ProRodeo Sports News - August 4, 2023

Sharing was the operative word when it came to the bareback riding championship at the CFD as three cowboys split the win. Kade Sonnier had an 87.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ MLW’s Irish Eyes and that was matched by Clayton Biglow (87.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Atomic Blonde) and Cole Reiner (87.5 points on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Chosen One). Biglow, the 2019 PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion, was just thrilled to be a champ of the storied rodeo. Biglow also won CFD outright in 2019. “It doesn’t matter to me,” Biglow said. “Just to be in first place is the goal here, so three ways, four ways, it doesn’t matter. I know my ride felt good and I’m sure their’s did too. There’s nothing like this short round. It is so electric with great horses, and it is always stacked up with guys. You knew it was going to take a big score to win first and didn’t disappoint (July 30).” Reiner, a native of Buffalo, Wyo., was excited to win his home state, legendary rodeo for the first time. “This is pretty much my first short round here,” said Reiner, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “It was really cool and exciting to be part of this. They took back 14 guys, I was one of the tiebreakers in the semifinals, so I was pretty lucky just to be in here and thanks to the committee and Stace Smith for bringing 14 guys back. That short round was one of the more even short rounds of the year. I think 86 was eighth place and 87.5 won first. It is kind of hard to beat that set up and those kinds of horses. Then to have the three of us go up on the stage together, it was so much fun and something we will never forget.” Sonnier, who is aiming to make his Wrangler NFR debut in 2023, had quite a couple of Sundays recently. He won the Calgary Stampede on July 16 and earned $50,000 for the win and then captured the CFD crown on July 30. “Calgary and Cheyenne are two of my favorite rodeos and they have been my whole life and to get the win, especially with these guys means a lot,” Sonnier said. “Cole and I were the tiebreaker and thanks to Stace (Smith) and this committee they took us (back). Similar story to Calgary, I barely squeaked in there and ended up getting the win and it was the same story in (Cheyenne).” Sonnier, Biglow, Reiner share bareback title

Cole Reiner, of Buffalo, Wyo., was thrilled to win his home state rodeo with an 87.5-point ride on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Chosen One. 87.5-point trip on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phe nom Genetics’ Atomic Blonde won him CFD for the second time in his career. Laura Storey photo Jason Suntych photo Kade Son nier had an 87.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genet ics’ MLW’s Irish Eyes. The split win came a week after he won the Calgary Stampede. Jason Suntych photo Clayton Biglow’s

Tillard adds second CFD steer roping title

Steer roper Troy Tillard is no stranger to success at Cheyenne Frontier Days. He won the title in 2004 and made a long-awaited return to the championship seat in 2023. Tillard of Douglas, Wyo., clocked a 14.6-second time on July 30 at Frontier Park to claim the coveted crown. “It has been so long since I won it, and I made the short round several times since then, but never capitalized,” Tillard said. “Your expectations, I’m not even sure where they were. I just wanted to be in the moment and make a good run.” Tillard also couldn’t hide how important CFD is to his

family. “As a little kid growing up, we worked all summer and we got to come here (to Cheyenne),” Tillard said. “Cheyenne is on a pedestal for everybody, but for me and my family it means ten times more.” Tillard is a five-time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping, 2004, 2014-17. “I still think the (NFSR) is out of the realm this year,” Tillard said. “Seven months ago, I got a right total hip replacement, so I have been battling injuries for a few years and I feel better now than I have in 10 years.”

Tillard

ProRodeo Sports News 8/4/2023

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