ProRodeo Sports News - August 19, 2022

SIKESTON, MO.

JAYCEE BOOTHEEL RODEO Duvall keeps season alive with victory Final Push

BY PATRICK EVERSON, Special to ProRodeo Sports News F or Riley Duvall, there’s just something about Sikeston, a small town tucked into southeast Missouri. Even during what’s become a tough season, the 30-year-old steer wrestler had a good feeling while heading to the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo fromAug. 10-13. “I’ve had a lot of good luck there,” said Duvall, who’s been on the PRCA tour since 2010. “I don’t hardly ever miss Sikeston. I’ve won money almost every year I’ve been there.” And 2022 was no different. Duvall ran both of his steers on Thursday, one in slack and one in the nightly performance, and he was nothing if not consistent. In slack, he clocked a 4.6-second run. A few hours later in his second go, he again turfed his steer in 4.6 seconds. The Sikeston Rodeo still had Friday and Saturday’s rounds, but Duvall left town with confidence that not only would he pocket go round money, but also potentially win the two-round average. “I kind of had it figured out that there were two guys fast enough to catch me, but when we left, I felt like I’d definitely win first or second,” Duvall said. One of the bulldoggers he was most concerned about was Wade Steffen. And rightly so, as Steffen went 4.7 and 5.0. But that wasn’t enough to overtake Duvall, who’s 9.2 total on two head netted first place in the average and a $2,681 check. Plus, Duvall nabbed $1,479 by taking second in the first round, and another $1,171 for third in the second round. “I’ve always liked Sikeston. The steers are always fresh, and the setup is a little different,” Duvall said. “The chutes are in the far-right corner. It’s kind of like a diamond, and there’s a ton of room to the left. If you don’t get a good start, it can be tricky. “But I like that setup. You need a good horse and a good hazer, and I had that. It’s a good catch-and-go throw-‘em-down bulldogging arena.” And once again, a money-winning arena. Duvall totaled $5,331 for his efforts. “And I definitely needed it,” he said. “Without Calgary, my summer has been pretty bleak. I’m pretty far behind.” Duvall made it to the Showdown in Calgary, taking third in that final round of four to pocket $7,500, along with $8,000 he won in the qualifying rounds. But the momentum didn’t carry over the past three weeks, until Sikeston. “I need a few more Sikestons to catch up,” said Duvall, currently 25th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings at $46,975. “I’m just going to try to win as much money as I can, so that if I don’t make it to the NFR, I’m not broke!” Duvall is a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, including last year, when he won $81,411 in Las Vegas to finish with a season total of $148,132, eighth in the world standings. The veteran understands what it took to get to the NFR in years past and what it’ll take to return this December. “I’ve been in this position before, so that kind of helps. Been there, done that, so we’ll dang sure see what happens,” he said. “Things have been getting better. I’m heading up to the northwest, and there’s a lot of money to be won there. I need to win about $15,000 in the next two to three weeks. “It’s game on. I’m ready to go.”

TOP MONEY EARNER Paul David TOP SCORES

Tierney ($6,828, tie-down roping and team roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Tierney

1. Wyatt Denny ......................... 90 pts. 2. Orin Larsen .................................. 88 3. Jayco Roper ................................. 87 STEER WRESTLING 1. Riley Duvall .................. 9.2 sec. on 2 2. Wade Steffen . ............................. 9.7 3. Joshua Hefner . ........................... 9.8 TEAM ROPING 1. Rahlmann/Rich .......... 11.2 sec. on 2 2. B. Buckaloo/J. Harrison ............ 11.3 3. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo . ...... 11.6 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Wade Sundell ..................... 87.5 pts. 2. Brody Cress ................................. 84 3. Sterling Crawley ........................ 83.5 (Tie) Jake Finlay ........................ 83.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Paul David Tierney ..... 18.5 sec. on 2 2. Jesse Hinkle . ............................ 19.1 3. Colt Papy .................................. 20.1 (Tie) Tom Crouse ...................... 20.1 BARREL RACING 1. Michelle Darling ............... 16.16 sec. 2. Kricket Gintner ........................ 16.19 3. Josey Owens . ......................... 16.20 BULL RIDING 1. Coy Pollmeier . ...................... 88 pts. 2. Dawson Gleaves . ...................... 87.5 3. Trey Holston . ............................ 86.5

Complete results/Page 60

Phillip Kitts photo

Veteran steer wrester Riley Duvall won the two-head average in Sikeston and departed town after earning $5,331.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/19/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 8/19/2022

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