ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

TIE-DOWN ROPING WORLD CHAMPION

Riley Webb won Round 3 with a blistering 6.9-second time. It was his lone round win during his first world championship season. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Roseanna Sales

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Click Thompson

Mission Accomplished

Shad Mayfield accomplished the feat in 2020. “I drew a great calf (in Round 10) and just knew that I needed to hold my spot down. “It actually took me longer than I was hoping, with it being my longest time of the week,” said Webb, the 2022 Resistol Rookie of the Year. “Thankfully, I had a great year and a great showing at the NFR, so I didn’t have to go out and win the round to make it happen. All the runs and the miles we traveled throughout the year put me in that position and I’m so grateful.” It was quite the second trip to the NFR for Webb after he wrapped up last year 10th in the world standings. This time around, he pocketed $63,889 for finishing second in the average with 82.9 seconds on 10 head. That included him placing in five out of the 10 rounds and winning Round 3 outright with a 6.9-second run.

In total, Webb wrapped up the 2023 season atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $452,852. He was able to hold off hard-charging Haven Meged, who finished second in the world standings with $411,263 and won the average with an NFR-record 77.4 seconds on 10 head. “Honestly, it hasn’t even sunk in yet. I’m just blessed to be in this situation at 20-years-old,” Webb said. “I’m so fortunate to have this support system from my family to the horses that have made this dream come true. I’m so grateful.” Webb’s year-end total is a new PRCA single-season tie-down roping record, shattering the previous mark of $374,737, set by four-time world champion Caleb Smidt a season ago. At the NFR alone, Webb earned $172,446, the second highest among tie-down ropers.

Riley Webb captures first world title in record-breaking fashion

BY TANNER BARTH T ie-down roper Riley Webb’s record-breaking 2023

from Denton, Texas, delivered what was maybe not the fastest run of his career, but the most important up to this point. Webb clocked a 10.9-second time in Round 10 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to clinch the coveted gold buckle, the first of his young ProRodeo career. He becomes the youngest tie-down roper to capture a world title since

ProRodeo season added one last memorable chapter on Dec. 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. With the pressure of 2019 PRCA World Champion Haven Meged nipping on his heels headed into the final round, the always calm 20-year-old

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

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