ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

SADDLE BRONC AVERAGE WINNER

Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston split the Round 8 win, above, with an 87.5-point trip on Frontier Rodeo’s Yellowstone. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Hailey Rae

O Canada BY TRACY RENCK T here was nothing average about Zeke Thurston’s performance at the 2023 Wrangler NFR. That’s because for the third time in his decorated career he won the NFR average crown. Thurston, who is now a four-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider after the 2023 NFR, has won the NFR average three times – 2016, 2022 and 2023. Thurston won his latest NFR average with 863 points on 10 head. He was consistently outstanding winning four rounds – Round 1 (86.5 points on Legacy Pro Rodeo’s Vein Reflections), Round 5 (Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies), Round 8 (86.5 on Frontier Rodeo’s Yellowstone) and Round 9 (88.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Zaka Kibitiz). He placed sixth or better in eight of the 10 rounds. Thurston joins fellow three-time NFR saddle bronc average winners in Kenny McLean (1964, 1968, and 1971) and Tom Miller (1975, 1979 and 1981). Only Monty Henson (1976, 1982, 1984, and 1985), and Rod Warren (1998, 2003-2005) have won

Zeke Thurston claims third NFR average crown

more saddle bronc NFR average titles at four. “I just had to go ride my broncs, each and every one of them,” Thurston said. “Consistency is the key, but you have to ace everyone that they draw you regardless of what kind of horse it is. I feel like I was able to accomplish that this week.” Thurston, who was making his ninth NFR appearance came in fourth in the world standings. In the last two NFRs 2022 and 2023, Thurston has been nothing short of amazing, winning six total rounds and placing in 17 of 20 NFR Rounds. The success of Thurston in Vegas came on the heels of him winning his fourth consecutive Canadian Professional Rodeo world championship in November. That win etched Thurston into the Canadian pro rodeo record books, as the first to win four consecutive saddle bronc championships, surpassing the three each won by Kenny McLean and Rod Hay. The past two years at the NFR, Thurston walked away with double glory – world championships and average championships – and earned $256,078 and $234,437 in 2022 and 2023 at the NFR.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

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