ProRodeo Sports News - August 23, 2019

for everyone.”

and about $10,000 away from the Top 15 in the world standings. “When you’re rodeoing and going to those Tour rodeos, it’s the best guys in the world,” Hibler said. “You have to step your game up if you want to be successful, so competing against themmade me better.”

With 16 years of ProRodeo experience, the Oklahoma cowboy knows the value of the Tour. He’s third in the Tour’s team roping heeling standings while ranked ninth in the world standings. As of Aug. 19, he was in a strong position to make his 11thWrangler NFR Qualification (2008, 2010-18).

TOUR FACTS • The Top 24 cowboys in the ProRodeo Tour standings from each event will compete for a payout of more than $300,000. Winners will be crowned Tour champions and all earnings will count toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings. • If a cowboy can sweep his event – win the first and second go rounds, the average, semifinals and final – he would win $14,890. • In 2018, of the 105 cowboys who competed at the Wrangler NFR, only eight did not qualify for last year’s Tour Finale. • Bareback riding and saddle bronc riding were the only events to have all Wrangler NFR qualifiers also qualify for the Tour Finale in Puyallup.* • Of the Top 15 in each event as of Aug. 19, 2019, there were nine cowboys not in the Top 24 of the ProRodeo Tour standings in their respective events. Bull riding had the most with three riders not in position to make Puyallup. * Saddle bronc rider Brody Cress qualified for the 2018 Tour Finale, however, he was injured and unable to compete in Puyallup.

BIG-MONEY RODEO

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE

At the 2018 Tour Finale, Duvall earned $10,540

About one-third of the Tour’s rodeos happen in

without placing in the semifinals or finals.

August, so it’s a mad dash to the finish line.

“I think I was 16th before it and then I was 11th (after), so that took a lot of pressure off for the month of September,” Duvall said. “Getting that kind of money at the end of the year sure is handy.” Duvall is in a similar position now, so the large payout is what he’s looking forward to the most. “I’m still 11th in the standings, so if I could sneak out with $8,000 to $12,000 that would sure help out this time of the year,” Duvall said. “There’s nowhere else in September that you can win that much money.” Normally, a $12,000 goal would seem unrealistically high, but not at the ProRodeo Tour Finale, as heeler Graves and his heading partner Clay Tryan won $12,784 at last year’s Tour Finale. “That’s the biggest rodeo in the fall when things are winding down, so it’s nice to do good there,” Graves said. “Anytime there’s big money to be won you want to be part of it and have a chance to compete for it.” A big win at the Tour Finale could be a career- changing – and life-changing – experience for any ProRodeo athlete. “All of the Tour rodeos have the most money and are big, so if you do well at those and qualify for the Tour Finale, you’re probably doing good in the other standings, and that will make a difference in the other standings in December,” Hibler said. “The horses are always great, and you have an opportunity to win on whatever you get. If you do your part, you will be at the pay window.”

“We’re going to three this week, three next week and I guess about three every week until it’s over,” said steer wrestler Riley Duvall, noting that he and his crew were driving from Sikeston, Mo., to Lawton, Okla., to Lovington, N.M., and up to Caldwell, Idaho, within a few days’ time. Sitting at 17th in the Tour standings with 283.36 points separating him from 25th and out of the Tour Finale, Duvall is in a tight spot. While sitting 11th in the world standings, qualifying for Puyallup could make or break his shot at a thirdWrangler NFR qualification (2016, 2018). “We’ll be putting some miles on the truck,” Duvall laughed about the four-rodeo, 2,200-mile trip. “We plan our whole August for getting to as many Tour rodeos as we can because everyone is on the bubble.” Simply qualifying for the Tour Finale has a bonus. “It’s pretty cool because it’s the biggest PRCA rodeos that are Tour rodeos, so making the Finals means you did good at several of those rodeos,” bareback rider Zach Hibler said. “And when you’re winning against those guys it really gives you confidence.” The Texas cowboy’s experience with the Tour last year helped him win 2018 PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year in bareback riding. If the Tour Finale goes well for Hibler, he could make his first Wrangler NFR qualification. As of Aug. 19, he was ranked 10th in the Tour

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule Steer wrestler Riley Duvall scored $10,540 in Puyallup, Wash., last year, which helped him earn his second qualification for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/23/2019

ProRodeo.com

63