ProRodeo Sports News - April 29, 2022

SAN ANGELO RODEO SAN ANGELO, TEXAS

BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK

Begay, Todd nab crown Veteran team ropers Derrick Begay and Colter Todd teamed up for the San Angelo Rodeo and the result was a victory. Begay/Todd clocked a 12.8-second time to win three-head average. The duo clinched the average crown with a 3.9 second winning time in the finals. Begay and Todd each earned $9,246 for their performance in San Angelo – $7,810 for winning the average. “This is a big rodeo,” said Begay, who has been roping in the PRCA since 2004. “To get a win her is dang sure one of my bigger accomplishments. I have been coming, I believe every year since 2008.” Leaving town with more than $9,000 was a welcomed by Begay, a nine-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, including in 2021. “I was on airplane ride over to San Angelo and I think I have about $4,400 invested just in this rodeo (in San Angelo) to make it work. I thought I’m going to need something (April 15). “ San Angelo is a good enough rodeo that people would do what I did just to make it here. We didn’t win any money in the rounds, but luckily, we did good (on April 15). “There’s a lot that goes into to trying to make these rodeos so I’m glad it worked out the way it did here in San Angelo.” Todd is someone who Begay has roped sparingly with in recent years. Todd has competed on a limited basis in the PRCA since qualifying for the Wrangler NFR three consecutive years from 2006-2008 roping with Cesar de la Cruz. Begay and De La Cruz roped together for years, highlighted by their qualifications to the NFR in 2009 2013.

Toby Collins has been chasing the ProRodeo dream since 2015, with the hopes of one day being able to call himself a world champion. Over those eight seasons he has competed in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. It’s on the back of a bull where he’s found the most success, especially in 2022. Collins’ latest accomplishment came with winning the bull riding title at San Angelo. The Australia native, secured the win with 166.5 points on two head. In the finals, he was the only cowboy to ride with an 86-point ride on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Dj Casper. “I got on that bull before at the (RAM) Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in the final round back in January,” said Collins, 29. “He made pretty short work of me there I’m not going to lie, so I knew what I was in for. He’s a really good little bull.” Before San Angelo, Collins had spent the past month at home recovering after getting dinged up earlier in the spring. He said there was no better feeling than being back out there competing again and finding success was a cherry on top. “I was excited just to be getting on here, my body had pretty sore the last couple of weeks and I’ve sat at home,” he said. “We bucked a practice bull at the house last week before I came here, and I felt pretty good. So, just being able to be back riding I was excited, and this is win is just a bonus on top of that.” Collins has already won more money this season than any of his previous eight years. His recent success has bumped him inside the Top 15 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings. He said while he knows there’s plenty of rodeo left to go, he has his eyes on making his first trip to the Wrangler NFR. “That’s the dream, the goal, and everything I work towards,” Collins said. Toby Collins takes crown in bull riding Australian Toby Collins collected one of the biggest wins of his career when he took home the crown at the San Angelo Rodeo.

Ric Andersen photos

Rodeo success has been commonplace for steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge in his career. The Elko, Nev., native has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo eight times – 2013-17, 2019 21 and won the NFR average twice in 2015 and 2017. Eldridge is eyeing trip No. 9 to the NFR, and he took a step in that direction by winning the average at the San Angelo Rodeo with an 11.1-second time on three head. Eldridge clinched the win with his 3.5-second effort April 15 before a sellout crowd at the Foster Communications Coliseum. “Oh man, this feels awesome,” Eldridge said. “It feels really good when you can come down here and do your job. This kind of still feels like a winter rodeo to me even though it is spring now.” Eldridge departed San Angelo after earning $12,379, including $9,354 for capturing the average. The rodeo was a stop on the NFR Playoff Series presented by PendletonWhisky. “This is huge boost to a guy’s confidence and a huge boost financially, and I can’t thank the San Angelo (rodeo) committee enough for making this one of the best rodeos out there.” Eldridge said. “This gives me a lot of confidence to keep things rolling.” Eldridge, who was riding Clayton Hass’ standout horse Benz, has been in numerous high-pressure moments in the arena in his career and he welcomes the challenge. “I crave them,” Eldridge said about high stakes runs. “This is what we do for a living. When I get to the short round, the hard part is done. (In the short round), I just get to go out there and have fun and do my job and let it all hang out and make the best run I can.” Eldridge entered April 15 just outside the Top 20 in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings and climbed up near the top five in the standings after his performance in San Angelo. A year ago, Eldridge finished 11th in the world standings with $131,409. He finished a career-best second in the world standings in 2015. Eldridge gets key win Heeler Colter Todd, left, and header Derrick Begay stopped the clocked in 3.9 seconds in the finals.

Steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge won the San Angelo Rodeo and earned $12,379. Eldridge is trying to qualify for his ninth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/29/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 4/29/2022

ProRodeo.com

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