ProRodeo Sports News - August 6, 2021

CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS CHEYENNE, WYO.

Australian bull rider Hamilton gets win Ky’s the Limit BY TANNER BARTH

I n his first full season of ProRodeo, Australian bull rider Ky Hamilton put the sport on notice by finishing fourth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. One rodeo he didn’t have the opportunity to leave his mark on was Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, with the event canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But he made it well worth the wait for the capacity crowd of 19,000 on Aug. 1. Hamilton capped off his first title at the “Daddy of ’em All” with an 89-point ride in the finals on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Evil Intentions. It’s a dream come true that’s been years in the making. “This has been on my

TOP MONEY WINNER Stetson Wright TOP SCORES

($19,314, saddle bronc riding, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Wright

1. Tim O’Connell ........................ 89 pts. 2. Tilden Hooper ............................ 86.5 3. R.C. Landingham ....................... 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Newt Novich ......................... 5.1 sec. 2. Chance Howard ........................... 5.9 3. Mike McGinn ............................... 6.0 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Smith/J. Corkill .............. 10.2 sec. 2. E. Martin/R. Tittel ...................... 11.0 3. L. Simpson/T. Worley ................ 11.3 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Stetson Wright ...................... 90 pts. 2. Ryder Wright ............................. 88.5 3. Two tied at ................................. 87.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Marty Yates ........................ 10.3 sec. 2. Craig Leonard ............................ 11.0 3. Ty Harris .................................... 11.3 BARREL RACING 1. Hailey Kinsel .................... 17.30 sec. 2. Shali Lord ................................ 17.47 3. Two tied at ............................... 17.62 BULL RIDING 1. Ky Hamilton ........................... 89 pts. 2. Sage Kimzey .............................. 86.5 3. Parker Breding ............................. 85

bucket list since I was first coming up in rodeo, it’s one I’ve always wanted to win,” said Hamilton, 21. “To get it done my first year here at Cheyenne it’s pretty darn cool. “That bull almost got me when he made that first corner, I had a talk with J.B. (Mauney) before the ride and he said don’t let that bull get you down, and truly that’s all I remembered during that ride from the second we came out of the chutes.” It hasn’t been an easy ride back to the top

RECORD RUN Newt Novich’s 5.1-second steer wrestling run in the finals tied the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo record, set by Rick Myhre in 2000.

for Hamilton. He was sidelined for nearly three months following hip surgery after The American Rodeo in March. He says his season is finally starting to get back on track, just in time to make the push for his secondWrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. “It’s about time. I kind of felt like I was being lazy the first few weeks back from injury, but shoot it sure seems I got it together now,” Hamilton said. “For me to be where I need to be I just have to keep the gas pedal mashed to the floor these last two months.” Hamilton still has some work to do if he wants to make his first trip to Las Vegas in December. He is sitting 17th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $50,204. He knows there’s still work left to be done if he wants to be in the Top 15 when the PRCA regular season concludes Sept. 30. “I just have to keep doing my job and keep the gas pedal mashed,” Hamilton said. “If I keep taking things one bull at a time, I feel like the rest will take care of itself down the line hopefully.”

Complete results/Page 65

Rod Connor photo

Ky Hamilton inched closer to the Top 15 after winning in Cheyenne with an 89-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Evil Intentions.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

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