ProRodeo Sports News | 2020 Year-End Edition | Dec.18, 2020

BAREBACK RIDING AVERAGE WINNER

Bareback rider Jess Pope left a mark at his Wrangler NFR debut, winning the average with 853 points on 10 head. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

A Bareback Blessing

Pope has sparkling Wrangler NFR debut

BY TRACY RENCK J ess Pope had never competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. That was hard to imagine considering the way the 22-year-old performed at the 2020Wrangler NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Pope finished third in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $220,029 on the strength of winning the average, which garnered him $67,269. He won the average with 853 points on 10 head. He earned $170,417 at the Finals, seventh most of any contestant at the 2020Wrangler NFR. Pope entered Arlington in 11th place in the standings. “This is pretty awesome,” Pope said. “I lived and dreamed of this my whole life. I had a goal coming in here to just take it one horse at a time and to ride to the very best of my ability and be as consistent as I could possibly be. God’s plan worked out the way I wanted it to, and here we are. It worked out great, and I’m so excited.” Pope placed in six rounds and won Round 8 with an 89-point ride on

Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies. He also split second in Round 1 with an 87-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s WilliamWallace and took second outright in Round 10 with an 89.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped. “I have ridden these horses all year long and rode against these guys all year long,” Pope said. “All 15 of these guys had the chance to win, and it worked out for me. I showed up, did my job and I drew good. “You have to trust your instincts because if you start thinking about it while you’re riding, you’re going to get behind. It’s all off muscle memory, and that’s what we train for day in and day out, getting on the spur board and the bucking machine, so we can get on these types of horses.” Pope, who lives inWaverly, Kan., already has plans on how he is going to spend some of his NFR winnings. “I’m going to buy some more land and cows,” Pope said. “I’m in God’s country.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/18/2020

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