ProRodeo Sports News - August 4, 2023

CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS CHEYENNE, WYO.

Don Christner photo Heeler Kirby Blankenship, left, gets ready to throw his rope moments after header Billy Bob Brown made the catch. The duo won Cheyenne with an 8.0-second run. Brown/Blankenship claim crown

The sport of rodeo can be unpredictable. It can turn scenarios that seem unlikely into reality and that’s what makes it so special. That was put on full display for the 16,000 people at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on July 30. Before June 30, the team roping duo of Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship hadn’t roped outside of their home state of Texas. That’s when the team decided to give ProRodeo road a try, entering up at events across the country in rodeo’s busiest month. They knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but what they didn’t know is that it would lead to the biggest win in their careers. The duo claimed the team roping title at the Daddy of ’em All with an 8.0-second run. “This is my first year actually really rodeoing like this,” said Blankenship, 24. “We were coming home from Mt. Pleasant (Texas), and I was about to pull into my house. He called me and said, ‘Hey do you want to leave for a month to go rodeo’? Now, we are already entered up for

another month. So, I guess we’ll stay out here a little longer.” In total, Brown/Blankenship earned $10,600 each in Cheyenne. The victory left header Billy Bob Brown rather speechless. “You are going to have to ask me how it feels tomorrow,” he said. “I was telling (Kaleb) Driggers you have to be confident, but this is by far our biggest win. Not that we don’t believe we can, but holy moly to just do it is a surreal feeling. “I’ve been out of rodeo for four years now. We’ve been back home just roping a little bit and doing other stuff. So, to come back and win a rodeo like this is special. I guess we better pack our bags and get ready to rodeo a little bit.” As for the newly acquired buckle, Blankenship said it may never come off him. “They might have to bury me with my buckle on, I’m probably never going to take it off,” he said.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/4/2023

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