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National Finals Rodeo: Round 1 recap, highlights and payouts

BY BRETT NIERNGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT

Round 1 of another NFR is over and with most events taking place closer than usual, it’s shown how quickly things can change at Thomas & Mack.

Bareback rider Weston Timberman had several big wins in his rookie season, including Pendleton and Ponoka, but none were bigger than his 87-point ride to a Round 1 win in his NFR debut. With the win, Timberman moved from No. 7 to No. 3 in the PRCA world rankings.

“I came here confident that no one could beat me and I think I showed that tonight,” Timberman said. “I came here to do a job.”

In steer wrestling, Will Lummus stopped the clock at 3.7 seconds and became one of the last Cowboys eliminated to break the tie between Rowdy Parrott and rookie Cash Robb. Lummus, now ranked No. 2 in the world, has averaged three top-five finishes in the NFR in the last five years and put everything in the right direction on Thursday night.

Reigning world champions Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp turned heads in the first round of team roping, setting a go-round record with a run of 3.7 seconds. Wade broke his own record of 4.0 seconds in Round 1, set in 2014 and 2019 with two different partners. Wade/Thorp, both ranked No. 2 in Las Vegas, took advantage of a misstep by championship leaders Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord, who failed to record a time.

In saddle bronc riding, another reigning world champion prevailed as Zeke Thurston, who has also won the last two NFR Average titles, won the first round. He scored 86.5 points in Frontier Rodeo Coffee’s Yellowstone, marking his 18th ride with 85 or more points in his last 21 outings at Thomas & Mack. Thurston bet just over $70,000 behind world No. 1 Damian Brennan and quickly reduced the figure to $35,000.

“I was excited to get here and get this thing going,” Thurston said. “I just did my part, this is a super consistent horse, very reliable.”

Riley Webb sparked a streak of three consecutive events where the reigning world champion won the go-round. Webb was on his way to victory at 7.7 seconds, with the next best time being Joel Harris at 7.7. It was Webb’s fourth time of 7.5 seconds or faster in 11 runs in his NFR career.

Webb was one of the heavyweights in tie-down roping, finishing in the top four alongside Shad Mayfield, Haven Meged and Ty Harris. None of these three cowboys were in the money.

Hailey Kinsel may not be a reigning world champion, but she has four of them and could be ready to add another after a dominant performance in Round 1. Kinsel took advantage of the lead and posted a time of 13.38, which would have been the fourth fastest time of the entire 2023 NFR. She won the go-round by more than two tenths and extended her lead in the WPRA world rankings to $39,000.

The Bull Riders put on a show to close out Round 1. Nine Cowboys whistled, more than in any round of the last two NFRs. Trey Kimzey was at the top with 87.5 points.

BAREBACK RIDING

Round 1: 1. Weston Timberman on Drunk Bunny, 87 points, $33,687; 2. Bradlee Miller, 86.5, $26,624; 3. Keenan Hayes, 85.5, $20,104; 4. (Tie) Taylor Broussard, Cole Franks and Dean Thompson, 85, $9,418 each.

World ranking: 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. RC 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; 15th Richmond Champion, $138,965.

CONTROL RINGS

Round 1: 1. Will Lummus, 3.7 seconds, $33,687; 2. (Tie) Rowdy Parrott and Cash Robb, 3.8, $23,364 each; 4. Justin Shaffer, 3.9, $14,127; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 4.2, $8,693; 6. (Tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Don Payne, 4.4, $2,717 each.

World ranking: 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

Round 1: 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.

World rankings (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. JC 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 ranking (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

Round 1: 1. Zeke Thurston on Frontier Rodeo Coffee Yellowstone, 86.5 points, $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.

World ranking: 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. Zachary Dallas, $139,157; 14. Ben Andersen, $137,285; 15. Logan Hay, $137,250.

ROPE BACK

Round 1: 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. World Ranking: 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

Round 1: 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) Shelley Morgan and Leslie Smalygo, 13.84, $2,717 each.

BULL RIDING

Round 1: 1. Trey Kimzey on Cookies & Cream, 87.5 points, $33,687; 2. (Tie) Josh Frost and Cooper James, 86, $23,364 each; 4. Tristen Hutchings, 85, $14,127; 5. (Tie) Trevor Reiste and Jace Trosclair, 84.5, $7,063 each.

World ranking: 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 Travel, $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.

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