ProRodeo Sports News - January 8, 2021

WRANGLER NFR INJURY UPDATE

Cowboys recovering from injuries sustained at NFR On the Mend BY MATT NABER C hoosing between sitting out due to injury or riding Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Junior Bonner was a tough call for injured

bareback rider Richmond Champion at the 2020Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. To be knocked out of competition during the NFR is the worst possible time to be sidelined. The initial draw for Round 10 was a mixed blessing for Champion, as his name was listed alongside Junior Bonner’s. “I’d had him before and he is no joke,” Champion said. “You want to have everything in order before getting on him. I mulled on it all day and decided it’s better not to push it. I was already out of the average, and if it was a different scenario I would have tried, but I was looking toward 2021.” Junior Bonner went on to provide the re-ride opportunity Kaycee Feild needed to win the world title with a 91-point ride. “It was the hardest decision to make in my career,” Champion said. In Round 8, Champion suffered a right shoulder nerve stretch and a strain on his right biceps muscle while riding Northcott Macza Pro Rodeo’s OLS Tubs Spilled Perfume. “During about the third or fourth jump in the eighth round, that horse stepped ahead, and I hit the end of everything in my hand and my arm went numb,” Champion said. “At that time, I was thinking this isn’t really bad, and I got out of there safe. I’ve had this happen before

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Alaina Stangle Bareback rider Richmond Champion was initially injured in Round 8 of the 2020 Wrangler NFR and muscled through Round 9. But he chose to step down for Round 10 after drawing Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Junior Bonner.

when I was younger and learning how to ride. Eventually something has to give though, and it hadn’t crossed my mind that this could happen again until I nodded my head the next night. By the last two jumps, it was numb again and luckily it was a lot less caliber horse that I could get by.” Junior Bonner wasn’t one Champion could sneak by, and opting out proved to be the right choice for the Montana cowboy since he didn’t miss a beat. Champion was back in the chutes in time for the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas, Jan. 8-16. “I think things are healing up good, but it’s tough because it’s one of those things you can’t judge by the feel of it,” Champion said. “I’ll have to get on to find out, but it’s not sore any more so I’m confident and I’m glad it wasn’t anything major. You have to take time off during the holidays anyway, so everything is good.”

Champion wasn’t the only cowboy to tough it out through injuries at the 2020 NFR. Bull rider Trevor Kastner , 34, suffered a right shoulder blade fracture in Round 3 but continued to compete through Round 6. “I got on three more at the Finals with it broken, and then I didn’t feel like I could be competitive with it,” Kastner said. “It’s pretty tough, but at the NFR you want to get on and try to tough it out.” Kastner placed third in the first round with an 87-point ride, but things got rough for the Oklahoma cowboy when he attempted to ride United Pro Rodeo’s Diamond Cutter in Round 3. “My bull turned back into my hand and I hit the ground just right, because I’ve hit the ground much harder before and not had that happen,”

ProRodeo Sports News 1/8/2021

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