ProRodeo Sports News July 9, 2021

Begay, Petska capture crown Veteran team ropers Derrick Begay andCory Petska teamed up a week before the Reno Rodeo. On June 26, they walked away as the champions of the prestigious rodeo for the first time in their careers with a 16.5-second time on three head. “We just got together,” said Begay, an eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier (2008-13,

2015, 2018). “Our first rodeo together was in Pleasant Grove, Utah ( June 16-19), and Reno was our fourth rodeo together. We picked a nice one to be our first win (together). This is a big accomplishment.” They each earned $13,864 for the victory. They clinched the win with a 6.4-second run in the finals. “We got to go last so we knew what we needed to be,” Begay said. “The mindset I had was get out on the barrier and just catch the steer and do my job.” Begay, entered Reno 18th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $14,972 but jumped to ninth with $28,835. Petska, the 2017 PRCA World Champion Heeler, competes on a limited basis and was thrilled to add the Reno win to his impressive résumé. He’s 22nd in the world standings with $16,390.

Phil Doyle photo Heeler Cory Petska, left, and header Derrick Begay joined forces in mid-June and won in Reno.

Justin Smith wins tie-down The pain of barely missing the “I won second three times here in over 20 years,” Petska said. “This is really special, a dream come true. I have come here since I was a little kid watching my mom and dad, and it is just amazing to win it. My career has been absolutely amazing. I have literally got to do everything I wanted to do, and I have won all the big, dream rodeos, and my career has been amazing. This win seals the deal for me. “We run yearlings inWisconsin, my wife (Sherry) and I do, and I decided to go up there, and I was only going to rodeo for a couple of weeks. I know Begay doesn’t really care how hard he goes, and we decided to go for a little while. This was a great start.”

come at a better time starting off the summer. Hopefully, this will propel me through, and I will be in Vegas in December.” Smith won the finals and the rodeo with his 8.5-second run June 26. “I couldn’t be happier with that run,” said Smith, who was riding Doc. “I have ridden Doc every year I have been in the PRCA. He was trained by my dad (Alfred) and I rode him at the junior high finals when I was in sixth grade, so I know him like the back of my hand. “Since I was a kid, it has been my dream to make the NFR. I have watched every NFR and that has been my dream since I was 6 years old riding my stick horse in the living room.”

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is all too real for tie-down roper Justin Smith. The Leesville, La., cowboy finished 17th and 18th in the world standings the past two seasons. Smith took a big step in making his NFR debut by winning the Reno Rodeo with a 26.7-second time on three head. He earned $13,484 and is 17th in the world standings. “This is the third time I have been to Reno, and I made the short round in 2019 and ended up breaking the barrier,” Smith said. “I was just glad to get these spurs. This is definitely the biggest win of my career, and it couldn’t

Phil Doyle photo Riding his trustworthy horse, Doc, tie-down roper Justin Smith took a step closer to making his Wrangler NFR debut with a win.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/9/2021

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