ProRodeo Sports News - August 10, 2018

at 79 rodeos.

“I rodeoed hard last year and was 53rd and I

went half the year,” Rudd said.

With a single rodeo in Cheyenne, Rudd jumped from 56th to 23rd in the world standings with $40,015. “That was the most nervous bulldogging I’ve had in my life,” Rudd said. “I knew I had a good chance and everything came together. I had a really good horse from Jeff Green, who has been hazing for me, and we drew two good steers.” Rudd was riding Green’s 15-year-old American Quarter Horse, Ike, in Cheyenne and has been riding him since Rodeo Austin (Texas) in March. “He fits every setup and will let you win and is just a great horse,” Rudd said. “When Jeff is hazing like he does, it feels great. And when I draw well, you’ll win no matter what.” Green has owned Ike for a year. The horse is proving to be worth the investment.

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Cress wins saddle bronc for second straight year Brody Cress became the first saddle bronc rider in 82 years to win Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days two years in a row. “It’s dang sure just as special as last year, and to do it back-to-back is really special,” the 22-year-old said. No other saddle bronc rider had won the “Daddy of ‘emAll” in consecutive years since Turk Greenough in 1935-36. “It’s outstanding to win it twice and with how much history is behind it,” Cress said. Cress grew up just down the road fromCheyenne inHillsdale. Getting back to his hometown rodeo roots reminded Cress of how far he’s come. He ended 2016 ranked 98th before winning Cheyenne en route to qualifying for his firstWrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2017, where he won the average. Cress won the 2017 Cheyenne rodeo with 256 points on three head and did it again in 2018 with 252.5 points. “It’s outstanding and it’s a rodeo I’ve been coming to since I was a kid,” Cress said. “When riding against the best guys in the world, it’s special.” Cress won the first round with an 88-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Utopia and placed third in the final round with an 86 to win the average and take home $13,123. “It’s awesome to draw good horses and that second one was tough,” Cress said. “The one today (for the final round) I was happy to have, so I was relaxed today, and that’s how you win big rodeos with high-pressure situations.” Unfortunately, a week later Cress broke his ankle at the Home on the Range Champions Ride in Sentinel Butte, N.D. Cress is expected to be out at least 10 weeks, yet should be ready for the Finals in December. (Story on p. 16.) He’s no stranger to success outside of his hometown rodeo, and now his goals are higher than ever. “I won a lot here last year and it got me into the NFR,” Cress said. “This will give a chance to win the world title.” He wasn’t exaggerating. Winning Cheyenne bumped Cress from third to second in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $112,338, as of Aug. 6. “It helps keep the momentum going,” Cress said before the injury. –Matt Naber

“He’s green, and he is getting better and scores good and is just a good-natured horse,” Green said, adding that Ike was originally a team roping horse. Rudd placed second in the first round with a 6.1-second run in a field loaded withWrangler National Finals Rodeo cowboys and past world champions. “I was content after the first one,” Rudd said. “Honestly, I know those guys and have bulldogged against them and looked up to them for years.” He repeated the feat in the second round, placing second with an 8.0-second run. It created enough of a lead in the average to alleviate some of the pressure for the final round. Rudd didn’t jump into the final round completely blind. He saw his final steer during slack when Nick Guy had drawn the same steer. “I knew he ran left and I knew I would have to run him down,” Rudd said. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing in the Cheyenne arena. “I was in a bind because I knocked him down at first, but I was relieved when doing the math in my head,” Rudd said. Rudd placed fifth in the final round with a 9.9-second run to win the average by more than a second with 24.0 seconds on three head. “It’s hard to say how you determine it, he needed a big win and it happened at a good time,” Green said. This year was Rudd’s third trip to Cheyenne. “I missed the short round at 15th or 16th the first time, and last year I didn’t get one down at all, and I was like, ‘Well, back to the drawing board,’” Rudd said. “The steers (at Cheyenne) are so strong, but they are small. I drew two good ones and another today. It was awesome.” Cheyenne wasn’t Rudd’s only win this season. He also won the Mid Winter Fair & Rodeo in Lafayette, La., in January, the Lakeside (Calif.) Rodeo in April, and the Lehi (Utah) Roundup in June. Despite the wins and entering 57 rodeos, Rudd was only 56th in the world standings with $15,824 before winning Cheyenne. “I think he has enough talent to make the National Finals,” Green said.

Now Rudd is all in, and his efforts are showing. “It makes everything a lot easier,” Rudd said.

BULL RIDING 1. Ruger Piva ................ 252 pts. on three 2. J.W. Harris ..................................... 250 3. Trevor Kastner ............................ 238.5 4. Eli Vastbinder ................. 176.5 on two Complete results on Page 63

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shane Hanchey ....... 34.9 sec. on three 2. Ryan Watkins ............................... 36.0 3. (tie) Sterling Smith........................ 36.6 Scott Kormos ............................... 36.6

BARREL RACING 1. Nellie Miller .......... 53.21 sec. on three 2. Stevi Hillman .............................. 53.26 3. Lisa Lockhart .............................. 53.28 4. Jackie Ganter .............................. 53.54

STEER ROPING 1. Brodie Poppino ....... 46.4 sec. on three 2. Kenyon Burns ............................... 51.1 3. Cody Scheck ................................. 57.5 4. Tuf Cooper ........................ 29.7 on two

ProRodeo Sports News 8/10/2018

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