It’s been around for a long time, and he knows his job, which makes it easy for me to do my job.”
The $33,687 payday moves Thurston a step closer to world title No. 5, but for now it’s business as usual for the PRORODEO veteran with his sights set on Round 2 on Friday night.
“Obviously starting off the NFR with a round win like this (is great),” Thurston said. “You know, it is still about smacking them in the face and winning the first round. Let them know you’re here, I think this is the third or fourth time I’ve won the first round, so it been a good way to get the ball rolling and get the week started and hopefully we carry it on from here.”
Reigning tie-down roping world champ Riley Webb takes Round 1 win
Riley Webb started his 2023 PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship defense in a big way.
Webb put his fellow competitors on notice with a 7.0-second run to take home the Round 1 title at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“The first couple rounds last year I didn’t get rolling like I wanted to. The horse I am on now I got on for the first time late last year,” Webb said. “We got here in December and really needed two runs to get our chemistry together. This year, I got a full season with him, and we’ve just been in stride all season. It feels awesome. I owe that horse everything. He’s been so great.”
Webb also realizes a win like this will help him close the gap over regular season leader Shad Mayfield.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I came into the night trailing Shad by $70,000 and win $33,000 in the first night. That’s huge. It’s a jump start for the rest of the week.
“I just knew that 7.7 (seconds) was winning the round when I started, so I went out there and just took care of business. I knew that if I did my job, it would all work out.”
Steer wrestler Will Lummus claims Round 1 glory
Steer wrestler Will Lummus took center stage in Round 1 Thursday night.
The Byhalia, Miss., cowboy clocked a 3.7-second run to capture the victory.
“You know I felt like after a really tough NFR last year, I won the 10th Round, and that sent me home went something,” Lummus said. “It gave me a nibble you know. So, that is what I’m missing, I came back with a different game plan this year.”
Lummus hopes to keep moving in the right direction.
“Let’s go do our job, we’ve had great horses, we got great hazers,” Lummus said. “If we do our job and the steer gives us a chance to win, we are going to win. I mean all 15 guys are that good and that’s why they’re here.”
Bull rider Trey Kimzey steals the show in Round 1
Trey Kimzey had a good feeling when he drew Burch Rodeo’s Cookies & Cream on the opening night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo by Teton Ridge.
The Strong City, Okla., bull rider capitalized on the moment with an 87.5-point ride to clinch the Round 1 win.
“I knew I had one of the plucks in the pen. Everybody loves that bull,” Kimzey said. “Coming in, I knew I had him. It was a mental deal. I just knew I was at the top of my game. I haven’t been on anything, but I still felt absolutely amazing coming in and seeing that bull beside my name.”
The trip earned Kimzey $33,687 and bumped him to 12th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. He said he’s blessed to be back in the yellow bucking chutes and hopes to keep the good times rolling.
“It’s honestly easy (to stay focused) in Las Vegas. And it’s a lot of fun,” Kimzey said. “You just have to keep going.”
Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel breaks Round 1 record in win
Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel got her 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge off to a record-breaking start.
The Cotulla, Texas, cowgirl turned heads with her Round 1 record run of 13.38 seconds aboard her star horse Sister.
“Well, I was first out on that day in 2018 (when she broke the Round 1 record the first time), and I was first out here again (Thursday night),” Kinsel said. “I’ll let that speak for itself. When you have that in your favor, you have to capitalize on the opportunity. It’s an advantage and will continue to be in a strong field like we have here in Las Vegas.
“I can’t even put into words how much that horse means to me. My goal with her was to make sure everyone else knew how special she was. And now, I think people know.”
Kinsel knows she needs to put Round 1 in the rear-view mirror as she chases gold buckle No. 5.
“The goal is to try and win nine more rounds. In all seriousness, it’s about taking it one ride at a time,” Kinsel said. “It’s important for me to keep my head down and go at it every night. I can’t worry about the others around me. I have to act like I’m the hunter in this game. So, that’s how we’re going to approach it going forward.”
2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
Round 1, Dec. 5
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bareback Riding: First round: 1. Weston Timberman, 87 points on J Bar J’s Drunk Bunny, $33,687; 2. Bradlee Miller, 86.5, $26,624; 3. Keenan Hayes, 85.5, $20,104; 4. (tie) Dean Thompson, Cole Franks and Taylor Broussard, 85, $9,418 each; 7. Garrett Shadbolt, 84; 8. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Cole Reiner, 83.5; 10. Richmond Champion, 83; 11. Jacob Lees, 80; 12. Leighton Berry, 79.5; 13. (tie) Jess Pope and Cooper Cooke, 79 each; 15. R.C. Landingham, 77.5.
