ProRodeo Sports News - July 8, 2022

ST. PAUL RODEO ST. PAUL, ORE.

Weight finds last-second win On Time BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News H ayes Weight described his Fourth of July experience at the 87th St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo as a “roller coaster of emotions.” Weight had not entered the lucrative NFR Playoff Series presented by PendletonWhisky rodeo originally but ended up there thanks to hauling partner Tristen Hutchings. Since he’d arrived in the small Oregon town not far from Portland anyway, Weight decided to take advantage of the PRCA’s Walk Up replacement rule, which allows contestants to fill into spots turned out by other competitors. The move proved huge for the young Utah bull rider as he conquered Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Mr. Clean for 91 points and the championship. He earned $12,197, by far his biggest ProRodeo win since joining the PRCA in 2018. “It was my biggest win and my highest score in the PRCA so far,” Weight, 23, noted. He won rodeos earlier this season in Arcadia (Fla.) and Auburn (Calif.). The St. Paul win movedWeight inside the top 50 of the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “It was one of the hardest but most fun rides of my life,” Weight said. “It was a roller coaster of emotions. From getting there, not knowing if I’d get in, then getting the walk up – I got there just ten minutes before they cut off the walk ups so almost missing it there. Then having that ride. “I’ll definitely remember it forever.” Mr. Clean was unridden in ProRodeo competition prior to the match-up withWeight, including bucking off two of the biggest superstars of bull riding, JB Mauney and StetsonWright, at the 2021Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I didn’t know what he was until they told me what I had,” Weight admitted. Weight likes to check out stats on his draws ahead of time but not watch videos or ask bull owners about them. “I just want to know how good they are if I’m going to go and get on them. Otherwise, I just try to ride them jump for jump and whatever happens, happens.” In St. Paul, Weight definitely scrapped his way to the qualified ride. “From the time the latch cracked, it was a dogfight to stay out of the well and a battle to keep my hand closed,” he recounted. “He felt good, but I definitely had to hustle the whole time.” Weight had no idea the huge score was coming, first he just worried about whether he’d made the required eight seconds. “I wasn’t sure I’d made the whistle,” he said. “Then, when they said it was huge, I was thinking 86 to 88 maybe. When they threw up that 91, I got really excited.” It was Weight’s first trip to St. Paul, a community of just about 400 people who manage to produce one of ProRodeo’s richest events. The stadium holds 10,000 people a performance and is generally packed full. It is also renowned for the Christmas trees that line the outer edge of the arena. The trees made up the border for races in years past and have remained as part of the tradition of St. Paul Rodeo and one of the things that make it unique. “It has good energy,” Weight said. “The crowd is awesome.” So was the check and the timing. “It was great, especially coming on the Fourth of July.” With the momentum of a big win under his belt, he’s looking forward to the rest of the summer, beginning with just one day off after the Fourth of July before heading out to Big Fork (Mont.), NFR Playoff Series stops in Vernal (Utah) and Elko (Nev.) and Laramie (Wyo.) for another XBulls along with the rodeo. “We’re gunning to get inside the Top 15 and make the Finals,” he said. “We’re going and running at everything we can.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY WINNER Sage Newman ($12,281, saddle bronc riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Newman

1. Kaycee Feild ......................... 89.5 pts. 2. Cole Reiner .................................... 86 3. R.C. Landingham ........................ 85.5 (Tie) Tim O’Connell ..................... 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Blake Knowles ............... 8.2 sec. on 2 2. Dakota Eldridge ............................ 8.4 3. Stetson Jorgensen ....................... 8.5 (Tie) Gus Franzen ......................... 8.5 TEAM ROPING 1. Driggers/Nogueira ....... 10.1 sec. on 2 2. Proctor/Medlin ........................... 10.3 3. Richard/Buhler ........................... 11.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Sage Newman ........................ 89 pts. 2. Kade Bruno .................................... 87 3. Kole Ashbacher .......................... 85.5 (Tie) Damian Brennan ................. 85.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Caleb Smidt ................. 16.3 sec. on 2 2. Haven Meged ............................. 16.7 3. Kincade Henry ............................ 17.2 BARREL RACING 1. Katie Pascoe ..................... 17.42 sec. 2. Tristan Parrish .......................... 17.55 3. Abby Sutfin ............................... 17.57 BULL RIDING 1. Hayes Weight ......................... 91 pts. 2. Trey Kimzey ................................ 90.5 3. Lukasey Morris ........................... 88.5

Kent Soule photo Hayes Weight, 23, had his talent on full display winning the St. Paul Rodeo with an 91-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Mr. Clean. COWBOY CHRISTMAS

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