ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

Thurston claims second world title in record fashion Cana-do!

BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI T he first time ZekeThurston won the saddle bronc riding world championship he was 22 years old. The Canadian saddle bronc rider did it again this year at the ripe age of 25, winning his second title with a record- breaking $347,056 in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. Thurston entered the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in second place. He promptly went out and won the first round, added a win in the seventh round, capped it off with a Round 9 win and took home $170,064 to blow out the competition. Unlike his first world-title trip whenThurston had to win the average in the 10th round to win the gold buckle, Thurston was in firm control in the latter stages of the 2019 Finals. He finished fourth in the aggregate with 699.5 points on eight head. That garnered him another $31,731. He finished ahead of second-place Brody Cress by $60,684. “Man, the first one, I didn’t know it was coming because I was coming from behind,” saidThurston, of Big Valley, Alberta. “This year, just being out front and having everybody chasing you, I’d rather have it the other way. It’s pretty stressful, starts playing tricks with your mind and you think you’re losing it. But it all worked out.” In the last four seasons, Thurston has won two world titles, finished third in 2018 and finished seventh in 2017. In that time, he’s earned more than $1 million. “I’ve been super lucky,” Thurston said. “I love bronc riding and I love the sport of rodeo and everything about it. I’ll probably always be involved with it until the day I die. It’s amazing.” When the Finals kicked off Dec. 5, Thurston trailed leader Ryder Wright by $47,497. He put a big dent in that lead by winning the first round. It was Wright’s 2017 record of most money earned in a season including the Finals that Thurston shattered, besting it by $89,118. In addition to his three round victories, Thurston placed in four other rounds, including splitting third in the final round with an 88.5-point ride. His round wins came aboard Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue (Round 1, 88 points), Northcott Macza’s Get Smart (Round 7, 92.5) and Vold Rodeo Co.’s Sun Glow (Round 9, 91). This title was oneThurston craved. “It’s awesome,” he said. “I wanted this second one worse than I wanted the first one. I came close last year, but it was a roller-coaster out here. Lots of ups and down, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

$374,056 The saddle bronc riding-record amount of money that 2019 champion Zeke Thurston earned to win the world title. The previous record of $284,938 was set by Ryder Wright in 2017. 92.5 points The highest-scored ride at the 2019 Wrangler NFR. Zeke Thurston accomplished the feat aboard North- cott Macza’s Get Smart in Round 7, setting a round record in the process.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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