PRORODEO Sports News - July 2, 2026

SHORT ROUND

bit at the Texas Circuit rodeos and placed well at Corpus Christi and placed a bunch at some spring rodeos.” Thorp said Tomlinson’s aggressiveness caters to his skill set as a heeler. “Tanner’s pretty aggressive, pretty fast, but he handles them well and has quite a bit of rhythm in the runs,” Thorp said. “So, I just feel like that part has gone well. It hasn’t been a huge transition.” Thorp’s familiarity with Tomlinson made his decision to partner with him easy. The two have been friends for years, often competing against one another on some of PRORODEO’s biggest stages. Like Thorp, Tomlinson is no stranger to success under rodeo’s brightest lights. In 2022, Tomlinson qualified for his first NFR along side partner Patrick Smith. The duo placed in seven rounds, winning a then-record $199,727 in Las Vegas. Tomlinson/Smith’s record of 53 seconds on 10 head earned them the NFR average title that year and a second-place finish in the world standings. That mark remains the NFR average record. Tomlinson, who is currently No. 4 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford Team Roping Header World Standings, part nered with Coleby Payne to start the season, winning the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colo., and Rodeo Austin (Texas). Thorp is currently No. 25 in the world for heelers. He and Tomlinson plan on competing at some of the biggest upcoming summer rodeos to make up ground. “I think the main thing is just get in everywhere we can that makes sense and try to get on a roll,” Thorp said. “He had a bunch of money won prior to us starting to rope. I was at the bottom of the barrel. I didn’t have any money won. “So, I’ve caught up a little bit the last month and a half, but I’m still climbing the ladder.”

They tied for Forrest Fisher/Daniel Braman IV for the first-round win with a 4.1-second run. They had a strong spring and recently picked up their first victory as a team at the Woodward (Okla.) Elks Ro deo after a 4.6-second outing. “We had a good spring,” Thorp said. “We won quite a

92 The number of points awarded to bareback rider Cole Reiner for his ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Outta Hand to win Vernal’s (Utah) Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo. The mark set a new arena record.

4 The number of Resistol Rookie bull riders currently in position to finish in the Top 15 and compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for the first time. Noah Lee (3), Hayden Welsh (4), John Crimber (6) and Braxton Whitesell (12) have taken bull riding by storm.

6 The number of PRORODEO Playoff Series rodeos that come to an end on the Fourth of July. Celebrations are expected to take place at all six events; St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo; Cody (Wyo.) Stampede; Livingston (Mont.) Round up; Oakley Independence Day Rodeo in Oakley City, Utah; Basin City (Wash.) Freedom Rodeo; and Mandan (N.D.) Rodeo Days.

July 2, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 49