WNFR: Round 1 Highlights

Wrangler National Finals : Round 1 Highlights

By: Bobbi LeAnn

As round one of the National Finals Rodeo comes to a close at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, many cowboys and cowgirls find themselves in great positions as they head into the rest of the week at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There were many high scores in the first round of the bareback riding, which all of the scores remain very close. Caleb Bennett won the round with an 85.5 only a half of a point more than Clint Cannon. Casey Colletti, Kaycee Field, and Ty Breuer are all tied for the fourth place spot with the score of 83.5. Moving on to steer wrestling, Trevor Knowles made a great run with a time of 3.1 seconds. His run was just shy of the arena record of 3.0 seconds. The brother team Brady Minor and Riley Minor, won the round in steer wrestling with a time of 4.6. Jake Wright won the round in saddle bronc riding with a score of 84. There were many fast runs in the first round in the tie-down roping event.  The top six times where under eight seconds; however,Shane Hanchey won the round with the time of 7.6 seconds. In the ladies barrel racing, the world leader Sherry Cervi won the round with the time of 13.77 seconds. Sydni Blanchard closely followed with the time of 13.8 seconds. The 2012 Wrangler National Finals Barrel Racing Champion, Mary Walker, fell just out of the top six with a time of 14.3. In the Bull riding, Shane Proctor made a great ride with a score of 89. Cody Teel, reigning world champion bull rider, walked away in the first round with a no score, but as the rounds continue we can expect to see him come back strong after the first round. J.W. Harris is another bull rider who is on a mission and off to a great start.

On the Justin sports injury report, Jake Corkill, team roping heeler, does have sever lacerations on the right hand; however, he will be competing tomorrow in round two of the National Finals Rodeo.  Many of the rodeo athletes are coming into the finals with injuries, but staying healthy over the next week will be key to their success.

It’s now been a decade of domination for Stace Smition Pro Rodeo. For the 10^th year in a row, Stace Smith Pro Rodeo was named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Stock Contractor of the year. Smith’s latest honor was announced Wednesday night at the PRCA’s annual awards banquet in the South Point Casino and Spa’s Grand Ballroom.