ProRodeo Sports News - April 16, 2021

The tie-down roping differential between third and 20th was $20,856. Bull riding, often an outlier because of ground money counting toward the world standings and because the rodeo count is unlimited, had a separation of $28,617 between third and 20th. The largest difference between third and 20th was in saddle bronc riding, where $31,787 separated the gap. Naturally, the chasm between the top 20 and breaking into the Top 15 is drastically less. That means the season is wide open, especially with so many rodeos expected during the next five months. With more rodeos taking place, the talent likely will spread out more, leaving fewer top-named cowboys at the same rodeo. “I think it’s going to help your confidence because you get to compete against some guys (not in the top 20,” said tie-down roper Zack Jongbloed, who is No. 20 in the standings and like Antonick looking to make his first Wrangler NFR. “At every rodeo at this level, they don’t mess up. You have to bring your best performance every time. I’m looking forward to them (rodeos) opening up again.” PLENTY TO GO AROUND

Photo by Hailey Rae

Jongbloed, Antonick and Brenten Hall were all on their way to the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up when they spoke. Hall is looking to make his third consecutive NFR qualification. The team roping header was ninth in the standings as of April 13. He and heeling partner Chase Tryan are pleased how the season has unfolded. “I think we’ve done pretty well,” Hall said. “We’ll be able to go to everything, the bigger rodeos that are going to open up. We’re in a good spot since we’re in the top 10 right now. If we just hold our own and keep winning, we’ll be in good shape.” Hall and Tryan have also had to consider their rodeo count. “We only went to a few small rodeos and circuit rodeos in the fall,” Hall said. “We’ve been trying to go to bigger rodeos and hoping that this summer there will be more big rodeos to go to. …We didn’t want to use up all our rodeos before the summer.” Jongbloed hasn’t had to worry about rodeo count. He’s also added a new horse, Glass, to join his trusty mare, Stony. “It’s been hit and miss (this season),” Jongbloed said. “I had good luck at the beginning and hit a dry spell the last month or so. Hopefully things are getting ready to kick off again.” When rodeo has been slow, Antonick has been going hard at woodworking, so much so that he can’t catch up to an ever- expanding list of requests. “It’s been really good,” he said. “I thought it would’ve slowed down during the pandemic, but it doesn’t seem that’s been the case at all.”

Above, Zack Jongbloed runs a calf at the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede, July 10, 2020. At left, team roping heeler Brenten Hall competes during Round 5 of the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 7. Both cowboys are in the hunt at the midway point of the 2021 season to make this year’s Wrangler NFR.

ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

ProRodeo Sports News 4/16/2021

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