PRORODEO Sports News - August 9, 2024

XTREME BRONCS POLLOCKVILLE, ALBERTA

Right at Home

Zeke Thurston nabs third Hardgrass Bronc Match title BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News Z eke Thurston has come to really love his yearly visit to Pollockville, Alberta, Canada for the Hardgrass Bronc Match. A native of Alberta himself, the four-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider has come to see the one-off showcase as an opportunity. The Calgary Stampede is responsible for the bucking stock at the event, generally meaning the matchups will be a good challenge. “It’s the biggest, baddest bucking horses going. It’s no secret Calgary Stampede brings some of the best bucking horses and they’re deeper than anybody else,” Thurston said. “It’s just a tight little pen, there’s a big crowd and just so much energy. The horses perform outstanding, and the bronc riders ride well all the time there. It’s just a really fun, exciting event and it’s one you can’t wait to get to and you’re always excited to go to. I’ve just been lucky to draw good horses at it and put together some good rides.” Of course, when you’ve now won three of the seven Hardgrass Bronc Matches ever held, that doesn’t hurt either. Thurston’s latest triumph came over the final weekend in July, as he posted an aggregate total of 178 points on two head to claim the championship and $11,523 in prize money. It was the latest in a string of strong showings for the defending world champion. Along with the win in Pollockville, he also won the Fiesta Days Rodeo in Spanish Fork, Utah, and picked up earnings at Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days and Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. When pulled together, those four rodeos paid out more than $31,000 in about a week. The results will help Thurston inch one step closer to his 10th straight trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December, putting him firmly inside the top 10. “Every bit helps. A hit like that’s pretty good,” Thurston said. “Before I went up there to Pollockville, I think I’d won $16,000 for the week, so to suddenly have another $27,000 or $28,000, that’s not too bad.” Getting the victory at the Hardgrass Bronc Match was not easy. Following the first round of action, advancing riders got the chance to choose their matchup for the final go based on the order they finished in the first round. Because he finished in a three-way tie for fifth to start, Thurston picked later in the group, leaving some of the less noteworthy horses in the championship pen. He ultimately decided to go with Calgary Stampede’s Blasting Sand, a horse that hadn’t competed in saddle bronc riding since 2022. The animal has been primarily used as a bareback horse the last few years, leaving Thurston a little unsure of what the face-off would bring. It turned out to be a great decision as he had a 91-point trip to hold off Ben Andersen and Dawson Hay who tied at 177.5 in the aggregate. “I just decided I needed something that was going to have a little wow factor to it,” Thurston said. “There were three or four bareback horses that were in there and we haven’t really seen them in the bronc riding much, but they’re outstanding barebacks, so I picked one of them.”

(Unofficial as of Aug. 8) 1. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont.......... ......... $44,730 $44,730 2. Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo...................... .....................42,450 3. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo.................. . ................40,122 4. Ben T. Andersen, Eckville, Alberta.......... ..........37,305 5. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta............ ............34,363 6. Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M.................. .................33,291 7. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta......... . ........27,981 8. Lefty Holman, Visalia, Calif.................... ...................27,038 9. Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta........... ...........26,968 10. Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D........................ .......................26,164 11. Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta............. .............24,866 12. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas................. .................24,733 13. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah .............. . .............24,045 14. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho.................. . .................23,746 15. Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La................. . ...............21,446 Complete results/Page 75 PRCA XTREME BRONCS 2024 TOUR STANDINGS

Billie-Jean Duff photo Zeke Thurston put together an 87-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Amazon Hills to kick off the Hardgrass Bronc Match. Thurston won the event with 178 points on two head.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/9/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 8/9/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

46

47