ProRodeo Sports News - July 22, 2022

Pope powers to bareback riding crown

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Click Thompson Ty Pope left his mark on the NFR Open, winning the bareback riding with an 86.5-point ride on Generations Pro Rodeo’s Doughboy.

Fresh off a college national championship last month, Ty Pope starred at even a higher level at the NFR Open powered by RAM. Pope had an 86.5-point ride on Generations Pro Rodeo’s Doughboy in the final four to tie Kade Sonnier, who registered the same score on Kirsten Vold Rodeo’s Painted Playgirl before a sellout crowd of 6,400 at the Norris Penrose Event Center on July 16. Pope, however, won the national circuit title since he won the semifinal round with an 88-point ride on Brookman Rodeo’s Famous Dex. “This is just awesome,” said Pope, 20. “There were a lot of elite guys here who have been to the (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo) and I just won my college national championship (rodeoing for Missouri Valley College), so I had a lot of confidence.” As the last cowboy out in the final four, Pope had a simple plan. “I knew I had a good horse and being last I knew what I had to be, and it worked out in my favor,” Pope said. “I had never been on that horse before and then when I tied (Sonnier) I didn’t even think about it. I knew I made a good bareback ride.”

Pope, who is on his PRCA permit, left Colorado Springs after earning $16,251. “I’m still on my permit and I plan on getting my rookie card next year,” Pope said. “I have been riding good, so I have been going to some more rodeos. This is the most money I have ever won.” Pope is the younger brother of Jess Pope. Jess is leading the PRCA | RAM World Standings and has won the Wrangler NFR average the past two years. “I called ( Jess) right after I got off my first one (in the semifinals),” Ty said. “We talked about what we needed to do (in the finals) and that was stick to the basics. The plan is to follow in my brother’s footsteps.” Jess has been sidelined since suffering a right foot sprain on July 1, so he anxiously watched his brother compete at the NFR Open powered by RAM onThe Cowboy Channel. “It was so exciting to see him win,” Jess said. “I was more nervous watching him than I was competing at the NFR. It is hard not to be able to rodeo right now, but it was great to see my brother win. I would rather him see win a rodeo than anybody else, even myself. This was so cool to see.”

ProRodeo Sports News 7/22/2022

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