ProRodeo Sports News - August 6, 2021

OGDEN PIONEER DAYS OGDEN, UTAH Ogden title has Tavenner eyeing NFR In His Sights

BY ALLY GALLAGHER, Special to ProRodeo Sports News A fter narrowly missing out on last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner is making moves to put himself in the Top 15 this time. With a win at Ogden Pioneer Days, July 20-24, Tavenner sits 11th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. He made a 3.5-second run to take the title, edging out a tight field. Jacob Talley and Hunter Cure tied for second with a pair of 3.6s, and the rest of the cowboys followed suit. “Those times were tight enough all the way to probably 20th,” Tavenner said. “There were six or seven 4.1s, six or seven 4.2s, so you dang sure want to be on your toes on hitting the barrier and try to make the best run you can make.” Close times are no surprise in ProRodeo, though. Even knowing times are tight before making a run, Tavenner said he tries to put the uncontrollable out of his mind. “I’ve just been running at every steer one at a time,” Tavenner said. “Run at the barrier and just not worrying about it. Just hope it works, and if I break the barrier, I break the barrier. “It works out, you just have to keep doing the same things and you’ll win sooner or later.” Considering his recent success, it’s working out sooner rather than later for Tavenner. He’s hoping those results bring him to his first NFR after missing out on qualifying last year by one place. “I think that’s every reason a cowboy’s out here to rodeo,” he said. While nothing compares to the “Super Bowl of rodeo,” a little piece of that magic was alive and well in Ogden. Saturday night, rodeo fans filled the stands of Ogden Pioneer Stadium in anticipation of the big event. Tavenner said having a crowd makes a good run even better. “It makes it real special to see the stands packed and makes it a lot more enjoyable for the cowboys,” Tavenner said.

TOP MONEY WINNER TOP SCORES

Quade Hiatt ($8,484, tie- down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Hiatt

1. Kaycee Feild......................... 86.5 pts. (Tie) Kody Lamb......................... 86.5 3. Tanner Aus.................................. 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Dirk Tavenner.........................3.5 sec. 2. Jacob Talley.................................. 3.6 (Tie) Hunter Cure.......................... 3.6 TEAM ROPING 1. D. Egusquiza/T. Graves.10.1 sec. on 2 2. C. Masters/J. Harrison................ 10.5 3. C. Rahlmann/D. Rich. ................. 10.8 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Riggin Smith........................ 90.5 pts. 2. Brody Cress................................ 87.5 3. Two tied at..................................... 86 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Quade Hiatt............................7.3 sec. 2. Ryan Jarrett.................................. 7.6 3. Bo Pickett..................................... 7.8 BARREL RACING 1. Hailey Kinsel......................17.19 sec. 2. Lisa Lockhart............................ 17.23 3. Jordon Briggs........................... 17.26 BULL RIDING 1. Sage Kimzey........................ 87.5 pts. 2. Tristen Hutchings........................... 87 3. Ruger Piva..................................... 86

VIDEO

CLOSE COMPETITION Steer wrestling wasn’t the only event with close times. The difference between first and 15th in barrel racing at Ogden Frontier Days was just three-tenths of a second.

ALL-AROUND COWBOY Tanner Green was named all-around cowboy in Ogden after tying for fifth in tie-down roping and competing in team roping. The 23-year-old also claimed the all-around title over the Fourth of July weekend at the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, S.D.

Complete results/Page 58

James Fain photo

Steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner clocked a 3.5-second run to win Ogden Pioneer Days.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

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