PRORODEO Sports News - July 12, 2024

PONOKA, ALBERTA

Driggers/Nogueira pocketed $17,131 each in Ponoka, they both sit top 10 in their respective events in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

the herd. We just tried to put a good run together because we were second out.” “It was a really close team roping, a very aggressive team roping,” he added. “There’s no holding back here in the final four. First pays $7,500 and second is $3,750, so you try to go for the win. With two great teams behind us, we knew that we would have to just make the best run we could, put our names on the board, and then allow them to come and try to beat us, and not try to beat ourselves.” The famous Ponoka long score alley adds an extra challenge for all the timedevent contestants. “It’s a really cool setup,” said Nogueira. “So, you have a lot of adrenaline in your heart, beating so fast when you go down the arena. You don’t know if you’re gonna be late, or a little too early.” Both Texas based competitors acknowledged they wouldn’t have been able to get the victory without borrowed horsepower, which enabled them to fly in and out of Ponoka. For the qualifying runs, they used Riley and Brady Minor’s team of horses. But they had to look elsewhere for the final day. “Logan Bonnett let me ride his good horse, and that horse can really run,” said Driggers. Nogueira was especially grateful to fellow Showdown qualifier Trey

Yates. “Trey had a chance to win as high callback and he let me ride his good horse,” said Nogueira. “That’s true (rodeo) friendship, more like a family.” “In the final four, everybody roped great. We had a little bit stronger steer, but we had a blessed run, so I think we deserved it in the end, because it was kind of an aggressive run,” smiled Nogueira. The team wound up with a total of $17,131 apiece from Ponoka, which should give both a big boost from their current positions in the world standings, hovering around the tenth spot in their respective standings. “This is one of the big rodeos of the year,” said Driggers. “Anytime you can win a major, it’s just another notch in our career that we’re trying to prolong.” “It’s awesome,” added Nogueira. “Especially for me, coming from Brazil, all the way down south, to compete here all the way up north, so it’s pretty cool to get a win.” “But just to see the sport and the whole industry is amazing. We’re very thankful to be here. “It’s a special rodeo and for sure a markable win.” “It’s huge for us. Going into the Fourth of July, we’ll probably be going to six or seven rodeos over the next four or five days, so we’re going to be pretty tired. But to come off this win is going to give us a little energy,” said Driggers.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Zachary Dallas ..... 90.25 pts. 2. Kade Bruno ...................... 89 3. Zeke Thurston.............. 88.75

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Haven Meged ........... 7.8 sec. 2. Trevor Hale ..................... 9.7 3. Tuf Cooper .................... 10.6

BARREL RACING 1. Lindsay Sears ...... 17.47 sec. 2. Emily Beisel ................ 17.57 3. Bobbi Henderson ........ 17.59

BULL RIDING 1. J. Parsonage ... 172.5 pts. on 2* 2. Grady Young ............. 167.25 *No qualified rides in finals, Parsonage crowned champion as average winner

Complete results/Page 95

ProRodeo Sports News 7/12/2024

ProRodeo.com

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