PRORODEO Sports News - July 12, 2024

TOP TIMED-EVENT WINNER

BY ALEX DODD T y Harris ran away with the single-event Cowboy Christmas earnings record last season with a whopping $40,561. Before 2023, the tie-down roper had never won more than $7,500 during the lucrative stretch in his PRORODEO career. From July 1-8, Harris proved that last year’s record-setting mark wasn’t an apparition. The five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier competed at 10 rodeos in nine states and two countries and racked up $49,550 to one-up his Cowboy Christmas record. “It just worked out the last two years in a row,” Harris told the ProRodeo Sports News . “I’ve been blessed to run the right calves at the right time, and it worked out.” The performance helped Harris tighten his grip on second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $121,529. Harris hoped to kickstart the Cowboy Christmas run with solid runs at the Ponoka Stampede in Alberta, Canada, from June 25 through July 1. He missed the finals in Ponoka, but it worked out in his favor. “I was pretty upset with myself for not doing well at Ponoka,” Harris said. “In the second one, I really made a big mistake. During the Ponoka finals, I went to Mandan in case I didn’t make it back and got the win there. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to make St. Paul, where I won $9,000, if would’ve been in the Ponoka finals.” Harris pocketed more than $5,000 at each of the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede, the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede), the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz., the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo and the Independence Day Rodeo in Oakley City, Utah. “The way it worked out, it’s the Lord’s plan,” Harris said. “It’s already been written, and I’m just blessed to get to live it. And what a way it is to live.” When Harris set the record last season, he bested all-time great Trevor Brazille and Ty Murray to etch his name in the PRORODEO record books. The 25-year-old from San Angelo, Texas, acknowledged that it’s an honor to have his name above theirs, but said the amount of Cowboy Christmas money has changed drastically over the last few years. “So, it’s honestly like comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan. You can’t really do it,” Harris said. “But to compete against the greats like I do day in and day-out in this era is pretty awesome. Hopefully, I can make many, many more, but I’m enjoying every single one that I get a chance to hold. Ty Harris bests his own Cowboy Christmas mark

Record Breaker

TOP TIMED-EVENT 1. Ty Harris ................................. $49,550 2. Kaleb Driggers ........................ $47,290 T2. Junior Nogueira .................... $47,290 4. Shane Hanchey ....................... $36,621 5. Dalton Massey ....................... $35,067 6. Haven Meged ......................... $34,159 7. Jake Pratt ............................... $22,400 8. Cyle Denison .......................... $21,038 T8. Tanner Braden ..................... $21,038 10. Quade Hiatt .......................... $20,895 11. Jonathan Torres .................... $20,864 T11. Nelson Wyatt ...................... $20,864 13. Kincade Henry ...................... $20,442 14. Trevor Hale ............................. $19,782 15. Dustin Bird ............................. $19,514 T15. Jeremy Buhler ...................... $19,514

John Golom photo Ty Harris captured four rodeo wins over the Cowboy Christmas run. His 7.4-second run in Oakley City, Utah, on July 3 earned him $6,275. COWBOY CHRISTMAS

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