World standings: 1. Keenan Hayes, $249,187; 2. Rocker Steiner, $243,319; 3. Weston Timberman, $197,787; 4. Dean Thompson, $191,614; 5. Leighton Berry, $182,955; 6. R.C. Landingham, $181,420; 7. Jess Pope, $178,154; 8. Bradlee Miller, $173,989; 9. Cole Franks, $158,974; 10. Cooper Cooke, $149,067; 11. Taylor Broussard, $148,917; 12. Jacob Lees, $148,363; 13. Cole Reiner, $147,128; 14. Garrett Shadbolt, $147,096; 15. Richmond Champion, $138,965.
World Standings: 1. Dalton Massey, $209,263; 2. Will Lummus, $192,524; 3. Dakota Eldridge, $188,095; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, $166,469; 5. J.D. Struxness, $157,266; 6. Jesse Brown, $145,266; 7. Cash Robb, $143,920; 8. Rowdy Parrott, $141,975; 9. Don Payne, $132,655; 10. Justin Shaffer, $120,508; 11. Ty Erickson, $109,657; 12. Tyler Pearson, $104,575; 13. Tucker Allen, $103,437; 14. Tyler Waguespack, $102,656; 15. Scott Guenthner, $101,348.
Team Roping: First round: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 3.7 seconds, $33,687 each; 2. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 3.9, $26,624; 3. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.0, $20,104; 4. Derrick Begay/Jonathan Torres, 4.2, $14,127; 5. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 4.6, $8,693; 6. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 4.7, $5,433; 7. Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn, 5.2; 8. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.3; 9. Luke Brown/Travis Graves, 11.8; 10. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 14.8; 11. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, Clint Summers/Jake Long, J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, Cyle Denison/Tanner Braden and Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, NT.
World standings (headers): 1. Tyler Wade, $235,425; 2. Dustin Egusquiza, $211,008; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $187,361; 4. Coleman Proctor, $185,894; 5. Brenten Hall, $162,287; 6. Clint Summers, $153,146; 7. Andrew Ward, $146,581; 8. Jake Smith, $139,366; 9. J.C. Yeahquo, $136,296; 10. Derrick Begay, $129,195; 11. Clay Smith, $128,516; 12. Luke Brown, $127,418; 13. Erich Rogers, $127,007; 14. Cyle Denison, $118,812; 15. Cody Snow, $118,269.
World standings (heelers): 1. Wesley Thorp, $235,425; 2. Levi Lord, $211,008; 3. Junior Nogueira, $198,486; 4. Logan Medlin, $172,661; 5. Kaden Profili, $163,460; 6. Jake Long, $156,584; 7. Jonathan Torres, $141,832; 8. Douglas Rich, $139,366; 9. Coleby Payne, $137,630; 10. Kollin VonAhn, $135,382; 11. Tanner Braden, $134,959; 12. Paul Eaves, $127,606; 13. Buddy Hawkins II, $124,789; 14. Travis Graves, $122,042; 15. Hunter Koch, $120,280.
Saddle Bronc Riding: First round: 1. Zeke Thurston, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Frontier Rodeo Coffee Yellowstone, $33,687; 2. Ryder Wright, 86, $26,624; 3. Dawson Hay, 85, $20,104; 4. Kade Bruno, 84.5, $14,127; 5. (tie) Brody Cress and Sage Newman, 83.5, $7,063 each; 7. (tie) Wyatt Casper, Statler Wright and Kolby Wanchuk, 83 each; 10. Logan Hay, 82; 11. Damian Brennan, 81.5; 12. Zac Dallas, 81; 13. Brody Wells, 80; 14. Ben T. Andersen, 77.5; 15. Lefty Holman, NS.
World standings: 1. Damian Brennan, $290,035; 2. Ryder Wright, $287,886; 3. Zeke Thurston, $255,073; 4. Kade Bruno, $251,250; 5. Brody Cress, $231,051; 6. Wyatt Casper, $229,784; 7. Lefty Holman, $217,735; 8. Sage Newman, $205,003; 9. Statler Wright, $182,824; 10. Dawson Hay, $177,962; 11. Kolby Wanchuk, $149,743; 12. Brody Wells, $145,803; 13. Zac Dallas, $139,157; 14. Ben T. Andersen, $137,285; 15. Logan Hay, $137,250.
