ProRodeo Sports News - July 10, 2020

MANDAN RODEO DAYS MANDAN, N.D.

Mandan victory gets Portenier closer to first NFR berth Port Near BY MATT NABER B rady Portenier has been close to qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo twice. Despite the shortened season, he’s determined to make 2020 his debut year. “I’m ready to be there,” Portenier said. “I’ve pictured myself being there for a long time, and in the past I thought I had it in my grasp but haven’t been able to get there yet, and I’m dang sure ready to not let anything slide by.” ALL-AROUND COWBOY Wyatt Imus, $105, tie-down roping and team roping BAREBACK RIDING TOP SCORES

Imus

1. Caleb Bennett ...................... 87.5 pts. 2. Tim O’Connell ................................ 86 3. Two tied at .................................. 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Bridger Anderson .................. 4.0 sec. 2. Tanner Brunner ............................ 4.1 3. Tyler Pearson ............................... 4.3 TEAM ROPING 1. T. Wade/B. Saebens .............. 4.2 sec. 2. (Tie) J. Terrill/T. Whitlow .............. 4.4 C. Kirchner/C. Mathes .................. 4.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. (Tie) Zeke Thurston ................ 87 pts. Chase Brooks ................................ 87 3. Jake Finlay ................................. 86.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Marty Yates ........................... 7.3 sec. 2. Sterling Smith .............................. 7.4 3. Two tied at .................................... 7.5 BARREL RACING 1. Cheyenne Wimberley ........ 15.30 sec. 2. (Tie) Sophie Palmore ............... 15.37 Amanda Welsh ......................... 15.37 BULL RIDING 1. Brady Portenier ...................... 88 pts. 2. Riker Carter ................................ 87.5 3. Foster McCraw .............................. 87

The Idaho cowboy kickstarted his season by winning the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, and then ProRodeo competition came to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he’s diving back in. “We went from going to none to hitting five rodeos in a row,” Portenier said. “Getting back into it was really smooth for us, like we never missed a beat and got back into the same routine.” Portenier, 25, won Mandan (N.D.) Rodeo Days by a half-point to take home $5,020, July 4. Meanwhile, his traveling partners Roscoe Jarboe and Garrett Smith won the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede and the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, S.D., respectively. “Mandan had a bunch of good guys show up and the bulls were fantastic, so to get the win there you need to have all the pieces come together,” Portenier said. Portenier teamed with Dakota Rodeo’s Humdinger for an 88-point ride. “I’d never ridden him before and hadn’t heard about him before, but I don’t pay too much attention to that,” Portenier said. “But he was fun as heck to ride.” Winning Mandan pushed Portenier from eight to fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, the highest he’s been since joining as a rookie in 2013. “It feels great, I love those rodeos over in the Dakotas,” Portenier said. “I’m just happy to get a big win since we haven’t been able to work the last few months.” Although Portenier’s planning on hitting some different rodeos during the 2020 season, his approach will remain the same. “I’m not going to change anything, just keep doing what I know how to do by leaving everything in the arena and riding to the best of my ability,” Portenier said. “We typically wouldn’t go to certain rodeos, but this year we’re going to branch off and go to some different ones. I’m excited to go to places like Sikeston (Mo.), Phillipsburg (Kan.) and Lawton (Okla.).” $61,860 Mandan Rodeo Days’ total payout increased by $61,860 since last year, up to $183,487 in 2020. 508 Entries at Mandan Rodeo Days more than doubled this season, increased by 508 cowboys for a total of 933.

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ProRodeo Sports News 7/10/2020

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