ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

BULL RIDING AVERAGE WINNER

Bull rider Ky Hamilton gets a hug from bullfighter Dusty Tuckness after making a ride at the Wrangler NFR. Hamilton won the average with 514.5 points on six head. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Memorable BY TRACY RENCK A fter the 2023 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge – no one could doubt the grit and toughness of bull rider Ky Hamilton. The Australian bull rider overcame a severe wreck in Round 5, where he was knocked unconscious and amazingly regrouped to star in Round 6 and Round 7, which catapulted him to the coveted PRCA World Championship and NFR average, both were firsts in his career. Hamilton, who was making his fourth appearance at the NFR, won the average with 514.5 points on six head and became the first Australian to do so since Greg Potter of Ridgelands, Queensland, Australia, accomplished the feat with 502.5 points on six head in 2003. Hamilton failed to make the whistle in Round 8. He was given a re-ride in Round 9 – which he took as the first bull out in Round 10 on Dec. 16 and was bucked off – he clinched the world crown based on how things folded in Round 9. No bull rider in the field could surpass Hamilton atop the world standings even if a cowboy was the lone rider in Round 10 ($99,053) and won the average ($78,747).

Hamilton was bucked off Championship Pro Rodeo’s Dark Thoughts as his re-ride bull from Round 9 and then he was scheduled as the last rider out for Round 10 aboard Rafter G Rodeo’s Western Haulers Hurricane but opted not to take the ride. Hamilton won three rounds total at the 2023 Wrangler NFR – Round 1 with his 86.5-point ride aboard Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Theodore and Round 4 with an 89-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Fred and Round 7 an 88-point ride on Duane Kesler’s Alberta Prime Devil’s Advocate. He also was the lone rider in Round 7 – earning him a $99,053 payday. In total, Hamilton earned $114,654 for his 16 seconds of work in Round 6 and Round 7. “The doctors pretty much told me I couldn’t get any worse by getting on and riding a bull, so to me, that was a green light,” Hamilton said. “What happened (Dec. 12) night is behind me. There is no future in the past and I knew I had two great bulls to ride (Dec. 13). I just figured I would go and do my job.” In Round 7, Hamilton made more history as he and saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan became the first Australians to win rounds on the same night at the NFR. Clutch Hamilton nabs first bull riding average crown

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

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