PRORODEO Sports News - July 26, 2024

CALGARY STAMPEDE

Landingham takes title with electric 94-point ride Calgary Stampede photo by Covy Moore R.C. Landingham put together the highest marked ride of the Calgary Stampede with a 94-point trip on C5 Rodeo’s legendary horse Virgil.

For the second time in three months, the matchup lived up to its hype – except this time it was on an even bigger stage. Bareback rider R.C. Landingham had an electric 94-point ride on C5 Rodeo’s legendary horse Virgil to capture the coveted Calgary Stampede title July 14 before a crowd of 20,000-plus spectators at GMC Stadium. “People said the last time I got on (Virgil) he just had a nice trip,” said Landingham, who won the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up in April with 92.5-point ride on Virgil. “(Sunday), he sure bucked hard and tested me a lot more and I just kept gassing it. I knew if I got to the whistle we were going to win first.” Landingham, 33, cherished the moment of winning the Calgary Stampede for the first time in his career and collecting the $50,000 first place check. “This is awesome,” he said. “I’m really proud of the young guys who come and get this win early in their careers, but it has taken me 15 years and I’m just so happy to be able to take that bronze home. This win means the world to me. It is a huge blessing.” The Calgary Stampede, known as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, is a $1.85-million rodeo and Landingham knew he needed to write his name into the Calgary Stampede history books when he chose Virgil in the Final Four Sudden Death Round.

“That horse has a personality, and I could tell he had a little something different on his mind (Sunday),” Landingham said. “I knew he was going to be a handful and anytime you get on a horse like that you are giving 110 percent. It was dang sure a hard one to get by and you know when you get by him, you’re going to win first. You can’t ever miss out on an opportunity to take him. I knew about halfway across that we had some big numbers coming.” Landingham, a four-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2016-17 and 2021-22, was one point away from tying the Calgary Stampede bareback riding record of 95 points set by Davey Shields Jr. in 2005. “I’m not really a guy who likes to be out in the public, but it was pretty cool to stand up there and be the center of attention for a second,” Landingham said. Landingham was the last rider out in the Showdown Round thanks to winning the semifinal round earlier in the day with an 89-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery. “It is kind of cool, I’m one of the oldest bareback riders going now and I got on Special Delivery in the (semifinals) earlier (Sunday) and that is one of the oldest bareback horses and then to get on Virgil, who is another one of the oldest bareback horses, I guess there’s some good in the old guys still,” Landingham said.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo.com

44