Tie-Down Roping: First round: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 7.0 seconds, $33,687; 2. Joel Harris, 7.7, $26,624; 3. Hunter Herrin, 8.0, $20,104; 4. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $14,127; 5. Dylan Hancock, 8.4, $8,693; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 8.9, $5,433; 7. Kincade Henry, 9.1; 8. Shad Mayfield, 9.4; 9. Cole Clemons, 9.6; 10. (tie) Ty Harris and Shane Hanchey, 10.3 each; 12. Haven Meged, 10.8; 13. Quade Hiatt, 11.5; 14. (tie) Marty Yates and John Douch, NT.
World standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $296,347; 2. Riley Mason Webb, $260,594; 3. Haven Meged, $231,309; 4. Ty Harris, $229,172; 5. Shane Hanchey, $167,845; 6. Marty Yates, $165,868; 7. John Douch, $165,804; 8. Hunter Herrin, $154,102; 9. Dylan Hancock, $153,590; 10. Joel Harris, $153,434; 11. Tuf Cooper, $151,571; 12. Kincade Henry, $150,958; 13. Zack Jongbloed, $149,814; 14. Cole Clemons, $113,417; 15. Quade Hiatt, $111,980.
Barrel Racing: First round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.38 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, 13.55, $26,624; 3. Abby Phillips, 13.63, $20,104; 4. Andrea Busby, 13.70, $14,127; 5. Ashley Castleberry, 13.75, $8,693; 6. (tie) Leslie Smalygo and Shelley Morgan, 13.84, $2,717 each; 8. Emily Beisel, 13.87; 9. Wenda Johnson, 13.88; 10. Tiany Schuster, 13.90; 11. Lisa Lockhart, 13.92; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 14.04; 13. LaTricia Duke, 14.11; 14. Kassie Mowry, 18.34; 15. Halyn Lide, 18.75.
World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $247,790; 2. Leslie Smalygo, $208,624; 3. Ashley Castleberry, $188,928; 4. Kassie Mowry, $172,283; 5. Emily Beisel, $164,005; 6. Lisa Lockhart, $150,888; 7. Carlee Otero, $149,513; 8. Abby Phillips, $145,604; 9. Tiany Schuster, $142,495; 10. Andrea Busby, $139,953; 11. LaTricia Duke, $139,130; 12. Halyn Lide, $131,966; 13. Dona Kay Rule, $131,481; 14. Wenda Johnson, $127,970; 15. Shelley Morgan, $123,906.
Bull Riding: First round: 1. Trey Kimzey, 87.5 points on Burch Rodeo’s Cookies & Cream, $33,687; 2. (tie) Josh Frost and Cooper James, 86, $23,364 each; 4. Tristen Hutchings, 85, $14,127; 5. (tie) Jace Trosclair and Trevor Reiste, 84.5, $7,063; 7. Tyler Bingham, 83; 8. Dustin Boquet, 82.5; 9. Clayton Sellars, 78.5; 10. (tie) Wacey Schalla, T.J. Gray, Hayes Weight, Jeter Lawrence, Chase Dougherty, Creek Young and Jordan Spears, NS.
World standings: 1. T.J. Gray, $254,844; 2. Hayes Weight, $246,023; 3. Josh Frost, $244,427; 4. Jace Trosclair, $230,029; 5. Clayton Sellars, $217,366; 6. Jeter Lawrence, $216,134; 7. Wacey Schalla, $204,096; 8. Cooper James, $192,362; 9. Trevor Reiste, $177,733; 10. Chase Dougherty, $175,013; 11. Tristen Hutchings, $174,587; 12. Trey Kimzey, $172,142; 13. Jordan Spears, $139,997; 14. Tyler Bingham, $135,616; 15. Creek Young, $131,609; 16. Dustin Boquet, $131,352.
All-Around standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $234,413; 2. Coleman Proctor, $215,807; 3. Junior Nogueira, $200,401; 4. Wacey Schalla, $177,953; 5. Tuf Cooper, $157,143; 6. Erich Rogers, $118,462; 7. Paden Bray, $107,547; 8. Tyler Pearson, $103,375; 9. Jake Clay, $101,966; 10. Slade Wood, $97,955.
