ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

BULL RIDING WORLD CHAMPION

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Click Thompson

Ky Hamilton surprised everybody when he came back from being knocked out in Round 5 to splitting third the next day in Round 6 with his 85.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics Love The Grind Bouchon.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Courageous

bull riding world champion. To come over here and get that done, it’s just the icing on the cake.” Hamilton joins ProRodeo Hall of Famers Dave Appleton (all-around, 1988) and Glen O’Neill (saddle bronc riding, 2002) as the only native Australians to win PRCA World Championships. Hamilton had a drama-packed NFR for the ages on the way to his inaugural world championship. He wasn’t supposed to compete in Round 6 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on the morning of Dec. 13 – until he did. Just 16 hours after losing consciousness and suffering a concussion when he was bucked off in Round 5, Hamilton was back in the yellow bucking chutes, for Round 6, and winning money. Hamilton split third in Round 6 with his 85.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Love The

Grind’s Bouchon. Hamilton was knocked out during his ride aboard Honeycutt Rodeo’s Bales Hay’s MAGA during Round 5. Hamilton, who smacked heads with the bull, was sent to University Medical Center Trauma Center in Las Vegas for evaluation and observation. That was just the opening act for Hamilton. In Round 7, Hamilton claimed the victory with an 88-point ride on Duane Kesler’s Alberta Prime Devil’s Advocate. He also was the lone rider during the evening performance – earning him a $99,053 payday in Round 7. “It’s been (tough) but it’s been fun. Sure, getting knocked out is not fun but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” Hamilton said. “I grew up idolizing cowboys and surrounding myself with bull riders who are cowboys, and it was just another day for me.”

Hamilton fights through injury to win world title

BY TRACY RENCK T he bull riding competition at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge for all intents and purposes was a heart-pounding, feel-good documentary about Ky Hamilton. After overcoming his share of adversity, Hamilton walked out of the Thomas & Mack Center with two gold buckles for the PRCA World Championship and NFR Average title.

Hamilton finished atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $595,414 and clinched his first career PRCA World Championship on Dec. 15. Hamilton, who is a native of Mackay, Australia, is the first Australian to capture a PRCA Bull Riding World Championship. He also set the single season bull riding mark, breaking Stetson Wright’s mark of $592,144 in 2022. “It means everything. That’s what I came over here to do. By the time I started riding when I was 12, I told everyone that all I wanted to do was be a

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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