ProRodeo Sports News - Jan. 7, 2022

RED BLUFF, CALIF.

Back on Top CALIFORNIA CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO

Aaron Williams claims another California Circuit Finals title BY TANNER BARTH A aronWilliams has battled injury after injury throughout his ProRodeo career, but one thing that’s always remained consistent is his drive to be the best that he can be. That was on display for the Pismo Beach, Calif., bull rider at this year’s RAMCalifornia Circuit Finals Rodeo on New Year’s Day. Williams claimed his fifth circuit title wrapping up the three-day rodeo with 168 points on two head. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a few rodeos to go to. So, it felt good to be back in the office and felt good to back to work again honestly,” saidWilliams, 25. On the final day of the event Williams faced yet another daunting task head on. Due to a re-ride from the night before he rode two bulls in the span of 20 minutes. The first bull of the night bucked him off, leaving him with a no score in Round 2. He knew it was going to take a clean ride on his final out of the night for him to claim the title and he did just that. He covered the eight seconds on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Big Salty for 84.5 points to walk away with yet another championship. He said not having much time to think about it helped him in the long run. “It’s only a big of deal if you make it one,” Williams said. “If you want to let that play on your mind then it’s going to play on your mind. But in all reality the job doesn’t change it stays the same. “I got on that first one and my second one was already loaded. I hung my rope on him. There were about three bulls in front of me, so it was just enough time to get my glove ready, put my helmet on, and clock into work again.” It was more than just a win for Williams. It was a way to honor his late grandmother, Mary Lou Williams, who passed away at the age of 93 just a week before the circuit finals. “She was my biggest fan honestly and my biggest supporter,” Williams said. “She was there for my first ProRodeo win, and it was actually on her 88th birthday. “Before I even came up to these finals, I had said that to my wife and to my dad, ‘you know I’m going to go up there to these finals and I’m going to win the circuit finals and I’m going to win the circuit for my grandma.’ I know she had the best seat in the house for the win this season.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY WINNER Clayton Biglow ($7,406, bareback riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Biglow

1. Clayton Biglow .......... 250.5 pts. on 3 2. R.C. Landingham ...................... 240.5 3. Lucas Samaniego ..................... 228.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Sterling Lambert ......... 15.1 sec. on 3 2. Tucker Allen ................................ 15.6 3. Dakota Eldridge .......................... 17.1 TEAM ROPING 1. B. Hirdes/D. Pearce ..... 19.2 sec. on 3 2. Lane Lowry/Jake Bourdet ........... 26.7 3. D.J. Parker/Jason Johe .............. 29.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Reed Neely ................... 228 pts. on 3 2. Cameron Messier ..................... 227.5 3. Joaquin Real .................... 154.5 on 2 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Brushton Minton ......... 31.1 sec. on 3 2. Westyn Hughes .......................... 32.4 3. Taylor Santos ............................. 33.4 BARRELL RACING 1. Megan Champion ...... 39.70 sec. on 3 2. Cheyenne Hattesen ................... 39.97 3. Charleen Ornellas ..................... 40.05 BULL RIDING 1. Aaron Williams ............. 168 pts. on 2 2. Dalton McMurtrie ........................ 167 3. Jesse Flores ................................ 162

Complete results/Page 46

Crystal Amen photo Sterling Lambert found himself on top of the steer wrestling in Red Bluff, Calif. He won the average title with 15.1 seconds on three head.

Crystal Amen photo Aaron Williams won Round 1 of the RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo with a 83.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Bailey’s Rozet Swag.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/7/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 1/7/2022

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