ProRodeo Sports News - April 1, 2022

HOUSTON, TEXAS

RODEO HOUSTON

Striking Paydirt

Cure wins his first RodeoHouston title BY TANNER BARTH H unter Cure has won his fair share of rodeos over his 18-year ProRodeo career, which includes two PRCA Steer Wrestling World Championships (2013,2015). But it’s a stop in Texas that has always slipped by the veteran, that all changed on March 19 at NRG Stadium. Cure was able to wrap up his first RodeoHouston title with a 4.0-second run in the Championship Shootout, edging out Tanner Brunner (4.6 seconds). He said it’s a rodeo he’s had success at before but could never finish the job until 2022. “I feel like Houston has always been the one rodeo that’s always eluded me for whatever reason,” said Cure, 38. “When COVID hit a couple years ago I had already competed in my opening sets and had won my Super Series. I had all the pieces in place to give it a great attempt that year, it felt as good as ever then I felt like COVID kind of pulled the rug out from underneath me. “So, being able to return there and win it this year was a great feeling. I didn’t feel like I was even going to make a run towards the NFR this year. I was just going to rodeo enough to sell horses and step away. This has really changed the outlook on my year.” Cure was able to walk out of Houston with $57,000. The payday bumped him from outside the top 100 to No.1 spot in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, but he’s still unsure if he’ll continue rodeoing in 2022. “Honestly, I don’t know yet,” he said. “I only planned on rodeoing through this month and was hoping to sell horses. I really didn’t have intentions to rodeo this summer. “So, I feel like that’s something that has to be decided as a family and not so much as an individual. I’ve spent a good portion of my life and my kids’ entire lives chasing this down the highway.” The Holliday, Texas, cowboy, has been rodeoing in the PRCA since 2005. He said if this is indeed the end of the line for his rodeo career it is a journey he’s enjoyed. “There’s certainly a wealth of friends and great memories made along the way,” Cure said. “There’s also been my fair share of disappointments. Stepping away is inevitable, but perhaps this delays it a bit, we will see.”

TOP MONEY WINNER Stetson Wright TOP SCORES

($73,750, saddle bronc riding and bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Wright

1. Jess Pope ............................. 89 pts. 2. Rocker Steiner ............................. 88 3. R.C. Landingham ......................... 87 STEER WRESTLING 1. Hunter Cure ........................ 4.0 sec. 2. Tanner Brunner ........................... 4.6 3. Timmy Sparing . ........................ 14.1 TEAM ROPING 1. Clay Tryan/Jake Long .......... 6.4 sec. 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill ............... 9.3 3. Two tied ...................................... NT SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Sage Newman ....................... 93 pts. 2. Wyatt Casper . .............................. 90 3. Stetson Wright ............................. 88 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. John Douch . ....................... 7.7 sec. 2. Tyler Milligan .............................. 8.2 3. Tuf Cooper .................................. 8.3 BARREL RACING 1. Jordon Briggs ................. 14.33 sec. 2. Kassie Mowry ......................... 14.55 3. Hailey Kinsel ........................... 14.80 BULL RIDING 1. Stetson Wright ...................... 93 pts. 2. Three tied .................................... NS

Photo courtesy RodeoHouston

Complete results/Page 52

Hunter Cure was a model of consistency at RodeoHouston, clocking a 4.0-second run in the championship round to take home $50,000.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/1/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 4/1/2022

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