ProRodeo Sports News - January 26, 2018

before, so I mimic them – they know how to keep it cool,” Dougherty said. Dougherty started to realize the Denver buckle was within his grasp after the second round, when he was third in the average and a mere nine points off the lead. “I said, ‘Well, I get one more, so I might as well try to win it,’” Dougherty said. Winning Denver will keep Dougherty’s approach the same. “It doesn’t really change anything other than boosting me in the standings,” he said. “It doesn’t change how I ride or enter, but if you rodeo like this, your confidence goes up a tremendous amount.” With Denver in the bag, Dougherty hit the road for the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas. “I’m so stoked for it,” Dougherty said. “I wish I was there tomorrow, but I have to wait five days, so I’ll go visit with my parents and exercise to get ready.” NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW

Dougherty kicks off new year with $8,000 Mile High City win BY MATT NABER W hile most bull riders find out everything they can about the bulls they draw before climbing in the chutes, Chase Dougherty has an entirely different approach that paid himmore than $8,000 at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver on Jan. 21. “I didn’t know anything about any of the bulls and I prefer it that way,” Dougherty said. “It keeps you on your toes. My dad looks them up, but he doesn’t let me know what they do. If I know what they do, I make a game plan and then they do something else. If you can ride the one you got tonight same as the one before, you should be a good bull rider.” Dougherty tied for fourth in the second round and placed second in the final round to win the average with 252.5 points on three head. The win launched the Oregon cowboy from 44th to eighth in the world standings as of Jan. 22. “This is huge and a great kickstart to the year,” Dougherty said. “I did terrible here last year, so this gives me confidence going into the spring rodeos.” Despite his slow start in 2017, Dougherty picked up steam and claimed some major wins his rookie year, including the Horse Heaven Round-Up in Kennewick, Wash. “It’s the same thing every day, get on a bull and hope it works for the best,” Dougherty said. Dougherty ranked third in the 2017 Resistol Rookie Standings for

Shane Hanchey won the title in Denver, setting an arena record for the fastest three-head average at the rodeo with 23.0 seconds. ( Story on Page 27 ). Greg Westfall photo

bull riding and was 19th in the world standings with $72,754. Kicking off his sophomore year of ProRodeo competition by winning Denver was worth $8,262. “You put a lot of time and training and effort and traveling into it, and it’s nice to see it all pay off,” Dougherty said. The 19-year-old cowboy is still learning the ropes and has been following the examples set by Brady Portenier and Roscoe Jarboe, a two-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals

Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER.

“They’ve been here

Complete results on Page 40

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Zeke Thurston ....... 255.5 pts. on three 2. (tie) CoBurn Bradshaw ............... 249.5 Cort Scheer ................................ 249.5 4. Jesse Wright ................................. 246

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shane Hanchey ....... 23.0 sec. on three 2. Marcos Costa ............................... 24.1 3. Ryan Thibodeaux .......................... 24.3 4. Jake Pratt ..................................... 24.7

BARREL RACING 1. Christine Laughlin .. 46.24 sec. on three 2. Kylie Weast ................................. 46.26 3. Carley Richardson ...................... 46.28 4. Taci Bettis ................................... 46.29

BULL RIDING 1. Chase Dougherty ... 252.5 pts. on three 2. Brody Yeary ................................ 250.5 3. Shane Proctor ............................ 234.5 4. Two tied at .................................. 233.5

ProRodeo Sports News 1/26/18

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