ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2024

RAM NFR OPEN

Repeat Riches Keenan Hayes nabs back-to-back titles

BY TANNER BARTH T he last 24 months have been a dream come true for Hayden, Colo., bareback rider Keenan Hayes. Last December, he became the first Resistol Rookie to win a PRCA Bareback Riding World Championship. It wouldn’t have been possible without his success at the 2023 NFR Open powered by RAM at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. Fast forward to July and it almost felt like Déjà vu. Hayes advanced out of Pool B with 162 points on two head after winning the second round with an 85-point ride on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Lightning. That set the stage for the nine-man short round on championship Saturday. Hayes drew Pickett Pro Rodeo Co’s Uncapped and the duo combined for an 89-point trip and yet another National Championship. He said while that horse is more of a veteran in the sport, she always provides contestants with the opportunity to earn money. “That horse is awesome, it’s been around for a lot of years,” said Hayes, 21. “I’ve seen all the best guys in the world get on her and it was finally my turn today. "I was stoked to have her, she’s one of the horses you know you can win a rodeo on.” Hayes’ three rides in the Centennial State earned him $16,000. It marked back-to-back years that Hayes has struck paydirt in his home state, he hopes the end result comes up the same in 2024. “I remember back when it was an amateur rodeo when I was younger,” Hayes said. "We would travel down here for it and watch it when we could,” Hayes said. “So, it’s pretty cool to find a way to win it twice in a row. “Because a big win like this gives you a ton of momentum going into the rest of the month and really the rest of the season for that matter. It’s a good confidence boost and promotes you to go finish the season off strong.” Ultimately, it comes down to digging deep for the final two months of the season and trying to shake off the injury bug. “This year I’m kind of beat up a little bit after the Fourth of July, but we are still bearing down and going at it,” Hayes explained. “We still got a lot of rodeos left to go this season, but we will get healed up and keep going down the road.” Other winners at the 2024 NFR Open powered by RAM were steer wrestler Scott Guenthner, team ropers Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, saddle bronc rider Sage Newman, tie-down roper Bodie Mattson, barrel racer Jessica Routier, and bull rider Hector Cardona.

Keenan Hayes won back-to-back NFR Open titles with this 89-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped during the finals. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kristen Schurr photo by Kristen Schurr

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2024

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